Somaliland at crisis point

November 11, 2009  |   ALJaeera

Somaliland has been hailed as a beacon of stability in the troubled Horn of Africa region since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991.

But Al Jazeera's Mohamed Adow, reports that some experts now believe the self-declared republic is at crisis point, as an election row deepens.

The current tension in Somaliland centres on the presidential election, which was due to have been held on September 27.

The polls have been postponed indefinitely due to serious differences between the political parties since 2008.

This uncertainty has led to increased concern about Somaliland in the international community, and a flare-up of political animosity within the territory.

Recent violence, particularly in the capital Hargeysa, has shown that the crisis in Somaliland has changed from being political to one of security and stability.

Fears over the crisis has even led one senior political figure to warn that it could become another failed state, like neighbouring Somalia.

Somaliland is a former British protectorate in north western Somalia.

In 1960, it gained its independence and united with what was then Italian Somaliland to form the Somalia republic.

Limited democracy

In 1991, it declared independence after Mohamed Siad Barre, the Somali military leader, was overthrown.

Somaliland has a population of 3.5 million people, according to government estimates, and is a relatively stable democracy even though it has not been internationally recognised.

This is partly because it has developed a unique hybrid system of government.

The row over elections - largely seen as a test for this fledgeling nation - threatens to divide it.

The hope now lies with a recently appointed electoral commission, entrusted with the task of organising elections, a step seen as vital to Somaliland's quest for international recognition

ElBaradei Suggests Turkey Store Iran's Uranium .

08/11/2009  |   almanartv

Iran's enriched uranium could be transferred to Turkey until Tehran is supplied with nuclear gas from Russia, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday during a television interview.

Mohammed ElBaradei said that he offered Turkey as a third destination country after Iran refused the West's proposal that the uranium be enriched in Russia. “It should work,” he said. The UN watchdog head also added that Iran has great faith in Turkey and that the Obama administration would be open to such a proposal, seeing as the United States is comfortable working with Turkey.

He also noted that the idea has yet to be presented to the Turkish government but estimated that Ankara would agree to store the uranium under the IAEA's supervision. He added that Iran is considering whether to agree to his new proposal.

"I am in contact with them every single day,” ElBaradei said. “They said they would like to keep it on our territory, but I said that defeats the whole purpose of defusing the crisis. We need to get the material out to eliminate the perception that you could develop nuclear weapons tomorrow.”

The Turkish ambassador to the UN said that he was unaware of ElBaradei's new plan while a comment on the proposal has yet to be made by the US State Department.

Earlier on Saturday the Iranian head of parliament's national security and foreign policy committee was quoted as saying that Iran is refusing to send its low-enriched uranium abroad for further processing. "We do not want to give part of our 1,200 kilos of enriched uranium in order to receive fuel of 20%enrichment," Alaeddin Borujerdi told the ISNA news agency.

Following the statements Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Moscow could endorse sanctions on Iran should the talks fail.

Abbas' move highlights failure of peace process

The decision by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, to bow out of politics has raised doubts over the future of the Middle East peace process.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, in praising his efforts said she would work with Abbas in whatever capacity he was working in the future.

But it remains to be seen if the US, whose backing of the Israeli position on illegal settlements led to Abbas' decision, will now try to keep him.

Al Jazeera's John Terrett reports.

Israel's Timely Interception??

As claimed - Israel shows arms it intercepted that it says Iran was sending to Hezbollah for terrorism, without any presence of UN peacekeepers.

Karadzic attends trial, calls for delay

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 PressTV

Appearing for the first time in his genocide trial in The Hague, wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic (photo) has asked the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal for further delays in the proceedings.

Karadzic arrived at the court on Tuesday following a boycott of the trial, which opened more than a week ago.

He warned that he would continue the boycott unless he is given time — as long as 10 months — to prepare his defense, which he is undertaking personally, and to review more than a million pages of evidence.

Tuesday's procedural hearing aimed at reviewing options for continuing the trial in the face of Karadzic's continued defiance.

The court adjourned after hearing his arguments with the promise of reaching a decision within a week.

"The trial chamber... will issue its decision on this matter in writing later this week," residing judge O-Gon Kwon said at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

He is facing 11 charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity over his alleged role in overseeing Serb atrocities in the 1992-95 Bosnian war that claimed some 100,000 lives.

