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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Statistics of Jihad in Caucasus Emirate for month of Ramadan 1432 (August 1 to August 29, 2011)

9 September 2011

UmmaNews published the statistics of combat operations carried out in the CE territory, during the month of Ramadan 1432 (August 1, 2011 to August 29, 2011). Here is the translation of the report. The previous report can be viewed here.

Province of Nokhchicho (aka Chechnya/Ichkeria):
Number of all operations carried out by the Mujahideen - 4
Minions injured - 1
Invaders injured - 2

Province of Ghalghaycho (aka Ingushetia):
Number of all operations carried out by the Mujahideen - 16
Number of major operations carried out by the Mujahideen - 6

1) Ambush on Kadyrov's minions from "Vostok (East)" Battalion, near Dattykh village, Sunzha district (on August 16, 2011)
2) Elimination of a company commander of the traffic police regiment in Malgobek district, Savarbek Matiyev (on August 18, 2011 - in Sagopshi, Malgobek district)
3) Sniper attack on a checkpoint manned by invaders from "internal troops" near Dattykh village, Sunzha district (on August 21, 2011)
4) Elimination of a member of the Ingush cell of the terrorist gang "Malgobek District FSB ", Magomed Kogirov. (On August 27, 2011)
5) Blasting of a car belonging to officer of Chechen office of the terrorist gang "FSB administration", Ramzan Dzeitov, in Ordzhonikidzevskaya village, Sunzha district (on August 30, 2011)

Minions killed - 16
Minions injured - 10
Invaders injured - 1
Martyrs (Insha'Allah) - 1

Province of Dagestan:
Number of all operations carried out by the Mujahideen - 60
Number of major operations carried out by the Mujahideen - 12

1) Blasting of a car belonging to the head of Untsukul district puppet administration, Magomed-Gadzhi Tagirov, in Temir-Khan-Shura village (on August 2, 2011)
2) Elimination of a former head of Tlyaratinskiy district puppet administration, Shamil Rasulov in the capital Shamilkala (On August 5, 2011)
3) Blasting of a military column of the 136th motorized infantry brigade in Khebatli village, Tsuntin district. (On afternoon August 8, 2011,)
4) Elimination of the head of "Fire Department # 16" in Baba-Yurt district, captain of "internal troops" Gaydar Gaydarov, near Kurush village (on August 13, 2011)
5) Elimination of the head of "Gazprom Mezhregiongas" security department, Ruslan Kasumov, in Shamilkala (each region has its own Gazprom regional company, i.e "Gazprom Mezhregiongas Chelyabinsk" or "Gazprom Mezhregiongas Krasnodar", etc) (on August 13, 2011)
6) Elimination of the head of "police special forces" of Udmurtia's region of Russia, in Botash-Yurt village, Khasavyurt district (on August 15, 2011)
7) Elimination of a police lt. col belonging to the "criminal investigation dept." of Voskresensky district, Moscow region (on August 15, 2011, in Botash-Yurt - Khasavyurt district, in the same attack as above)
8) Ambush on "special forces of the internal troops", in Endirey (between August 16-18, 2011)
9) Elimination of a "divisional police inspector" of Sovietsky district of Shamilkala, major Yarakhmed Osmanov, in Shamilkala (on August 16, 2011)
10) Elimination of the chief of staff of "special forces of the internal troops", lt. col. Ivan Maslov (In the night between August 17-18, 2011 - near Endirey, Khasavyurt district, during a three-day battle near the village)
11) Attack on a building of the terrorist gang "FSB administration" in Derbent city (on August 27, 2011)
12) Attack on traffic police checkpoint in Derbent city (on August 27, 2011)

Minions killed - 24
Minions injured - 42
Invaders killed - 6
Invaders injured - 16
Martyrs (Insha'Allah) - 13

United Province of Kabardino-Balkaria-Karachai:
Number of all operations carried out by the Mujahideen - 13
Number of major operations carried out by the Mujahideen - 3

1) Elimination of a high ranking Russian police officer from Ryazan, lt. col. Igor Sadomskiy (his body was found on August 2, 2011, in the mountainous area between provinces of Ghalghaycho and KBK)
2) Elimination of a senior operative of "Kabardino-Balkaria investigative department", Aslan Aslanov, in the town of Baksanenok, Baksan district (on August 3, 2011)
3) Elimination of a police captain of "special purpose forces" of Adyghe office of the Russian interior ministry gang (at night between August 16-17, 2011, in Baksan, Mujahid Tamerlan Dyshekov was martyred during the attack)

