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Monday, December 28, 2009

Yemen says receiving US help against al-Qaeda

Sat, 26 Dec 2009

Cairo - Yemen is receiving assistance from the United States in its battle against al-Qaeda operatives in the country, an official was quoted as saying Saturday. Mohamed al-Anisi, the Yemeni national security chief, told the Saudi Arabian newspaper Okaz that his forces were cooperating with Washington on attacks against alleged camps being used by the international Sunni Muslim terrorist organization.

Intelligence officials have said al-Qaeda has set up bases in the south of Yemen, and recent Yemeni airstrikes have targeted the hideouts.

Government officials say dozens of militants have been killed in the attacks, though civilians have also reportedly been causalities of the fighting.

The Yemeni security chief also accused Iran in the newspaper interview of aiding Houthi Shiite rebels, who are fighting the central government in the north of the country, in one of several simultaneous violent fronts Sanaa is trying to contain.

Arab Gulf countries have been lambasting Iran for what they say is assistance being given to the rebels in a bid to destabilize the region, something Tehran firmly denies.

Saudi Arabia has been drawn into the conflict in northern Yemen, after saying early last month militants crossed into the kingdom, killing soldiers and eventually civilians.

In retaliation, Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes against rebel targets, its military said, and pushed back alleged infiltrators.

King Abdullah of Saudi told the Al-Siyasa newspaper published in Kuwait on Saturday that his troops would not cross into Yemen.

It was unclear if he was denying previous charges of his troops operating inside the territory of the neighboring state or if he was announcing an end of operations there.

The monarch also promised "humiliation and defeat" to those who took up arms against the kingdom.

Earlier this week, a Saudi Ministry of Defense official said 73 Saudis were killed fighting the Houthi rebels, but noted that operations against the militants were coming to a close.

The Houthis, for their part, have vowed to keep up their attacks in their fight against Yemen's central government in Sana'a.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301037,yemen-says-receiving-us-help-against-al-qaeda.html.

Ahmadinejad on Europe's politicians: One more stupid than the other

Sat, 26 Dec 2009

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday termed European politicians "one more stupid than the other.""These (European) politicians neither know anything about politics nor about history," Fars news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in a speech at at Arak mosque in Tehran.

"For example they come and say let's destroy the minarets of the mosques and they think by that they can block the flood of the Islamic movement and belief," he said at a ceremony marking an annual Shiite Muslim mourning ceremony.

"They do not understand that minarets do not make belief but it is the belief of the people that makes the minarets," Ahmadinejad added.

The Iranian president was referring the outcome of a Swiss referendum last month to ban the construction of minarets on mosques which Tehran harshly criticized and called on the Swiss government not to implement.

Ahmadinejad also referred to the United States, saying Iran would never allow the US to get domination over the Middle East.

"Iran is today 10 times stronger than last year and will stand against you (world powers) more powerful than before," he said in an apparent reference to a plan by the US and its allies to impose renewed sanctions on Iran due to its uncompromising stance in the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.

"While Iran is now a big power and undefeatable, there are signs that Iran's enemies worldwide are on the verge of collapse," he said said.

Ahmadinejad, is known for populist and fiery speeches at local ceremonies.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301040,ahmadinejad-on-europes-politicians-one-more-stupid-than-the-other.html.

Lebanese army arrests five people transporting weapons

Sat, 26 Dec 2009

Beirut - The Lebanese army said on Saturday that five Palestinians were caught trying to transport weapons into a house in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon. The suspects were also carrying electronics and a large amount of money, the army said in a statement.

Two cars were also confiscated by the army.

The Palestinians were arrested, and an investigation into the incident continues, the army said.

There are some 367,000 Palestinian refugees living in 12 camps across Lebanon.

Security inside the camps are in the hands of Palestinian factions, while the Lebanese army controls all entrances to the camps.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301042,lebanese-army-arrests-five-people-transporting-weapons.html.

South Korean president in UAE to push for nuclear plant deal - Summary

Sat, 26 Dec 2009

Abu Dhabi - South Korean President Lee Myung Bak arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saturday for a two-day visit aimed at supporting a South Korean consortium's bid to build the Gulf's first nuclear power plant. The project, estimated to bring in 41 million dollars' worth of contracts, is one of the world's biggest nuclear power plant deals.

Lee was greeted by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Ziyad Al Nahyan at the international airport in Abu Dhabi, capital of the Gulf federation, the official UAE news agency WAM reported.

The South Korean president and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan are scheduled to hold talks during the visit.

Winning the bid would "be an important milestone for Korea to open the nuclear energy era in the international community," South Korean presidential spokesman Lee Dong Kwan said ahead of the trip.

"This deal will build a bridge for Korea to enter the world market," the spokesman added.

The bidding pits South Korean consortium Korea Electric Power Co (KEPCO), Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Samsung C&T Corp and Doosan Heavy Industries against French competitors EDF Group, GDF Suez, Areva and Total.