The former Serb leader, who was indicted in 1995 but avoided capture until 14 months ago, told the judges that he 'would really be a criminal' if he accepted to stand trial without being adequately prepared.

Karadzic has refused to leave his jail cell since the trial started on October 26, saying he needed more time to review more than a million pages of prosecution evidence and the statements of hundreds of witnesses.

"Mr Karadzic cannot be permitted to manipulate the proceedings through his decision not to attend," said prosecutor Hildegard Uertz-Retzlaff.

Should the court decide to proceed despite his absence and assign counsel to represent him, the new lawyer may ask for months of delay for acquainting himself with the case. Karadzic, however, has promised to fight such an appointment.

If convicted, Karadzic could be handed a life jail sentence.

On Monday, prosecutor Alan Tieger dubbed the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys 'one of humanity's dark chapters', accusing Karadzic of sanctioning the atrocity.

He also stands charged for the 44-month siege of the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, which ended in November 1995 after some 10,000 people, many of them civilians, were killed.

PALESTINIANS PRISONERS

The kidnapping of 21 international human rights workers attempting to deliver needed aid to a besieged people is an outrage, but it is hardly an isolated one.

Since its founding in 1948 the State of Israel has regularly kidnapped and tortured Palestinians, throwing them into forgotten prisons where they can languish for years. Today, over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners without benefit of due process, some never even charged - men, women, and children endure torture and isolation in Israeli jails, outdoor prison camps, and secret black sites.

They come from all walks of life: doctors, journalists, parliamentarians, workers, resistance fighters, homemakers, students and others. They are our sisters and brothers.

From the first night, the Free Gaza 21 have been busy trying to get news out of the prison about the illegality of Israel's actions in relation to themselves and the other inmates inside Ramle Prison who have no voice.

Former Bosnian Serb Leader Doesn't Show for War Crimes Trial.

“Abbas to Obama: I'll Quit, There's No Chance for Peace with Netanyahu”

27/10/2009 reported by Almanar

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. President Barack Obama that he intends to resign his post, Israeli Channel 10 television reported on Monday. According to the report, the Palestinian leader told Obama during a telephone conversation last week that he sees no chance of advancing the so-called peace process with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power.

Channel 10 also reported that Abbas communicated to the White House his disappointment in the administration's "capitulation" to Tel Aviv on the issue of occupied West Bank settlement construction. The Palestinians are demanding a cessation of Israeli settlement activity as a precondition to the resumption of “peace negotiations”.

According to Channel 10, Abbas told the White House that the Palestinian Authority's initial decision to defer a vote on the Goldstone Report at the United Nations Human Rights Council was politically damaging. The Palestinian Authority agreed to delay debating the report that was condemning the Zionist entity for its aggression in Gaza last winter. The decision led to street protests by Palestinians and condemnation around the Arab world.

In recent days, Abbas has sent a number of blunt, unequivocal messages to the White House, Channel 10 reported. According to information which reached Israeli officials, Abbas told the U.S. president that he will not stand for re-election as Palestinian Authority president given the diplomatic stalemate with Israel.

Abbas called on Friday for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 24, in a bid to regain dominance of the badly divided Palestinian movement and sideline his political rivals, Hamas.

According to Channel 10, Abbas also told the Americans that he sees no possibility that his Fatah faction can reach a reconciliation agreement with Hamas. Hamas and Fatah are currently in the midst of Egyptian-mediated reconciliation talks.

In response to the report, a senior Netanyahu aide told Channel 10: "Netanyahu carried out a number of steps in order to renew the peace process, as the American administration is fully aware. The prime minister called on the Palestinians to renew negotiations immediately and without preconditions."

"In contrast to the prime minister, the Palestinians are assuming a tougher stance and are placing preconditions before negotiations that they did not demand of previous [Israeli] governments," the source told Channel 10. "It is a shame that their transparent political maneuvers are casting a pall over the peace process."

Earlier Monday, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat blamed Israel for the impasse. Erekat urged Washington to also find fault with Israel.

"The gap is still wide and Israel does not give a single sign of meeting its obligations under the road map, halting settlement activities and resuming negotiations where they left off," he told Voice of Palestine radio. "I do not see any possibility for restarting peace talks in the near future," Erekat said.

Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a senior aide to Abbas, on Monday night denied the Channel 10 report.

First US official resigns in protest at Afghan war.

