Iran calls UAE minister 'Israel acolyte'

Iran hits back at Emirati claims on the ownership of three Persian Gulf islands, saying such outrageous remarks show that UAE officials take their cue from Israel.

Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan touched a raw nerve on Saturday when he likened Iran's ownership of the three Persian Gulf islands to Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands.

He angered Tehran officials furthermore on Sunday when he called on Iranian officials once and again to end the "occupation" of the three islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.

Deputy Head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Esmail Kowsari said the remarks, which he termed as "illogical," were akin to those made by Israeli officials.

In a Monday interview with Mehr News Agency, Kowsari said such outrageous comments were only made by hypocritical government officials, who have devoted themselves to serving Israeli interests.

“Whoever makes such comments is an acolyte of Israel and has absolutely no regard for the interests of his own country and people,” said Kowsari in direct reference to Sheikh Abdullah.

“Tehran possesses historical, legal and geographical documents verifying its sovereign right to the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa,” he added.

Explaining that the remarks stemmed from Sheikh Abdullah's lack of Islamic and political identity, Kowsari said the Iranian government will ignore their claim.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124504§ionid=351020101.

World's 1st trachea transplant in Iran

Iranian doctors have carried out an in situ transplant of bio-artificial trachea in humans for the first time in the world.

The transplant was carried out on a 29-year-old woman who had lost her trachea in a car accident.

Doctors at the Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran say the patient is now in good state and breathing easily.

The transplant was carried out without surgery and the method is also helpful in removing malignant tumors, the doctors said.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124503§ionid=3510210.

Ahmadinejad says US belittles nations

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has criticized the United States for "belittling" nations and trampling on their morale, calling for a world lead by culture.

"America belittles nations, and questions human values, whereas valuing humanity requires culture," the president was quoted by the Iranian Labor News Agency as saying. "Belittling nations only reaps inflexibility, distance, and malice."

Speaking to a gathering of senior police officials and law enforcement officers on Monday, Ahmadinejad went on to denounce nuclear weapons, military invasions, and the veto power granted to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council as "satanic tools" of oppression.

"These are all for oppressing and destroying the reality of human beings and thus are satanic tools," he stressed, adding that that Europe and the US are “censoring” their public's regard for the Islamic Republic.

His remarks come amid signals from Iran that it is open to negotiations with all 15 members of the UNSC to dispel mounting tension around its nuclear program.

Tehran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), says pursuing a nuclear technology for peaceful civilian purposes is well within its rights as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

However, Washington and its allies — accusing Iran of secret plans for making atomic weapons — are seeking to persuade undecided veto-wielding UNSC members Russia and China into signing a resolution slapping new sanctions on Iran.

Monday's seminar came a day after the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met with the police commanders, highlighting the “compassionate and delicate” nature of their social role as inseparable from maintaining their authority.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124501§ionid=351020101.

'UNSC support for Iran benefits world'

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says support of the UN Security Council for a nuclear fuel swap between Iran and the West will benefit the international community.

"I am confident that besides measures by the Vienna group to swap fuel, support of other countries and particularly the UN Security Council will bring peace to the international community and build trust for all sides involved," Mottaki told reporters in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo on Monday.

He added that such support would stop the West from moving in the wrong direction and repeating its failed experience of the past five years on Iran's nuclear program.

Iran says its work is directed at the civilian applications of the technology. The West, however, says the program is a cover for developing nuclear weapons.

On Sunday, Mottaki held talks with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano on the nuclear fuel swap proposal.

Under the proposal, Iran is required to ship out most of its low-enriched uranium aboard for further reprocessing. The country, however, has asked for tangible guarantees that the other sides — Russia and France — would deliver the fuel in a timely manner. The demand has been ignored by the West.

"The nuclear fuel swap proposal is still on the table. Iran's acceptance of the deal will prove the country's goodwill and political will," said Mottaki after the meeting in Vienna.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124497§ionid=351020104.

Iraq bans 52 candidates after vote

An Iraqi election panel has invalidated the votes cast for 52 candidates in the March 7 elections over alleged ties to former dictator Saddam Hussein's Baath Party.

A senior official from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said Monday that the candidates had one month to file an appeal with a committee of seven judges who could reinstate them.

Ali al-Lami, a senior member of the judicial panel confirmed the ruling which disqualified the 52 on charges of illegal ties to Baath party, Reuters reported Monday.

"Their participation in the election is considered canceled," AFP quoted Ali Mahmud, a spokesman for the justice and accountability panel, as saying.

"The appeal panel has rejected appeals from the 52 candidates which the justice and accountability panel discovered," he added.

Most of the candidate are said to be members of former premier Allawi's Iraqiya list, which gained a narrow win in the elections.

According to the report, the panel ruled that the parliamentary seats won by the candidates should be retained by their political bloc — a decision that would have no impact on the election result.

The IHEC banned almost 500 candidates from participation in the parliamentary elections for alleged links with the Baath Party.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124498§ionid=351020201.

In Sudan, Bashir wins election

Mon Apr 26, 2010

Sudanese President Umar Hassan al-Bashir has won the country's first multiparty presidential vote in over two decades, says an election official.

"The winner in the election of the president of the republic is Umar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir from the National Congress Party," Chairman of the National Election Commission Abel Alier said Monday.

Bashir won 68 percent of the vote, the official added.

Around 16 million people were registered to vote for a new president, legislative and local representatives.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/124496.html.

UN: Gaza needs 100 new schools

The United Nations says it has failed to accommodate thousands of Palestinian children in UN-run schools since the 2008-2009 Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians in the populated enclave have been suffering a crippling Israeli blockade over the past three years which has deprived some 1.5 million Gazans from food, fuel and other necessities.

The siege also prevents Palestinians from bringing in the construction materials they require to rebuild the buildings devastated during three weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment in the December 2008-January 2009 Gaza war.

This also includes many Palestinian and UN-run schools which were reduced to debris or at least partially destroyed in the heavy bombardments.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which runs some 200 schools across the territory, is concerned because it has been unable to build any new educational buildings in Gaza.

"The main reason is that the Israelis are blocking the entry of building material into the Gaza Strip," Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA's media adviser in Gaza told Press TV.

Hasna regretted that the lack of building materials in Gaza has stunted the agency's plans for 100 schools.

"The ministry of education and higher education was forced to adopt new techniques to in order to absorb the natural increase in the number of Gaza students," said Gaza Education Minister Ahmad al-Najjar, adding that schools in the Gaza Strip now run on two shifts.

Global donors convened last year in a summit held in Egypt, in which they pledged to donate around USD 4.5 billion to rebuild Gaza. However, the situation on the ground remains far from changed.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124494§ionid=351020202.

Russia extradites Kyrgyz ex-minister

Russia has extradited Kyrgyzstan's former interior minister to the Central Asian country, following his arrest on unspecified charges over the weekend.

