Palestinian inmates go on hunger strike

Mon Apr 18, 2011

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have gone on a one-day hunger strike in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) to protest the inhumane treatment by the Israeli prison guards.

Coinciding with the Palestinian Prisoners Day, the detainees are trying to draw attention to the violations and human rights abuses against Palestinian political prisoners, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Earlier, Israel's Channel 2 TV station released a video footage showing Israeli forces in a surprise attack on prisoners in Israel's desert prison of Naqab (Negev), which sparked riot.

Israeli forces respond with deadly live ammunition. One Palestinian, Mohamad al-Ashkar, sustains injury in the head from a bullet shot at close range. He later dies due to the injury. Dozens of others also sustain injuries during the attack.

The footage also shows medics being prevented from treating the wounded Palestinians.

Family members of the Palestinian prisoners have been enraged by the recent video footage.

Human rights activists are demanding those responsible for the killing of Mohamad al-Ashkar to be put on trial, but were skeptical that this will in fact happen due to the legal system in Israel.

Meanwhile, relatives of Palestinian prisoners and human rights activists gathered outside Israel's Shata prison on Sunday to commemorate the Palestinian Prisoners Day and to protest Israel's inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinians in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) and those living in Israel came out together to demand the release of their loved ones.

“We visit prisoners frequently to listen to their cause, and fight for their rights and release,” said Jamal Zahalka, an Arab member of Israeli Parliament.

“We have been in struggle since 1936. I am here today to voice my solidarity with all Palestinian prisoners, including my son,” said Raese Abdel-Qader, mother of a Palestinian prisoner.

Despite Israeli claims that torture and abuse of prisoners have been outlawed and no longer occur, Palestinian prisoners continue to accuse Israelis of physical and psychological abuse, medical negligence and refusal to allow them to see visiting relatives.

Around 8,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli jails, the Press TV correspondent said.

Over 200 Palestinian prisoners have died inside Israeli prisons so far, according to Palestinian officials, who say that the deaths were the result of torture, medical negligence and shooting.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175390.html.

'People to continue protests in Bahrain'

Mon Apr 18, 2011


A member of Bahrain Freedom Movement says the regime's brutal crackdown and pressure on the opposition would not stop demonstrations.

"I think, the international community is being deceived by the political leaders in the West," and they say that the protests have been contained after a crackdown by the regime, Saeed al-Shehabi told Press TV from London on Sunday.

He said despite a ban on demonstrations by the regime, the people are holding huge demonstrations throughout the country and are determined to continue until their demands are met.

The police have severely cracked down on the demonstrations using live bullets tear gas and chemical gases.

Shehabi had previously described the brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters as a crime against humanity, genocide, a sectarian apartheid, and sectarian cleansing.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights in Manama has reported that the people detained by the government forces are tortured, adding that there have been bruises and lashing marks on the bodies of those detainees who have died while in government custody, after they were collected by their families.

In March, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait deployed their troops to Bahrain to reinforce the brutal armed clampdown against mass protests.

Scores of protesters have been killed and many others gone missing during the harsh crackdown.

Moreover, most Bahraini media outlets have been blocked and several mosques have been demolished by the government.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175372.html.

2 more mosques destroyed in Bahrain

Sun Apr 17, 2011

The Saudi-backed Bahraini government forces have intensified their crackdown on anti-regime protesters and have also demolished two mosques.

Bahraini security forces attacked the crowds in the towns of Sanabis and Daih on Sunday. Gunfire was heard and several people were abducted by the pro-government forces.

Despite a martial law in effect since mid-March, and the arrests of hundreds of opposition figures and political activists to further stifle the opposition, demonstrations continue in Manama and other cities.

Scores of people have been killed and many others gone missing during the crackdown.

Meanwhile, the security forces fired tear gas into several religious sites across the country and two mosques were demolished -- one in Karzakan and another in A'ali.

Several mosques have been destroyed so far as part of the Saudi-backed crackdown.

Earlier this month, a video footage showed a mosque in the northern town of Kawarah destroyed in attacks by Saudi forces.

In a series of pictures depicting the brutal crackdown of anti-regime protests, the video also showed burned pages of the Holy Qur'an buried under masses of debris.

Anti-Saudi sentiment is rising in Bahrain, where people are calling for an end to more than two centuries of Al Khalifa royal family's rule in the Persian Gulf state.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175363.html.

Clashes injure 35 in Iraq's Kurdistan

Sun Apr 17, 2011

Clashes between police and protesters in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region have left at least 35 people injured, including seven policemen, reports say.

In recent months, protests have flared up in the region's second largest city of Sulaymanieh, where thousands of people have spilled out into the streets to protest against corruption and a lack of freedom.

Police fired shots, used tear gas and batons to disperse the protesters on Sunday.

Seven protesters also suffered bullet wounds and some others were hurt by batons or tear gas, Reuters quoted police and witnesses as saying.

Rekawt Hama Rasheed, general director of the health office in Sulaymanieh, said that seven policemen suffered exposure to tear gas.

Several people were also taken into custody, including journalists, but the exact figure is not known, he said.

Two journalists were among the wounded, one of them a photographer, who was shot while covering the clashes, said Rahman Gharib, an editor at the Kurdish weekly newspaper Hawalati.

Kurdistan is dominated by just two parties, the PUK and the regional president's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

President of Iraq's Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani had announced plans last month to shake up the regional government and enact reforms, but demonstrators wanted more reforms.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175366.html.

Bahrainis to stage largest hunger strike

Mon Apr 18, 2011

Bahraini anti-government protesters will begin the world's largest joint hunger strike to show their anger with the regime's crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

"I am on hunger strike to demand the release of innocent detainees and stop human rights abuse in Bahrain," said Aayat Al Nasheet, along with several youth, on their recently launched website, Xinhua reported late Sunday.

The organizers have called on all Bahrainis around the world to begin a hunger strike from Monday, in protest against the regime's brutalities against the opposition.

The move was inspired by the rights activist -- Zainab al-Khawaja -- who has been on a hunger strike over the past six days in protest against the detention of several of her relatives, including her father and husband.

Due to ill health, she was hospitalized on Sunday.

Her father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is a prominent human rights activist and former president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was arrested on April 9, at 3 a.m. local time.

Masked officers burst into his house and assaulted him and his son-in-law, Mohammed Al-Masqati, according to family members and human rights activists.

Human Rights Watch says more than 400 opposition activists and protesters have been arrested in recent weeks.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175368.html.

Military Vets Protest in front of Royal Court

2011-04-17

By Amal Ghabayen

AMMONNEWS - Dozens of retired military veterans protested on Sunday in front of the Royal Hashemite Court in Amman calling for equal rights in pensions and disability benefits.

The protestors called for equal rights as the services granted to new retirees, stressing that their demands are just considering the "major differences" between the wages and rights of old and new veterans.

Following a proposal by Chief of the Royal Guards for dialogue, the protestors were divided on the decision to accept the proposal and choosing a spokesperson and representatives, leading many protestors to withdraw.

The protestors raised banners stressing that "Respecting Veterans is a National Duty," and "We Sought Dialogue, But No One Listened," and stressed that military veterans are the shield and protection of the country.

