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Sunday May 21, 2006

FM Insists on Resolution of Iran’s Nuclear Case within IAEA

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has emphasized on the resolution of Iran’s nuclear case within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a joint press conference on Saturday with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the Iranian foreign minister noted that Iran calls for the suspension of talks over its nuclear case because it believes the scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear dossier in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been a political move.

Mottaki further referred to the previous reports of IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei that emphasized Iran doesn’t intend to make nuclear weapons. “We have fulfilled all our commitments within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the regulations of the IAEA. Therefore we will not suspend our nuclear activities, which are at the research and development level. Meanwhile, Iran will continue negotiations with the representatives of the IAEA and the European states, taking into consideration the inalienable right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he added.

Mottaki also urged the Islamic nations to support the Palestinian government and nation.

He expressed hope that with the establishment of the new national unity government in Iraq, security and stability would be restored in that country.

The Kuwaiti foreign minister emphasized on Iran’s legitimate right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and called for the resolution of Iran’s nuclear case through diplomatic channels.

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Arrives in Islamabad

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Hadi Nejad-Husseinian has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, leading an 8-member high-ranking delegation for talks over the natural gas pipeline project.

In this four-day visit, Nejad-Husseinian will take part in a round of bilateral talks between Iran and Pakistan and a round of trilateral negotiations between Iran, Pakistan and India.

The Iranian delegation will negotiate with the Pakistani and Indian officials over pricing, the project’s structure, finalization of the deal’s framework, and the project’s final studies.

The Iranian deputy oil minister has arrived in Islamabad amid the American officials’ demand from Pakistan to withdraw from this project.

The Iranian gas pipeline to India goes through Pakistan and is named “ The Peace Pipeline” due to its effect in alleviating tension between India and Pakistan.

The length of the Peace Pipeline will be 2700 kilometers and its estimated cost is between $3.5b-$4.5b.

Palestinian Woman Martyred

In their attack on the Belateh Palestinian Refugee Camp in the city of Nablus, West Bank, the Zionist troops shot and martyred a Palestinian woman.

According to the AFP, a Palestinian woman, Ayesheh Abu-Moslem, was martyred Sunday the exchange of fires Between the Zionist assailants and the Palestinian combatants in the said refugee camp, in the city of Nablus.

Meanwhile, the Zionists’ fighter jets targeted and blitzed a vehicle carrying Mohammad al-Dahdouh, one of the commanders of Qods Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in the city of Gaza, as a result of which al-Dahdouh, along with three others were martyred and at least six were injured.

According to the Palestinian medical sources, a Palestinian child was wounded in the city of Gaza, after being hit by the Zionist troopers’ artillery shrapnel.

The Zionist forces also fired six artillery shells against the Al-Shaqaf region, injuring another Palestinian child.

Saturday May 20, 2006

Iranian FM arrives in Kuwait

 Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived in Kuwait city Saturday for a daylong visit. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Muhammad al-Sabah al-Salim Aal-e Sabah, welcomed him.  Mottaki, who arrived in Kuwait from Jordan, will meet Kuwaiti Emir, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir Aal-e Sabah and deliver to him a message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  The Iranian minister will hold separate meetings with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasir al-Muhammad al-Ahmad Aal-e Sabah as well as with the Kuwaiti foreign minister. The Iranian official is to discuss latest regional and international developments, including Iran's nuclear program and the current situation in Iraq, with Kuwaiti officials.

Iran’s Nuclear Achievement Frightens Global Arrogance

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s access to peaceful nuclear technology has frightened global arrogance.

Speaking at the National Youth Congress on Friday in the holy city of Qom, the Interior Minister emphasized that nuclear technology is the fruit of the knowledge of the Iranian youth, who have succeeded in developing their latent talents despite all restrictions imposed by the foes of the Islamic nation.

He said the enemies, who intend to prevent Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, are not fearful of an atomic bomb, as they claim. In fact, they are afraid of the generation and development of new fields of science based on Islamic logic.

