[Tolo News] The Senate's meeting on Monday turned violent as differences over the issue of whether or not ethnicity should be written on new electronic ID cards for citizens boiled over.
Although representatives in Parliament have engaged in heated debate over the issue, which touches on the sensitive issue of ethnic division in Afghanistan, Monday was the first time any such discussion turned violent.
The meeting began to devolve after a Senator from Khost province ... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name... accused the speaker of ethnic discrimination and another senator attacked him with a bottle.
"Mr. Ezedyar, you're escalating ethnic discriminations, please leave your chair...you can't manage the house meeting," Senator Arifullah Pashtoon told the senate speaker Mohammad Alam Ezedyar. Khan Mohammad Khagai from Paktikia province then threw a bottle at Ezedyar and later on a number of senators tried to attack him.
"Mr. Ezedyar, you're escalating ethnic discriminations, please leave your chair...you can't manage the house meeting," Senator Arifullah Pashtoon told the senate speaker Mohammad Alam Ezedyar
Khan Mohammad Khagai from Paktikia province then threw a bottle at Ezedyar and later on a number of senators tried to attack him.
Eventually the chamber settled down and the Senators moved on to discuss next year's budget.
At end of the Senate session, the Ezidyar appeared in a news conference and assured that the quarrel was a brief incident and had no political agenda. He stressed that the escalation of ethnic differences would never be in the national interests of Afghanistan.
"We need national unification, the growth of ethnic discrimination never supports our national interests," he said. "We ask all members of the National Assembly to come forward and respect each other's rights."
Hours before the Senate quarrel, the Senate Chairman Fazl Hadi Moslemyar announced that ethnicity, class and religion were all included in the national database of the Ministry of Interior (MoI), but that this information would not be written on the new electronic ID cards.
Previously, the Lower House approved the inclusion of ethnicity, class and religion on the electronic ID cards by a majority vote.
Ethnic tensions in Afghanistan have a long history of conflict around them, with the civil war of the 1990s largely having been fought along ethnic lines.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
The inclusion of ethnicity is essential for the existence of a burgeoning entitlement class. Ethnicity data enables the correct selection of candidates for government jobs and promotion, political appointments, school tuition assistance, housing, family subsistence, disability payments, and......health care.
#2
Just looking at the names in the story, it appears Afghans use their tribe as their final name, where they see a need for more than one identifier. What need, then, to explicitly list it a second time?
[Pak Daily Times] The Malian government remains "open to talks" with Tuareg rebels despite one of their leaders declaring a return to war, Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly said on Tuesday.
Tatam Ly, in an interview with the pro-government daily L'Essor, downplayed the war declaration made Friday by Mahamadou Djeri Maiga, vice president of the Tuareg's National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).
"It's not a declaration from the MNLA (but)... from a vice president of the MNLA," Tatam Ly said.
"We are open to discussions... to get to inclusive negotiations that should lead to peace in the region," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: MNLA
[An Nahar] Mauritania's ruling party has won a large majority in legislative and local elections, while an Islamist party came second, the elections commission said Tuesday.
The ruling Union for the Republic (UPR) took 56 of 121 seats won in the first round, a victory of 46 percent. Another 26 seats will go to a second round of voting on December 7.
The main Islamist party Tewassoul, which had been closely-watched as it took part in elections for the first time, has won 12 seats, according to the results.
Tewassoul, the only member of the 11-party Coordination of Democratic Opposition (COD) to resist an election boycott, has claimed the poll was marred by fraud.
Three other opposition parties won a total of 19 seats in the west African nation's first parliamentary and local polls since 2006.
The remaining 34 seats were shared between 14 small parties aligned with the ruling party, handing it firm control of parliament.
The COD on Monday called for the cancellation of the elections, which come after months of protests against the staging of the polls.
Following independence from La Belle France in 1960 and the ensuing one-party government of Moktar Ould Daddah, deposed in 1978, Mauritania had a series of military rulers until its first multi-party election in 1992.
The election was seen as a test of strength for Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz five years after he came to power in a coup and four years after he won a widely contested presidential vote.
The mainly-Mohammedan republic, a former French colony on the west coast of the Sahara desert, is seen as strategically important in the fight against al-Qaeda-linked groups within its own borders, as well in neighboring Mali and across Africa's Sahel region ... North Africa's answer to the Pak tribal areas... .
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
[Egypt Independent] Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said on Tuesday, that the issue of Assem Abdel Magued, a leading member of Jama'a al-Islamiya, who is on the run in Qatar, would be dealt with through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), since it is a judicial matter at the end of the day.
