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Khomeini’s Daughter Calls On Supreme Leader To Reinstate Rafsanjani

The daughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran’s Islamic republic, has emerged among those stunned and angered by the exclusion of former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from next month’s presidential race.

Zahra Mostafavi Khomeini addressed an unprecedented letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging him to put Rafsanjani back on the official shortlist.

In the passionate letter, sent to Khamenei on May 21 and published by the Jamaran website, she urges the supreme leader, who has the final say on all state matters, to reinstate Rafsanjani as a candidate to “prevent dictatorship” from taking grip in Iran.

WHO MADE THE GRADE? Iran’s Shortlisted Presidential Candidates

“This decision will create a gulf between my father’s two friends [Rafsanjani and Khamenei],” Mostafavi writes. “It also shows disrespect to the wishes of the people on the street. This separation will cause great harm to the revolution and to the regime. As the Imam [Khomeini] always said, ‘It is best when the two of you work together.’”

Mostafavi then reminds Khamenei what her father had said about the position of the supreme leader, which, she says, is to “ensure nobody does whatever they want and to prevent dictatorship.”

Zahra Mostafavi Khomeini

Mostafavi adds that her wishes reflected those of “a lot of people who care about the regime and are concerned about the situation in Iran. Their hearts long to hear the echo of unity in this country.”

The best chance of recourse for candidates who are ruled out of the vote by the Guardians Council is through the supreme leader, who has the power to reinstate a candidate. The supreme leader has immense influence over the 12-member council, all of them directly or indirectly appointed by him.

But Rafsanjani’s campaign manager, Eshagh Jahangiri, was quoted on May 22 by Iran’s ISNA news agency as saying that the former president would not protest his disqualification.

WATCH: In a Flash Analysis, RFE/RL Regional Director Mardo Soghom says the exclusion of two major presidential aspirants suggests “acute fear” within Iran’s leadership:

The 78-year-old Rafsanjani was a close adviser to Khomeini and was instrumental in Khamenei’s approval as the supreme leader in 1989. For much of the 1980s and 1990s, Rafsanjani was a close confidant of Khamenei. Supreme Leader Khomeini backed Rafsanjani for the presidency in 1989, a post he then held until 1997.

Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

But the pair fell out when Rafsanjani lost to President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in the 2005 presidential election. The rift between the two widened after Ahmadinejad’s disputed reelection in 2009, which provoked mass popular protests and a harsh government crackdown.

Rafsanjani at the time denounced the government’s crackdown and implicitly voiced support for the country’s opposition Green Movement. Khamenei rejected Rafsanjani’s comments and stood firm by Ahmadinejad and denied any claims of vote-rigging.

In the past four years, Rafsanjani has seen his influence wane. He has been banned from leading Tehran’s Friday Prayers, lost his role as the head of the influential Assembly of Experts, and been physically and verbally assaulted at public events.

ALSO READ: Disqualification Paves Way For Khamenei To Install Loyalist

Meanwhile, Rafsanjani’s daughter served a six-month sentence in connection with the chaos that ensued after the election, while his son is to stand trial in the coming weeks for his alleged role in the protests.

But Rafsanjani did manage to keep his post as head of the Expediency Council, an advisory body that mediates disputes between the parliament and the Guardians Council.

Rafsanjani’s last-minute entry had raised hope among reformers and moderates but infuriated hard-liners and loyalists to Khamenei who believed his candidacy would undermine the supreme leader’s authority.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Pakistani Prime Minister-Designate Calls For Taliban Talks

Pakistan’s prime minister-designate has called for a dialogue with hard-line Taliban militants waging a war against the government.

In a speech on May 20, Nawaz Sharif said that the Taliban’s past offer of talks should be considered seriously.

Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party secured a majority in the May 11 parliamentary elections and is expected to form a new government within the next few weeks.

Sharif has backed negotiations with the Taliban in the past but it is the first indication that he is likely to adopt it as his administration’s policy.

In February, the Taliban called on Sharif to act as a guarantor in possible talks with the military.

Since the onset of their insurgency in 2003, thousands of civilians and soldiers have died in Taliban attacks and military operations.

Based on reporting by AP and BBC Urdu

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL CALLS TO ME TODAY AND THEY ARE MOST POSITIVE AND IMMENENT

5-19-13 OkieOilMan: THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL CALLS TO ME TODAY AND THEY ARE MOST POSITIVE AND IMMENENT–NOW–AS MANY TIMES BEFORE I HAVE HAD THE SAME ALERT GIVEN ME BUT THIS TIME THERE WERE MORE DETAILS.

THE DOWNSIDE TO THIS WHOLE SAGA IS THAT RELIABLE SOURCES HAS FURNISHED CORRECT INTEL IN BEFORE BUT—THEIR INFORMATION ABOUT THE TIMING HAS BEEN INCORRECT.

EVERY TIME THIS IS TO COME TO FRUITION THERE SEEMS TO BE AT THE LAST MOMENT SOME OTHER SIGNATURE, AGREEMENT, OR OTHER ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAD TO BE MADE.

USUALLY EACH WEEKEND WE HEAR OF OTHER ARRESTS BEING MADE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD PLANTED SOME KIND OF A PROGRAM THAT WOULD SYPHON OFF FUNDS ILLEGALLY.

THIS IS THE FIRST WEEKEND IN MANY MONTHS THAT I HAVEN’T HEARD OF A SINGLE ARREST–I WOULD EXPECT THAT WITHIN ITSELF IS AN INDICATOR THAT MAYBE THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM AN INTERFERRING POSITION.

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE LEARNED THAT INTEL CHANGES AT A MOMENTS NOTICE RENDERING INTEL JUST POSTED BEING NEGATED. I STILL BELIEVE OUR TIME IS ANY MOMENT NOW GIVEN THE INFORMATION FURNISHED ME THIS MORNING.

AS BEFORE–WHEN AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE THE FINAL POST IS GIVEN—THEN YOU WILL KNOW IT IS REAL AND NOT MEMOREX.

I ANTICAPATE THAT AUTHORIZATION ANY TIME NOW–KEEP THE PRAYERS GOING UP AND KEEP THE FAITH—-BLESSINGS.

THIS TIME I AM NOT IN THE BULL’S EYE OF THE TORNADOES–THEY ARE EAST OF ME ABOUT 50 MILES. IF ANYTHING OF CONSQUENCE OCCURS TONIGHT I WILL BE BACK AND SHARE—-BLESSINGS AND NAP TIME.

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Financial expert calls for the central bank to take the necessary measures to save the Iraqi dinar exchange rate

Baghdad (news) .. He favored a financial expert Abdul Sattar al-Hashemi, the continued reduction of Iraqi dinar exchange rate against the U.S. dollar unless there are serious by the central bank to develop a plan to save the national currency.

Hashemi said (of the Agency news): The Iraqi dinar exchange rate is moving downward against the U.S. dollar since it took over the new administration of the central bank and so far, and this is indicative of the failure of monetary policy and the weakness of the current administration of the bank.

added: that the central bank demands to take the necessary measures to save the national currency, because the continuing decline will pull the country into economic problems large, such as high inflation and increasing prices in the market as well its impact on the monetary reserves of the Central Bank. this and see the Iraqi dinar exchange rate dropped significantly against the U.S. dollar, which made some economists are expressing fears of a continued decline and its direct impact on the Iraqi economy

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Salih describes calls to replace Talabani as “Unsuitable”

5-15-13 Baghdad (IraqiNews.com): The Deputy Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Barham Salih, assured that the calls to replace the President, Jalal Talabani, at the current time is “Unsuitable.”

A statement by the PUK received by IraqiNews.com quoted Salih, as saying to the Middle East British Newspaper “Talabani is the president of Iraq and currently he is in a medical treatment and we are waiting for him to come back to Iraq safe.”

“The political position of Talabani requests us to wait for him and not to create any disputes over this issue,” he concluded.

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SLC MP calls demonstrators to follow Kurds’ negotiations to settle crisis

5-12-13 Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) MP, Abbas al-Bayati, of the State of Law Coalition called the demonstrators to follow the Kurds’ negotiations to settle the crisis.

Speaking to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com), he said “The demonstrators have to follow the Kurds’ negotiations by adhering to the dialogue and constitution in order to settle the crisis and achieve their demands.”

“They also have to purify their yards from the sectarians and extremists who started to mislead them and make use of the terrorism to face the government where we will strictly respond to the terrorist actions,” he added.

“Regarding the demonstrations, the demonstrators have the choice to settle the crisis where the government will only protect them and chase the wanted individuals in all over Iraq,” he concluded.

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Hakim calls for blocks to rise above differences

5-11-13 All Iraq News: Head of the Islamic Supreme Council Ammar al-Hakim said Saturday that the policy of mutual accusations will not reach us to any result, and Disclaimer of liability policy does not honour any brave national and we are all responsible for this country, not only Government and we are all responsible for protecting this the native country and not the security forces.

Al-Hakim said in a speech at the ceremony, the official tribute on the 10th anniversary of the martyrdom of Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim Aziz and Iraq policy charges will not reach us to any result, and Disclaimer of liability policy does not supervise any brave national and we are all responsible for this country, not only Government and are also responsible for protecting this nation and not only security forces and there was no army in the world can be protected by the State and the homeland if it contributes to the Division and citizens to protect, and not claim rights quietly and not threats. ”

“We are honoured with the responsibility, we raised the banner of humanity above all banners and we defended dogma in our souls, and not compromise our days and our patriotism, stating that” Iraq which were born and stopped a dream in our hearts and in our conscience that Iraq deserves a bit of humility and deserves a bit of compromise and deserves to prove his genuine patriotism, because the real national is the Act and not merely words and believe the definition of patriotism is our collective responsibility. ”

Hakim said “today we as Iraqis we have to stick to our home more and that overwhelm your on zatiatna, and not allow the sedition that deluge ourselves unconsciously, when national unity dam collapsed Manea is one that would be free from drowning, noting that” some may see that our approach is to try to keep the sticks from the Middle, but we say clearly that we already do not believe keeping the stick policy, because we believe that politics is to take as given that extremism is Poisoned goods whether ideas or balmtalabe and even hyper-optimistic.