New Iraqi cabinet wins vote of confidence

Iraqi Parliament gave the vote of confidence to the cabinet of Prime Minister Nuri Maliki. Iraq’s Prime minister designate Nuri Maliki attended the 6^th session of the country’s parliament on Saturday, and saw his list of cabinet members, receive the majority of votes. Of the 37 ministries of Maliki’s cabinet, Maliki has distributed 34 portfolios and for the moment, because of not nominating anyone for the ministries of interior, defense and national security, he and his two deputies Salaam az-Zowba’i and Barham Saleh. 

UN official lauds Iran's peaceful scientific activities

UNESCO Chief Koichiro Matsuura in a message to the Third Isfahan Sheikh-Bahaei Job Creation Festival lauded Iran's peaceful activities aiming to promote science and culture.

The message, which was read at the festival's closing ceremony by the Head of UNESCO representative office in Tehran Abedin Saleh on Friday, appreciated the efforts of the Iranian government and its successful cooperation with UNESCO in all fields, particularly in the domains of science and technology.

The UNESCO, stressing that today scientific activities worldwide lack the desired equilibrium, said only one percent of the gross national product (GNP) revenue of developing countries is allocated to scientific research, while in capitalist countries the share is in the range of 2-3 percent.

CIA Nominee Defends Eavesdropping Program

The nominee backed by US President George W. Bush for running the CIA has defended the Bush regime’s illegal eavesdropping program. According to the British daily ‘The Times’, General Michael Hayden has raised several eyebrows by emphasized that Bush’s warrantless eavesdropping on American citizens’ phone conversations is a legal measure. He claimed that the program has been designed to counter what he called ‘the terrorists’ and is not aimed at espionage activities against ordinary people. He further claimed – in a rather unconvincing tone – that US officials do observe the privacy of American citiziens and that the government is seeking to establish balance between people’s privacy and security issues.    

 Germany urges more western concessions on Iranian nuclear row: report

Germany has called for more western concessions to Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme. DPA citing on Saturday a report in the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel made available ahead of Sunday's publication, said without naming any sources that in the long run, the West cannot expect Tehran to mothball again its facilities like the research center in Natanz.

The Der Spiegel magazine also wrote that a realistic offer has to be made to Iran, which also takes into account the pride of Iranians.  The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has made it clear that the best incentives the West could to offer Iran is to drop its intransigence and show respect for clauses of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that allow member states to peacefully develop this vital technology.

UK attorney general repeats calls for closure of Guantanamo

Britain's Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, Saturday repeated his call for the closure of the US concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, suggesting the regime of holding prisoners without trial or charge was damaging freedom and democracy.

Britain's top law officer warned: "Rightly or wrongly, Guantanamo may be seen by many as a symbol of injustice and that could lead to problems".

His renewed call comes after a UN Committee against Torture report on Friday also called on the US to close the concentration camp set up at the height of its invasion of Afghanistan in 2003 as well as other secret "war on terror" detention facilities abroad.

Thousands take to streets to protest caste quotas in India

Thousands of students and professionals marched through the streets of India’s capital  Saturday to protest a government affirmative action plan to reserve more university seats for lower castes. Chanting Stop this injustice, doctors, lawyers, executives and parents joined the rally against boosting quotas for lower-caste students in top medical, engineering and other professional colleges to 49.5 percent from 22.5 percent. Police estimated the crowd at the New Delhi protest at around 5,000 people. Similar student opposition to raising quotas in 1991 resulted in huge violent protests and student suicides and led to the collapse of the government.

Lavrov: Negotiations with Iran Should be Unconditional

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that nuclear negotiations with Iran should be held without any preconditions.

Lavrov emphasized on Friday in Strasburg that Moscow is against imposing sanctions or resorting to force against Iran.

He added that Russia believes Iran’s nuclear case should only be solved through holding direct talks, and in accordance with a mutual agreement, which would secure Iran’s right to gain access to peaceful nuclear plans.

