| Islamic World News | |
| 02 May 2011, NewAgeIslam.Com |
| Osama bin Laden dead and buried at sea, Obama says justice is done | ||
Al Qaeda leader bin Laden dead, says Obama 25 terrorists killed, hideouts destroyed in gunship attacks 12-year-old suicide bomber kills four in Afghanistan Al-Qaida No. 2 Zawahri most likely to succeed Osama bin Laden Venezuela's Chavez condemns death of Gaddafi's son World cheers Osama bin Laden's death as victory Terrorists safe havens in Pak a challenge: Pentagon Shahbaz meets Gen. Kayani PPP, PML-Q strike power-sharing deal ‘Alliance with PML-Q in country’s interest‘ Women policy not against Qur’an: IOF to Shaeikh Hasina Terror strike averted: Germany arrests 3 suspected Qaida men Egypt military warns against sectarian strife People attack embassies in Libya after airstrike; UK expels Libyan envoy Thirteen vehicles set on fire amid Karachi shutdown 14 NATO oil tanker torched in Attock Helicopter crashes on PMA Kakul road: sources Dollar rises on reports Osama is dead Three explosions as jets overfly Tripoli: witnesses Syrian tanks enter Deraa Yemen power transition deal faces snag Six killed in strike Afghan Taliban declare start to spring offensive Egypt’s Islamists announce political party Saudi king tightens media restrictions Iraqi judge killed as insurgents bomb house Syria protesters given surrender ultimatum Oil, gold fall on dollar, news of bin Laden death GCC plans more talks on Yemen Syrians protest from rooftops after army action Shoura panel calls for reopening of Alkhobar port Iran’s president backs down on political challenge Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau Photo: US forces finally found al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. | ||
Jihad is a part of Islam till Eternity: President Majlis e Ehrar e Islam, Indian-------- Osama bin Laden dead and buried at sea, Obama says justice is done May 2, 2011 WASHINGTON: Osama bin Laden, the face of global terrorism and architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, was killed in a firefight with elite American forces on Monday, then quickly buried at sea in a stunning finale to a furtive decade on the run. Long believed to be hiding in caves, bin Laden was tracked down in a costly, custom-built hideout not far from a Pakistani military academy. ``Justice has been done,'' US President Barack Obama said in a dramatic announcement at the White House while a crowd cheered outside and hundreds more gathered at ground zero in Manhattan to celebrate the news. The military operation took mere minutes. US helicopters ferrying elite counter-terrorism troops into the compound identified by the CIA as bin Laden's hideout _ and back out again in less than 40 minutes. Bin Laden was shot in the head, officials said, after he and his bodyguards resisted the assault. Three adult males were also killed in the raid, including one of bin Laden's sons, whom officials did not name. One of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, is a senior member of al-Qaida. US officials also said one woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant, and two other women were injured. The U.S. official who disclosed the burial at sea said it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept the remains. Obama said the remains had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom, which requires speedy burial. ``I heard a thundering sound, followed by heavy firing. Then firing suddenly stopped. Then more thundering, then a big blast,'' said Mohammad Haroon Rasheed, a resident of Abbottobad, Pakistan, after the choppers had swooped in and then out again. The 54-year-old bin Laden's death marks a psychological triumph in a long struggle that began with the Sept. 11 attacks, and seems certain to give Obama a political lift. But its ultimate impact on al-Qaida is less clear. The greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. is now considered to be the al-Qaida franchise in Yemen, far from al-Qaida's core in Pakistan. The Yemen branch almost took down a US-bound airliner on Christmas 2009 and nearly detonated explosives aboard two U.S. cargo planes last fall. Those operations were carried out without any direct involvement from bin Laden. The few fiery minutes in Abbottobad followed years in which US officials struggled to piece together clues that ultimately led to bin Laden, according to an account provided by senior administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation. Based on statements given by US detainees since the Sept. 11 attacks, they said, intelligence officials have long known that bin Laden trusted one al-Qaida courier in particular, and they believed he might be living with him in hiding. Four years ago, the United States learned the man's identity, which officials did not disclose, and then about two years later, they identified areas of Pakistan where he operated. Last August, the man's residence was found, officials said. ``Intelligence analysis concluded that this compound was custom built in 2005 to hide someone of significance,'' with walls as high as 18 feet (5 1/2 meters) and topped by barbed wire, according to one official. Despite the compound's estimated $1 million cost and two security gates, it had no phone or Internet running into the house. By mid-February, intelligence from multiple sources was clear enough that Obama wanted to ``pursue an aggressive