Iraq executes 'Chemical Ali'
USA TODAY: BAGHDAD — Iraq's government spokesman says Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin "Chemical Ali" was executed Monday about a week after being sentenced to death for the poison gas attacks that killed more than 5,000 Kurds in 1988. >>> AP | Monday, January 25, 2010

Bombenexplosion in Paris
NZZ: Bei der Explosion einer Paketbombe im Zentrum von Paris ist eine Person getötet worden. Mindestens eine weitere Person sei schwer verletzt worden, verlautete aus Justizkreisen. Der Sprengsatz explodierte in einer Anwaltskanzlei im 8. Pariser Arrondissement. Laut Medienberichten wurden sechs Menschen verletzt. Bombenexplosion in Paris: Ein Person getötet, fünf weitere verletzt >>>

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Breaking News: Libyan Families Drop Demands for the Execution of Five Bulgarian Nurses and One Palestinian Doctor
BBC: Families of Libyan children infected with HIV have dropped their demand for six foreign medical workers convicted in the case to be sentenced to death. Libya families end execution bid (more)

Mark Alexander

Gunman was a South Korean
BBC: Police have named a student who shot dead at least 30 people at a US university as Cho Seung-hui, a 23-year-old from South Korea. S Korean named as campus gunman

WATCH BBC VIDEO: Police name university killer

Mark Alexander

Has Alan Johnston been killed?

Photo courtesy of the NZZ

BBC: A Palestinian group calling itself the Al Tawhid Al Jihad brigade has issued a claim that it has killed BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.

The BBC says it is aware of the reports and is deeply concerned, but stresses there is no independent verification.

In a statement faxed to news agencies, the group contrasts the attention given to Alan Johnston's captivity with that given to Palestinians held in prison.

Mr Johnston was abducted as he returned home from his Gaza office on 12 March.

The BBC has issued a statement saying it is deeply concerned about what it is hearing.

"But we stress that at this stage," it says, "it is rumour with no independent verification".

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Der BBC-Journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza angeblich getötet: Keine offizielle Bestätigung

Mark Alexander

Ahmadinejad to release 15 sailors
"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children. Why don't they respect the values of families in the West?" - Ahmadinejad

DAILY MAIL: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he has pardoned the 15 British sailors and marines detained in the Gulf last month.

He has also publicly decorated the coastguards he said had captured the sailors who "trespassed" into Iranian waters.
He presented them with the medal of honour at a press conference in Tehran, broadcast live around the world and eagerly watched both in Whitehall and in the homes of the sailors' and marines' families.

Mr Ahmadinejad said he wanted to "honour" the coastguards and added he valued their work and he declared the Iranian people would 'steadfastly' oppose aggression.

In a reference to one of the captives, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children. Why don't they respect the values of families in the West?" Iranian president says he will free captured British soldiers

THE TELEGRAPH: Iran to release sailors as ‘gift to Britain’

Mark Alexander

Step up to the plate, Tony!
YAHOO NEWS (UK): The 15 British sailors seized in the Gulf may face trial and legal moves have been launched, Iran's ambassador to Moscow has said.

"It is possible that the British soldiers who entered into Iranian waters will go on trial for taking this illegal action," Ambassador Gholamreza Ansari told a Russian television channel.

"The legal phase concerning these British soldiers has started and if charges against them are proven, they will be punished," said Ansari. British sailors may face trial

WATCH BBC VIDEO: Iran captives 'may face trial

“Entschuldigung von London verlangt” - NZZ: Iran bereitet ein Gerichtsverfahren gegen die 15 britischen Soldaten vor, die seit acht Tagen in iranischem Gewahrsam sind. Das gab der iranische Botschafter in Russland bekannt. London habe sich bisher nicht für den Vorfall entschuldigt. Die britische Regierung zeigte sich unbeeindruckt. Iran will britischen Soldaten den Prozess machen

Der saudische König warnt Teheran vor einem US-Angriff! - WELTONLINE: Der Konflikt um die verschleppten britischen Marinesoldaten spitzt sich zu. Die Bundeskanzlerin verteidigt die scharfe Erklärung der EU-Außenminister zur der Geiselkrise im Iran. Unterdessen warnt der saudische König Teheran vor einem US-Angriff. Kanzlerin Merkel begrüßt starkes Signal der EU

Mark Alexander

The Foreign Office describes the latest “confession” as “disgraceful exploitation”
BBC: A second member of the Royal Navy crew captured in the Gulf has apologised for trespassing in Iranian waters in a broadcast on Iranian television.

He was quoted as saying: "We entered Iranian waters without permission and were arrested by Iranian coastguards.

"I would like to apologise to the Iranian people for that." Navy crewman apologises says Iran

WATCH BBC VIDEO 1: UK ‘concern’ over UK sailors

WATCH BBC VIDEO 2: Navy crewman (Nathan Thomas Summers) apologises on Iranian TV

Mark Alexander

Faye Turney is alleged to have called for the British government to withdraw from Iraq!
YAHOO NEWS (UK): Iran has published a new letter allegedly written by Leading Seaman Faye Turney in which she supposedly calls for British forces to withdraw from Iraq. The letter also asks the British Government why it allowed the British captives to stray into Iranian waters. New letter from captive in Iran

Mark Alexander

Iran plays ‘cat and mouse’ with Great Britain, with the intention of humiliating the British still further
BBC: Iran may delay its plan to release the only woman among 15 captured Royal Navy crew because of the UK's "incorrect attitude", an official has said. Seized sailor’s release in doubt

Iran says [it] may not release woman sailor

Iran lässt Britin vorerst nicht frei

Gereizte Stimmung zwischen Iran und Großbritannien

Téhéran menace de ne plus libérer la militaire britannique

Mark Alexander

Khalid’s Sheikh Mohammed’s Confession
"I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew Daniel Pearl ... For those who would like to confirm, there are pictures of me on the internet holding his head." - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

BBC: Alleged al-Qaeda mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has confessed to the killing of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in 2002, the Pentagon says. Key 9/11 figure ‘beheaded Pearl’

Al-Qaeda mastermind admits Pearl murder too by Elsa McLaren (THE TIMES)

Mark Alexander