Meanwhile, Royal Court Guards offered water bottles to protestors who arrived in the early afternoon hours on a hot and sunny day.

Source: Ammon News.
Link: http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=11903.

Al-Shabab calls war against Somali semi-autonomous regions

Friday, 15 April 2011

MOGADISHU(DIIRAD.COM)- Al-shabab militant called a massive war against Somali regional administrations as Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug, Azania and more others.

Speaking in mosque locating in the biggest Somali market, Bakaro, Fu’ad Shongolo, one of Al-shabaab high officials said Al-shabaab is organizing a massive offensive against what he called administration of infidels.

He said the leaders of Somali semi-autonomous regions don’t worship Allah, and every Muslim is must to fight with them.

Shongolo mentioned that newly created semi-autonomous region of Azania is meant (the earth of gods) and that shows that infidels behind creation of the administration.

Former Somali transitional federal government defense minister, Prof Mohamed Abdi Gandhi, announced in Nairobi at the beginning of April regional administration called Azania.

The region includes the three sub-regions of Lower Juba, Middle Juba and Gedo and is estimated to have a population of 1.3 million.

The Shababs’ declaration of war against Somali regional administrations coincides with as Prof Gandhi had indicated he would love “to liberate Azania from extremists”.

Source: Diirad.
Link: http://www.diirad.com/news-in-english/2812-al-shabab-calls-war-against-somali-semi-autonomous-regions.html.

AK Party announces long-term plans in election manifesto

18 April 2011, Monday / ERCAN YAVUZ, ANKARA

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday announced his Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) election manifesto, with the adoption of a new and more democratic constitution for Turkey being a priority for the ruling party, but also setting tangible goals such as bringing up the level of the nation's per capita income to $ 25,000 by 2023.

Erdoğan outlined five major headings in the manifesto titled “Turkey is ready. Target 2023.” The five areas that the AK Party will concentrate on are achieving an advanced democracy, a greater economy, a strong society, a sustainable environment, cities that have their own brand identity and Turkey becoming a leading economy in the world.

Professor Özer Sencar, head of research and survey consultancy POLLMARK, maintains that the AK Party's 2023 vision is a successful move in terms of the party's political communication strategy. “Announcing such long-term plans in a country where things change at a fast rate within the space of a year shows commitment. Although I think these plans are well-thought and good goals, I do have question marks as to their do-ability. The prime minister has correctly identified the nation's need for political stability. Even Republican People's Party (CHP) and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) voters say they would like to see a single-party government in our polls. The percentage of those who say they would like to see a coalition government is less than 15 percent. Knowing this, Erdoğan is promising stability.”

Political sociologist Hikmet Aydın said he viewed the AK Party's manifesto as a psychological plan prepared with the sole purpose of winning elections. “And it looks like it will be winning this election, too. You can't possibly plan for 2023 in a country where conditions and circumstances change at such a rapid rate. You can't plan for 2023, they won't let you. This is, at best, a move to guarantee a win in the elections. The prime minister wants everyone to discuss this and decide on the main agenda. The one who determines the agenda wins the election.”

The AK Party also promises a more democratic constitution completely free of the militaristic outlook of the current one, which was adopted after the 1980 coup. On Saturday, Erdoğan said the “advanced democracy” target of the election manifesto could only be realized with the adoption of a new constitution. “We will prepare a short, clear, people-oriented constitution that is pro-freedom,” he said.

However, Sencar, says he is not certain about what the AK Party will do about drafting a new constitution. He explained, “It is important and a realistic goal to say, ‘We’ll pull the inflation rate down to below five percent. But saying, ‘We’ll draft a new constitution,’ isn’t realistic. His economic targets are sound and feasible, but there are ambiguities in terms of constitutional and democratization promises. I have doubts as to whether they’ll be able to draft a new constitution and whether they’ll be able to reach a consensus with the other parties. I don’t think that the AK Party will be able to take strong steps toward a new constitution even if it can capture a strong presence in Parliament.” He said the AK Party failed to be convincing in its pledge for a new constitution.

Journalist Mehmet Altan also expressed skepticism about some of the AK Party’s plans. He said, “The AK Party had made very simple yet very important promises when it first came to power, such as a constitution to strengthen democracy and changes to the political parties law and the election law. However, this hasn’t been achieved during its eight-and-a-half years in power. As an ordinary citizen, it appears to be a good program but as an academic, I see more of a developmental attitude. I can’t see a mentality that seeks to address issues such as forming a knowledge-based industrial society, or other more pressing matters. Dramatic reforms are needed in education, but there is nothing being said about that. EU reforms have stopped, but it is not clear what’s going to be done about that. There are many issues that can be discussed as part of a serious and thorough review.”

In a brief comment on the AK Party’s election manifesto, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, “I think they forgot to include man,” in response a question on what he thought of the manifesto during a visit he held to Şanlıurfa on Sunday, expressing his opinion that he didn’t agree that the manifesto was people-focused.

Crazy İstanbul project

One of the most anticipated topics regarding the AK Party’s plans concerns what Erdoğan earlier called a “crazy project” for İstanbul, whose content wasn’t disclosed. However, he didn’t give details on that project on Saturday either, saying he will make that information public on Apr. 27. Although, the election manifesto includes a major project for İstanbul. The AK Party plans to establish two new cities on both sides of the city, although it wasn’t clear whether there are any plans to divide the city administratively.

Erdoğan elaborated on the headings a sustainable environment and brand-cities saying that they would establish two new cities in İstanbul, where the population has neared 17 million. “Let me make this clear, I am talking about two new cities. One on the European side and one on the Anatolian side,” he said. He said they will share the architectural details of the project with the public in various presentations.

Meanwhile, CHP Deputy Group Chairman Akif Hamzaçebi on Sunday accused Erdoğan of stealing a CHP project. “The two new cities project in İstanbul is essentially a CHP project,” he said, saying that he had proposed the same idea during 2008 budget talks. However, he said Erdoğan -- who has essentially been in charge of İstanbul since 1994, where he was mayor before becoming prime minister -- has finally reached a point that can produce a solution, as opposed to luring more migrants and constructing more buildings, which he says are the staples of the AK Party urban management mentality.

The prime minister also made promises about the judiciary. He said the AK Party was bent on building a judicial system in which people will have full confidence. He also said the AK Party’s fight against illegal groups inside state agencies will continue with determination.

The AK Party leader said their election manifesto was both a roadmap for Turkey and a vision of the future for the country. He also criticized election promises from the CHP leader, without mentioning his name. He said unlike other politicians, his party hadn’t included any project where the financial source isn’t clear; noting that they’d only included realistic and achievable goals.

“The targets were put forth distinctly and it was clearly expressed in what way and by what time these targets will be met. There is an enormous amount of sensitivity to stay clear from populism. You will not find Kaf Mountain [a legendary mountain found in Turkish fairy tales]. Nor will you find any unreachable target, or fictional promises. The AK Party’s election manifesto was not prepared for the sake of trading in hope and dreams; it was prepared as a powerful, reasonable and logical roadmap for Turkey. We didn’t promise anything we won’t be able to deliver,” Erdoğan said.