Minions killed - 2
Invaders killed - 1
Invaders injured - 2
Martyrs (Insha'Allah) - 3

General statistics of Jihadi operations in Caucasus Emirate:
Total of the operations - 93
Total of the enemies of Allah killed - 49
Total of the enemies of Allah injured - 71
Mujahideen Martyrs (Insha'Allah) - 16

Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center

Source: Kavkaz Center.
Link: http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2011/09/09/15101.shtml.

'Israel' enters into alliance with Armenia and Kurds against Turkey

9 September 2011

When it became known that Ankara intends to take a number of important military and political steps aimed at weakening the capacity of "Israel" to create chaos with impunity, to terrorize and kill people, the Jews announced "response actions".

A "foreign minister" of the Zionist enclave in occupied Palestine, Lieberman, "asked to develop measures to counter Turkey on international arena".

As reported by the Zionist press, the first step should be a warning to the Jews who served in Zios' "army", especially those who participated in the massacre against the Palestinians, codenamed "Cast Lead" or took part in any other massacres of Muslims, not to travel to Turkey.

The Zio "foreign ministry" intends to urge them not to fly to Turkey and not to use Turkish airports for transit. The Zios are afraid that Turkish authorities could arrest the murderers and put them on trial.

As a second measure, the Jews envisage a rapprochement with Armenia, primarily by recognition of a so-called "Armenian genocide" in Ottoman Caliphate.

During the upcoming visit to America, war criminal Lieberman intends to meet with representatives of the "Armenian lobby" and offer them help from "Israel" in the promotion in the West of the issue of recognition of their "Armenian genocide".

The third step is to work closely with the Kurds. Zionist bosses are going to meet openly with the leaders of Kurdish organizations and offer them assistance, including arms and another military support, although "Israel" has long been engaged in that, by training and arming Kurdish units in northern Iraq. And Ankara is well aware of that.

In addition, the Zionist regime intends to be actively involved in the fight for the rights of so-called "sexual minorities" (sodomites of both sexes) in Turkey. According to the Zios, these measures will make the Erdogan government to understand the blunder it committed against the Jews and to soften its anti-"Israeli" policy.

Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center

Source: Kavkaz Center.
Link: http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2011/09/09/15097.shtml.

Syrian expatriates form Europe-wide opposition movement

Sep 10, 2011

Vienna - Syrian expatriate organizations from 15 European countries declared themselves in opposition to President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday and formed a joint movement in Vienna.

The new Union of Syrians Abroad called for the 'toppling of the Syrian regime and for the creation of a democratic multi-party state' while stressing the principle of non-violence and its opposition to foreign military intervention.

It also called on Syrian embassies to distance themselves from the current government, Austrian broadcaster ORF reported.

The Union plans to support opposition members in Syria and those who flee abroad.

It represents expatriates in Austria, Britain, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Late last month, some opposition activists founded a National Transitional Council in Turkey, modeled on the one formed by Libyan rebels.

Protests calling for political reforms began in mid-March and developed into calls for the ouster of al-Assad.

The United Nations has estimated that more than 2,200 civilians have been killed in the government's violent crackdown.

Source: Monsters and Critics.
Link: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1662138.php/Syrian-expatriates-form-Europe-wide-opposition-movement.

Turkey to take legal battle for Gaza flotilla dead to The Hague

Sep 10, 2011

Istanbul - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan Saturday vowed to carry his country's spat with Israel over last year's killing of Turkish nationals aboard Gaza flotilla ship the Mavi Marmara to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Speaking a convention of businessmen in the central Turkish city of Kayseri broadcast live on Turkey's state news channel TRT Erdogan vowed to continue the legal struggle for justice for the nine people killed on the ship.

'We will carry this struggle to the Hague and the world will again see who is standing alongside the victims,' he said, criticizing Turkish opposition leaders for what he described as 'acting as advocates for Israel'.

Erdogan was also deeply critical of the United States position on the Mavi Marmara incident, relating how he had to point out to US President Barack Obama how the attack had left nine Turks dead from wounds inflicted by 35 bullets mostly fired from close range, one of them an American passport holder.