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 - reproted by PressTV

The US-led war in Afghanistan has forced the first American official to resign his post, questioning the reason behind Washington's military presence in the country.

The senior State Department official in Afghanistan's Zabul province Matthew Hoh had stepped down in September, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday. "I have lost understanding of and confidence in the strategic purposes of the United States' presence in Afghanistan," Hoh wrote in his resignation letter to the State Department's personnel chief. "I have doubts and reservations about our current strategy and planned future strategy, but my resignation is based not upon how we are pursuing this war, but why and to what end," he added.

The former Marine Corps captain was offered a senior staff-level job at the US embassy in Kabul, which he also turned down. Hoh, who had also served in uniform at the Pentagon and as a civilian in Iraq, said he decided to speak out to influence public opinion. "I'm not some peacenik, pot-smoking hippie who wants everyone to be in love," he said after his resignation became final on Wednesday.

"I want people in Iowa, people in Arkansas, people in Arizona, to call their congressman and say, 'Listen, I don't think this is right.'" Since the 2001 US-led invasion of the country, Afghanistan has been suffering from the devastating war.

A high number of civilians have been killed both by indiscriminate US air strikes and by violent acts including suicide bombings and blasts carried out by militants against the occupying forces. Many other Afghans have also been forced to displace due to the conflict. According to the latest UN report, more than 1,500 civilians have been killed and many others wounded only in the first six months of this year, which shows a 24 percent increase compared to the same period in 2008.

Beast Of Bosnia (Karadzic) Trial - The Background.

Crisis with Turkey Taking its Toll on Israeli Exporters

16/10/2009 | Almanar

The crisis in relations between the Zionist entity and Turkey is also manifesting in credit and business dealings.

Israel Credit Insurance Company figures show late payments by Turkish importers of Israeli products increased dramatically in the first nine months of the year, by 90%. A total of $40 million in debt is "substantially late," which the ICIC defines as more than 30 days after the credit terms set by Israeli exporters and their customers. The increase encompasses all exports to Turkey.

Relations have taken a turn for the worse in recent years. The rift deepened with Israel's January offensive in Gaza.
ICIC chief executive David Milgrom said there have been unusual instances of Turkish companies not paying debts to Israeli exporters. Collecting debt in Turkey is relatively complicated, he added. Turkish banks that used to provide information to exporters about which potential clients had restrictions placed on their bank accounts have stopped doing so, making it even more difficult to manage customer credit in the country.

At the same time, Israeli exports to Turkey have plunged by 40%, while exports overall decreased 22%. Israel exports totaled $800 million in the first nine months of the year, compared to $1.3 billion in the same period last year. The hardest hit industries have been metals, chemicals and plastic.

ICIC, an Israeli company, issues $12 billion annually in export insurance for customers in 115 countries. The coverage assures that suppliers will receive their payment, in the event that their customers become insolvent, financially strapped, or don't pay due to political events. ICIC is owned by Harel Insurance, Bituach Haklai and international credit insurer Euler Hermes.

Erdogan: Why does West single out Iran

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 | PressTV

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (photo) says the world powers' constant focus on Iran's nuclear program is not fair.

"We don't want nuclear weapons in this region and this is what we have always called for. We have also voiced this to the Iranian officials and they stress that they don't have any intention of developing nuclear weapons," Erdogan told Al -Arabiya satellite channel.

"They [the Iranians] want to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes because they worry that the traditional energy recourses might not meet their needs in the future," Turkey's Yenisafak newspaper quoted Erdogan as saying on Wednesday.

"Besides, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no evidence indicating that Iran is developing nuclear weapons," he added.

"What upsets me is another thing: why those talking about nuclear weapons always pick on Iran? Why don't they discuss Israel? They only point the finger at Iran and North Korea," Turkey's Prime Minister said.

"We call on them to adopt a just behavior. We urge the UN Security Council and especially its five permanent members to take necessary precautions to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons."

Most experts estimate that Israel has at least between 100 and 200 nuclear warheads, largely based on information leaked to the Sunday Times newspaper in the 1980s by Mordechai Vanunu, a former worker at the country's Dimona nuclear reactor.

Israel, which has initiated several wars in the region in its 60-year history, maintains a policy of ambiguity over its military nuclear capabilities.

Turkey: Israeli delay in UAV delivery canceled air drill

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:13:53 GMT

Turkey has cited Israel's delay in the delivery of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the country as the main reason behind the cancellation of an international air force exercise.