The second heading of the AK Party’s manifesto is “A Great Economy.” The AK Party has set a target for itself to make Turkey one of the world’s top 10 economies by the year 2023. By the same year, the AK Party wants to make Turkey one of the first biggest economies in the world in terms of agricultural economic growth. The target for Gross National Product (GNP) is set at $2 trillion 64 billion, and the per capita income target is $25,076. The manifesto seeks to make İstanbul one of the top 10 financial centers of the world and to bring down the unemployment rate to five percent, again by 2023. Erdoğan also announced plans to increase the length of intra-city highways to 365,000 km, by building 5,275 km of new roads and projects such as an underwater commuter tunnel for İstanbul, a third bridge over the Bosporus, and the completion of a project to build a new highway between İstanbul and İzmir.

The AK Party also plans to increase the duration of compulsory education to 13 years and change the structure of the Higher Education Board (YÖK), which oversees higher educational institutions. The government will also encourage Turkish universities to open campuses in other countries and will set up new giant city hospitals built on areas of 1 million square meters. The number of doctors will reach 200,000 from 120,000. The government also announced plans for new housing and a social support program for underprivileged families. The AK Party also has public health plans such as fighting obesity and tobacco addiction.

Economists evaluate AK Party election manifesto

The Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) election manifesto, which sets ambitious social and economic goals for Turkey to be attained by the year 2023, offers exciting possibilities, but analysts also have concerns. Üstün Dikeç, a professor of economy at Çankaya University says, it is quite an ambitious endeavor for a government that is being elected for a period of four years to plan for 13 years. Dikeç said: “According to a World Bank report, in democratic countries a single party doesn’t last in power for a duration longer than a medium term, which is about 10 years. This will be the government’s third term, and if they win the election by a large margin then it may be possible for them to realize short-term targets. However, whether medium or long-term goals can be achieved will depend on the stability in the country. The prime minister says he will not run in the next term, which makes uncertain the fate of such commitments.”

Mustafa Acar, dean of the economic and administrative sciences faculty of Kırıkkale University, says it is a positive sign for Turkey to have become a country that can make such long-term plans, as opposed to earlier times when so much could change in just six months. “The key factor will be political stability and the continuation of economic growth,” he asserts, saying goals such as making Turkey the 10th biggest economy in the world, or brining the per capita income level to $25,000 are achievable. He also said the government’s track record in economy management lends it credibility. “They have been in power for the past nine years and achieved political and economic stability. So voters would take this into consideration, basing their decisions on the past acts of the government,” he stated.

City plan includes details of new İstanbul project

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday spoke of the government's plans to create two new cities in İstanbul, but did not give any details on how that would be done except for saying that one will be on the Anatolian side and the other will be on the European side.

İstanbul has grown to an unmanageable size over the past few decades, due to incoming migrants and the continues rising of new apartment complexes. Erdoğan said the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) had a special plan to bring things in the city under control while announcing his election manifesto on Saturday. Urban planners say İstanbul's Environmental Order Plan – a key document seen as the city's own constitution – might include some hints. The plan envisages creating two new administrative units (possibly in the form of provinces) in İstanbul; one on the European side with Silivri being its center, and the other one on the Anatolian side with Kartal being its center. The first city will span the area that surrounds the D-100 and TEM highways between Silivri Province and Büyükçekmece district. Değirmenköy, Çanta, Hadımköy and the Kayabaşı and Ispartakule areas (north of the Büyükçekmece Lake) will be designated as new urban development regions. The area between the Büyükçekmece Lake until Tekirdağ will also develop in a controlled way. The new city will be supported by a university, setting up a technology campus, fair, congress and cultural centers and similar facilities. Railways, buses, metro and metrobus systems of the new city will also be integrated with the existing transportation network.

The second city, with Kartal being its central district, will cover the areas of Maltepe, Tuzla, Orhanlı, Şile and Ağva. All these districts will be designated as urban development regions. The Pendik, Yenişehir and Kurtköy areas are designated for technology development zones, while Orhanlı and its surroundings will be developed as a commercial center.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-241323-ak-party-announces-long-term-plans-in-election-manifesto.html.

Spain separatist group 'commited' to end conflict

MADRID — Spain's Basque separatist movement ETA insisted Satuday it has a "clear commitment" to end armed conflict but denied that its recent ceasefire announcement was a sign of weakness.

ETA "has provided the opportunity to give a definitive democratic solution to political conflict, showing a clear commitment to overcome the armed conflict," it said in a statement published in the Basque separatist newspaper Gara.

Last January 10, ETA announced a permanent, verifiable ceasefire after more than 40 years of bloodshed, but Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero rejected the offer, demanding that the separatist group go further and disband entirely.

The latest statement comes after a series of setbacks for ETA in recent days, including the arrest of several suspects, two of whom were held following a shootout with police in France, and the seizure of the largest ever cache of explosives in Spain.

The group denied that the truce was a sign of weakness on its part.

"Much has been said here and there, on the essence of this decision," it said.

"Some have linked it to weakness, with the aim of promoting the dream of a police victory. Some others say it was forced by the decisions taken by the (Basque) nationalist left, trying to say that ETA did it reluctantly.

"There are also those who, shamelessly, talk about the failure of a historic journey... And it is just as clear that if not for the enormous effort of the nationalist left ... the Basque nation may well have died out long ago.

"And there are some who, perversely, link it to the nationalist left's desire to be in the elections."

The radical nationalist Basque Left is an informal grouping of militants from the ETA's banned political wing Batasuna that has called for an end to separatist violence.

It has condemned a shootout in France last weekend in which two suspected ETA members opened fire on a policeman before being arrested.

ETA's latest statement made no reference to the shooting.

The Socialist head of the Basque government, Patxi Lopez, said there was no point in "trying to interpret" the statement by ETA, whose "only fate is to disappear," in an interview with the Cadena Ser radio station.

ETA is blamed for the deaths of 829 people in its four-decade campaign of bombings and shootings to force the creation of an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France.

The group had already announced a "permanent ceasefire" in March 2006 within the framework of negotiations with Madrid.

But nine months later, it set off a bomb in the carpark of Madrid's airport, killing two men. It then formally called off that truce in June 2007, since when the Spanish government has taken a hard line against it.

Spain's top court last month rejected an application by a new Basque pro-independence group, Sortu, formed by Batasuna militants, to form a political party so that it can stand in local elections in May.

Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Friday that police were seeking a fourth man as part of an operation against ETA that has led to the country's biggest ever seizure of explosives.

Police detained two brothers on Tuesday on suspicion of belonging to an ETA commando unit that has been active for years. Two days later they detained another man.

Police also seized a total of 1.6 tonnes of explosives from five locations including the home of the two brothers.

Rubalcaba said it was "the most significant seizure ever carried out in Spain in terms of the amount of explosives."

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

Italy invites Iran to Expo 2015

Sat Apr 16, 2011

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has sent a letter to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, inviting Iran to take part in Expo 2015.

Berlusconi officially invited the Islamic Republic to participate in the international event, which will be held in the Italian city of Milan from May 1 to October 31, 2015, IRNA reported on Friday.