"As the UAE is a place with no nuclear energy base, it's such a talked-about project," an employee of one of the French companies who requested anonymity told German Press Agency dpa.

"All of the major players in nuclear energy are vying to do this because it provides complete import," the source said. "If a foreign company was building a nuclear power plant in South Korea, they would be more likely to partner with a local South Korean company that has experience in the field. But in the UAE, you can do it all within one company."

No one authorized to speak about the project was available at KEPCO during the Christmas holiday.

The UAE is expected to award the contract before the end of the month, possibly as early as next week, according to industry sources.

South Korea is the world's sixth-largest nuclear energy producer, with 20 reactors in operation and eight more under construction.

Before the South Korean and French consortiums were chosen for the final round, another group led by US-based General Electric was also in the running before being eliminated by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, which oversees nuclear energy implementation in the oil-rich federation.

Nuclear power is listed as a strategic export industry by South Korea's Knowledge Economy Ministry, under Lee's priorities for low-carbon initiatives.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301048,south-korean-president-in-uae-to-push-for-nuclear-plant.html.

Police use tear gas at renewed protests in Tehran - Summary

Sat, 26 Dec 2009

Tehran - There were renewed political protests in on Saturday in Tehran, and police intervened with tear gas to disperse crowds, an Iranian opposition website reported. The Jaras website, which is close to the Green Movement led by former prime minister Mir-Hossein Moussavi, said clashes between an unspecified number of protesters and police broke out in a public square in eastern Tehran.

The official news agency IRNA confirmed the protests in eastern Tehran but said there were at most 150 people.

IRNA accused the foreign media of having exaggerated the protests in order to encourage more people to gather at the venue.

Other websites reported protests and clashes with anti-riot guards in central and western Tehran as well.

Witnesses said protests also took place in a square near Tehran University, but did not give further details.

Jaras reported that some of the protesters near Tehran University sought shelter from police in the nearby students' news agency ISNA but police followed them inside the agency's compound.

ISNA has so far not yet commented on the incident.

Several websites reported that police have been shooting in the air and even arresting protesters, but there has been no confirmation yet.

The protesters shouted "Death to the Dictator", "Do not be afraid, we are all together" and other slogans in favor of Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the head of the opposition party Etemad Melli, according to witnesses.

Opposition groups had announced that they would take advantage of the two-day annual mourning ceremonies of Tassua and Ashura (on Saturday and Sunday) - marking the martyrdom of the third Shiite Imam Hossein - for renewed protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Police had also warned that they would harshly confront any non-religious gatherings.

The internet reports could not be independently verified as foreign media are strictly prohibited from covering street protests by the opposition.

Widespread protests started after the June 12 presidential voting, which led to the disputed re-election of Ahmadinejad amid charges of fraud from the political opposition.

Meanwhile hundreds of Green Movement supporters staged a protest demonstration on the Niavaran Avenue in northern Tehran and shouted harsh slogans against Ahmadinejad and in support of Moussavi.

The protesters went into the streets after a speech in the Jamaran mosque by former reformist president Mohammad Khatami, who is a close aide of Moussavi, was canceled by authorities.

Witnesses said police chased the protesters and drivers passing on Niavaran Avenue honked their car horns in their support of the opposition.

Several residents in the nearby buildings show the victory sign from their windows and shout Allah'o Akbar (God is great) in support of the protesters.

Witnesses said some people helped protesters flee police by taking them into their cars despite heavy a traffic jam on the Niavaran Avenue.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301049,police-use-tear-gas-at-renewed-protests-in-tehran--summary.html.

Statement of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan concerning thirtieth anniversary of Red Army invasion

December. 27, 1979, a time when the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in violation of all international laws, a move that brought the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic(USSR) to its knee.

The Red Army executed Hafizullah Amin, a pawn, in order to replace him with a more loyal pawn, Babrak Karmal.

With the time going by, the Soviet Union troops steadily increased from 80000 to 140000.

At the beginning of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the (KGB), secret intelligence agency of the Red Army assured the Soviet rulers of the takeover and total control of Afghanistan within the period of three months, for they had been under impression that the Mujahideen were with no status and position in Afghanistan and had no favorability among the Afghans and that they were merely encouraged by foreign enticement and efforts.

Three months later, upon meeting with strong resistance from Mujahideen and with their Islamic movement strengthening, the Red Army generals suggested a later date, that is, they would take complete control of Afghanistan and bring the country under their domination within one to three years.

But with the passage of ten years, the Red Army dream of occupation of Afghanistan and taking full control of the country still did not come true.

According to one of the surveys of the Soviet Union, the death rate of the Russians killed in Afghanistan reached thirteen to fourteen thousands, where as the other sources showed the death rate far more than the one expressed in the Soviet survey.

The Russian invading troops withdrawal, eventually, came as the Red Army was brought to its knee over the 10 years of their occupation in Afghanistan with Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) empire shattering and the ideology of communism being made fun of in old Moscow Kremlin.

