| 1400-year-old mosque in Kerala to be restored to its original form | ||
 Pak militants coerce kids to carry out attacks: US reportKabul police: 10 Afghans killed in hotel attack Saudi women show greater interest in sports and games Pakistanis aware of Omar`s whereabouts: US general Organization of Islamic Cooperation chief calls for 'decade of action' Dutch approve ban on kosher and halal animal slaughter Key US Senate panel votes to authorise Libya operation Bearded Mickey stirs row by Islamic Hardlines in Egypt Over 325 Indo- Pakistanis aware of Omar`esian inmates win royal pardon Qaida leader disguised as woman held in Afghanistan Three NATO oil tankers burnt in Bolan, Nowshera We cannot match India militarily: Pak defence minister Pakistan will act against Saeed if India provides evidence: Rehman Malik ‘Islamabad must take terror issue very seriously': Indian Foreign Secy. Emirates court sentences 6 for Yemen arms plot Did Pak favour, stabbed in back by army: A Q Khan Libya fires back at ICC over Gaddafi warrant France airdrops arms to Libya rebels: Report Prosecutor presses inner circle on Qaddafi's arrest 'Israel, US bases in Gulf within reach of Iran's missiles' Pakistan says stop “blame game” at US, Afghan talks Brain dead for four months, woman gives birth to boy in Suadi Arabia Omar Abdullah refuses creation of new district Bangladesh allows 'black money' in stock exchange Pakistan unlikely to go after Haqqani militants: US officer Bhatti’s assassination: ‘Kashmiri plotted the murder’ No let-up in shelling militants, says Pakistan "Security concerns” behind withdrawal of British military advisers: Hague Iran fires 14 missiles in 2nd day of war games Yemen may launch military operation to repair pipeline Egypt court orders local councils be dissolved Exiled Syrian opposition tells Russia to make Assad resign Syria ‘street’ slams, US applauds opposition meet Israeli Army arrests 23 Palestinians, including two officials GCC mulls troops withdrawal from Bahrain Hamas leader: Palestinian reconciliation stalls Egypt orders dissolution of Mubarak-linked local councils Somali parliament approves new prime minister Afghanistan seeks foreign donors after IMF talks fail Aid flotilla ship sabotaged as Israel threatens peace activists ‘Leaders come and go,’ says Russian envoy to Syrian opposition A Saudi released after six years in Israeli jail US says Iran ‘bragging’ about missiles International Turn Key System holds seminar on Islamic banking Afghan central bank chief flees to US Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau Photo: The Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungallur, Kerala, India. | ||
| Islamic World News | |
| 29 Jun 2011, NewAgeIslam.Com | |
| 1400-year-old mosque in Kerala to be restored to its original form | |
Pak militants coerce kids to carry out attacks: US report Kabul police: 10 Afghans killed in hotel attack Saudi women show greater interest in sports and games Pakistanis aware of Omar`s whereabouts: US general Organization of Islamic Cooperation chief calls for 'decade of action' Dutch approve ban on kosher and halal animal slaughter Key US Senate panel votes to authorise Libya operation Bearded Mickey stirs row by Islamic Hardlines in Egypt Over 325 Indo- Pakistanis aware of Omar`esian inmates win royal pardon Qaida leader disguised as woman held in Afghanistan Three NATO oil tankers burnt in Bolan, Nowshera We cannot match India militarily: Pak defence minister Pakistan will act against Saeed if India provides evidence: Rehman Malik ‘Islamabad must take terror issue very seriously': Indian Foreign Secy. Emirates court sentences 6 for Yemen arms plot Did Pak favour, stabbed in back by army: A Q Khan Libya fires back at ICC over Gaddafi warrant France airdrops arms to Libya rebels: Report Prosecutor presses inner circle on Qaddafi's arrest 'Israel, US bases in Gulf within reach of Iran's missiles' Pakistan says stop “blame game” at US, Afghan talks Brain dead for four months, woman gives birth to boy in Suadi Arabia Omar Abdullah refuses creation of new district Bangladesh allows 'black money' in stock exchange Pakistan unlikely to go after Haqqani militants: US officer Bhatti’s assassination: ‘Kashmiri plotted the murder’ No let-up in shelling militants, says Pakistan "Security concerns” behind withdrawal of British military advisers: Hague Iran fires 14 missiles in 2nd day of war games Yemen may launch military operation to repair pipeline Egypt court orders local councils be dissolved Exiled Syrian opposition tells Russia to make Assad resign Syria ‘street’ slams, US applauds opposition meet Israeli Army arrests 23 Palestinians, including two officials GCC mulls troops withdrawal from Bahrain Hamas leader: Palestinian reconciliation stalls Egypt orders dissolution of Mubarak-linked local councils Somali parliament approves new prime minister Afghanistan seeks foreign donors after IMF talks fail Aid flotilla ship sabotaged as Israel threatens peace activists ‘Leaders come and go,’ says Russian envoy to Syrian opposition A Saudi released after six years in Israeli jail US says Iran ‘bragging’ about missiles International Turn Key System holds seminar on Islamic banking Afghan central bank chief flees to US Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau ------- 1400-year-old mosque in South India Jun 29, 201 Thrissur: The Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungallur, believed to be the country's first and oldest mosque, will soon be restored to its original form. Its management committee was giving final touches to a renovation project that would start in September, according to masjid president P.A. Mohammed Sayed. The 1400-year-old mosque was reconstructed many times to accommodate the increasing number of believers. “The Cheraman Juma Masjid is a cultural monument and it should be preserved it in its original form,” said Mr. Sayed. The mosque is believed to have been constructed in 629 AD by Malik Bin Dinar, a contemporary of Cheraman Perumal. Legend has it that Cheraman Perumal had gone to Mecca, met Prophet Mohammed, and embraced Islam. Perumal fell ill on the way back from Mecca. Malik Bin Dinar and a few others reached Kodungallur and showed the rulers, the letters written by Perumal about his new religious experience. Dinar and his associates were allowed to construct a mosque. When Dinar, who was the chief priest (Ghazi) of the mosque, left for Arabia, his nephew Habib Bin Malik took over. The mosque was first renovated in the 11th Century AD, and later in 1974, Mr. Sayed said. “An extension was added after demolishing the front portion of the old mosque during renovation. The ancient part of the mosque, including the sanctum sanctorum, was left untouched.” It was renovated later in 1996, and in 2003, by adding extensions to accommodate more devotees, he said. Soil examination The soil examination for the renovation project was over and work would commence in September first week, according to sources in the masjid. The work was expected to be completed in three years. The renovated mosque would have two underground prayer halls, with a capacity of 3,000 people. The mosque has been visited by a galaxy of celebrities, including theologians from different parts of the world. ‘Vidyarambham' (initiation into the world of letters) ceremonies have been held in the mosque in the Hindu style. http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/29/stories/2011062961740700.htm ------- Pak militants coerce kids to carry out attacks: US report Jun 29 2011 Washington: Pakistani militant groups are using children to act as spies, fight and carry out suicide bombings, a report released by the US State Department said. “Non-state militant groups kidnap children or coerce parents with fraudulent promises into giving away children as young as 12 to spy, fight, or die as suicide bombers in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the ‘Trafficking in Persons’ report said. It said that militants often sexually and physically abuse the children and use psychological coercion to convince them the acts they commit are justified. The report said news organisations, NGOs, and international organisations reported that the 2010 floods contributed to increased trafficking in Pakistan. The report also highlighted the sex trafficking problem in Pakistan. It said the largest human trafficking problem is concentrated in Sindh and Punjab. Incidentally, this month, security officials took into custody a nine-year-old girl who was kidnapped and forced to wear a suicide vest by militants. Sohana Javed was told to attack a police checkpoint in Lower Dir, the Express Tribune reported. http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/810114/ ------- Kabul police: 10 Afghans killed in hotel attack June 29, 2011 Kabul Police Chief Gen. Mohammad Ayub Salangi said Wednesday that 10 Afghan civilians — mostly hotel workers — died when heavily armed Taliban fighters stormed the Inter-Continental and fought security forces for more than four hours. The attack started Tuesday night, on the eve of a conference about transferring responsibility for security from foreign to Afghan forces by the end of 2014. Some conference attendees were staying at the hotel, but were not hurt. NATO helicopters killed three gunmen on the roof and Afghan security forces rushed in to end the standoff. However, Salangi says one of the six to eight suicide bombers, who had been injured, later blew himself up in one of the hotel rooms. http://www.dailypioneer.com/349322/Kabul-police-10-Afghans-killed-in-hotel-attack.html ------- Saudi women show greater interest in sports and games By JOUD AL-AMRI Jun 29, 2011 JEDDAH: Sports and games are becoming popular among women in the Kingdom with increasing awareness that they play a key role in having a sound body and mind. Basketball, volleyball and tennis are popular among Saudi women. The final of a women’s basketball championship was played in Jeddah on Sunday. Eight teams representing universities and schools participated, with a large number of spectators present. Lipton, sponsor of the championship, served green tea and distributed prizes to the women spectators. The huge presence of mainly young women spectators, as was the case at previous matches conducted at different times of the year, reveals the deep interest the younger generation has in sports. “The goal of organizing this match and other games is primarily to engender a spirit of cooperation among young women, especially as members of a team in which they have to struggle with a team spirit. They also learn to concede loss, which helps them keep cool when they experience setbacks in their lives and learn to convert their defeat into success,” team captain Lina Almaeena told Arab News after the match. Almaeena said they focused on basketball and volleyball instead of playing all games, because they first wanted to develop professionalism and then expand to more areas. She also stressed the significance of spectators in supporting sports and games. “The awareness of the importance of sports has become widespread among women. It is no more limited to the media and ministries or related departments, and as a result people attend the games and encourage the players besides really enjoying the events. Spectators also persuade their relatives and friends to develop a positive attitude toward sports. We have observed that their numbers are increasing every year,” she said. Basketball player Hadeer Sadaqah, 18, said she had been practicing the game over the past five years. She said her older sister also played basketball and trained her. In addition, she played tennis in Jeddah. “I have noticed the change in people’s attitude toward sports compared to five years ago, when it was limited to jogging and swimming. Now they want games that create a sense of honorable competition,” she said. http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article463435.ece ------- Pakistanis aware of Omar`s whereabouts: US general June 29, 2011 WASHINGTON: The Pakistanis know that Mullah Omar is in Pakistan and are ignoring US requests to find him, two senior US military commanders told Congress on Tuesday. The two commanders, who will now oversee all US military operations in the Pak-Afghan region, also said that Pakistan was protecting the Haqqani network of militants and had not acted when asked to destroy Taliban weapon factories in Fata. “We believe he is,” said Admiral William McRaven when Republican Senator Lindsey Graham asked him if Mullah Omar was hiding inside Pakistan. Lt-Gen John Allen said Pakistan lacked the desire and the capability to act against the militants. Their responses enabled senior members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to demand retaliatory actions against Pakistan if it continued to protect the militants. “Do we believe Mullah Omar is there with the knowledge of the ISI and the upper echelons of the army?” asked Senator Graham. “Sir, I believe the Pakistanis know he is in Pakistan,” said Admiral McRaven, President Barack Obama`s nominee to head the US Special Operations Command. Admiral McRaven also was in charge of the May 2 raid that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/29/pakistanis-aware-of-omars-whereabouts-us-general.html ------- Organization of Islamic Cooperation chief calls for 'decade of action' By SIRAJ WAHAB Jun 29, 2011 ASTANA, Kazakhstan: The secretary-general of the renamed Organization of Islamic Cooperation has called for a decade of action on political reforms and peaceful resolutions for Palestine, Libya and Syria. “The Muslim world is confronted with some serious developments with direct impact on its stability, unity, prosperity and development. Unfortunately, the Ummah — in certain parts — still lacks the necessary internal cohesion, strength, solidarity and capacity that are required in order to overcome these daunting challenges,” said OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. “The Muslim world is going through a defining moment in its history, which further affirms the dire need to speed up the process of concretizing the peoples’ aspiration to good governance, the rule of law, human rights, broader political participation and dedicated national dialogue.” Full report at: http://arabnews.com/world/article463464.ece ------- Dutch approve ban on kosher and halal animal slaughter Jun 29, 2011 AMSTERDAM: The Dutch parliament voted on Tuesday to ban ritual slaughter of animals, a move strongly opposed by the country's Muslim and Jewish minorities, but left a loophole that could let traditional butchery continue. The bill by the small Animal Rights Party, the first such group in Europe to win seats in a national parliament, passed the lower house of parliament and must be approved by the upper house before becoming law. It stipulates that livestock must be stunned before being slaughtered, contrary to the Muslim halal and Jewish kosher laws that require animals to be fully conscious. "This way of killing causes unnecessary pain to animals. Religious freedom cannot be unlimited," Marianne Thieme, head of Animal Rights Party, said before the vote. "For us religious freedom stops where human or animal suffering begins." In a rare show of unity, the Netherlands' Muslim and Jewish communities -- about 1 million and 40,000 respectively in a total population of 16 million -- have condemned the proposed ban as a violation of their religious freedom. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/worldarticlelist/articleshow/9028454.cms ------- Key US Senate panel votes to authorise Libya operation Jun 29, 2011 WASHINGTON: A key Senate panel has voted to authorise the US military role in the NATO-led campaign against Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi's forces but forbid the deployment of ground troops. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee backed a resolution green-lighting the US role for one year by a 14-5 margin after rejecting an attempt by Republican Senator Richard Lugar to end direct US combat strikes on Libyan targets. The panel's actions came amid a bitter political dispute over whether President Barack Obama should have secured congressional permission to take part in the three-month-old campaign. Democratic Senator John Kerry told AFP he hoped the full Senate could take up the measure this week. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Key-US-Senate-panel-votes-to-authorise-Libya-operation/articleshow/9033486.cms ------- Bearded Mickey stirs row by Islamic Hardliners in Egypt Jun 29, 2011 CAIRO: An Egyptian Christian telecom mogul has angered Islamic hard-liners by posting an online cartoon of Mickey Mouse with a beard and Minnie in a face veil. The ultraconservative Islamists, known as Salafis, called the cartoon posted by Naguib Sawiris on Twitter a mockery of Islam. They launched an online campaign calling on Muslims in Egypt to boycott Sawiris' mobile phone company Mobinil. Shares of Mobinil and Orascom Telecom, which Sawiris founded, both fell Monday on the Egyptian stock exchange. Sawiris, who is also a politician, promotes a secular Egypt. He owns media companies and after Mubarak stepped down on Feb 11, he launched a political party that calls for separation of state and religion. After the cartoon posted a few days ago stirred complaints on Twitter, Sawiris tweeted an apology on Friday and claimed he was joking. "I apologize for those who don't take this as a joke; I just thought it was a funny picture; no disrespect meant. I am sorry,'' he tweeted. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Bearded-Mickey-stirs-row-in-Egypt/articleshow/9032738.cms ------- Over 325 Indonesian inmates win royal pardon By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN Jun 29, 2011 RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has pardoned more than 325 Indonesian inmates, including housemaids, said an Indonesian official in Riyadh on Tuesday. The decision to set free the workers followed talks between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Saudi Ambassador Abdulrahman M. Amen Al-Khayyat in Jakarta Tuesday. “The list of names covered by royal clemency has been sent to us by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and covers mainly violators of local rules and those who committed petty crimes, as well as some detainees involved in illegal sex,” said Hendrar Pramutyo, an official of the citizen protection wing at the Indonesian Embassy. He said President Yudhoyono thanked the Saudi government for this gesture of support. Most of the pardoned detainees are currently serving jail terms in 13 different prisons across the Kingdom. Some of them were serving two to five years in jail, he said. The official pointed out that the 325 workers were chosen toward the end of 2010 from 1,719 jailed workers including maids still serving sentences. Asked about the agenda of the meeting between President Yudhoyono and Al-Khayyat, Pramutyo said: “The subject of the talks are not known to me, but I can confirm that they met at the presidential palace today.” The meeting comes amid mounting protests following the execution of Indonesian maid Ruyati binti Satubi in Makkah. Full report at: ttp://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article463438.ece ------- Qaida leader disguised as woman held in Afghanistan Jun 29, 201 The US-led military coalition says a senior leader of an al-Qaida linked terror group has been captured in northern Afghanistan, dressed up like a woman. Nato said the capture was the latest in a series of cases involving male militants disguised as females. It says a joint Afghan-coalition force apprehended the leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in Kunduz city. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Qaida-leader-disguised-as-woman-held/articleshow/9032693.cms ------- Three NATO oil tankers burnt in Bolan, Nowshera June 29, 2011 DERA MURAD JAMALI/ PESHAWAR: Two NATO oil tankers came under armed attack near Mach area of Bolan district on Tuesday. Mach Assistant Commissioner Qaim Khan Lashari said that unidentified armed men opened indiscriminate firing at the oil tankers carrying logistics for the NATO forces in Afghanistan, as they were on their way to Afghanistan from Karachi. “Resultantly, they caught fire and were burnt,” he said, adding, “Drivers and cleaners, however, remained unhurt as a result of firing.” Soon after the incident, personnel of law enforcement agencies reached the spot and threw a cordon around the site. Local administration has started investigations. Meanwhile, an oil tanker, supplying fuel to the NATO forces in Afghanistan, caught fire after explosion in Azakhel area of district Nowshera late Monday night, police said. As per details, driver and cleaner of the tanker allegedly stole fuel from the vehicle and detonated it with locally manufactured explosives. Both the accused, taking advantage of darkness of the night, managed to flee from the scene. The vehicle caught fire following the blasts, while personnel of the law enforcement agencies besides local people managed to put out raging flames of the fire after hectic efforts. Police registered a case against the accused driver and cleaner of the tanker and started investigations. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\06\29\story_29-6-2011_pg7_9 ------- We cannot match India militarily: Pak defence minister Jun 29, 2011 "If we only try to match them (India) militarily and buy the sort of armament which they have, we will probably not be able to afford it," Mukhtar said. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cannot afford to match the induction of modern weaponry by India, which possibly has a greater capacity to sustain a war, Pakistani defence minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has said. "If we only try to match them (India) militarily and buy the sort of armament which they have, we will probably not be able to afford it," Mukhtar said. Explaining his contention, he noted that India's economy is "six to seven times bigger than" Pakistan's and its trade volumes were "five to six times greater". "The capacity of India and Pakistan to fight was for 20 to 22 days. Now India has inducted a lot of armaments, may be they can last for 45 days, we will not be able to do so," Mukhtar said in an interview to BBC Urdu. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/We-cannot-match-India-militarily-Pak-defence-minister/articleshow/9026739.cms ------- Pakistan will act against Saeed if India provides evidence: Rehman Malik Anita Joshua “We will also go after Dawood Ibrahim if there is proof of him living in Pakistan” Pakistan has no reason to protect Saeed Dismisses statements made by Headley ISLAMABAD: Satisfied with the progress of investigations into the Samjhauta Express blast, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday said his country would act against Jama'at-ud-Da'awah chief Hafiz Saeed if India provided actionable evidence. Similarly, he articulated Islamabad's willingness to go after underworld don Dawood Ibrahim if there was proof of him living in Pakistan. Mr. Malik gave these assurances during interviews with Indian journalists here, while articulating the hope that the Judicial Commission – which Pakistan wants to send to India to record statements of those who interrogated the lone surviving terrorist in the Mumbai terror attack – will be constituted soon now that the required documentation has arrived from India. The final set of documents — English translation of statements given in Marathi — reached the Interior Ministry last week. Asked about the delay in the Mumbai case trial here, Mr. Malik said