course of action,'' a senior administration official said. Over the next two and a half months, the president led five meetings of the National Security Council focused solely on whether bin Laden was in that compound and, if so, how to get him, the official said. Obama made a decision to launch the operation on Friday, shortly before flying to Alabama to inspect tornado damage, and aides set to work on the details. The president spent part of his Sunday on the golf course, but cut his round short to return to the White House for a meeting where he and top national security aides reviewed final preparations for the raid. Two hours later, Obama was told that bin Laden had been tentatively identified. CIA director Leon Panetta was directly in charge of the military team during the operation, according to one official, and when he and his aides received word at agency headquarters that bin Laden had been killed, cheers broke out around the conference room table. Administration aides said the operation was so secretive that no foreign officials were informed in advance, and only a small circle inside the US government was aware of what was unfolding half a world away. In his announcement, Obama said he had called Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after the raid, and said it was ``important to note that our counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding.'' One senior administration told reporters, though, ``we were very concerned ... that he was inside Pakistan, but this is something we're going to continue to work with the Pakistani government on.'' The compound is about a half-mile from a Pakistani military academy, in a city that is home to three army regiments and thousands of military personnel. Abbottabad is surrounded by hills and with mountains in the distance. Critics have long accused elements of Pakistan's security establishment of protecting bin Laden, though Islamabad has always denied it, and in a statement the foreign ministry said his death showed the country's resolve in the battle against terrorism. Whatever the global repercussions, bin Laden's death marked the end to a manhunt that consumed most of a decade that began in the grim hours after bin Laden's hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center twin towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon across the Potomac River from Washington. A fourth plane was commandeered by passengers who overcame the hijackers and forced the plane to crash in the Pennsylvania countryside. In all, nearly 3,000 were killed in the worst terror attacks on American soil. Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on the day of the attacks, issued a written statement hailing bin Laden's death as a momentous achievement. ``The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done,'' he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Osama-bin-Laden-dead-and-buried-at-sea-Obama-says-justice-is-done/articleshow/8139886.cms -------- Jihad is a part of Islam till Eternity: President Majlis e Ehrar e Islam, Indian Punjab New Age Islam News Desk May 02, 2011 The President of Majlis e Ehrar e Islam and Shahi Imam of Punjab, India, Maulana Habeeb ur Rahman has criticized the Ahmadis (referring to them contemptuously as Quadyanis) in strong words for their opposition to Jihad. He said, “Quadyanis’ tall talks cannot change the Islamic Shariah”. “These evil people think they will keep speaking against Jihad and Muslims will keep quiet for the fear of their backlash”, said the Shahi Imam while addressing the Friday prayer congregation. The Shahi Imam further added, “Jihad is a part of Islam and will remain so till the Day of Judgment. It was a jihad that the Indian Ulema (Muslims religious scholars)fought against the barbaric British rule. From Siraj ud Daula of Bengal to Tipu Sultan of Mysore many Muslims sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country.” “Prophet Muhammad (SAW) fought many battles against the tyrannical rulers and presented humanity a “complete Deen”; hence, it is a pious duty of every Muslim to perform Jihad. The person who speaks against Jihad cannot be a Muslim at all” said Maulana Habeeb ur Rahman Saani Ludhyanvi.” The Maulana said: “Jihad has been a way of ending barbarism and oppression from the world. Islam has always fought for the cause of the poor and downtrodden and the oppressed and history has been a witness to it”. In his view western media and a handful of people here and there have been presenting a wrong picture of Islam and jihad. If we take it other way round the whole of the world and all the religions accept that to maintain the peace and harmony in the world, use of force (Jihad) is necessary. If Jihad is proclaimed irrational there should be no army or any kind of modern and sophisticated weaponry.” Maulana said, “The people who are opposing Jihad are mischief-makers and according to Quran ‘making mischief’ is a bigger crime than ‘murder’.” Maulana elaborated: “If all the Ulema of the country unanimously decide for the Jihad, it becomes ‘Farz’, a duty, this is how fighting for the sake and safety of the country is a Jihad. “ He said, “We, the Muslims are ready to safeguard all the elements of Islam and no disorder will be tolerated. “Jihad fi Sabilillah” , fight in the way of the God” has been ordered in the Holy Quran and Hadith Sharief and no one can change