Abdel Magued appeared on Qatari news channel Al-Jazeera ... an Arab news network headquartered in Qatar, notorious for carrying al-Qaeda press releases. The name means the Peninsula, as in the Arabian Peninsula. In recent years it has settled in to become slightly less biased than MSNBC, in about the same category as BBC or CBS... last week. This is his first public appearance since the dispersal of the pro-Morsy sit-ins in Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda on 14 August.
Abdel Magued said in his interview that the Egyptian scene is very saddening, after the army ousted the elected president, Mohammed Morsy.
He added that the army made a big mistake when it sided with the minority in Egypt, and it must review its position as the country has become on the edge of the abyss.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Gemaa Al-Islamiya
[Libya Herald] In the wake of his visit last night to Benghazi, Prime minister Ali Zeidan has today announced the formation of a ministerial committee to enforce the Law 53 ban on militias in the city.
The committee will be led by Higher Education Minister Mohammed Abu-Bakr with Housing Minister Ali Al-Sharif, Transport Minister Abdel-Qader Ahmed and Ashour Shuwail, a former interior minister, who is now an adviser to the prime minister.
With Law 53, the GNC specifically targeted the gangs in Benghazi, whereas law 27 was aimed at Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... , but there is no other difference between the two pieces of legislation.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Arab Spring
[Libya Herald] Republican senator for Arizona John Maverick McCain ... the Senator-for-Life from Arizona, former presidential candidate and even more former foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution... has arrived in Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... for an overnight visit.
It is not known who he will be meeting during the official visit but a spokesperson at the US embassy in Tripoli confirmed that it was essentially a "fact-finding" and "status update" mission.
"He's been here before and we expect that a big part of his visit will be seeing progress made so far by Libya, in comparison to previous visits," the spokesperson said.
He added that the Senator was also expected to reconfirm America's commitment to continuing to support Libya through its transition.
Senator McCain has visited Libya several times before, most recently in April this year.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
[Pak Daily Times] Another major Bangladesh political party on Tuesday announced a boycott of the upcoming general election, declaring the country was on the "brink of disaster" as seven more people died in poll protests.
Former dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad said his Jatiya Party ...aka Jatiya Front; a political party established by Bangladictator Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1986 to lend a veneer of respectability to his rule. Since nobody was amused he was forced to resign by popular demand in 1990. The party remains in existence with about a dozen seats in Bangla's parliament... , the country's third largest and a key ally of the ruling Awami League, would not contest the January 5 election, following in the footsteps of the opposition alliance.
"Since all parties are not contesting, so the Jatiya Party will also not participate in the polls," Ershad told news hounds.
"I am not going to contest the election. The country is at the brink of disaster. We're heading towards uncertainty," Ershad said.
The boycott is a blow to the credibility of the election as pressure mounts to reschedule the date. Only the Awami League and several small left-wing parties are now expected to contest the 300 seats in the national parliament.
"It has hammered the last nail into the election coffin," said Osman Faruq, front man for the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The BNP and its allies announced a boycott Monday amid growing street violence that has left 59 people dead since late October, and a series of opposition strikes and blockades that have paralysed large parts of the country.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
[Pak Daily Times] Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) leader Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight... said on Tuesday sit-ins against NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions... supplies to protest drone strikes would continue for an indefinite period.
"The United States regards us as slaves. However, the way to a man's heart remains through his stomach... this nation will no longer accept to live in slavery," he said while addressing PTI and coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI) workers near toll plaza in Hayatabad where they were disallowing any Afghanistan-bound supplies to protest the November drone strike in Hangu district ... Hangu is famous for its greenery, hills, beauty and water. Most of the people of this area are Bangash & Orakzai Pashtuns. Part of the Bangash are Shia. The Orakzai and the Sunni Bangash are determined to kill them... of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... .
Imran said NATO supplies would "remain suspended" as long as drone strikes were not halted.
"No NATO supply will pass through KP as long as drone strikes do not stop," Imran told news hounds later.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[Pak Daily Times] The opposition members staged a walkout from the Punjab Assembly (PA) session on Tuesday when the speaker barred them from moving an 'out-of-turn' resolution against drone attacks.
Deputy speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani was chairing the session when the PTI backed opposition leader Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed attempted to move an out-of-turn resolution, as it was a private members day, demanding in detail discussion over the drone attacks issue. The move was foiled by the acting speaker in charge terming it 'out of order' and not listed on the agenda list.
