Amr Moussa denies links to Mubarak era

CAIRO, April 18 (UPI) -- Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa denied allegations he was getting political support from the outlawed National Democratic Party in Egypt.

Military authorities during the weekend dismantled the NDP, the party led by former President Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak was ousted in a February revolution after serving as president of Egypt for three decades.

Moussa, who served as foreign minister under Mubarak, threw his hat into the ring earlier this year for the election for president scheduled for the fall.

Moussa told Egyptian daily Ahram Online that he wasn't getting any backing from members of the disbanded NDP. He maintained there was "no coordination whatsoever" between his political role in Egypt and NDP officials.

"One of my first demands was dissolving the NDP for ruining the political life in Egypt as well as spreading corruption and causing numerous damages," he was quoted as saying.

He added he would fill his campaign staff with people in the remote Egyptian provinces "and minorities, especially peasants, who have been long neglected."

Members of the NDP, including Mubarak, his sons, and several of the country's former ministers are charged with corruption, abuse of power and atrocities in Egypt.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/04/18/Amr-Moussa-denies-links-to-Mubarak-era/UPI-37451303153428/.

Algeria's Minority Group Demands Autonomy, Sparking Stability Concerns of Another Arab Ally

By Ben Evansky
April 19, 2011

The Obama administration could face potential political upheaval with yet another ally in the Arab world, this time in Algeria.

Documents given to members of Congress and obtained by Fox News show that Algeria's largest minority group, the Kabyles, who number up to 10 million, will demand on Wednesday that their government hold a referendum on autonomy. This will be followed by planned demonstrations, which some analysts fear could lead to a brutal conflict and possible uprising -- if the U.S. doesn't act to bring the sides together and work on a mutually acceptable agreement.

What makes this dilemma particularly difficult for the administration is that the Kabyles, part of the Berber ethnic group, are predominantly secular Muslims and largely pro-Western. They are very active in the fight against Al Qaeda, and even have their own volunteer army to guard against attacks.

Dr Walid Phares, Fox News contributor and author of “The Coming Revolution: Struggle for Freedom in the Middle East,” warns “a confrontation will take place” if nothing is done by the Obama administration.

"Washington must use its diplomacy to create a dialogue between the two parties. If the administration sponsors the dialogue, the chances of heading off the crisis and a potential ethnic conflict would be higher. We must learn from Iraq and Sudan to do a better job in preventive medicine, instead of waiting for the crisis to worsen."

But Phares' warning seems to have so far fallen on deaf ears. Sources tell Fox News that during this week's visit to Washington by Kabyle leaders, requests for meetings with high-ranking officials from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Pentagon were ignored. The snub comes amid accusations by the Kabyle leaders that the Algerian government is helping the Qaddafi regime stay in power.

They claim Algeria is sending mercenaries, and blocking diplomatic initiatives to unseat him.

The State Department did agree to meet with the leadership, albeit at a lower level. Questions sent to the State Department spokesman were not returned.

Ferhat Mehenni, the president of the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia (MAK) and head of the visiting delegation, told Fox News that he has been in touch with the Algerian authorities about the upcoming demonstrations. He said he hopes the government doesn't "commit the same mistake" they did 10 years ago, when Algerian security forces brutally crushed demonstrations that called for an end to government repression and an extension of cultural and linguistic rights. More than 120 people were killed in what is known as the "Black Spring.”

Mehenni says the goal of the trip "is to seek diplomatic support from the U.S. administration and the U.N. to pressure Algeria to accept a referendum for autonomy." He said these will be the same demands the Kabyle will call for in Wednesday’s demonstrations, and beyond.

A former U.S. government official with experience in the region wasn’t optimistic that Mehenni's hope for engagement would be met.

"The Algerian government would totally resist the idea of Kabyle autonomy as leading to the breakup of the Algerian state. Algerian government and army are tough customers, and there is no way they could be jaw-boned or nudged into accepting the idea … There is a reason to be concerned about various aspects of human rights and democracy in Algeria, but far less reason to take on only one aspect of the issue and ignore the rest," he said.

Mehenni said he believes it is in America's best interests to support "our rights to exercise our language, culture, democratic and secular values which we naturally share with the West.”

He also charges that Algeria “encourages the terrorism it is supposed to be fighting. It is scandalous to hear some Western officials describe the Algerian regime as ‘secular.’”

Questions to Algerian officials were not returned. But the website of the Algerian Embassy in Washington D.C. glowingly describes the U.S./Algeria relationship as being "stronger than ever." The website notes Algeria works "very closely with the United States to eliminate the scourge of transnational terrorism."