it.” -------- Al Qaeda leader bin Laden dead, says Obama May 02, 2011 WASHINTON: Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed on Sunday in a firefight with U.S. forces in Pakistan and his body was recovered, President Barack Obama announced on Sunday. "Justice has been done," Obama said in a dramatic, late-night White House speech announcing the death of the elusive mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the New York and Washington. Obama said U.S. forces led the operation that killed bin Laden. No Americans were killed in the operation and they took care to avoid civilian casualties, he said. "The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of men, women and children," Obama said. It is a major accomplishment for Obama and his national security team, after many Americans had given up hope of ever finding bin Laden. A crowd gathered outside the White House to celebrate, chanting, "USA, USA." Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, had repeatedly vowed to bring bin Laden to justice "dead or alive" for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly3,000 people, but never did before leaving office in early 2009. U.S. officials said that after searching in vain for the al Qaeda leader since he disappeared in Afghanistan in late 2001, the Saudi-born extremist was killed in the Pakistani town of Abbotabad and his body recovered. Having the body may help convince any doubters that bin Laden is really dead. He had been the subject of a search since he eluded U.S. soldiers and Afghan militia forces in a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora Mountains of Afghanistan in 2001. The trail quickly went cold after he disappeared and many intelligence officials believed he had been hiding in Pakistan. While in hiding, bin Laden had taunted the West and advocated his militant Islamist views in videotapes spirited from his hideaway. Besides Sept. 11, Washington has also linked bin Laden to a string of attacks -- including the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in Yemen. http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14982 -------- 25 terrorists killed, hideouts destroyed in gunship attacks May 02, 2011 MOHMAND AGENCY: At least 25 terrorists were killed and several were injured in Baizai tehsil of Mohmand Agency when security forces destroyed their hideouts by gunship helicopters on Sunday. One security personnel was killed and five were also injured in the exchange of fire. According to reports, security forces on Sunday targeted terrorist hideouts in the rural areas of Baizai tehsil near the Pak-Afghan border including Soran Dara, Sheikh Baba and Walidad Kor, destroying many hideouts. Separately, a deceased member of the Aman Committee, Raza Khan, was buried at his ancestral graveyard in Rawalpindi. Mohmand Agency political agent, Amjad Ali, condoled the death of Khan with the bereaved family and announced Rs 100,000 for the family. agencies http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\05\02\story_2-5-2011_pg7_14 -------- 12-year-old suicide bomber kills four in Afghanistan 2 May 2011 KABUL: A 12-year-old suicide bomber killed four people and wounded a dozen in eastern Afghanistan today, officials said. The boy - thought to be one of the country's youngest-ever suicide attackers - detonated a vest packed with explosives in a marketplace in Paktika province, on the border with Pakistan, provincial spokesman Mukhlis Afghan said in a statement. "The head of Shkin district council, Shair Nawaz, a woman and two other men were killed and 12 others were wounded," the statement said. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/worldarticlelist/articleshow/8135986.cms -------- Al-Qaida No. 2 Zawahri most likely to succeed Osama bin Laden 2 May 2011 Egyptian-born doctor and surgeon Ayman al-Zawahri is al-Qaida's second-in-command expected to succeed Osama bin Laden following his killing in a firefight with US forces in Pakistan. ( Read: Factbox: Ayman-al Zawahri ) Zawahri has been the brains behind bin Laden and his al-Qaida network, and at times its most public face, repeatedly denouncing the United States and its allies in video messages. In the latest monitored by the SITE Intelligence Group last month, he urged Muslims to fight NATO and American forces in Libya. "I want to direct the attention of our Muslim brothers in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and the rest of the Muslim countries, that if the Americans and the NATO forces enter Libya then their neighbours in Egypt and Tunisia and Algeria and the rest of the Muslim countries should rise up and fight both the mercenaries of Gaddafi and the rest of NATO," Zawahri said. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Al-Qaida-No-2-Zawahri-most-likely-to-succeed-Osama-bin-Laden/articleshow/8140288.cms -------- Venezuela's Chavez condemns death of Gaddafi's son 2 May 2011 (VENEZUELA): Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is condemning the killing of one of Muammar Gaddafi's sons and three of his grandchildren in a NATO airstrike in Libya. Chavez asked how some European leaders such as those of Spain, France and Italy can continue to support the airstrikes in Libya. Chavez is an ally of Gaddafi, and along with other Latin American allies such as Cuba and Bolivia, has advocated negotiations to settle the conflict in Libya. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Venezuelas-Chavez-condemns-death-of-Gaddafis-son/articleshow/8133510.cms -------- World cheers Osama bin Laden's death as victory May 02 2011 Kabul : The death of Osama bin Laden was celebrated around the world as a victory for justice, but many people cautioned that it would not end terrorist attacks or ease suffering of those who lost loved ones in bombings by al-Qaeda-linked militants. Spontaneous, celebratory rallies broke out in New York City at ground zero, where the twin towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001 and outside the White House where President Barack Obama made the historic announcement. At the same time, U.S. embassies across the globe were placed on high alert and Americans warned about possible reprisals for the death of the man who masterminded the Sept. 11 attacks. “Al-Qaeda will continue”, said Haroun Mir, an Afghan analyst in Kabul, who added that the death in a raid on a mansion in Pakistan vindicated longtime allegations by Afghanistan that bin Laden enjoyed “safe havens” in the neighboring country. Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/784466/ -------- Terrorists safe havens in Pak a challenge: Pentagon Apr 30 2011 Washington : Continued presence of terrorist safe havens and role of certain "actors" in Pakistan remains a challenge in the war against terror, a US defence official has said. "The concern about the role of safe havens in Pakistan and the role of actors in Pakistan, including the Haqqani Network, the Afghan Taliban who are located primarily, the leadership is located either in the south or in the north around Peshawar, that remains a significant challenge," a senior defense official said at a Pentagon briefing. Pentagon has sent its six-monthly report to the Congress on progress made in Afghanistan, the official said, adding that the United States is looking for continued and increased cooperation with the Pakistanis on the border. "As we've seen it some areas; other areas we've seen it doing very well in some areas; other areas it's gotten better; other areas we're seeking much more improvement. That's something that we continue to look at very closely. It's certainly an area of strategic risk," the official said. Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/783800/ -------- Shahbaz meets Gen. Kayani May 02, 2011 ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif met Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Sunday night, The News has learnt. In the meeting, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan's statement about the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), came under discussion. Views were also exchanged on the continuity of professional training of Punjab Police to check terrorism in the province. Sources said during the meeting, the Army chief also advised the Punjab chief minister about breaking terrorist networks in the southern and central parts of the province. http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14974 -------- PPP, PML-Q strike power-sharing deal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Q on Sunday night agreed to form a coalition government and cooperate in the next general elections. A meeting was held at the Presidency between the leaders of PPP and PML-Q, which was attended by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Raja Basharat from the PML-Q side, while President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the PPP co-chairman, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar represented the PPP side. Full report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\05\02\story_2-5-2011_pg1_1 -------- ‘Alliance with PML-Q in country’s interest‘ May 02, 2011 LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday termed his party’s alliance with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) as being in interest of the country, for its stability and need of the hour, a private TV channel reported. Talking to media after offering condolences to Mian Aamir Mehmood, the former Lahore district nazim, over his mother’s death, he said that alliances were naturally in the best interest of the country and the nation, and a stable government could better serve the masses. “Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has had a good track record with all its coalition partners,” he said. Responding to a question about the proposed slot of a deputy prime minister, he said, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) had given constitution to Pakistan and “we have revived it and we are its custodians, so we will collaborate with our coalition partners within the parameters of the constitution.” app http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\05\02\story_2-5-2011_pg1_3 -------- Women policy not against Qur’an: Islamic Oikya Front May 02, 2011 A delegation of Islamic Oikya Front led by its chairman Syed Bahadur Shah and vice-chairman Khandakar Golam Maola Nakshabandi met the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, at Ganabha-ban Saturday evening. The state minister for forest and environment, Hasan Mahmdud, was among others, present. The Islami Oikya Front leaders told the prime minister that there was nothing wrong in the Women Development Policy that was against the Qur’an and Sunnah, said PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad. Full report at: http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/national/17199.html -------- Terror strike averted: Germany arrests 3 suspected Qaida men 2 May 2011 KARLSRUHE: Three suspected al-Qaida members were working on making a shrapnelladen bomb in Germany to attack a crowded area such as a bus or a bus stop when they were arrested, officials said Saturday. The law enforcement officials say the trio, who had been under surveillance for months, hadn't picked a specific target, but were experimenting with explosives and detonators before authorities swooped in and detained them Friday. The suspects include a Moroccan , a German with Moroccan citizenship, and a German with Iranian citizenship . The attack was "still in the experimentation stage," anti-terrorism prosecutor Rainer Griesbaum told a news conference. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Terror-strike-averted-Germany-arrests-3-suspected-Qaida-men/articleshow/8131430.cms -------- Egypt military warns against sectarian strife May 02, 2011 CAIRO: Egypt’s military rulers warned on Sunday of strong measures against anyone inciting sectarian strife, in a bid to ease tensions between Muslims and Christians. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power after president Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in February, said it was “exerting all efforts to end sectarian disagreements on the Egyptian street to protect this nation.” “The council warns that it will not hesitate to take all measures, whatever they may be, to protect the unity of the Egyptian social fabric and the stability of Egypt,” it said on its Facebook page. Full report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\05\02\story_2-5-2011_pg7_35 -------- People attack embassies in Libya after airstrike; UK expels Libyan envoy May 02, 2011 TRIPOLI: Enraged people attacked the Italian and British embassies in the Libyan capital Sunday, hours after Moammar Qaddafi escaped a NATO missile strike that a government spokesman said killed one of his sons and three young grandchildren. Britain responded to the attack on its embassy complex in Tripoli, which left the buildings badly burned, by announcing it was expelling the Libyan ambassador to London. NATO's attack on a blast wall-ringed Qaddafi family compound in a residential area of Tripoli late Saturday signaled escalating pressure on the Libyan leader who has tried to crush an armed rebellion that erupted in mid-February. Libyan officials denounced the strike as an assassination attempt and a violation of international law. Full report at: http://www.statesman.com.pk/topnews/topnews133.htm -------- Thirteen vehicles set on fire amid Karachi shutdown By S. Raza Hassan KARACHI: A total of 13 vehicles were torched in different areas of the city on Sunday when a complete shutdown was observed on a call given by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for “peaceful observance of a mourning day” over the killing of a senior party member on Saturday. The MQM condemned the arson attacks. Liaquat Qureshi was shot dead late on Friday night when his car was intercepted at the Maskan intersection on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road by gunmen riding a motorcycle. Mr Qureshi, who was driving a car bearing a registration number plate of the City District Government Karachi, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot. On Saturday following his funeral, the MQM announced that it would observe a peaceful day of mourning across the country on Sunday in protest against the killing. It also appealed to transporters and traders to show solidarity with the MQM. Addressing a press conference, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar had appealed to all party workers and sympathisers across Pakistan to hoist black flags on party offices and wear black armbands. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/02/karachi-tense-as-mqm-mourns-death-of-former-mpa.html -------- 14 NATO oil tanker torched in Attock May 02, 2011 ISLAMABAD: Unknown attackers on Sunday killed three police officials including a sub inspector and torched 14 NATO oil supply tankers on Fateh Jang- Pindi Ghaib road,in Attock District. According to details, unknown attackers on Sunday, in a attack on police post Dharnal killed three police officials including a sub inspector and torched 14 fuel tanker, police officials said. Militants then opened fire on the tankers and set them on fire. http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14970 -------- Helicopter crashes on PMA Kakul road: sources May 02, 2011 ABBOTABAD: A helicopter crashed on PMA Kakul road in the wee hours of Monday, sources said. According to the sources, security forces cordoned off the area; meanwhile, relief activities were also kicked off soon after the incident. http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14969 -------- Dollar rises on reports Osama is dead May 02, 2011 TOKYO: The US dollar rose against the euro and the yen after reports on Monday that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed nearly 10 years after the September 11 attacks. The dollar rose against the euro, which fetched 1.4764 dollars from 1.4864 in earlier trade. The dollar was at 81.66 yen from 81.19 earlier. Investors unwound short dollar positions on falls in crude oil prices on the news that bin Laden is dead, Tomohiro Nishida, senior dealer at