Right after the rejection, the ruckus ensued between members of the opposition and treasury who rolled their eyes, jumped up and down, and hollered poorly rhymed slogans real loud against each other. Meanwhile, ...back at the comedy club, Boogie sadly admitted that he was a better peeping Tom than he was a comedian... the opposition subsequently boycotted the session and walked out the house in protest for not being allowed to table the resolution over drone attacks issue.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[Pak Daily Times] KARACHI: Chief Secretary Sindh Sajjad Saleem Hotiana has asked all commissioners, DIGs, deputy commissioners and SSPs, to ensure utmost security for the protection anti-polio ...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set... teams, as he emphasised, they are striving for a noble cause. At the meeting, jointly chaired by National Coordinator for Anti-Polio Drive Dr Azra Peechoho and Sindh Chief Secretary Sajjad Saleem on Tuesday, advised Home Secretary, Commissioners and Police Officer to prioritise safety and security of the polio teams, to the entire satisfaction of all concerned regarding the current polio outbreak and implementation status. Hotiana noted that systematic monitoring and coordination in collaboration with Health and Home Department, must be ascertained, for result oriented performance. Earlier, Dr Azra Peechoho advised DCs to identify the names of those polio officials, who were not taking an interest in their duties. Secretary Health Iqbal, Director General Health Dr Ashfaq Memon, all Deputy Commissioners and other senior officers attended the meeting.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[Pak Daily Times] Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI) Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has termed the assassination of Ulema belonging to different schools of thoughts, "a conspiracy to spark sectarian violence in the city". In a statement issued on Tuesday, Rehman demanded the government to arrest the culprits involved in the assassinations of Ulema and give them exemplary punishment. The snuffies while following the guidance of anti-state elements and external powers are carrying out assassination activities in order to divert the attention of the masses from the protest being continued against drone attacks and NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... supply, he added. He said the government has completely failed in restoring peace in the city, while local agents of the US and UK are active to produce chaos in the city. Rehman appealed the people to stand united against conspiracies being hatched against the illusory sovereignty of Pakistain.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami
[Pak Daily Times] Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... Pakistain should be banned at least for now, due to the party's links with Taliban, al Qaeda, and several other outlawed organizations that are working against the country.
The party should be tried as per Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistain. Muttahida Qaumi Movement ...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead... (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain expressed the views during a telephonic address at Lal Qila Ground, Azizabad.
He said that even posh areas of Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... , like Defence, Clifton, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, PECHS Society, North Nazimabad are not safe from Taliban, and their presence is increasing by the day. Hussain has said that Taliban's influence is rapidly growing, which is why incidents of sectarianism are increasing.
"Nobody is taking action against people who are instigating sectarianism and killing innocent citizens, while MQM workers are being harassed, placed in durance vile Please don't kill me! and their houses raided illegally," he claimed.
Talking about the seed of hatred that has been sowed by the establishment, the MQM leader requested not to repeat the same mistakes, as it would not end well.
'I request Pakistain's rulers and establishment not to follow double standards like in the past. It will only create hatred among people," said Hussain.
Members of MQM's Tanzeemi Committees and office bearers and workers of different wings, elders and women attended the meeting in large numbers. Elected representatives from National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, senators and former nazim ...small time big shot, the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council... s attended the meeting too. The meeting was telecasted live to different cities in Pakistain, 22 cities in USA and 6 cities in Canada and UK.
In his address, the MQM chief also named Jamaat members, who were killed in drone attacks and had ties with Taliban and al Qaeda.
Speaking on the occasion, Hussain reminded about JI's opposition to the creation of Pakistain, and that the founder of this party had pronounced Jinnah an infidel and the country, the land of impure.
He warned that discriminatory policies of the government, administration and establishment could create disunity and a crisis.
"Unfortunately, our security forces have made this party their B-team, and hence they carry out subversive activities in collusion with anti-state elements," said MQM chief Hussain.
The party chief often accused of treating Karachi as his 'turf', he asked why were the leaders supporting these terrorists? He further exclaimed, "Jamaat members have been killing army men in Afghanistan and Pakistain. They have attacked offices of the army, ISI and defence installations."
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[Pak Daily Times] The new head of the Pak Taliban has returned to the country's tribal areas, a front man for the faceless myrmidons said Tuesday, after several years based in Afghanistan.