The “will not shackle, and the horizon is narrowed by only a narrow vision, and to positions of responsibility and be in the Summit must arm himself with vision and will, we all pretend to stand on the Summit and the responsibility of us all to find our people the right path which will follow.

The wise saying we all trust you as leaders of Iraq take the right decisions at the right time and you will lose your opportunity to the enemies of the people and seeking to plant poisoned their canine tooth in the body of the nation and everyone have their say before this fateful challenges facing the nation, saying that “the depth of vision that leaders who gathered to commemorate their memory.

Al-Hakim called on all political blocs to rise above differences and scaling the intersections and sit around a table for dialogue to end the political crisis.

Asked about martyr’s day Hakim said Iraqi martyrs represent the premier brand in the history of Nations, and the ones who love the freedom they give to drink her blood, wearing a Crown and dignity to be a title for their Nations and to possess the will and its long process of change and our martyr Saeed was not accepted to define a family or community or territory or borders, but extends the breadth of the values and principles that it believes was for all Muslims and all Iraq.

“The martyr al-Hakim [slat] educating a generation of mujaheddin who inspired his ideas and his vision and his style of work and deal was the Commander and example paving a clear path and in the literature of Islamic Jihad and political work on the basis of principle and conscience, it was an extension of the school of Islam and methodology of Ahl al-Bayt and an extension of religious reference, as was an extension of the will of the people and the struggle of a nation. With this extension, Mr. Hakim [slat] was the founder of clear approach of Jihad and extolled the national stage of the most important stages of the struggle of the Iraqi people with dictatorship and tyranny. “.

Wise said that “an extension of the revered Aziz Iraq man believes in sacrifice, selflessness and kaimanh calls to participate to the full conviction that pluralism and diversity of the people of this nation, was the first in difficult and fateful decisions and was willing to serve the people and to go beyond the borders and has worked actively and more pain to the modern State of rooting the concepts of the new Iraq. We have learned from Iraq, Aziz ABCs national vocabulary and speech which does not stop at the mature plants of sectarianism, national or regional, is addressed to all citizens without discrimination or exclusion and Aziz Iraq in the way that the principle that Iraq for all Iraqis regardless of their titles or intersect their ways, Iraq remains the only way.

And in the Office of Al-Hakim on Saturday the official tribute ceremony on the 10th anniversary is schhad Mr. Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim attended the ceremonial Central Iraqi martyr day [1 June] in the presence of a large number of officials and politicians and military leaders and the clergy. “over

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Kerry Calls On Putin To Find ‘Common Ground’ On Syria

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to help find “common ground” with Washington over the conflict in Syria.

Kerry told Putin at the start of talks in the Kremlin on May 7 that the two countries “share some very significant common interests on Syria,” such as promoting regional stability and preventing the spread of extremism.

ALSO SEE: Kyrgyz Families Fear Sons Are Making Way To Syrian Battlefield

At the start of a meeting in the Kremlin, Kerry told Putin that U.S. President Barack Obama believed the two nations can cooperate on Syria, Iran, North Korea, and economic issues.

Kerry arrived in Moscow earlier in the day for his first visit since becoming America’s top diplomat in January.

The visit also follows April’s terror attack in Boston, allegedly perpetrated by two ethnic Chechen immigrants, which has led to renewed focus on counterterrorism cooperation.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Aliyev Calls Nagorno-Karabakh A ‘Major Impediment’ To Regional Integration

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has described the unresolved issue of his country’s breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region as a “major impediment” to regional integration.

Speaking at the opening of the First South Caucasus Forum in Baku on May 7, Aliyev said Azerbaijan wants to restore its territorial integrity and resolve the issue in accordance with international law.

Azerbaijan and Armenian have been locked in conflict over Azerbaijan’s mostly ethnic-Armenian-populated region for more than two decades.

After going to war, the sides signed a truce in 1994. Years of internationally-mediated talks have since failed to make significant progress.

Aliyev said he considers Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven Azerbaijani districts around it to be “occupied by Armenia.”

He added that Baku will continue economic and political reforms in order “to be strong enough to solve the conflict.”

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Moussawi calls on citizens to not to withdraw their assets from local banks

Baghdad (news) .. Member of the Committee called for the economy and investment MP / National Alliance / Salman al-Moussawi, the citizens for not withdrawing their money deposited in the government and private banks, ruling him of the loss of the money deposited in the banks when the deterioration of the security and political situation in the country.

Has announced the government and private banks in the past week to increase the proportion of financial withdraw deposits by citizens because of political problems and security conditions experienced by the country.

Moussawi said (of the Agency news): The increase in financial withdraw deposits from banks would disrupt the banking business and the national economy in full, and the first and last victim is a citizen.

He added: citizens should save their assets in government and private banks because banks are guaranteed by the state and civil guaranteed by the central bank, noting that the political problems will not affect the banking and money in banks.

He pointed out, that most of the countries of the world began to dispense cash transactions and prefer to deal cards ‘Mastercard’ and ‘Visa Card’ through the opening of a current account and a savings account in the bank, so should be encouraged to save for their contribution to the development of the country’s economy.
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Syrian Opposition Calls on Hezbollah to Withdraw Fighters

(AP) — The Syrian opposition has called on Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters from the country, as activists said regime troops supported by gunmen linked to the Lebanese Shia militant group battled rebels yesterday for control of a string of villages near the Lebanon-Syria border.

Outside the Syrian capital Damascus, activists said they had documented the names of 80 people killed in a government assault on the area over the past five days.

The Syrian National Coalition – the main Western-backed opposition group – warned that Hezbollah involvement in Syria’s civil war could lead to greater risks in the area, and urged the Lebanese government to “adopt the necessary measures to stop the aggression of Hezbollah” and to control the border to “protect civilians in the area”.

The statement, posted on the Coalition’s Facebook page, coincided with a surge in fighting around the contested town of Qusair in Homs near the frontier with Lebanon.

Over the past two weeks, the Syrian military, supported by a Hezbollah-backed militia, has pushed to regain control of the border area. The region is strategic because it links Damascus with the Mediterranean coastal enclave that is the heartland of Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam.

The fighting also points to the sectarian nature of the Syrian conflict, which pits a government dominated by the President’s Alawite minority against a primarily Sunni Muslim rebellion, and underscores widely held fears that the civil war could drag in neighbouring states.

One amateur video posted online showed seven bodies, some shot in the face, placed in black body bags on the ground.

Assyrian International News Agency

Kobler calls to restraint in maintaining law and order

Baghdad / NINA / The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Martin Kobler called the Iraqi security forces to exercise maximum restraint in maintaining law and order, and also he called the demonstrators to maintain the peaceful nature of the demonstrations.

Kobler, in a press statement, demanded to hand over those responsible for the death and injury of many civilians and members of the security forces on April 19 to justice.

The commander of the ground forces, Ali Ghaidan said: about 300 protesters left the sit-in Square and turned towards the checkpoint and attacked it, and took four machine guns and two PKC launcher and RPG 7 and then opened fire towards the checkpoint, killing one soldier, Saad Yassin Khalaf al-Jubouri and injured two officers. / end

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Iyad Allawi calls for the formation of a new government within 45 days

Existing Iraqi President Iyad Allawi, on Sunday, to form a new government within 45 days of the results of the provincial elections, called for “building” institutions at the level of “sweeteners” after “failed” in the political process to achieve the level of the country.

Allawi said in an interview, followed the “Twilight News”, “We hope that the result in the election of building civil societies in all provinces until the institution-building at the national level and call for the formation of a new government within 45 days,” noting, “We want to build the institutions at the level of sweeteners after the political process has failed to achieve the level of country, Fbernamjna the calls for a restructuring of the institutions of water, environment and planning, security and safety. “

He added, “The people have fed sectarian and lack of governance, and the lack of employment opportunities and human rights violations and filling prisons with detainees who are being tortured,” مردفا, “and we wish also to get the provinces on entitlements constitutional, for example, budget allocations so that they can start in construction through institutions rather than the local council; This is what the Iraqi hopes that witnessed this election. “

He said Allawi risks suffered by the list in the period leading up to the election, “We have lost many individuals during the past five weeks, through the assassination of explosives or shot by snipers, even now killed seven candidates Twenty activists from the list of Iraq,” noting that “the forces loyal the government has threatened and intimidated many individuals in the Iraqi bloc, which clearly shows the pressures that we face amount since all of those who lost their lives or been injured or have been subjected to threats were from Iraq. “

The Iraqi National Accord Movement, which Atzaaha Iyad Allawi, has revealed, all that its leader prepared message documented the “violations” of the electoral process that took place yesterday and decided to send it to the Iraqi courts and international, as pointed out that among the shooting by security agents and banditry .

And saw the elections that took place on Saturday in the 12 Iraqi provinces, a great reluctance of voters boycotted because half of the eligible voters that did not exceed 50% in those provinces, according to the Electoral Commission for elections.

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Egypt Prosecutor Rejects Calls For Resignation

In the face of street protests and mounting clashes in Egypt between pro-presidential supporters and his critics, Prosecutor-General Abdel Maguid Mahmud has repeated his vow not to leave office, saying the constitution does not give the president power to fire him.

He vowed to remain in place “unless I am assassinated.”

The standoff between the Mahmud and President Muhammad Morsi comes as members of the Muslim Brotherhood, who support Morsi, have accused the prosecutor of presenting weak evidence at a trial of Mubarak-era officials.

That trial, on counts related to the ordering of a camel charge against demonstrators with then-President Hosni Mubarak’s regime battling so-called Arab Spring protests in early 2011, resulted in acquittals on October 10. The court said it found insufficient evidence to convict the defendants in the case, including former parliament speaker Fathi Sorur.

