Archive 10

Saturday December 10, 2005

Leader Reiterates Support for Palestinian People

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei emphasized that the issue of Palestine in recent decades has become more important to the benefit of the oppressed Palestinian people and the world of Islam, while for international Zionism it has become detrimental. 

In a meeting with members of the headquarters of the international congress in support of the Islamic Revolution of Palestine, the Supreme Leader stated that the Islamic Ummah is capable of supporting the Palestinian nation with positive results. He added that the unusual sensitivity shown by the Zionists and their American supporters towards Iran and issues related to the illegal Zionist entity called Israel indicates their fear and weakness in the face of the Islamic Ummah's attention to the issue of Palestine. Ayatollah Khamenei termed Muslim countries as strong and serious supporters of the liberation of Holy Qods and praised the resistance of the Palestinian nation. 

He reiterated that despite all the conspiracies by the Zionists the struggle against the usurpers of al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestine has become firmly rooted in Islamic lands to the extent that global arrogance is unable to undermine it. The Supreme Leader also touched upon the warm reception by world Muslims and countries to Iran's plan for holding a referendum throughout occupied Palestine including what is known as Israel, and added that the Islamic Ummah seriously follows up the issue of the return home of Palestinian refugees to their homeland. 

He said the Islamic Ummah is strongly opposed to the destruction of the Islamic identity of occupied Qods and will not allow the Zionists to tamper with it. The Leader termed as important and valuable the holding of the international congress on Palestine and added that the Iranian government, parliament and all relevant organizations would extend necessary cooperation for holding the congress. The International Congress in support of the Palestinian Islamic Revolution would be held in the next three months in Tehran with the participation of thinkers and officials from the Islamic world.        

US Assistant Secretary of State’s Remarks about Iran

A day after the UN General Assembly passed the Iranian-proposed resolution on nuclear disarmament despite the opposition of Washington, its allies and other nuclear armed countries, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Affairs and International Security, Robert Joseph repeated his country’s baseless allegations that Iran was trying to gain access to nuclear weapons. 

Such absurd claims indicate that US statesmen moral and political bankruptcy. Washington is vainly trying to deviate public opinion from its dangerous nuclear weapons as well as from Iran’s peace-seeking policies.  

Britain Repeats Claim against Iran

With the approach of Iraq’s parliamentary elections on December 15 the moves by the country’s American and British occupiers to try to influence the election results have intensified. 

Among the American and British ploys in this regard is to try to depict a distorted picture of Iraq’s neighbors and accuse them of interfering in Iraq’s affairs, while it is London and Washington that are openly meddling in Iraqi affairs. The December 9 remarks by Head of the British House of Commons’ Foreign Relations Committee, Michael Kipps is an instance of this effort. Kipps claimed that groups supported by Iran have carried out operations against British troops and other occupation forces in Iraq.  

Hamas Leader Reiterates No Israel Truce

A political leader of the Palestinian freedom-fighting group, Hamas told a rally Friday that the group will not renew its truce with the illegal Zionist entity of Israel when it expires at the end of the year.

Khaled Mashaal told thousands of supporters in a Palestinian camp outside the Syrian capital Damascus:  "We will only choose the road of resistance, especially since we are waiting for the last moments of the truce, which has fatigued us."

He pointed out that the usurper Zionist state has failed to honor the truce's provision on prisoner releases and said the number of detainees increased to 9,000.

Mashaal added: "There is no room for a new truce."

Palestinian Youth Martyred In Gaza

A young Palestinian has been martyred by the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian sources Saturday, Zionist coast guards without any provocation, opened fire on a 27 year-old Palestinian who was busy fishing on the Gaza Strip and killed him.

No details have yet been released on the latest criminal act of the terrorist state of Israel.

Palestinian sources announced that in Friday’s attacks by Zionist forces in various parts of the lands occupied in 1967, at least 24 Palestinians including a woman were abducted.

Zionist regime forces in the past 5 years have abducted more than 20,000 Palestinians on various pretexts such as cooperating with combatant groups, of which 9000 are still being held captive.

UK Admits Its Complicity in Israel’s Nuclear Weapons Project

Britain admitted Friday that it knew that heavy water it sold in the 1950s, a key ingredient in making nuclear weapons, was bound for Israel.
An investigation by BBC television s Newsnight programme unearthed papers showing a deal was done to export heavy water.
Britain’s Foreign Office minister Kim Howells has however tried to say, unconvincingly, that Britain had merely negotiated the sale back to Norway of surplus heavy water. That surplus was then sold on to the illegal Zionist entity called Israel.
However, a Foreign Office spokesman admitted that Britain knew the heavy water’s final destination.

US Rejects Red Cross Call for Access to All Terror Suspects

The United States on Friday rejected a fresh call by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for full access to terror suspects, claiming that some of those detained were exceptional and posed unique threats to US security.
The ICRC on Friday sought access to all detainees held by the United States in the campaign against terror groups, including those held in secret prisons abroad.
The group is at present allowed to visit detainees held at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, under an internationally recognized legal mandate to oversee the fair treatment of detainees abducted from around the world by the US.
But recent reports by human rights groups have revealed that the United States is holding more detainees in secret prisons abroad.
The Geneva-based ICRC made the request for full access one day after comments by a senior US State Department official indicating that the humanitarian agency could not have access to the full range of detainees.

Climate Talks Enter 13th Day, But Deal Seems on Cards

UN parlays on global warming have gone into overtime leaving negotiators exhausted but optimistic the United States could be coaxed into talks on long-term action to tame greenhouse gases.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) went into an unscheduled 13th day after the United States but also Russia threw up negotiation roadblocks.

But sources said the United States, pressured from all sides, was willing to lift its opposition to a "dialogue" on how the world can enact deeper cuts in greenhouse gas pollution, provided the proposed forum be trimmed.

The proposal put forward by conference host Canada is for a "dialogue on long-term cooperative action" on cuts in greenhouse gases that makes no mention of any goals or measures to be taken.

It draws on text that the United States has already approved in other fora, including the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, in July.

N. Korea Attacks US for Envoy Calling It Criminal Regime

North Korea on Saturday lashed out at the new US ambassador to Seoul over his description of the fiercely anti-American government in Pyongyang as criminal, calling the comment an intolerable provocation.
A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland that aims to reunite the Korean Peninsula separated since 1950 by the US, said the remarks by American Ambassador Alexander Vershbow amounted to a declaration of war against the whole Korean nation.
Vershbow -- who replaced Christopher Hill, now the chief US nuclear negotiator with North Korea, as ambassador in October -- made the provocative remarks in a speech to journalists in Seoul Wednesday.
The spokesman of the North Korean government agency dealing with inter-Korean affairs said this clearly proved that nothing has changed in its hostile policy toward North Korea although Pyongyang signed the joint statement at the six-party talks for a peaceful solution to the nuclear crisis.

Taliban Attack Afghan Police: Eight Police, Six Militants

Taliban fighters attacked two police posts in volatile southern Afghanistan late Friday, with eight policemen and six attackers killed in the ensuing battles.

Police said Saturday that the biggest attack was in southernmost Helmand province, where about 90 Taliban stormed a police post in Garmser district.
Garmser district police Chief Haji Bahador Jan said seven policemen were killed and six wounded.
He said five Taliban were also killed, while four police cars were burnt and the police and district building damaged.
A purported spokesman for the Taliban confirmed that about 90 of the group’s fighters had carried out the attack.

IAEA and El-Baradei to Receive 2005 Nobel Peace Prize

The UN’s nuclear watchdog and its Director General, Mohamed El-Baradei, will receive the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Saturday for what is being claimed as their efforts to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons, although the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency has neither been able to question Israel on its growing atomic weapons stockpile nor dared to prevent the US and other western powers on their experiments to develop even more dangerous bombs, 60 years after the Americans dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Later in the day in Stockholm, the winners of the Literature, Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Economics prizes will receive their awards.

Croatian Ex-General Leaves Spain for UN War Crimes Court

Croatian ex-general Ante Gotovina left Spain Saturday aboard a military plane bound for the Netherlands, where he is to be handed over to the UN war crimes tribunal.

A source at the military base at Getafe outside Madrid said at 9:25 am (0825 GMT) that the plane carrying Gotovina took off a few moments ago.
The source said the former general was traveling to Rotterdam aboard a Spanish military aircraft accompanied by Interpol agents. Gotovina, who was arrested at a hotel in Spain’s Canary Islands on Wednesday, was taken from Madrid’s Soto del Real prison earlier Saturday.

Tigers Demand Urgent Talks to Defuse Sri Lanka War Fears

Tamil Tiger rebels have asked Norway to arrange urgent peace talks with Colombo to prevent Sri Lanka from sliding back into war after 31 people died in a week of violence.

A report on the website of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Saturday that the group told Norway's top envoy here, Hans Brattskar, that there should be immediate negotiations to maintain a tenuous truce in place since February 2002.

The LTTE's political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan said: "Our commitment to the ceasefire and the peace process remains undiluted and what we request now is to urgently arrange a high-level meeting between the parties."

In a report on their official website, the LTTE said only face-to-face negotiations could "bring about normalcy and avoid confrontational postures between the civilians and the occupying military."

There was no immediate comment from the government or the Norwegians.