Hardline holy manMullah Fazlullah ...son-in-law of holy man Sufi Mohammad. Known as Mullah FM, Fazlullah had the habit of grabbing his FM mike when the mood struck him and bellowing forth sermons. Sufi suckered the Pak govt into imposing Shariah on the Swat Valley and then stepped aside whilst Fazlullah and his Talibs imposed a reign of terror on the populace like they hadn't seen before, at least not for a thousand years or so. For some reason the Pak intel services were never able to locate his transmitter, much less bomb it. After ruling the place like a conquered province for a year or so, Fazlullah's Talibs began gobbling up more territory as they pushed toward Islamabad, at which point as a matter of self-preservation the Mighty Pak Army threw them out and chased them into Afghanistan... was elected as leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) last month after his predecessor was killed by a US drone. Fazlullah has been based mainly in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan since 2009, when a military operation ended his followers' brutal two-year rule of Swat ...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat... valley. TTP front man Shahidullah Shahid said Fazlullah was now "commanding the Taliban movement at an unknown location in the tribal areas".
The TTP and other faceless myrmidons have strongholds in the seven semi-autonomous tribal areas along Pakistain's rugged, mostly non-existent border with Afghanistan. Shahid's comments came after some Pak TV channels reported that Fazlullah had reached Wazoo. "It is not true that Mullah Fazlullah is in Waziristan, he is in the tribal areas but at unknown location," Shahid told AFP. Then-TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed by a dronezap in North Waziristan on November 1, while South Waziristan was largely cleared of krazed killer hideouts by a military offensive in 2009.
Washington has pushed for a similar operation in North Waziristan, currently seen as the major hub of Taliban and al Qaeda faceless myrmidons plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan. Fazlullah, who has a $500,000 government bounty on his head, has mounted some brutal attacks on the military, including the beheading of 17 soldiers after an attack in June 2012. Fazlullah would be keen to end squabbling among the Taliban leadership and streamline what is essentially a chaotic organization with weak central command.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under: TTP
[Pak Daily Times] Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia are seen as the world's most corrupt countries while Denmark and New Zealand are nearly squeaky-clean, graft watchdog Transparency International said in a survey on Tuesday.
Worldwide, almost 70 percent of nations are thought to have a "serious problem" with public servants on the take, and none of the 177 countries surveyed this year got a perfect score, said the Berlin-based non-profit group.
Transparency International's annual list is the most widely used indicator of sleaze in political parties, police, justice systems and civil services, a scourge which undermines development and the fight against poverty.
"Corruption hurts the poor most," lead researcher Finn Heinrich told AFP.
"That's what you see when you look at the countries at the bottom. Within those countries, it's also poor people who get hurt the most. These countries will never get out of the poverty trap if they don't tackle corruption."
Among countries that have slipped the most on the group's 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index are war-torn Syria as well as Libya and Mali, which have also faced major military conflict in recent years.
"Corruption is very much linked to countries that fall apart, as you see in Libya, Syria, two of the countries that deteriorated the most," said Heinrich.
"If you look at the bottom of the list, we also have Somalia there. These are not countries where the government is functioning effectively, and people have to take all means in order to get by, to get services, to get food, to survive."
Heinrich said Afghanistan, where most NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions... -led Western forces are pulling out next year after a more than decade long deployment, is "a sobering story. We have not seen tangible improvements".
"The West has not only invested in security but also in trying to establish the rule of law. But there have been surveys in the last couple of years showing the share of people paying bribes is still one of the highest in the world."
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
[An Nahar] U.S. Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State... 's return to Israel on Wednesday comes at a time of heated debate in the Jewish state over its alliance with Washington.
The visit will be his first since world powers including the U.S. on November 24 signed an interim nuclear accord with Iran that has angered Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lambasted the accord, under which Iran agreed to roll back parts of its nuclear program in return for limited sanctions relief, as a "historic mistake".
His condemnation has not been toned down by repeated U.S. assurances, including from President Barack Obama My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it... , that Iran would never be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb.
Netanyahu himself has now come under criticism at home for challenging Israel's closest ally.
A former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, accused his outspoken rightwing successor of having "declared war against Barack Obama's administration".
And Finance Minister Yair Lapid, a member of the center-right Yesh Atid party in the governing coalition, has also questioned Netanyahu's tactics.
"We can have disputes within the family as long as they stay in the family" and are not made public, the minister said.
"It's better to tone down (rhetoric) against the Americans since a clash serves no good purpose."
But Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin told army radio Tuesday that Israel should focus on its own security rather than pander to its long-time ally.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
[An Nahar] French experts have ruled out a theory that Yasser Arafat was killed by poisoning, a source close to the investigation into the Paleostinian leader's 2004 death told Agence La Belle France Presse.
"The report rules out the poisoning theory and goes in the sense of a natural death," the source said.
The French experts' findings differ significantly from those of Swiss scientists, who said last month that their research offered some support for the suggestion Arafat was killed by polonium poisoning.
Rumors and speculation have surrounded Arafat's death since a quick deterioration of his health saw his passing at a military hospital near Gay Paree in November 2004 at the age of 75. French doctors were unable to say what killed him and an autopsy was never performed, at the request of his widow.
Many Paleostinians believed he was poisoned by Israel -- a claim repeatedly denied by the Jewish state.
Israeli foreign ministry front man Yigal Palmor told AFP the results of the French probe were "no surprise".
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
French doctors were unable to say what killed him and an autopsy was never performed, at the request of his widow.
Had he died at Benghazi, she would not have been given an option, or even seen the body.
[An Nahar] Israel has sent humanitarian aid to neighboring Syria, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Tuesday during a visit to the tense frontier.
"We've sent food, water, baby food and other humanitarian products," he told news hounds.
"We cannot remain idle when civilians are being confronted by a humanitarian crisis," he said, without elaborating on how the aid was delivered.
Yaalon was visiting the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights a day after soldiers fired back after an attack from the Syrian side of the ceasefire line, which was formalized after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war and had been mostly quiet until the Syrian uprising erupted in 2011.
"Monday's incident was started by a Syrian soldier who fired at an Israeli military position ... Whoever questions our illusory sovereignty will pay the price," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
#1
Competing with USA/EU for dumbshits of the year?
[Pak Daily Times] Salafistholy man Abu Qatada, deported by Britannia in July after a near decade-long legal battle, is to go on trial in Jordan on December 10, judicial sources said on Tuesday.
"The state security court has set next Tuesday, December 10, as the date for the first hearing in the trial of Abu Qatada," one source said.
Defence lawyer Taysir Diab said he would meet his client on Saturday ahead of the trial opening.
After his deportation in July, Jordanian military prosecutors charged Abu Qatada with conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts. If convicted he could face a minimum of 15 years' hard labour, a judicial source told AFP last month. "The hearing, set for midday (0900 GMT), should be public and open to the media," Diab said.
Britannia's expulsion of Abu Qatada came after Amman and London ratified a treaty guaranteeing that evidence obtained by torture would not be used in his retrial and that the proceedings would be transparent.
The Paleostinian-born preacher was condemned to death in his absence in 1999 for conspiracy to carry out terror attacks, including on the American school in Amman, but this was immediately commuted to life imprisonment with hard labour.
In 2000, he was also sentenced in absentia to 15 years for plotting to attack tourists in Jordan during millennium celebrations.
However, a woman is only as old as she admits... he is to stand trial again for the charges, as Jordanian law gives him the right to a retrial with him present in the dock.
Born Omar Mahmud Mohammed Otman in Bethlehem in the now Israeli-occupied West Bank, Abu Qatada has Jordanian nationality because the town was part of Jordan at the time of his birth.
Videotapes of his sermons were allegedly found in the Hamburg flat of 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta.
Top Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon once branded Abu Qatada the late Osama bin Laden ... who is now sometimes referred to as Mister Bones... 's right-hand man in Europe, although he denies ever having met the late al Qaeda leader.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
A final deal with Iran could include a capacity for uranium enrichment, a White House spokesman said on Tuesday, seeking to clarify some of the terms of the interim deal signed between Tehran and world powers.
The United States does not recognize that Iran has a right to enrich, but "we are prepared to negotiate a strictly limited enrichment program in the end state," said Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman with the White House National Security Council.
#1
I'm surprised that Kerry didn't offer to have the US enrich the uranium for them.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
12/04/2013 8:13 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Who says he didn't?
Seriously - I think it's one of those "We have to pass the deal to find out what's in it" type of things. You certainly can't believe anything the Obama Administration has to say about it.
#7
Baby Assad/Syria + Iran are covertly now Amerika's new pseudo-ally agz Al-Qaeda, etal. in the Middle East + prolly safe to say North Africa + CENTASIA [ex-Soviet Stans]as well.