The Heron UAV drone is capable of flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet for 30 hours. IAF photo

The revelation comes in contrast with earlier Israeli reports that Ankara banned the Israeli Air Force from participating in a joint military maneuver scheduled by the US, NATO, Italy, Israel and Turkey for later this month in protest at Tel Aviv's military offensive in Gaza.

Israel's all-out strike on the Gaza Strip at the turn of the year resulted in the loss of thousands of Palestinian lives, many of them civilian, and brought about international condemnation for Tel Aviv.

However, a Turkish air force official denied the allegations on Wednesday, saying that there were no political motives behind the cancellation of the international air force exercise and that Tel Aviv should not draw a political meaning and conclusion from the postponement.

"Turkey needs those vehicles (the Israeli-made surveillance drones, known as Herons) in its fight against terror. What led to the recent crisis between Turkey and Israel was the delay in the delivery," Today's Zaman quoted the unnamed official as saying.

Turkey and Israel signed a multi-million dollar military deal four years ago, under which Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems, Ltd. were obliged to equip the Turkish military with ten surveillance drones by October 2009.

According to Turkish officials, Israel's failure to meet the deadline resulted in the cancellation of the annual drills.

Turkey has so far received two Heron UAVs from Israel, but the military has not accepted them due to persistent problems occurring in the strengthening of their engines.

Washington blames Turkey for air drill cancellation

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 | PressTV

(Photo Turkish airplanes) Washington has reportedly taken a swipe at Ankara's decision to revoke ts previous invitation to the Israeli air force to participate in a multinational air exercise in Turkey.

"As to the question of whether there was a government that was invited to participate and then removed at the last minute, we think it's inappropriate for any nation to be removed from an exercise like this at the last minute," US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday.

The wargames - intended to be the sixth such exercises - were to have included forces from NATO, the US, Italy, and Israel. The sixth annual Anatolia Eagle exercise was scheduled to take place October 10-23 at an air base in the city of Konya in central Turkey in the heart of the Anatolian plateau.

Anatolian Eagle was first held in June 2001, with Turkish, Israeli and US participation. The drill was to have lasted almost two weeks and included Israeli F-16 fighter aircraft, helicopters and aerial refueling tankers.

Israel last participated in the exercise in September 2008, but has not flown its military aircraft in Turkey since its blitz against the beleaguered 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip from December 27, 2008 until January 20, 2009. Over 1,400 Palestinians were killed during Israel's land, sea and air assault against the blockaded coastal land between Israel and Egypt.

In addition the onslaught inflicted at least $1.6 billion worth of damage to the already fragile Gaza economy.

While Washington slammed Turkey, Damascus commended Ankara Tuesday for withdrawing its invitation to the Israeli military, which led the US and Italy to pull out as well.

"We encourage such cancellations as long as Israel is continuing its aggression and occupation," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said Tuesday.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has also shown support for the Turkish decision, saying that other Muslim nations should take similar steps and sever relations with Israel.

Israel holds emergency meeting on Turkish ties

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 | PressTV

Israel's foreign ministry has held an emergency meeting to discuss the mounting tension between Israel and Turkey, after Ankara canceled a military drill with Israel.

Turkey informed Israel of cancellation of the Anatolian Eagle exercise last week in protest to Israel's Operation Cast Lead on Gaza Strip earlier this year which killed at least 1500 Palestinians and injured many others, a large number of them women and children.

The US, Italy and NATO air forces were also to participate in the air force drill, which was to be held this week. The military maneuver however was canceled after Ankara withdrew from the exercise over Tel Aviv's participation in the drill. Turkey's move, which was taken over Israel's decision to send planes to the exercise which possibly took part in the Gaza war last December, caused "disappointment" in Washington, The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday.

Israel is concerned about its jeopardized strategic ties with Turkey, a senior official at the ministry told Haaretz. Israeli Foreign Ministry sources confirmed that the meeting had taken place following instructions by ministry director general Yossi Gal, but they declined to give details. Israeli officials are debating the depth of the crisis.

Some officials say the Turkish government under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not interested in strategic ties with Israel. "It may be that the reality has changed and the strategic ties that we thought existed have simply ended," said a senior Israeli official. "Maybe we need to be the ones who initiate renewed thinking regarding our ties and must adopt response measures."

