| Islamic World News | |
| 22 Apr 2011, NewAgeIslam.Com |
| US drone strike kills 25 in Pakistan | ||
Gujarat top cop names Chief Minister Narendra Modi in anti-Muslim massacre case Nato air raid kills 7 civilians in Tripoli Karachi gambling den blast toll rises to 19 19 killed, 45 injured in bomb blast in Karachi South Sudan army, militia clash kills 31: army 8 die as tribesmen, troops clash in south Yemen Insurgents kill 14 Pakistani troops: Officials Bomb kills 3 policemen in Afghanistan Blood, flames engulf southeastern Turkey as clashes continue A Young Woman's Struggle With Southwest Airlines Shows Depth Of Islamophobia Saudi Imam reprimanded for using sermon to attack journalists Pakistan bristles at Haqqani connection 23 terrorists surrender to security forces in Khar, Pak Ishrat Jahan case: Contempt notice to Gujarat official Hezbollah labels U.N. chief Zionist: over report Russia kills 'Saudi Al-Qaeda envoy' in Chechnya MQM, JUI-F leaders meet Shujaat Challenges remain in US-Pak ties: Mullen Syria president scraps decades-old emergency rule Gulf plan offers Yemen president 30 days to quit U.S. warns of Libya 'stalemate' as Misrata battle rages Libyan rebels seek foreign intervention U.S. to provide Libyan rebels with “non-lethal” supplies NATO warns civilians as Turkey evacuates foreigners from Misrata Ban on Baghdad street protests angers Iraqis Christian pilgrims fill Jerusalem for Good Friday Gulf leaders offer Saleh an exit plan Egypt PM's visit to Saudi Arabia heralds breakthrough in relations Tight security in Syria before Friday prayers Crowds mass in Yemen to demand Saleh's ouster Iran Foreign Minister may visit Egypt Analysts: Syria unrest not led by Islamists France mulls recognising Palestine Mubarak's name to be removed from all public places Hillary condemns Syria violence Turkey encouraging US officials to act 'fairly' ahead of April 24 2 NATO tankers attacked in Bolan Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau Photo: Pakistani protesters torch an effigy of President Obama and a U.S. flag during a protest in Multan. | ||
-------- US drone strike kills 25 in Pakistan April 22, 2011 Four missiles fired by two suspected US pilotless aircraft hit a house in Pakistan's tribal region of North Waziristan on the Afghan border on Friday, killing 25 militants, Pakistani intelligence officials said. The drone strike happened in Mir Ali, a town about 35 kilometers (20 miles) east of the region's main town of Miranshah. An intelligence official in the region, who requested not to be identified, told Reuters that the house was being used as a militant hideout. "They (the militants) have surrounded the area where the attack happened and are not allowing anybody to go there," he said, adding 25 bodies had been recovered from the rubble and three women were among those killed. Another official said some foreign militants were among the dead, but that their numbers and nationalities could not confirmed. The strike came two days after a visit to Islamabad by Admiral Mike Mullen, the top US military official, in which he expressed concern over continuing links between Pakistan's main intelligence agency, the ISI, and militants attacking US-led forces across the border in Afghanistan. North Waziristan is a known sanctuary for al Qaeda and Taliban militants near the Afghan border. The United States has been using drone attacks to target al Qaeda-linked militants over the past few years in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas, a source of concern for the Pakistan government, which says civilian casualties stoke public anger and bolster support for militancy. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=29453 ------- Gujarat top cop names Chief Minister Narendra Modi in anti-Muslim massacre case Times Now Breaking News video clip available at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Top-cop-says-Gujarat-CM-Narendra-Modi-involved-in-Godhra-case/articleshow/8056304.cms NEW DELHI: Senior IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, who was posted in the Intelligence Department, has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court accusing Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the 2002 Godhra case. ------------- Nato air raid kills 7 civilians in Tripoli April 22, 2011 TRIPOLI: Seven civilians were killed and 18 wounded in a NATO air raid that targeted the southwestern Tripoli suburb of Khellat Al-Ferjan late Wednesday, official news agency reported. An earlier report by the state television said the Khellat Al-Ferjan area where three explosions could be heard was the "target of barbarian crusaders' raids that left martyrs and wounded among the residents and destroyed their homes". NATO warplanes also carried out air raids earlier Wednesday at Bir Al-Ghanam, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the Libyan capital, that left four people dead among the civilian population, according to Jana. France and Italy joined Britain on Wednesday in sending military advisers to insurgent-held eastern Libya, as Tripoli warned that a foreign troop deployment would only prolong the conflict. Quoting a military