Clinton Criticizes Bush

Former US President Bill Clinton has sharply criticized the Present US administration for not backing the Kyoto Environmental Protocol.

According to BBC television program, Clinton said in the Weather Conference in Montreal Canada on Friday that President George Bush should change his views on Kyoto and start supporting this environmental pact.

The US administration left Kyoto in 2001 and has so far done nothing to help achieving the Treaty's target that is diminishing the level of greenhouse gases. On the contrary the US has even been found guilty of creating obstacles on the way of the treaty.

The US, alone, is responsible for releasing 25% of harmful gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

Chavez Accuses EU and OAC

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has charged the European Union and the Organization of American States, OAS, of creating instability and crisis in his country.

According to Reuters in Caracas the EU and the Washington based Organization of American States in their reports described the December 4 parliamentary elections in Venezuela as sound and fair, but alleged that there had been some unspecified instances of cheating and negligence on the side of the organizers of the elections.

The Venezuelan President, speaking in Monte Video Friday described the allegations made by EU and OAS as an ambush on his country. He stated: this is a tactic used against Venezuela, where they are trying to destabilize by creating a landmine.

Chavez said the EU and OAS representatives were plotting against the interests of people and democracy.

Although the final results are not out yet, but Chavez supporters believe they have won all 167 seats of the Parliament.

Thursday November 10, 2005

  FM leaves Ashkhabad for Tehran

Iranian Foreign Minister, Manoucher Mottaki left the Turkmen capital of Ashkhabad for Tehran on Wednesday afternoon.
In his one-day visit to Turkmenistan, heading a political and parliamentary delegation, Mottaki met Turkmen President Safarmurat Niyazov as well as his counterpart, Rashid Meredov.
Meanwhile, the minister inspected Iran Khodro complex in Ashkhabad and held talks with a number of Iranian officials and businessmen residing in Turkmenistan.

Iran’s Cooperation with IAEA, an Excellent Trend

Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, has said that cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has an excellent trend.

Aghazadeh told reporters on Thursday that Iran has responded to the IAEA’s earlier report. In return, the IAEA has expressed its gratitude and it seems that its November report would be positive.

Aghazadeh pointing to the nuclear activities at the Isfahan UCF site said the activities at this nuclear installation is by no means out of the framework of nuclear talks, since the IAEA inspectors have had complete supervision over its activities.

He continued saying the suspension of activities at the Natanz nuclear site is an aim to make achievements in the negotiations, and reiterated that Iran’s nuclear issue has a political solution, which the Europeans must understand.

The head of the IAEO emphasized that there is no reason whatsoever to refer Iran’s nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council, adding the talks must undergo a specific framework to be fruitful, an issue that is in favor of the Islamic Republic.

Blasts Kill 67 at Jordan Hotels

Blasts carried out on three hotels in the Jordanian capital Wednesday night, killed at least 67 people and wounded more than 300.

The explosions hit the Grand Hyatt, Radisson SAS and Days Inn hotels just before 9 p.m. local time.

Iran Condemns Jordan Bombings

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi, has condemned the devastating bomb explosions on Wednesday night in the Jordanian capital of Amman.

Asefi offered the Iranian government and nation’s condolences to the government of Jordan and families of the victims, saying that such measures are against the basic principles of Human Rights.

Asefi by expressing hatred towards such an atrocity said that these bombings are clear evidence of the violent logic of terrorism, which is in discord with human and Islamic teachings.

Two Suicide Bombers Kill 35 in Iraq

Two suicide bombers detonated themselves near a restaurant frequented by Baghdad police Thursday morning, killing at least 33 people and injuring 25.

The blast echoed through central Baghdad at about 9:45 a.m., local time when police officers frequently stop by for breakfast. Police Maj. Abdel-Hussein Minsef said two bombers attacked the restaurant, killing seven police officers and 28 civilians.

One Palestinian Martyred in Gaza

Zionist forces have martyred a Palestinian in the Gaza Strip.

According to AFP, quoting Palestinian hospital sources, Israeli soldiers early Thursday opened fire on a Palestinian in the western part of the city of Al-Berij in central Gaza and martyred him. The Palestinian has not yet been identified.

Zionist forces have martyred 3,012 Palestinians since the beginning of the Intifadha on September 28^th 2000.  

Taliban Behead Two Civilians, Kill Seven Afghan Police

Militants loyal to Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime killed seven Afghan police and beheaded two civilians in the country's insurgency-hit south.

Uruzgan governor Jan Mohammad said on Thursday: "The policemen were killed in an ambush Wednesday on a three-vehicle convoy on a highway between Uruzgan province and Kandahar, a former Taliban hotbed.

One of the vehicles escaped the ambush but two were destroyed.

Mohammad said: "Seven police were killed on the spot and two are missing. The two vehicles were destroyed as well."

Mohammad said: "In another incident in Uruzgan, Taliban insurgents abducted two civilians on Monday and beheaded them."  

Blair's Authority in Doubt after Defeat on Terror Bill

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's authority was thrown into doubt after his attempt to toughen up Britain's anti-terror laws in the wake of the London bombings was roundly defeated in parliament.

It was the first time in his eight years in power that Blair had been humiliated in the House of Commons, with no less than 49 members of his own Labour Party joining the opposition to water down the Terrorism Bill.

Speculation immediately swirled over how long Blair will be able to act effectively, or even how long he can stay in office, particularly with controversial health and education reforms in the pipeline.

But the main opposition Conservative leader, Michael Howard, said: "Blair's authority has been diminished almost to vanishing point. This vote shows he is no longer able to carry his own party with him. "He must now consider his position."

French Towns Under Curfew 

Curfews came into force in more than 30 French towns and cities following the country's worst unrest since May 1968.

Speaking after a state of emergency took effect in worst-hit parts of the country, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said non-French nationals convicted over the riots would be deported, a move angrily condemned by rights groups.

Dozens more car-burnings and arson attacks were reported Wednesday through early Thursday, the 14th night of disturbances.

Rain in Pakistan Quake Zone Heightens Disease Fears

United Nations officials warned Thursday that widespread rain in Pakistan’s quake zone could be disastrous for their struggle to contain an outbreak of acute diarrhea in squalid tent camps.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF said: "There have been at least 200 cases and possibly as many as 750 at one camp for homeless quake survivors in Pakistani Kashmir, amid fears that it could be cholera.
Rain would be disastrous, WHO emergency Coordinator Rachel Lavy said at the main camp on the sports ground of the devastated university in the Pakistani Kashmir capital of Muzaffarabad, where around 3,000 people are living.

US Calls for North Korea to Close Reactor

The United States has called for North Korea to act immediately in dismantling its nuclear program.

US chief delegate Christopher Hill called on North Korea to close its nuclear reactor.

After a one-on-one dinner with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Gye-gwan, that followed a flurry of plenary and bilateral meetings on Wednesday, Hill expressed frustration at the pace of progress following their September deal.

The United States, the two Koreas, China, Russia and Japan convened the fifth round of the talks following a September 19 agreement.

Democrat Wins Signal Trouble for Bush

Democrats on Wednesday celebrated hard-fought wins in governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey that underlined the political troubles of President George W. Bush and Republicans heading into next year's congressional elections.

Democrats retained governor's offices in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday. They also dealt California's Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger an across-the-board defeat on four ballot initiatives he had championed.

With Bush's popularity at the lowest level of his presidency, the results helped Democrats claim momentum one year before elections to decide control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress and 36 governorships.

Oil Company Execs Defend Profits to Senate

Oil executives sought to justify their huge profits under tough questioning Wednesday, but they found little sympathy from senators who said their constituents are suffering from high energy prices.

Sen. Barbara Boxer told the executives, citing multimillion-dollar bonuses the officials are receiving amid soaring prices at gasoline pumps and predictions of more of the same for winter heating bills: "Your sacrifice appears to be nothing,"

Sen. Pete Domenici said: "There is a "growing suspicion that oil companies are taking unfair advantage," "The oil companies owe the American people an explanation."

The executives represented five major companies that, along with their global parent corporations, earned more than $32.8 billion during the July-September quarter. Consumers, meanwhile, saw gasoline prices soar beyond $3 a gallon in the aftermath of supply disruptions caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Lawmakers Discuss Military's Disaster Role

Republican lawmakers raised concerns Wednesday about US President George W Bush's push to expand the Pentagon's response role during disasters like Hurricane Katrina, fearing the military could be stretched too thin.

Rep. Dave G. Reichert told a House panel: "To an American public understandably upset by the slow response to Hurricane Katrina and frightened by a possible avian flu outbreak, the president's suggestion merits discussion."

Reichert said: However, "if the military assumes primary responsibility for both national defense and emergency response, then its dual missions may drain valuable resources and personnel."

Bush proposed putting the Pentagon in charge of search-and-rescue efforts for catastrophic natural disasters in the aftermath of the government's sluggish response to Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29.

Lawmakers also questioned whether expanding the military's mission would take away too much authority from state and local officials. They also noted laws that prohibit active duty troops from undertaking police duties or other domestic law enforcement activities.

Judith Miller Retires From The N.Y. Times

Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter who was first lionized, then vilified by her own newspaper for her role in the CIA leak case, retired from the Times on Wednesday evening, declaring that she had to leave because she had "become the news."

Miller, 57, had been negotiating a severance deal with the paper for several weeks.

She spent 85 days in jail over the summer for refusing to testify about her conversations with a confidential source. But after her release, she was criticized harshly by Times editors and writers for her actions in the CIA leak case and for her reporting during the run-up to the Iraq war.

The Times declined to disclose details of the severance package, but said the paper had agreed to print a letter from Miller in which she defended herself and explained her reasons for leaving.

Monday October 10, 2005

Rescuers Struggle to Reach Quake Survivors, 40,000 Feared Dead  

Rescuers were struggling to reach cold and traumatized earthquake survivors cut off in the mountains of northeast Pakistan, as the authorities warned the death toll could reach 40,000.

The  roads leading into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir -- the area worst affected by Saturday's 7.6 magnitude quake -- were blocked by landslides. Power and water supplies were down, hospitals and schools destroyed.

A senior official said Monday the quake had killed between 30,000 and 40,000 people in Pakistan, and injured another 60,000. The official toll remained at 19,000 but military Spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said it would rise.

Sultan told AFP: "It is a whole generation that has been lost in the worst affected areas. The maximum number affected was schoolchildren." 

He added: "The hardest hit area was around the Pakistani Kashmir capital of Muzaffarabad."

President and Cabinet Meet with Supreme Leader

Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has stressed that when dealing with public affairs the ultimate goal in Alavi school of thoughts is gaining people’s satisfaction.

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the efficiency of the officials should be measured on the basis of their level of success in getting public contentment.

Addressing the President, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, and his cabinet Saturday evening, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei called on officials to apply the sublime principles of the Holy Month of Ramadan when offering agreeable services to people and abstain from favoritism.

The Leader described the profiteers as a group of greedy individuals who see no end to their economic and political aims at the cost of public discontent.  He said: "This group of people, who dislike justice, offer least possible efforts at the difficult times and are the most impatient."

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to teachings of Imam Ali (PBUH) on the issue of commendable choice of civil servants saying: Imam Ali always insisted that the officials should be monitored and reproached if committing a wrong.

He advised officials to guard against egotism, approval seeking, compliment-fishing and making clients feel indebted, over-confidence, negligence and rigidity by insisting that wrong policies should continue.

No Consensus on Iranian Nuclear Issue

US Former Chief of National Security Council, Kurt Campbell, says efforts to send Iranian nuclear dossier to Security Council would fail due to a lack of consensus.

Campbell who was in charge of the National Security Council during Clinton administration told our correspondent that legal and logical obstacles as well as Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA’s inspectors would prevent the referral of Iranian dossier to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

Campbell further stated that many member states of the board of governors oppose the referral to the Security Council of the US-EU proposed resolution against Iran’s nuclear activities. “This, he says, shows strong opposition by many countries against US and EU’s radicalism.

British Scenario against Iran and Iraq

The British scenario that began last Wednesday with the claim by a senior official about Iran’s intervention in Iraq continued Sunday by some of the country’s media. 

It is said that this official was Britain’s Ambassador to Iraq William Pitty, but the British have not sufficed to these remarks and Prime Minister Tony Blair repeated this claim and in this way eclipsed his press conference with Iraqi President JaLal Talebani. Although Blair’s remarks were more cautious, Pitty had claimed that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps of Iran was behind the blasts in southern Iraq that killed 8 British soldiers. He added that the technology given to a Shiite group behind the blasts belonged to Iran. Pitty’s remarks were rejected by Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman and Embassy in London.  

Zionists Kill Martyr 3 Palestinian Youths

Zionist regime soldiers are reported to have shot and martyred 3 Palestinian youths in south Gaza Strip.

AFP quoted local medical sources as saying that gun shot wounds took the lives of three young Palestinians shot at in areas near the so called Security Wall in Gaza.

Palestinian sources acknowledged that none of the victims were armed. The news was also confirmed by the Israeli radio Saturday evening announcing that soldiers opened fire and killed three suspects inside the Palestinian side of the wall.

Despite the closure of illegal Jewish settlements and the pull out of Zionist troops from Gaza Strip, in the assaults of the regime’s army on Palestinian regions on Gaza during the past two weeks alone over 40 Palestinians lost their lives and tens of others have been injured.

Four Iraqi Soldiers Killed, 10 Wounded in North Iraq

A local police source said Monday: "Four Iraqi soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in overnight attacks near the northern city of Kirkuk."

Colonel Ahmed al-Obeidi said: "The first attack took place around midnight (2100 GMT) in Hawijah, west of the oil centre, when an explosion ripped apart an army patrol.

Two soldiers were killed and eight wounded in the blast.
Early Monday, two more soldiers were killed and two wounded in similar circumstances as they patrolled a town south of Kirkuk.

An Interior Ministry source said In the Huriyah neighborhood of northwest Baghdad police discovered five bodies early Monday in a park. Their hands were bound and the victims had been shot dead.

Last Minute Constitution Talks Seek Iraqi Sunni Support

Last minute talks on how to win Sunni Arab support for the Iraqi constitution hummed in Baghdad Monday as the country prepared to vote on the charter amid continuing violence.

A senior Kurdish official said: "The discussions, sponsored by Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, aimed at finding ways to rally Sunni Arabs behind the draft document, which they fear will lead to a break-up of Iraq."
The official who asked to remain anonymous added: "Barezani met Sunday with Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the powerful Shiite religious party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and also with Sunni leaders."

Iraqi government spokesman Leith Kubba acknowledged the talks, urging that they find a way to win over Sunni Arabs who could reject the constitution.

Japanese Public Opposes Keeping Troops in Iraq-Poll

A newspaper poll showed on Monday: Three out of four Japanese people oppose extending the non-combat mission of their country's 600 troops in southern Iraq beyond its planned end in December

Opposition to extending the mission was strong even among those who back Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The daily Mainichi Shimbun said 77 percent of those surveyed opposed keeping Japan's military in Iraq beyond the end of Japan's self-imposed mandate on December 14, while 18 percent were in favor.

Some 66 percent of LDP supporters surveyed said they were opposed to an extension, said Mainichi.

The survey comes after the Yomiuri newspaper said last month that Japan was considering pulling out its troops from Samawa in southern Iraq in the first half of next year. The government has denied that it had such a plan.

Venezuela’s Chavez: Capitalism Causes Natural Disasters

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blamed global capitalism for earthquakes hitting India, Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as for mudslides that have struck Central America and Mexico.
Speaking on his weekly radio and television call-in program, Hello, Mr. President, Chavez said these catastrophes were nature’s answer to the world global capitalist model.
This model is destroying the world. The world is in danger.
He said: "Never has there been such disasters, hurricanes, droughts, and torrential rains. Incredible! The world is dangerously off balance."

Earlier Sunday, US television evangelist Pat Robertson, who caused ripples weeks ago calling for Chavez assassination, said the natural disasters point to the end of the world and the imminent return of Jesus.

US Muslims Mobilize Aid for Quake Victims

Islamic charities in the United States issued urgent appeals on Sunday for donations to help victims of the devastating earthquake that struck South Asia.
Ibrahim Hooper of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said: "Just as Americans came together to help the victims of recent hurricanes that ravaged coast of the Gulf of Mexico, we must do whatever we can to help those suffering from natural disasters in other parts of the world.
The group urged Americans of all faiths to pray for those killed, injured or left homeless by the earthquake.
Governments and aid agencies raced to deliver aid to the region after the massive earthquake shook parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on Saturday, killing nearly 20,000 people and injuring over 42,000.

Government Loyalist Among Two Killed by Bomb in Afghanistan

Government officials said: "A prominent former Mujahedin commander allied to the government and at least one other person were killed Monday in a bomb blast in volatile southern Afghanistan.
The attack was the third around the southern city of Kandahar, once a power-base for the hard-line Taliban movement, in less than a week.
Officials said: "The bomb struck a building owned by Agha Shah, a former anti-Soviet mujahedin fighter who had been one of thousands of former mujahedin to demobilize under a government program.

Kandahar governor Assadullah Khaled told reporters: "Two people including Agha Shah were killed and nine others were wounded.

Two of the wounded are in serious condition.

Rift in the US Conservatives Camp

The nomination of Ms. Harriet Miers for the post of the US Supreme Court has led to the creation of a rift among US Conservatives. 

Pat Buchanan who is a prominent figure among traditional conservatives has criticized US President George W Bush and called for the elimination of Miers' name as a nominee for the Supreme Court. William Kristol in the Weekly Standard publication which is known as the neo-conservatives' bible has described Miers as a relatively liberal figure. It should be noted that Bush in his weekly radio address has emphasized Miers as being a Conservative.

Delphi Move Could Force Industry Changes

Delphi Corporation's bankruptcy could change the face of the US auto industry, ratcheting up the pressure to produce cheaper auto parts overseas and forcing unprecedented cuts in union wages and benefits.

It was reported Sunday that Delphi, the largest US auto supplier, filed for bankruptcy Saturday and is expected to slash jobs and wages and close many of its 31 US plants as part of its reorganization.

General Motors Corporation, Delphi's largest customer and former parent, said it might have to assume up to $11 billion in retirement benefits for Delphi's union-represented employees.

But the ripple effects won't end there. Delphi has 500 suppliers of its own who are waiting to see what kind of labor agreement Delphi negotiates with the United Auto Workers. Once a leaner Delphi emerges from bankruptcy, expected in 2007, its suppliers could face added pressure to lower their own costs through wage cuts or increased use of overseas labor.

Jim Gillette, a supplier Analyst with CSM Worldwide said, “there's a great deal of concern among auto suppliers about whether they can remain profitable or survive with union contracts. If Delphi's willing to force renegotiation through a bankruptcy filing, I suspect other suppliers would do the same."

  US Calls for Reducing Agricultural Subsidies by 60 Percent

The United States has retaken the initiative in Doha world trade liberalization talks by proposing to reduce agricultural subsidies paid to American farmers by 60 percent over the next five years.
Developing countries have long charged US subsidies are distorting this key market.
The offer was unveiled by US Trade Representative Rob Portman in an open letter published in the online edition of The Financial Times just hours before trade ministers were to convene in Zurich, Switzerland, for talks on trade liberalization.
But Portman said greater cuts must be required by the European Union and Japan, which he said have much larger agricultural subsidies.

Official Death Toll from Central American Floods Surges to 763

The official death toll from massive floods ravaging Central America and Mexico has surged to 763 as hundreds more were feared dead in Guatemala Monday, following last week’s mudslide that swallowed two small towns in the west of the country.

Hugo Hernandez, secretary of the Guatemalan National Disaster Relief Committee, said late Sunday the number of dead in his country had risen from 519 to 652 as emergency workers made their way to about 100 remote communities previously cut off by the disaster.

In addition, 72 people were listed dead in El Salvador, 28 in Mexico and 11 in Nicaragua.
But the death toll was likely to double as about 1,400 people were believed to have been buried alive by a mudslide that hit the Guatemalan towns of Panajab and Tzanchaj, 180 kilometers west of the Guatemalan capital, before dawn Wednesday.

Saturday September 10, 2005

 Majlis Not to Ratify NPT Additional Protocol

Iran's members of Parliament are preparing a plan to suspend the ratification of the NPT Additional Protocol in case of the referral of Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council.

According to Fars News agency based on the draft of a plan in case Iran's peaceful nuclear activities are unjustly referred to the UN Security Council, the Iranian government would be obliged to fully shelve the ratification of the NPT Additional Protocol. The three-star priority plan further states that in case of referral of the case to any other international body in spite of Iran's full-fledged cooperation with the IAEA the Iranian government would be obliged to immediately dispense with the Additional Protocol following official announcement to the IAEA.  

Rice Calls for the Referral of Iran's Dossier to the UN Security Council

US State Secretary, Condoleezza Rice has called for the referral of the case of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities to the UN Security Council.

According to Reuters from Washington, Rice said on Friday that the US expects the dossier to be referred to the Security Council for what she claimed as possible efforts by Iran to manufacture nuclear weapons. Rice called on China, Russia and India to join the US and the EU for convincing Iran to quit its peaceful nuclear activities. Meanwhile Russian Deputy foreign Minister, Alexander Yakovenko said that Moscow is opposed to the referral of Iran's case to the Security Council. The Indian state minister for foreign affairs said that India calls for the resolution of the issue through negotiations.

IAEA Chief, Mohammad el-Baradei in a report to the Board of Governors last week confirmed Iran's stance with regard to the external source of uranium contamination.     

US Forces Sweep Into Tal Afar

US and Iraqi troops swept into the insurgent stronghold of Tal Afar early Saturday, conducting house-to-house searches and battering down walls with armored vehicles.

In the capital, Baghdad International Airport — the country's only reliable and relatively safe link to the outside world — reopened a day after a British security company suspended operations there in a payment dispute with the government.

The Tal Afar offensive, expected for weeks, began with US and Iraqi forces facing several hundred lightly armed insurgents in the largely deserted city, 260 miles northwest of Baghdad and about 60 miles east of the Syrian border.

Gunfire could be heard from the Sarai district, the oldest part of the city and believed to be the headquarters of the insurgents who last month burst into the city and expelled its inhabitants under threats of death, especially the Shi’ite majority.

End of Inter-Parliamentary Union Meet & US Obstructionism

The Inter-Parliamentary Union ended its work in New York by approving a communiqué calling for a greater role for the 40 thousand members of world parliaments.

he representatives of world parliaments in the communiqué that was issued on September 9^th considered cooperation and participation in international talks to be a necessity for development, peace and security and reiterated the strengthening of the UN to cope with the world’s economic problems and social development. The statement reflects the call of the world nations through the institution named parliament as the highest form of the people’s participation in fateful decision-makings.

  Egypt Opposition Cries Foul after Mubarak Romps Home

Egypt’s opposition cried foul Saturday after official results for the country’s presidential poll gave US-backed President, Hosni Mubarak a whopping 88 percent of the vote for his 5^th 6-year term although with a low turnout.
Official results announced late Friday by Presidential Election Commission Chairman, Mamduh Marai gave the 77-year-old, who has been in power for the past 24 years since he took over the reins of government after declaring a state of emergency in 1981 on the assassination of Anwar Sadaat by Egyptian Muslim revolutionaries, at 88.5 percent.

Egyptian Troops Start Deploying Along Gaza Border

Egyptian forces started deploying along their border with the Gaza Strip on Saturday, ahead of Israel’s military pullout from the Palestinian territory.

A senior security source said in the Egyptian border town of al-Arash that on receiving the green light Egypt started deploying its troop this morning in the area that has been sealed off in coordination with the Zionist entity.
A senior security official on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border confirmed that the Egyptian forces had begun deploying along the 14-kilometer frontier.
Major Walid Saleh, Head of preventative security at the Gaza Strip’s Rafah border crossing into Egypt said Egyptians started deploying since 8:00 am from the sea to the border terminal.
He said Egyptian troops were on patrol and bulldozing land on the Egyptian side of their shared border with the Gaza Strip.

Counting Continues for Katrina’s Estimated 10,000 Dead

The first street-by-street sweep of the city of New Orleans revealed toxic floodwaters seeping in as counting of the estimated death toll of 10,000 continues with authorities trying to deny that figures may not be so high.

Retired Marine Colonel, Terry Ebbert, the city's homeland security chief declined to give a revised estimate.

Also Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projected it will take a month to dry out New Orleans, which had been 80 percent covered following the storm and levee breaches. The Corps previously said it could take 80 days.  

Destitution of Head of US Federal Crisis Management Agency

US Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff in a meeting with Todd Allen temporarily appointed him as head of this Agency. Harry Reid the head of the minority in the US Senate by calling this decision insufficient called for Brown’s official destitution. In the past days the negligence and incapability of US officials in sending relief to the victims of the hurricane has been a point of attention.  

US Citizens Call George W. Bush A Liar

According to New York Times US citizens are not satisfied with President George W. Bush's feigned sympathy concerning the Katrina catastrophe and know him as a person of double standards.

New York Times stated in its latest edition that the Americans are angry about Washington's inability to rush relief aid for the flood-hit people of New Orleans and neighbouring areas. It added: "US citizens believe that Bush is indifferent toward this crisis in comparison with the 9/11 incidents that rocked New York and Washington four years ago."

It also mentioned that even after news regarding the hurricane was released and tens of thousands of American citizens were killed or injured, the President still did not end his vacation."

This newspaper also added: "Opinion polls indicate that 42% of Americans consider Bush's clumsy and belated reaction to Hurricane Katrina unacceptable and horrific and view him as a liar."

Biggest US Islamic Center Helps Katrina Victims

The Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has started wide scale relief operations in order to help the survivors of the disastrous Hurricane Katrina.

According to IRNA from New York, the CAIR has appealed to all US Muslims to donate basic necessities to the Katrina survivors in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.

By starting an Internet base specifically for collecting donations for the survivor, CAIR has promised a 10 million dollar fund for the people in these regions.

Twelve days ago Hurricane Katrina devastated the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, leaving tens of thousands killed, hundreds of thousands injured and more than a million homeless.

US Congress to Investigate 9/11 Loan Abuses

The US Congress will investigate the flagrant abuse of a federal loan program designed to help businesses recover from the September 11 attacks of four years ago and make sure such problems don't occur with Hurricane Katrina relief.

Republican Senator, Olympia Snowe from Maine, Chairwoman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, announced the investigation in response to an Associated Press story Thursday that showed the federal program was so loosely managed that it gave low-interest loans to companies that didn't need terrorism relief or even know they were getting it.

Snowe said: "The apparent widespread abuse of loans provided through the Supplemental Terrorist Activity Relief Act is nothing short of an outrage."

The committee chairwoman said she would demand answers from both the banks that gave the loans and the Small Business Administration, which supervised the program.  

False Democratic Claims by the US in the Middle East

Palestine's Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas voiced concern over the trend of intervention by the US and the Zionist entity in the Palestinian parliamentary elections.

The US has announced that it would not negotiate with any Hamas member in case of the victory of the Islamic Resistance group in the parliamentary elections. In response to these meddling statements, Hamas emphasized that the US government is involved in measures against Hamas to the benefit of the Zionist regime. A Hamas spokesman reiterated that such measures are due to the US' fear of the widely expected overwhelming victory of Hamas in the parliamentary elections. The Hamas movement has stressed that election is a Palestinian domestic issue and the US and the Zionist regime have no right to interfere.

Pakistan to Free 435 Indian Prisoners to Push Peace

Pakistan will release 435 Indian prisoners on Monday, ahead of a meeting between the leaders of the two South Asian rivals, to nudge forward their slow-moving peace process.

Pakistan and India routinely arrest each other's nationals who stray into either country's territory, and New Delhi on Friday said it would release 152 Pakistani prisoners on September 12.

Salahuddin Haider, a Spokesman for the government of the southern Pakistani coastal province of Sindh, said 371 of the 435 Indian civilian detainees were fishermen.

He said: "They would all be handed over to the Indian authorities at the eastern border post of Wagah on Monday."

6 Killed, 8 Injured in Indian Kashmir

Six people were killed in Indian controlled Kashmir when identified gunmen stormed into homes their and opened fire.

The killings took place late Friday in southern Udhampur district, around 230 kilometers south of Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir where a revolt against Indian rule has raged since 1989.
Indian authorities blamed Kashmiri groups for the killing but no Kashmiri group has claimed responsibility.

As in similar cases, Kashmiris raise their suspicions against Indian security forces or groups financed by them.

Uzbekistan Shuts down US-Based Media Support Group

A court in Uzbekistan has ordered the US-based media support group Internews to close its Tashkent office.

Internews said on Saturday that the Tashkent civil court ordered the closure on the basis of convictions against two Internews employees for distributing videos without a licence and for procedural violations such as failing to register the group’s logo.

Internews’ Tashkent Director Catherine Eldridge alleged the closure to be a politically motivated case without referring to the charges of violations against the American media group.

Wednesday August 10, 2005

Iran-EU Nuke Talks

Iran has announced readiness to continue talks with the EU, brushing aside any pre-conditions.

The Iranian Senior Negotiator in the nuclear talks with the EU, Syrus Naseri took part in a press conference in Vienna saying: "Iran will not agree with any pre-conditions including a suspension of uranium enrichment and conversion activities by any of the three EU countries of Britain, Germany and France."

Naseri added, 'Iran won't accept the EU proposal unless it includes the right of uranium enrichment and conversion. Meanwhile, Iran will continue with its enrichment activities and won't bring them to a halt like when it did in Nov. 2004 – EU talks.'

US President, George Bush Tuesday described as a positive step Iran's readiness to carry on with the talks. Bush said he was informed of Iran's willingness to go ahead with the talks while he was vacationing in his summer ranch in the state of Texas.

Iranian President, Mahmood Ahmadinejad Monday said in telephone conversation with UN Secretary General, Koffi Anan that he was ready for talks, stressing that the trend of talks had never been hurt by the Iranian side. He also expressed Iran's interest in continuing the talks based on the regulations set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA.

In the meantime, German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder referring to Iran-EU nuke talks, said, ' I see no other option but a return to the negotiating table.'

Rejecting the escalation of the tension between Iran and the EU, Schroeder called on Iran to respond positively to EU's request to suspend nuclear activities and return to talks.

Four US Soldiers Killed, Six Wounded in Iraq

Four US occupation soldiers were killed and six wounded when their patrol was attacked near the northern town of Baiji in Iraq on Tuesday night.

The US military said Wednesday the latest deaths bring the total US military casualties in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to 1,834. The exact fatalities are much higher while the number of wounded American soldiers is almost 20,000 with many of them disabled for life.

The last three weeks have been one of the bloodiest periods for US forces in Iraq with over 40 soldiers killed across the war-torn country.

Iraqi Situation and US Seeking out a Scapegoat

A lack of security in Iraq is the country's most serious problem for which the American occupiers are apparently trying to find a scapegoat. If their occupying army is not to blame for the instability and insecurity in that country, so it must be a neighboring state like Iran, which according to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, did nothing to prevent the shipment of weapons to Iraq.

It is now predicted that with the upcoming constitution referendum in October in Iraq and the elections in December, new wave of violence will hit this already devastated country. Rumsfeld has alleged that the enemy would try to escalate the atmosphere of fear in order to stop the political trend in that country.

US Troops Kill Five Civilians in Afghanistan

US occupation forces killed four youths by bombing a village in the Zabol province in Afghanistan.

Taliban Spokesman, Latifollah Hakimi, in an interview with IRIB’s Pashto radio service said Tuesday evening that after the Taliban militia attacked two US patrols and set them on fire in the Mara village in the provincial city of Dai-Choupan in Zabol province US aircrafts bombed the village killing at least four youths.

He also reported that a barrage of ten rockets was fired at a concentration of US occupation forces, following which US aircraft indiscriminately bombed the village of Sidan, and set ablaze crops newly harvested by innocent farmers.

The Taliban spokesman added the militia on Tuesday by attacking US occupation forces guarding a mourning ceremony for a deceased Afghan Parliamentary candidate destroyed a US military vehicle. No details are yet available of the attack.

The Taliban militia on Monday night killed Parliamentary candidate Hashem in the provincial city of Andar in Ghazni province.       

US Negotiating with Other Countries for Return of Guantanamo

The US State Department confirmed Tuesday that Washington is negotiating with several Muslim countries to return detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to their custody.
State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli said: “We are now looking at moving forward on understandings with a number of other countries for an even greater number of transfers.”
The Washington Post, quoting a senior State Department official, said the United States is nearing agreement with 10 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and Morocco. The detainees of Guantanamo, who have been subjected to shocking psychological, physical and sexual torture number around 600 and were picked up randomly in Afghanistan by the US occupation forces who have accused them of terrorism, without substantiating their claim.

British Parties Criticize Government’s Anti-Terrorist Policy

Different British parties have criticized the government’s anti-terrorist policy.

According to IRNA from London, a new so-called anti-terrorist bill has been confirmed and included in the government’s agenda, after the suspicious 7/7 attacks on London’s transport system, which left 56 dead and 700 others wounded.

British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, four days ago in a news conference referred to some parts of the anti-terrorist bill, and said Britain will revise the Human Rights regulations for what he called expelling the sponsors of terrorism and prevent them from entering British soil as well as banning the activity of several extremist groups in Britain. He did not elaborate what he meant.

Dependant representative of the Labour Party and former Deputy of British Home Office, John Dunham, who is also the head of the House of Commons Committee for investigation of the London attacks, charged governmental officials with expressing inappropriate and illogical ideas.

Home Secretary of the Shadow Cabinet of the Conservative party, David Davis, also said the government was rather vague. Member of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes, by criticizing the government’s proposals, said there is no way for fighting terrorism.

US, N. Korea Might Have New Direct Contacts: US Negotiator

The United States might have new direct consultations with North Korea while six-party talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear program are in recess.

The US envoy to the negotiations Christopher Hill said he expected a flurry of bilateral diplomacy among all the parties before the talks resume the week of August 29 in Beijing where they recessed Sunday after 13 grueling days.
The talks were broken because of US intransigence and double standards.

India, Pakistan Hold Second Day of Trade Talks

India and Pakistan may expand shipping and air links as trade officials from both countries held a second day of meetings Wednesday to boost trade ties.
The talks came after the nuclear-armed rivals reached accord in the capital at the weekend on measures to cut the risks of accidental conflict as part of a slow peace process between the neighbours who have fought three wars.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) said the two sides made progress on civil aviation and shipping agreements for expanding trade between the South Asian rivals.
The agency quoting an unnamed official source said there is some forward movement on improving air and sea links for which fresh civil aviation and shipping agreements would be entered into. It added that both sides would meet again next month to thrash out the fresh agreements.

Polls: Japanese PM’s Election Gamble on Reform Wins Support

Opening polls in Tokyo indicated Wednesday that Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi’s popularity has risen sharply since he called elections, while others content that he was setting the stage for his own defeat.
The poll was meant to bolster Koizumi as he stepped up his purge of opponents within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), tapping a popular candidate to run against an LDP lawmaker who opposed his policies.
Koizumi called the September 11 election after LDP dissent cost him a parliament vote on his plan to privatize the powerful post office, which many Japanese use to keep their savings and is effectively the world's largest bank.

Muslim Man Shot Dead in Restive Southern Thailand

A Muslim man was shot dead in southern Thailand early Wednesday in an attack.
If the Thai, who have come in for censure for their mistreatment of the Muslims, are to be believed, forty-three year old Qasem Hayiuseng was shot several times in his torso with an AK-47 by two men and died instantly while travelling to work at the government-run Ban Lak Khet school in Yaha district of Yala Province.

Indonesian Justice Minister to Sign Peace Deal with Aceh Rebels

Indonesian Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin will sign a peace deal with separatist rebels in Helsinki Monday to end decades of bloodshed in Aceh province.
Awaluddin was the head of the government delegation at talks in Helsinki which agreed last month on an accord to end hostilities between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Vice President Yusuf Kalla told journalists Wednesday that based on our experience all results of negotiations are signed by the heads of the delegations.

Kalla said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and himself would not be able to attend as the president had to deliver his annual state of the nation address to parliament.
He said, Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Widodo Adisucipto and Information and Communication Minister Sofyan Djalil would also attend the signing.

Rains Hamper Search for Rebels, Missing Soldiers after Nepal

Monsoon rains have severely curtailed the search for Maoist rebels who launched a deadly attack in North-western Nepal that left 75 soldiers missing and scores dead.

According to an army official on Wednesday the visibility was very bad today -- just 30 meters.
He said another missing soldier had been traced by Wednesday, leaving 75 still unaccounted for after Sunday night’s attack by hundreds of rebels on an army camp in a remote jungle area in the northwest of the country.
The army said Tuesday that 40 soldiers had been killed in the attack. It accused the rebels of lining them up and shooting them in the head.
The rebels have acknowledged 26 of their fighters died in the attack, the deadliest since King Gyanendra seized power in February.  

Muslim Prayer Leader Detained in California

Police have detained a prayer leader of a mosque in the US state of California.

According to CNN, an American judge in California ordered the detention warrant of a former prayer leader named Shabir Ahmed alleging that he intends to establish a training institute for terrorists.

The only charge against Ahmed is his continued residing in the US despite expiry of his passport. Shabir Ahmed and four other Muslims were detained in June in the US state of California. 

Sunday July 10, 2005

New Commander of Disciplinary Forces Appointed

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenie in an order, officially appointed Brigadier General, Esmail Ahadi Moghaddam as the new commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s disciplinary forces.

In this order issued on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenie addressing Brigadier General Ahadi Maghaddaam emphasized: ”Among the important duties of the Law Enforcement forces is establishing security deserving the Islamic Republic of Iran across the country in an atmosphere of peace and assurance for all people.”

The Supreme Leader also thanked the sympathetic services and efforts of former commander of disciplinary forces, Brigadier General Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.  

Iran Emphasizes Complete Destruction of Nuclear Arms

The Islamic Republic of Iran once more emphasized the complete destruction of nuclear weapons in the world.

According to IRIB correspondent from Geneva, Hamid Esmail-zad, Iran’s Representative to the disarmament conference in Geneva the European headquarter of the UN, said: "Unlike what the final statement of the NPT Review Conference in 2000 read, the role of nuclear weapons in the security policies of certain world nuclear powers and military pacts hasn’t decreased."

Esmail Zad added: "Receiving a security guarantee is the legitimate right of all countries, which don’t have access to nuclear weapons."

Iran’s envoy also called for talks on devising a global strategy, which brings commitments toward offering security guarantees to non-nuclear states.

Iranian envoy to the disarmament conference in Geneva asked nuclear powers to guarantee the security of non-nuclear countries.

Suicide Bombings Kill at Least 23 in Iraq

Suicide bombings struck Iraq on Sunday, killing at least 23 and wounding dozens more in three attacks on an army recruiting center, a police convoy and civilians.

Authorities said: “The attacks pushed the death count to over 1,500 people killed from violence since April 28, when Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari announced his government.

Police said: “In the deadliest blast Sunday, a man strapped with explosives blew himself up at a west Baghdad airfield now used as a military recruiting center.” Early casualty reports varied, with a hospital official saying at least 16 died while a Defense Ministry employee reported up to 25 killed.

Police Sgt. Ali Hussein said: “The explosion occurred just before 9 a.m. L.T at the recruiting center, which had been hit several times before by suicide attackers. About 400 would-be recruits jammed the gate Sunday before the bomber detonated himself.”

Three Palestinians Martyred

The martyrdom of another Palestinian combatant in the Gaza Strip brought the number of Palestinians martyred on Saturday to three.

According to Palestinian news sources, a Palestinian combatant was launching an anti-Zionist operation in “Al-amal” district west of Khan Younes on Saturday evening when he was martyred.

The Zionist regime forces also martyred a Palestinian combatant near Khan Younes in the Gaza Strip and injured two members of “The Ahmad Abou Reysh”  brigades affiliated to the Fath movement.

Reports from the West Bank indicated that 16-year-old Palestinian, Nour Fars Najm” who was wounded in last week’s attack by Zionist forces in north of the West Bank succumbed to his wounds and attained martyrdom on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Zionist forces shot and wounded an 11-year-old Palestinian named “Ghaazi Abou Zargheh’ in Khan Younes refugee camp.

Israeli troops on Friday and Saturday detained dozens of Palestinian in al-Khalil in the south of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

London Police Revise Timeline for Blasts

Police radically revised the timing of the deadly blasts that tore through the London Underground, saying Saturday that the bombs were detonated just seconds apart — not 26 minutes as first reported. The explosions were so intense that none of the 49 known dead has yet been identified.

Many bodies still lay buried in a rat-infested subway tunnel and frantic relatives begged for word about others still missing in the worst attack on London since World War II. Police indicated as many as 50 additional victims were unaccounted for.

Stuart Hyde, assistant chief constable of West Midlands Police said: “In a sign of the continued state of alert, police evacuated 20,000 people from Birmingham's central entertainment district Saturday night after intelligence indicating a "substantial threat."

He said the alert was not likely connected to the subway and bus bombings. A controlled explosion to disarm a suspicious object was carried out on a Birmingham bus, and officers concluded there was no explosive device.  

Terrorism: Complicated Dimensions of a Scenario

George W Bush, the rightist and extremist President of the United states of America, in his weekly conference, 48 hours after the suspicious London bombings, which left over 80 people dead and a large number either wounded or missing, said: “We will continue to surprise terrorists and to avoid clashing with them in our soil, we’ll fight with them in another country.” 

George Haider, an Austrian official, termed Bush and Blair the main factors of creating terrorism in the world and said these two launched the Iraq war and caused the bombings in Madrid and London adding that the EU should withdraw from the Arab world to confront terrorism.

British Mosque Targeted by Arsonists

Suspected arsonists set a mosque in northwest England on fire Saturday, police said, two days after a string of bomb attacks across London killed at least 50 people.
 Police said: "A man living in a flat above the Shahjalal Mosque, which is part of an Islamic centre in Birkenhead, was treated for smoke inhalation but there were no other injuries.”
A Merseyside police spokesman said: "The mosque door was burnt and there was some smoke damage inside. He declined to comment on reports that a petrol bomb was used."
Mosque Chairman Abdul Munim said: “We would like to condemn wholeheartedly the incidents in London and our sympathy goes out to the families and friends of the victims.”

Ten Afghan Soldiers Beheaded by Militants

Suspected Taliban gunmen ambushed an Afghani government border patrol in the desert near the frontier with Pakistan, killing 10 soldiers and beheading their bodies.

Provincial Gov. Sher Mohammed Aghunzada said Sunday: “The victims served on a 25-member patrol in southern Helmand province that was attacked late Saturday by militants driving four pickup trucks.” The remaining 15 soldiers escaped.

He said: "The Taliban cut the heads off all the soldiers who were killed."  Aghunzada said the dead soldiers' bodies had been recovered.

The news comes a day after a purported Taliban Spokesman, Mullah Latif Hakimi, claimed that the rebels had beheaded a U.S. Navy SEAL commando missing since June 28 in mountains in eastern Kunar province, also near the border with Pakistan.

Meanwhile in another development, two rockets were fired on the centre of the Afghan capital, causing damage to buildings but no one was injured.

Afghanistan and Foreign Interventions

Spies are the biggest threat to the Afghan government. That was a sentence from Afghan President Hamed Karzai addressing police and army commanders of Afghanistan in Kabul.  He noted: ”During civil wars in Afghanistan many groups from the spy agencies of foreign countries entered the Afghan government for different reasons; this problem is still alive.” 

It is inevitable that the reasons for many wars and clashes at least in the past quarter of century, as announced by the Afghan President, have been the existence and infiltration of security and intelligence spies in the governmental system of Afghanistan.

200 Feared Dead in Indonesia Sea Accident

As many as 200 people were feared dead days after a ferry capsized in rough seas off eastern Indonesia.

Sumpeno Juono of the local Search and Rescue agency said on Sunday: The 150-ton KMP Digul sank Thursday night off the coast of Papua province while heading from the port town of Merauke to Tanah Merah, about 124 miles to the north.

The ferry was officially reported to be carrying 50 crew and passengers, but survivors said about 200 people were onboard. So far, only 15 — two crewmen and 13 passengers — have been found.

Six killed, 19 Missing as Dam Bursts in Western India

Six people were killed and 19 others missing and feared dead after a dam burst in India s western state of Maharashtra, flooding two villages.

Police said Sunday: "The breach occurred because of heavy rains late Saturday in the Yewatmal district, nearly 400 kilometres northeast of the commercial capital Mumbai.
He said: At least 25 people are feared dead at this stage. We have found six bodies, including three women and two children.
The official said sustained heavy monsoon rains overnight swelled tributaries leading to the Bhandari dam causing it to burst and flood the nearby villages of Digras and Nandgavan as people slept.

Islamic Centres Attacked in New Zealand

At least six Islamic centres in New Zealand have been vandalized following the deadly bombings in London.

In what appeared to be a co-ordinated series of attacks across Auckland, vandals smashed windows and doors and left variations of messages in black paint on walls facing the street.

Muslim leaders and political leaders condemned the attacks.

New Zealand Federation of Islamic Associations president Javed Khan said it was the first time an attack on this scale had occurred against the country's 40,000 Muslims, about 25,000 of whom live in Auckland.

Arroyo Presidency Hangs in Balance As Bishops Meet

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's presidency hung in the balance on Sunday as Philippine Catholic bishops appeared split over what stance to take on her worst political crisis.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines -- a politically influential body in the predominantly Roman Catholic country -- was expected to release a statement later on Sunday that stopped short of joining calls for her to quit.

But a critical statement from the church, seen as a core support base for Arroyo, could still hurt her at an acutely vulnerable time following the resignation last week of several senior economic ministers who joined calls for her to quit.

Presidential Polls Open in Bishkek

Voters in the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan went to the polls on Sunday to elect a president to succeed ousted leader Askar Akayev.
Polling stations opened across the country for the first presidential election since the March toppling of the Akayev regime.
Widely tipped to win is interim President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, a former electrical engineer and Akayev-era prime minister who was swept to power as protestors stormed the seat of government, the White House, on March 24, prompting Akayev to flee to Russia.
Following the ouster of veteran Leader Akayev, who escaped to Moscow, Bakiyev eased his path to victory by neutralizing his main election rival, former political prisoner Felix Kulov, by promising the ex-security boss the prime minister's post.

U.S., Japan Seek Results from Korea Talks

The United States and Japan said on Sunday that six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program must show progress this time round, with a hopeful South Korea saying it expected results.

North Korea and a U.S. official said on Saturday that the North, had agreed to return to the talks, hosted by China, after a break of more than a year.

Rice met Chinese President Hu Jintao, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday and is also expected to meet State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

Japanese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima said progress must be made after three rounds of inconclusive talks.

He said in a statement: "Resumption is not the aim of the six-party talks," "What is vital is to make substantial progress. From that perspective, we hope that North Korea would show a sincere and constructive attitude toward resolving the issues."

Friday June 10, 2005

Tehran’s Friday Prayer Sermons

Tehran’s substitute Friday Prayer Leader, Ayatollah Ahmad Janati says the US is on the verge of collapse, but through publicity Washington seeks to cover up failures.

Addressing worshippers in Tehran Ayatollah Ahmad Janati noted: ”US expansionist measures have in fact brought a decline to the White House credibility, for, the US ruling government has taken up a savage policy which is quite incompatible with the life of man today.

Elsewhere in his sermons, Ayatollah Janati stressed the importance of the upcoming ninth presidential elections and described the Iranian nation’s high turnout as tantamount to chanting ‘Down with USA’.

He added: ”The Zionist regime and the US consider the large turnout of Iranians at ballot boxes as in contrast to their interests."

Congratulating the victory of Iran’s national Soccer team against Bahrain and thus its success to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Tehran’s substitute Friday prayer leader described it as a national honor for all Iranians.  

Iran, Yemen Discuss Regional, Security Issues

Iran and Yemen discussed regional security, weapons of mass destruction, and bilateral ties particularly security cooperation in Sanaa Thursday.  Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Hassan Rowhani, in a meeting with Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Salih, elaborated on security threats posed upon Persian Gulf region, calling for regional countries' cooperation to establish stability, security, and peace in the region.

Rowhani voiced Iran's readiness for consolidating Tehran-Sanaa regional and bilateral ties, saying his country attaches great importance to the security of the Persian Gulf littoral states and other neighboring countries.

He highlighted the importance of unity between the Islamic religions, saying the United States and some Western countries are behind difference and discord. Rowhani assessed Iran's nuclear activities as completely peaceful and within the framework of international laws, saying Iran has taken major strides toward confidence-building and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy. He added the effort of the US and some European countries for depriving Iran of modern technology is a new form of exploitation.

The Yemeni president also called his country an ally of Iran, saying Sanaa is ready to bolster all-out ties with Tehran. The ranking Iranian official left Sanaa for Medina Thursday on the last leg of his four-nation tour of Asia.

Iraqi Anti-Corruption Chief killed

The Head of an anti-corruption unit in the northern oil city Kirkuk and his deputy were shot dead in a drive-by attack.
Police officer, Colonel Adel Zein el-Abidin said on Friday: "Colonel Rahim Othman Saeed, Chief of the Kirkuk anti-corruption brigade and his deputy, Lieutenant Colonel Ghanem Jayad Jabbar, were shot late Wednesday by gunmen in a BMW" sports car.”

He said: "Jabbar died instantly, while Colonel Saeed was dead on arrival at the hospital in Kirkuk," a disputed city in northern Iraq that been the site of many attacks against Iraqi security forces and civilians.”

 Kirkuk police chief Turhan Yussef said attackers had tried to kill him Thursday as he was driving in an unmarked car.

Meanwhile, the US military said on Friday: “A US soldier has died of wounds sustained in a non-combat action in northern Iraq.
The military said in a statement: A soldier assigned to the Task Force Liberty was announced dead Thursday near Tuz khurmatu, some 200 km north of Baghdad.

UN Concerned over Illegal Detention of Iraqis

The United Nations has expressed concern over the illegal detention of Iraqis by US forces.

According to DPA news agency the United Nations in a statement Thursday announced in the new round of US operations in Iraq some 6000 Iraqi have detained, none of whom are treated according to human rights laws.

The statement reads:” Reports of torturing Iraqi prisoners are constantly coming which have doubled the concern of the United Nations.”

According to an official report by the Iraqi Justice Ministry almost 10,000 Iraqis are presently locked up at US detention centers in Iraq.

US Sets Condition to Reelect El-Baradei

After months of discussions about the reelection of Mohammad El-Baradei as the Head of the UN Nuclear Watchdog US authorities have expressed their conditional agreement in this regard.

Since months ago American officials have criticized El-Baradei for what the White House calls his leniency toward the nuclear activities of Iran. But despite heavy pressures from the United States on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the reports by the Agency’s inspectors failed to win the satisfaction of US officials. 

The Unites States through pressing the members of the IAEA Board of Governors sought to refer Iran’s nuclear case to the UN Security Council.

But such efforts failed due to lack of documents and the reports by UN inspectors on the peacefulness of Iran’s nuclear programs.

Seven Russian Policemen Killed

Seven Russian policemen died in an ambush in Chechnya in one of the deadliest attacks in the north Caucasus Republic in months.

Military officials said Friday: “Rockets and small arms were used to destroy a minibus carrying the officers Thursday near the village of Kurchaloi 30 kilometres south-east of the republican capital Grozny.” One policeman survived with serious injuries.

The unit from the city of Tver near Moscow had been due to end its tour of duty to Chechnya next week.

New Bolivian President Calls Early Election to Quell Turmoil

Bolivia’s Supreme Court Chief, Eduardo Rodriguez, took over as president and called Friday for general elections to try to defuse weeks of turmoil and violent protests in which a miner was shot dead.
Rodriguez, 49, was sworn in as the 84th president at an emergency session of Congress late Thursday. Lawmakers unanimously accepted the resignation of his Predecessor, Carlos Mesa, who had offered Monday to step down two years early for failing to quell the troubles.
Lawmakers were forced to cancel a crisis session in the morning, citing a lack of guarantees as demonstrators and security forces clashed in the streets of the colonial capital Sucre and a miners union leader was shot dead in a small town nearby.
For three weeks, tens of thousands of farmers, workers and indigenous people have clamored on the streets of La Paz and other cities for the nationalization of the gas and oil industry and a more equitable distribution of the country s meager wealth.

Freed Italian Aid Worker Set to Leave Afghanistan

Italian officials prepared to bring aid worker Clementina Cantoni home from Afghanistan on Friday, hours after kidnappers released her from 24 days in captivity.

Officials and security sources said: “Relatives of the 32-year-old, who works for aid group CARE international, flew to Kabul from Italy on a special aircraft after her release was announced late Thursday.”

Four gunmen seized Cantoni, 32, from a car on a Kabul street on May 16.

She was released on Thursday evening. The government said she was fine and had been held hostage by a criminal gang. It said: “No ransom had been paid or concessions given for her freedom.”

Rising Anti-Muslim Discrimination in Europe Criticized

A representative of the Muslim community in Britain criticized the increase of discriminations against Muslims.

According to Scots Man website Abdul-Jalil Sajed the representative of British Muslims speaking in the Spanish city of Cordova at a conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) regarding religious racism said: ” After the 9/11 attacks unwarranted Islamophobia replaced anti-Semitism in Europe and Europe has no choice but to accept that millions of its citizens are Muslims”.

Sajed added: ”Since the 9/11 incidents Muslims in Europe have been living with a sense of fear and concern.”

Meanwhile, the OSCE at the end of its two-day conference titled “Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance” emphasized: "Acts of terrorism must never be attributed to any religion, culture or racial group.” Representatives from 50 world countries were present at the Cordova conference.  

Uzbekistan Frees 50 Detained in Andijan Violence

Fifty people detained in connection with violence in the eastern city of Andijan last month have been freed while another 52 people suspected of involvement in terrorist acts remain in custody.
Svetlana Artikova, a spokeswoman for the general prosecutors office, said on Friday: “They were released because of their sincere repentance and because their hands were not stained with blood.
Artikova said: "Although the preventive detention measures against the 50 were dropped, they still face criminal charges and they have been instructed not to leave their hometowns until courts have ruled on these charges."
Uzbek authorities have come under intense Western pressure to allow an international and independent investigation into the May 13 crackdown in Andijan that authorities have characterized as a well-planned attempt to overthrow the government.

58 Japanese Students Wounded

At least 58 high school students in western Japan were wounded Friday when a classmate threw a homemade bomb into a classroom.
A spokesman for Yamaguchi prefectural police said: “The 18 year-old male student was immediately arrested by police, who confessed to tossing the bomb, which was made from a glass bottle containing explosives.”
The police spokesman said: "The male student was arrested by police at the scene soon after the attack. We have yet to know his motivation, which has to wait until further investigation."

At least one student was severely wounded in the leg and abdomen, a local fire department official said, though hospital sources said those hurt were "not serious".  

Myanmar Criticizes US Report on Human Trafficking

According to official newspapers Friday, the Myanmar government has criticized a recent report of the US State Department on the situation of trafficking in persons, saying those parts concerning Myanmar are contradictory.
The Foreign Ministry said in an announcement Thursday: “While it alleges that Myanmar does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making efforts to do so, it acknowledges that Myanmar has made improved efforts to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation.”
Maintaining that Myanmar does not condone the practice of trafficking in persons and is constantly striving to overcome the pernicious practice, the ministry expressed regret that the United States has turned a blind eye to the firm determination demonstrated by Myanmar in eradicating human trafficking and the progress achieved so far.  

Tuesday 10 May 2005

Supreme Leader’s Remarks

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution has emphasized that despite the enemies’ plots the Iranian officials and nation will reach their goals through calculated planning and measures. Addressing tens of thousands Professors and students of Kerman University on Monday evening, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated:” Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian youth made various progresses in scientific, economic, industrial and military fields and proved that Islamic Iran could turn into a fully strong and powerful country independent of the west’s failed experience in administering the human society and through relying on the paradigm of the Islamic Republic. The Supreme Leader referred to the enemy’s plots to underestimate the presence of the Iranian nation in the upcoming presidential elections and reiterated: ”The Iranian nation with its high political maturity and massive presence at the ballot boxes will turn the June 17 elections in to the best elections." Ayatollah Khamenei also met with directors and officials of Organizations in Kerman province and added: ”The infinite God-given sources accompanied with the fully-aware human forces and energetic youth have built a bright future for Iran.

Khatami Wishes for Free, Competitive Elections

Iran's President Mohammad Khatami on Tuesday expressed hope free and competitive presidential elections would be held in June.  Khatami, who is on a two-day tour to the southern province of Hormozgan, made the statement at Bandar Abbas airport. He said: "I hope people will follow the right path the Islamic Revolution has offered by their massive turnout and votes for a president, who can defend Iran's dignity and development." Pointing to the aim behind his visit, the president said he plans to meet with provincial people. Khatami added: "The province plays an important role in the country's national economy.” He urged local people to take optimal advantage of the commercial, industry, trade, and transit potentials of the province.  

Registration for 9th Presidential Polls Begins

Iran's Interior Ministry said onTuesday that the registration of candidates for the 9th presidential elections began at the Ministry's Elections Headquarters. The 9th presidential elections are scheduled to be held on June 17.  The candidates are expected to register their names for the elections during five consecutive days. The Interior Ministry will pass related documents to the Guardian Council after the five-day deadline to examine the qualifications of the contenders within ten days. Some 814 nominees had signed up for the 8th presidential elections in May 2001, 10 of whom obtained qualifications by the Guardian Council.  

Atomic Energy Official: Presidential Elections Not to Affect Nuclear Programs

International Affairs Deputy Head of the Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohamad Sa'idi said on Monday, "We reminded the Europeans during our talks with them in London at a meeting of the Iran-EU Steering Committee that results of the Islamic Republic of Iran Presidential Elections would have no effect on the country's nuclear programs." Speaking at a conference titled 'Surveying Iran's Nuclear Programs' at the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of Tehran University, Sa'idi added, "The candidates of this election have emphasized that nuclear technology is a national demand halting which is beyond the powers of all candidates."   

The Paris Accord from the US View

Over the recent days, US officials’ reactions to the Nov.15 agreement Reached between Iran and Europe have been indicative of their unawareness or ignorance of the Paris Accord. US assistant secretary of state on March 6 accused Iran of violating the Nov.15 2004 agreement. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman evaluated such claim by US officials as a sign of their ignorance of the articles of the Paris Accord. Meanwhile he emphasized the point that Washington raises such claims and pretexts in a bid to continue its psychological and propaganda war against Iran.  

Car Bomb Explosion Kills 7 in Baghdad

A car bomb exploded in a business district of central Baghdad on Tuesday morning, and a police officer said at least seven people were killed and 16 wounded. The blast, which occurred near a cinema, sent a huge plume of black smoke into the sky. A police officer with the Interior Ministry said on condition of anonymity that at least seven people were killed and 16 wounded by a suicide car bomb that exploded just as a U.S. military convoy of Humvees and armored vehicles was passing. The U.S. occupying military confirmed a car bomb attack in the area but provided no other details.  

Japanese Hostage Seized in Iraq

The foreign hostage crisis deepened in Iraq with the abduction of a Japanese security contractor as US forces said they killed 75 fighters in a sweep near the Syrian border for Iraq's most-wanted man, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said early Tuesday Japan was keeping in touch with the "foreign security company" which employs Tokyo native Akihito Saito. Machimura told a news conference in Japan: "He seems to have been injured in a gunfight and taken hostage," adding that the government had contacted the man's family. He said: "What we are doing right now is confirming the information we have and if it is confirmed that a Japanese is detained we will do our best to rescue him."  

No Word on Fate of Australian Hostage in Iraq As Deadline  

No new information on the fate of an Australian held hostage in Iraq has emerged despite the passing of a  deadline set by his kidnappers for his country s soldiers to be withdrawn from the country. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Tuesday: Douglas Wood, 63, was captured about two weeks ago and since then has appeared in two DVDs, pleading for his life as guns were held close to his head. In the latest footage, which came to light on Saturday, an exhausted-looking and badly-bruised Wood said he would be killed unless Australia withdrew its troops from Iraq.  

US TV News Hit for Pro-Israel Bias

US television network coverage of the Middle East conflict slants news toward the Zionist regime of Israel's point of view by giving disproportionate coverage to Zionists deaths. Independent journalist Alison Weir said on Monday: ABC, CBS and NBC gave 3.0 to 4.4 times more coverage to Zionists deaths than they gave to Palestinian deaths in 2000-2001, at the beginning of the "Intifada", and again in 2004. Weir, founder of "If America Knew" said: "Our analysis reveals troubling patterns of omissions and disparities in emphasis that, we feel, profoundly hamper the ability of viewers to understand this conflict."  The difference is even greater when the networks cover children, giving 9.0 to 12.8 times more coverage to deaths of Zionists children than to deaths of Palestinian children in 2004.  

Afghans Swipe at Koran Sacrilege  

About 2,000 students in Afghanistan, chanting "Death to America", protested on Tuesday over a report that US interrogators in Guantanamo bay had desecrated the Koran. One student at the protest in Jalalabad city, about 130 km east of the Afghan capital, Kabul said: "America should apologize for this." He added: "Whoever has done this should be brought to justice and the Afghan government should condemn it." A witness said: "Some protesters held up an effigy of US President George W. Bush shouting "Death to Bush". The students blocked the main road to Kabul but there were no clashes with police who kept watch from a distance. Politicians in neighboring Pakistan have also called for an apology and an inquiry into the Newsweek report and assurances from Washington that those responsible would be punished.  

Nepal Rebels Attack Military Before U.S. Meeting

Nepali troops killed 32 Maoists who attacked a military base hours before a top U.S. official began talks on Tuesday with the government to discuss a political crisis in the Himalayan nation. An army officer said: “Three policemen and one soldier were also killed after hundreds of Maoists attacked the base on Monday night at Bandipur, 450 km east of Kathmandu.” Dozens of civilians were injured in the attack, the biggest in three weeks. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Christina Rocca, began talks on Tuesday with Napalese officials that will include Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey before a scheduled meeting with King Gyanendra on Wednesday.  

Three Pakistanis Killed by Shell Sold As Scrap

A rocket shell exploded on Tuesday in a scrapyard in Pakistan's port city of Karachi, killing three men. Police inspector Khanzada Yousufzai said: "One of the deceased had brought the shell to the scrap shop."  He said: "But it exploded when the scrap dealers tried to dismantle it, killing them both as well as the person who brought it." An official of the Bomb Disposal Squad said the shell weighed nearly 10 kg and was similar to the ones used by the air force. Police did not know how it came into the man's possession.  

Pakistani NA Condemns US Publication of "Derogatory" Cartoon  

Pakistani National Assembly Lower House of Parliament on Monday strongly condemned the publication of a derogatory cartoon in the Washington Times, asking the government to lodge a strong protest with the United States. The Nation reported Tuesday: The National Assembly passed a unanimous resolution moved by ruling Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujat Hussain, wherein the House called for an apology for publishing the cartoon showing Pakistan as a dog loyal to Washington. The House strongly condemns the publication of the cartoon and demands the Pakistani government to protest with the US government and ask the newspaper to tender an apology, the resolution was quoted as saying.  

Bush’s Trip to Georgia

18 months after the Velvet Revolution in Georgia, US President George W Bush arrived in Tbilisi to hold talks with the leaders of this former Soviet Republic. This is the first trip by a US president to a former Soviet Republic in the Caucasus. Upon arrival Bush called for cooperation between Georgia and Russia and also supported the current trend of events in Georgia. Analysts believe that the US government is trying to use Georgia as a model for creating changes in the former Soviet Republics including Russia. A year and a half ago the opponents of then president Edvard Shevarnadze with the political and financial support of the west and the US in particular toppled the ruling Georgian government.