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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Largest marine convoy to break Gaza siege in early May

GAZA, (KUNA) -- The Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Relief Foundation (IHH), in cooperation with Turkish, foreign and European associations in Istanbul, decided to revive the "marine uprising" and form a convoy of ships that would said to Gaza.

Deputy chief of the popular anti-siege committee Jamal Al-Khudari, in a press release, welcomed this move and said that such coordinated efforts would lend technical and logistic support to the campaign.

Around 20 vessels, among them Turkish, Malaysian and European ships, will head to Gaza by the end of April or the beginning of May, depending on weather conditions and technical arrangements, he noted.

Al-Khudari wished that this would break the siege on Gaza, and open a waterway between the Strip and the world to allow freedom of movement of vessels.

A number of political, media and parliamentary figures from various countries will be onboard those ships, which will also carry building material, cement, medical supplies, relief and humanitarian aid, school stationary, electrical transformers and children's food supplements, he said.

A large number of ships set said for Gaza in an express of support to the Palestinian people, but Israel prevents a lot of these from passing through.

Source: Khabrein.
Link: http://www.khabrein.info/news/Largest_marine_convoy_to_break_Gaza_siege_in_early_May_1270303974/.

Iran ready to share demining experience

The Iranian defense minister says Tehran is ready to cooperate with other countries in demining former war zones that still need to be cleared of mines.

Ahmad Vahidi said in a Sunday statement marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, April 4.

The declaration, which is an initiative by the UN General Assembly, seeks to raise public awareness about landmines and elicit greater cooperation for their eradication.

Vahidi said Iran could offer to all countries its demining experience obtained during the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war, and called for unified efforts to free the world of mines.

According to the annual UN Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, mine action initiatives in 27 countries, territories, and peacekeeping missions will cost $589 million in 2010.

UN data reveals that about 70 countries are affected by landmines or explosive remnants of war, which together claimed nearly 5,200 casualties around the world last year.

Landmines and explosive remnants of war also take a heavy toll on people's livelihoods, the economic and social development of countries, and international peace-building and -keeping efforts.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122444§ionid=351020101.

In Iran, Parliament vows cooperation with govt.

After the Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted the significance of implementing the approved subsidy reform bill, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani vows to cooperate with the government.

"The Parliament (Majlis) will definitely pay heed to the views of the Leader [of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] regarding cooperation between the legislative body and the government," Larijani said on Sunday.

Larijani added that Majlis would try to have more friendly cooperation with the government in implementing the laws including those related to the subsidy reform plan.

The speaker's remarks came after the Iranian Parliament rejected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's plan to save about 40 billion dollars by cutting energy subsidies.

Based on the 347-billion-dollar budget, the government plans to start a major plan to scrape costly energy and food subsidies thereby reducing government expenditure.

However, earlier in March, lawmakers wrapped up 14 long sessions of debate and passed the much anticipated budget bill, permitting the government to eliminate USD 20 billion worth of subsidies — half of the amount requested by President Ahmadinejad.

The president believes a referendum is the best solution to ending the dispute over the proposed economic reform plan.

The government is now obliged to execute the approved bill.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122440§ionid=351020102.

Senegal retakes all military bases from France

Sun Apr 4, 2010

Marking 50 years of independence from France, Senegal is taking back control of all military bases held by the former colonial power.

President Abdoulaye Wade made the announcement in a televised national address late on Saturday, following an agreement between Paris and Dakar in February.

"I solemnly declare that from 0000 GMT April 4 Senegal will take back all the (military) bases formerly held by France and intends to exert its sovereignty," declared the president.

Under the pact, most of the 1,200 French military personnel are to leave by the end of this year.

France's three permanent military bases in Africa are located in Senegal, Libreville and Djibouti. The Dakar base in Senegal has continued to host 1,200 French military personnel even after independence in 1960.

Earlier, Senegal inaugurated a controversial 49-meter (160-foot) bronze statue called the Monument of African Renaissance, which some of Wade's critics have condemned as a waste of money.

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters decried the 27-million-dollar cost of the statue, which stands higher than the Statue of Liberty.

On Friday, President Nicolas Sarkozy highlighted in a letter that France was "naturally disposed” to maintain military and political ties with Senegal to ensure regional stability.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/122439.html.

India urged to give up intransigence on Kashmir

Srinagar, Aril 04 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, APHC leader and the Acting Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, has urged India to give up its intransigent stance on Kashmir and take concrete steps for the resolution of the dispute.

Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, addressing different public gatherings at Qazigund, Achawal and Ashmuqam in Islamabad district, said that the longstanding dispute should be resolved according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.

He said that international community had realized that Kashmir was a disputed territory. ”The settlement of the dispute is vital to the peace and stability in South Asian region,” he added.

Appealing to the world powers especially the US to impress upon India to settle the lingering dispute, Waza said that the dispute should be resolved according to the relevant United Nations resolutions.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/india-urged-give-intransigence-kashmir-0.

India not to succeed in continuing its illegal occupation

Indian troops martyr two more innocent Kashmiri youth

Islamabad, April 04 (KMS): Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that India will not be able to continue its illegal occupation on Jammu and Kashmir through aggressive policies and draconian laws.

Syed Ali Gilani maintained that India had no moral justification to be in Kashmir and was holding the territory forcibly. He said that the illegal detention of Hurriyet leaders despite their release orders by the court was the worst example of human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.

APHC leader, Ghulam Ahmed Mir addressing a function in Jammu said that the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs had center-staged the Kashmir dispute at the global level and the world community was stressing the need of resolving the dispute.

On the other hand, Indian troops, in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred two more innocent Kashmiri youth in Keran area of Kupwara, today, during continued siege and search operations. Two young brothers were critically injured when a bomb exploded at Talka in Nowshera town of Rajouri district. The locals told media men that the device was planted by Indian troops.

Indian police personnel conducted search operations in Lal Chowk and its surrounding areas in Srinagar, subjecting the pedestrians and commuters to frisking.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/india-not-succeed-continuing-its-illegal-occupation.

JKPM vows to continue liberation struggle

Jammu, April 04 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) has reiterated the pledge to take the ongoing struggle for right to self-determination to its logical conclusion, despite all odds.

The JKPM Chairman, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, while addressing a function to pay rich tributes to Kashmiri martyrs, said that the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs had center-staged the Kashmir dispute at the global level and the world community was stressing the need of resolving the Kashmir dispute.

He said that India was using different tactics including the use brute force to suppress the indigenous liberation movement but it would never succeed in its designs and the people of the occupied territory would continue their struggle till complete success.

He urged the world community to put pressure on India to stop the continued human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. He also appealed the international human rights organizations to send their representatives to occupied Kashmir to take stock of the ground situation.

Addressing the function, other leaders of the party demanded of India to withdraw its troops and repeal all the black laws including Public Safety Act (PSA) and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir. They included Mir Shahid Saleem, Zafar Khurshid Mirza, Qaisar Sajjad, Farooq Khan and Aslam Khan.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/jkpm-vows-continue-liberation-struggle-0.

Morales calls for Russia's 'return' to Latin America

Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced plans for an April visit to Russia by his cabinet ministers to expand military and industrial ties with the former superpower, calling for Russia's “return to Latin America."

"The delegation will include heads of leading ministries, who are to discuss and sign intergovernmental agreements with their Russian colleagues," Morales said after returning to the Bolivian capital La Paz from Venezuela, where he visited Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, reported Ria Novosti.

"We take as a premise that Russia should return to Latin America, and that is why [we] are positively seeking to expand diplomatic, economic, and trade relations with Moscow," the Bolivian leader said ahead of the April 24 tour of Moscow by Bolivian officials.

Morales told journalists following his meeting with the Russian premier that Moscow was ready to extend loans of up to $100 million to Bolivia in order to allow the Andean nation to purchase Russian helicopters for anti-narcotics efforts.

Putin wrapped up his trip to Venezuela on Friday after discussing a range of military and industrial issues with Caracas, including a promise to help the country acquire nuclear energy.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122437§ionid=351020706.

Iran receives 2010 EDN award

Iran's Documentary Filmmakers Association (IRDFA) has received the 2010 EDN award for its contribution to the documentary culture.

The European Documentary Network (EDN) honored the Iranian organization for promoting the national documentary film sector, supporting documentary filmmakers to present their productions worldwide and help international directors to visit Iran and screen their films in the country.

“We want to honor an organization outside Europe that has done a remarkable job in uniting, structuring and promoting their national documentary sector,” EDN Network Manager Hanne Skjodt said upon presenting the award on March 19.

“Considering their outstanding contribution to the development of the documentary culture the Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association was an obvious choice for the EDN Award 2010,” she added.