He insisted Iran’s nuclear dispute should be resolved in such a way that would secure Iran’s full-scale cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

El Pais: Access to Nuclear Technology is Iran’s right

 According to Spanish daily, El Pais, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never violated the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In its Saturday addition, El Pais said it is logical for Iran to continue its peaceful nuclear activities, and it has always done this within the NPT framework. The Spanish daily added that the increase of US pressure against Iran’s nuclear programs would further strengthen Iranian government, which already enjoys a great public support. It said the US has called Iran an axis of evil despite the fact the Islamic Republic has never launched aggression against any other country and has friendly relations with all nations. According to El Pais, Iran is the only Middle Eastern country to have been attacked by chemical weapons of the ousted Ba’th minority regime of the then US ally Saddam.

24 Killed in Terrorist Blasts in Iraq Ahead of Vote on Govt

Hours before Iraq's parliament was to inaugurate a national unity government aimed at halting a slide toward civil war, terrorists triggered bombs on Saturday killing 24 people including 19 in a district of Baghdad having a predominant population of the country’s long suppressed Shi’ite Muslim majority.

Police said 58 were wounded in the blast targeting laborers in eastern Sadr City neighbourhood, where the overwhelming majority is made up of Shi’ite Muslims.

Witnesses and police said the bomb appeared to have been planted in a spot where the terrorists knew large crowds of men would gather shortly after dawn, hoping to be hired for a day's casual labor. Such spots have been targeted in the past.

Police said: In the town of Qaim, near the Syrian border, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-packed vest inside a police station killing five policemen and wounding 10.

Meanwhile, a defense ministry source said: Fifteen corpses were discovered in the town of Musayeb, south of Baghdad, early Saturday, bearing signs of gunshot wounds and torture.

Iraq Names Temporary Security & Defence Ministers

Member of Iraq’s victorious United Iraqi Alliance in the national parliament, Baha al-Araji said on Saturday: Prime Minister designate Nuri Maliki will for the time being keep with himself the interior ministry portfolio while his deputy Salam az-Zaubai of the Sunni Arab minority will be caretaker of the Defence Ministry.

Iraq's parliament is expected to approve a long-awaited national unity government on Saturday but officials have said they will not select the all important security ministers because of protracted negotiations.

Araji said after naming the two men as the temporary heads: "All the party lists have decided to give more time to choose the interior and defense ministers, there are many candidates, we think it will be finalized in a week."

Pentagon Hiring Private Security Companies in Iraq

 For its operations in Iraq, the US Defense Department is depending more on private security companies than ever before. These companies require less political risks and are said to be speedy in their work because of lack of red tape but their handling of the security situation is still open to doubt.

According to AFP, during a session held by American Enterprise, George Town professor Debora Otant said the private security companies have important roles in servicing the US army.

For its part the Bowling Hamilton Company said that the role of these companies was earlier limited to arranging field toilets and providing food and shelter for the troops but now they do more.

It is to be noted that these companies have recruited tens of thousands of their employees across the world. The employees of these companies are also at the risk of military attacks and according to an independent news web, 332 of their employees have been killed so far.

The other problem with these companies is their cooperation with the US army which has always been a problem and nobody can force them to sty in the front while they prefer to leave.

Malaysia Gives Aid to Hamas Gov't

Malaysia said Friday it would provide aid to the Palestinian government to help ease an inhumane financial crisis brought on by the West's boycott of the revolutionary Hamas cabinet.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also said Malaysia would urge America and Europe to change their stand against the Hamas-led administration.

Abdullah, who is the current chairman of the world's biggest grouping of Muslim countries, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said the financial crisis had deepened the suffering of the Palestinian people.
According to Malaysia’s Bernama news agency he said, "they need aid from other countries. The Palestinian people should not be punished for their choice of government," adding that their decision at the ballot box should be respected.

Basic Nuclear Rights Irreplaceable with EU Incentives

The Iranian embassy in Canada cautioned the three west European countries of France, Germany and Britain to be mindful that their so-called incentives cannot substitute the basic rights of Iran in the field of nuclear fuel cycle.

The Iranian embassy in Canada in a statement on Friday referring to European proposals, which they call incentives, reiterated: If the European side really intends to completely resolve the issue naturally the door for settling the dispute will be open.

The statement read: Respecting the right of Iran to enjoy nuclear technology based on NPT or ignoring such a right plays a determining role in the acceptance or rejection of the European offer by Tehran.