“As I said in my statement yesterday, I direct my comments at everyone from the Muslim Brotherhood — I will not be shaken by any of this and I have said this in front of the president of the Republic, and said this to the speaker of parliament,” Mahmud said on October 13. ” I occupy this office and I will defend myself, and I will defend my position, and I will defend the independence of the prosecutor-general, and the independence of the judges, and I will not leave this office unless I am assassinated… and assassination is something that is common and often takes place. As I told the president of the republic, afterward, everyone will be accountable for their sins, and perhaps they will be allowed into paradise.”

On October 12, thousands of supporters and opponents of Egypt’s president clashed in Cairo’s Tahrir Square in the first such violence since Morsi took office more than three months ago.

More than 100 people were injured in rock throwing as liberal and secular activists accused the Muslim Brotherhood of trying to take over the country.

Some Egyptians are also frustrated that Morsi, a longtime Muslim Brotherhood figure, has not done more to resolve the multiple problems facing the country — from a faltering economy and fuel shortages to poor security and uncollected piles of garbage in the streets.

Morsi said in a nationally televised speech earlier this week that he had carried out much of what he had promised for his first 100 days.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Interview: Former Collaborator Calls Malala The ‘Voice Of Swat Valley’

As Malala Yousafzai clings to life following a gun attack by the Pakistani Taliban, people around the globe are paying homage to the 14-year-old’s bravery in defending her and others’ right to an education. One is Abdul Hai Kakar, a former BBC Urdu Service reporter and current RFE/RL Radio Mashaal broadcaster who helped bring Malala’s message to the world’s attention. Interview conducted by Frud Bezhan.

RFE/RL: When did you first meet Malala?

Abdul Hai Kakar: In 2008, the Taliban took control of the northwest Pakistan Swat Valley. They imposed a ban on girls’ education. I was working for the BBC and floated an idea that I would like to start a diary from Swat that would be genuine, I mean from a Swat girl. [I wanted] to give a human touch and first-hand eyewitness account of the conflict, which was a very humanitarian conflict. Malala Yousafzai’s father was my friend and he was running a school in the Swat Valley. I talked to him because [I was hoping] he could find a schoolgirl for me. He tried for days and called me back and said nobody was ready to talk because everyone was afraid of the Taliban. But he hesitantly told [me] that if I agreed, then his daughter could work with me. Then I contacted her and started the diary.

RFE/RL: How much risk was Malala taking in writing the online diary for BBC, a project she began at the age of 11? What measures were taken to ensure her safety?

Kakar: Anybody in Pakistan who speaks against the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani Taliban [is a target because] there is a jihadist paradigm, jihadist mindset, and jihadist narrative. Anybody in Pakistan who is countering this narrative is a target. I thought [Malala] would be like that because she was giving us first-hand information, her perspective, and she was representing Swat. That would [pose] a problem both from the Taliban and the army. There was an impression that the Taliban and Pakistani army were and are the same faces of one coin. Then we decided that her [pseudonym] name should be Gul Makki. Gul Makki in our folk stories is a heroine. I wanted to give an indigenous, symbolic attachment to Swat and so that the people could own it journalistically.

RFE/RL: You have said Malala was very close to you and your family. What is she like?

Kakar: [There] were two or three things I liked about her. She was very confident. Whenever she was talking she wasn’t shy. She belongs to a tribal area, so, in our region it’s difficult for the child to talk to their elders. They’re shy, but she was not. The second thing was she had a very good political understanding of her area. She was influenced by her father, obviously, because he was a political activist and he was trying to talk to her to tell her the environment. So she had good knowledge of the area and she was trained by her father how to talk to the media. Thirdly, she was a very keen observer. When she was writing her diary, it was like the voice of Swat Valley. Everybody I met would say, “Wow, this is a very nice diary.” And what we have seen in the content is all true.

RFE/RL: What was your role in the writing process and publication of her diary?

Kakar: I talked to her and told her, “You can tell me on [the] telephone what you did that day, what you thought, what were your feelings, and what you saw.” So [I told her] just share with me and I will take notes and then I will write it down. So, from my wife’s telephone number I would call [Malala] because her [my wife's] phone was safe. So we used to talk to each other for 30 minutes each night for five or seven days [in a row]. Then after that I would send it to BBC English and Urdu to publish.

RFE/RL: How important was it to publish Malala’s diary? What kind of effect did it have in Pakistan?

Kakar: So when people saw [Malala's diary], it was appealing for them journalistically and also for the international media. I mean, the Pakistani media was not highlighting the humanitarian issues but trying to show the world that it was only a security problem. But this diary gave a humanitarian face to the tragedy. All the international media was lifting this story.

RFE/RL: What kind of effect has the attack on Malala had in Pakistan? Has it led to greater condemnation of the Taliban or the Pakistani Army, which many Pakistanis believe supports militant groups?

Kakar: This [diary encouraged]…people to hate the Taliban and they unanimously condemned them. All the people are with Malala — I would say 180 million people [Pakistan's population] are with Malala. So, it [highlights] what she meant for the people. She was a kind of a celebrity for them and they have an attachment with her. She is symbolizing the rights for [girls'] education. She shook the entire country and [only] now the people are debating and talking about how to fix the Taliban, army, and jihadist mindset and the militants.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Imran Khan Calls Fighting In Afghanistan ‘Jihad’

PESHAWAR — Imran Khan, a senior Pakistani politician, has declared the fighting in neighboring Afghanistan a “Jihad,” or Islamic holy war “against foreign occupation.”

Khan made his comments while speaking to journalists in Peshawar late on October 10.

Khan is the head of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf party (Movement for Justice).

A former cricket star, Khan led a rally last weekend to condemn U.S. drone strikes in the tribal areas.

Khan’s movement has become prominent after senior leaders of other political parties and top members of the former military regime joined him over the past couple of years.

The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf party has attracted large crowds and favorable ratings in some major Pakistani cities.

With reporting by tribune.com.pk

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

White bloc calls to endorse Parties Law before PCs elections

Wednesday, 10 October, 2012

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) -The Secretary General of the White bloc, Jamal al-Batiekh, called “To endorse the Parties Law before the elections of the Provincial Councils.”

Speaking to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com), he said “The Parties Law is very necessary for organizing the political performance in the country especially identifying the financial aspects of some parties and their real programmes.”

“Endorsing this law will facilitate conducting the next elections,” he added.

“Despite the huge number of parties in Iraq, there is no law to regulate their performance,” he assured, noting that “Delay in endorsing this law consolidates the deterioration of the security breaches.”

“Endorsing this law will reduce the foreign interferences in the Iraqi affairs,” he concluded.

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Syria rejects UN calls for unilateral truce

Syria has rejected a call by the UN chief for it to declare a unilateral ceasefire, insisting that rebels fighting the government must stop the violence first.

Jihad Makdissi, Syrian foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Wednesday that twice during the abortive UN military observer mission deployed to Syria between April and the end of August, the Syrian government had implemented a ceasefire.

But he said the rebels “used the opportunity to expand their armed deployment and increase casualties due to terrorist activities”.

Makdissi’s comments came as the government was sending tanks from Mastumah, south of Idlib city, to Maarat al-Numan, a rebel source told an AFP news agency reporter in the nearby town of Sarmin.

Battle for strategic town

It had also deployed soldiers along the highway to Maarat al-Numan to secure the passage of its heavy armour to the strategic town on the Damascus-Aleppo highway.

The opposition fighters were battling to halt their advance, however, using rocket launchers and improvised explosive devices, the source said, adding three tanks were damaged.

The intensifying battle for Maarat al-Numan was “very important”, said the rebels who took control of the town on Tuesday after 48 hours of fierce fighting and heavy shelling.

Syrian fighters seek to create buffer zone

Rebels also intercepted troops on the outskirts of Khan Sheikhun, south of Maaret al-Numan, where intense clashes erupted even as warplanes bombed rebel zones, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said.

“If the rebels, who already have Maarat al-Numan and Saraqeb, take Khan Sheikhun, they will completely isolate regime troops in Aleppo because redeployments will not be able to arrive,” Rami Abdel Rahman of the UK-based opposition watchdog group said.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, urged the Syrian regime on Tuesday to declare an immediate truce to bring an end to the conflict that he said had left 20,000 dead over the last 19 months.

“It is unbearable for the [Syrian] people to continue like this. That is why I have conveyed to the Syrian government [a] strong message that they should immediately declare a unilateral ceasefire.”

Ban urged “the opposition forces to agree to this unilateral ceasefire when and if the Syrian government declares it” and he called on countries supplying arms to either side to stop in order to ease the suffering of the Syrian people.

‘US military in Jordan’

Separately, US defence secretary said that a team of US military planners is in Jordan to help the government grapple with Syrian refugees, bolster its military capabilities and prepare for any trouble with its chemical weapons stockpiles.

“We have been working with Jordan for a period of time now … on a number of the issues that have developed as a result of what’s happened in Syria,” Leon Panetta told a news conference in Brussels on Wednesday.

Panetta said those issues included monitoring chemical weapons sites “to determine how best to respond to any concerns in that area”.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the small team of planners were not engaged in covert operations
and have been housed at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center, north of the capital of Amman, since the early summer.

Jordan’s army denied in a statement that the US has dispatched special forces to help the kingdom confront potential dangers posed by Syria’s alleged chemical weapons.

The US military advisors are in Jordan to a long-term joint military training programmes that “have no relation” to the Syrian crisis, the statement said.

“The Jordan Armed Forces can confront any future challenges” without outside assistance, it added.

While the US has not intervened militarily in Syria, President Barack Obama has warned Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad that any attempt to deploy or use chemical or biological weapons would cross a “red line” that could provoke
US action.

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AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)

Iraqi PM Calls On NATO To Stay Out Of Syria

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has urged NATO not to interfere in the Syrian conflict under the pretext of defending Turkey.

Maliki said on October 10 that Turkey’s reports of deadly shelling from neighboring Syria were “great exaggerations,” and accused Ankara of trying to draw NATO into the Syrian conflict.

The military alliance on October 9 said it had “all necessary plans in place” to defend Turkey if necessary.

Maliki is in Russia on a three-day visit.