12,000 UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

Fardoo New Nuclear Facility

Regarding Fardoo New Nuclear Facility an informed political source stated that on the verge of the new round of nuclear talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Group 5+1, the Presidents of the United States and France along with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in a new sensationalist move in keeping with their disinformation campaign accused the Islamic Republic of Iran in New York, on Sep. 25, 2009 of building a clandestine underground enrichment facility without the knowledge of he inspectors of IAEA.

The political source stressed that such allegations are made when, on the same day, the IAEA reported that Iran has notified the Agency of its new enrichment facility which is in the process of construction to this agency. The spokesman of the IAEA announced in a statement that "Islamic Republic of Iran, in a letter sent on Sep. 21, 2009, notified the Agency that it has a new fuel enrichment plant under construction. Iran's letter adds that the ceiling of the enrichment level in this plant is 5%. Iran also informed the Agency that nuclear materials have not been entered into this plant. In this letter, Ira assured the Agency that more complementary information will be submitted in due time". In response to this letter, the IAEA has asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to submit particular information in this regard and prepare the ground for a visit to this plant as soon as possible.

The informed source added that the IAEA sent a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran on Sept. 25, 2009 to appreciate the submission of the information relating to the new enrichment plant. The letter of the IAEA to Iran reads: "In reference to your letter of Sep. 21, 2009, I wish to thank the Islamic Republic of Iran for the submission of the information relating to the construction of a new semi-industrial enrichment plant to the Agency. To ensure that appropriate safeguards measures will be taken, it would be appreciated if the agency receives additional information with regard to the new plant. The Agency would also appreciate access to this facility at the earliest possible time. I thank you for your cooperation."

He also said that concurrent with this new unfounded sensationalist campaign launched by some western states and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the new head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization in a statement announced: "To safeguard and exercise its inalienable right to peaceful use of nuclear energy, in a new successful step, the Islamic Republic of Iran has moved to build a semi-industrial nuclear fuel enrichment plant. Iran is now in the process of the construction of the new plant by observing all the necessary precautions including passive defense system. The activities of this new enrichment plant like those of all other nuclear facilities of Iran will take place within the framework of the rules and regulations of IAEA. Iran's Atomic Energy Organization congratulates the Eminent Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the noble people of Iran on this grand achievement in the development and advancement of this industry in our country."

He added that inspection and monitoring activities and also the declaration of any nuclear activities and facilities will take place within the framework of the safeguards agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA.

In this regard, it is to be recalled that based on the provisions of Code 3/1 of the subsidiary arrangements ratified by the National Consultative Assembly of Iran in 1976, Iran has a duty to notify the Agency of its new nuclear facility only 180 days (6 months) before the injection of nuclear materials into its nuclear facility. For instance, with regard to an enrichment plant, all the construction works and installation of the equipment and centrifuges can be completed and only 6 months before the injection of nuclear materials into the facility, it should be declared to the Agency. In spite of this provision, the Islamic Republic of Iran has decided to declare its new enrichment facility which is in the process of construction almost 18 months before the injection of nuclear materials. It is to be reminded that the period needed for the completion of this plant is between 1.5 to 2 years. This measure by the Islamic Republic of Iran aims for further transparency and goes beyond its existing legal obligations.

The same source pointed out that notification to the Agency about the new enrichment facility by the Islamic Republic of Iran was made within the framework of the Agency rules and regulations and based on the Iranian obligations and in this respect no violation has taken place by any means until now.

He also said that it was expected that this transparent measure by the Islamic Republic of Iran which was admired and welcomed by the Agency should, away from any political sensationalism, had also been welcomed by the western countries who as a politically motivated move, has always been criticizing the cooperation between Iran and the Agency. Despite the early notification by Iran of the new facility, we are witnessing that certain western states including the United States are adopting the unnecessary sensationalist policies. We wonder about their attitude. Every move we make receives no appreciation on their part. These states need to reconsider their contradictory and double standard policies making them as much transparent as possible for the world public opinion.

He stressed that establishment of the new nuclear facility is in fact considered as a precautionary measure by the Islamic Republic of Iran aiming to produce clean energy as well as maintaining our peaceful nuclear achievements to let our enemy know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its iron will, does not allow any party to interrupt its nuclear activities even for a single second. Enrichment level in the new facility would not exceed 5 percent just like that of Natanz. Construction of the new facility began around one year ago and so far no machinery, equipments or radioactive materials has been transferred to its site and most of the current activities within the site are of construction and infrastructural nature. Based on the Agency's rules and regulations, we did not need to notify the Agency of the new facility and we were entitled not to make the news in this respect public. But, just for building further confidence and making further transparency we decided to make the notification much earlier than the time set for the notification.