'I asked President Obama whether the reason he showed no interest in one of his nationals being killed was because (the victim) was (ethnically) Turkish - he didn't reply,' said Erdogan.

However, despite that rhetoric, Erdogan made no repeat mention of his remarks from an interview Thursday with Al Jazeera in which he warned that Turkey could send warships to protect future aid convoys sent to break the Israeli blockade against Gaza.

Turkey's state Anatolian News Agency quoted Erdogan as telling Al Jazeera that 'Turkish vessels are obliged to protect their own ships. We are going to send humanitarian aid to the region. And Turkish vessels carrying humanitarian aid will never be subject to any attack again.'

'Turkey does not make the same mistakes with Israel in the international waters. Turkey's state and military decency do not allow such mistakes.'

Those remarks, the first time that a Turkish official has warned of possible military intervention in the year long spat with Israel, caused international concern when aired late Thursday prompting warnings from both Israel and the US of the possible consequences of escalating tensions between the two former allies.

Source: Monsters and Critics.
Link: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1662132.php/Turkey-to-take-legal-battle-for-Gaza-flotilla-dead-to-The-Hague.

Egyptians: Cut ties with Israel

Sat Sep 10, 2011

Egyptian people, who had gathered in front of the Israeli embassy in the capital city of Cairo, have once again urged the severance of ties with Israel,Press TV reports.

People demolished a cement wall around the embassy with hammers and large metal rods on Friday. The wall was built this month by Egyptian authorities after daily protests were held over the killing of five Egyptian border guards by Israeli gunmen in August.

Police stood aside as people tore down the wall to the cheers of hundreds of demonstrators.

"Each and every person in Egypt has an uncle, a father or a neighbor who lost his life or injured during the war with Israel," Egypt's revolutionary activist Shirin Zein el-Deen told Press TV.

"All people in Egypt do not want Israel. We need to finish this [the embassy]," one angry protester shouted.

"We are going to get our freedom by our hand," another protester yelled.

Police fired teargas on protesters after one floor of a building in Cairo that houses the Israeli embassy was breached.

One protester outside the Israeli embassy died of suffocation from the teargas and 235 others were injured.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/198453.html.

Jewel In The Crown Of The Arab Spring

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Hamas has said it will accept a state on the 1967 borders and has pledged to refrain from opposing the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002. It has now backed the upcoming move at the UN.

by Sami Moubayed

The Arab Spring has given an interesting twist to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Young Arabs on the streets of major capitals have realized that the real problem is not only Israel but the Arab environment that has surrounded the Palestinians, using and abusing them, since 1948.

For far too long, Arabs have paid a heavy price, all in the name of a “raped Palestine.” Their governments militarized entire societies and spent billions on armaments, legitimizing crackdowns on thought and conduct, all because of their “commitment” to the “first Arab Cause.” At the end of the day, they produced backward societies, poor in education, science and technology, weak and defeated from within — unable to advance the Palestinian Cause an inch.

Had the Palestinians been surrounded by democracies, we would have had a very different Middle East, ordinary Arabs are now saying. Arab states would have muscled Israel with the will of their people, as was the recent case with Egypt when it withdrew its ambassador to Israel after Israeli soldiers killed three Egyptian troops on the border — forcing the Israelis to apologize. Early Saturday morning, young Egyptians even stormed the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, sending a strong message to Tel Aviv. The new Egyptian government, after all, is sensitive to the wishes of its people.

As a result of the Arab wake-up call, young Arabs are now focused on democratizing their countries, one by one, which will play out in favor of the Palestinians. Arab leaders, however, are too busy with their own streets to intervene in the Palestinian cause. That has given Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas room to maneuver, building up international support for an upcoming resolution at the United Nations aimed at creating the State of Palestine this month.

Abbas plans to submit an application for international recognition of statehood at the 66th annual session of the UN General Assembly on September 14, for a state that will include the West Bank, Gaza and Occupied East Jerusalem. That, of course, is only 22 per cent of historical Palestine. The last time the question of Palestine was raised at the General Assembly was in November 1947, when the UN proposed a two-state solution, known as the UN Partition Plan. Back then, the Arabs famously thundered: “Either all of Palestine, or nothing!”

They went to war against the Israelis, and for 63 years ended up with nothing. Reportedly, 120 states have already backed the Palestinian bid for statehood on the 1967 borders. This includes the European Union and hardline countries such as Syria, which had previously refused to accept anything less than 1948 Palestine.