He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 10 for talks expected to touch upon a deal to sell Russian military equipment to Iraq worth more than $ 4 billion, including attack helicopters and air-defense systems.

Based on reporting by Interfax and dpa

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Israeli PM Netanyahu calls early election

Israel’s prime minister has ordered new parliamentary elections in early 2013, roughly eight months ahead of schedule, setting the stage for a lightning quick campaign that will likely win him re-election.

For nearly four years, Binyamin Netanyahu has presided over a conservative coalition that has proven stable in a country where governments rarely serve out a full term.

Re-election could grant him a fresh mandate to continue his tough stance toward Iran’s suspect nuclear programme, put the already deadlocked peace process with the Palestinians further into deep freeze and complicate relations with the US if President Barack Obama is re-elected.

In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu said he was forced to call the snap polls after his coalition could not agree on a budget.

“I have decided that it is in Israel’s better interest to go to elections now and as quickly as possible,” he said. “For Israel, it is preferable to have as short a campaign as possible, one of three months over one that would last in practice an entire year and damage Israel’s economy.”

With no viable alternative on the horizon, Netanyahu is expected to easily be re-elected as prime minister: He is riding a wave of popularity and his opposition is fragmented and leaderless.

The next vote had been scheduled for a full year from now, although speculation had been growing for weeks that the current government’s days were numbered and that Netanyahu would call for an early vote.

The immediate reason for the snap elections was the coalition’s inability to pass a 2013 budget by a December 31 deadline, but Netanyahu has long been rumoured to be leaning toward elections, given his high standings in opinion polls, the lack of a clear rival and fears the economy could weaken next year.

Opinion polls

A recent poll in the Haaretz daily found that 35 per cent of Israelis believe Netanyahu is most suited to being prime minister, more than double that of his closest rival, Labour leader Shelly Yachimovich.

The survey questioned 507 people and had a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points.

Netanyahu said he spent Tuesday holding talks with his coalition partners and “came to the conclusion that at this time it is not possible to pass a responsible budget.”

He listed his accomplishments, saying his government had boosted security at a time of regional turmoil and improved the economy despite the global economic meltdown.

Parliament reconvenes next week for its winter session without the annual budget in place. At that time, Netanyahu is expected to formally dissolve parliament.

Opinion polls put Netanyahu’s Likud Party far ahead of its rivals. But the election results could alter the makeup of his coalition government, which is currently comprised mostly by religious and nationalist parties.

In the 120-seat parliament, no single party controls a majority, resulting in the need for coalition governments usually headed by the leader of the biggest party.

The Labour Party, now a small faction, is running a distant second, having seen its support grow after mass social protests against the country’s high cost of living. Its leader, Yachimovich, who is a former journalist, is running solely on jobs and the economy.

Yachimovich, who has pledged to capitalise on the growing gaps between rich and poor in the coming election, tends to favor a strong government safety net, while Netanyahu favors more conservative, free-market policies.

‘Reasonable probability’

After Netanyahu’s announcement, Yachimovich said there was a “reasonable probability” of winning.

“The public today understands that security is not just on the borders but is also job and income security and health and education security,” she said.

Lagging behind Labour in the polls are Avigdor Lieberman’s ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, a new centrist party led by former TV anchorman Yair Lapid and the decimated Kadima Party, which is currently the largest group in parliament but has slipped badly in the polls under new leader Shaul Mofaz.

“I think the decision for early elections is a day of hope for the citizens of Israel,” Mofaz told Chanel 10 TV. “It is an opportunity to replace the bad Netanyahu government that has isolated Israel politically over the past four years, damaged Israel’s deterrence and deteriorated the middle class.”

During the campaign, opponents are likely to seize upon Netanyahu’s rocky relationship with Obama over how to handle Iran. The rift has unsettled relations with Israel’s closest and most important ally.

Netanyahu could also come under fire for his failure to advance peace talks with the Palestinians, massive street protests in Israel last summer against the growing gap between rich and poor, and widespread resentment over attempts by ultra-Orthodox parties to impose their ways on general society.

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AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)

Muslim-American Interfaith Group Calls for Blasphemy Laws

Posted GMT 10-8-2012 14:51:9

The United Muslim Christian Forum, a friendly-sounding “interfaith” group issued a press release on September 18 demanding the prosecution of the makers of the low-quality Innocence of Muslims film that appeared on YouTube. The Islamist agenda of the group is in written form but if the past is any indication, that won’t stop elected officials and Christian leaders from embracing it in order to prove their tolerance.

The United Muslim Christian Forum (UMCF) is an entity of the Muslims of the Americas, whose members follow a cleric in Pakistan named Sheikh Mubarak Ali Gilani that refers to Osama Bin Laden as a “Saudi activist.” The group says it has 22 “villages” across the country, such as “Islamberg” in Hanock, N.Y. and “Islamville” in York County, S.C.

Gilani also leads Jamaat ul-Fuqra, a group that the State Department said in 1998 is an “Islamic sect that seeks to purify Islam through violence.” In 2009, I obtained a video of Muslim women receiving guerilla warfare training, complete in military fatigue, at “Islamberg.” This should raise questions about the purpose of Islamberg’s 24th Annual Ladies Summer Camp in July 2011.

The UMCF press release claims that the film is part of a conspiracy involving “media terrorism” to cause war between Muslims and Christians and its content should not be protected as free speech. It quotes an unidentified citizen as saying it is “barbarous treason.”

“Therefore we demand immediate action by the appropriate government agencies to stop this film and bring its perpetrators to justice for this malicious hate speech,” it says.

Anti-Semitism is at the core of UMCF’s drive to forge a Muslim-Christian coalition. Its website states that the 9/11 attacks were “Stage One of getting the Western World, on behalf of the Jews, to go to war with the Arab world.” Gilani says “Jews are an example of human Satans” and that he’s never encountered an honest Jew.

A number of officials and Christian leaders have embraced the UMCF even though this extremism can be easily found with a simple Google search or review of the group’s website. A photo of Binghamton Mayor Matthew T. Ryan standing with the UMCF sign is on the home page of the website to this day.

The most recent event held by the UMCF was on April 21 at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. The two Christian speakers were Reverend Sam McGregor of Allison Creek Church and a missionary named Ryan Peters. The UMCF’s main speaker was Khalifa Hussein Adams and the text of his speech is online.

“[Jesus] is a role model for the Sufis, as opposed to the Jews who deprived him of the honor of being born to a Blessed virgin mother. They also conspired to take his life. He was called the son of an illegitimate birth while his mother was termed a woman of ill repute. Perhaps you are well aware of the fact that the Jews brought false allegations of sedition and rebellion against Jesus son of Mary to their Roman masters. Because of this, they say he was crucified,” Adams said.

Adams claims that UMCF’s goal isn’t to convert Christians to Islam, but the text of his speech tells a different story. He says that anyone who believes that Jesus was crucified “must also believe that these Roman and priests were more powerful than God…[and] be prepared to disbelieve in Almighty God, His power and Jesus son of Mary.”

He also made the unbelievable statement that “no Muslim, which you may refer to as an orthodox Muslim, has ever been charged with any act of terrorism within or outside of the United States of America.” He condemned the Muslim Brotherhood and said all terrorist acts are done at the hands of Wahhabists and Shiites who aren’t real Muslims. He said that the members of Muslims of the Americas are the only ones that truly follow Islam.

I heard a similar theme when I attended a UMCF event on April 16, 2011 in Owego, N.Y. One of the speakers was the city’s mayor at that time, Edward Arrington, who is also the chairman of the Deacon Board at the First Baptist Church of Owego. Father Timothy Taugher of Blessed Sacrament Church in Johnson City and Professor Diane O’Heron of Brome Community College, a UMCF board member, also spoke.

The keynote speaker was Muhammad Ali Qadiri, the “mayor” of the Muslims of the Americas site in Red House, V.A. He preached that the U.S. may be destroyed by Allah over Pastor Terry Jones’ burning of the Quran. When I confronted him about his group’s anti-Semitism, he said, “We are trying not to get into the bashing business anymore” but they stand by their statements. His reaction to Gilani’s anti-Semitism was, “it is what it is.” His answer to a question about gunfire being heard at his group’s “villages” was, “What is wrong with shooting your gun in the United States of America?”

The UMCF also held a parade in Binghamton to honor Jesus Christ. According to a local news report, 700 Muslims and Christians attended, with Muslims of the Americas members traveling from as far away as Canada and the Caribbean. An advertisement for the event told attendees not to wear “military-style clothing.”

Advocacy for blasphemy laws and anti-Semitism isn’t what a genuine “interfaith” group is about. The UMCF was created for the sole purpose of making over the image of Muslims of the Americas. The press release and speech at Winthrop University show that the goal is unchanged: To promote the anti-Semitic Islamist ideology of Muslims of the Americas and Sheikh Gilani.

By Ryan Mauro
www.theird.org

Assyrian International News Agency

Putin Calls NATO A ‘Cold War Throwback’

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called NATO a throwback to the Cold War era, but said the Western military alliance can sometimes play a positive role.

“I believe [NATO] is to a large degree a throwback of the Cold War,” Putin said while addressing soldiers and officers at a Russian-leased base in Tajikistan on October 5.

Nonetheless, he added that: “To some degree, under certain circumstances, if it acts on a mandate of UN Security Council, NATO can play a positive role,”

The Russian president said the Kremlin regarded with “worry” any attempt to expand NATO, referring also to the alliance’s European missile shield.

The anti-missile system, which is to be based partly in Eastern Europe, is already operational to some extent.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

High U.N. Official Calls Free Speech a ‘Gift’

Posted GMT 10-3-2012 14:40:30

The United Nations would have us forget all about the idea of inalienable rights with which all individuals are endowed by their Creator. The UN wants us to forget the idea that government was established for the purpose of securing these rights, not to create them with the power to take them away. Such ideas are so old-fashioned, after all. The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, including the First Amendment, were written in the eighteenth century. The United Nations believes it has a much more modern idea.