it was a matter of concern for Pakistan also. “The accused are using every provision available to prolong the process. Each has tried to get bail and we have fought it at every level. Bail has been denied to them because of the evidence we provided.” Full report at: http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/29/stories/2011062962121000.htm ------- ‘Islamabad must take terror issue very seriously': Indian Foreign Secy. Hasan Suroor LONDON: Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Monday said that better relations with Pakistan could be achieved only in “an atmosphere free of terror and violence.” Urging Islamabad to take the issue of terrorism “very seriously,” she said a stable Pakistan acting as “a bulwark against terrorism and extremism” was in its own interest and also in the interest of the wider region. “It [terrorism] hurts Pakistan but it also hurts its neighbours,” Ms. Rao said in reply to a question after delivering a speech on “Key Priorities of India's Foreign Policy” at the International Institute for Strategic Studies here. She said India had “consistently made efforts” to resolve difficult issues with Pakistan through negotiations. Full report at: http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/29/stories/2011062965731600.htm ------- Emirates court sentences 6 for Yemen arms plot Jun 29, 2011 ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: Court officials in Abu Dhabi say six men have been sentenced to jail terms for trying to smuggle 16,000 pistols to violence-wracked Yemen. The verdicts come three months after Dubai authorities uncovered the weapons in shipping containers from Turkey and allegedly bound for rebels in northern Yemen. Meanwhile, Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has faced a growing uprising seeking to end his nearly 33-year rule. The officials say Tuesday that the State Security Court gave five-year prison terms to five men: two from Oman and three Egyptians. A cargo clearance officer received a three-year sentence. The Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National reports five other defendants were acquitted in the Monday court session. http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463250.ece ------- Did Pak favour, stabbed in back by army: A Q Khan Jun 29 2011 Islamabad: Disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan has said he did Pakistan a favour by making the atomic bomb but was “stabbed in the back by the very people who benefited most” from his work — the army. Khan also contended that India and Pakistan have not fought a war since 1971 because both countries possess a nuclear deterrence. “The Kargil skirmishes (of 1999) were localised and the issue of the use of nuclear weapons never arose. We may be naive, but we are not idiots. Both sides know what the consequences would be,” Khan said, in an interview to Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine. “Nuclear weapons are a means of ensuring peace by using it as a tit-for-tat threat. I am convinced that there will never be another war between India and Pakistan,” he said. Asked about his public confession about selling nuclear technology, Khan said, “I took sole blame for this whole episode because the political leadership urgently asked me to do so...(Former military ruler) Gen Pervez Musharraf promised me a full pardon with complete rehabilitation. However, within a few days the mischief started and he started talking of a conditional pardon, the consequences of which we now all know...Our house was searched and bugged.” Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/810110/ ------- Libya fires back at ICC over Gaddafi warrant June 28, 2011 Muammar Gaddafi’s Government has hit back at an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes against the veteran Libyan leader, charging the tribunal was just a tool of European powers. On the ground, rebel fighters on Tuesday launched an attack on an arms depot held by pro-Gaddafi forces in a desert area 25 kilometres from the hilltown of Zintan, southwest of Tripoli, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. Human rights bodies and the West, meanwhile, hailed the ICC’s move on Monday that came on the 100th day of a NATO bombing campaign. Libya rejected the warrants issued for Gaddafi, 69, his son Seif al-Islam, 39, and the head of Libyan intelligence, Abdullah al-Senussi, 62, for atrocities committed in a bloody uprising that began in mid-February. The ruling is a “cover for NATO which is still trying to assassinate Gaddafi”, said Libya’s justice minister, Mohammed al-Gamudi. Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim said the ICC “functions as a European foreign policy vehicle. Full report at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/349113/Libya-fires-back-at-ICC-over-Gaddafi-warrant.html ------- France airdrops arms to Libya rebels: Report Jun 29, 2011 PARIS: France has begun parachuting arms shipments to Berber rebels fighting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces in the highlands south of Tripoli, the French daily Le Figaro reported on Wednesday. According to the paper, which said it had seen a secret intelligence memo and talked to well-placed officials, the air drops are designed to help rebel fighters encircle Tripoli and encourage a popular revolt in the city itself. "If the rebels can get to the outskirts of Tripoli, the capital will take the chance to rise against Gaddafi," said an official quoted in the report. "The regime's mercenaries are no longer getting paid and are scarcely getting fed. There's a severe fuel shortage, the population has had enough." French officials could not immediately confirm or deny the report. According to Le Figaro, the French arms shipments are being dropped from planes in the Djebel Nafusa region, where Berber tribes have risen to join the revolt against Gaddafi's rule and seized several provincial towns. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/France-airdrops-arms-to-Libya-rebels-Report/articleshow/9037816.cms ------- Prosecutor presses inner circle on Qaddafi's arrest Jun 29, 2011 THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court urged Muammar Qaddafi's own aides Tuesday to arrest the Libyan leader and turn him over for trial on murder and persecution charges — or risk prosecution themselves. As battles raged through a fifth month between Qaddafi's forces and fighters backed by NATO air strikes, prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo was optimistic that Qaddafi's regime would be over within two or three months. On Monday, the court issued arrest warrants for the Libyan leader, his son Seif and intelligence chief Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity. But the court has no police force, and relies on the law enforcement agencies of the 115 countries that ratified the court's founding statute. Libya is not a member, but Moreno-Ocampo advised Qaddafi's inner circle to arrest their leader. They “can be part of the problem and be prosecuted or they can be part of the solution — work together with other Libyans and stop the crimes,” he told reporters at the court. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463486.ece ------- 'Israel, US bases in Gulf within reach of Iran's missiles' By ALI AKBAR DAREINI Jun 29, 2011 TEHRAN: A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander claimed on Tuesday that his country is capable of producing even longer range missiles than the ones it now has but won’t make them because Israel and US bases in the Gulf are already within its reach. The remarks by Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Guard’s Aerospace Force, came as Iran is conducting 10 days of war games, its latest show of military force amid a standoff with the West over the country’s controversial nuclear program. Hajizadeh said the Guard’s arsenal already includes missiles with a range of about 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) — putting Israel, US bases in the Persian Gulf and parts of southeastern and eastern Europe within Iran’s reach. The missiles, he said, were specifically designed for Israeli and US targets. Iran’s known missiles of such range are the Shahab-3 and the Sajjil. Iran considers Israel and United States its top enemies. “There is no threat from any country to us other than the US and the Zionist regime,” Hajizadeh was quoted by the semiofficial Fars news agency. “The range of our missiles has been designed on the basis of the distance to the Zionist regime and the US bases in the Persian Gulf region.” Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article462996.ece ------- Pakistan says stop “blame game” at US, Afghan talks June 29, 2011 KABUL: Pakistan on Tuesday called for the “blame game” to stop as the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan met to discuss security in the region amid a Taliban insurgency and heightened tensions over cross border shelling. President Hamid Karzai has condemned the firing of 470 rockets from Pakistan into Afghanistan over the past three weeks. Islamabad says only that “a few accidental rounds” may have crossed the border when it pursued militants who had attacked its security forces. The escalation of fighting on the border between Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun tribal areas and Afghanistan has underscored the difficulties the three countries face in working together to reach a political settlement to the 10-year Afghan war. “We need to end this blame-game,” Salman Bashir, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, told a news conference after a meeting of three countries in Kabul, without making any specific reference to border shelling. “We need to take ownership for our own affairs, this problem will not go away if we keep on pointing finger at each other, we have done it for too long and I think it is time that our two great nations decide.” Afghanistan has often blamed elements within the Pakistan government for supporting the Taliban insurgency. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/28/pakistan-says-stop-%E2%80%9Cblame-game%E2%80%9D-at-us-afghan-talks.html ------- Brain dead for four months, woman gives birth to boy in Suadi Arabia Jun 29, 2011 MANAMA (BAHRAIN): In a rare case, a 38-year-old mother who has been brain dead for four months has given birth to a baby boy in Saudi Arabia's eastern Al Khobar province. A Gulf News report said that the baby boy was delivered 28 weeks and two days after conception and is in good condition at the Sa'ad Specialist Hospital. "The mother was transferred to the hospital more than four months ago in a terrible state," Dr Samer Qarah, chief medical officer at Sa'ad Specialist Hospital, said. "She was 11 months pregnant and was artificially fed and was given all necessary antibiotics," the Sabq news portal quoted him, as saying further. With the mother brain dead, the medical team worked on preserving the baby's life in compliance with religious and medical ethics. After 28 weeks, doctors decided to perform a caesarean due to the baby's condition worsening. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/mad-mad-world/Brain-dead-for-four-months-woman-gives-birth-to-boy-in-Suadi-Arabia/articleshow/9024793.cms ------- Omar Abdullah refuses creation of new district Jun 29, 2011 SRINAGAR: Rather than making a false promise, Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday preferred to leave the venue of a public gathering where he was expected to make a commitment for carving out Beerwah district from Budgam. Addressing a gathering at Beerwah town, 35kms from Srinagar, Omar made it clear to the audience that he will not make a promise that he cannot fulfil. The CM's no-nonsense statement came after he realized that Abdul Majid Matoo, a local National Conference leader, had gathered the crowd on the promise that Omar will announce the district status for Beerwah. However, Omar told the gathering in no uncertain terms that even though he sympathized with them, he cannot make a false commitment and explained to them the procedure adopted for creation of new districts. Some of the local organisers insisted that Omar should make the commitment to please the people even if it is not to be fulfilled later. However, Omar plainly refused to do so and left the venue instead. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Omar-Abdullah-refuses-creation-of-new-district/articleshow/9033050.cms ------- Bangladesh allows 'black money' in stock exchange Jun 29, 2011 DHAKA: Bangladesh will allow billions of dollars of untaxed money to be invested in shares under a new tax amnesty designed to prop up the volatile Dhaka Stock Exchange, an official said on Wednesday. The new legislation, which was approved by parliament late on Tuesday, offers an amnesty on so-called " black money" if it is invested in local stocks and shares, tax authority chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed Chowdhury said. "Undeclared money can be invested in stocks on the payment of a 10 percent tax on the investment," he said, adding that no questions would be asked about the source of the undeclared income. Tax evasion is widespread in Bangladesh, with a new study by the finance ministry finding that undeclared income or "black money" could account for up to 80 percent of Gross Domestic Product -- some $110 billion. The new amnesty is designed to attract some of that cash into the Dhaka Stock Exchange, where the benchmark DGEN index has lost some 45 percent of its value since hitting record highs in early December. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Bangladesh-allows-black-money-in-stock-exchange/articleshow/9036649.cms ------- Pakistan unlikely to go after Haqqani militants: US officer June 29, 2011 WASHINGTON: A senior US military officer said Tuesday Pakistani leaders show no sign they are ready to crack down on Haqqani militants operating from sanctuaries near the Afghan border, despite repeated US requests. The United States has long demanded Pakistan go after the Haqqani network in North Waziristan that has staged attacks on NATO-led forces in Afghanistan. But top officers indicated they did not expect any improvement in Islamabad’s cooperation and that Pakistan lacked the will and the resources to move against Haqqani militants. “Sir, I don’t think it is likely to change,” Vice Admiral William McRaven, who oversaw a raid last month by Navy SEALs that killed Osama bin Laden in his Pakistani hideout, told senators. Referring to talks with Islamabad military leaders, McRaven said “it is both a capacity issue for the Pakistanis and I think potentially a willingness issue.” McRaven, nominated by President Barack Obama to take over US special operations command, said the situation in northwest tribal areas “is difficult for them to deal with.” Lieutenant General John Allen, named as the next commander in Afghanistan, suggested Pakistan was keeping its options open by allowing Haqqani fighters to operate within its borders. Full report at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/198657/pakistan-unlikely-to-go-after-haqqani-militants-us-officer/ ------- Bhatti’s assassination: ‘Kashmiri plotted the murder’ By Zahid G Muhammad June 29, 2011 ISLAMABAD: In an interesting twist to the Shahbaz Bhatti murder case, an investigation report has revealed that the Ilyas Kashmiri group had crafted the plan to assassinate the former minorities’ affairs minister. Bhatti was gunned down by unknown persons in front of his residence in Islamabad in broad daylight on March 3, 2011. The group had planned to kill Bhatti with the help of Asmatullah Mawaia, the self-proclaimed leader of the Punjabi Taliban, according to a six-page report by the Ministry of Interior, based on the findings of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing Bhatti’s murder case. “[The plan] was executed by elements of Tehreek-i-Islami, coupled with the disgruntled lot of ‘Ghazi Force’ stationed at Islamabad,” the JIT report stated. Efforts to identify other executors are ongoing, it added. Full report at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/198389/bhattis-assassination-kashmiri-plotted-the-murder/ ------- No let-up in shelling militants, says Pakistan By Qaiser Butt June 29, 2011 ISLAMABAD: Islamabad has made it clear to Washington and Kabul that shelling on the Afghanistan-based militants from Pakistan would continue in the future, as it was necessary to counter terrorists who have been consistently attacking Pakistan’s security forces over the past weeks, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq told The Express Tribune. Pakistan took this position at a Core Group Meeting with US special envoy Marc Grossman and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Javed Ludin in Kabul on Tuesday. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir explained during the meeting that the bombardment was not directed at Afghan civilians. A similar meeting between the US, Afghan and Pakistan security officials also took place at the Army Headquarters in Peshawar the same day, highly placed sources told The Express Tribune. The officials were to discuss cross border strikes by Afghan militants and Pakistan’s retaliation operations. Shelling by Pakistan on Afghan militants during the week has so far claimed several civilian lives besides a large number of miscreants who crossed over to Pakistan to attack its security forces. Ambassador Sadiq was summoned by the Afghan ministry of foreign affairs last week to receive a demarche over the shelling which, according to the Afghan media, led to the deaths of several civilians, forcing others to flee their houses in Kunar and adjoining areas. Full report at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/198464/no-let-up-in-shelling-militants-says-pakistan/ ------- "Security concerns” behind withdrawal of British military advisers: Hague By Imrana Khwaja June 28, 2011 British Foreign Secretary Minister William Hague (C) is escorted by security personnel during his visit to a court house in Benghazi. Upon his return to London from a trip to the Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said that UK was committed to working with Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON: The request for withdrawal of eighteen British military advisers from Pakistan had been based on security concerns and was understandable said British Foreign Secretary William Hague. It was a difficult situation, he said, and the withdrawal would not affect the ‘Enhanced Strategic Dialogue’ between the two nations. The British military advisers were reportedly part of a £15 million programme to train Pakistan’s Frontier Corps which began last August and was scheduled to run until at least summer of 2013. Full report at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/198265/security-concerns-behind-withdrawal-of-british-military-advisers-hague/ ------- Iran fires 14 missiles in 2nd day of war games June 29, 2011 TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tested 14 missiles on Tuesday, the second day of war games intended a show of strength to the Islamic republic’s enemies in Israel and Washington. The Iranian-made surface-to-surface missiles, with a maximum range of 2,000 km, were fired simultaneously at a single target, the IRNA reported. The head of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace division emphasised Iran’s preparedness to strike Israel and US interests in the event of any attack on Iran. “The range of our missiles has been designed based on American bases in the region as well as the Zionist regime,” Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh told the Fars news agency. Washington and Israel have said they do not rule out military strikes on Iran if diplomatic means fail to stop it developing nuclear weapons. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\06\29\story_29-6-2011_pg7_3 ------- Yemen may launch military operation to repair pipeline June 29, 2011 DUBAI: Yemen may launch a military operation to secure and repair its main oil pipeline which has been shut since a mid-March attack by local tribesmen, a senior Yemeni government official told Reuters on Tuesday. The lack of crude flowing through the damaged pipeline forced the Aden refinery to halt output, triggering widespread fuel shortages and forcing the poorest Arab country to increase imports when it can least afford to. A military operation is likely if local tribal leaders do not allow the government to repair the vital oil pipeline soon. “We’re close to reaching either a deal or a crackdown,” said the official, who declined to be named. “There is mediation, we have been in contact with them. But our patience is limited.” Yemen’s main oil pipeline, which carries crude from the Marib oilfields, was halted after tribesmen demanding the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh attacked it. The resulting loss of 110,000 barrels a day (bpd) of light and sweet Yemeni crude further tightened global supplies of easily-refined oil after light Libyan oil exports were stopped in February. “There is commitment and belief in the top level of the government that this situation can’t be sustained,” the official said. He declined to say exactly when the government would start the repairs but said the decision would be made “very soon.” The impoverished Arab state has been rocked by months of protests against Saleh’s three-decade. Some generals have defected while Yemen faces a rebellion in the north, seperatist violence in the south and a resurgent wing of al Qaeda. Full report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\06\29\story_29-6-2011_pg4_1 ------- Egypt court orders local councils be dissolved June 29, 2011 CAIRO: An Egyptian court ruled on Tuesday to dissolve local councils that were elected under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, after protesters called for remnants of the old political order to be dismantled. “The court issued a decision to dissolve local councils across the country,” judge Kamal al-Lamaei told a Cairo administrative court. The councils, like other elected bodies in Egypt, were filled with members of Mubarak’s ruling party or his supporters who secured office during elections that were widely rigged when the former president ruled, analysts say. The case started a few months ago when a group of citizens asked the government to dissolve the local councils, saying they were riven with corruption. The government did not respond so they took their demand to an administrative court. The court’s ruling is not final and the government can appeal the verdict before a higher court within 60 days. The military rulers who took power after Mubarak dissolved parliament in February. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\06\29\story_29-6-2011_pg4_4 ------- Exiled Syrian opposition tells Russia to make Assad resign June 29, 2011 MOSCOW: Exiled Syrian opposition figures urged Russia on Tuesday to persuade Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to resign, warning that Moscow risked being left behind by history unless it withdrew its support for the leader. Senior Russian officials, who have thwarted Western attempts to condemn Assad for crushing protests against his rule, held a meeting with some of Assad’s most vociferous critics in Moscow. The meeting was seen as a possible sign the Kremlin might be hedging its bets and trying to ensure its clout in the Middle Eastern country if Assad is toppled. Russia’s foreign ministry said the Syrian opposition representatives came at the invitation of a regional cooperation society and that no official meetings were planned. Rights groups say 1,300 civilians have been killed during a three-month revolt against the Assad family’s 41-year rule, partly inspired by uprisings across the Arab world. Syrian authorities say more than 250 soldiers and police have died in clashes they say were provoked by militant groups. Full report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\06\29\story_29-6-2011_pg4_5 ------- Syria ‘street’ slams, US applauds opposition meet June 29, 2011 DAMASCUS: Activists behind street protests in Syria criticised on Tuesday a meeting of opposition figures, as the United States said the gathering was a step in the right direction. On Monday, about 160 dissidents, several of whom have spent years in jail as political prisoners, vowed to press ahead with a peaceful uprising, and the embattled regime of President Bashar al-Assad invited them to talks. “As a matter of principle, the Coordination Committees of the Syrian Revolution condemn any meeting or congress held under the banner of the regime,” they said on their Facebook page, an engine of the revolt. “It’s only natural that questions are raised by this meeting which claims to come from the Syrian street when the Syrian regime gave its protection and media coverage, counting on it to build a civilised and legitimate image,” they said. “Nobody should have given a drop of legitimacy to the regime at the expense of the blood of our martyrs and the suffering of the detained. The committees renew their commitment to the Syrian street.” The United States said the authorisation of the meeting was a “move in the right direction,” but that Assad still needs to go further. Washington saw the gathering as “progress, and something that is new and is important for the democratic process in Syria that we all want to see,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/29/syria-street-slams-us-applauds-opposition-meet.html ------- Israeli Army arrests 23 Palestinians, including two officials By MOHAMMED MAR’I Jun 29, 2011 RAMALLAH: Israeli forces operating in various West Bank cities arrested 23 Palestinians, including a Hamas legislator and a member of Palestine National Council (PNC), Palestinian and Israeli security sources said. The Palestinian sources said that the Israeli forces arrested Hamas legislator Nasser Abduljawad from his home in the village of Deir Ballout, to the west of Salfeet. Um Owais, Abduljawad’s wife, said that the Israeli soldiers broke into the house at 3 a.m. She added that the Israeli soldiers surrounded the house, searched their bedroom and ordered her husband to get dressed and then was taken to an Israeli army detention facility. Abduljawad was among dozens of Hamas officials who Israel arrested in June 2006 in response to the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip. He was released in September 2010. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463414.ece ------- GCC mulls troops withdrawal from Bahrain By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN Jun 29, 2011 RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states are discussing the possibility of withdrawing troops from Bahrain although no timeline has been decided so far, said a GCC official in Riyadh on Tuesday. "The withdrawal, possibly to begin next week, will be done in consultation with the Gulf countries, mainly with Saudi Arabia and the UAE," said the official on condition of anonymity. The official, who has intimate knowledge of the affairs of Gulf states, was reacting to reports that the Kingdom will withdraw most of its security forces from Bahrain starting on Monday after considering the current situation in the country. The Saudi troops, part of the GCC Peninsula Shield, will be withdrawn starting on Monday, said a Reuters report posted online late Tuesday. The report said that all GCC troops would not leave at once. On the other hand, a Saudi official was quoted by AFP as saying that the Gulf troops are to be redeployed. All troops will not be withdrawn because the danger is not yet over in Bahrain, said the AFP report. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463462.ece ------- Hamas leader: Palestinian reconciliation stalls Jun 29, 2011 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: A top Hamas official says efforts to form a joint government with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ rival Fatah group have stalled. Mahmoud Zahar is the first official from either group to openly say the troubled reconciliation talks are at an impasse. Jordan’s ad-Dustour newspaper cited Zahar on Tuesday as saying the Palestinian unity talks have foundered over the nomination of a prime minister and Abbas’ refusal to submit a proposed Cabinet list for parliament’s approval. Fatah, which controls the West Bank, wants the current prime minister, Salam Fayyad, to retain his position despite Hamas’ objection. Hamas, which rules Gaza, dominates the Palestinian legislature. The dueling governments emerged after Hamas routed Abbas’ forces and overrun Gaza in 2007. http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463111.ece ------- Egypt orders dissolution of Mubarak-linked local councils By YASMINE SALEH Jun 29, 2011 CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Tuesday ordered the dissolution of local councils elected under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, after protesters called for remnants of the old political order to be dismantled. The councils, like other elected bodies in Egypt, were filled with members of Mubarak’s ruling party or his supporters who secured office during elections that were widely rigged during his rule from 1981 to February this year. “The court issued a decision to dissolve local councils across the country,” Judge Kamal Al-Lamaei told a Cairo administrative court. The case started a few months ago when a group of citizens asked the government to dissolve the local councils, saying they were riven with corruption. The government did not respond so they took their demand to an administrative court. The court’s ruling is not final and the government can appeal the verdict before a higher court within 60 days. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463368.ece ------- Somali parliament approves new prime minister Jun 29, 2011 MOGADISHU: Somali legislators have approved the appointment of Adiweli Mohamed Ali as prime minister, their speaker said on Tuesday, and the new government’s main goal will be quashing an insurgency. Ali was named to the post last Thursday by President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. Like his predecessor, Ali comes from the Somali diaspora and was a professor of economics in the United States. He was sworn in after a 337-2 vote with two abstentions. Somalia has been mired in violence and awash with weapons since the overthrow of a dictator in 1991, and the weak Western-backed government controls only parts of the capital. Western security agencies warn that the anarchic Horn of Africa nation is a fertile breeding ground for militants, while the chaos on land has allowed piracy to flourish off its shores. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/world/article463242.ece ------- Afghanistan seeks foreign donors after IMF talks fail Jun 29, 2011 JEDDAH: Kabul is pursuing talks with international donors for foreign aid after a breakdown in discussions with the IMF left millions of dollars in aid in limbo, Afghanistan’s finance minister said. Foreign aid is expected to decline sharply in the coming years, especially after the Kabulbank scandal which strained relationships with donors, Omar Zakhilwal said in an interview in Jeddah. “No doubt Kabulbank has complicated our relationship with donors. Our hope is that the donors will not make a political issue out of this, which to some extent they have ... it is a very technical issue, not a political issue,” he said. On Monday, Afghanistan’s central bank governor said he resigned his post because he feared for his life following his role in investigating the scandal. Corruption, bad loans and mismanagement cost the politically well-connected Kabulbank, Afghanistan’s biggest private lender, hundreds of millions of dollars in what Western officials in Afghanistan openly call a classic Ponzi scheme. The International Monetary Fund rejected Afghanistan’s plans to deal with the failed lender amid other broader financial concerns — a move that automatically blocked the payment of $70 million in aid from foreign donors. “I have personally disengaged myself precisely for the reason (that Kabulbank) has been politicized,” said the finance minister, who has said talks with the IMF were “a waste of time.” Full report at: http://arabnews.com/economy/article463430.ece ------- Aid flotilla ship sabotaged as Israel threatens peace activists Jun 29, 2011 ATHENS: Pro-Palestinian activists who plan to breach Israel’s sea blockade of the Gaza Strip said Tuesday that they had increased security around their docked flotilla after an act of sabotage on one of the vessels in a Greek port. In a statement, Scandinavian organizers said “hostile divers” had cut the propeller shaft of the “Juliano,” a ship shared by Swedish, Norwegian and Greek activists. They said the damage can be repaired and that it would not affect plans to sail for the Palestinian territory toward the end of the week. “We have increased alert on all the ships. We are having a 24/7 vigil,” said Dimitris Plionis, a flotilla representative. He said the sabotage was carried out by “highly trained” individuals, possibly with a military or intelligence background, though he was not specific about the possible culprits. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463087.ece ------- ‘Leaders come and go,’ says Russian envoy to Syrian opposition Jun 29, 2011 MOSCOW: A Russian envoy told Syrian opposition members Tuesday that “leaders come and go” — an apparent signal to Syrian President Bashar Assad that he cannot count on his ally’s unconditional support after months of protests demanding his ouster. It remains to be seen, however, if Mikhail Margelov’s comments indicated a change in Moscow’s opposition to tough UN action on Syria for Assad’s bloody crackdown on his opponents. “Leaders come and go, politicians come and go, social systems come and go, but for Russia there remains a single reliable and trusted friend: The Syrian people,” Margelov told a Syrian delegation in Moscow, calling for an end to “any and all forms of violence.” The opposition estimates that 1,400 people have been killed as Assad tries to crush a pro-democracy movement inspired by successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. The regime disputes that death toll, saying that security forces have been the victims of “armed thugs” and foreign conspirators behind the unrest. It is nearly impossible to independently verify the claims on either side, although witness accounts from thousands of refugees streaming out of Syria tell of a brutal government response to protests. Syria has banned most foreign journalists and restricts coverage by reporters inside the country. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article463328.ece ------- A Saudi released after six years in Israeli jail By SULTAN AL-TAMIMI Jun 29, 2011 JEDDAH: A Saudi jailed in Israel for the last six years after he was convicted of trespassing into the country has finally been released. Forty-year-old Abdul Rahman Al-Atwi of Tabuk was arrested by Israeli forces in 2005 after he crossed into Israel from Egypt. In March 2005, an Israeli court sentenced him to three months in jail. Since no diplomatic ties exist between the Kingdom and Israel, Al-Atwi should have ideally been released to a third country that could facilitate his return to Saudi Arabia. Abdul Nasser Farawana, director of the Palestinian National Authority’s department of statistics, confirmed to Al-Riyadh newspaper that Al-Atwi’s case had been resolved. He has made contacts with his family through the Red Cross. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal confirmed on April 4, 2006, that Israel was holding the Saudi national and that Riyadh was in contact with the UN to secure his release. Al-Atwi went on three hunger strikes ranging from 70 to 90 days since his imprisonment, according to earlier reports in Arab News. Before his arrest, Al-Atwi was living in a flat in Al-Muhandiseen district in Egypt. His family claimed that he lost his way on a hiking trip in Sinai. Al-Atwi is divorced with a daughter. He worked in the Civil Defense before moving to work for a company in Makkah. ttp://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article463439.ece ------- US says Iran ‘bragging’ about missiles 29 June 2011 WASHINGTON - The United States said Tuesday that Iran is “bragging” about its missile programs rather than complying with its international obligations. Iranian state media said Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards fired 14 missiles in an exercise Tuesday, one of them a medium-range weapon capable of striking Israel or US targets in the Gulf. Iran’s actions “do not give anybody any confidence that they are moving in the direction of coming back into compliance with the demands of the international community,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. She said “Iran, rather than getting itself back in the good graces of the international community.... seems to be bragging about its capabilities, conducting secret programs, parading new missiles in front of the press. “So that’s not taking us in the direction that we want to go with Iran,” she added. Nuland said UN Security Council resolution 1929 prohibits Iran from activity related to the development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons, but did not say whether Washington thought the tested missiles were nuclear capable. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/June/middleeast_June749.xml§ion=middleeast ------- International Turn Key System Holds seminar on Islamic banking June 29, 2011 The build up to Oman’s introduction of Islamic banking is being heralded by several professional services companies, including IT solutions company International Turnkey Systems (ITS), which held a seminar at Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa last week as part of the Oman Islamic Banking Conference 2011. The seminar, titled ‘Islamic Banking – Towards a New Era of Growing Banking Business’, had Apex Press and Publishing’s Business Today as media sponsor and was attended primarily by industry peers and members of the media. Speakers advised prospective Islamic banking vendors on the challenges, opportunities and technology innovations of modern Islamic banking. Full report at: Arab News ------- Afghan central bank chief flees to US June 29, 2011 Afghanistan’s central bank governor has resigned and fled to the United States, saying his life is in danger over a corruption probe targeting influential figures connected to the government. President Hamid Karzai’s government on Tuesday dismissed the claims made by Abdul Qadir Fitrat, chairman of Da Afghanistan Bank, insisting his life was not under threat and calling him a ‘runaway governor’. ‘I announce my resignation from the position of governor of the central bank of Afghanistan immediately,’ Fitrat said in a statement issued as he visited the United States, where he reportedly has permanent residency. Unfortunately, central bank’s independence on regulatory and supervisory matters has recently been undermined by the repeated interference of high-level political authorities,’ he said. Full report at: http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/24256.html |
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Moderate Islamist here
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