As a first step towards achieving the new state, Fatah and Hamas set aside their differences earlier this year to reunite the West Bank and Gaza, which have been divided since the 2007 Hamas takeover of the Strip. UN recognition of the Palestinian State would enable the Palestinians to now tap into official channels, taking their cases to human rights bodies and the International Court of Justice.

The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the EU have all declared that Palestinian institutions, regardless of how weak, are ready for statehood. President Abbas explained the upcoming move, saying, “When recognition of our state on the 1967 borders happens, we will become a state under occupation, and then we would be able to go to the UN [with demands].” Once it happens, Israel would effectively be occupying lands belonging to a UN member state and building illegal colonies within them.

The international community, in theory, would not be able to sit back and watch as aggression takes place against a member state of the UN. The Israelis are well aware of the dangers posed to their international standing by the upcoming Palestinian move, with Israel’s defence minister Ehud Barak saying: “We are facing a diplomatic-political tsunami that the majority of the [Israeli] public is unaware of and that will peak in September. It is a very dangerous situation. Paralysis, rhetoric, inaction will deepen the isolation of Israel.”

Despite support from US President Barack Obama, the US executive and legislative branches have been opposed to the new Palestinian State, threatening cut-offs in aid while realizing how damaging such a move would be to the reputation of Israel in the international community.

Many are questioning how effective the Palestinian State will be, if colonies continue to mushroom, if the issue of refugees is not dealt with, and while Palestine’s navy, ground and airports remain firmly controlled by the Israelis. Palestinian lawmakers are arguing that it is a step in the right direction, which would give them their overdue seat at the UN, enabling them to advance their cause through legal channels in the international community, rather than through street warfare of the intifada, which 11 years down the road, failed to achieve statehood, end the occupation and defeat the Israeli army.

Many would have expected Hamas to oppose a state on the 1967 borders but the fervor of the Arab Spring and the assurances it got from the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood have moderated the group’s positions. Hamas has said it will accept a state on the 1967 borders and has pledged to refrain from opposing the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002. It has now backed the upcoming move at the UN.

Probably the most important lesson to be learnt from the Arab Spring is that legitimate aspirations cannot be ignored forever — be they Tunisian, Egyptian, Libyan, Syrian, or Palestinian. Angry Arabs have taken their demands to the streets since January, effectively copying what the Palestinians have been doing for more than 60 years, with much more successful results. Popular and armed resistance didn’t work for the Palestinians, however, forcing them to take the matter to the UN in a new kind of intifada — a diplomatic one — that will achieve for them what 60 years of armed resistance failed to bring about. Is the Palestinian State part of the democratic awakening of the Arab world?

For all practical purposes, it certainly is the jewel of the crown of the Arab Spring.

Source: Veterans Today.
Link: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/09/10/jewel-in-the-crown-of-the-arab-spring/.

Potatoes may help reduce blood pressure without affecting weight

Saturday, September 03, 2011
by: Raw Michelle

(NaturalNews) A new study conducted by chemistry professor Joe Vinson at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania has revealed that spuds may be suffering from an undeserved, ill reputation as a fattening, nutritionally empty food. Although they rank high on the glycemic index, potatoes are mistakenly considered unhealthy, when they are, in fact, loaded with vital nutrients that may help fight against obesity and hypertension.

"Mention 'potato' and people think 'fattening, high-carbs, empty calories'. In reality, when prepared without frying and served without butter, margarine or sour cream, one potato has only 110 calories and dozens of healthful phytochemicals and vitamins. We hope our research helps to remake the potato's popular nutritional image," said Vinson.

A raw potato, however, contains higher amounts of indigestible fiber, in the form of starches, and will only provide about 77 calories per 100 grams. Aside from an assortment of minerals and vitamins, such as vitamins C, B6, B1 and B3, potatoes (especially colored ones) are also high in potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc and phosphorus, as well as carotenoids and natural phenols. Surprisingly, 100 grams of raw potato can provide nearly a quarter of the daily requirement of vitamin C for an average individual.

Professor Vinson tested the health benefits of purple potatoes on a group of 18 overweight and hypertensive individuals, who were given 6 to 8 potatoes with skins, twice a day, over the period of a month. Vinson explained that he picked purple potatoes as they are especially rich in carotenoids - the plant pigments that are found in most colored vegetables, including apricots, carrots, algae and dark leafy vegetables.