The political source, referring to recent foreign forces's hue and cry finalized that all can remember that a similar political sensationalist move on the Natanz enrichment facility and Arak heavy water plant had been raised by the same states and they embarked on a similar propaganda ploy on the concealment of Iranian nuclear activities by Iranian authorities. This occurred while Iran had informed the Agency of the existence of such facility much earlier than its safeguard obligations and the Agency had been completely informed of the facility. In the meantime, according to the Head of the Iranian Nuclear Energy Organization the new facility will be opened to the supervisors and inspectors of the Agency within the framework of the Agency's rules and regulations and Iran does not have any problem with these inspections which shall be carried out within the framework of the Agency's rules and regulations. In fact, we are fully prepared to cooperate with the Agency in this respect and announce the time of inspection accordingly.

Thanks
Mahmoud Khoshrou
First counselor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
No 1. Lorong U Thant Satu Off Jalan U Thant
55000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-42514824
Fax: 03-42532813
e-mail : m_khoshrou@yahoo.com
: m.khoshrou3@gmail.com

US missile strike rises threefold in Pakistan.

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:01:53 GMT | PressTV

The death toll from a US drone strike in Pakistan's troubled northwestern tribal Waziristan region has risen to 12 after tribesmen pulled more bodies from debris.

The strike from CIA-operated spy drones was the fourth this month in North Waziristan region. Since August 2008, nearly 60 such attacks by US spy planes have killed more than 550 people in the volatile region Earlier reports said four people were killed in the latest lethal incident which took place around five kilometers (three miles) northwest of Miransha in the North Waziristan tribal district on Thursday night.

Local residents told Press TV correspondent in Peshawar that at least a dozen people lost their lives in the attack. The death toll is expected to rise as some of the injured were said to be in critical condition. The drone planes continued low-altitude flights in several towns of Waziristan region over the past weeks. The air strikes, which are common in Pakistan, allegedly target pro-Taliban militants in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

However, Pakistani media outlets say only one-sixth of the raids have managed to target militant hideouts. The developments come at a time when Washington is expanding its embassy and deploying more 'security guards' in Pakistan. The civilian and military authorities in Islamabad publicly oppose the US missile strikes, saying they violate the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Despite the presence of over 100,000 troops in the war-torn country, Afghanistan is witnessing the highest level of violence since the 2001 invasion. Senior Pakistani officials say NATO's wrong policies were to be blamed for increasing insurgency in the troubled South Asian region.

Biography of Khattab Sayful Islam

CIA Makes Predictions on Afghanistan and Iran.

Uighur leader claims 10,000 'disappeared' in Urumqi unrest.

Some 10,000 people "disappeared" at the hands of the Chinese government during ethnic unrest in the city of Urumqi in July, claimed Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer , speaking from Japan. Beijing accuses Kadeer of instigating the unrest

T h e U i g h u r s of The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous R e g i o n of C h i n a,

Chinese Population According to the 1990 census:

Nationality	Population	Percentage
Uighurs	7,200,000	45%
Han	6,885,000	43%
Tajiks	33,000	.2%
Salar	3,000	.02%
Kazakhs	1,100,000	6.8%
Uzbeks	15,000	.09%
Russians	3,000	.02%
Hui	600,000	3.8%
Yellow Uighurs	11,000	.07%
Boan	300	.001%
Kyrgyz	150,000	.1%
Tibetans	5,000	.03%
Other non-Chinese	9,000	.06%
Ethnic Manchus	90,000	5.6%
Tartars	5,000	.3%
Dongxiang	40,000	.25%
Dawani	5,000	.3%

(Aitbayev, 1997)

more >>

Exiled Leader Fights For Xinijang.

Police and other security forces in China are trying to maintain peace in northwestern Xinjiang province following an outbreak earlier this month of some of the worst ethnic violence in the country in decades. Chinese authorities blame exiled Uighurs for fomenting the unrest, in particular an exiled Uighur political activist who now lives in the Washington, DC area. VOA's Chris Simkins has this profile of Rebiya Kadeer, who has gained new prominence in the wake of the disturbances.