Iff Shia Iran seemingly does little or nothing over the next six months in 2014 to help the US-West combat the mainly pro-Sunni Hard Boyz, THATS WHEN DIRECT MILACTION BY THE US-WEST AGZ IRAN'S NUCPROGS + MILITARY WEAPSDEV PROGRAMS, ASSETS WILL LIKELY TAKE PLACE.
Iff Iran intends to do nothing agz the Hard Boyz, then it should expect BlackOps-led, "work accidents" to be weirdly-n-mysteriously occurring often in its NucFacs.
[Pak Daily Times] Iran voiced criticism Tuesday of a proposed pact that would pave the way for a US troop presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014, saying it would not serve its neighbour's interests. "Iran does not see the signing and ratifying of this security pact to be beneficial for the long-term interests of the people and government of Afghanistan," foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said. If ratified, the deal would have a "negative impact on regional developments," she said.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[10 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
As Bammerika's new BFF + future par OWG Globalist "Co-Superpower", AFPAK IS IN THEIR BACKYARD, NOT AMERIKA'S.
D *** NG IT, "GOOD FENCES = GOOD NEIGHBORS" - OWG "CO-SUPERPOWER" IRAN HERE [Middle East + central Asia, OWG "CO-SUPERPOWER" AMERIKA OVER THERE[North-Central-South Amerikas]. IT TAINT ROCKET SCIENCE + DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
[MICHELLE RODRGUEZ = "EAT [OWG-NWO?]PHOTONS, SPACE BITCHES"! here].
[An Nahar] Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb... on Tuesday accused Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... of being behind the deadly bombings that targeted the Iranian embassy in southern Beirut, denying thon the lam numbers of Hizbullah fighters were killed in the Syrian war.
"We believe the statement in which the Abdullah Azzam Brigades grabbed credit for the attack on the Iranian embassy, because it is a well-known group and its emir is Saudi and it is linked to the Saudi intelligence," Nasrallah stated in an interview on OTV.
He elaborated: "The Iranian embassy bombing has to do with targeting Iran by those who consider it to be an enemy since 1979 and by those who teach at their institutes that it is an enemy."
"The bombing has to do with the Saudi anger against Iran in the region."
At least 25 people were killed and 150 maimed in twin suicide kabooms that targeted the Iranian embassy in the Hizbullah stronghold of Bir Hassan on November 19.
The Abdullah Azzam Brigades grabbed credit for the bombings, according to the Twitter page of a holy man linked to the group.
"The Abdullah Azzam brigades -- the Hussein bin Ali cells -- are behind the attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut," Sheikh Sirajeddine Zuraiqat, the group's religious guide, posted on Twitter.
Nasrallah denied during the interview reports saying huge numbers of Hizbullah fighters were involved in the Syrian war, stressing that the party has "very modest presence there."
"We are not fighting on behalf of the Syrians," he stated.
"There is not a single Hizbullah fighter in (the Syrian regions of) Daraa, Deir Ezzor, al-Raqqa, Hasakeh, Idlib, Latakia or Tartus. We have a limited presence in Homs and Damascus near the (Lebanese) border."
He added: "Also, claims that we have lost 350 or 500 or 1,000 fighters in Eastern Ghouta are wishful thinking and there is not a single Hizbullah captive in Syria today and some bodies of deaders are still missing."
He detailed the early stages of Hizbullah's intervention in the Syrian war, noting that the fighters were not "immediately sent" to the neighboring country.
He explained: "We took gradual steps, which began in the towns inhabited by Lebanese residents in (the Syrian border region of) Qusayr. When the Syrian army retreated from these towns, the residents sought our help because shameful things had happened there. They had two options: the displacement of 30,000 people or defending their areas."
"I must note that the Lebanese government did not offer any help," Nasrallah added.
"Had it not been for Hizbullah's intervention in Qusayr's countryside, the gangs would have invaded all these towns, but we went there and ended the battle," he said.
Nasrallah continued: "The issue of the Sayyeda Zainab shrine obliged us to interfere in a minor manner in the battles in Damascus' countryside. We only sent 40 or 50 young men to help defend the shrine there."
"And as time progressed, we had to increase the numbers (of fighters in Damascus) ahead of the major intervention in Qusayr."
He also noted that entering Qusayr was not based on an Iranian decision.
"We took the decision and informed the Iranians of it," he assured.
Turning to the issue of the stalled cabinet formation process, Nasrallah again underlined that "the 6-9-9 formula is the acceptable formula for the cabinet because it reserves everyone's rights."
"The majority of parties were with the 6-9-9 formula but Saudi Arabia ordered them not to form a cabinet," he added.