Since the human body cannot synthesize carotenoids on its own, these precious phytochemicals must be obtained directly from food sources. They are involved in a wide array of metabolic processes, and most have important antioxidant activity, reducing the risk of cancers and prolonging life-span.

Vinson's science team closely monitored the patients' systolic and diastolic blood pressure during the trial period, and they recorded a drop of 4.3% in average diastolic pressure and of 3.5% in average systolic pressure by the end of the month. These figures are especially impressive, considering the short time-span of the trial. More notably, none of the participants involved gained any weight or reported any other negative health changes.

Professor Vinson based his hypothesis for this research on previous studies which had shown that phytochemicals in potatoes may have proprieties that rival synthetic ACE-inhibitor drugs, who are famed for their numerous adverse reactions. Vinson also believes that potatoes, along with other organic vegetables, including broccoli, spinach and Brussels sprouts, may provide an effective, natural way of managing hypertension. In addition, the professor warns against consuming fried potatoes, as high cooking temperatures destroy the precious phytochemicals in them, while leaving only the starches, saturated fat, and some minerals.

For the near future, Vinson is preparing to test the health benefits of white potatoes, which, although lacking in pigment, may also harbor unexpected health benefits.

Source: NaturalNews.
Link: http://www.naturalnews.com/033544_potatoes_blood_pressure.html.

Activists seek release of giant Philippine croc

Sat, Sep 10, 2011

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Animal rights activists urged Philippine authorities on Saturday to return a captured giant crocodile back to the wild, but the mayor of the town where it was caught refused, saying it poses a threat to residents.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the 20-foot (6.1-meter) saltwater crocodile nicknamed Lolong should be returned to its natural habitat because if it remains in captivity it is likely to develop abnormal behavior and endanger its caretakers and visitors to a proposed park.

Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde of southern Agusan del Sur province's Bunawan township said about 1,300 residents who rely on fishing in the area could be attacked by the crocodile, believed to be the largest in captivity in the world.

Wildlife officer Ron Sumilier, who led the team that trapped the animal last week, said it may have attacked a fisherman who disappeared from the area about two months ago.

Ashley Fruno, senior campaigner for PETA Asia-Pacific, said natural conditions can never be replicated in zoos or animal shelters, resulting in physical and mental stress for captive animals.

"It's clear that the promoters of this park are thinking only of their bank balance, without so much as an afterthought for the animal's well-being," she said.

Elorde said he was hurt by suggestions the crocodile was captured for the financial benefit of local officials. He has announced that Lolong will be the main attraction at an eco park to attract tourists to the remote town.

"We did not capture Lolong for any commercial reasons," he told The Associated Press. "We captured him to save the residents in the area and to save Lolong" because villagers were planning to poison it.

Groups like PETA "are so quick in making demands without even visiting our area," he said.

Elorde said the one-ton crocodile hasn't eaten since being captured, possibly because of stress. Crocodiles can live for several months without eating.

It is being kept in a 8,610-square foot (800-square meter) pen with 4-foot (1.2-meter) -high concrete walls topped by welded wire.

Dagestani Mujahideen successfully attacked military convoy of Russian 'internal troops'

10 September 2011

A convoy of internal troops of Russian invaders and police minions ran into a Mujahideen ambush during an attempt to carry out a so-called "special operation" in Sergokalinsk district of the Province of Dagestan.

Sources of Russian aggressors reported that the attack had been organized on Saturday morning in the village of Kadyrkent.

The convoy was fired on from grenade launchers, machine guns and automatic rifles. There is also a report of a mine explosion.

According to preliminary data, reported by Russian aggressors, 5 members of the gang "Russian interior ministry troops" were eliminated as a result of the attack, many others were reportedly wounded. According to other data, 3 Russian thugs were killed and 2 others wounded. However, the terrorist gang of the NAC ("national antiterrorist committee") claimed that 3 Russian commandos and a policeman had been wounded. However, the minions from the "interior ministry of Dagestan" refuted all data on casualties, saying vaguely that "they were pursuing a group of militants."

It is to be recalled that previous night, police minions were attacked in this district from woodland. It was claimed that nobody had been hurt as a result of the attack.