Free speech is a “gift given to us by the [Universal] Declaration of Human Rights,” said Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Jan Eliasson during a press conference on October 2nd at UN headquarters in New York. It is “a privilege,” Eliasson said, “that we have, which in my view involves also the need for respect, the need to avoid provocations.”

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a set of normative principles adopted by a majority of the member states of the UN. It gave rise to legally enforceable UN human rights treaties that embodied its core principles, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Under Deputy Secretary General Eliasson’s logic, the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which gave us the “gift” of free speech, can be modified or interpreted in such a way that would restrict its use if people were deemed too provocative or irresponsible in what they express.

It’s no leap at all from this premise to the conclusion that statements, cartoons, videos and other forms of expression that offend a religious faith’s sensibilities and provoke them to violence – especially Muslim believers in the superiority of their faith, whom are easily provoked – is an unacceptable misuse of the “gift.”

In an apparent bow to the Muslim world’s reaction regarding the video insulting Prophet Mohammed, Eliasson said:

[W]e understand you, that you were provoked, that it was an absolutely unnecessary, stupid way of causing even more hatred among you. And when you run on the streets and people are killed and buildings are burned down, those who provoke have succeeded. We shouldn’t fall in that trap of provocation, so that’s the line I think we’ll take.

Eliasson’s boss Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said last month that using “freedom of expression to provoke or humiliate some others’ values and beliefs” was not worthy of protection. Rather, Ban Ki-moon indicated that such freedom only deserved protection when “used for common justice, common purpose.”

At first glance, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights appears to be fully consistent with the values enshrined in our Bill of Rights rather than the more restrictive interpretation of the right of free speech put forth by Ban Ki-moon and Jan Eliasson.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sounds good to believers in the First Amendment: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

But the gift-givers at the United Nations point to another article (Article 29), which in their view makes the “gift” or “privilege” of free speech conditional:

“(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. (emphasis added)

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.” (emphasis added)

As the initial Islamic response to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers adopted the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam in 1990.

The Cairo Declaration reaffirmed “the civilizing and historical role of the Islamic Ummah which God made the best nation that has given mankind a universal and well-balanced civilization in which harmony is established between this life and the hereafter and knowledge is combined with faith.” After reciting a litany of human rights that it pledged to protect, the Cairo Declaration subjected all of its protections to the requirements of Islamic law. For example, Article 22 (a) states: “Everyone shall have the right to express his opinion freely in such manner as would not be contrary to the principles of the Shari’ah.”

By making Islamic law the sole authority for defining the scope of human rights, the OIC’s Cairo Declaration sanctioned limits on freedom of expression, discrimination against non-Muslims and women, and a prohibition against a Muslim’s conversion from Islam.

Recognizing that the West was certainly not about to replace outright the Universal Declaration with the Cairo Declaration and overtly embrace all of Sharia law, the OIC has worked hard to expand its influence at the United Nations so it could nevertheless incorporate key Sharia concepts into universal human rights norms.

The Islamists managed to ram through the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly a series of resolutions condemning the “defamation of religions” that put the UN on the side of limiting free speech offensive to Islam. All these UN resolutions are a direct assault on the First Amendment. As constitutional lawyer Floyd Abrams so correctly predicted, “What they would do would be to make it illegal to put out a movie or write a book or a poem that somebody could say was defamatory of Islam.”

Contrary to the UN’s warnings against “provocative” speech, freedom of speech means nothing unless it protects provocative speech that challenges conventional wisdom, rigid beliefs, and official government versions of the “truth.” Nothing must be sacrosanct or off limits to criticism. Mobs must not be given vetoes over free speech because they claim to be offended.

The right of free speech is not a “gift” bestowed by the UN through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in any event has been bastardized by the Islamists’ successful campaign to infect it with Sharia values. It is an inalienable right. Our Creator bestows this right upon us, which no government, global forum or jihadist can take away unless we let them take it away.

By Joseph Klein
Frontpage Magazine

Assyrian International News Agency

‘Winning’ Rival Ivanishvili Calls For Georgian President’s Resignation

The leader of the coalition that won Georgia’s parliamentary elections has called on Mikheil Saakashvili to resign ahead of schedule despite widespread praise for the 44-year-old president’s handling of an election defeat that sets in motion that country’s first-ever democratic handover of power.

Billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream movement, said Saakashvili had made many mistakes and should resign one year ahead of schedule and order an early presidential election.

“I think Saakashvili will be able to resign on his own,” Ivanishvili said. “The way I see it is that after his statement today, his next step — and the only right step — would be to resign of his own accord and call a presidential election.”

Ivanishvili also told his October 2 press conference in Tbilisi that a new government led by his coalition would continue Saakashvili’s policy toward European integration and eventual NATO membership.

Ivanishvili’s remarks came after Saakashvili conceded that his United National Movement — which has ruled the South Caucasus country since 2004 — had been defeated in the October 1 parliamentary elections.

Saakashvili vowed that “as president, according to the constitution,” he would assist the political transition and the launch of a new parliament and formation of a government.

Georgia’s Central Election Commission said with about 50 percent of votes counted on October 2 that Georgian Dream had won 54.1 percent of the vote. It said the United National Movement was trailing with some 41 percent.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev said the Georgian Dream opposition coalition’s success showed the desire of the Georgian people for change.

The U.S. ambassador to Georgia, Richard Norland, congratulated Saakashvili for “presiding over another important stage in the maturing of Georgia’s democracy.”

The ambassador’s statement also welcomed the “Georgian Dream’s successful performance.”

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul posted a message on Twitter applauding Georgians for “the successful completion of their parliamentary election — a historic milestone.”

McFaul also congratulated Ivanishvili on his movement’s victory and Saakashvili for playing a “key role” in Georgia’s democratic development.

Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Catherine Ashton, applauded the election and called on those elected to serve the people who voted them into office.

“Catherine Ashton, the high representative, and [EU Enlargement] Commissioner [Stefan] Fuele on behalf of the EU, congratulate the Georgian Dream coalition on its election victory,” Kocijancic said. “The Georgian people have now spoken, they look to their politicians to deliver in line with the mandate which they have been given. Both a responsible government and a constructive opposition are essential parts of a functioning democratic society.”

The official responsible for postconflict settlement in the Georgian breakaway territory of South Ossetia, Murat Dzhiyoev, said separatist authorities hope for dialogue with “positive forces” in Georgia.

The deputy foreign minister of the Georgian separatist territory of Abkhazia, Irakli Khintba, declined to comment on what he called “the internal political situation in a foreign country.”

Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia at the end of the brief Georgian-Russian conflict in August 2008.

Only Russia and a handful of other countries have recognized the independence of those Georgian territories.

Ivanishvili said on October 2 that he supported the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity, but he also said he wanted to normalize relations with neighbors, “including Russia.”

With additional reporting by Interfax and Rustavi TV

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Amnesty Calls For Freeing Of Azeri Activist

Amnesty International is calling for Azerbaijan to release a young Azerbaijani activist.

Zaur Qurbanli was detained by a group of men in plainclothes in the capital Baku on September 29.

Gurbanli is the chair of Nida, an opposition youth movement that also campaigns for democracy and human rights.

Qurbanli was involved in the “Sing for Democracy” campaign that persuaded this year’s Eurovision winner Loreen to condemn rights abuses in Azerbaijan.

An Interior Ministry official told RFE/RL that Qurbanli is suspected of involvement in illegal drugs operations, saying Qurbanli resisted arrest and that “illegal documents and objects” were found in his office.

John Dalhuisen, director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, said “Azerbaijani opposition activists are routinely detained on the pretext of resisting police, giving the authorities 15 days to try to build a case against them.”

Qurbanli’s relatives had complained to RFE/RL that they had not received any explanation about Qurbanli’s arrest or his whereabouts since he was detained.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Ahead Of Appeal, Church Calls On Pussy Riot To Repent

The Russian Orthodox Church has urged the three jailed members of the punk group Pussy Riot to repent suggesting it could help them win leniency from a court reviewing an appeal of their sentence.

In a statement, the church said that if the women make statements showing “repentance and regret,” their words “shouldn’t be left unnoticed.”

At the same time, it repeated their actions “offended the feelings of believers” and “must not go unpunished.”

The women were convicted on charges of hooliganism and inciting religious hatred and sentenced to two years in prison last month for performing a song against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s Orthodox cathedral.

The Moscow city court is set to hear an appeal against their sentence on October 1.

The women’s sentencing sparked an international outcry.

Based on reporting by AP and dpa

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Calls For Greater Global Energy Cooperation

NEW YORK — Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Rashid Meredov has called on the UN General Assembly to create “universal political and legal mechanisms governing global energy cooperation.”

Speaking before the assembly in New York on September 27, Meredov said, “Turkmenistan suggests that the UN member-countries consider in great detail the idea of creating an international legal framework that would govern the functioning of an energy supply system.”

He said such a framework should take into “due consideration the interests of hydrocarbon producers, transit and recipient nations.”

Meredov added that, “as a first step in this direction during this session we consider it appropriate to prepare a draft resolution of the General Assembly on the establishment of an expert group to develop an appropriate UN multilateral document.”

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

CBI calls on the Iraqi government to open economic bridges with friendly countries

Published on Thursday, 27 September / September 2012 10:25

BAGHDAD / With: called Deputy Governor of the Central Bank the appearance of Mohammed Saleh, Thursday, the Iraqi government to open economic bridges with some friendly countries which established good relations with Iraq to persuade them to enter its work in Iraq.

Saleh said the reporter and news agency the future, that: “There are friendly states had filed Iraq with good relations like China, Korea, Japan, India and other countries, and these countries are prepared to come to Iraq model companies financed and carried out projects, and this form of enterprise is the best in the current stage of the country , because the country live status is restricted, which forces you to the business model and not be your choice. “

He pointed out that: “The World Bank will lend Iraq when we arrived in 2014, which would establish a so-called bank information works to provide expertise and evaluation of projects and ideas, and does not provide the money, especially since the international community believed that Iraq had finished the transitional phase, and is ready to lend to countries Others, not borrowed money. “

The House of Representatives has postponed the vote on the law of infrastructure which will contract with several foreign companies to implement service projects in Iraq in the health sector, education and housing payment on credit system.