Chuo Mitsui Trust and Banking, told Dow Jones Newswires. Full report at: http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14983 -------- Three explosions as jets overfly Tripoli: witnesses May 02, 2011 TRIPOLI: Three explosions were heard Sunday night as jets overflew Tripoli on Sunday night, witnesses said, after Libya accused NATO of trying to kill the country's embattled leader Moamer Kadhafi. The explosions were in the eastern part of the city, the witnesses said. Early on Sunday, government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said that Seif al-Arab Kadhafi, one of the Libyan leader's sons, and three of his young grandchildren were killed in a NATO airstrike Saturday night, in what he termed an attempt to assassinate Moamer Kadhafi. An international coalition began carrying out strikes on forces loyal to Kadhafi on March 19, under a United Nations Security Council mandate to protect civilians in the country. (AFP) http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14971 -------- Syrian tanks enter Deraa May 02, 2011 The Syrian government ordered more tanks into Deraa on Saturday and heavy gunfire was heard in the city as security forces tried to crush a revolt against the president, Bashar al-Assad, residents said. Syrian troops and tanks first swept into Deraa on Monday to quell pro-democracy protests against Assad that have spread across the country of 20 million, posing the biggest challenge to his rule and prompting Western powers to impose sanctions. Deraa, a southern city of 120,000 people, is the cradle of a six-week-old uprising which started with demands for more freedom and an end to corruption. It developed into a movement to overthrow Assad following a violent crackdown by authorities. Residents said they could hear heavy gunfire, mostly from Deraa’s old quarter, which is situated on a hill near the Jordanian border and is mostly residential. ‘Since dawn, we’ve been hearing a heavy exchange of gunfire that is echoing across the city and you do not know what’s happening,’ Abu Tareq, a resident, said by phone. ‘I saw more than 15 tanks that had entered from the Damascus highway heading in the direction of the Old City.’ Full report at: http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/international/17138.html -------- Yemen power transition deal faces snag Six killed in strike May 02, 2011 A deal to end Yemen’s political crisis hit a potential snag on Saturday as doubts were raised about whether the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, would personally sign an agreement that would have him quit power within a month. But the country’s main opposition coalition said it still hoped wealthy Gulf states who brokered the deal would be able to ensure a signature by Saleh, a shrewd political survivor who has faced three months of pro-democracy protests seeking his ouster. ‘Until now, we still have hope that the efforts of the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council will succeed in persuading the president to sign,’ a prominent opposition leader said. Full report at: http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/international/17137.html -------- Egypt’s Islamists announce political party May 02, 2011 Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s best organised movement, on Saturday announced the formation of a party to contest up to half of parliament’s seats in a September election. Mohammed Hussein, the group’s secretary general, said at a news conference that the movement’s consultative council decided at a meeting to adopt a decision to form the new Freedom and Justice Party. Full report at: http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/international/17132.html -------- Saudi king tightens media restrictions May 02, 2011 Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has imposed new media restrictions and threatened hefty fines and closure of news organisations allegedly undermining national security, press reports said on Saturday. Under a decree issued on Friday, the media will be prohibited from reporting anything that contradicts the strict Islamic sharia law or serves ‘foreign interests and undermines national security.’ Full report at: http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/international/17131.html -------- Iraqi judge killed as insurgents bomb house May 02, 2011 Insurgents planted bombs around the home of an Iraqi judge and blew it up on Saturday north of Baghdad, killing him and at least one of his children, the police and judicial officials said. Tuama al-Tamimi and one of his children were killed in the attack, but there were conflicting reports of whether any of Tamimi’s other family members also died in the blast in Taji, 25 kilometres north of Baghdad. Full report at: http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/international/17125.html -------- Syria protesters given surrender ultimatum 2 May 2011 The authorities in Syria set a deadline of 15 days for people who had committed “unlawful acts” to give themselves up, as a wave of arrests was reported across the country. The ultimatum came as activists planned fresh anti-government demonstrations following the deaths of dozens of people in weekend protests. In a statement, the interior ministry told “citizens who have participated in or committed unlawful acts such as bearing arms, attacking security or spreading lies to