Moldomusa Kongantiyev was arrested in Moscow by Russian Special Forces and is now being held in Bishkek, the interim Kyrgyz government said.

Earlier this month, the former statesman was shown on TV, being beaten up by protesters.

This is the highest-profile arrest to date of a member of Kyrgyzstan's recently deposed government.

Analysts say the move is also a sign of strong Russian support for the interim Kyrgyz government, headed by a former foreign minister, Roza Otunbayeva.

The interim government came to powers following the April 7 bloody uprising, that toppled President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

More than 80 people died in the unrest, after the former administration allegedly ordered troops to open fire on protesters.

The former president has accused Russia of leading the upsurge over anger at Bakiyev's decision to keep a US airbase in Kyrgyzstan.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124489§ionid=351020406.

First Baghdad-London flight in 20 years arrives

(AFP)

26 April 2010,

LONDON - The first commercial flight between Baghdad and London in 20 years has touched down at the British capital’s Gatwick airport after being delayed by the Iceland volcano ash cloud, the airport said.

Flight IA237 landed at 11:08 pm (2208 GMT) Sunday after coming via Malmoe in Sweden on the 10-hour trip, according to arrival information on the airport’s website.

After the flight departed Iraq, the country’s civil aviation director Adnan Blebil told AFP: “I am happy. But if Western companies had been more cooperative, we could have started (flights to the West) several years earlier.”

There were 30 foreign and Iraqi passengers on board the flight, including Transport Minister Amer Abduljabbar Ismail and Iraqi Airways chief Kifah Hassan.

“There will be two flights a week now. They will fly via Malmoe on the way out but the return flight will be direct,” Blebil said.

The first flight since sanctions imposed by the UN after Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait came into effect had been scheduled to depart on April 16.

But Iceland’s Eyjafjoell volcano erupted two days earlier, spewing out ash that forced air traffic authorities to cancel thousands of flights across Europe.

Much of Europe’s airspace only reopened last week.

Source: Khaleej Times.
Link: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2010/April/middleeast_April403.xml§ion=middleeast.

Master plan for Nujoom Islands project unveiled

DUBAI — Marsa Al Nejoum Real Estate L.L.C., the UAE-based development arm of one of the region’s leading master developers, Al Hanoo Holding, has unveiled the master plan of its iconic waterfront Nujoom Islands project in Sharjah.

The master plan of phase one has been approved by Department of Survey and Planning, Sharjah. The developers have completed a major part of the infrastructure including the dredging works and all water canals for the Nujoom Islands, a cluster of natural islands located strategically on the coastline of Al Hamrya in Sharjah, and outside the residential area of the emirate.

Nujoom Islands consists of iconic environment-friendly villas in a waterfront setting that will have the green building concept at the core of their natural development. The project will include a range of facilities and features, ancillary and community services including schools, retail shops, entertainment facilities, a 5-star hotel and a mosque. Phase one is being developed as a gated villa community that creates a healthy and safe environment including 24 hours security together with a 2.5 km Corniche that will make it ideal for walking, jogging and cycling.

Nujoom Islands is considered the northern gateway to the emirate of Sharjah, spanning an area of over 60 million square feet. 95 per cent of the landmass including the islands is natural. The blue sea water flow and circulation will give a unique 36 kilometers of waterfront ambiance for resident and visitors to the Nujoom Islands.

Commenting on the development, Shaikh Abdulla Al Shakra, chairman of Marsa Al Nejoum, said: “We are pleased with the completion of the master plan. We would like to express our profound thanks to His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and the government of Sharjah for their whole-hearted support to this project. We are also grateful to the supportive role played by the Department of Survey and Planning in Sharjah, which reflects their commitment to the continued economic development of Sharjah”.

Shaikh Abdulla Al Shakra added: “We are making good progress in Nojoom Islands. Marsa Al Nejoum is working closely with our partners, Creative Kingdom and QHC Architects and Engineers to ensure delivery of a superior quality product on time in line with our promise to customers. We are confident that all our residential villa units will meet the needs of the market during a challenging period for the property sector.”


Source: Khaleej Times.
Link: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=uaebusiness&xfile=data/uaebusiness/2010/april/uaebusiness_april108.xml.

International airport in Makkah soon

By MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

RIYADH: The Shoura Council unanimously agreed Sunday to set up an international airport outside the holy city of Makkah.

The decision was taken when the annual report of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) was tabled at the eighth ordinary session of the Shoura Council held under the chairmanship of Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh.

In a statement after the session, Secretary-General of the Council Mohammed Al-Ghamdi said the decision to set up an airport in Makkah was taken after detailed discussions on the comments and observations made by the council's Transport, Communications and Information Technology Committee on the annual GACA report.

Al-Ghamdi said that the house suggested that the proposed international airport in the Makkah region be located outside the Haram area to allow both Muslims and non-Muslims to travel to the region.

A large number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims are expected to benefit from the proposed facility.

The members also recommended adequate votes to finance the development of the existing domestic airports in the Kingdom with state-of-the art technology. The house also urged GACA to provide better facilities to local and international transit passengers who use the Kingdom's airports.

Recently, the council considered slapping a SR500 fine on those who smoke inside the Kingdom's airports when a draft anti-smoking law was submitted by the committee appointed to draft regulations to prevent smoking in the Kingdom. The draft law also seeks a ban on the cultivation and production of tobacco and tobacco derivatives in the Kingdom. The proposed law covers cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, hookah pipes and any other products containing tobacco.

On Sunday, the council also recommended a national plan to draw up a marine survey using digital technology. The members said the survey should cover the Kingdom's coastal areas and territorial waters.

Regarding security affairs, the council discussed a draft cooperation agreement presented by the defense authorities to introduce new measures to curtail drug trafficking between Egypt and the Kingdom. The agreement included exchange of intelligence, criminal data and documents related to drug pedaling between the two countries. A draft agreement on the transfer of convicted prisoners between the two countries was also tabled at Sunday's session.

Source: Arab News.
Link: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article47263.ece.

Iran wraps up major naval drill

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has wrapped up a major military exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz with the launch of new missiles.

In the fourth and final day of the exercise, Nasr, Nour, Saeqeh, Fajr III and Fajr V missiles successfully hit their targets, IRNA reported Sunday.

According to the report, the naval missiles have a range of 45 km (28 miles) to 300 km (186 miles).

The IRGC began the "Great Prophet V" drills on Thursday to demonstrate the country's defense capabilities and its determination to maintain security in the region, according to military commanders.

Deputy IRGC commander for the naval forces, Ali Fadavi, said Sunday the maneuver showed Iran was not only able to "provide security for the regional countries, but also to pose the greatest threat for the enemies."

"We are able to threaten the US bases throughout the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz," he added.

The maneuver coincides with the 31st anniversary of the establishment of the IRGC.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124406§ionid=351020101.