LINK

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Hakim calls for legislating law to regulate elections timing

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) -The head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, Ammar al-Hakim, called the Parliament to legislate a law that would set clear timings for the electoral operations and obliges all sides to conduct elections every four years.

During his speech at the weekly cultural meeting held in his office in Baghdad on Wednesday, he said “All elections should be conducted according to constitutional timings.”

He stressed that “The national dialogue is a must in this phase and serves the citizen and the country,” noting that “Return of the Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, to Iraq created a several chances for dialogues and meetings that would relief the current political crisis through mutual concessions given by all blocs and support for Talabani’s initiatives.”

Hakim also expressed his concerns towards the remarkable security deterioration in the country through the organized assassination attempts that targets politicians, intellectuals, businessmen and religious men in addition to repeated targeting of security elements and officers, calling to adopt more developed intelligence techniques.

Speaking about corruption, the head of the SIIC said “We can see corruption clearly spread in our country through the clear difference among the categories of the society since we have extremely rich people and on the other hand we have very poor people,” stressing that “We should fight this discrimination through a fair distribution of Iraqi revenues among the people.”

He also highlighted the initiative of the Iraqi Red Crescent to provide humanitarian supplies for the Syrian People, demanding all involved sides to end fighting and blood shedding in Syria.

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Zebari calls on Britain to help Iraq out of Chapter VII

BAGHDAD / obelisk: Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Wednesday, the United Kingdom to help Iraq to emerge from Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement obtained by “obelisk” a copy of it, that “Zebari met, at the UN headquarters in New York City, British Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jackets Bert The two sides discussed ways to remove Iraq from Chapter VII of the UN Charter.”

The statement added that “Zebari called on Britain to stand beside Iraq in these endeavors after taking several steps on the road to meet its international obligations.”

The statement pointed out that “the meeting also dealt with the existing relations of cooperation between the two countries, and in particular trade and economic relations and the search for a mechanism by which to develop this cooperation to take wider forms.”

It is noteworthy that Iraq is taking part in the session of the 67-Fri-General of the United Nations, in New York City, U.S., with a delegation headed by Vice President Khudair Khuzaie and includes parliamentary figures and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

Iraq has been under since 1990 Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides for the imposition of sanctions by the following occupation of Kuwait in August of the same year, and under Chapter mentioned right for the international community to use force against Iraq as a threat to international security, as well as freezing of large amounts of its assets financial in international banks to compensate those affected by the invasion of Kuwait.

LINK

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Ex-U.S. Envoy To Pakistan Calls For ‘Marriage, Not One-Night Stand’

WASHINGTON – Former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter says Washington and its uneasy ally must build on a mutual “desire for marriage, not a one-night stand.”

He offered the analogy one month after Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani ambassador to Washington, recommended that the two countries “divorce.”

Speaking at Washington’s Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in his first public remarks since leaving Islamabad this July, Munter said “deeper” and “more sophisticated” ties with Pakistan would help overcome entrenched assumptions about each other’s motives.

“We will be able to conceive of our American policy towards Pakistan, I hope, in a way that is broader, has more of a long-term focus, and isn’t trapped by these narratives,” he said.

“We don’t change those narratives, but the question is, can we go around them? Can we do something else so that the question of whether or not Pakistanis are all betrayers and people who take our money and whether Americans are those people who come, but then leave you — whether that question doesn’t get solved but becomes, perhaps, less relevant?”

To do so, Munter proposed greater U.S. emphasis on people-to-people contacts, business and educational ties, and public diplomacy, so that “the face of America is your neighbor, an engineer who works on a Punjab ditch” and not “the face of Raymond Davis.” The former CIA contractor sparked a tussle between Islamabad and Washington after fatally shooting two Pakistani men in Lahore in January 2011.

The former envoy also advocated a more regional approach to Pakistan in order to reduce what he called an “obsession” with the “bilateralness” of the relationship.

Munter said the 2009 “Kerry-Lugar-Berman” Act, which pumped nearly $ 3 billion in civilian aid to Islamabad, had failed to break through the long-standing narratives because of institutional weakness in Pakistan and the United States’ “inability to look past counterterrorism” in bilateral relations.

He conceded, however, that an approach focusing on Pakistan’s people more than its politics is “unlikely” until the last U.S. troops leave Afghanistan — or until it is safe for “university professors and businessmen, not diplomats” to help build relations.

“Until 2014, it is unlikely, in my mind, that we can have a major change. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do our homework,” Munter said. “It doesn’t mean we can’t get, for example, the dynamic philanthropic sector of Pakistan to work with the very dynamic philanthropic sector in the United States — which, in recent years, has not happened very much.”

Munter also conceded that the lack of a “meeting of minds” between the countries on Afghanistan would complicate the process.

Critics, as well as U.S. government officials, have accused Pakistan of hedging its bets in the region by supporting both the NATO mission as well as militant groups.

Munter also said old narratives had become more ingrained after the “litany of horrors” that characterized relations during his 18-month tenure — particularly in 2011, including the fallout from the May raid on former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan and the November killing of 24 Pakistani troops in a NATO airstrike, which led to the closure of supply lines to Afghanistan.

A June survey by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center said nearly three quarters of Pakistani citizens consider the United States an enemy. This month, Pakistanis burned U.S. flags during deadly protests against an anti-Islam film made in the United States.

Munter, however, argued that new investment in Pakistani society could allow Washington to tap into what he described as strong “latent pro-Americanism” in the country.

The former ambassador resigned in May due to “personal reasons.” Richard Olson, U.S. President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace Munter in Islamabad, was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 19 and is awaiting full Congressional confirmation.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Nassif calls on politicians to unify their foreign policy to remove Iraq from Chapter VII

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Sunday, 23 September, 2012

MP for the coalition called the Iraqi Free high Nassif Iraqi politicians to unify their positions and their foreign policy to coincide with the meetings of the 67th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in order to remove Iraq from Chapter VII.

She told him the Information Office of the coalition and the agency received Ambassador News copy on Sunday: “The responsibility to remove Iraq from Chapter VII rests with all Iraqi politicians, and this requires them to put all their differences aside and unify their positions and agree on a unified foreign policy to coincide with meetings General Assembly of the United Nations. ”

She added that: “The common foreign policy imposed on all politicians not to deviate from the consensus toward the Iraqi positions of some countries, and this requires not compliment any country at the expense of the national interest of Iraq.

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Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Bank expert calls for the CBI to recognize Islamic banks

Saturday, 22 September, 2012

BAGHDAD / JD / .. student expert Islamic banking Sadiq Shammari importance recognition central bank mechanisms work of Islamic banks that have provided products urged interest a large segment of Iraq and the world.

Al-Shammari said in an interview / for JD / that many obstacles confuse the work of Islamic banks in Iraq and the world are in The central banks oblige all banks need Ctfad a percentage of their deposits up to 15% in the Central, employing banks lend these funds interest rate and this is incompatible with the approach of the Islamic.

pointed out that Alqonin issued by central banks has blocked الموسسات financial banking from practicing trade, especially it have the equipment and real estate, investment and renting them at the heart of its activities.

noted that Islamic banking spread in more than 50 countries around the world, and that number can be increased in the coming years

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Tymoshenko Calls On West To ‘Break Grip Of Dictatorship’ Before Elections

WASHINGTON — Jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has issued a written appeal calling on Western governments to “help break the grip of the dictatorship [in Ukraine] before sham elections give it unquestioned control.”

Tymoshenko’s daughter, Yevhenia, read excerpts of the appeal to the press on Thursday at the Washington office of law firm Wiley Rein, which represents the former Orange Revolution leader in the United States. She said the appeal had been distributed to Western leaders and parliamentarians.

Tymoshenko wrote that it would be “too late” for democracy in Ukraine if parliamentary elections set for late October allow President Viktor Yanukovych to further consolidate power.

Yevhenia Tymoshenko also thanked the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for visa bans on officials responsible for her mother’s “politically motivated” imprisonment.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

U.S. Official Calls Consulate Attack Opportunistic ‘Terrorism’

A senior U.S. counterterrorism official has said that the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was “a terrorist attack” but was most likely not planned in advance.

Speaking to members of Congress on September 19, the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Matthew Olsen, said the incident was “an opportunistic attack” that “evolved and escalated over several hours.”

“It appears that individuals who were certainly well-armed seized on the opportunity presented as the events unfolded that evening and into the morning hours of September 12th,” he said.

He said there is no evidence yet of advance planning.

“We do know that a number of militants in the area as I mentioned are well-armed and maintain those arms,” he said. “What we don’t have at this point is specific intelligence that there was a significant advanced planning or coordination for this attack.”

Olsen added that there are “indications” that some of the attackers had connections with Al-Qaeda.

“A number of different elements appear to have been involved in the attack, including individuals connected to militant groups that are prevalent in eastern Libya, particularly in the Benghazi area,” Olsen said. ” As well, we are looking at indications that individuals involved in the attack may have had connections to Al-Qaeda or Al-Qaeda’s affiliates, in particular Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.”

Libyan officials have previously said they believe the attackers used a demonstration against the anti-Islamic film “The Innocence Of Muslims” as cover to carry out a pre-planned attack on the consulate.

U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the incident.

Last week, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the FBI has opened a probe into the attack. FBI investigators are expected to arrive in Benghazi on September 21.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and Bloomberg

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

* Deputy for Iraq calls for the need to brief Parliament on the nature of the agreement between Baghdad and the region

Alsumaria News / Baghdad
Asked deputy for the Iraqi List, Sunday, the House of Representatives familiarized themselves with the nature of the agreement between the center and the Kurdistan region, confirming the presence of question marks about the deal, he wondered about the fate of three billion dollars, which the government says it wasted due to the policy of the region.

Said Abdul Khader Tahir in an interview for “Alsumaria News”, “It is important to know the members of the House of Representatives of the nature and the fact rapprochement between the center and the region,” and wondered about “the fate of the three billion dollars, which the government says it has been squandered by a policy region.”