official Jana said "seven civilians were killed and 18 wounded by the colonialist crusading aggressor" in the attack in the Khellat Al-Ferjan region. The raids destroyed "a number of houses and terrorised women and children". An international coalition launched air raids against the regime of strongman Moamer Kadhafi on March 19 to force him from power after a 42-year rule. NATO took over command in the military intervention on March 31. http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14463 -------- Karachi gambling den blast toll rises to 19 April 22, 2011 The death toll from a bomb blast that ripped through an illegal gambling den in Karachi rose to 19 on Friday, with more than 40 other people wounded, officials said. It was not yet clear if the explosion, that hit the city's largest gambling complex, the Rummy Club, was a criminal act or caused by religious extremists in the teeming violence-plagued city, a senior home ministry official told AFP. "Three more people died of their injuries in hospital overnight, bringing the toll to 19," the ministry's Sharfuddin Memon said, adding that more than 40 people were receiving hospital treatment with three in a critical condition. "We are investigating if the attack was the result of rivalry between criminal gangs or if some vigilante groups of extremists were involved," Memon said. Hospital official Saleem Ahmed confirmed the casualty figures. The city houses many clandestine gambling dens, which are officially outlawed in the Islamic nation and subject to occasional police raids. Police said the bomb was small, made of two kilogrammes (four pounds) of explosives, but casualties were high because the gambling hall was crowded at the time. Karachi is Pakistan's economic hub, home to its stock exchange and a lifeline for a depressed economy wilting under inflation and stagnating foreign investment. But the sprawling city, with a population of 16 million, is plagued by ethnic and sectarian killings, crime and kidnappings. Karachi is also politically tense and steeped in rivalries between the Urdu-speaking majority and an influx of ethnic Pashtuns from the northwest, which has been hit by a Taliban insurgency. Outbreaks of political violence there killed more than 150 people last year and extremists targeted Shiite and Sufi religious gatherings, although attacks on government security forces in Karachi have been rare. More than 40 people were killed over 18 days in March, officials said, amid heightened tensions between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which represents Urdu-speakers originally from India, and the Awami National Party (ANP), backed by Pashto-speakers. The MQM and the ANP are partners in the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition that rules the southern province of Sindh, of which Karachi is the capital. The violence came just a few hours after Pakistan's army had vowed to defeat terrorism and rejected US accusations of Islamabad "not doing enough" to combat Islamic militants in its northwest tribal belt. http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan/Karachi-gambling-den-blast-toll-rises-to-19/Article1-688256.aspx -------- 19 killed, 45 injured in bomb blast in Karachi April 22, 2011 KARACHI: At least 19 people were killed and around 45 injured in an explosion at an illegal gambling den in Pakistan's commercial capital, which was also attacked by some armed men, in one of the city's old areas, Ghas Mandi. The health minister of the Sindh province, Sagheer Ahmed put the number of casualties at 16 but "Express" news channel reported 19 people had been killed in the explosion. A senior police official of the area, Iqbal Mehmood told reporters that initial investigations indicated that the assailants had planted a timer explosive device under a table in the club which is located in the huge parking lot of an old residential building, Zahid apartments. "It appears to be a planted bomb which it went off also set off shrapnels killing and injuring people," Mehmood said. Initial reports suggested that armed men raided the club and threw hand grenades and other explosive material causing extensive damage and causalities. But city police chief told reporters the attack was carried out after the explosion shook everyone inside the outside the club. "Several people suffered knife wounds as some of the attackers carried knives and also lobbed some hand grenades," one survivor carrying wound marks on his face said. Leghari said the club was operating upfront as the Birch bridge club but the owners ran a illegal rummy club that was frequented by some very influential people. "In the past in fact last September police raided the club but the owners went to the court and got relief," Leghari said. The place is located close to Lyari, which is the main constituency of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. Geo News reported the club was operating under the patronage of some underworld elements as well. Ahmed Chennai who heads the citizens police liaison cell said the club was known as one of the biggest rummy clubs in the region. "It had seating capacity for around 100 