Iranian flag flaps on Mt. Dhaulagiri

Iranian mountain climbers have conquered Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest peak in the world in Nepal, Iran Mountaineering Federation reports.

The Iranian mountaineer team includes Jalal Cheshmeh-Qasabani, Azim Qeichisaz, Abbas Ranjbari, Iraj Ma'ani, Vaase' Seyyed Mousavi, Majid Nematollahi, Hadi Saberi, Hossein Salehi, Mohammad Naderian, Mahmoud Hashemi and Mohammad Nasiri.

Ali-Reza Behpour, the team's physician and Mahmoud Shoaei, head of Mountaineering Federation of Iran (MFI) accompanied the Iranian athletes during their adventure to Dhaulagiri.

Dhaulagiri forms the eastern anchor of the Dhaulagiri Himal, a subrange of the Himalaya in north central Nepal. Literally meaning White Mountain, the mountain is measured 8,167 meters.

It took Iran's 13-member expedition around 60 days to explore Dhaulagiri.

According to the MFI, the Iranian mountaineers are all in good medical condition and are climbing down the mountain.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124482§ionid=3510211.

Brazilian FM in Iran for talks

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim is in Tehran for talks with senior Iranian officials on a range of issues, including Iran's nuclear program.

During his two-day visit, Amorim plans to meet ranking Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his opposite number Manouchehr Mottaki.

The Brazilian minister's visit paves the way for a May 16-17 trip by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Tehran.

As a firm defender of Tehran's right to peaceful nuclear energy, Amorim has dismissed US claims over Iran's nuclear program, reiterating that he did not believe Iran is close to building a 'nuclear bomb'; a charge incessantly leveled against Tehran by Washington and its allies.

He, however, remained silent on whether Brazil plans to vote in favor of or against fresh UN sanctions against Tehran.

The United States, Britain and France are hoping to persuade member-states of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to adopt more punitive measures against Tehran.

For the resolution to pass, the measure requires the affirmative vote of at least nine members, especially that of veto-wielding permanent members; the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.

Of the five permanent UNSC members, Russia and China have also declined to comment on their position, while stressing the need for diplomacy to resolve the issue.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124478§ionid=351020101.

UAE presses claim on Iranian islands

The United Arab Emirates has again laid claim to three strategic islands in the Persian Gulf, only a day after Iran warned against any such provocation.

The rift between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) further widened on Sunday when UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan again called on Iranian officials to end the "occupation" of the three islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.

"The UAE's position is one of hope that the Iranian side will end this dispute peacefully and calmly," said Sheikh Abdullah following his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Unfazed by the tidal wave of condemnation he recently provoked in Tehran, Sheikh Abdullah went on to warn the Iranian government that its ownership of the three islands will come at the expense of its relations with the Arab world.

"We hope the Iranian side will look at this dispute and the occupation not only as an obstacle to improving relations between our two countries but also as an obstacle to Iran's relations with Arab states. For the sake of everybody, we hope this issue will be resolved peacefully and as soon as possible," he added.

The Emirati Foreign Minister touched on a raw nerve last week when he likened Iran's ownership of the three Persian Gulf islands to Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said on Saturday that Sheikh Abdullah had seriously crossed the line when he made the remarks.

The three Persian Gulf islands were historically owned by Iran but the habit of colonialism by Britain led to the islands temporarily falling under British control in the 1800s.

The islands were then returned to Iran on November 30th 1971 through legal procedures before the state of the United Arab Emirates was created and the Al-Nahyan clan assumed leadership.

According to international conventions, no state can defy any agreements which had come into being before its creation unless such agreements had been officially declared null and void by the newly-created state.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124473§ionid=351020206.

Israel may legalize WB settlement

Israel is considering legalizing a West Bank outpost slated to be demolished in a breach of its promise to refrain from creating any new West Bank settlement.

The decision was announced on Sunday in response to a petition regarding the Derech Ha'avot outpost, which includes 17 permanent settlement units and 15 mobile ones, in Gush Etzion.

Even though the entire Derech Ha'avot outpost was built without a permit, Israel is considering retroactively legalizing all of those structures that were not built on privately owned Palestinian land, The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli authorities as saying ahead of a High Court of Justice hearing scheduled for Monday.

The comments came in response to a petition filed by a group of Palestinian farmers from the West Bank village of El Khader together with the Israeli-based NGO, Peace Now, who charged that the buildings of Derech Ha'avot were erected on the farmers' land.

The Palestinians said that they owned the land and had cultivated it until the crackdown on the second intifada in 2000, when they had been compelled to abandon their farms due to Israeli-imposed curfews and closures that had forced them to remain at home.

The Israeli authorities initially acknowledged that all the construction was illegal and that demolition orders had been issued against all the structures. They argued, however, that since the land had not been registered, it was unclear whether or not it was privately owned by the Palestinians.

Derech Ha'avot was established in February 2001, one month before the deadline set in the "Road Map" agreement between Israel and the US. The agreement also required Israel to dismantle all outposts built after March 2001.

Israel has constructed at least 26 settlements since that time. Most of the structures are still standing despite demolition orders issued against them.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124474§ionid=351020202.

Most Germans back Afghan pullout

A recent survey shows some 70% of the German population backs the immediate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, as Berlin struggles to win support for the unpopular war.

The opinion poll conducted by independent research institute Infratest dimap also indicated that some 53% of the Germans surveyed do not believe national security is being defended through the Afghan mission.

This comes as a blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been trying to convince the German public that the Afghan mission is directly related to national security.

The 4,500-strong German deployment in Afghanistan began in 2002 and was long known as a "stabilization mission."

Germans believed that the troops were in the conflict-torn nation only to help reconstruction and train Afghan troops, but not to engage in any form of fighting.

The myth was shattered in September 2009 after a fatal German-ordered airstrike in the northern province of Konduz left as many as 142 people dead.

This along with the growing number of troop casualties has sparked outrage across Germany.

So far, a total of 43 German soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124461§ionid=351020604.

'Mideast favors strong Iran military'

The Leader's acting representative to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the Middle East welcomes a militarily powerful Iran.

Speaking on the sidelines of the IRGC's three-day military maneuver in the Persian Gulf, Mojtaba Zolnouri said Saturday that Iran's display of military might was "a message of peace, equality and security" to the neighboring states.

Zolnouri also noted that remarks by the delegation of Qatari military officials who visited the area, where the war games are taking place, indicated the region's sentiments at a time when Western military forces are active across the Middle East.

The Qatari delegation expressed hope that the drills would contribute to regional security.

"A powerful Islamic Republic is without a doubt a guarantee of regional stability and security, and would drive out foreign forces from the Persian Gulf," said Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei's acting representative to the IRGC.

The IRGC's navy, ground forces and air force took part in complicated military exercises during the military drill, dubbed 'The Great Prophet V,' which kicked off on Thursday.