Mahboubeh Honarian received the award on behalf of the whole IRDFA organization in a ceremony held during the EDN workshop Docs in Thessaloniki.

The Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association (IRDFA) was founded as an independent and non-governmental organization in January 1998.

The first of its kind in the country, the organization aims to support independent documentary makers as well as attracting and uniting governmental organizations to invest in documentary filmmaking and film distribution.

About 300 directors and producers cooperate with the IRDFA. The center also provides training courses for young directors and connects Iranian filmmakers with cultural and artistic institutes around the globe.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122427§ionid=351020105.

UAE president to visit Iran amid islands row

Emirati President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan is scheduled to visit Iran amid a fresh row over the three Persian Gulf islands.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed will officially visit Iran "in the near future", more than two years after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the UAE, Mehr news agency reported.

According to Mehr, the UAE president's visit has been delayed due to the death of his younger brother, Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, in a glider crash in Morocco last week.

Iran has offered condolences to the royal family and the government of the UAE for the tragic incident.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed's visit comes as the Arab countries have repeated claims over the three Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, which historical, legal and geographical documents verify as part of Iran's territory.

A statement at the end of last month Arab League summit claimed the three islands belonged to the UAE and said Iran was “violating the UAE sovereignty.”

Iran dismissed the statement as "baseless claims."

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122426§ionid=351020101.

PM: Turkey not to turn back on Asia, Africa

April 04, 2010

Turkey would never turn its back on Asia or Africa, Turkish prime minister was quoted by the semi- official Anatolia news agency as saying here on Saturday.

"We cannot turn our back on Asia or Africa," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his statement at the general assembly of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association in Istanbul.

"We cannot be indifferent or distant to them. This country has turned its face towards the West, but it is an inseparable part of the East with its history, culture and civilization," he added.

Erdogan said his government had initiated efforts to clear away the meaningless distance between Turkey and the Arab countries.

He added that visa procedures were lifted with 23 countries during the past several years.

As to Turkey's EU bid, he said his country would continue to work hard in order to reach universal and modern standards no matter what obstacles were put on its way.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6940142.html.

Hamas talks with factions over Gaza calm

Leaders of Gaza-ruling Islamic Hamas movement on Saturday night held an urgent meeting in Gaza with various Palestinian factions' leaders aimed at reducing tension on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

A well-informed source close to Hamas told Xinhua in condition of anonymity that the urgent meeting is "a new strong gesture to reduce the tension on Gaza-Israel border, including rocket attacks on the Jewish state."

"The participants, including leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad movement and left-wing groups, agreed on certain tactics to avoid a possible Israeli army retaliation that might harm the Palestinians' interests," said the source.

Saleh Zeidan, a senior leader in the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), told Xinhua that "resistance is a legal right, and it is the right of the factions to defend their people."

However, he said that the conferees "saw that confronting the Israeli threats and the military escalation need an in-advance coordination among all the factions of resistance, and need to reinforce unity among them."

"Today's meeting focused on Palestinian issues of internal interests and reiterated that the Palestinians should intensify their efforts to succeed the Egyptian efforts to achieve inter- Palestinian reconciliation," said Zeidan.

Meanwhile, Salah al-Bardaweel, a senior Hamas leader who attended the meeting, told Xinhua that the meeting "discussed the current tension on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel."

"The meeting studied the ways of how to confront any upcoming Israeli retaliation by all possible means," said al-Bardaweel.

On Friday, the deposed government of Hamas called on the Palestinian factions' armed wings for self-restraint following nine successive Israeli airstrikes on Thursday night on different targets in the Gaza Strip.

The government did not slam the rocket attack on Israel by Gaza militants, but deposed Prime Minister of Hamas Ismail Haneya said on Friday that his government holds contacts with leaders of factions to restore calm and reinforce unity.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6940154.html.

Philippine bishop urges Filipinos to vote wisely in May

Manila - The Philippines' top Catholic bishop Sunday urged Filipinos to wisely choose the country's next leaders in upcoming elections in May.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said the May 10 elections should "lead to a new life and a new encouraging service" coming after Easter, which marks Jesus Christ's resurrection.

"After the resurrection, it can never be business as usual," Rosales said in his Easter message. "After the resurrection, no more shall there be compromising with deceit, dishonesty and worship of money and power."

"Discern with prayerful judgment as to who the nation should entrust with the task of new and inspiring honest leadership that leads to unity and peace," he added.