The Tahir that “there is question marks about the deal between the center and the region must put in the event,” but he also said, “We with complete harmony with our national, but we have the right to know the details because this has to do with everyone and respect wealth country.”

The Ministry of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Region revealed, the first on Friday (14 September 2012), the agreement with the federal government on the export of 200 thousand barrels of oil per day during the next three months, as well as the agreement on granting the region accounted for 17% of the total amount of crude oil refined in Iraq, and the same percentage of the total crude oil, which is supplied to the power stations.

The ministers agreed on the governments in Baghdad and Erbil, (13 September 2012), the formation of a joint bilateral committees for scrutiny and resolve outstanding problems and payments to the oil companies in the region in light of the budget law.

The sharp crisis has erupted between Baghdad and Erbil on the back off the Kurdistan region in (the first of April 2012) pumping oil because of the dispute over financial dues to oil companies operating in it, with eased the crisis following the agreement of Baghdad and the Kurdistan region in the (14 September 2012) provides for payment of dues of oil companies by the federal government, where he was the Kurds this convergence will open new horizons to the relationship between the parties, and would allow the province to export 200 thousand barrels of oil a day.

The origin of the renewed ancient dispute between the governments in Baghdad and Erbil to oil contracts concluded by the region and which Baghdad deems illegal, while the region say they are based on the Iraqi constitution and the bilateral agreements signed with the federal government.

It is noteworthy that Iraq political crisis since last April, was claims to withdraw confidence from the government of President Nouri al-Maliki by the Kurdistan Alliance and the Iraqi List and the Sadrist movement, which fell later, but this crisis began decompose after he announced the National Alliance for the formation of the Reform Commission presented a paper containing 70 Article notably resolving the mandate of the three presidencies and security ministries and the balance in the armed forces and independent bodies and various organs of the State.

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* Block citizen calls for Maliki’s coalition approve the mandate of Prime Minister

Twilight News / citizen parliamentary bloc called that represents the Islamic Supreme Council headed by Ammar al-Hakim, on Friday, a coalition of state law boiled approved the proposal to determine the mandate of the Prime Minister.

The MP said the bloc ‘Ali inch, in an interview with ” Twilight News “, that” there is a desire on the street and in some political blocs determine the mandate of Prime Minister as it in the presidency, “noting that” it is quite normal and everyone should be aware of the importance of this topic “.

He called inch coalition of state law as concerned with this matter be asked to select the state. “

The inch that “power must be delivered properly and naturally given to a new prime minister to give him another test from which we can build the country.”

The President of the Liberal bloc in Parliament were part of the National Alliance Bahaa al-Araji, the last in July, with a number of independent lawmakers from providing mass proposed law requires mandatory three presidencies states only two sessions, revealing the signing of 100 deputy on this proposal.

The citizen’s parliamentary bloc announced that represent current Mihrab Martyr, in the middle of the month of July, for the support of all the blocks that fall in the National Alliance of the proposed law defining the mandates of the three presidencies two sessions with the exception of State of Law bloc, usually proposed to prevent a recurrence of the dictatorship of the former regime.

The cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has called on more than one occasion to conduct a constitutional amendment includes determining the duration of the three presidencies two terms.

Article (72) of the Constitution first define the mandate of President four years, and may be re-elected for a second term only, Second: Ending the mandate of the President of the Republic the end of the session of the House of Representatives, “while the Constitution did not provide for the mandate of the Prime Minister, and the President of the House of Representatives.

Political observers believe that the mandate of Prime Minister will end the current political crisis, and prevented from exclusivity and the marginalization of the other governance especially that Iraq where sectarian Tadidh and national and religious.

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* Hakim calls for unity and solidarity in order to spare Iraq the agenda of international conflicts

The head of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Iraq Ammar al-Hakim on indispensability cohesion and closing ranks, togetherness between the components for the success of the national project and miss an opportunity to terrorism and agendas hostile to Iraq.

A statement from the SIIC that “al-Hakim received his office in Baghdad on Wednesday evening a number of Iraqi students in Iranian universities”, where it reviewed before students dangerous phase taking place in the world and the situation in the volatile region and renaissance peoples call for freedom and the rights and interference wills international and convert these revolutions to international conflicts. “

He added that “al-Hakim warned of a reflection of those disorders on the situation in Iraq”, and called for “greater unity and solidarity in order to spare Iraq the negative repercussions of the situation in the region.”

And Mr. Hakim said that “Iraq is a country Pluralities and that multicolored roses bouquet”, stressing the “Indispensability cohesion and closing ranks and solidarity between these components for the success of the national project and miss an opportunity to terrorism and agendas hostile to Iraq.”

He called for “the need to develop a strategic vision for the management of the country”, reminding the “see stream Mihrab Martyr in building a modern state and provide service to the homeland and the citizen,” stressing “the need to leave the logic of a crisis of confidence and the adoption of dialogue and openness and disclosure in order to resolve dilemmas between the political parties.

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* Economy Committee calls for establishment of an international Iraqi bank

DIYALA, Sept. 11 (AKnews) – A member of the Economy and Investment Committee in the Iraqi council of Representatives urged the government to establish an international Iraqi bank, saying the bank will be a success in granting loans.

The bank should grant loans in all currencies and be associated with the World Bank to resolve the problem of irregular mechanism of loans, said Nahida al-Daini, from the Iraqiya List.

Daini said there is a slowdown in the granting of loans by the Ministry of Finance because the relevant ministries have not paid the monthly dues cut from the salaries of the employees who have taken governmental loans.

She added “the Ministry of Finance has large debts owed by the ministries and cannot continue in granting loans without resolving the previous financial benefits despite the large interest rates imposed on granting the loans …”

Daini demanded the Ministry of Finance fulfill its obligations to the citizens and continue with giving loans due to the citizen’s urgent need for the construction of residential houses which depend on government loans.

Employees across the country complain about the process of issuing governmental loans and the financial irregularity due to the absence of a mechanism that allow everyone to get government loans.

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* Allawi calls for national unity and move away from political differences and partisan interests

The leader of the Iraqi List, Iyad Allawi and national unity and move away from political differences and partisan interests, pointing to the existence of the risk is on the verge of Iraq because of the situation in Syria.

Allawi said in a press conference held inside the building of the National Accord Movement said on Saturday that “there is a danger coming to Iraq because of the Syrian situation and its repercussions in the region which is now warning of the dangers of big on Iraq and its people. “

Allawi announced his departure to “Russia and the Arab Republic of Egypt to meet with Russian leaders and Egyptian President as head of the National Accord Movement and leader of the Iraqi List, to discuss the Syrian crisis and its impact on the region and the situation in Iraq. “

The leader of the Iraqi List, Iyad Allawi, came to Baghdad several days before the meeting of the members of the list and discuss developments in the political arena and meeting the President of the House of Representatives Osama Nujaifi to discuss the latest developments that took place between him and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

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Egypt president calls for ‘change’ in Syria

Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s president, has told an Arab League conference that “change” of government is needed in violence-wracked Syria and that time should not be wasted “speaking of reform”.

“This time has passed now. Now it is time for change,” Morsi, who was making his first presidential address to the league, said on Wednesday in the capital Cairo.

He said that a quartet of regional states – Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Egypt – would meet to discuss the Syrian crisis, which started 17 months ago as an insurrection, but has turned into a civil war with opposition fighters battling to dislodge Bashar al-Assad from power.

“The quartet which Egypt has called for will meet now,” Morsi told a meeting of Arab foreign ministers, without giving more details of the gathering.

Morsi’s comments follows his speech at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in the Iranian capital Tehran where he called it an “ethical duty” to support the Syrian people against the “oppressive regime” in Damascus.

He said Assad must learn from “recent history” and step down before it was too late, alluding to the fate of authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen that have been overthrown by Arab uprisings.

“I tell the Syrian regime ‘there is still a chance to end the bloodshed’,” Morsi said, adding: “Don’t take the right step at the wrong time… because that would be the wrong step.”

Morsi, who in June was elected Egypt’s first Islamist leader after an uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, urged the Arab diplomats to move quickly to resolve the Syrian conflict which has left 26,000 people dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland, reporting from Cairo, said Morsi recognised that Iran could not be ingored if a solution was to be found for the conflict in Syria.

“Morsi’s speech touched many issues related to the Arab uprisings. Regarding Syria, he said there should be an Arab solution for the conflict,” said our correspondent.

“The Syrian blood that is being shed day and night, we are responsible for this,” Morsi said.

“We cannot sleep while Syrian blood is being shed.

“I call on you, Arab foreign ministers, to work hard to find an urgent solution to the tragedy in Syria.

“If we don’t move, the world won’t move with any seriousness.”

405

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)

UN envoy calls Syria death toll ‘staggering’

New UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has said that the death toll in Syria was “staggering” and destruction from its war “catastrophic” in his first comments to the UN General Assembly.

Brahimi said he would go to Damascus “in a few days” and that a united international stance on Syria was “indispensable and very urgent”.

The former Algerian foreign minister, who took up his post on Saturday, said the 18-month old war was “deteriorating steadily”.

“The death toll is staggering, the destruction is reaching catastrophic proportions and the suffering of the people is immense,” he added in his brief speech to the 193-member assembly.

“The future of Syria will be built by its people and none other,” the 78-year-old diplomat added.

“The support of the international community is indispensable and very urgent. It will only be effective if all pull in the same direction.”

Meanwhile, secretary general Ban Ki-moon has accused countries who send arms to Syria of spreading “misery” as he called on governments around the conflict-stricken state to help end the war.

“Those who provide arms to either side are only contributing to further misery – and the risk of unintended consequences as the fighting intensifies and spreads,” Ban told the 193-member UN General Assembly.

Ban did not name any country but Russia is President Bashar al-Assad’s main arms supplier while UN officials say Iran has made arms deliveries to his forces.

The Syrian government accuses Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey of arming the opposition.