It noted the total transparency in Iran’s nuclear programs, which is under the complete supervision of the IAEA inspectors, and added that any call for suspension or halt in uranium enrichment is illogical and unacceptable. 

Terrorist Attacks on Bam Road Linked to Foreign Elements

The deputy Governor General of Kerman province for political and security affairs unveiled a link between the recent terrorist attacks on the Kerman-Bam road and foreign elements.

Last week, armed bandits blocked the Kerman-Bam road in southern Iran and after forcing commuters out of their vehicles tie and blindfolded them before murdering 12 innocent civilians in cold blood.

According to Fars News Agency, Deputy Governor General of Kerman Province, Abol-Qasem Nasrollahi, said on Friday that over the past three years evidence has proved the links of the bandits with certain foreign countries.

He added: During military operations conducted in the past days in the region a number of bandits have been killed and wounded and a cache of weapons and ammunitions has been impounded.

Japan May Start Iraq Troop Withdrawal in June: Report

Japan may begin withdrawing its occupation troops from southern Iraq as early as next month, winding down the country's riskiest mission since World War Two.

A newspaper reported on Saturday: No formal decision had been made on when to bring the roughly 600 occupation troops home from the southern city of Samawa. But some officials had said the unstable situation in Iraq might delay the withdrawal to as late as autumn.

Government sources quoted by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily said the Japanese government has begun making arrangements with the other occupying countries forming the US-led occupation force, such as Britain and Australia, for a decision on the withdrawal as early as next month.

Left Parties of India Oppose Strategic Ties with US

Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee said Saturday: India's Leftist parties, who provide crucial outside support for survival of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre in New Delhi, are totally opposed to India’s so-called strategic partnership and long-term relations with the US.

According to PTI, Bhattacharjee said in New Delhi: "In the face of pressure from the US, we will fight to protect our economic interests and national integrity and sovereignty.”

He said: The landslide victory for Left parties in Kerala and Bengal in the face US pressures on India was significant.

 Verbal War between Pakistani and Afghan Officials

The trading of accusations by high-ranking Afghan and Pakistani officials against each other indicates a new round of verbal war between them. Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao termed as “amusing” the remarks by Afghan president Hamed Karzai accusing Pakistan of turning Afghanistan into a military camp. Karzai Friday accused Pakistan of training militants and sending them into Afghanistan.

This is not the first time Afghan and Pakistani officials have traded barbs. The Afghan government accuses Pakistan of not seriously controlling the border. Pakistan denies the charge and says it has dispatched more than 80 thousand forces to the joint border. Karzai brings up these claims while his government does not have control of a vast part of American occupied Afghanistan.

Grenade Attack in Pakistan's Waziristan Kills 3

Pro-Taliban militants killed two Pakistani troopers in a grenade attack on a paramilitary compound in North Waziristan, but one of their own men was also killed.

A government official said on Saturday: A military campaign to clear militants from tribal lands near the Afghan border and subdue their Taliban allies is focused on North Waziristan. Fighting there has intensified over the past few months.

Fida Mohammad, a senior administration official in the region, said three militants threw grenades at the Frontier Constabulary compound in Mir Ali town, 25 km east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan.

He said: two members of the force and one of the attackers were killed.

US Troops Involved in Massacre of Iraqi Citizens  

One of the Democrat members of US Congress has stated that American troops in a raid on a residential house have massacred over 30 Iraqi women and children in cold blood.

John Murtha, a Vietnam War veteran, has called for an immediate investigation into the massacre of Iraqi civilians by the US occupation forces. Moreover, the Hamourabi human rights assembly has announced that it has obtained videotape depicting the crimes of the US occupiers in the killing of thirty Iraqi children and women.

John Murtha, who is an influential Congressman, has repeatedly demanded that the US troops leave Iraq soon. The Democrat member of US Congress also declared that recently occupation-related incidents in Iraq has reached 900 in a week, up from 550 and that 1000 Iraqis were killed in the past month alone.

Addressing Congress members Murtha has stressed that US President George W. Bush wants to keep troops in Iraq while he has no plan in this regard.

The Democrat member of US Congress underlined that the presence of US troops in Iraq has intensified the hatred of the world of Islam against the United States.    