surrender by May 15 and hand their weapons in to the competent authorities.” It also called on Syrians to “supply information about saboteurs, terrorists and arms caches... they will be spared any subsequent legal consequences.” A military spokesman on Monday announced the arrest of 499 people in the southern flashpoint town of Daraa, a week after thousands of troops backed by tanks swooped on the town to crush protests. Full report at: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/May/middleeast_May23.xml§ion=middleeast -------- Oil, gold fall on dollar, news of bin Laden death 2 May 2011 Oil and gold fell, dipping by as much as two percent after news of Osama bin Laden’s death stripped out some of the risk premium that has been underpinning commodities prices. Silver tumbled 10 percent, its steepest fall since late 2008, hit by the dollar, increased margins for futures trading and a technical overhang after a 170 percent rally over the last 12 months to a record high last week. In Washington, US President Barack Obama said al Qaeda’s elusive leader, whom authorities had sought in vain since his late-2001 disappearance in Afghanistan, was killed in Pakistan on Sunday and his body recovered. The news could reduce the risk premium swelling prices because of war in Libya and unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, although Obama did urge vigilance against the risk of anti-American violence. Full report at: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/business/2011/May/business_May42.xml§ion=business -------- GCC plans more talks on Yemen May 02 2011 RIYADH/SANAA: Foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed Sunday the urgent need to defuse the crisis in Yemen while GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani was set to visit Sanaa again to hold talks with President Ali Abdullah Saleh to identify the bottlenecks toward a peaceful transition of power in the troubled country. "The GCC foreign ministers discussed all aspects of the deal and ways to ensure political transition in that fragile nation," said a statement released by the GCC General Secretariat here following a GCC ministerial meeting on Sunday. Sultan Al-Barakani, assistant secretary-general to Yemen's ruling General People Congress (GPC) party said Sunday the president was still committed to the GCC deal, suggesting that Sanaa would be a better venue for the signing ceremony. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article379566.ece -------- Syrians protest from rooftops after army action May 02 2011 AMMAN: Women and children in the besieged Syrian city of Daraa chanted "God is greatest against the tyrant" from rooftops in the night after troops backed by tanks intensified a crackdown on the city, a resident said. Troops stormed into Daraa, cradle of a six-week-old uprising against President Bashar Assad's authoritarian rule, a week ago to try to crush protests that have spread across the country of 20 million. Power and communications have been disrupted. On Saturday, tanks shelled the old quarter of the southern city and security forces stormed the Omari mosque, a focal point for protests. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article379239.ece -------- Shoura panel calls for reopening of Alkhobar port May 02 2011 RIYADH: The Shoura Council's Committee on Transport, Communications and Information Technology recommended Sunday the reopening of the Alkhobar seaport during the presentation of the Saudi Ports Authority's annual report. Secretary-General of the Shoura Muhammad Al-Ghamdi told reporters the council felt that the opening of the Alkhobar seaport would facilitate movement of liners to and from Bahrain. The Shoura also agreed to expedite the completion of a study aimed at restructuring the Saudi Ports Authority to achieve more autonomy and flexibility. It directed the ports authority to increase the operational capacity of the Kingdom's ports. On an invitation from the Saudi Ports Authority, Shoura President Abdullah Al-Asheikh paid a visit to the Jeddah Islamic Port to get a first-hand knowledge of the operations and management of the port. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article379550.ece -------- Iran’s president backs down on political challenge May 02 2011 TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a Cabinet meeting Sunday after more than a week’s absence that raised tension with the country’s supreme leader, state TV reported. The recent confrontation between Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei involved the president’s dismissal last month of the country’s most powerful intelligence chief, Heidar Moslehi. Khamenei quickly reinstated Moslehi in a slap to Ahmadinejad. In apparent protest, the president skipped two Cabinet meetings this past week. Ahmadinejad’s decision to back down and attend is likely an attempt to avoid backlash from Khamenei, who has been a strong supporter of the president. That relationship could be fraying by Ahmadinejad’s repeated attempts to push the limits of his powers. Last week, Khamenei made a rare public rebuke to Ahmadinejad, saying he will not hesitate to intervene in government affairs whenever necessary. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article379319.ece http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=4560 | |
9:57 PM
Moderate Islamist here
0 comments:
Post a Comment