Chinese Muslims Uighurs - who cares?

The early July riots in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province in China's Far West, opposing turcophone Uighurs and Han Chinese, have been spun by Beijing as yet another "foreign interference" conspiracy organized by the Uighur diaspora in exile.

Pepe Escobar argues it's more complicated than that. All the trouble stems from the official Chinese policy of population transfer - enticing millions of Han Chinese to move to the Far West where they find limitless opportunities not available to the local population. And then there's the key strategic importance of Xinjiang province - immensely rich in natural resources.

China's spin plus heavy handed repression has been met by thundering silence all across the "international community". What a difference from the recent turmoil in Iran.

Bio
Pepe Escobar, born in Brazil is the roving correspondent for Asia Times and an analyst for The Real News Network. He's been a foreign correspondent since 1985, based in London, Milan, Los Angeles, Paris, Singapore, and Bangkok.

Since the late 1990s, he has specialized in covering the arc from the Middle East to Central Asia, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has made frequent visits to Iran and is the author of Globalistan and also Red Zone Blues: A Snapshot of Baghdad During the Surge both published by Nimble Books in 2007.

Troops battle for control of Kunduz province

Top NATO Commander PR exercise.

Civilians killed in NATO air strikes.

Israeli tanks invade Gaza, meet resistance

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:22:58 GMT| pressTV

Israeli tanks and bulldozers (photo) have invaded the eastern border areas of the Gaza Strip, destroying cultivated agricultural Palestinian land.

Palestinian fighters retaliated by firing home-made shells at the invading forces. No injuries were reported from either side in the Thursday attack, the International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) reported.

Also on Thursday, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the strip, local sources reported.

Palestinian sources said that some boats sustained some damage but no injuries were reported. Last week, a similar attack by the Israeli naval forces left one Palestinian fisherman dead and another one injured.

The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling Israeli-imposed blockade for over two years. The strip was under siege even when it was under an all-out military onslaught by Tel Aviv at the turn of the year.

British MP resigns in protest over Afghan strategies

Fareena Alam, Press TV, London

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:09:00 GMT

Riz Khan - Iran ready for nuclear talks - 2 Sept 09

So much for 'the good war'?

US extends 'Blackwater' contract -

The Palestinians' security paradox

Carter urges halt to Israeli settlement building.

Britain thought Iran's time was 'up'

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that Britain's foreign secretary had predicted the demise of the Iranian state in the aftermath of the June presidential election. "One of the foreign ministers of friendly countries told us that when I asked the Old Colonialism's (United Kingdom) foreign secretary why they interfered in Iran's affairs, he answered that 'this time the time was up for the Islamic Republic system, and this time we have worked out everything'," Ahmadinejad said Friday.

"The whole world knows that in Iran, elections are fundamental maters, and, contrary to common democracies of the world, they are not a sham or previously arranged, but, with the presence and supervision of the people," he added. "It is a necessity for the continuation of the revolutionary and Islamic values."

"This election shattered the enemies' plots and revealed their plans, and well illustrated the firmness of the system," said Ahmadinejad, who is embarking on his second four-year term, Fars News Agency reported. He went on to say that the hope of the enemy "was to direct and steer to victory, [their plans] to finish off Iran, in the same way that they could in other places, through color revolutions, with money, various media and expertise."

"But, during the election, our nation slapped their faces in such a way, that, after more than two months since the election, they are still dizzy, and have lost their way home," Ahmadinejad exclaimed. Iran has blamed foreign elements for the unrest that followed the presidential election in June.

Blackwater founder accused of killing Iraqis

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:23:39 GMT

The head of the US 'security contractor' Blackwater, Erik Prince (photo), is accused of deliberately causing the deaths of more than 20 civilians in Iraq between 2005 and 2007.

The accusations were made by attorneys for Iraqis suing the US company in a federal court in Virginia, USA.

According to the attorneys, Erik Prince must be held responsible for the killings as he provided Blackwater agents with weapons and instructions to kill innocent civilians.

Meanwhile, the attorneys have also accused the company of covering up the killings and allegedly plotting to murder witnesses in the criminal probe.

Five former guards working for the US-based 'Blackwater' have already been indicted for their roles in the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians in the Iraqi capital Baghdad nearly two years ago.

lackwater continues to provide hired guns to the US government, in Washington's self-styled “war on terror,” under the disguise of its new name, Xe Services LLC.

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