The theme of the six-month expo is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” and its venue covers an area of 1.1 million square meters.

Over 120 countries will showcase their achievements and products at Expo 2015. The previous edition of the event was held in Shanghai in 2010.

Italy increased its oil imports from Iran by 80.6 percent in 2010 despite the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic over its civilian nuclear program.

Data published by Italy's industry group Unione Petrolifera said that Iran's crude supplies accounted for 13.3 percent of Italy's total oil imports.

Iran, the fourth-biggest oil supplier to Italy, exported 10.377 million tons of oil to the European country in 2010.

Italy's oil imports increased by 2.2 percent to reach 77.893 million tons last year, the data showed. Italy is heavily dependent on energy imports since it has no energy reserves.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175037.html.

Iran test-fires home-made missile system: media

TEHRAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran has successfully test-fired its latest air-defense missile system dubbed Sayyad-2, local semi- official Fars News Agency reported on Saturday.

Sayyad-2 air-defense system has been tested recently and will be unveiled in the near future, Lieutenant Commander of Khatamolanbia Air Defense Base Colonel Abolfazl Farahini was quoted as saying.

The commander said the hawk systems optimized by the Iranian experts have undergone warm-testing at Khondab nuclear facility near the central city of Arak and successfully hit their targets, stressing that the test was aimed at assessing the level of preparedness of Iran's defense systems deployed to defend Iran's sensitive nuclear facilities.

Its previous version Sayyad-1, which Iran had unveiled earlier, is a two-staged surface to air missile. Equipped with a 200- kilogram warhead and with a speed of 1,200 meters per second, it can not only be deployed to destroy the targets with low Radar Cross Section (RCS) at low and medium altitudes, but also be used in electronic warfare.

Sayyad-2 is an upgraded version and enjoys higher precision, range and destruction power than its previous version, FNA reported.

Iran has made considerable progress in the past decades over the development of medium and long-range missiles, and Teheran has reiterated that its missile capability is "a defensive tool against invasions."

In February, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari announced that Iran has put smart ballistic missiles with three-fold ultrasound speed in mass production, but without elaborating further details and the type of the missiles.

Source: Xinhua.
Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-04/17/c_13832423.htm.

IRGC reform to unify armed forces: Cmdr.

Fri Apr 15, 2011

Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps says structural reforms within the IRGC have resulted in “a unified commanding system.”

Brigadier General Hossein Salami said the reforms have led to unity among different sections of the IRGC each of which have their own structure, IRNA reported.

“The structural reforms will increase cooperation among different units of IRGC and prepare a strategy and a plan for coordination among different IRGC units,” he added.

Brigadier General Salami said that the IRGC intends to increase its efficiency through “precise planning” and “the use of software applications.”

Last week, Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces Brigadier-General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan said a major part of the structural reforms will be completed by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (2011-2012).

Earlier in March, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei approved reforms in the structure, composition and organization of the Ground Forces, he said.

Last August, the commander-in-chief of the Iranian armed forces approved making the implementation of the plan to restructure the Ground Forces a mission for the army, Pourdastan said.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174975.html.

Iran helps repatriate Lebanese

Fri Apr 15, 2011

An Iranian Mahan Airlines plane has arrived at Beirut International Airport from Abidjan in Ivory Coast with 195 Lebanese expatriates onboard.

The expatriates were received by the Lebanese officials and Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi at Beirut International Airport.

The transfer came after Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah called for assistance to the Lebanese community in Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast was plunged into a political crisis after the November presidential election.

The UN and the African Union recognized Alassane Ouattara as the winner of the polls, but incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to hand over power and pressed charges of vote-rigging against his rival.

Violence intensified after all mediation efforts by the African Union and ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States), as well as the internationally imposed sanctions failed to yield any results.

After losing control of most of the country, Gbagbo was confined to his presidential residence in Abidjan and was eventually arrested on April 11.

Ouattara has indicated that his deposed rival will face criminal charges at national and international levels.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174932.html.

Iran MP urges action on Saudi 'crimes'

Fri Apr 15, 2011

A senior Iranian lawmaker has called on the international community to adopt measures to halt the 'crimes' committed by the Saudi regime in neighboring Bahrain.

Referring to Saudi 'atrocities against the Bahraini population, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis (parliament) Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Hossein Ebrahimi said in a Friday interview with Fars news agency that international bodies "must adopt strong and immediate measures" regarding the regional developments, "otherwise they would be considered complicit in the crimes committed by the Saudi Wahhabi regime.”

While the Bahraini people, who are subjected to suppression by the Manama regime, seek assistance from the Muslim world , the Saudi regime, which claims to advocate Islamic principles, wreaks havoc on the small Persian Gulf island nation, he added.

The senior legislator further called on international bodies to take a firm stance against Riyadh's human rights violations and its backing for the suppression of the Bahraini people.

On March 13, Saudi Arabia dispatched its armed forces to Bahrain at Manama's request to quell countrywide protests in the small sheikhdom that is home to the major Fifth Fleet Navy base of the US military.

Since mid-February, thousands of anti-government protesters in Bahrain have poured into the streets, calling for an end to al-Khalifa dynasty, which has ruled the country for over forty years.

According to local sources, dozens of people have been killed and hundreds arrested so far during the government clampdown on peaceful demonstrations.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174899.html.

Iran hails ties with Baku, Ankara

Fri Apr 15, 2011

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has hailed the country's “satisfactory” relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, ahead of a planned trilateral meeting.

“Tehran, Ankara and Baku have satisfactory political and economic ties that will improve in the future,” Salehi said.

Iran's border transactions with Turkey are conducted through three border checkpoints, which shows the significance of economic relations for both countries, Salehi added.

He also said Iran is also trying to facilitate its cross-border transactions with Azerbaijan.

A trilateral meeting between Iranian, Turkish and Azeri foreign ministers is slated for April 16 in the northwestern city of Orumiyeh in West Azarbaijan province.

Iranian, Turkish and Azeri presidents agreed on holding the meeting last year.

The three foreign ministers held a joint meeting on the sidelines of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting in Istanbul four months ago.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174998.html.

Iranians gather outside Bahrain embassy

Fri Apr 15, 2011

Iranian and foreign students have gathered outside the Bahraini Embassy in Tehran to condemn Manama's Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

Students from universities in Tehran and the northern province of Qazvin gathered outside the Bahraini Embassy building on Friday, Fars News Agency reported.

The angry protesters held banners reading slogans against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain's royal families of Al Saud and Al Khalifa.

They also condemned the United States and Israel for their involvement in the killing of Bahrainis, and set fire to the US and Israeli flags.

“The unpopular regimes ruling Muslim countries have engaged in killing people and have stepped up their dictatorial rule by arresting and attacking people from different walks of life with the support of colonial powers, the US above them all, amid the shameful silence of media and the international community,” read a statement issued by the students.

They condemned the “unwise” dismissal of university professors and doctors in Bahrain and called on Manama to meet the legitimate demands of its people and put an end to the killing and torture of protesters and opposition figures.

The statement also urged the international human rights organizations and the United Nations to pressure the Bahraini kingdom to stop its use of force against demonstrations.

Present at the Friday demonstration were students from Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Syria. The crowd was also addressed by a Bahraini student.

Jafar Ashur, whose cousin has been killed in an attack by government forces, described the atrocities committed by Bahraini forces who are engaged in killing their fellow countrymen with the backing Saudi, Emirati and Kuwaiti troops.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175002.html.

'Islamic awakening not recent in Jordan'

Sat Apr 16, 2011

The Islamic awakening is not a recent phenomenon in the Arab states including Jordan, as it has taken years to be “developed” by the people, says an analyst.

“The Islamic awakening inside the Arab world is not recent. This has been [there] since maybe the 1950s or the 1940s ... in the Arab world,” Maher Salloum, ambassador for peace with Universal Peace Federation (UPF) from Beirut told Press TV on Saturday.

“Now, today in Jordan there is an Islamic reawakening, and since the election of some of the members of the parliament inside Jordan, there have been signals that Islamic parties and nationalists have been leading -- on the front -- in the elections or in the parliament in Jordan,” Salloum added.

“This move cannot be in just a week or two or in [a] one-month period; it needs years to be developed and to be created by the people and for the people and for their own interests.”

The remarks come as Jordan continues to witness protests demanding political and economic reforms.

On Friday, scores of people were injured in clashes between pro and anti-government demonstrators in Jordan's northern city of Zarqa.

In the capital of Amman, anti-government protesters marched to the city hall for a sit-in after Friday prayers to demand a greater political voice.

Protesters demand free and fair elections and an end to corruption.

“[The Jordanian government] depends on international donations from international organizations, from Britain, [and] from America. The government, it seems, has embezzled or taken away the resources or the funds that have been given to them by the West. It wasn't proportionately and equally distributed among the ministries and even the people of Jordan,” Salloum said.

Jordanian protesters are also calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit.

Following three weeks of anti-government demonstrations across Jordan, King Abdullah II sacked Prime Minister Samir Rifai and appointed Marouf Bakhit as the country's new premier.

Jordan's anti-government protesters, however, have been calling for the ouster of the newly-appointed prime minister, as well as intelligence chief Mohammed Raqqad.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175152.html.

A victim of stripping off Jordanian Nationality

2011-04-16

Dear Editor,

The Department of Civil Status and Passports (DCSP) / Amman Branch has written off my name from Certificate of Citizenship obtained by my father Sulieman Salameh Alfrejat, born in Beer Sheva 1942, on the grounds that I had exceeded the age of eighteen by two months' time (my father got citizenship in the 17th of March 1987),telling me that I should have applied to an independent Certificate of Jordanian Citizenship separately at that time .

Here comes the question :whose fault was that? My illiterate father's fault or DCSP's fault?! who is to be blamed?it is clearly that the mistake committed by DCSP and therefore it is their responsibility to correct it.

Accordingly, the Department of Civil Status decided to cancel my caller ID and my Family's Book from the register of civil status and asked me to hand them to the Department.Moreover they made a ''security-block'' on my account on Department of Civil Status's computer network , knowing that I was born in Zarqa, Jordan in 1969 and have Jordanian Certificate of Birth a birth and have been living in Jordan on a continuous basis without interruption or travel Since that date until now, and that I am married to a Jordanian lady and I have two sons. Also I do not have any relationship with the West Bank or PA and I have never been there and so I have never had any of its ID's or Cards, you are kindly requested to see the accompanying documents.

My grandfather , my father,my mother and all of my 15 brothers and sisters have Jordanian citizenship and live here in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, I also have Jordanian identity number 6285778 and the Jordanian Family Book number 557 233 C which are threatened with cancellation in addition to the Military -Service Book .

Because of this step, my family is now 'scattered' between Kingdom of Suadia Arabia where my wife started working there 18 months ago and Jordan where I ,with my 4 and 2 year- old sons respectively , have been waiting for this problem to be resolved but no progress has been achieved so far..

I hope this call find its way to any one with generosity and humanity or to whom it may concern to help me get my documents back soon so that our family could be reunited , knowing that I have handed Ministry of Interior personally,as well as some MPs, a detailed Copy/Letter of my problem attached to it copies of the papers and documents which I have had, but no answer so far - imploring God Almighty to bless and save you He is all –Hearing, All-knowing.

Mohammed Suleiman Salama Alfrejat

Fregat80@yahoo.com

Source: Ammon News.
Link: http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=11897.

Jordan PM threatens tough measures against Salafists

WARNING: Article contains propaganda!

* * * * *

By ABDUL JALIL MUSTAFA | ARAB NEWS
Apr 17, 2011

AMMAN: Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit threatened Saturday to resort to “hard security” measures in dealing with Salafist groups which the authorities accused of injuring 83 policemen on Friday.

“We will deal severely with any sedition and all attempts of cheating and behavior which is strange to our habits and conventions,” Bakhit said during a visit to policemen receiving treatment at hospitals in Zarqa, 30 kms east of Amman. “These are not good Salafists but a misled group who try to exploit the atmosphere of democracy and freedom in the country,” he added.

On Friday Salafists held their seventh rally in three months to press for the release of about 200 comrades who are serving jail terms after being condemned by the State Security Court for involvement in terror activities.

The function ended peacefully but one of the Salafist groups, wielding sticks and knives, was involved in clashes with policemen that were blamed on the Islamic fundamentals by the Public Security Chief Gen. Hussein Majali.

Majali threatened to resort to the “iron fist” in dealing with Salafists that found immediate expression in the arrest of more than 50 of them Friday night and early Saturday, according to security sources.

Among the detained leaders of the Salafi movement were Abu Mohammad Tahawi, who appeared on the Doha-based Al Jazeera television Friday night to deny the government charges and Saad Hunaiti, who was arrested along with two of his brothers.

Source: Arab News.
Link: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article362926.ece.

Bahraini forces demolish two mosques

Mon Apr 18, 2011

Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have reportedly destroyed two more mosques in line with the country's policy of demolishing Muslim religious sites.

One of the mosques was demolished in Karzakan and the other one in Salmabad on Monday, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Several mosques have been destroyed so far as part of the Saudi-backed crackdown against peaceful protesters.

On Sunday, security forces fired tear gas into several religious sites across the country and two mosques were demolished -- one in Karzakan and another in A'ali.

Earlier this month, a video footage showed a mosque in the northern town of Kawarah destroyed in attacks by Saudi forces.

Earlier on Monday, Bahraini forces reportedly detained eight teachers and several pupils from a girl's secondary school in the town of Hamad.

The new arrests came as Bahraini anti-government protesters are preparing to start the world's largest joint hunger strike to show their anger at the regime's crackdown.

The organizers have called on all Bahrainis around the world to begin a hunger strike from Monday in protest at the regime's brutalities against the opposition.

In March, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait deployed their troops in Bahrain to reinforce the brutal armed clampdown against mass protests.

Scores of protesters have been killed and many others gone missing during the harsh crackdown.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175441.html.