people at one time and was operated round the clock," he said. Chenai admitted that it would not be possible for the rummy club to operate without the patronage of law enforcement agencies. "It is unfortunate that such an illegal club was being run from within the premises of a residential building," he added. The health minister said many of the injured had been wounded in the lower part of their bodies due to the shrapnels and the condition of some of them was critical. Police didn't rule out the possibility of a enmity between underworld gangs being the reason for the explosion. The Ghas Mandi area has in recent times been the site of clashes between gangs and has seen a increasing presence of the Sunni Tehreek a religious party. The blast comes just few days after armed men lobbed grenades at the Rainbow centre in the bustling Saddar area and which is the largest market for audio and video CDs in the country. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/19-killed-45-injured-in-bomb-blast-in-Karachi/articleshow/8051295.cms -------- South Sudan army, militia clash kills 31: army April 22, 2011 At least 31 people were killed in a clash between south Sudan’s army and rebel militia fighters, the army said on Wednesday, the latest violence to unsettle the region ahead of its independence in July. Sudan’s south voted to separate from the north in a January referendum promised under a 2005 peace accord that ended decades of civil war. The underdeveloped region, the source of most of Sudan’s 5,00,000 barrels per day of oil, has been beset by violence which has killed hundreds since the vote. http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/international/16140.html -------- 8 die as tribesmen, troops clash in south Yemen April 22, 2011 A fierce clash between armed tribesmen and troops of Yemen's Republican Guard in the southern province of Lahij killed at least eight people, six of them soldiers, a security official said Friday. The clashes broke out overnight when tension linked to the army's refusal to redeploy a Republican Guard unit from the mountain village of Labus erupted into violence, tribal sources said. Tribesmen regard the presence of the troops as a provocation. A security official said six troops and two tribesmen were killed while five other people were wounded in the fighting. The clashes began after armed tribesmen attacked the military post early on Thursday, killing two of the soldiers and one of the tribesmen, a tribal source said. The clashes continued through the day and night as the gunmen surrounded the military camp, witnesses said. Early on Friday, the situation remained tense in Labus, an officer from the army unit told AFP. Full report at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=8-die-as-tribesmen-troops-clash-in-south-yemen-2011-04-22 -------- Insurgents kill 14 Pakistani troops: Officials April 22, 2011 KHAR: Pakistani officials say hundreds of militants attacked a checkpoint in a northwest district along the Afghan border overnight, killing 14 security forces. Officials from the police, government and intelligence agencies said the fighting was still ongoing Friday morning. They did not know how many militants died in the clashes in the Khankai area of Lower Dir. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/22/officials-insurgents-kill-14-pakistani-troops.html -------- Bomb kills 3 policemen in Afghanistan April 22, 2011 Three policemen were killed and six others wounded on Thursday when a bomb planted inside their minibus exploded in eastern Afghanistan, local officials said. The blast claimed by the Taliban took place in Jalalabad, the de facto capital of eastern Afghanistan. Militants have launched a string of recent attacks against Afghan security forces, who are due to take increased responsibility from foreign troops as they withdraw in a transition due to conclude in 2014. Full report at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/333395/Bomb-kills-3-policemen-in-Afghanistan.html -------- Blood, flames engulf southeastern Turkey as clashes continue April 22, 2011 Tensions continued in eastern and southeastern Turkey as many waited anxiously for a new decision from the Supreme Election Board, or YSK, which had vetoed 12 independent candidates on Monday, sparking nationwide protests. Thousands of Kurds took to the streets in southeastern Turkey on Thursday for the funeral of a slain protestor and waged pitched battles with police in a third day of turmoil. A policeman and a school employee were injured in a fight in central Batman when an unidentified person opened fire as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators hurling stones and petrol bombs, Anatolia news agency reported, adding that the policeman was hit by three bullets. Full report at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=southeastern-turkey-in-blood-and-flames-as-clashes-continue-2011-04-21 -------- A Young Woman's Struggle With Southwest Airlines Shows Depth Of Islamophobia April 22, 2011 Maria Kari The French state has chosen to further weaken the status of women by making their public presence illegal if they choose to