The Catholic Church does not publicly support candidates in elections in the Philippines, but usually issues guidelines in choosing who to vote for.

Nearly 18,000 national and local positions are up for grabs on May 10, including president, vice president, senators and members of the House of Representatives.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is running for a seat in the House of Representatives, called for unity in her Easter message.

"Let us unite as one nation and collectively work toward a new future for our country - a future rich with hope and possibilities for everyone of us," she said.

Easter is a major religious event in the Philippines, where more than 85 per cent of the estimated 90-million population is Catholic.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/317029,philippine-bishop-urges-filipinos-to-vote-wisely-in-may.html.

Troops martyr two more innocent Kashmiri youth

Srinagar, April 04 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops, in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred two more innocent Kashmiri youth in Kupwara district, today.

The troops killed the youth during continued siege and search operations in Keran area of the district. The operations continued till last reports came in.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/troops-martyr-two-more-innocent-kashmiri-youth-1.

DPM concerned over Firdous Shah's falling health in Jail

Srinagar, April 04 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (DPM) has expressed concern over the falling health of its illegally detained Chairman, Firdous Ahmad Shah in Kathua Jail.

The DPM spokesman, in a statement issued in Srinagar, warned that the puppet authorities would be responsible if anything untoward happened to him. “Shah has developed various ailments due to lack of hygienic food and insufficient medical facilities in jail,” he added.

The spokesman condemned the statement given by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in which it had hinted to sabotage the efforts on resolving Kashmir dispute.

Vowing to continue the freedom struggle till its logical conclusion, he said that the use of brute force could not deter Kashmiris’ resolve to get freedom from Indian bondage.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/dpm-concerned-over-firdous-shah%E2%80%99s-falling-health-jail.

2 young boys injured in Nowshera blast

Srinagar, April 04 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, two young brothers were critically injured in an explosion of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Indian troops in Rajouri district.

The boys, Nissar Ahmed (7) and Liaqat (8) were critically injured in the explosion when they were grazing their cattle at Talka in Nowshera town of the district. Both the injured were rushed to Government Medical College Jammu in serious condition.

The local people told media men that an Artillery battalion of Indian army had been camping in the area and was recently shifted to another place. “The troops left behind some explosive, which caused the accident,” they added.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and two others were injured in road accidents at Gunderpora Safakadal in Srinagar and Pahloo chowk in Kulgam.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/2-young-boys-injured-nowshera-blast.

PSA against Shabbir Shah, Firdous Shah quashed

Srinagar, April 04 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the High Court has quashed the illegal detention of Hurriyet leaders including Shabbir Ahmad Shah and Firdous Ahmad Shah under draconian Public Safety Act and directed the authorities to release them forthwith.

The High Court after hearing the cases of the leaders quashed the PSA against them and passed orders of release.

Hurriyet leaders including Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Firdous Ahmad Shah were arrested in first week of February this year and booked under PSA on the charges of leading demonstrations against the killing of young boys by Indian police officer and troops at Gojawara and Nishat areas of Srinagar.

On the other hand, the High Court also quashed the detention under PSA of innocent civilians Zafar-ul-Haq, Aijaz Ahmad Parra, Bashir Ahmad Dar and Sajad Ahmad Mir.

Meanwhile, Hurriyet leaders, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi were presented in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Budgam. The court directed the administration to file detailed report in the arrest of the duo on April 8, the next date of hearing.

The duo has been detained under Public Safety Act. Sumjhi objected for being brought handcuffed before the court. The court subsequently directed the police to remove the handcuffs of the leader.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/psa-against-shabbir-shah-firdous-shah-quashed.

Search, frisking operations in Srinagar

Srinagar, April 04 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops and police personnel conducted search operations in Srinagar and subjected the pedestrians to frisking.

At some places, the troopers and police laid barbed wire and placed armored vehicles to conduct the searches while close circuit cameras were closely monitored by the authorities to keep vigil over sensitive spots and movement of the people.

At Ghanta Ghar, the heart of the city, the troops and policemen conducted thorough searches. Besides frisking of vehicles, the police personnel were seen checking identity cards of the people, particularly youth. The vehicles entering Lal Chowk were thoroughly checked by the police and troops at different check posts.

A senior police official talking to media men said that searches and frisking had been intensified in the city.

