Palestinians, Israelis Talking Peace Finally
The Media Line Staff Gaza City, Palestinian Territory (The Media Line) – The day after Israel and the Palestinians announced jointly that they were keen on making peace, the backtracking began. Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, complained on Sunday that the letter delivered to the Palestinians from Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu the night before didn’t answer a series of questions he had been given by Palestinian negotiators two weeks earlier in an effort to better understand the Israeli position. “The Israeli message did not contain clear answers on the central issues hampering the resumption of negotiations,” Abed Rabbo said in a statement read to reporters in Ramallah. At about the same time in Jerusalem, Netanyahu was introducing his new coalition partner to his cabinet and predicting progress in the stalled peace talks with the Palestinians. “I hope that we will be able to advance the dialogue between the sides in order to resume the diplomatic talks,” Netanyahu told his Cabinet as he officially welcomed Shaul Mofaz, chairman of the Kadima Party and a former Defense Minster. The addition of Mofaz and Kadima to the Israeli governing coalition was seen as a step that would bring an end to the “perpetual paralysis” that has kept his government from taking bold steps to reach a deal with the Palestinians. With his new , broad coalition the center-left Kadima party can serve as a counter-weight to the peace skeptics arrayed around the Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas parties, as well as inside Netanyahu’s Likud.. “There’s no doubt that the time for excuses is theoretically over,” Dan Goldenblatt, co-director of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI), told The Media Line. “The big question is, will Netanyahu going to stop beating the drums of war with Iran and start playing the pipes of peace with Palestine, or not? Talk is cheap.” On Saturday night, Netanyahu’s envoy Isaac Molho met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in order to give him a letter regarding the possibility of substantive talks. The details of the letter were not reported, but at the conclusion of the meeting a joint statement was released saying: “Israel and the Palestinian Authority…
Violent protests across Nepal over federalism
Anil Giri – AHN News Correspondent Kathmandu, Nepal (AHN) – Thousands of anti-federalism protestors marched through the streets of Nepal for a second consecutive day, paralyzing life across Nepal. Nepal has witnessed frequent strikes as the May 27 deadline to promulgate the new constitution rapidly approaches. Police said that at least nine people were arrested in Kathmandu on Friday. Police also detained 83 demonstrators Thursday. Nepal’s far western region has been shut down for 13 days with residents of the area demanding the region be an undivided single state in a new federal restructuring. At least 20 protestors were injured during a clash with police in the western city of Dangadhi on Friday. Police fired tear gas shells into the crowd. Due to the crippling strike, local hospitals in western Nepal are running short of supplies and medicine. Food stores are short essential commodities. The situation tensed when two factions on opposite sides of the federalism issue clashed as they staged separate rallies. As Nepal heads for state restructuring, political parties are sharply divided over the issues of federal demarcation, and the number and names of the states. Brahmins and Cheetries who claim to be the oldest castes in Nepal are demanding their identification in the new constitution. Nepal police say more than 4,500 police personnel from various security agencies have been deployed in Kathmandu alone to avert any unwanted situation. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Twin suicide bombings in Syrian capital kill at least 55
AHN News Staff Damascus, Syria (AHN) – Two blasts on Thursday rocked the Syrian capital Damascus, killing 55 people and injuring more than 370 others, including military personnel. In a statement, Syrian Interior Ministry said the suicide bombers blew themselves up along with two explosive-laden vehicles they brought with them outside the Palestine branch of a public intelligence compound in Damascus. Some 1,000 kilograms of explosives are believed to have been used in the attacks, which have further pushed the United Nations-backed peace plan in Syria to the verge of collapse. The first blast happened at 7:55 a.m. local time and the second a minute later. A total of 15 cars were burnt and several others were damaged. The ministry pledged to track down the “criminals and those who harbor and fund them,” adding that they would not accept any infiltration, which could affect the country’s security and stability. Condemning the two blasts, Russian Ambassador Alexander Zasypkin held foreign powers and armed groups responsible for the attacks to create disturbance in Syria. In an interview with Lebanese al-Manar TV, Zasypkin, however, denied Russia’s interference in Syria’s internal affairs. U.N.-Arab League joint envoy Kofi Annan also denounced the attacks. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the Assad government and opposition to distance themselves from indiscriminate bombings and terrorist attacks. He urged both sides to cease violence and strongly condemned the attacks. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
ICRC closes humanitarian operations in Pakistan
AHN News Staff Karachi, Pakistan (AHN) – Less than a week after the beheaded body of a British nurse working for the group was discovered, the International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday suspended operations in Karachi and Peshawar. Nurse Khalil Dale was abducted four months ago. His body was found April 29 with a note that Dale was killed because his organization failed to pay a ransom. The ICRC said that it would review its humanitarian activities in Pakistan amid increasing attacks on its staff. “The recent attack against the ICRC compels us to completely reassess the balance between the humanitarian impact of our activities and the risks faced by our staff,” said Jacques de Maio, ICRC’s head of operations for South Asia. Paul Castella, ICRC delegation’s chief in Pakistan, said the organization, which has already halted its activities in Balochistan and Quetta, would soon announce its decision on its future in the region. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Home demolition triggers suicide bombing in China
Windsor Genova – Fourth Estate Cooperative News Writer Beijing, China (4E) – A woman whose home was being demolished in southwest China’s Yunnan Province blew herself up inside a local government office Thursday while being offered compensation and relocation. She and two other people inside the office were killed in the explosion. Fourteen other people were injured, four of them seriously, in the suicide bombing, according to a local official. The four are being treated at a hospital in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, while the rest were brought to a local hospital in Qiaojia county. An investigation of the 9 a.m. suicide bombing in Qiaojia county was launched. The suicide bombing is apparently the first incident in China related to forced relocation of residents, whose lands are being taken over by the government. Previous cases of forced relocation only triggered violent protests from affected residents. A suicide bombing in the eastern city of Fuzhou last year was related to a land dispute. The suicide bomber, a jobless man angry over repeatedly losing his homes for construction of a highway, killed himself and two other civilians. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Over 12,000 international troops in drill near Syrian border