wear a veil. But new legislation like this is not shocking in the context of recent events that prove how firmly entrenched the fear of the unknown has become. Take the March 13th incident involving the corporate giant Southwest Airlines and a 31-year-old, mother of three, graduate student, Irum Abbasi. Abbasi, an American of Pakistani descent, was flagged by a Southwest Airlines crew member as “suspicious” and kicked off the plane. A crew member sensed a terror plot was brewin’ as Abbasi went to hang up her cell phone with a friendly “I’ve got to go.” The crew member alleges she heard “it’s a GO.” The scene panned then out with fewer surprises then a re-run of The Three Stooges. Abbasi immediately handed over her cell phone and purse for inspection. But the pilot chose to follow through with the crew member’s allegation: The young mother was ordered off the flight and into the arms of Transport Security Administration who—after some patting of her veiled head—set her free. Full report at: http://www.thenation.com/blog/160036/young-womans-struggle-southwest-airlines-shows-depth-islamophobia -------- Saudi Imam reprimanded for using sermon to attack journalists April 22, 2011 RIYADH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawa and Guidance has reprimanded an imam for attacking Saudi journalists during his Friday sermon. Muhammad Al-Eraifi described them as “traitors and puppets of foreign powers,” Asharq Al-Awsat reported Thursday quoting an official source from the ministry. The newspaper said the ministry disciplined the scholar after an investigation, which lasted for a week. The nature of the ministry’s disciplinary punishment means writers and reporters are free to take legal action against Al-Eraifi. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article369474.ece -------- Pakistan bristles at Haqqani connection April 22, 2011 Anita Joshua ISLAMABAD: A day after U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mike Mullen stirred the hornet's nest by referring to continued links between ISI and the Haqqani terrorist network while repeating the ‘Pakistan-must-do-more' mantra, Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Thursday rejected this as “negative propaganda''. General Kayani is said to have countered the U.S. hard talk during his meeting with Admiral Full report at: http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/22/stories/2011042256391600.htm -------- 23 terrorists surrender to security forces in Khar, Pak April 22, 2011 KHAR: Around 23 terrorists, including some senior commanders of tehsil Mamoond, voluntarily surrendered to the security forces here on Thursday. Sources in political administration said the terrorists, included some key commanders, voluntarily surrendered to the security forces through a tribal jirga. Sources elaborated that the men were wanted by security forces in connection with anti-social and anti-state activities for the last several years. The surrendered terrorists took oath on the holy Quran that they would not be part of any kind of terrorism in future and pledged to lead a peaceful life. The terrorists also handed over their weapons to the security forces. Speaking on the occasion, the tribal elders said that no one would be allowed to indulge in militancy in tehsil Mamoond. app http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\04\22\story_22-4-2011_pg7_8 -------- Ishrat Jahan case: Contempt notice to Gujarat official April 22, 2011 Gandhinagar: The Gujarat High Court Thursday issued notice for contempt proceedings against a senior state home ministry official for delaying transfers of the top police officers in relation to the Ishrat Jehan staged shootout case. The notice is returnable May 11. A high court bench of Justice Jayant Patel and Justice Abhilasha Kumari issued notice to the additional chief secretary of the home department while hearing the status report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing the shootout under its orders. The court had earlier directed the government to transfer three police officers - additional DGP P.P. Pande, superintendent of police G.L. Singhal and deputy superintendent of police Tarun Barot - who are the target of investigation by the SIT. Justice Patel told Advocate General Kamal Trivedi that prima facie, the state did not comply with the court's order and it would like to initiate contempt proceedings against the officer who failed to comply with the orders. Full report at: http://www.ummid.com/news/2011/April/21.04.2011/contemp_notice_to_guj_in_ishrat_case.htm -------- Hezbollah labels U.N. chief Zionist: over report April 22, 2011 BEIRUT: Hezbollah described Thursday U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s report over the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559 as unjust and biased toward Israel. A statement by Hezbollah’s press office said Ban was implementing Washington’s agenda by holding Hezbollah responsible for problems in Lebanon, while Israel continued to threaten the country’s stability and security. Full report at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/Apr/22/Hezbollah-labels-UN-chief-Zionist-over-report.ashx#axzz1KFQbaNxR -------- Russia kills 'Saudi Al-Qaeda envoy' in Chechnya April 22, 2011 MOSCOW: Russian security forces killed in Chechnya a Saudi militant who was the top envoy of Al-Qaeda in the Northern Caucasus; news agencies quoted the national anti-terror committee as saying Friday. http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14515 -------- MQM, JUI-F leaders meet Shujaat April 22, 2011 LAHORE: A delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Senator Talha Mehmood of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) separately called on Pakistan Muslim League-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain here on Thursday and exchanged views with him on the political situation. According to a press release, the MQM delegation comprised the deputy convener of the party’s coordination committee, Dr Farooq Sattar, former minister Babar Ghauri and Raza Haroon. It said both sides had agreed to work in coordination to meet the challenges facing the country. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/22/mqm-jui-f-leaders-meet-shujaat.html -------- Challenges remain in US-Pak ties: Mullen April 22, 2011 ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen’s visit to Islamabad may have eased some of the tensions, but clearly many of the contentious issues, including differences over the Haqqani network and drone attacks, persist. Significant challenges remained in the relationship and he and Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani brought those up in their meeting, Admiral Mullen said after the meeting. Ahead of his dinner meeting with Gen Kayani, the US admiral accused the ISI of retaining links with the Haqqani network, thus setting a tough tone for the dialogue. Neither side disclosed the specifics of the Wednesday night meeting which continued well into early hours of Thursday. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/22/challenges-remain-in-us-pak-ties-mullen.html -------- Syria president scraps decades-old emergency rule April 22, 2011 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad signed a decree to lift almost five decades of draconian emergency rule on Thursday, as a protest movement that has rocked his regime called further demonstrations. Assad, who has been in power since he replaced his father 11 years ago, issued the order to scrap the state of emergency along with separate decrees to abolish the state security court and to allow citizens to protest peacefully. The announcements were flashed in succession on Syrian state television. The moves are aimed at placating more than a month of unprecedented protests across the country, ruled by one of the Middle East's most autocratic regimes since the Baath Party seized power 48 years ago. Full report at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=syrian-president-appoints-new-provincial-governor-2011-04-21 -------- Gulf plan offers Yemen president 30 days to quit April 22, 2011 A Gulf plan to end months of bloody unrest calls for Yemen's embattled president to step down 30 days after the formation of a unity government, an official in his administration said on Thursday. The Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, proposal urges "the formation of a national unity government with 50 percent held by the ruling party, 40 percent by the opposition and 10 percent by other parties," the official said. "The president would transfer his powers to his deputy, and then the protests would end," as would the defection of military leaders and soldiers, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Full report at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=gulf-plan-offers-yemen-president-30-days-to-quit-2011-04-21 -------- U.S. warns of Libya 'stalemate' as Misrata battle rages April 22, 2011 MISRATA, Libya: The top U.S. military officer said air strikes had hobbled Libyan forces, but admitted the conflict was moving into "stalemate" as Moammar Gadhafi's troops pressed on with their punishing siege of rebel Misrata. Rebels welcomed U.S. plans to deploy unmanned aircraft, typically operated remotely from the United States. But it emerged bad weather had forced the first two drones sent to Libya to turn back. "It's certainly moving towards a stalemate," said Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. military's joint chiefs of staff, addressing U.S. troops during a visit to Baghdad. "At the same time we've retired somewhere between 30 and 40 percent of his main ground forces, his ground force capabilities. Those will continue to go away over time. "Doctors at the hospital in Misrata, the rebels' last major bastion in the West of the country, said nine insurgents were killed in fighting on Thursday. Rebel fighters, outgunned by government forces, describe a bitter, block-by-block war of attrition amid shattered buildings and streets carpeted with debris. The enemy is sometimes only yards (meters) away. Full report at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Apr/22/McCain-travels-to-Libya-to-meet-with-rebel-forces.ashx#axzz1KFQbaNxR -------- Libyan rebels seek foreign intervention April 22, 2011 Atul Aneja DUBAI: The Libyan opposition based in Benghazi has expressed its readiness to receive foreign troops in order to protect civilians requiring humanitarian assistance. Endorsing conditional “humanitarian intervention”, Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, the spokesperson for Libya's Transitional National Council (TNC), said the presence of foreign ground forces was permissible in order to safeguard civilians. “Protecting civilians requires having safe passages to deliver humanitarian supplies,” he said. “If that [protecting civilians] does not come except through ground forces that will ensure this safe haven, then there is no harm in that at all.” However, British Prime Minister David Cameron stressed on Thursday that NATO is not considering sending ground forces to Libya, though several European countries are sending military personnel to assist the opposition militia. Full report at: http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/22/stories/2011042265181800.htm -------- U.S. to provide Libyan rebels with “non-lethal” supplies April 22, 2011 Narayan Lakshman Washington: The United States has been drawn deeper into the conflict in Libya this week as top government officials confirmed it would be supplying $25 million in “non-lethal” military aid to the rebel groups fighting the forces of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi. Pentagon's stock While foreign policy circles here have been buzzing with talk of arming rebel groups, the Obama administration informed Congress this week the U.S would provide the rebel Transitional National Council with existing Pentagon stocks of medical supplies, uniforms, boots, tents, personal protective gear, radios and h alal meals, said officials. Initially, the administration had proposed supplying the rebels with vehicles and portable fuel storage tanks but those items were dropped from the list of potential aid on Wednesday after concerns were expressed that they could be converted into offensive military assets, said the officials. Full report at: http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/22/stories/2011042257391900.htm -------- NATO warns civilians as Turkey evacuates foreigners from Misrata April 22, 2011 Turkey evacuated 1,356 foreigners from Libya’s Misrata, where two top photographers were killed, as NATO warned civilians to stand clear of its bombing blitz on Moammar Gadhafi’s troops and Libyan rebels called for “major” airstrikes. “The Ankara ferry departed Misrata for Benghazi today,” Selçuk Ünal, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry told reporters Thursday. The ferry is carrying citiznes from Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Nigeria, Jordan, Syria, Malta, Chad, Algeria, Palestine and Morocco, he said. Full report at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=nato-warns-civilians-as-turkey-evacuates-foreigners-from-misrata-2011-04-21 -------- Ban on Baghdad street protests angers Iraqis April 22, 2011 BAGHDAD: A government ban on protests on the streets of the capital has led some Iraqis to question their leaders’ commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Thousands of Iraqis, encouraged by uprisings around the Arab world, have taken to the streets in recent months to press for better basic services and an end to corruption. But a government edict last week, restricting rallies in Baghdad to its two main sports stadiums, is being seen as unconstitutional and has raised questions over the government’s ability to meet protesters’ demands. “The government is swinging away from democracy. Banning protests and locking demonstrators inside a stadium is illegal and unconstitutional,” said Ali al-Fredawi, an activist with the “15th of March Movement” which helped coordinate recent rallies in Baghdad. Full report at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Apr/22/Ban-on-Baghdad-street-protests-angers-Iraqis.ashx#axzz1KFQbaNxR -------- Christian pilgrims fill Jerusalem for Good Friday April 22, 2011 Christian pilgrims filled the cobblestone alleyways of old Jerusalem to mark Good Friday, commemorating Jesus' crucifixion in the city two millennia ago.Thousands of international visitors and local Christians retraced Jesus' last steps down the Via Dolorosa, which is Latin for "Way of Suffering."The route ends at the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, revered as the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and two days later, his resurrection on Easter Sunday.One pilgrim, Herman Backhaus of Munster, Germany, said being in Jerusalem reminded him that Jesus "actually lived, and his message didn't die with him on the cross.""It's really wonderful for me as a pilgrim to be here and to be on the way of the cross where Jesus was 2,000 years ago," said an American visitor, Naomi Hoipkemier, who was on the Via Dolorosa with her husband and twin sons.Jerusalem's walled Old City was crowded Friday with adherents of different churches and faiths. The calendars of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches coincide this year, so the sects are marking the holy week