Despite the lower-level State Department reception, the Kabyle delegation was met warmly by members in Congress on both sides of the aisle. Among them was Rep. Sue Myrick, a North Carolina Republican.

Her spokesperson told Fox News the congresswoman felt it's important "to meet with people from this region as the uprisings continue, so that the U.S. can know their message and intentions, and see what groups the U.S. can work with to ensure that extremists don't gain a greater foothold during these unstable times."

Phares said it would be logical for the U.S. to recognize the rights of the Kabyles and "help moderate a dialogue between the Kabyles and the central government. The Kabyles populations have their own identity and have proven their opposition to terrorism, Al Qaeda and extremism. Besides, their culture is secular, diverse and tolerant. This would be an addition to the camp of moderates in the region. All ingredients in this are positive."

Source: FOX News.
Link: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/04/19/algerias-minority-group-demands-autonomy-sparking-concerns-stability-arab-ally/.

Insurgents call for investigation on Algeria's interference in Libya

19 April, 2011

Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa has entered the phase of preparations for the coming presidential elections in Egypt, enjoying a few paid pens to whom he dictated what to write in order to involve Algeria in the conflict in Libya, despite all the denials of the Algerian diplomat on the subject of the alleged support to pro-Gaddafi mercenaries

The SG of the Arab League was able to manipulate a journalist close to his office, working on behalf of him for more than 15 years, to carry out his agenda by attacking a sovereign country member of the Arab League. The latter tends to secure a term as president of Egypt on the rubble of the Libyan tragedy, dictating to the journalist of "Echark Al Awsat" that the Libyan opposition had asked the Arab League to make contacts with the Algerian authorities and appoint a commission to investigate the interference of the Algerian Air Force and Air Algeria Company in the transport of military equipment, weapons and mercenaries for the benefit of Muammar Gaddafi regime.

This media release of the SG of the Arab League, in this Egyptian maneuver, supported by France tends to tarnish the image of Algeria, accusing this country of being involved in the war and then judge it as it is a member of the League; an opportunity for the SG to win new votes for the next presidential elections.

The personal representative of President Bouteflika, Abdelaziz Belkhadem had earlier said that the NATO countries were behind this scenario to involve Algeria in a war that is not hers and suddenly raise again the issue of security, a pretext for foreign intervention in the region.

Ennahar / Dalila B.

Source: Ennahar.
Link: http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/6303.html.

Arab League delays summit in Baghdad

CAIRO — The Arab League has delayed a summit that was to be held in Iraq next month as a wave of political unrest rocks the region, its deputy secretary general said on Wednesday.

Ahmed Ben Hilli said consultations with the pan-Arab organization's 22 members showed a "preference to delay the summit" that was scheduled for May 15 and added that an upcoming ministerial meeting would set a new date for summit.

The league's outgoing secretary general Amr Mussa had earlier said that it might be best to delay the meeting because of regional unrest.

"The public mood in the region is transitional, nervous and rebellious, which leads us to ask whether it is wise to hold a summit in this period," he said.

Two Arab leaders, Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and Tunisia's Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, have been deposed by protests that have spread to other countries in the region.

Iraq has not hosted a regular Arab summit since 1978 but an extraordinary summit was held in Baghdad in 1990.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

'Muslims to gain from Iran-Egypt ties'

Tuesday 19 April 2011

The head of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has hailed the enhancement of ties between Iran and Egypt, saying the Muslim world will benefit from the thaw in Tehran-Cairo relations.

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told reporters in Cairo that the improvement of relations between the two Muslim nations will lead to further regional stability, Fars news agency reported on Monday.

“All the Muslim nations (Ummah) realize that good relations between Iran and Egypt will benefit all the Muslims and pave the way for Islamic unity,” Ihsanoglu noted.

The OIC chief underscored the significance of the two countries in the Middle East and attached special importance to the cooperation between Tehran and Cairo.

He further said that such amity will entail peace and eliminate difference, encouraging Muslims to converge.

His comments come on the heels of recent diplomatic efforts to relaunch Iran-Egypt ties following the downfall of ex-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak by the February revolution in the North African country.

The post-revolution Egypt looks poised to turn a new page in its relations with the Islamic Republic as Egyptian foreign minister said his country will witness a new phase in its ties with Iran.

Iran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the ۱۹۷۸ Camp David Accords with the Israeli regime and offered asylum to Iran's deposed monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Source: Taqrib News Agency (TNA).
Link: http://taghribnews.ir/vdchqmnk.23n-kd10t2.html.