The Media Line Staff Amman, Jordan Arieh O’Sullivan / The Me – Amid the turmoil in neighboring Syria, more than 12,000 troops from 19 countries are undertaking a massive war game exercise in Jordan, involving land, air, marine and special forces, that United States military officials say is aimed at enhancing interoperability between allied forces. Dubbed “Eager Lion 2012,” the bulk of the troops deployed in the three-week exercise are from U.S. Jordan is the host country and Saudi Arabian forces are also involved, but the identity of the others countries has not been reported. “We acknowledge the right of each participating country to announce their participation in the exercise on their own terms,” said Maj. Robert Bockholt, public affairs officer at U.S. Special Operations Command Central Command. The major exercise is reported to be taking place near the border with Syria as well as in the Gulf of Aqaba, across from Israel. Officials said that the war game scenarios are not directed at any particular enemy. Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz told the Jordan news agency Petra that the exercise has no hidden goals, but is rather part of the Gulf kingdom’s measures to build the capacity of its armed forces. He stressed that Saudi Arabia’s participation has nothing to do with the unrest in the region. Bockholt said Eager Lion 12 has been in the planning phase for the past three years and promotes “cooperation and interoperability among participating forces, builds functional capacity, practices crisis management and enhances readiness.” “The focus of Eager Lion 12 is to strengthen military-to-military relationships of participating partner nations through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach, integrating all instruments of national power to meet current and future complex national security challenges,” Bockholt said in a statement. The coordinated joint task force is being commanded jointly by U.S. Maj. Gen. Ken Tovo, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Central Command, and his Jordanian counterpart, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Jeridad, director of Jordan’s Training and Doctrine Command. Bockholt said there was a total of 12,000 service members from five different continents participating in the exercise, he said. Some local media reports have speculated that the war games are linked to the unrest in neighboring Syria, saying the troops seek to secure the Hashemite Kingdom’s border. “Execution of Eager Lion 2012 is not connected to any real-world event. It has nothing to do with Syria. It…
Nuclear inspection official dies in Iran car crash
AHN News Staff Tehran, Iran (AHN) – A car accident in the western Iranian province of Markazi killed an International Atomic Energy Agency expert on Tuesday. The accident happened when South Korean Ok-Seok Seo and a Slovak national were on a mission to inspect the nuclear facilities near the Khondab complex. Local media reported the Seo died from injuries received in the accident. The official from Slovakia is reported hospitalized in stable condition. The incident happened a week before a meeting between the IAEA and Iranian officials is due to take place in the Austrian capital Vienna. Iran is also due to meet world powers later this month to resolve a deadlock over its ambitious nuclear program, which has led to sanctions from the United States, European Union and the United Nations. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Ex-Libyan rebels attack government headquarters over unpaid rewards
Windsor Genova – Fourth Estate Cooperative News Writer Tripoli, Libya (4E) – Former Libyan rebels who are angry over the alleged non-payment of their reward for helping topple the previous regime attacked the headquarters of the interim government in Tripoli on Tuesday. At least one guard of the headquarters was killed and four other people were wounded when the rebels fired guns and anti-aircraft cannons mounted on pick-up trucks at the building, according to the interior ministry. Security guards of the prime minister’s office repulsed the attack by about 200 militiamen from Yafran town after about two hours and arrested 14 of the attackers. Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib, the defense minister and the finance minister were inside the building when the former rebels stormed it, but they escaped unharmed, according to a Keib adviser. The militiamen surrounded the building and demanded the payment of their reward. They were also protesting the decision of the interim government to suspend the payment stipends promised to them after helping oust former Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi. Libyan government spokesman Nasir al-Mani clarified that the payment of salaries to the former rebels was postponed due to fraud and will resume once they have revised the payment system to avoid paying fake claims. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Syria parliamentary elections seen as successful, sham
Windsor Genova – AHN News News Writer Damascus, Syria (AHN) – The first multi-party parliamentary elections in Syria in 50 years was held Monday with the government hailing it a success while the opposition called it a sham. The U.S. State Department described the elections as “ludicrous” because of the continuing violent crackdown against protesters demanding the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. Some 250 seats in parliament were up for grabs by 7,195 candidates from 11 political parties, including Assad’s Baath party, and 12,000 polling stations nationwide were opened until 10 p.m. to accept votes. Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Sha’ar said voters’ turnout was remarkable, while poll official Khalaf al-Azawi said there were no complaints. The state media reported that more than 200 Arab and foreign media outlets as well as more than 100 intellectuals and lawmen from foreign countries monitored the elections. State television reported high voters’ turnout in Hama, Idlib, northern Aleppo, Daraa in the south and Damascus. But activists denied this saying boycotts, demonstration and strikes marred voting in several towns and villages across Syria. Anti-Assad activists also claimed that shops were closed streets were deserted and many polling stations were empty in several areas. The exiled opposition, Syrian National Council, said the government has no right to run elections for shooting people. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that 14 civilians were killed by pro-Assad forces while three members of the military lost their lives in the continuing violence. The multi-party elections was held in accordance with a new constitution adopted in February as part of reforms introduced by the government to stop the protest against Assad and the clashes between security forces and rebels. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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