Bush Wants Newcomers to Learn English

The White House took both sides in a dispute over English being the national language Friday as a broad immigration bill moved toward a final Senate vote next week with one conservative predicting it will never become law.

The Senate on Thursday approved an amendment sponsored by Senator James Inhofe, that would declare English the national language. But it also approved an alternative proposal sponsored by Senator Ken Salazar, designating English the nation's "common and unifying language." Before the vote on the alternative, Inhofe warned his colleagues, "You can't have it both ways."

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, speaking Friday in Houston, added to the confusion.

"The president has never supported making English the national language," Gonzales said, adding, "I don't see the need to have legislation or a law that says English is going to be the national language."

Iraq War Lowers Bush’s Approval Rating

US President George W. Bush has blamed Iraq war for his plummeting job approval rating.

According to an opinion poll conducted by the ABC TV Channel, 63% of the Americans believe the Iraq war has not been worth fighting and 59% of the Americans consider it to be a grave mistake.

In his Friday interview with the NBC TV Channel, Bush said he would keep reminding Americans that the Iraq war has been worth the price and the U.S. would not leave this confrontation hastily.

According to the Pentagon, 2546 Americans have been officially declared killed in the Iraq war since its inception in March 2003. Meanwhile, the unofficial sources have announced the US fatalities stand at almost 10,000. Moreover, the informed sources believe that at least 250,000 Iraqi citizens have also been martyred in the Iraq war.

UN Anti-Torture Panel Faults US on Detention Centers

The UN anti-torture watchdog called on the United States to close any secret prisons it operates around the world and shut down its Guantanamo Bay centre because they breach international law.

The United States immediately took issue with a report by the Committee Against Torture, which also told Washington to eradicate abuses by US personnel and refrain from handing detainees over to countries where they could be at risk.

The panel, which issued its findings two weeks after hearing evidence from US officials, said it was "deeply concerned" at reports that US intelligence had set up secret facilities and regretted Washington's refusal to comment during the hearings.

Venezuela Says it is free in Selling F 16 Jet Fighters

Venezuelan Vice President, Jose Vicente, has announced that this country is free to sell US-built jet fighters to any country it pleases including Iran.

This is while the Iranian embassy in Venezuela last week denied the reports of purchasing F-16 airplanes from Venezuela.

According to Associate Press from Caracas, the Venezuelan Vice President on Friday stated: "We will sell the F-16 jet fighters to any country including Iran, because the US refusal to sell us spare parts has violated the contract in this regard."

The US State Department has said Venezuela cannot sell the said aircraft without the US' permission, a condition rejected by Caracas.

Number of Deaths from Katrina Rises

Louisiana raised its Hurricane Katrina death toll by 281 Friday to 1,577 after including more out-of-state evacuees whose deaths were deemed related to the storm or its grueling aftermath.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals decided that if residents' deaths were hastened by the stress and trauma associated with relocating — or even an accidental injury during travel — those deaths should be counted in the toll.

Louisiana officials asked other states to classify evacuees' deaths as storm-related if they occurred between August 27 — two days before the storm hit — and October 1 and met several general requirements.

Friday May 19, 2006

Pres. Ahmadinejad: Free nations stress Iran’s nuclear right

  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that enjoying peaceful nuclear energy is the certain right of Iran and said that all free nations of the world have always stressed such a right of Iran.

Speaking in the Central Iranian city of Komijan in Markazi province President Ahmadinejad added: If nuclear energy is good all should have it and if it’s bad no one should have it.

Stressing westerners must act according to law regarding Iran’s nuclear case, the Iranian President reiterated: The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on peace, friendship, affection, equality, brotherhood, law and justice.

Noting that the Iranian nation always wants justice to be done in the world President Ahmadinejad said: The Iranian nation does not like aggression or bullying and it has always foiled the plots of the enemies.  

Mottaki dismisses US-West double-standard towards democracy

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday that the US-West approach towards the Palestinian elected government shows their double standard policy towards instances of democracy.

Talking to head of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Mashaal on Thursday, Mottaki said the US "inhumane" pressures on Palestinians will entail negative consequences, making the people more determined to materialize their wishes.

Mottaki hoped that the Palestinian people would continue resistance until full withdrawal of aggressors from the occupied Palestinian territory.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Mottaki said Jordan and the Palestinian elected government should settle certain misunderstandings in the light of constructive talks.

Mashaal for his part appreciated Iran for its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation and for the Palestinian elected government, saying the support had been effective in scaling down their problems.

He said Palestinians are highly determined to fight diversified conspiracies of enemies and materialize their wishes.

Tehran's Friday Prayer Sermons

 Tehran's interim Friday prayer leader, Ayatollah Emami Kashani, has stressed that the enemies of Islam attempt at sowing the seed of sedition between Shiites and Sunnis by causing insecurity along Iran's borders.

Addressing worshippers in Tehran University campus on Friday, Ayatollah Kashani condemned the terrorist attack in Iran's southern city of Bam, in which 12 defenseless citizens were martyred, adding: "The US, the Zionist regime and their mercenaries can not do anything whatsoever, even by causing insecurity along Iranian borders."

Tehran's interim Friday prayer leader pointed that Iran is a country that even Christians and Armenians have MPs at the Parliament, saying: "The ignorant enemies have not understood the common culture between Shiite and Sunni in the path towards maintaining Islam and the Holy Qura'n, and that all Iranians are united in defending their soil against enemies, no matter what religion they have."

Ayatollah Kashani reiterated that Iran's peaceful nuclear program does not seek military purposes, adding: "Once again we announce that Tehran is ready to defend its nuclear achievements and would by no means forgo even an iota of its legitimate right to gain access to peaceful nuclear technology."

Ayatollah Kashani stressed that all of Iran's nuclear activities follow peaceful purposes and have been under the supervision of IAEA inspectors. He concluded: "International organizations should not lose their reputation by giving in to the illegitimate demands of the US and the Zionist regime."

Annan arrives in China for third leg of Asian tour

 UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has arrived in Beijing on the third leg of his Asian tour. Annan, who flew in from Japan, is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao later in the day to kick-start a five-day trip that is his seventh visit to China as UN chief. Aside from meeting with Hu on Friday afternoon, Annan is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday. Annan will deliver a speech at Peking University on Tuesday, the final day of his China visit. In Japan, Annan said on Thursday that better diplomacy was needed from all sides in helping to resolve Iran’s nuclear dispute, and warned the world was moving mindlessly towards a situation where all nations wanted nuclear weapons.

 Bush travels to US-Mexico border to press immigration reform

President George W. Bush traveled to a desert town near the Mexican border -- one of the busiest entry points for illegal immigration into the United States -- to show his commitment to sealing America's porous borders.

Bush is seeking to drum up support for his immigration reform plan unveiled Monday, which has been met with skepticism by conservatives in Congress. The US president hopes to show disaffected members of his conservative base that he will be tough on border security.

Bush, who has proposed placing up to 6,000 National Guard troops along the southern US border to assist border patrol officers, visited a part of the border where they are already in place.

Hayden Senate Confirmation Appears Assured

After more than six hours of sometimes-tense Senate questioning, the confirmation of Michael Hayden to head the CIA still appeared assured. The four-star Air Force general tried to look forward throughout the long day of grilling, even as senators repeatedly returned to controversies over the eavesdropping work he directed as National Security Agency head from 1999 to 2005.Hayden claim he would focus on traditional spycraft and reward risk-taking among the CIA's operatives in the clandestine service.

US must come clean over secret detention, end rendition: UN panel

A United Nations anti-torture panel said: The United States must come clean over its secret "war on terror" detention facilities, stop sending prisoners to countries where they might be tortured and "take firm measures to eradicate all forms of torture" by its own personnel.

The UN Committee on Torture said: "The state party should cease to detain persons in secret detention facilities, inside its territory, in territories under its jurisdiction and in facilities under its de facto effective control".

U.S. Proposes New Nuclear Weapons Treaty

 The United States proposed a treaty Thursday it said would curb proliferation of nuclear weapons and improve the world's leverage against "hard cases" like Iran and North Korea by banning production of weapons-grade uranium and plutonium.

Stephen G. Rademaker, acting U.S. assistant secretary of state for arms control, told the 65-nation Conference on Disarmament that it should aim to approve a treaty by September.

He claimed current measures to prevent what he called terrorists and governments from developing weapons of mass destruction may be insufficient "in the case of governments that are absolutely determined to acquire such weapons."

The proposal contains no verification measures and stockpiles of fissile material would not be affected, allowing existing nuclear powers to build weapons with their reserves.

Brazilian police kill more gang suspects in counter-attack

 Human rights groups voiced concern over summary executions as Brazilian police pressed on with a counter-attack against a powerful Sao Paulo gang in a street war that has claimed at least 170 lives.

Fourteen suspected attackers and one police officer died Thursday in the sixth day of clashes between the First Capital Command gang and authorities in several Sao Paulo state cities.

The continuing violence has raised concerns among local and international human rights groups over allegations that police death squads are taking part in the counter-offensive.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said police have already been presented complaints that some of the deaths have been summary executions by police, and some of those killed innocent bystanders.

The prison-based First Capital Command gang launched a coordinated offensive against police last Friday in retaliation for the transfer of hundreds of inmates to a maximum security prison.

Ten killed in Afghanistan as Pakistan denies training militants

 Ten people were killed in fresh fighting in Afghanistan as security forces carried out clean-up operations after some of the heaviest clashes in months left more than 100 people dead, most of them Taliban remnants.

Pakistan meanwhile rejected allegations that militants carrying out the violence in Afghanistan were being trained on its soil, a claim made by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and echoed by a top British army officer.

Taliban and Afghan security forces fought an hours-long battle late Thursday in Ghazni, one of a handful of provinces in the south that has experienced some of the heaviest insurgency-linked violence since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

Around 100 other people, nearly 90 of them Taliban fighters, have been killed in battles in southern Afghanistan since Wednesday

Oil Prices Continue Rebound in Asia

 Oil prices extended their rebound in Asian trade Friday, as players also priced in possible hurricane disruption in the United States as the summer storm season approaches.
At 11:10 am local time, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for June delivery, was up 40 cents to 69.85 dollars a barrel from late New York levels Thursday.
Brent North Sea crude for June delivery was at 70.00 dollars, up 33 cents.
A Singapore-based analyst at Energy Consultancy Purvin and Gertz, Victor Shum, said: "It's rebounding as there are many potential problems still ahead of us."
With the US summer driving season around the corner, Shum said that gasoline demand was still a concern, despite the build up in stocks over the past three weeks.

U.N.: U.S. Should Close Gitmo Facility

The United States should close its prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and avoid using secret detention facilities in its war on terror, a U.N. panel report released Friday said.In an 11-page report on its review of U.S. adherence to the Treaty Against Torture, the committee said detainees should not be returned to any state where they could face a "real risk" of being tortured."The state party should cease to detain any person at Guantanamo Bay and close the detention facility," said the U.N. Committee Against Torture, a panel of 10 independent experts on adherence to the U.N. Convention Against Torture.The United States should also ensure that no one is detained in secret detention facilities under its control and disclose the existence of any such places, the report said.The committee said it was concerned that detainees were being held for protracted periods with insufficient legal safeguards and without judicial assessment of the justification for their detention.The committee was also concerned about allegations that the United States has established secret prisons, where the international Red Cross does not have access to the detainees.

London Peace March to Prevent Palestinians from Starving

 A mass peace march is being held in London on Saturday to highlight that Palestinians are "starving and shell- shocked by the new US policy".  Palestinian and Muslim groups organizing the protest said: "The Palestinian people need your help! Israel's brutal occupation of the Palestinian people is creating a humanitarian crisis." The demonstration is for the "EU and Israel to stop starving the Palestinians, to recognize Palestinian Democracy and end the Israeli occupation."
The march, which is also being supported by Britain's main peace organizations, justice groups, and trade unions, comes after the US and the EU cut off its funding of the Palestinian Authority last month to put political pressure on the new Hamas-led government.

Twenty-two Vietnamese missing after Typhoon

 A Vietnamese rescue official said Friday that 22 fishermen remained unaccounted for in the South China Sea, two days after Typhoon Chanchu sank several boats.
An official from the national search and rescue center in Hanoi, who asked not to be named, said: "Our latest report says that five fishermen have been rescued while 22 remain out of contact."
He said: "Seventy-two Vietnamese fishermen earlier feared missing were safe on the remote Chinese island of Dong Sa."Vietnam has asked China to help support the stranded crew on the island, several hundred kilometers southeast of Hong Kong.

British Muslims Find UK Laws Unfair

 An overwhelming majority of Muslims believe that British laws are biased and that the country's legal system is unfair. According to a new report, less than a quarter of Muslims felt that their needs were recognized under British law. Three quarters of respondents to a qualitative questionnaire stated that the British legal system was unfair.
Some 85 percent saw British laws as biased, either explicitly stated or implied. 65 percent believed that there was no specific protection for Muslims under the law. The report, the fifth in the series on British Muslim expectation of the government, highlights the need for a grassroots understanding for the promotion of better laws and practices, and calls for a substantially more reflective workforce.

Two more bird flu deaths confirmed in Indonesia, takes toll to 32

 The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that two more Indonesians have died of bird flu, bringing the overall toll from the virus to 32.  Director for the health ministry's communicable disease control centre, Nyoman Kandun, said on Friday that one of the deaths was a 10-year-old boy from Sumatra, who was the fifth confirmed fatality in a cluster of deaths among relatives there.
He said that a 12-year-old boy had also been confirmed by the WHO as dying of the deadly H5N1 strain in Bekasi, a suburb on the outskirts of Jakarta.
Indonesia has witnessed more bird flu deaths than any other country this year. It has the world's second highest number of fatalities since 2003, after Vietnam. Nine Indonesians who were infected have survived.
 

Four prisoners attempt suicide at Guantanamo camp

Four Guantanamo prisoners tried to commit suicide on Thursday and several others attacked guards who rushed in to halt one of the attempts.

A camp spokesman said three took overdoses of prescription medicine they had apparently been hoarding, and the fourth tried to hang himself. None of the suicide attempts succeeded.

The attempted hanging took place in a medium-security camp where prisoners live in groups of up to 10 men in long bays lined with metal cots.  

House votes to keep offshore drilling ban

In a big win for environmentalists, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to keep the congressional ban on natural gas drilling in most federal offshore waters that start just a few miles from state coastlines. Energy companies have complained for years they need access to the trillions of cubic feet of natural gas in federal waters where drilling is banned to help meet growing gas demand that has lifted natural gas prices amid tighter supplies. High gas costs have forced many energy-intensive industries to scale back or move their operations to other countries where energy is cheaper. Higher natural gas utility bills have also pinched consumers.

23 killed, thousands homeless in China after Typhoon Chanchu

 Typhoon Chanchu has killed 23 people and left thousands homeless in two southern Chinese provinces, a government official said as the mop up operation after the heavy storm got under way. The typhoon had fizzled out by Friday morning and areas in China's southern and eastern coasts had lifted their typhoon alert. But the region was left counting the human and financial costs from the strongest typhoon to have struck the region at this time of year, after it slammed into southern Guangdong and Fujian provinces on Thursday morning.

Bomb Kills 4 GIs, Interpreter in Iraq

Four U.S. soldiers and their Iraqi interpreter were killed by a roadside bomb Thursday and at least two dozen Iraqis died in violence across the country, as politicians worked on a government they hope will restore security.

Meanwhile, Outgoing Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari held his last Cabinet meeting ahead of Saturday's presentation to parliament of the new national unity government.

Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki was looking over final candidates for the defense and interior ministries, and had reportedly shortlisted a small group for both.

EU ban on Sri Lanka rebels will only lead to war: rebel negotiator

 A statement by the rebels’ top negotiator said: A European Union ban on Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels will only lead to war in the country. The statement came as Sri Lanka's foreign minister visited Japan where he sought the help of donor nations to nudge the rebels back to negotiations. The Tigers are fighting for a minority Tamil homeland on the island where Sinhalese form the majority.