By making sacrifice of 1.5 million Shuhada (martyrs), the Afghan brave Mujahid nation did not only drive the Red Army out of Afghanistan but also liberated several Asian and European countries from the Russian domination and colonialism; which the world, morally, owes it to Afghan brave Mujahid nation that, in the from of sacrifices and waging Jihad, caused the collapse of the truculent communist power.

Contrarily, the silly Americans backed by their allied crusaders, rather than being grateful to the suffered war-stricken Afghans and returning their favor, invaded Afghanistan under the pretext of fighting terrorism, in consultation with a couple of ungrateful so-called Afghans and believing their enticements and false promises.

The American invaders, too like the former Soviet Union, claimed to wipe out the terrorism in three months time.

Deceived by lies and false advice of their Afghan agents, the U.S.forces assured the Pentagon and White house rulers of the Taliban Islamic movement having no favorability among the Afghans, once crushed, the Taliban would be no longer in position make a comeback.

On the contrary, the members of the Islamic movement of Taliban and pro-Islamic movement people are Afghans, the real sons of this nation, the power that has grown up in the environment and milieu of this soil.

Over the past 8 years, the U.S. forces have been unable to wipe out the civil Jihadic power in spite of their exercising any form of barbarism, aggression, torture and imprisonment.

Moreover, the U.S. forces chief, general Mc Chrystal, with all the military power and assistance from coalition forces at their disposal, warned the Pentagon rulers of their failure in Afghanistan.

President Obama, under the pressure of pro-war generals of Pentagon, ordered 30000 extra troops deployment into Afghanistan.

One the other hand, the British lieutenant general Nick Parker now say, "We have lost every kind initiatives against Taliban who with each day passing expends their territory."

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan warns the American rulers and their allies, based on these facts, of U.S forces and allies quick withdrawal before the America faces the same fate befell the Soviet Union and being disintegrated itself.

Now that the U.S., despite having about 100000 troops in Afghanistan, has been unable to win the war against Afghan Mujahideen over the last 8 years, it is unlikely that the America will win the war and maintain their occupation in Afghanistan even if it deploys extra 30000 troops whose soldiers have already lost morale.

Therefore, it is the most sensible thing to leave Afghanistan to Afghans as it is the real home of Afghans who have witnessed the U.S. real democracy and the nature of their false slogans.

Furthermore, we consider it important to remind the America to stop depriving the Afghans of their natural and legal rights by making false slogans and promises tested by Afghans.

If the America is still bent on violation of the legal and human rights and values of the Afghans it should, then, get prepared for the collapse of their crusader empire and disintegration of the united state of America.

Source: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Link: http://www.alemarah.info/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=860:statement-o-the-islamic-emirate-o-afghanistan-concerning-thirtieth-anniversary-of-red-army-invasion&catid=5:statement-&Itemid=22.

End of 2009: Turkey saying goodbye to IMF?

“Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was ‘smart’ not to sign an International Monetary Fund [IMF] stand-by agreement.”

This remark belongs to Professor Steve Hanke of The Johns Hopkins University department of applied economics and is shared by more people in Turkey today. Looking at the current picture, comments suggesting that a deal with the fund is no longer -- and should not be -- on Turkey’s agenda, as the country has left the worst of crisis behind, are heard more and more often even among business circles that were keen to see a deal.

Having successfully completed the 20th stand-by deal with the IMF in May 2008 for the first time in its 50-year history with the fund, Turkey commenced talks for a new deal with the fund in January, seeking help to weather the global financial credit crunch. The decision by the government to start talks for a stand-by deal was welcomed by some economists and business associations that had been urging Ankara to sign a new deal. Among these, such business circles as the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) were relatively more eager to see the government sign a deal with the fund, expecting to get their share of an anticipated sum of some $35 billion.

However, much has changed over the months as Turkey strengthened its hand in the face of the crisis more quickly than anticipated, leading to a decline in the need for IMF support. Following the end of the first half, it became more obvious that a deal with the IMF was not as vital as before for Turkey because the country has managed to withstand the crisis thanks to a strong banking sector and a number of stimulus packages.

Turkey has already announced its 2010-2012 program and clarified the road in terms of growth outlook; the budget drafted for the next year does not foresee any financing from the fund. Turkish Central Bank Governor Durmuş Yılmaz recently said the bank has not taken an IMF stand-by agreement as a parameter when drawing up projections and devising monetary policy for the coming year. Also taking earlier government remarks in which it said it did not plan a medium-term program taking an IMF deal into consideration, one could easily conclude that a deal with the fund is no longer a realistic option. Not to mention some of the key sticking points in negotiations with the IMF for a new stand-by agreement, such as giving autonomy to the Revenues Administration (GİB), the government also grew less enthusiastic about shaking hands with the fund as time passed.

As analysts note, Turkey today needs to further focus on structural reforms in its economy and show the IMF that the country does not need the fund’s services.

Source: Sunday's Zaman.
Link: http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=196748.