together. This has required careful arrangements to avoid conflicts among the many ceremonies and processions of each church.Jews are currently celebrating the weeklong Passover festival, and the city's Jewish Quarter was also full of visitors Friday.Israeli police were deployed in force in the Old City, which contains sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Full report at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/04/22/christian-pilgrims-fill-jerusalem-good-friday.html -------- Gulf leaders offer Saleh an exit plan April 22, 2011 CAIRO: The secretary general of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council traveled to the Yemeni capital, Sana, on Thursday to offer the embattled president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, a deal to solve Yemen's current political crisis. A Yemeni government statement promised an official response within 24 hours. The arrangement calls for Saleh to hand over power immediately and step down in 30 days, and sets up new elections 60 days later, a Yemeni official said. It also calls for an immediate end to protests. The plan was finalized after council members and Yemeni officials met in Abu Dhabi. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Gulf-leaders-offer-Saleh-an-exit-plan/articleshow/8053343.cms -------- Egypt PM's visit to Saudi Arabia heralds breakthrough in relations April 22, 2011 Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf will pay his first visit to Saudi Arabia, his first since being appointed. He was meant to take in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates before it became clear that the two leaders, Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani and Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will both be away from their respective countries. These trips have been postponed. According to senior diplomatic sources, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil El-Arabi achieved a breakthrough in Egypt-Saudi relations yesterday. He conveyed to the Saudi government Egypt’s need to find a solution to the situation of ousted president Hosni Mubarak that takes into consideration the anger most Egyptians harbour for him. Full report at: http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContentP/1/10545/Egypt/Egypt-PMs-visit-to-Saudi-Arabia-heralds-breakthrou.aspx -------- Tight security in Syria before Friday prayers April 22, 2011 AMMAN - Syria's army deployed in the city of Homs and police put up checkpoints across the capital, witnesses said, ahead of Friday prayers which have attracted big protests against President Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian rule. The prayers will test whether Assad's decision Thursday to lift emergency law, imposed by his Baath Party when it took power in a coup 48 years ago, will defuse a month of mass discontent with repression and corruption. Aided by his family and a pervasive security apparatus, Assad, 45, has absolute power in Syria. More than 220 protesters have been killed since pro-democracy protests erupted on March 18 in the southern city of Deraa, including 21 protesters killed this week in Homs, rights campaigners say. Full report at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/Apr/22/Friday-a-test-of-Assads-decision-to-lift-emergency-law.ashx#axzz1KFQbaNxR -------- Crowds mass in Yemen to demand Saleh's ouster April 22, 2011 Massive crowds took to the streets of Yemen's capital on Friday calling for the immediate ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, whose loyalists staged a rival demonstration nearby, an AFP reporter said. Protesters swarmed into the centre of Sanaa on the weekly Muslim day of prayers, which for weeks has become the occasion for rival political rallies. While anti-Saleh protesters rallied on what they have named "The Last Chance Friday," his loyalists gathered not far away for a "Reconciliation Friday." Army and police were deployed in force to prevent clashes between the two sides, with several tens of thousands gathered at squares a few kilometres (miles) apart, as on previous Fridays. Saleh's regime and parliamentary opposition groups are still mulling a Gulf plan that urges Saleh to step down 30 days after the formation of a unity government, but protesters on the street openly rejected it. Full report at: http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/2/8/10569/World/Region/Crowds-mass-in-Yemen-to-demand-Salehs-ouster.aspx -------- Iran Foreign Minister may visit Egypt April 22, 2011 Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has announced that he plans to visit Cairo following an invitation by his Egyptian counterpart Nabil El Araby. Salehi will use the visit to discuss improved relations between the two countries. The minister said that it may take time to achieve the goal of better relations but he also discussed the possibility of re-opening an Iranian embassy in Cairo and an Egyptian embassy in Tehran. http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/10550/Egypt/Politics-/Iran-Foreign-Minister-may-visit-Egypt.aspx -------- Analysts: Syria unrest not led by Islamists April 22, 2011 