Earlier, a navy commander announced that four improved Iran-made surface-to-sea missiles would be test-fired on Sunday.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124315§ionid=351020101.

UK ordered to pay $650 mn to Iran

An arbitration court in The Hague has ordered the British government to refund $650 million to Iran over an outstanding 1970s arms deal.

The British government has confirmed the court's ruling and that the compensation money for Iran is now sitting in bank accounts waiting to be withdrawn, ABC reported on Sunday.

Between 1971 and 1976, the Shah of Iran had ordered 1,500 state-of-the-art Chieftain battle tanks and 250 military vehicles costing $650 million, The Independent reported.

The deal was canceled after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and Iran took Britain to court to reclaim the down payment.

The Independent has revealed that Britain is to pay back nearly 400 million pounds to Iran's Defense Ministry after finally admitting defeat in the dispute.

According to The Independent report, the settlement between International Military Services (IMS) Ltd, the company used by the British Ministry of Defense to strike the tank deal with the Shah in the 1970s, and Iran's Defense Ministry will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124353§ionid=351020101.

Iran calls for collective security treaty

With eyes fixed on foreign military presence in the Persian Gulf region, an Iranian lawmaker calls for a collective security treaty among Mideast countries.

“The continued presence of foreign military forces in the region has stoked insecurity and instability in our region,” said Kazem Jalali, Rapporteur of the Parliament (Majlis) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, on Sunday.

"Under these conditions, Middle Eastern countries, particularly those along the Persian Gulf, should join one another in a collective security treaty to ensure regional safety," he added.

Iran has emerged as a vocal critic of the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf region, notably the US military, which has bases in several Mideast countries including Iraq.

Arab states in the Persian Gulf have a long history of housing US military bases and combat equipments.

Kuwait plays host to US Patriots missiles, while the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters.

Qatar is also known to have a US air operations center that has played a central role in the US wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124377§ionid=351020101.

'Qatar stands good chance to host WC'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said Qatar has a good chance to become the first country from the Arab world to stage a World Cup in 2022.

"The Arab world deserves the World Cup and Qatar has a good chance to become the first country from the region to host it,'' Blatter told a news conference in the Qatari capital, Doha on Saturday.

"I'm a regular visitor to Qatar and every time I land here I am impressed by all the development,'' he went on to say.

Blatter further pointed out that the Qatari government's successful hosting of the 2006 Asian Games proved that it had the credentials to organize any international tournament.

"The Asian Games is a big event in which men and women compete in 30 different sports and the fact that Qatar hosted it successfully means its organizational abilities cannot be questioned,'' he added.

"To bring the World Cup to Africa was a project I had in mind 35 years ago, when in February 1976 I undertook a technical course in Addis Ababa," he further explained.

Qatar is among nine countries vying for the 2022 World Cup.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124361§ionid=3510211.

Iranian designs pupil-driven car

Iranian engineer Tinoush Ganjineh has designed the first vehicle ever to be controlled with commands coming from the human eye.

Ganjineh, who also directed a project for making the car at the Freie Universitat in the German capital of Berlin, told IRNA on Saturday that the vehicle is equipped with a myriad of electronic gadgets and fitted with a variety of software programs that even allow unpiloted driving.

It uses cameras, radio transmitters and other telemetric devices to convert operator eye movement to instructions in a form usable by the vehicle's navigational system.

Ganjineh said that he started work on the project in 2006 but later decided to use it for his doctoral dissertation due to its success.

A group of 12 engineers worked on the car, which also is hoped to help curb road accidents because of its high-tech equipment.

The original model can reach a speed of only 60 kilometers per hour.

The University has put the estimated USD 375,000 vehicle on show at the Berlin Tempelhof Airport.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124365§ionid=351020105.

Iran starts last stage of military drill

Iran has begun the final stage of its military exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz by launching shore-to-sea missiles.

In the fourth day of the exercises, units from Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps fired five naval missiles. Reports say the home-made coast-to-sea and sea-to-sea missiles hit a single target simultaneously.

The IRGC ground forces also carried out an operation to repel hypothetical enemies from positions they had occupied on Iranian territory, Fars news agency reported.

The IRGC began the massive military exercise on Thursday to demonstrate the country's defense capabilities and its determination to maintain security in the region.

The maneuver dubbed the "Great Prophet 5" coincides with the 31st anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124367§ionid=351020101.

Syria responds to 'Stone Age' threats

Syria has threatened to strike back at Israel with missiles in response to a recent Israeli threat about sending Syria back "to the Stone Age," a Kuwait newspaper reports.

After an Israeli official said that Israel could send Syria back to the Stone Age, a source close to decision-makers in Damascus told the Kuwaiti Manbar Al Rai newspaper on Saturday that Syria could send Israel "back to prehistoric times" if the Israelis attacked with unconventional weapons.

Last week, an unidentified Israeli minister was quoted in London's Sunday Times as saying, "We'll return Syria to the Stone Age by crippling its power stations, ports, fuel storage and every bit of strategic infrastructure if [Hezbollah] dares to launch ballistic missiles against us."

"In a message, sent earlier this month, Israel made it clear that it now regards Hezbollah as a division of the Syrian army and that reprisal against Syria will be fast and devastating," the newspaper quoted the Israeli official as saying.

The article went on to say that the warning, which was conveyed to Damascus by a third party, was aimed at reinforcing an earlier statement by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who has said that if war breaks out, "the Assad dynasty will lose its power and will cease to reign in Syria."

The threats came after Israel alleged that Syria had recently provided Lebanon's Hezbollah with medium-range Scud missiles. On Thursday Damascus strongly denied the accusations of delivering Scud missiles to the group.

"For some time now, Israel has been running a campaign claiming that Syria has been supplying Hezbollah with Scud missiles in Lebanon," a Syrian foreign ministry statement said.

"Syria strongly denies these allegations which are an attempt by Israel to raise tensions in the region," it added.

"Israel is seeking to create a climate that will pave the way for an eventual Israeli attack to avoid responding to the demands of a just and comprehensive peace," it concluded.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124347§ionid=351020206.

Conservatives win Hungary elections

Viktor Orban and his center-right Fidesz party have won Hungary's runoff parliamentary elections with the two-thirds of majority.

With nearly all the votes counted, Fidesz, led by charismatic Viktor Orban, won 263 seats, above the 258 needed for the two-thirds majority, ousting the Socialists after eight years in power.

Orban is now set to become prime minister and will have the power to make deep structural reforms, and even change the constitution. He has promised to create jobs, lower taxes and reduce bureaucracy to boost the economy. Hungary is among the hardest hit by the world recession.

In late 2008 it was forced to approach the International Monetary Fund for $25 billion in emergency financing. Unemployment has soared to 11.4 percent and the economy contracted by 6.3 percent last year.