On Saturday morning, a convoy of "internal forces" and local police minions that went to a forest had also fallen into an ambush.

Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center

Source: Kavkaz Center.
Link: http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2011/09/10/15100.shtml.

American, Saudi Arabian and Saleh's troops storm Yemeni city of Zinjibar

11 September 2011

The command of Saleh's regime troops claimed on Saturday that the puppet army had seized the capital of the Islamic Emirate of Abyan, Zinjibar, which had been under the control of the Mujahideen of al-Qaeda since May 29, 2011.

The claim was made by personally by Saleh who is in Saudi Arabia for treatment. He congratulated the troops with victory.

Meanwhile, according to AFP with reference to local residents, the Saleh's troops simply moved to eastern outskirts of Zinjibar where they took positions. Heavy fightings are taking place in other parts of the city.

Saleh's officials stated that the troops had been able to break the siege of the 25th mechanized brigade, which lasted for almost 3 months.

Curiously, the report emphasizes that the forces of 119th brigade of Yemeni army, loyal to gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, who defected to opposition and is fighting against Saleh in other areas of the country, are fighting against the Mujahideen,

However, forces of Gen. al-Ahmar have teamed up with the 31st and 201st brigades, loyal to Saleh, against the Mujahedeen of al-Qaeda in Abyan.

It is also reported that Saleh in his congratulation message on the reported victory emphasized an important role of America that is very actively fighting as an interested party against the Mujahideen of Yemen alongside with Yemeni puppet troops.

Information that American and Saudi Arabian troops were involved in the fightings against the Mujahideen has been confirmed by Yemen Post, which quotes an official report by a spokesman Saleh's regime, Muhammad Albasha.

It is to be recalled that two days ago, eyewitnesses reported that American troops had landed in the IEA town of Davfas.

According to the puppet paper, in addition to American and Saudi special force, the following units are involved in the assault on Zinjibar:

Special Forces Command
Air Forces Command
Naval Operations Command
201st Mechanized Brigade
119th Infantry Brigade
39th Mechanized Brigade
31st Armored Brigade
25th Mechanized Brigade

Meanwhile, The New York Times reports, citing the official Yemeni puppet news agency SABA, that the Saleh's army formations took control over the Mujahideen-besieged base of the 25th mechanized brigade and entered the capital of Islamic Emirate of Abyan, Zinjibar.

Despite the fact that local puppet TV and news agencies are full of headlines based on the claim that the Saleh army entered Zinjibar, the NYT writes that these statements cannot be verified from independent sources.

In turn, Chinese news agency Xinhua reports that fierce fightings, which do not subside for a moment, are taking place on the streets of Zinjibar.

Saleh's regime officers claimed that that the puppet regime had been able to break through the defenses of the city. The puppets say nothing about their casualties, but claim, nevertheless that the 10 Mujahideen fighters martyred.

It is reported that the Mujahideen have placed mines around the city, and prepared cars packed with explosives to prevent the advance of the puppets.

In general, the situation in Zinjibar remains unclear.

Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center

Source: Kavkaz Center.
Link: http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2011/09/11/15102.shtml.

Jordan opposition calls for expelling Israeli diplomats from Amman

11 September 2011

Jordan's Islamic Action Front (IAF), the country's largest opposition party, on Saturday called on the government to expel the Israeli diplomats from the Arab kingdom, Xinhua reported.

"The government should take a fast step in removing the Israeli embassy from Amman in light of continued Zionist violations against the sovereignty and interests of Jordan," the IAF said in a statement posted on its website Saturday.

Arab nations reject all ties with the "Zionists" and the Arab leaders should take that into account, the IAF said.

The IAF also commended the protests by the Egyptians against the Israeli embassy in Cairo.

On Friday night, some Egyptian protestors broke into a building which houses the Israeli embassy in Cairo. They destroyed a newly- built concrete wall outside the embassy building and lowered the Israeli flag and threw documents out of the windows.

The Israeli ambassador to Egypt and most of embassy staff were carried back home by an Israeli plane early Saturday.

Three persons died and 1,049 others were injured during the protests at the Israeli embassy and in downtown Cairo on Friday night.

Source: Trend.
Link: http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1929838.html.

Pakistan gets new PM amid political turmoil

June 22, 2012

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani lawmakers elected a ruling party loyalist with a checkered past as prime minister on Friday, restoring government to the country after days of political turmoil.