Tension rises between Iran and Gulf states

By Ali Khalil (AFP)

DUBAI — Tension between Gulf states and Iran has risen again, with the Sunni monarchies accusing their Shiite neighbor of "flagrant" meddling and Tehran charging Washington with sowing regional discord.

In a strong statement on Sunday, Gulf Cooperation Council member states told Iran to stop its "provocations," a month after Bahrain quelled a Shiite-led uprising, triggering a tirade of Iranian condemnation.

The group called on "the international community and the (UN) Security Council to take the necessary measures to stop flagrant Iranian interference and provocation aimed at sowing discord and destruction" among GCC nations.

Saudi Arabia on Sunday also threatened to recall its diplomats from Tehran unless they were better protected, a week after students protested outside the Saudi embassy against Riyadh's military intervention in Bahrain last month.

"The main reason (for the GCC move) is the uncovering of Iranian (espionage) cells in Gulf countries, in addition to direct and indirect interference," said the head of the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre, Abdulaziz Sager.

Earlier this month, Bahrain said two Iranians were being put on trial on charges of spying for Tehran, and Kuwait announced plans to expel Iranian diplomats for alleged links to a spy ring working for Tehran.

"Fueling tension through (Iranian) media like Al-Alam and (Hezbollah's) Al-Manar televisions, and the feeling among Gulf states that their embassies in Tehran were in danger" also prompted the GCC statement, Sager said.

"There is a contradiction between what the Iranians say and what they do," he said, and added that Iran insists on meddling in Arab affairs, despite statements of readiness to resolve differences.

Iran's hardliner President Mahmud Ahmadinejad responded on Monday to GCC criticism by blaming the United States for the tension with its Arab neighbors.

"America and its allies are trying to create an Iranian-Arab tension, they seek to sow discord among Shiites and Sunnis... but their plan will fail," he said.

State television later reported foreign ministry Ramin Mehmanparast as saying the GCC's "repetitive and false accusations" were "the wish of enemies who for years have sought to (act) against the unity of the Muslim world."

The GCC earlier this month accused Iran of plotting against its security after the Iranian parliament's foreign affairs and national security committee warned Riyadh "not to play with fire" after sending troops into Bahrain to help in quashing a month-long uprising.

Iran on Friday said it demanded intervention from the UN Security Council to "stop the killing of the people of Bahrain," which is predominantly Shiite.

The more strident GCC tone came after Washington accused Tehran of helping Syria in its crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, a claim that both Damascus and Tehran denied.

"We believe that there is credible information that Iran is assisting Syria... in quelling the protesters," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said last week, calling the development a "real concern."

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned during a regional visit this month that extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and Iran would try to exploit unrest resulting from pro-democracy uprisings in several Arab countries.

"We must make sure these guys don't make a free ride," Gates said.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned that Iran could jump on the chance to manipulate Arab revolts.

"We could find that the Arab Spring turns into an Iranian winter," he told AFP on Sunday.

Lebanon's Saudi-backed caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri has also slammed "blatant Iranian interference" that caused Lebanon and other Arab countries to suffer "politically, economically and in terms of security."

But despite their close timing, Sager insisted that the latest GCC criticism of Iran was not linked to US pressure on Tehran.

"There are no American motives... and there is no coordination in this matter" between the US administration and Gulf states, he said.

He also said the standoff between the two parties could not escalate into a military confrontation because "none can afford it," adding that Iran could help preserve regional stability by not meddling in its neighbors' affairs.

"Stability in the Gulf region needs the contribution of all parties involved. It should include refraining from interference in the internal affairs of other parties," he said.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

Video shows seven kidnapped Estonians appealing for help

Apr 20, 2011

Beirut - A Lebanese website on Wednesday obtained video footage showing the seven Estonian tourists who were kidnapped in Lebanon on March 23 appealing for help.

The footage posted by the Lebanon Files news portal showed the seven appealing to outgoing premier Saad Hariri, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz, Jordan's King Abdullah and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to help secure their release.

'Please do anything to help us get back home. Please make everything to return us to our families as soon as possible,' one the them is heard saying.

On March 31, a previously unknown group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of the Estonians near the town of Zahle in the Bekaa Valley, shortly after crossing the border from Syria during a cycling holiday.

The group calling itself Haraket El Nahda Wal Islah (Movement of Renewal and Reforms) demanded a ransom in the claim sent via email to Lebanon Files.

Source: Monsters and Critics.
Link: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1634170.php/Video-shows-seven-kidnapped-Estonians-appealing-for-help.