The strong mandate should enable Orban, 47, to follow through on his pledge to streamline the government bureaucracy, grant citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring countries and cut the number of parliamentary deputies in half.

But analysts warned that the overwhelming majority also meant that the government could face a backlash from voters if it fails to deliver on its promises of leading the country out of recession.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124449§ionid=351020606.

French law stigmatizes Muslims

Muslims in the French city of Nantes, where a woman was fined for driving while wearing an Islamic veil, have expressed concerns over stigmatizing Muslims.

“The Muslims of Nantes are worried by this systematic stigmatization which goes against the values of the Republic,” the collective of Nantes mosques said in a statement on Sunday.

The association “considers that the stopping of a driver is a judicial procedure and is angry at how such event has been turned into being all about Islam.”

The woman says her rights have been violated and she is challenging the fine in court.

Earlier in the month, Nantes police fined a Muslim woman wearing an Islamic face veil while driving for $29. The police claimed the veil limited "freedom of movement and a sufficient field of vision," according to the victim's attorney, Jean-Michel Pollono.

Speaking on Franco-Info radio, Pollono argued that a veil is "the same as a motorcycle helmet" in terms of hindrance to vision.

President Nicolas Sarkozy's government plans to push ahead with a ban on wearing a full-face veil in public, despite warnings from state legal experts that such a law will violate freedom of religion and is unconstitutional.

After the government's proposal on banning Islamic veil and the Nantes incident, the controversial issue has gained momentum, dominating French news and politics.

France is home to the largest Muslim population among the 27 European Union member states. Nearly 10 percent of the country's 62 million citizens are Muslims.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=124437§ionid=351020603.

Ahmadinejad discusses nuke issues with Ugandan President Museveni

Sat, 24 Apr 2010

Kampala (Earth Times) - Visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday held talks with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni focusing on Tehran's controversial nuclear program, officials said.

In the behind-closed-doors talks, the Tehran leader was asking Kampala for support for Iran's nuclear efforts which are opposed by the United Nations and Western states, foreign ministry permanent secretary James Mugume told the German Press Agency dpa.

But Uganda, which is one of the two African states with a rotational seat in the UN Security Council, has yet to come out officially over the issue, Mugume said.

Saturday's meeting, coming after Ahmadinejad arrived late Friday from Zimbabwe, also saw the Tehran leader reaffirming his interest in investing in the East African country's virgin oil reserves, officials said.

Members of the Iranian government who traveled with Ahmadinejad held talks with Ugandan cabinet ministers including those of energy, agriculture and trade.

Details of the talks were not available to the press but about two billion barrels of oil were discovered in recent years from wells so far explored in the western and north-western regions of the East African state.

India's opposition parties upset over alleged phone tapping

Sat, 24 Apr 2010

New Delhi - India's opposition parties united Saturday in criticizing the government for allegedly tapping the telephones of key political leaders, including two from the ruling alliance.

A report in the weekly Outlook magazine alleged that government agencies had been tapping the phones of important politicians and ministers since 2006.

Those whose phones were allegedly tampered with included Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it would raise the issue in parliament Monday.

"If the government is tapping the phones of terrorists, or tax evaders or secessionists, then it is understandable as national interest and national security are involved. But tapping phones of politicians and ministers is condemnable," BJP leader SS Ahluwalia said.

"The report shows that the government is using the intelligence and security agencies to serve its political purpose to spy upon opposition leaders and to keep track of even its own allies and party leaders," the CPI-M said in a statement.

Karat said the reported tapping of phones was "illegal and intolerable" and asked the government to take action against those involved.

The Congress Party of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh distanced itself from the row.

"Illegal phone tapping is unjustified but in this case, it is for the government to explain whether phone tapping was done or not or whether it was legal or not," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said.

The Outlook magazine report comes at a time when the government is facing flak over a cricket league scam, with the opposition claiming it had ignored serious financial irregularities for over two years.

The opposition has also been threatening to introduce cut motions, which indicate disapproval of a policy, in parliament to defeat the finance bill which could pose a serious embarrassment for Singh's government, IANS news agency reported.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320363,indias-opposition-parties-upset-over-alleged-phone-tapping.html.

Report: Israeli arrested in Egypt for crossing into Sinai illegally

Sat, 24 Apr 2010

Cairo (Earth Times) - Egyptian police arrested an Israeli on Saturday for illegally crossed into the Sinai Peninsula, security sources said.

Sagi Schori, 36, who was arrested after border guards saw him ride into Sinai on a motorbike, was being questioned, the al-Shorouk daily reported on its website.

Last month, an Israeli journalist was arrested as he tried to cross the border with a group of migrants. He reportedly told authorities he was working on a story about African migrants trying to cross into Israel illegally from Egypt.

Egypt is under mounting international pressure to secure its border with Israel and to stop the use of lethal force in trying to prevent migrants from crossing the border illegally.

Iraqi rivals to discuss new government - Feature

Sat, 24 Apr 2010
Kadhim al-Attabi

Baghdad - Iraqis are watching out for an alleged meeting between rivals former prime minister Iyad Allawi and current premier Nuri al-Maliki to discuss forming the new government.

A rumored reconciliation between the two is dominating political talk in the country's streets, after local media reported that both men have agreed to meet.

Intense political jockeying has followed the results of the March parliamentary elections, as both al-Maliki and Allawi claimed the right to form a new government.

Results showed Allawi's Iraqiya List winning 91 seats in the 325-member parliament, followed by al-Maliki's State of Law coalition with 89 seats. The National Iraqi Alliance came third with 70 seats.

Taha al-Luhaybi, a member of the Iraqyia List, told the German Press Agency dpa that "the agenda of the meeting between al-Maliki and Allawi was finalized" and that the meeting would focus on power-sharing and setting a program for the next government.

"If this meeting succeeds, it will resolve the formation of the government with the participation of all Iraqi parties," al-Luhaybi added.

Reports about the meeting come after al-Maliki announced that talks between his coalition and the National Iraqi Alliance, led by Ammar al-Hakim, had reached a deadlock.

"I think a coalition between al-Maliki and Allawi's lists could pave the way for forming a new government representing all Iraqis, since the State of Law includes a majority of Shiites, and Allawi's list includes mostly Sunnis," said Saad Jasim, a 49-year-old civil servant.

"It is likely that there would be important results if the two parties met and discussed their programs properly away from factional parties," Jasim added.

Though the date of the meeting has not been announced, both men and their followers have paved its way by confirming their commitment to form the next Iraqi government, at a time when all eyes are on the Independent High Electoral Commission to begin the process of recounting votes in the capital.

On Monday, an Iraqi court ruled in favor of a manual recount of votes in Baghdad, after al-Maliki's coalition appealed, saying it had proof of fraud. Results showed it narrowly lost the vote.

Allawi declared that he supported the recount under "tight international supervision", stressing that the outcome of the elections was clear and his List's constitutional right to form a new government.

"A meeting between al-Maliki and Allawi should be something normal, because they are the two poles of the political process. It would be unnatural if they did not meet," said Khairullah al-Basri, a member of the State of Law Coalition.

"I do not think their meeting needs a date, program or conditions. They should be talking on a daily basis especially at this stage which requires forming a new government," al-Basri told.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320376,iraqi-rivals-to-discuss-new-government--feature.html.

Arab League chief, Saudi foreign minister discuss overtures to Iran

(WARNING): Article contains propaganda!

* * * * *

Riyadh - The Saudi foreign minister on Sunday met with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa in Riyadh to discuss Moussa's proposal to open direct Arab-Iranian talks, Saudi diplomats said.

At its recent summit in Libya, Moussa had urged the 22-nation Arab League to talk to Iran directly to address differences and Arab concerns about Iran's growing influence in the region and its controversial nuclear energy program.

The Saudis have so far reacted coolly to the suggestion.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal has previously said that "this was not the right time for a proposal to talk to Iran," and that "a dialogue with Iran should be associated with a change in the Iranian position towards Arab countries."

Arab states share Western fears that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at producing weapons.

Moussa's meeting comes one day after al-Faisal met with Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Jawad Rasouli, and called for "breaking the ice between the two countries."

Saudi diplomats told the German Press Agency dpa that Moussa and al-Faisal also discussed developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Moussa is expected to meet with Saudi King Abdullah to discuss his proposal for direct Arab-Iranian talks.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320479,arab-league-chief-saudi-foreign-minister-discuss-overtures-to-iran.html.

Thousands of Lebanese march against sectarianism

Beirut - Around 3,000 Lebanese on Sunday took part in a peaceful rally demanding the abolishment of sectarianism in the Lebanese political system.

Politics in the country are based on sectarian divisions and parliament seats are allocated according to religious affiliation.

Sunday's rally, which was organized by an independent organization called "Laique Pride," marched towards the parliament in central Beirut.

Demonstrators distributed red roses to passers-by, while others chanted "we want to live together in a religion-free Lebanon."

"Lebanon's sectarian system contradicts the charter of human rights ... Manipulating religion for political purposes is not acceptable," Kinda Hassan, one of the organizers, told the German Press Agency, dpa,

"The sectarian political system we are living under today should gradually evolve to include secular representation inside the government," Hassan said, adding that she did not expect changes to be made overnight

Lebanon is considered liberal in the Middle East, but religion still plays a key role in the tiny country, which has more than 18 different religious communities.

Under the Lebanese system, the president has to be a Maronite Christian, the speaker of parliament a Shiite Muslim and the prime minister a Sunni Muslim.

Seats in government and parliament are equally divided among Christians and Muslims.

Many Lebanese human rights groups have been calling for a secular state since the end of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, which killed more than 150,000 people.

"We want civil marriage, not civil war" read one banner carried by the demonstrators.

In Lebanon civil marriage is not accepted by major religions.

"If two people from different religions decide to get married they have to go to Cyprus to get a civil union," said Hassan.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320482,thousands-of-lebanese-march-against-sectarianism.html.

Head of Mecca's religious police fired for being too lax

Riyadh - Saudi Arabia on Sunday formally announced that the Mecca head of its religious police force was to be replaced because of his reported remarks that mixing of the sexes should not be considered a crime.

Rumors had been rife that Ahmed bin Qassim al-Ghamidi, who headed the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice for the city of Mecca, would be sacked after the Saudi newspaper Okaz quoted him as saying that interaction between unrelated men and women should not be forbidden.

"Mixing between the sexes is natural," Okaz quoted al-Ghamidi as saying earlier this month. He reportedly added that those who forbid associations between unrelated women and men did not produce enough evidence to support their position.

His remarks contradict the position of the Saudi religious police. Segregation between sexes is strictly imposed in Saudi Arabia. The police frequently detain unrelated men and women found sitting together in public.

But King Abdullah has been pushing for a gradual relaxation of the country's strict moral codes. He recently sacked a senior cleric from the council of religious scholars, or ulema, after he criticized the country's first mixed-sex university.

At the university, which opened in the Red Sea port of Jeddah - traditionally less conservative than the capital, Riyadh - last September, women are allowed to mingle with men, to drive, and are not required to wear the veil in class.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320484,head-of-meccas-religious-police-fired-for-being-too-lax.html.

Hungarian center-right wins two-thirds supermajority - Summary

Budapest - The center-right party Fidesz secured an unprecedented two-thirds majority in Hungary's Parliament through second-round voting on Sunday, according to preliminary data from the National Election Office.

Fidesz leader Viktor Orban addressed a jubilant crowd, which filled a large square in the center of the capital Budapest chanting "Viktor, Viktor!"

"We have been able to bring about a great change through democratic means that previously we could only have done with a revolution," Orban said.

With almost 98 per cent of second-round votes counted, Fidesz was set to fill 263 of 386 seats in the Hungarian Parliament.

Holding more than two-thirds of seats in Parliament will give the center-right party the power to implement deep structural changes that normally require a cross-party consensus, such as altering the parliamentary and electoral system.

In his address to supporters, Orban repeatedly spoke of building a "new system" in Hungary, an allusion to the fall of communism and switch to democracy in 1989, which Hungarians call the "change of system."

The prime minister-elect told his supporters that Fidesz will "rebuild" a country that had been "ruined" by "oligarchs abusing their power."

The Socialists, after eight years in government, face relegation to the opposition benches with just 59 representatives.

Socialist Party chairwoman Ildiko Lendvai announced her resignation within minutes after the scale of her party's defeat became clear.

Lendvai congratulated Fidesz on its victory while warning that the next government could do much - "both good and bad" - with its huge mandate.

Increasing the magnitude of Hungary's massive swing to the right, the nationalist party Jobbik was on its way into Parliament for the first time with a 47-member caucus, making it the country's third- largest political force.

The controversial far-right party is known for its affiliated paramilitary group, the Hungarian Guard, which has remained a presence at party rallies despite having been outlawed by the courts.

Both the Socialists and the nationalists had campaigned vigorously for two weeks, urging voters to deny Fidesz a parliamentary supermajority and, as they put it, deny Orban a "dictatorial" level of power.

Fidesz had already secured an outright majority after first-round voting two weeks earlier.

The only other party to make it into Hungary's next Parliament was the newcomer green-liberal party LMP, whose name means "Politics Can Be Different," which won 16 seats.

The state news agency MTI, citing analysts, said the new Parliament could convene in two weeks, and the new center-right government could be in place as early as May 20.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320506,hungarian-centre-right-wins-two-thirds-supermajority--summary.html.

Final vote on strength of Hungary's center-right government

Budapest - Hungarian voters headed to the polls at 0400 GMT Sunday for the second round of general elections that will decide whether the center-right party Fidesz will have to settle for the absolute majority it secured two weeks ago, or will achieve an unprecedented two-thirds majority.

Such a supermajority would give Fidesz, led by 46-year-old Viktor Orban, the power to make major structural changes, such as implementing the party's pledge to reduce by half the size of Hungary's parliament.

After the first round of voting on April 11, Fidesz had already won a landslide victory over the governing Socialists, emerging as the clear winner with 206 of 386 seats in Hungary's parliament already secured.

In Sunday's ballot, voters are faced with deciding how many of 57 undecided constituencies will also go to Orban's party.

In the first round of voting - when an outright majority of 50 per cent was needed to secure a constituency seat - Fidesz finished ahead of its rivals in all but one of the undecided constituencies.

Opposing parties have campaigned vigorously for two weeks, urging voters to deny Fidesz a supermajority and Orban a "dictatorial" level of power.

However, many analysts believe the center-right party is likely to win in at least the 52 constituencies it needs to secure an unprecedented two-thirds of seats.

Only a surge in support or tactical voting in favor of the hitherto governing Socialists, the far-right party Jobbik or the green-liberal party LMP could rob Fidesz of the double victory it hopes for.

However, a recent opinion poll suggested that a majority - 57 per cent - of Hungarians believe a strong Fidesz government would be good for Hungary.

The Socialists won just 19 per cent in the first round, narrowly ahead of the far-right party Jobbik, which is set to enter parliament for the first time after winning 17 per cent of the vote.

The only other party to secure a place in the next parliament was the LMP, whose name means "Politics Can be Different," which won 7.5 per cent of votes.

All the runner up parties will be hoping to increase their presence on the opposition benches by a few seats through the second round of voting.

In Hungary's complex electoral system, votes for parties that failed to win in constituency ballots are pooled, and extra seats in parliament are distributed to runners up through a proportional representation "compensation list".

Polling stations were due to close at 1700 GMT, and preliminary results expected late on Sunday evening.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320421,final-vote-on-strength-of-hungarys-centre-right-government.html.

Choices are limited as Austrians head to presidential polls

Vienna - Austrians headed for polling stations on Sunday in the country's presidential elections - but their choices were limited to popular incumbent Heinz Fischer, controversial far-right candidate Barbara Rosenkranz and Christian ultraconservative Rudolf Gehring.

Social Democrat Fischer led in the latest forecasts with some 80 per cent. Other major parties did not field candidates for the largely ceremonial office.

Neither the center-right Peoples' Party nor the Greens thought they could defeat Fischer, who has enjoyed high popularity ratings in his first six-year-term.

In his campaign, the 71-year-old politician has presented himself as a calm bridge-builder between Austria's political camps. But he also stressed that the choice was between him, a statesman, and Rosenkranz, who has a controversial stance towards Holocaust deniers.

Rival parties and religious groups have attacked Rosenkranz over her earlier opposition to an existing constitutional law which bans neo-Nazi activities, including Holocaust denial.

The 51-year-old mother of 10 formally retracted her position. But even Freedom Party chief Strache later appeared to distance himself from her. He is already preparing for the Vienna city elections in autumn.

Christian Party candidate Gehring, 61, was widely perceived as representing a fringe movement.

Turnout was expected to be low as the outcome already seemed clear ahead of the election.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320429,choices-are-limited-as-austrians-head-to-presidential-polls.html.

Iran tests five new missiles

Tehran - Iran tested five new missiles Sunday, the final day of military maneuvers in the Gulf, the Khabar news network reported.

According to the report, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps successfully tested five new missiles, including land-to-sea and sea-to-sea missiles produced domestically.

Short-range Nasr cruise missiles were also reportedly included in the tests.

The military said the exercises that began Thursday were aimed at maintaining security in the Persian Gulf, especially the Strait of Hormuz, the main route for regional oil transfers.

The armed forces have stepped up their maneuvers in the wake of renewed speculation about possible Israeli airstrikes against the country's nuclear sites.

Tehran says its army is not trained to attack another country, but the West fears Iran could launch a missile strike against Israel, especially with its Shahab-missiles which reportedly have a range of 2,000 kilometers, capable of reaching any part of the Jewish state.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320436,iran-tests-five-new-missiles.html.

Afghan protesters torch five fuel tankers destined for NATO force

Kabul - A crowd of hundreds blocked a highway in central Afghanistan on Sunday and torched five NATO fuel tankers to protest the military's killing of three people, officials said.

General Mustafa Khan Mohseni, Logar province police chief, said Afghan and NATO forces killed three "militants" during an operation in Naser village of provincial capital Puli Alam Saturday night.

The joint forces detained two more men in the targeted compound and seized four weapons, he said.

NATO also said that its troops killed "several insurgents" and detained two others including a Taliban regional sub-commander"involved in planning suicide attacks."

It said the raid was conducted based on intelligence information of militant activity, and that one "immediately surrendered and identified himself as the targeted insurgent."

Village residents blocked the main highway linking the capital city to south-eastern provinces Sunday morning, Din Mohammad Darwish, spokesman for the provincial governor, said.

"The protesters burned five tankers that were transporting fuel to NATO forces in the province," he said, adding that the demonstrators were dispersed by police.

Angry men carrying sticks and shovels chanted "anti-US" and "anti-Karzai's government" slogans, witness Mohammad Yamma said.

"They were calling on the central government to punish the killers and release their detainees or they would find other means to mete out justice," he said.

"Most of the protesters are the relatives of the three killed men," Darwish said, adding that the provincial governor had assigned a team to investigate the incident. He said three Pakistani passports were also seized from the house during the raid.

The protest came two days after another demonstration in the same area by residents who accused US forces of killing five civilians during a raid on Thursday.

The US military said its soldiers were attacked as they approached Qaleh Sayedan village of the provincial capital. Two US soldiers were killed in the clash.

Logar, located 60 kilometers south of Kabul, was mostly under control of Taliban militants until early 2009.

More than 1,500 US soldiers were deployed to the province last year. NATO commander US General Stanley McChrystal said in February that the combined forces pushed the militants from most parts of the province.

However, provincial officials said the rebels began returning to the province when the weather got warmer in the region.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320439,afghan-protestors-torch-five-fuel-tankers-destined-for-nato-force.html.

Somalia: Kenya, AU Abetting Terror, Says Report

Kevin Kelly
26 April 2010

The Kenyan government and African Union forces have engaged in or facilitated "unlawful" actions related to the conflict in Somalia, Human Rights Watch charges in a new report.

Kenyan officials directly co-operated with Somalia government military recruiters who conducted "a massive drive" in the Dadaab refugee camps last year, the report says. The recruitment aided by Kenyan authorities was carried out under "false pretenses," Human Rights Watch asserts.