Dozens injured in Jordan protest

Fri Apr 15, 2011

Dozens of people have been injured in clashes between pro and anti-government demonstrators in Jordan's northern city of Zarqa.

The clashes broke out on Friday after the two sides started hurling stones at each other. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.

A police spokesman said six officers were stabbed and 34 others were injured in the clashes.

The anti-government demonstrations in Zarqa, organized by a Salafi group, are distinct from the 14-week-old wave of anti-government protests across Jordan, demanding democratic reforms in the kingdom.

The protesters, who have been demonstrating over the past few weeks, are calling for the release of 90 Salafi prisoners. The Salafi movement is banned in Jordan.

Meanwhile in the capital, Amman, anti-government protesters marched to the city hall for a sit-in after Friday Prayers to demand a greater political voice.

Holding a huge Jordanian flag, the protesters chanted, "We sacrifice our blood and soul for Jordan. Reform the system now.''

Unlike other anti-government protest movements in the region, Jordanians are not seeking their ruler's ouster. Protesters are calling for some of King Abdullah II's powers to be curbed.

Protesters are demanding free and fair elections and an end to corruption.

They are also calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, reforms to parliament, and for corrupt officials to stand trial.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174989.html.

Jordan unrest: Salafist clash wounds dozens in Zarqa

WARNING: Article contains propaganda!

* * * * *

15 April 2011

Dozens of people have been injured as ultra-conservative Salafist Muslims clashed with pro-government supporters in Jordan's northern city of Zarqa.

The police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, a police spokesman said. Six officers were stabbed and 34 others injured in the clashes, he added.

Meanwhile, up to 1,000 people protested in the capital Amman, calling for political and economic reform.

Opposition groups want free and fair elections and an end to corruption.

"[The police] had to fire tear gas after a group of Islamist Salafists attacked some citizens following their demonstration in Zarqa, accusing them of being atheists," spokesman Mohammad Khatib told the AFP news agency.

The Salafists have been demonstrating over the past few weeks to demand the release of 90 Islamist prisoners.

They include Abu Mohammed al-Maqdessi, the former mentor of slain al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was born in Zarqa.

Salafists espouse an austere form of Sunni Islam that seeks a return to practices common in the early days of the faith. The movement's ideology is similar to al-Qaeda's.

Their demonstrations are separate from the 14-week-old wave of anti-government protests by leftists and more moderate Islamists, who are demanding democratic reforms in the kingdom.

They also want the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, reforms to parliament, and for corrupt officials to stand trial.

Jordan is one of a dozen Arab countries to be rocked by protests since the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that toppled the presidents in January and February.

Source: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13097059.

Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to improve bilateral relations

By Jamil Bhatti

ISLAMABAD, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed Saturday to form a "Joint Reconciliation and Peace Commission" to deal with all misunderstandings between the two countries, to discuss bilateral and regional issues and to stabilize cooperation in trade and defense.

Ministers of the foreign affairs from both countries will head the commission while Army and intelligence chiefs and ministers of defense will be the members of the commission.

The decision was made during Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's one-day visit to Afghanistan on Saturday.

Gilani was warmly welcomed when he, at the invitation of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, arrived in Kabul with a high-level delegation for an official visit to discuss the bilateral issues with the Afghan government.

Before his departure to Afghanistan, Gilani told reporters at the airport that they were going there to have talks for "stable, prosper and peaceful Afghanistan."

From Pakistan side, Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kay ani, head of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Ministers of Defense, Interior, Finance, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Secretary also participated in the "delegation level talks" between the two countries.

Besides the delegation level talks, Gilani and Karzai also had one-on-one meeting before going for a joint press briefing.

Karzai, talking to media, said thanks to Gilani for his visit besides acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan's peace efforts in the region.

Gilani highlighting the importance of peaceful and stabilized Afghanistan assured that the whole world including the United States is on board over the dialogue between both countries.

Responding to Karzai's comments, Gilani said that "no foreign formula will be accepted for Afghanistan solution," adding Pakistan will support only the solution acceptable to the people of Afghanistan.

Official sources told Xinhua that issues of U.S. troops' pullout plan, war against terrorism, border crossing, Afghan Taliban reconciliation, repatriation of Afghan refugees and Pakistan-Afghanistan transit trade agreement were discussed during the visit.

"This visit helped to ensure that both the neighboring countries, sharing border of 2,560 kilometers, are facing the same challenges," a senior government official said.

The rise in the dialogues and cooperation between the Pakistan and Afghanistan is visible from Pakistani leadership's continuous interaction with the Afghan government as it was the second visit to Afghanistan by Gilani in last four months.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project and the new Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement also came under discussion which allows the landlocked Afghanistan to import goods through Pakistani ports.

Officials said that inclusion of the top military leadership in the delegation was to show the world that they have no differences over the top complicated Afghan issue.

The whole of the week was hectic for Pakistani high ups in discussions with other indirect stake holding countries. British Prime Minister David Cameroon visited Pakistan while on Friday night he also phoned Gilani to discuss political solution of Afghanistan issue.

"Both leaders discussed the prime minister's forthcoming visit to Kabul and the prospects of a political settlement to pave the way for the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan," a PM's office statement said.

Commenting on the talks, analyst Ismail Khan hoped that the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are going into right direction as peace and harmony between both countries have been increased.

Talking to Xinhua, he said Pakistan has been trying to normalize its ties and to make a specific consensus along with Afghanistan as the officials of both countries have deep concern over the suspected alliance between U.S. and India in Afghanistan.

Besides, defense analysts and experts in Pak-Afghan matter believed that the security situation in Pakistan could not improve unless some positive change in Afghanistan situation.

Pakistan always played a crucial role for peace and stability in Afghanistan, and this visit was also a part of that process but no breakthrough came out as was expected but Pakistan will have to continue its struggles till any final solution, they added.

Gilani also invited Karzai for a visit to Pakistan which was accepted but its dates will be announced later.

Source: Xinhua.
Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-04/17/c_13832409.htm.

Sudan has reservations over Egypt’s Arab League nominee

Sat, 16/04/2011

The Sudanese government expressed reservations over the nomination of Mostafa al-Fiqqi, a former National Democratic Party leader, for the position of secretary general of the Arab League, saying it has conveyed its concerns to the Egyptian leadership.

Senior official Sudanese sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Sudanese paper Al-Ahram Al-Youm that nominees should not have adopted a hostile stance towards any Arab country, must be able to win the support of all Arab nations, address the problems faced by Arab states and the challenges of teamwork, and preserve Arab solidarity.

Sudanese government sources have said that Sudan does not oppose an Egyptian nominee, but rather has reservations regarding al-Fiqqi in particular.

Source: al-Masry al-Youm.
Link: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/402697.

Yemeni women stage massive protest

Sat Apr 16, 2011

In Yemen, thousands of outraged women have defended their right to protest in the capital and other cities over remarks made by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

President Saleh had earlier said that it was un-Islamic for women to join men in demonstrations against him, Reuters reported.

In response, around 5,000 women took to the streets in Sana'a on Saturday. The protesters, who have filed a complaint against Saleh for disrespecting women's rights, marched from University Square to the office of Attorney General Abdullah al-Olafi.