Meanwhile, the occupation authorities have sounded a red alert along the 190 km railway track from Qazigund to Baramulla following a recent blast at the track near Kakapora in Pulwama.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/search-frisking-operations-srinagar.

Iran complains over FIFA ban on hijab

Iran has sent letters to five international sports organizations to complain about FIFA's decision to ban Iranian women footballers from wearing hijab.

"The letters have been sent to heads of FIFA, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)," Iran's National Olympic Committee Secretary General Bahram Afsharzadeh told IRNA on Sunday.

"We have asked the heads of these international sports organizations to review and annul FIFA's decision," he went on to say.

Last week, FIFA banned the Iranian women's football squad wearing hijab from participating in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which will be held from August 14 to 26 in Singapore.

"Hijab is related to the Islamic culture and Muslim women can't take part in social activities without it," Afsharzadeh concluded.

Meanwhile, President of Iran's Football Federation Ali Kafashian has announced that due to religious beliefs the Iranian women team will participate in the competitions only if they are allowed to observe the Islamic dress code.

A total of 3,500 athletes from 170 countries will partake in the games in the 2010 Youth Summer Olympics.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122412§ionid=3510211.

Iran int'l nuclear disarmament summit widely welcomed

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Tehran's international conference on nuclear disarmament has been widely welcomed.

According to Mehmanparast, the conference dubbed "Nuclear energy for all, nuclear weapons for none,” will be held in Tehran on March 17th and 18th.

"Officials from various countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations have been invited to attend the conference," the Iranian spokesperson added.

"The conference has been widely welcomed by all countries," he went on to say.

Mehmanparast further pointed out that all the countries in the world have the right to use peaceful nuclear energy.

"We believe the world must be free from nuclear weapons," he asserted.

Earlier, Mehmanparast had urged the countries which possess nuclear weapons to destroy their atomic armaments.

"We insist that all countries must be committed to nuclear disarmament," he said early February.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122408§ionid=351020104.

Blast hits near Iranain embassy in Baghdad

Three massive explosions have struck central Iraqi capital, with one of them rocking the Iranian embassy in Baghdad.

The explosion in front of the Iranian embassy came Sunday around 11:20 (0920 GMT), AFP reported.

The blast shattered the windows in nearby buildings.

The other two explosions hit west Baghdad neighborhood of Mansur.

There was no immediate report of casualties.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122411§ionid=351020201.

India snubs US, to attend nuclear meet in Iran

The Indian government will stand by its decision to take part in a nuclear meeting slated for mid-April in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in a move that is set to irk the US administration.

According to a report published by The Hindustan Times on Sunday, the conference dubbed “Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapon for None" will be held on April 17 and 18 in Tehran. The Indian Ambassador to Iran, Sanjay Singh, will represent India at the event, which will be attended by ministers, officials and nuclear experts from over 55 countries.

The decision to participate in the international nuclear disarmament meet comes while Washington continues its efforts to impose new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

The Tehran event will be held only days after a nuclear security summit between US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Washington on April 12 and 13.

Earlier, India rejected a call from the US to walk away from pipeline project carrying natural gas from Iran through Pakistan, saying "energy security" is a priority for its rapidly growing economy.

Iran and Pakistan inked a deal in March to construct a multi-billion dollar natural gas pipeline connecting the two neighboring countries, and India is interested in the further extension of the line to its borders if the pipeline's security can be guaranteed in Pakistan. The project is strongly opposed by the US. The deal is part of the long-delayed $7.5 billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122401§ionid=351020104.

Zuma calls for calm after rightist leader's killing

Sun Apr 4, 2010

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has called for calm following the killing of far-right leader Eugene Terre'Blanche.

"The President appeals for calm following this terrible deed and asks South Africans not to allow agent provocateurs to take advantage of this situation by inciting or fueling racial hatred," Zuma's office said in a statement.

The 69-year-old ultra-right leader of Afrikaans Resistance Movement, who campaigned for a separate white homeland, was reportedly murdered at his farm on Saturday by two of his own employees over purported wage disputes.

Police found Terre'Blanche's bruised body with a machete placed on his corpse and a stick nearby. They have also arrested the two farm workers.

The farm hands have allegedly admitted to arguments with Terre'Blanche over unpaid salaries.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have warned of the likelihood of an 'explosive situation' that the far-right leader's murder has created.

Terreblanche had served a three-year prison term in 2001 for assaulting a black security guard.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/122399.html.

Eight killed in Algeria twin blasts

Sun Apr 4, 2010

Eight people have lost their lives in two bomb attacks which targeted Algerian security guards and soldiers in the north of the African nation.

The attacks happened near Bejaia, around 250 kilometers (160 miles) east of Algiers, the El-Watan daily reported.

The seven private security guards were killed late on Saturday when a bomb exploded as their van was driving past on a mountain road at Tifra, near Bejaia, according to the paper.

The other bomb explosion hit in the same area about an hour later, killing a soldier and wounding two others.

A search operation was immediately launched to find those involved in the attacks as security forces backed by two helicopters sealed off the area.

The security forces killed were in charge of the safety of foreign workers working at the site of a high-voltage transmission line.

Algerian authorities would not immediately confirm the attack, which would be the deadliest by anti-government forces in more than five months.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/122394.html.

Sudan set to go to polls despite boycott threat

Sun Apr 4, 2010

Sudan's electoral commission says the country's general elections will go ahead as planned despite a boycott announced by a number of opposition parties.

"The electoral commission ensures that the elections will take place as envisioned, on April 11 to 13," Deputy Chairman of the National Elections Commission Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah said on Saturday.

The announcement comes in the face of threats of a boycott from opposition candidates who allege the vote is already rigged in favor of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's National Congress Party.

The opposition Umma Party has set several conditions for participating, demanding a four-week delay and the creation of a new body to supervise the electoral commission.

It also asked that the country's strict security laws be frozen for the elections and demanded fair access to state media as well as caps on campaign spending.

In a serious blow to main opposition parties, US envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, said he was confident this month's election would be as free and fair as possible.

The National Elections Committee has “gone to great lengths to ensure that the people of Sudan will have access to polling places and that the procedures and processes will ensure transparency," he said.

This month's election is expected to be the first national multi-party poll in 24 years.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/122395.html.

Indonesia Urges Israel To Stop Air Raids On Gaza Strip

JAKARTA, April 3 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government has urged Israel to stop its air raids on the Gaza Strip in Palestine which were harming the civilian population, Antara news agency reported Saturday.

The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Tengku Faizasyah, said the air raids which started on Apr 2 following a series of rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel in reaction to the Israeli government's announcement that it would allow the development of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem, would hamper the peace efforts between Israel and Palestine.

"The use of military force by Israel in the Gaza Strip will have a great impact on the local people. Their actions in the Gaza Strip are a violation of international law," Faizasyah said here on Friday.

On Friday, Israeli warplanes carried out six overnight raids on the Gaza Strip causing material damage but no casualties, witnesses and Hamas officials said.

The raids came following a series of rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel.

Three air strikes targeted an area west of Khan Yunis, in the southern part of the Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas, with two missiles hitting a guard post of Hamas` armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades.

A fourth raid destroyed a workshop in the refugee camp of Nusseirat, in central Gaza.

In the two final air raids, Israeli fighters targeted points in the west of Gaza City, completely destroying a small dairy factory in the Sabra district, said witnesses.

The attacks were carried out by F16 fighters, the witnesses said.

Israel`s armed forces have launched regular air raids on the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, responding to a series of rocket attacks into Israel from Gaza-based militants.

One such rocket attack killed a Thai laborer on an Israeli kibbutz, or collective farm, on March 18.

Ground forces have also clashed with Palestinian militants along the border with Israel.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian teenager was killed and several others were wounded as Israeli troops fired on protesters near the Gaza border.

The incident happened as Israeli Arabs and Palestinians marked "Land Day", the annual commemoration of Israel`s killing of six Arab citizens during a 1976 protest against land confiscations.

Source: Bernama.
Link: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/bm/newsworld.php?id=487782.

PLO to declare Palestinian state in 2011

RAMALLAH - Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Saturday said that Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) will declare the Palestinian state in the middle of 2011.

"The government will continue building and rehabilitating the state's institutions and infrastructure to announce it in the middle of next year," Fayyad told reporters during the inauguration of a main street near the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Fayyad also said his government supports resolving the issue of Palestinian refugees in accordance with UN Resolution 194 which grants the right to any refugee to return and live in peace with his Israeli neighbors.

Fayyad had announced last year that Palestinians were preparing for a possible unilateral declaration of independence after peace talks with Israel hit a deadlock.