It cites numerous sources who say the recruiters lied to potential conscripts about payments and told young teenagers to falsely state they were adults.

Kenya's role in recruiting Dadaab residents to fight inside Somalia violates humanitarian principles and refugee law on which they are based, the report contends.The rights group calls on the Kenyan government to acknowledge that the recruitment effort was "unlawful."

The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), made up of 5,300 Ugandan and Burundian troops, has conducted "numerous mortar attacks against enemy forces in densely populated areas of Mogadishu without regard for the civilian population, causing a high loss of civilian life and property," the report says. "The laws of war prohibit attacks that are indiscriminate," it adds.

The report points out that in launching their own mortar shells from civilian areas, Islamist insurgents appear to be encouraging indiscriminate counter-attacks that "would kill civilians and thereby generate useful propaganda."

Human Rights Watch urges the US government to stop supplying mortars and shells to the Transitional Federal Government until the TFG respects the laws of war. The report further suggests that Washington, the United Nations and African Union must stop "turning a blind eye to their allies' abuses on the ground."

Counter-productive role

By strongly supporting the TFG, these outside interests often play a "counter-productive" role in Somalia, Human Rights Watch observes.

Many analysts find it "simplistic" to base policy on the view that the TFG "represents a real chance at peace and good governance for Somalia, while al-Shabaab is the potential leading edge of international terrorism in the region," the report states.

"The TFG remains a weak faction," Human Rights Watch observes. And while some Shabaab leaders do have ties to al-Qaeda, the Islamist insurgency in Somalia is "far from a monolithic tool of Osama bin Laden."

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201004260003.html.

Army tackles wildcat gold mines in Venezuela jungle

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Sunday ordered troops to crack down on wildcat miners who use mercury, chain-saws and high-pressure hoses to strip gold from beneath the South American nation's jungles.

Venezuela's southern forests contain some of Latin America's largest deposits of gold. Industrial mining is scarce in the region, but hundreds of local miners have devastated tracts of forest in the past few decades.

"This is a crime that we cannot keep on permitting. Look at how the jungle ends up," Chavez said, pointing at a photograph of a treeless expanse of red earth.

He deployed soldiers in the southern state of Bolivar to tackle the miners, who live in chaotic camps and villages known for prostitution and drunken machete fights.

Chavez said he was prepared to use more troops if necessary.

"This has to end, without killing anybody, without torturing anybody, just applying the law," he said on his weekly TV show. "We cannot allow capitalist mafias, both national and international, to keep destroying our homeland."

Previous attempts by the Chavez government to stop the mining led to violent protests by the miners and were ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the practice.

Venezuela has been slow to develop its precious metals and gemstone deposits, with only one private foreign company, Russian-Canadian Rusoro currently extracting gold. A state-run firm also owns mines.

The socialist Chavez has repeatedly said he plans to strengthen the state's participation to develop the sector in partnership with allies such as Russia and Iran. Mining could help diversify Venezuela's export income away from its main product, oil.

"We are going to exploit gold, we would have to nationalize all of this, take back and finish with the concessions," Chavez said.

Earlier this month, the attorney general's office said it was investigating whether the deaths of a group of Yanomami Indians were caused by mercury run-off from illegal mining camps.

(Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Bill Trott)

Copyright © 2010 Reuters

Source: The Star.
Link: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/26/worldupdates/2010-04-26T094208Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-479897-1&sec=Worldupdates.

China, Greece hold dialogue on ancient civilizations

Cooperation, harmony and ethics were the key words in the 2010 Chinese-Greek Cultural Dialogue held Friday as part of the seventh annual Thessaloniki Book Fair.

Chinese and Greek scholars versed in philosophy, arts, economics and politics compared notes Friday on "Ancient Civilizations and Modernization," which was the theme of the book fair that also featured China as a guest of honor.

Greek Culture Minister George Kouseos and Chinese Ambassador Luo Linquan delved into the long-standing bilateral relations and Olympic legacy that connects the two countries through the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

Sun Shoushan, vice president of the Chinese General Administration of Press and Publications, which co-hosted the dialogue, praised the history of the two countries. Both were home to ancient civilizations and he spoke highly of the principle of mutual understanding between the countries.

Grigoris Prastakos, rector of the Economics University of Athens and president of the Athens Confucius Institute, noted that Greece and the rest of the world marvel at the achievements of China, particularly in its economy.

Prastakos gave a lecture on how ancient Greek and Chinese philosophies had helped a modern-time manager.

Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of International Economy and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Studies, elaborated on the factors behind the Chinese mode of economic and social prosperity. Those factors, he said, included realism, hard work and equality.

Harmony and respect as the key ethics of Confucius, Aristotle and other great thinkers and artists from both countries were the focus of the speeches by Ru Xin, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Studies; Mariana Benetatou, professor of philosophy; Chen Qi, professor of arts, and Giorgis Giatromanolakis, professor of ancient Greek studies.

Discipline, team spirit and will to communicate were the focus of the lectures given by Sotiris Hatzigakis, the former Greek minister of justice; diplomat Giorgos Veis, and philosophy professor Vasilis Karasmanis, who explained how the legacy of the two ancient civilizations could be used in today's world of globalization.

Touching on the debt crisis that hit Greece recently, Luo expressed his belief that the Greeks, with a long history of civilization and outstanding individuals, will overcome the difficulties and make additional contributions to the development and progress of Europe and the rest of the world.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6962153.html.

Kadhafi to meet Arab-Israeli leaders

2010-04-25
Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi is scheduled to meet on Sunday (April 25th) with Arab-Israeli lawmakers, journalists and religious leaders in Tripoli, Libya Watanona reported. The Libyan leader flew the 40-member delegation, which includes six parliamentarians, from Amman to Libya on his private jet on Saturday. During the unprecedented meeting, the two sides will discuss the position of Arab Israelis on issues in the Arab world, according to Libya Watanona.

Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2010/04/25/newsbrief-05.

Polisario leader meets with UN chief

2010-04-25
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Polisario leader Mohamed Abdelaziz on Friday (April 23rd) at UN headquarters in New York to express his support for self-determination for Sahrawis, local and international press reported. Ban "remains very concerned about alleged violations of human rights" and said the UN envoy to the region, Christopher Ross, "will continue to work to promote the human rights of Sahrawis," according to a UN statement released on Friday.

Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2010/04/25/newsbrief-03.

Mauritania to add security command posts

2010-04-25
Three new command posts for the gendarmerie will be set up in Mauritania, General N'Diaga Dieng said on Friday (April 23rd) in Kiffa, ANI reported. The new command posts will be placed in the country's east, center and west to contain terrorism and boost security. The posts will be outfitted with new information and communications systems, and vehicles used by the gendarmerie will be upgraded. Several gendarmerie units are already deployed in a northern area that Mauritania recently designated as a military zone.

Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2010/04/25/newsbrief-02.