Similar protests were held in the industrial city of Taizz, south of the capital, Sana'a. Sit-ins were also held there and in the city of Ibb.

Women argue that their participation in the demonstrations is religiously sound, and that the president is exploiting religion after failing to stop the protests through employing tribes and security forces.

The demonstrators continue to call on Saleh to step down after nearly three months of protests. While Saleh says civil war could break out if he steps down before an orderly transition, the protesters say they want him out immediately.

Meanwhile, a local Yemeni newspaper has revealed that Saleh will step down from power in 30 days upon the designation of a new vice president. This is according to a timetable set by the US and EU ambassadors.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175168.html.

'Bahraini forces arrest teachers, pupils'

Mon Apr 18, 2011

Bahraini security forces have reportedly arrested several teachers and students in the town of Hamad in a new wave of crackdown on anti-regime protesters.

Reports say at least eight teachers and several pupils from an all-girl secondary school were arrested in the Bahraini city.

The new arrests came as Bahraini anti-government protesters are preparing to start the world's largest joint hunger strike to show their anger with the regime's crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

The organizers have called on all Bahrainis around the world to begin a hunger strike from Monday in protest against the regime's brutalities against the opposition.

The move was inspired by rights activist Zainab al-Khawaja who was hospitalized on Sunday after seven days of hunger strike.

She is protesting the detention of several of her relatives, including her father and husband. The human rights activists were detained earlier this month by Bahraini security forces, backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Sunday that Bahraini security forces have detained a lawyer known for defending opposition figures.

Mohammed al-Tajer was arrested at his home on Friday by "more than two dozen uniformed and plainclothes security officers, most of whom were masked," HRW said in a statement.

"Human Rights Watch believes that Tajer is the first defense lawyer detained in more than a decade. He is well-known for defending opposition figures and rights activists arrested in security sweeps," it said.

"The government's arrest of a leading defense lawyer shows that Bahrain is taking a turn for the worse on human rights," Joe Stork, HRW's deputy Middle East director, said in the statement.

"The authorities should either release Mohammed al-Tajer or charge him now with a recognizable offence," HRW said.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175410.html.

Seven killed in Syrian town: activists

Mon Apr 18, 2011

Syrian security forces have killed at least seven people and wounded about 20 others in the town of Homs, rights activists say.

The activists, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Monday that the people were killed overnight.

The incident came a day after “armed criminal groups” opened fire on Syrian security forces, killing a police officer in the town of Talbisa near Homs.

On Saturday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad introduced a new package of reforms which he said will meet the demands of the protesters.

Meanwhile, the Syrian president on Thursday issued amnesty for those detained during the protests, aside from those the government considers to have committed criminal acts.

The protests have been held in several Syrian cities since mid-March. Scores of people have been killed during the protests.

Authorities have denied allegations that security forces are responsible for the death of protesters. They blame the violence on armed groups, saying security forces have been given clear instructions not to hurt civilians.

The Syrian government announced earlier in the month that several members of a terrorist group have been arrested and have confessed to shooting people.

Damascus says the protests and the ensuing violence are organized by foreign sources and are aimed at destabilizing the country.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175432.html.

Thousands hold anti-govt. rally in Yemen

Sun Apr 17, 2011

Large crowds of Yemeni protesters have held anti-government demonstrations, repeating their call for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

On Sunday, thousands of protesters gathered in the capital, Sana'a, as Yemeni opposition leaders were preparing to discuss power transition in the country with foreign ministers of Persian Gulf Arab nations in Saudi Arabia.

Saleh has already been in office for 32 years with several opposition members arguing that his long-promised reforms have not materialized.

Regular thousands-strong protests have been held in the capital as well as the cities of Aden and Taizz, calling for Saleh's removal and the tackling of corruption and unemployment.

Some 40% of the population lives on USD 2 a day or less in the country, and one third face food shortage.

The protests have been met by riot police or supporters of Saleh armed with knives and batons.

The death toll in the country has surpassed 300 since anti-government protests began in late January.

Last week, the Yemeni opposition rejected an Arab proposal for Saleh passing power to his deputy. The plan appeared to offer the president immunity from prosecution and lacked a clear timetable for his departure.

The opposition wants Saleh gone within weeks. It also wants to keep open the option of prosecuting him.

Protesters remain unwilling to take part in any talks before Saleh resigns.

The president's resignation is "not negotiable," Former Yemeni Foreign Minister Mohammed Basindwa said. "We hope the American and European friends as well as our brothers in the Gulf will support this initiative because there will be no solution without Saleh's departure."

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175288.html.

Poison gas used on Yemeni protesters

Sun Apr 17, 2011

Scores of Yemeni protesters have reportedly suffered injuries and poisoning after the security forces used poison gas to disperse anti-government rallies.

On Sunday, at least 30 people were injured and 40 others intoxicated after the forces gassed the demonstrators in the western city of Dhamar, a Press TV correspondent reported.

in addition, a report said 10 people hwere hurt as Yemeni forces fired at protesters in Sana'a.

Tens of thousands of anti-regime protesters took to the streets of the capital, Sana'a, and the city of Taizz, both located in the west, to call on President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular demonstrations in the two cities as well as the city of Aden in the south, calling for Saleh's removal and the tackling of corruption and unemployment.

Some 40% of the population lives on USD 2 a day or less in the country and one third face food shortage.

The protests have been met by riot police or supporters of Saleh armed with knives and batons.

The death toll in the country has surpassed 300 since anti-government protests began in late January.

Also on Sunday, Yemeni women held a second day of protests against Saleh after he described the participation of women in protests “un-Islamic.”

Moreover, thousands gathered for the funeral of a protester who had died from wounds sustained during clashes with the security forces.

Opposition leaders and Arab foreign ministers held a meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss the stalemate in Yemen.

Last week, the opposition rejected an Arab proposal that gave Saleh immunity from prosecution and called on him to pass power to his deputy.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175290.html.

Saleh loyalists injure 13 protesters

Fri Apr 15, 2011

At least thirteen people have been injured after supporters of the isolated Yemeni president attacked a protest rally in the southern city of Taiz.

The incident took place as millions of anti-government protesters poured into the streets across Yemen on "Friday of Determination," demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh's immediate step down.

In the capital, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Change Square, calling for an end to Saleh's 32 years grip on power.

Crowds of Saleh loyalists also rallied in Sana'a in support of the embattled President. There were no reports of clashes between pro and anti-government demonstrators in the capital.

The Yemeni president gave a short speech to his supports in which he called himself "Yemen's legitimate leader under the constitution" and repeated his invitation for the opposition to enter a dialogue with the government.

"We call on the opposition to consult their consciences and come to dialogue and reach an agreement for security and stability of the country," Saleh told his supporters in Sana'a.

The opposition, however, has rejected entering talks with the government and has given President Saleh a two-week deadline to step down.

The opposition has also rejected a Saudi-mediated dialogue for transfer of power in Yemen which offers Saleh immunity from prosecution.

Since late January, hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular demonstrations in main Yemeni cities calling for corruption and unemployment to be tackled and demanding President Saleh's ouster.