"We accepted a premier that they themselves nominated, so how can they accuse us of seeking political vacuum?" Nasrallah went on to say.
On the issue of the upcoming presidential election, Nasrallah said: "We are with holding the presidential election on time and let the parliament convene and elect a president and we are ready to contribute to the success of this juncture."
"Our camp must meet to discuss how to deal with this juncture and I believe that our camp must nominate a clear candidate for the presidency," he added.
Nasrallah also said that Hizbullah is willing to engage in national dialogue with the rival camp. "We always support the convention of the dialogue table and we are willing to sit with anyone and we believe that severing ties with anyone is not useful," he said.
Separately, Tuesday's interview kicked off with a discussion over the newly reached accord between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.
Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers held historic talks last month in Geneva, which culminated in the landmark agreement elusive for the past decade in freezing parts of Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanctions relief.
"According to the information I have, the Americans wanted to discuss other issues with Iran, and throughout history, the U.S. has always tried to discuss all issues as one package but the Iranians have always preferred to discuss one dossier at a time," Nasrallah said on the negotiations.
Nasrallah stated that the first result of the agreement was lowering the possibility of war.
"The agreement has very important consequences and the first winner is people in the region, from the Gulf to the Middle East, because regional and international forces were pushing for the choice of war with Iran," he said.
In a related matter, Hizbullah's leader accused Gulf countries of "antagonizing Iran."
"But Iran has always been ready to engage in dialogue," he expressed.
"I believe that there is a real problem with Saudi Arabia because all the attempts to open the door of dialogue have failed and the Americans are the ones who are closing the doors.
Nasrallah elaborated: "If you monitor all the Saudi-financed media outlets, KSA's war against Iran has never stopped. Saudi Arabia waged wars against the Iranians in Pakistain, Afghanistan, the Gulf, Iraq and Syria, and of course through its proxies, because it does not dare to wage a direct war."
"Saudi Arabia's problem with Iran is not of a sectarian nature, because it had problems with several Arab countries, and these countries are Sunni, not Shiite."
He also noted that Saudi Arabia's war on Egypt's Moslem Brüderbund is a "political war."
"KSA wants to be the leader of the Musselmen world and it does not accept any partners," Nasrallah considered.
On Hizbullah's relation with Qatar, Nasrallah revealed that communication was not suspended with the Gulf country despite being at odds on several political issues.
He added: "We have met with a Qatari delegation in the past few days and we're still in a disagreement over Syria but we were not seeking problems with anyone, not even with Saudi Arabia."
He continued: "We told the Qatari envoy that the military choice in Syria is futile and the attempt to oust (Syrian President Bashar) Assad militarily is an act of madness, that's why I call on all countries to contribute towards finding a political solution. We also spoke of neutralizing Leb in the Syrian crisis."
"Qatar is reevaluating all its stances in the region," Nasrallah pointed out.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Hezbollah
[An Nahar] Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too. condemned on Tuesday the latest round of festivities between the rival Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods in the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... , saying that the city will not be used as a pawn in regional disputes.
He said in a statement: "Tripoli will not, under any circumstances, become another den of the Syrian regime and its allies in Leb."
He therefore reiterated the need to transform Tripoli into an "arms-free" city.
Tripoli belongs to all of its residents regardless of their sects and affiliations, stressed Hariri.
"We are all responsible for confronting the dangers that are facing Leb," he declared, while accusing Syria's allies in Leb of fueling the unrest in Tripoli.
"We are confident that Tripoli will overcome the difficult phase it is passing through and it will not despair in urging the state and its institutions to put an end to the disputes and instilling justice in the city," said the head of the Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... Movement.
"We are confident that those keen on the city will not allow a deal to be struck at the expense of the rights of the victims. They will ensure that the culprits are put on trial for the terrorist bombings and other crimes that have been committed in the city," he stated.
Tripoli has been rocked with the latest round of festivities between the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
Fighting linked to conflict in Syria frequently erupts between the rival neighborhoods, with residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh supporting Syrian rebels and residents of Jabal Mohsen backing the Syrian regime.
At least ten people were killed and 40 maimed in the latest round of fighting that broke out on Saturday.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
[An Nahar] Change and Reform bloc urged on Tuesday stopping Takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed... s from attacking nuns and holding them captive in Syria, warning of "a danger on the lives of Christians" in Leb and the East.
"Our lives and our future are in danger and everything the East and Leb were built upon is also under threat," MP Alain Aoun stated after the weekly meeting of the Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... MPS.