Despite accusations by Syrian authorities, Islamists did not instigate and are not leading the unrest that has rocked the country for a month, although they are partners in the protests, analysts say. "They are certainly present but they are not directing it. This popular uprising does not depend on the old political parties," said Rime Allaf, a researcher on Syria at London-based think-tank Chatham House. Around 220 people have been killed by security forces or plainclothes police since the emergence of the protest movement in mid-March, according to human rights watchdog Amnesty International. "The Muslim Brotherhood has lost much of its influence since (the 1982 massacre in) Hama, and especially after they allied themselves with former vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam," Allaf said. Khaddam was second in command during the rule of Hafez al-Assad -- father of the the current President Bashar al-Assad -- before breaking with the regime in 2006. The Muslim Brotherhood was born in Syria in 1945, but banned there since the Baath party took power in 1963. Full report at: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/10520/World/Region/Analysts-Syria-unrest-not-led-by-Islamists.aspx -------- France mulls recognising Palestine April 22, 2011 French President Nicolas Sarkozy hosted Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Paris yesterday as Europe reflects more and more openly on the prospect of recognising an independent Palestine. Any French move to welcome a Palestinian state into the community of nations would be made jointly with the European Union, and would be seen as an attempt to give a jolt to the stalled Middle East peace process with Israel. Full report at: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=182706 -------- Mubarak's name to be removed from all public places April 22, 2011 Two months after he was toppled in popular uprising, a Cairo court yesterday ordered removal of former president Hosni Mubarak's name and that of his wife Suzanne to be removed from all public places including streets and parks. Judge Mohammad Hassan Omar said the names of Mubarak and his wife would be removed from "all public squares, streets, libraries and other public institutions around the country." Currently, Pan-Arab channel al Jazeera reported that over 500 public schools in Egypt bear the name of Hosni or his wife, besides innumerable public buildings and streets. Full report at: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=182709 -------- Hillary condemns Syria violence April 22, 2011 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday strongly condemned "ongoing violence" by the Syrian government against demonstrators, saying Damascus needed to launch a "serious political process" to end deadly unrest. Clinton said the United States was particularly concerned about conditions in Homs, where at least 10 people were reported killed in clashes on Tuesday after 20,000 people staged an overnight sit-in protest demanding embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ouster. The government "must cease the violence and begin a serious political process," Clinton said. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=182703 -------- Turkey encouraging US officials to act 'fairly' ahead of April 24 April 22, 2011 Turkey expects the U.S. administration to act in a fair and impartial manner in the run-up to April 24, on which Armenians around the world commemorate the “Armenian genocide,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry official has said. “We are telling the U.S. authorities that it would be problematic to deliver a decision on a controversial international conflict covering a period in history [that has been the center of much debate],” Selçuk Ünal, ministry spokesperson told reporters Thursday. U.S. President Barack Obama, who as a candidate vowed to use the term genocide to describe the Ottoman mass slaughter of Armenians nearly a century ago, declined to do so in 2010 as he marked the anniversary of the start of the killings. Full report at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-on-alarm-over-upcoming-armenian-initiatives-2011-04-21 -------- 2 NATO tankers attacked in Bolan April 22, 2011 QUETTA: Two NATO oil tankers transporting fuel for NATO came under fire by unidentified gunmen in Dhaddar area of Bolan district on Thursday. According to sources, two NATO oil tankers, carrying fuel supplies for NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan, were heading towards Kandahar from Karachi when unidentified attackers riding a motorbike opened fire at them on the National Highway. As a result of the firing, thousands of litres of oil in the tanker was destroyed. The armed men, however, fled the scene. No casualty was reported in the incident. A case has been registered against the unidentified attackers and investigations are underway. staff report http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\04\22\story_22-4-2011_pg7_5 http: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=4502 | |
5:40 AM
Moderate Islamist here
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