Last month, the US-brokered Israeli-Palestinian negotiations failed to be relaunched due to Israel's approvals to build new Jewish homes in disputed East Jerusalem. The proximity indirect talks would have focused on the borders of the Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, a leftist Palestinian faction urged Fayyad to work on ending the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)'s security commitments towards Israel to allow the independence.

"Ending the security liaison and commitments with Israel is essential to build a state on the lands that Israel occupied in 1967," said Bassam Al-Salhi of the People Party.

The PNA is bounded by many security agreements with Israel based on information exchange, information and field coordination in the West Bank.

Source: China Daily.
Link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2010-04/03/content_9685019.htm.

Kurds stage protest in Brussels

Brussels - Some 5,000 Kurds took to the streets of Brussels on Saturday in protest at a crackdown against the Kurdish television channel Roj TV.

Police detained two Kurdish politicians and 6 other people during the protest, the Belgian news agency Belga reported.

Kurds have been protesting in Belgium against the recent arrests of leading members of the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party PKK.

Some 20 Kurds were rounded up in March, among them employees of Roj TV in the town of Denderleeuw. Arrest warrants were issued for eight of them.

Prosecutors suspect the Kurds of membership of a terrorist organization and providing combat training to young Kurds.

Thousands of Kurds protested last month against the police action, which they claim was politically motivated.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/316976,kurds-stage-protest-in-brussels.html.

Protests greet UN secretary general's Kyrgystan visit

Moscow - A visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the Central Asian republic of Kyrgystan was marked by protests on Saturday.

Around 50 journalists and civil rights activists demonstrated in the capital Bishkek against the closure of an independent television station.

Two opposition newspapers were also shut down recently after being accused by the authorities of insulting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Officials in the former Soviet republic have also blocked access to websites critical of the government.

Stan TV was shut down for using "cloned software," the news agency Interfax quoted a police spokesman as saying.

A reporter at the network denied this, saying the closure was a reprisal for "our honest reporting of what is actually happening in this country."

The protesters had planned to hand a petition to Ban, but were prevented from doing so by police.

A UN official said the secretary general urged President Bakiyev to uphold media freedom during their meeting on Saturday.

Kyrgyzstan is a part of a Central Asian tour by Ban, which will also take him to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/316991,protests-greet-un-secretary-generals-kyrgystan-visit.html.

Israeli runs over a Palestinian girl

by PT Editor maysaa jarour

Ramallah, April 3, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) Israeli settler runs over a Palestinian girl by his car causing her immediate death on Thursday in west of Ramallah.

Samar Redwan, 16, was delivered to an Israeli hospital after being intentionally ran over by an Israeli settler who escaped after running her over. She martyred yesterday.

The martyr Samar is the sister of the Palestinian detainee Haytham Redwan. As a Palestinian detainee in the Israeli jails he was unable to see his sister before burying her.

Source: The Palestine Telegraph.
Link: http://paltelegraph.com/palestine/west-bank/5217-israeli-runs-over-a-palestinian-girl.

Egyptian publisher arrested over pro-ElBaradei book

Sun Apr 4, 2010

An Egyptian publisher has been arrested and copies of books supporting former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei have been confiscated.

Egyptian police arrested Ahmed Mahanna, who runs the Dawin publishing house, after raiding his house on Saturday but have not charged him yet, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said in a statement.

ANHRI Director Gamal Eid told AFP that Mahanna was being held in a state security prison. "He had published a book on ElBaradei more than a week ago," Eid said.

After he retired from the post of IAEA director last year, ElBaradei decided to challenge President Hosni Mubarak, 81, in next year's presidential election.

ElBaradei has said he would run for president if Egypt's Constitution were amended, a condition ruled out by Mubarak, who has ruled with an iron fist since 1981.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/122389.html.

'Palestinians determined to acquire their rights'

Hamas Political Bureau chief Khaled Meshaal says that the Palestinians will do whatever is necessary to acquire their rights.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with senior members of Palestinian factions at his home in Damascus, Syria on Saturday, Meshaal said that Hamas will do everything to "obtain the rights stolen from us, including confrontation with the enemy."

"The possibilities for war exist in the entire region," the Israeli daily Yedioth Aharonot quoted the exiled Hamas leader as saying.

"A conflict with the Zionist enemy is possible in any scenario… We shall realize our right by standing firm in the face of aggression through resistance," he added.

The comments came after Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom warned on Friday that Tel Aviv would soon launch another large-scale military operation against the Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122390§ionid=351020202.