But the election of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was unlikely to calm the tensions roiling the country, and many predicted he would face the same fate as his predecessor who was ousted earlier this week. The drama highlighted the turbulent nature of politics in this nuclear-armed country that is vital to U.S. hopes for ending the war in Afghanistan. The Americans need Pakistan's help in talks with the Taliban and are trying to persuade Islamabad to reopen war supply lines to Afghanistan.

Ashraf was the second choice to replace Yousuf Raza Gilani who was dismissed by the Supreme Court earlier this week for refusing to initiate a corruption investigation against his boss, President Asif Ali Zardari.

The ruling Pakistan People's Party then nominated outgoing textile minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin, but he was hit Thursday by an arrest warrant for his role in a drug import scandal. The warrant was issued by an anti-narcotics force run by the military, which wields political power and has staged three coups in Pakistan's short history.

The PPP and its coalition partners elected Ashraf as prime minister by a vote of 211 to 89. Supporters thumped their hands on their desks in a show of support while PPP members in the balcony chanted "Long Live Bhutto" in homage to the party's founder, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Speaking to lawmakers after his election, Ashraf said the economy, the power crisis and inflation were his main priorities. "Our country cannot afford politics of confrontation at this time," he said.

The Gilani government, widely critized as corrupt and inept, has done nothing to fix the country's problems. Ashraf said he wanted to deal with the U.S. on an equal footing. Speaking in English in an otherwise Urdu-language speech, he also said there would be no peace in Pakistan without peace in Afghanistan.

The government's term was scheduled to end in March 2013, but it was now expected to end sooner because of the pressures on the coalition. A senior PPP member, Khursheed Shah, said earlier Friday that he expected general elections to be held this year.

Ashraf, meanwhile, was expected to face the same demand from the Supreme Court — a panel of activist judges — to act on the corruption case against Zardari. The case was initially heard by Swiss legal authorities in the 2000s and dates back to allegations that Zardari laundered state money there in the decade before that.

Critics say that by pressing the case, the court is taking on a political role, threatening the democratic process in a country where elected governments have traditionally been squeezed by the army, often in league with a partisan court.

Court supporters say activist judges are needed to keep a check on corruption and government misuse of power. They point out the court has also been carrying out investigations into human rights abuses by the military.

Ashraf was head of the water and power ministry for three years, an unpopular position in a country where daily blackouts in the steamy summer can be as long as 22 hours. Pakistanis ridiculed him for repeatedly claiming the power crisis would be over by "December" only to have conditions get worse the next summer.

He has been accused of corruption relating to power projects. Ashraf oversaw the import of short-term power stations, or "rental power" projects that cost the government millions of dollars but produced little energy. The policy earned him the nickname "Raja Rental" in the Pakistani media and opponents could be heard shouting the nickname Friday in the vast Parliament hall. He denies any wrongdoing, and supporters rallied to his defense.

Politician Rehman Malik said the courts and law enforcement are focused on targeting politicians and not criminals. Malik himself was suspended by the Supreme Court from the parliament over allegations he has dual nationality. He lost his minister of interior post but then was appointed adviser to Gilani.

"The nominated prime minister has got no convictions. There is no case pending against him," he emphasized. Analysts said the PPP likely chose Ashraf because they knew he wouldn't last long in office.

"He is a cynical choice by the PPP. Whoever takes over as prime minister will be in for a very short time," said Raza Rumi, director of the Islamabad-based Jinnah Institute. "Obviously the PPP will not choose its best for this stint. They will choose people who can be dispensed with."

The political jockeying for power likely means Pakistan's more weighty problems will fall off the agenda until a new government is established. The country's economy is in shambles. The military is fighting a violent insurgency in the tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan. In many parts of the country, residents receive only a few hours of electricity a day.

Pakistan and U.S. relations are also at an all-time low. The U.S. accuses Pakistan of not going after insurgent groups operating in its tribal areas while Pakistan says the U.S. doesn't give it credit for the losses it has suffered fighting al-Qaida and other militants.

Pakistan closed U.S. and NATO supply routes going through Pakistan into Afghanistan after American forces accidentally killed 24 Pakistani troops on the border. Pakistan refuses to open the routes without an American apology.

Associated Press writers Chris Brummitt and Zarar Khan contributed to this report.