The protests have been met by riot police or supporters of President Saleh armed with knives and batons.

In a move to appease the opposition, Saleh said he will not seek another term in office in 2013 but has vowed to defend his regime "with every drop of blood."

The protesters, however, rejected his offer calling it too late and are demanding his immediate resignation.

According to local sources, at least 300 people have been killed and many others injured since the beginning of anti-Saleh demonstrations in the country.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174936.html.

Turkey and Iran open new border crossing

ISTANBUL — Iran and Turkey opened a third border crossing Saturday, with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu proclaiming the two neighbours "friends for eternity," Anatolia news agency reported.

Davutoglu inaugurated the new crossing at Kapikoy in eastern Turkey's Van province with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi, and said a fourth would open in June at Esendere in the southeast.

A fifth would follow at Dilucu in northeast Turkey, Davutoglu said, without giving a date.

"Our prime minister has set a target of 30 billion dollars" in annual trade with Iran, Anatolia quoted him as saying. "That is why we are opening this border crossing."

Davutoglu added: "We are announcing to the world that Turkey and Iran will be friends for eternity."

Media in Iran quoted Salehi as saying: "This border is a symbol of peace and friendship and the resurrection of the Silk Road which for centuries played an important role in making the economy of the region flourish.

"It also will help the development of the border area and welfare of its residents," he added.
"Currently Iran-Turkey trade stands at 11 billion dollars annually and we are trying to hike it to 30 billion dollars," Salehi said.

Relations between the two neighbours have blossomed since the conservative Islamic-based government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002.

Erdogan determined to triple the value of their bilateral trade -- which at present consists mainly of sales of Iranian gas to Turkey -- by 2015.

Turkey has reluctantly agreed to implement economic sanctions against Iran approved by the United Nations Security Council because of Tehran's nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at weapons development.

The joint border runs for 499 kilometers (310 miles).

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

Turkish Prime Minister May Announce Istanbul Project, Sabah Says

By Steve Bryant - Apr 16, 2011

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may announce a major project for Istanbul, the country’s biggest city, at an election campaign announcement today, Sabah newspaper.

The prime minister, seeking a third term in June 12 parliamentary elections, has been developing a major for the city, Sabah said. He’ll make the announcement in Ankara later today, it said, citing Haluk Ipek, a deputy head of Erdogan’s party.

Interior Minister Besir Atalay declined to comment on the project, saying "it’s the prime minister’s and it is best if he explains it," Sabah reported.

Source: Bloomberg.
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-16/turkish-prime-minister-may-announce-istanbul-project-sabah-says.html.

Erdogan Pledges More Democracy, Roads in Turkish Election Bid

By Steve Bryant - Apr 16, 2011

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan begin his party’s re-election campaign, pledging a more democratic system and infrastructure investment that he said would triple the size of the economy in 12 years.

The Justice and Development Party will rewrite the constitution and review the way that political parties are funded and organized, Erdogan said in a speech at the Ankara headquarters of his party today.

He also pledged to work toward a solution to the country’s Kurdish situation. The party stands by its goal of full European Union membership for the country and plans to build close ties with the Middle East, he said.

Erdogan, 57, is campaigning for a third term in office, which would make him the longest-serving prime minister since the country began competitive elections in 1950. He won 341 seats in the Ankara parliament in 2007 elections, short of the 367 needed to approve constitutional change without holding a public referendum.

Boosted by gross domestic product growth of 8.9 percent last year, his party has the backing of 45 percent of the electorate, Milliyet newspaper reported on April 11, citing Adil Gur, chief of research company A&G Arastirma. Justice and Development would get between 290 and 360 seats in parliament, depending on which parties beat the 10 percent vote threshold required to enter the legislature, Milliyet said.

Erdogan told voters his party wants to extend its record of economic expansion and set a goal of $2.1 trillion in GDP by 2023, the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the republic. GDP last year was about $730 billion. Coalition governments are marked by instability and “the loss of everything that has been achieved,” he said.

The party remains committed to budgetary discipline and a “low inflation, low rates” environment, he said, outlining plans to expand the road and rail network as well as build low- cost housing for the poor. He said there would be cheap furnished homes for newly-weds on low wages. Half of Turkey’s 74 million population is under 29 years of age.

Source: Bloomberg.
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-16/erdogan-pledges-more-democracy-roads-in-turkish-election-bid.html.

'Turkey snubs Israel outcry on flotilla'

Sat Apr 16, 2011

Turkey has rejected a request by Israel to stop a new Gaza flotilla due to take activists and humanitarian aid to the impoverished coastal sliver, saying Ankara will not interfere, a report says.

A second “peace” flotilla, comprising of more than 15 ships, is preparing to set sail in the second half of May to mark the first anniversary of the deadly Israeli attack on a similar flotilla on May 31 of last year, which killed nine activists aboard the Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara.

The move is another attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza Strip, put in place since 2007 after Hamas assumed power following a democratic election in the enclave, Turkey's Today's Zaman reported on Friday.

Israel's ambassador to Turkey, Gaby Levy, asked the Turkish government this week to help stop the activists heading toward Gaza, but a Turkish foreign ministry official responded by saying that, according to his government, the flotilla plan was not Ankara's 'concern.'

In a similar move, Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu urged Europe on Monday to do all it can to prevent its nationals from taking part in the flotilla.

“This flotilla must be stopped” under any condition, Netanyahu told European ambassadors in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Since the attack on the Turkish vessel, Ankara has scaled back ties with Tel Aviv, demanding Israel's apology and compensations for the damages incurred in the attack, which also drew international condemnation.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175041.html.

Hezbollah opens resistance museum

Sun Apr 17, 2011

Hezbollah has opened a center and museum to collect the personal belongings of martyrs killed in the resistance against Israel as part of an effort to counter anti-resistance propaganda.

At the inauguration of the Ehyaa (Revival) center on Saturday, Hezbollah Executive Council Chairman Seyyed Hashem Safiyeddine commented on the many years of cultural pressure imposed upon the resistance, a Press TV correspondent reported.

He also pointed to the policies driven by the United States, Israel's closest ally, to distort the image of the resistance.

"The latest media leaks showing the cooperation between the March 14 figures and US officials conspiring at a distance are the evidence of the extent to which these people will go to weaken the resistance," Safiyeddine said.

"But it was the culture of resistance that led to our victory and the defeat of Israel," he added.

The center's director, Moussa Daher, said the museum is dedicated to commemorating "the history and spirituality of the martyrs."

"Thanks to these martyrs, we have reached a stage where everybody is living free and feeling strong," he stated.

Over the past four years, a group of volunteers have gathered all the documents and artifacts they were able to collect, with the knowledge and approval of the families of the martyrs, in an attempt to revive what is now known as the culture of resistance.

The objects on display vary from personal rifles, cell phones, college research papers, and even art works and crafts created by the children of the martyrs.

The documents were belongings of people who were martyred in the early years of the resistance, the Israel-Lebanon war of 1982, the 33-day war of 2006, and later incidents.

Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh, who was assassinated in Damascus in February 2008, is one of the most noteworthy resistance figures commemorated at the museum.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175203.html.