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.

Bombs and the Ballot Box

Israelis restrict Palestinians' water supply

World bank report: Israelis have access to four times as much water as Palestinians due to restriction.

Understanding Chechnya.