He added: "We all warn against the danger of Takfiris and if their ideology is not capable of tolerating a nun, how can it accept any other political ideology?"
"We hope everyone condemns the kidnapping of the nuns (in Syria) and employs their international connections to free them."
12 nuns were reported missing on Monday, as Syria's rebel forces, including jihadists from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, recaptured the Syrian famed Christian town of Maalula, which lies north of Damascus.
The nuns among the few residents left in the hamlet, and were sheltering inside the Mar Takla convent.
Religious officials said on Tuesday that the Syrian rebels have taken the nuns to the nearby rebel stronghold of Yabrud.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
[An Nahar] Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Tuesday said that he will not provide political cover to any security violator in the festivities-hit city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... , stressing that "no one can accept to forgive those who blew up the two mosques."
"We have decided that there is only one solution, which is to impose security in Tripoli. When we have 14 deaths caused by sniper fire, we must ask, where did these gunshots come from?" said Miqati at a presser.
"No one can protect or provide cover to anyone who might dare to attack security forces and our objective is the issuance of the judicial warrants without disrupting the security of the city," Miqati said.
Following a meeting with President Michel Suleiman ...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too... and Army chief General Jean Qahwaji in Baabda on Monday, Miqati had announced that the army will be entrusted with Tripoli's security for six months and that all security forces in the city will be put under its authority.
During the presser on Tuesday, Miqati underline that "no one can accept to forgive those who blew up the two mosques, especially that the investigation threads are well-known."
"From the very first moment after the bombings, Tripoli has been repeating that it will resort to the state and we don't have any personal militia," he added.
He noted that "a large number of army troops are from Tripoli and they will enter the city to protect their people."
"We are saying that we want security and Tripoli's residents are saying that the state is their choice and we hope everyone will back the army, which will fully implement its role," the premier went on to say.
In response to a question, Miqati said "the army will decide the timing of the arrests and it will fully implement its mission because it has to do with the state's prestige."
"We stress that the army has political cover from all Lebanese groups without any exception and that it will perform its mission," he emphasized.
"As politicians and as Tripoli's MPs, we stress that we won't provide a cover for any security violator, whomever they may belong to and wherever they may exist," added Miqati.
He noted that "we cannot be lenient regarding the state's right and all things cannot happen at the same time," pointing out that "the army has a timeframe to impose security."
Asked about remarks by former Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, who had called on him to "stop the crime" in Tripoli or leave his post, Miqati said: "I don't intend to leave my post and I will fully shoulder my responsibilities."
"We are backing the army in its mission and if stepping down could rescue Tripoli, I would have been the first person to step down," he noted.
Asked about ex-PM Saad Hariri Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too. 's comments on the situation in Tripoli, Miqati said the northern city "definitely won't be a den for the Syrian regime because Tripoli is for its people and it has suffered massacres since the 1980s."
"As far as I know, the regime does not have a presence and there are rather security violations that we are trying to put an end to," Miqati added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the army carried out raids in Tripoli and nabbed Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! gunnies and suspects, a day after it was entrusted with the city's security.
At least 10 people have been killed and 100 others maimed in festivities between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen since Saturday.
The fighting in the city is linked to the war raging in neighboring Syria. Bab al-Tabbaneh district, which is majority Sunni, and Jabal Mohsen, whose residents are from Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Despoiler of Deraa... 's sect, have been engaged in severe gunbattles since the revolt against him in March 2011.
Tensions soared in the city in August when twin boom-mobileings hit Sunni mosques and left hundreds of casualties.
Authorities arrested several members of the Arab Democratic Party, whose stronghold is in Jabal Mohsen, on suspicion they were involved and they summoned the group's leader, Ali Eid, for questioning.
Eid has refused to be questioned by police for not being "impartial." His son, Rifaat, said his father is ready to go to any security agency other than the ISF Intelligence Bureau.
The latest round of violence erupted last week when Jabal Mohsen residents were shot in their feet in vengeful sectarian attacks.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/04/2013 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under:
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
... an Arab news network headquartered in Qatar, notorious for carrying al-Qaeda press releases. The name means 
John 
[Pak Daily Times] KARACHI: Chief Secretary Sindh Sajjad Saleem Hotiana has asked all commissioners, DIGs, deputy commissioners and SSPs, to ensure utmost security for the protection anti-
[Pak Daily Times] 
[Pak Daily Times] 
North Korea
[An Nahar] U.S. Secretary of State 
Najib Miqati
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