The UN secretary general also accused both the Syrian government and the opposition of large-scale human rights
violations, including torturing and reportedly executing prisoners and failing to protect civilians who are fleeing the country in record numbers.

In prepared remarks to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Ban demanded that those responsible be held accountable.

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AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)

* MP calls for setting up a mechanism by the central bank to rehabilitate Iraqi banks.

Baghdad / NINA /– First Parliament Speaker Deputy, Dr. Qusay al-Suhail discussed with the Japanese charge d’affaires in Baghdad Kotaro Suzuki, bilateral relations during the forthcoming stage and means to promote investment and economic cooperation to serve the common interests.

A statement by the Information Office of Suhail said : “ Suhail expressed during a meeting held today his high appreciation of Japan’s efforts and its support for the Iraqi government to promote the country’s economy, stressing the need to promote Japanese investment in Iraq.

For his part, the Japanese charge d’affaires evaluated the importance of the role of the Parliament in the adoption of important laws and in developing parliamentary relations between the two countries. / End

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* MP calls for setting up a mechanism by the central bank to rehabilitate Iraqi banks.

Karbala / NINA /–MP, Yusuf al-Tai for Ahrar parliamentary bloc within the Sadrist trend said : “ Iraqi Central bank is desperately needs to set a financial plan to rehabilitate the stalled banking process in Iraq .

He added in a statement to NINA reporter: “The state suffers from rampant financial and administrative corrupt as well as Iraqi banks took their share of this corruption.

Tai ended as saying : “There must be a specific mechanism set by the central bank, in order to eliminate such cases./ End

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Russia’s Lavrov Says Calls For Assad Withdrawal ‘Unworkable,’ Defends ‘Realistic’ Approach

Russia says it would be “naive” for outside powers to expect Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to withdraw his troops first from major cities and then wait for the armed opposition to follow suit.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking to students at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, also said that such demands amount to a call for the “unilateral capitulation” by Assad’s regime.

“When our partners say that the [Syrian] government must stop first and must withdraw all its soldiers and weapons from cities — and only then call on the opposition to do the same — well, this is a completely unworkable scheme,” Lavrov told the televised gathering. “Either people are naive or it is some sort of provocation.”

Lavrov said Russia itself is “not holding on to any regime or any individuals in the Syrian situation” but “simply basing our position on what is realistic.”

“No matter your view of the Syrian regime,” Lavrov said, “it is completely unrealistic in the current situation — when there is fighting going on in the cities — to say that the only way out is the unilateral capitulation of one of the opposing sides.”

Russia and China have repeatedly blocked Western and Arab-backed UN draft resolutions aimed at pressuring Assad to end the violence in Syria that has killed an estimated 17,000 people.

Street protests and insurrection broke out in Syria amid the so-called Arab Spring in March 2011.

Based on reporting by RFE/RL, AFP, and Interfax

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

* Parliamentary committee calls for coordination between their foreign and finance to end Iraq’s debt

BAGHDAD / Bri Center for the Iraqi Media Network – called the parliamentary Finance Committee to increase the level of coordination between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance to end the file of Iraq’s foreign debt.

A member of the Committee Secretary Hadi’s (Brief Center for the Iraqi Media Network) that there is a need to increase the level of coordination between the Foreign financial زراتي and to end the file of Iraq’s foreign debts. “

Hadi explained that “Iraq is governed by an international convention by the United Nations required to pay the State of Kuwait from the DFI fund 5% of the total oil revenues.”

Iraq had demanded Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly cut its debt accumulated as a result of military policy wrong that was exercised by the former regime, similar to many Arab and European countries.

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Vinokurov Calls Armstrong Move ‘Big Blow To Cycling’

Elite world cyclist and recent Olympic gold medalist Aleksandr Vinokurov says he was saddened when American Lance Armstrong gave up his battle against doping allegations, adding that it represents “a big blow [to] cycling.”

The 38-year-old Kazakh-born Vinokurov, who served his own two-year suspension for blood-doping detected during the 2007 Tour de France, says similar scandals are hurting the sport.

He recently announced his retirement from professional cycling, in part to help train up-and-coming young athletes.

Armstrong, a record seven-time Tour de France winner, announced on August 23 that he was ending his defense against charges by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that could cost him any titles earned since 1998.

“This is a big blow for cycling, and it has a very negative impact on the image of the Tour de France,” he was quoted as saying by RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service. “Of course, we’re very sorry. Cycling is being damaged as a result of doping scandals.”

ALSO READ: Kazakh Cycling Legend, New Olympic Champion Looks Back

Vinokurov, who fought back from a broken pelvis and femur suffered in the Tour de France in 2011 to win the gold in London a year later, suggested that “Armstrong’s seven years of hard work were all wasted.”

Vinokurov finished third behind Armstrong and German Jan Ullrich in the 2003 Tour de France, the cycling world’s premier event.

Armstrong continues to point to hundreds of drug tests that he has passed through the years, saying he never used performance-enhancing drugs.

But sport authorities and observers alike have suggested that Armstrong’s decision not to fight the USADA charges would be regarded as an admission of guilt.

Vinokourov had been expected to bow out once the season was over but instead announced his retirement in mid-August after a race in Spain, where he won the Vuelta a Espana in 2006.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Saudi Arabia Calls for Monitoring of Mosques After Mosque Found Manufacturing Explosives

Posted GMT 8-28-2012 14:59:2

JEDDAH — A number of religious scholars and academics have stressed the need for the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance to beef up monitoring of places of worship. It followed the recent report of a Riyadh mosque serving as a facade for manufacturing explosives.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that it discovered explosive substances and devices at a lean-to of a quiet mosque in Riyadh. Mosques normally use attached rooms to accommodate workers or for library service.

The scholars also demanded deterrent punishments to those who exploit the spiritual atmosphere in mosques to promote chaos in the country, Al-Madinah daily reported on Monday.

“Those who seek to destabilize the country and fight against security forces come under the category of ‘those who rebel against Allah and His Messenger’ and a country’s legitimate government and hence should be punished severely,” said Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manie, who is a member of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars and adviser at the Royal Court.

The scholar also congratulated the Interior Ministry for its successful preemptive strike against the Riyadh cell and protecting the people from such heinous deeds.

“The Islamic Affairs Ministry should ensure that imams and muezzins inspect the mosque premises regularly and thoroughly, so that the facilities are not misused for subversive activities. The sacred houses of worship should not be converted into dens of destructive acts,” he said.

Member of the Fiqh Academy Muhammad Al-Nojaimi stressed the duty of the worshipers and residents in nearby buildings apart from imams and muezzins to see that mosques are not exploited for subversive activities. “Officials concerned should also investigate why some expatriates are unofficially undertaking duties at mosques. They should also launch campaigns and raids at such mosques,” he said.

Head of Islamic studies at the Umm Al-Qura University Muhammad Al-Sahli said it was a matter of deep pain for all Muslims, especially students and teachers of religious knowledge and preachers, that a mosque had been used as a cover for destructive activities.

Director of the Makkah branch of the International Islamic Relief Organization Ahmed Al-Muwarraie urged parents and teachers to protect their children or students from vicious ideologies they might be exposed to in the present circumstances.

Professor of Political Studies at King Saud University Abdullah Al-Lehaidan said the uncovering of a terror cell in Riyadh was not a matter to be taken lightly. “The latest discovery shows that the terror menace is still existing in the country and could be uprooted only after flushing it out from the neighboring Yemeni territories, just as terrorist activities were flushed out from the Kingdom.”

An academic specialized in political sciences at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Waheed Hashim, said Al-Qaeda in Yemen facilitated terrorists to infiltrate into the Kingdom. Another political science expert at the university said Al-Qaeda in Yemen changed its strategy of sending explosives to the Kingdom from outside. “Now they make explosives in the Kingdom, unlike what they did in the past.”

The academics also viewed that the political and economic failure of Yemen provided a breeding ground for terrorists. “The terrorist ideology thrived in Yemen because of rampant poverty, hunger, and endless disputes between religious or tribal sects, insecurity, and a weak central government. The country’s strategic geographical position enables terrorists to secretly enter Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.”

Meanwhile, a former Saudi fighter in Afghanistan, Sheikh Siraj Al-Zahrani, warned against the dangers of Saudi youths being carried away by the temptation to be martyrs in Syria. Siraj said he joined the Afghan Taleban fighters on the assumption that they were fighting on the straight religious path, but experience made him disillusioned and prompted him to return home. “No youth should go to Syria or other war fronts without the permission from their guardians. A family should be cautious about its sons being lured to war zones for jihad,” the sheikh said.

www.arabnews.com

Assyrian International News Agency

Russia’s Ombudsman Calls Pussy Riot Prison Sentences ‘Excessive’

Russia’s human rights ombudsman has called the prison sentences against three women from the punk group Pussy Riot “excessive.”

On August 23, Vladimir Lukin said the women, who staged a protest in a Moscow Orthodox cathedral against President Vladimir Putin’s rule in February, had committed “a misdemeanor, not a [criminal] offense.”

The women were sentenced last week to two years in jail after a Moscow court found them guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.”

Lukin, a parliament-appointed ombudsman, said he may lodge a complaint if the sentences are upheld on appeal.

The sentencing has sparked protests in Russia and around the world, with Western governments and rights groups denouncing the jail terms as disproportionate.

The Kremlin has warned against “hysterics” over the ruling.

Based on reporting by Reuters and ITAR-TASS

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Iranian Supreme Leader Calls For ‘Economy of Resistance’

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has instructed the government to adopt an “economy of resistance” to confront Western sanctions over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.

Iranian state media quote Khamenei as saying that “by using the nation’s full potential,” the government should “break the illusions of the arrogant powers” that they can force Iran to back down on its positions.

He said an economy of resistance is “the only way to pursue progress in the country.”

Khamenei did not specifically mention sanctions or Iran’s nuclear program.

His comments come after several Iranian officials, who had long downplayed the effect of the punitive measures, acknowledged in recent weeks that U.S. and EU oil and financial sanctions have harmed the economy.

Based on reporting AFP and IRNA

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty