Tuesday, March 22, 2011
THE AUSTRALIAN: THE Libyan crisis has presented Barack Obama with the first serious opportunity to demonstrate his multilateral approach to US foreign policy, eschewing the go-it-alone era of George W. Bush.
But this test-run of the Obama doctrine is already copping political flak from the US President's critics.
Mr Obama's position on Libya has appeared confused at times. He hesitated until it was almost too late. The Libyan mission is now defined as a limited exercise to protect populations under attack by imposing a no-fly zone, yet a core message from the White House is that Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi "needs to go".
The US is front and centre of the action, yet Mr Obama would prefer to shunt prime responsibility elsewhere.
At the heart of the President's conundrum is his attempt to strike a delicate policy balance as a push for reform sweeps through the Middle East.
First Tunisia; next Egypt. When will it stop? Which autocratic regimes, a number of them close allies, will the US pick to support or oppose?
When Mr Obama hesitated at involving the US in a Libyan no-fly zone, he was wary of the risks.
The last thing he wanted was a third war against a Muslim country. Resentment of the US in the Arab region remains high.
The only way for Mr Obama to justify legitimate action was to ensure that a no-fly zone was seen to be at the request of Arab nations, had UN backing and the load was shared with coalition partners. » | Brad Norington, Washington correspondent | The Australian | Wednesday, March 23, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Marine Le Pen's far-Right National Front party has made "historic" gains in the first round of local elections in France, only narrowly trailing Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party.
In what observers called a "severe warning" to the French President, the UMP obtained just over 17 per cent of the vote.
That is less than two per cent more than the National Front (FN), which is enjoying a revival under the leadership of Miss Le Pen, 42, daughter of party founder, Jean-Marie.
In the last such elections in 2008, the FN only mustered five per cent.
Miss Le Pen described the results as "historic" and called on supporters to "reinforce the Marine blue wave" in next Sunday's second round.
The Socialists came way out in front with 25 per cent in round one, which was marred by record abstention levels. A Left-wing party and ecologists were each credited nine and eight per cent of the vote respectively. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Monday, March 21, 2011
Related articles here and here
Front National »
THE GUARDIAN: • Consumer price index hits 4.4% for February
• Public sector net borrowing for February at £10.3bn
• Hopes dashed of big cut in deficit
• News increases chance of cautious budget packageGeorge Osborne was handed a double dose of unwelcome pre-budget news on Tuesday when official figures showed inflation leaping to 4.4% and public borrowing hit its highest February level since modern records began in 1993.
With the chancellor putting the finishing touches to his second package of fiscal measures, the rise in inflation put additional pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates while the deterioration in the public finances put paid to City hopes that borrowing in 2010-11 would significantly undershoot the government's £148bn target.
The disappointing economic news increases the chances of a cautious package from Osborne on Wednesday. The setback to the public finances gives the chancellor even less scope for budget giveaways and he will see a tough fiscal stance as necessary to prevent the Bank from raising interest rates.
Higher heating costs, the soaring price of oil and mark-ups from clothing and footwear retailers were mainly responsible for the increase in the consumer prices index measure of inflation from 4% to a 28-month high of 4.4%, according to the Office for National Statistics. » | Larry Elliott, economics editor | Tuesday, March 22, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Inflation hits 4.4% in February: Retail prices index, which includes housing costs, hit 5.5% - its highest level since July 1991 » | Graeme Wearden | Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Yesterday, whilst blogging, I noticed that Blogger had added another feature: the ‘follow by email’ feature. Naturally, in order to test the feature, I signed myself up.
I received my first email from Blogger this morning. However, even though all my posts were listed for yesterday, much to my disappontment, there were no hyperlinks to take me to the postings. Readers need this feature, I believe.
Therefore, I consider this to be unsatisfactory. Blogger will surely have to improve this feature soon. I consider hyperlinks to be essential if the newsletter is to be satisfactory. Until Blogger makes this improvement, I am removing this feature from my blogspot. I shall place it back there once I know that the improvement has been made.
I am sorry if this disappoints. But I am sure that you will agree with me: a newsletter without hyperlinks is next to useless.
Kind regards,
Mark
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A US warplane has crash landed in a Libyan field in the area around Benghazi, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
The pilot of the F-15E fighter jet was rescued by rebel soldiers after ejecting from the aircraft, it is understood. Another crew member is also thought to have ejected.
The crashed plane was discovered by a Telegraph journalist reporting in and around Benghazi, the rebel-held city.
It is thought the F-15E fighter jet came to ground after suffering a mechanical failure.
The US military confirmed that one of its jets had crash landed. Vince Crawley, a spokesman for the U.S. military's Africa Command, said that one crewman had been recovered and one was "in process of recovery".
Crawley said the crash occurred "overnight." He declined to give the location of the crash and also would not say how the rescued crewman was picked up.
This is the first coalition aircraft to have crash landed during the Libyan conflict following the third night of air strikes. » | Rob Crilly, and Laura Roberts | Tuesday, March 22, 2011
SUEDDEUTSCHE: Was hat sich der deutsche Außenminister dabei gedacht? Erst schlug er sich auf die Seite der arabischen Freiheitsrevolutionen, ließ sich auf dem Tahrir-Platz in Kairo feiern, dann forderte er den Sturz Gaddafis - nur um schließlich im Sicherheitsrat den Schwanz einzuziehen. Mit einer an Werte gebundenen Außenpolitik hat das nicht viel zu tun gehabt.
Die deutsche Bundeskanzlerin fährt in der Politik gerne auf Sicht, auf sehr kurze Sicht sogar. Da kann es schon mal vorkommen, dass man sich in der Auffahrt einer Autobahn vertut und auf die falsche Fahrbahn gerät. Dies ist dann eine hochgefährliche Situation - und zwar nicht nur für einen selbst, sondern vor allem auch für viele andere. Genau dies ist der deutschen Außenpolitik in der Causa Libyen geschehen.
Den eingetretenen Schaden für Deutschland kann man heute besichtigen. Die deutsche Politik hat in den Vereinten Nationen und im Nahen Osten ihre Glaubwürdigkeit eingebüßt, der Anspruch der Bundesrepublik auf einen ständigen Sitz im Sicherheitsrat wurde soeben endgültig in die Tonne getreten, und um Europa muss einem angst und bange werden.
Die Geschlossenheit der Vetomächte und der Mehrheit des Sicherheitsrates, die Unterstützung von Arabischer Liga und der Organisation Islamischer Staaten, die Beteiligung zweier arabischer Staaten an der humanitären Militärintervention - was wollte die Bundesregierung eigentlich noch mehr, um zuzustimmen? » | Eine Außenansicht von Joschka Fischer | Dienstag, 22. März 2011
ZEIT ONLINE: Syrien fürchtet ein Übergreifen der Proteste aus Ägypten, Tunesien oder Libyen. Die Sicherheitskräfte greifen hart durch – und nehmen sogar Schüler fest."Wir fordern den Sturz des Regimes", hatten die Kinder an Häuserwände und Getreidesilos gesprüht – der gemeinsame Schlachtruf der arabischen Aufstände in Tunesien, Ägypten, Bahrain und Libyen. Die Reaktion der allgegenwärtigen syrischen Staatssicherheit war wie immer – und doch lief diesmal alles ganz anders. In Handschellen wurden die 15 Schülerinnen und Schüler aus der Klasse geholt und abgeführt, das sorgte bei den Bewohnern der Stadt Deraa für Empörung – die sie offen äußerten und auf die Straße gingen.
Seit vier Tagen wird nun auch Syrien von der arabischen Protestwelle erfasst. Auch am Wochenende demonstrierten in Deraa wieder mehr als 10.000 Menschen in der Grenzstadt zu Jordanien südlich von Damaskus. Das Regime ließ scharf schießen, fünf Menschen starben, über 100 wurden verletzt. Seitdem dreht sich die Spirale von Schüssen und Toten, Beerdigungen und Trauerzügen, Demonstrationen und neuer Polizeigewalt. Erst brannten Autos in Deraa, inzwischen sind der Sitz des Gouverneurs, der Justizpalast, das Hauptquartier der Baath-Partei sowie Filialen der Mobilfunk-Firma Syriatel, die einem Cousin von Präsident Baschar al-Assad gehört, nur noch rauchende Ruinen. » | Martin Gehlen | Montag21. März 2011
LE POINT: La France, plutôt isolée, refuse que l'Alliance prenne le contrôle des opérations contre Kadhafi.L'orage qui menaçait depuis des jours au sein de l'Otan a fini par éclater lundi, la France refusant que l'Alliance remplace la coalition internationale en Libye, et la Turquie rejetant l'idée de lui donner carte blanche pour imposer une zone d'exclusion aérienne. Au cours d'une réunion, les ambassadeurs d'une majorité des 28 pays membres ont confirmé leur souhait que l'Alliance relaie au plus tôt la coalition qui a lancé la campagne de bombardements samedi, selon les diplomates. Un point de vue qu'a résumé le chef de la diplomatie luxembourgeoise Jean Asselborn, venu à Bruxelles pour une réunion européenne qui avait aussi la Libye à son ordre du jour : "Mon pays, comme beaucoup d'autres, n'a qu'un seul moyen de s'engager, c'est dans le cadre de l'Otan." Mais Paris, bien qu'assez isolé, renâcle devant ce qu'impliquerait un tel affichage : si l'Otan dirige l'intervention, les pays arabes ne voudront pas s'y rallier et, pire, finiront par la dénoncer, répète la France. » | Source AFP | Mardi 21 Mars 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Student activists draw inspiration from Egypt protests and call for 24-hour occupation of London landmark
Campaigners against public service cuts are calling for a 24-hour occupation of Trafalgar Square – drawing inspiration from revolts in the Middle East – to coincide with Saturday's trade union protest in London.
Student activists who organised last year's demonstrations say there will be a rolling programme of sit-ins and protests on the day and have called on people to occupy the central London square turning "Trafalgar into Tahrir" – a reference to the gathering point in Cairo that was at the heart of the revolution in Egypt earlier this year.
"We want Trafalgar Square to become a focal point for the ongoing occupations, marches and sit-ins that will carry on throughout the weekend," said Michael Chessum from the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts. "There are a lot of smaller scale demonstrations and actions planned and, just as we have seen in recent protests in the Middle East and north Africa, we want to create an ongoing organising hub."
Saturday's main demonstration has been organised by the TUC and is expected to see more than 200,000 people – including public sector workers, families and first-time protesters – take to the capital's streets to oppose government cuts.
This month the TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, promised a barrage of protests against the cuts, ranging from industrial strikes and "peaceful civil disobedience" to petitions by Tory voters in the shires.
The plan to occupy Trafalgar Square is the latest in a wave of proposed sit-ins, occupations and "people's assemblies" that activists have branded a "carnival of civil disobedience". Continue reading and comment » | Matthew Taylor | Tuesday, March 22, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Le Pen fille says she'll lead the Front National into the battle for republican values in FranceMarine Le Pen surveys the mountain of letters on her desk, complaining she's run out of autographed photos to send to fans. Although Le Pen fires handguns at shooting ranges for a hobby, Sarah Palin isn't an idol. Instead, she gestures out of the office window to a statue of Joan of Arc, the mascot of the Front National, which for decades under Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie, was the most successful far-right, xenophobic party in western Europe. Under the new leadership of "Le Pen, Fille", the party headquarters on a grey suburban street in Nanterre has been decorated with national symbols: a towering fibreglass French cockerel stands guard over a rockery.
But on her office wall, to emphasise Le Pen's plea that she is not antisemitic, is an abstract painting by an Israeli artist and friend. "It's called the top of the world because that's where she said I was aiming ... well maybe not that high! Ha!" Le Pen throws her head back and delivers her trademark Sid James laugh.
Le Pen, or simply "Marine" as the nation casually calls her, has sparked the biggest political panic attack France has seen for a decade. The "Marine effect" on Monday brought a historic 15% for the Front National in the first round of local elections, striking fear into both left and right for this week's second round. The 42-year-old, twice-divorced, mother-of-three is so popular that several polls show her topping next year's French presidential first round and sailing through to the final round run-off. She is on a crusade to "soften" her party and strip away the old overtones of racist, antisemitic extremists while defending the core of her father's nationalism, and courting a new white-collar electorate fearful of crime, immigration, Muslims and losing their jobs.
She is the youngest of three blonde daughters who for decades were wheeled out by their father to symbolise the true French nation, and who were teased at school that "papa" was a "fascist". At eight, Le Pen survived a bomb attack on the family as they slept in their beds. Later, her parents' gruesome public divorce battle saw her mother pose in Playboy for revenge. All three Le Pen daughters publicly "lived and breathed the party", married and divorced Front National party workers, in Marine's case twice.
Trained as a lawyer, she has worked for the party machine for 25 years, and has now taken to the campaign trail with her partner, Louis Aliot, on the party's executive. "It's true that there's almost an intimacy between me and the French public. They feel a particular link to me because I'm not part of that self-proclaimed elite running France today," she said. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Monday, March 21, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Under Cameron the state is big enough for a war, but too small to keep our local libraries open
The onslaught by the US, Britain and France to impose regime change in Libya – for that is what this war is about – has little to do with saving lives and less with supporting democracy in the Arab world. It is about controlling, not sustaining, the drive for change in the Middle East, by bringing the whole process under western domination.
The belief of the rulers of Bahrain and Yemen – that they have the west's blessing to do whatever is necessary to crush protest while Colonel Gaddafi is to be obliterated for doing much the same – is the starkest sign of this.
The UN security council decision has given the stamp of legality to an essentially lawless project. This situation calls for assertive mediation, not massive bombardment, if saving lives is really the concern – as the second thoughts already gripping Russia, China and some Arab leaders indicate.
The UN decision was taken at the instigation of the frightened autocrats of the Arab League, few of whom can claim any mandate to rule superior to that of Gaddafi's brutal regime. Behind a transparent Qatari fig-leaf, its implementation has been subcontracted to the same powers who have spread such havoc throughout the Arab world for a century and more, up to and including Iraq. » | Andrew Murray | Tuesday, March 22, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Telegraph View: Our RAF pilots are entitled to know why they are risking their lives in Libya. Regrettably, no coherent explanation has been given.When British forces are put in harm's way, as RAF pilots are in the skies over Libya, they are entitled to expect absolute clarity about the purpose of their mission. We ask them to risk their lives for us: they are entitled to know why. Regrettably, no such clarity has accompanied the early stages of the action to uphold UN Resolution 1973.
On Sunday, Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, said that targeting Gaddafi personally "would potentially be a possibility" under the terms of the UN resolution. When the same question was put to General Sir David Richards, the Chief of the Defence Staff, yesterday, he replied: "Absolutely not. It is not allowed under the UN resolution and it is not something I want to discuss any further." At the best of times, it would be alarming to see the political head of the Ministry of Defence publicly at odds with the military head. At a time of conflict, it is unforgivable. Matters quickly went from bad to worse as No 10 briefed that Sir David was "wrong" – not the message you want to hear about your military commander when we are at war. Admittedly, events have been moving quickly. As David Cameron told the Commons yesterday, it had been a "race against time to avoid the slaughter of civilians in Benghazi". Even so, that cannot excuse such discordancy. Both the minister and the general must have been sitting around the same table, listening to the same briefing on the legality and implications of the UN resolution. How could they possibly emerge with such contrasting analyses? Continue reading and comment » | Telegraph View | Monday, March 21, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Is Muammar Gaddafi a target? PM and military split over war aims: David Cameron says Libyan leader may be a legitimate target while Chief of the Defence Staff said he was 'absolutely not' » | Patrick Wintour and Ewen MacAskill in Washington | Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
THE JERUSALEM POST: Analysts say the unique Saudi move has crossed a red line for Iran which may prompt it to intervene as a counterweight.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to deploy security forces in embattled Bahrain threatens to escalate a domestic political dispute in the island state into a sectarian confrontation with Iran, whose reverberations may be felt as far afield as Iraq and Lebanon, analysts said.
Saudi Arabia, together with security personnel from the United Arab Emirates operating under a mandate from the Gulf Cooperation Council, has placed 2,000 soldiers and police in Bahrain. At the cost of four lives, scores of injured and the imposition of martial law, calm has been restored. A week after the March 14 deployment, businesses, the stock market and schools were re-opening.
But analysts said the Saudi move – the first ever by one Arab state intervening militarily in another since the onset of the so-called Jasmine Revolution three months ago – has crossed a red line for Iran and may prompt it to intervene as a counterweight.
A tiny country with no oil of its own, Bahrain nevertheless holds a strategic place in the Gulf. It is home to the US Fifth Fleet and is adjacent to Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil fields. Its Sunni Islamic monarchy is close to the Saudi ruling house as well as the US, but some 70% of its population shares the Shi'ite faith of Iran, Riyadh’s rival for regional supremacy.
“Iran sees it as an attack on the international Shi'ite community,” Theodore Karasik, director for research and development at the Dubai-based Institute for near east and Gulf Military Analysis. “Also, they have claimed Bahrain in the past, as a historical claim, is Iran’s 14th province. That kind of rhetoric is a portent for the future.” » | David Rosenberg / The Media Line | Monday, March 21, 2011
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: «Mouammar Kadhafi doit partir», a déclaré lundi le président américain Barack Obama à Santiago du Chili, ajoutant que les Etats-Unis s’en tiendront au mandat de la résolution 1973 de l’ONU dans son action militaire en Libye.
Les forces de la coalition internationale en Libye s’en tiennent aux objectifs définis par la résolution de l’ONU et n’ont pas pour mission de soutenir une offensive des rebelles ou d’éliminer le colonel Kadhafi, a déclaré lundi le chef militaire de la coalition.
Alain Juppé a qualifié l’intervention de "succès" car elle a évité un "bain de sang".
"Nous avons sauvé les civils de Benghazi", a assuré M. Juppé. Le ministre français des Affaires étrangères a ajouté que l’Otan était prête à soutenir l’intervention "dans quelques jours".
Les forces de la coalition ont neutralisé les défenses aériennes libyennes et empêché "un massacre à Benghazi", le bastion de la rébellion dans l’est du pays, a affirmé lundi le Premier ministre britannique David Cameron.
Après le succès annoncé d’une première vague de frappes samedi et dimanche contre les défenses antiaériennes et des blindés près des lignes des insurgés, la prochaine étape consistera à attaquer les lignes de ravitaillement pour limiter la capacité d’action des forces gouvernementales.
"Ses forces sont plutôt éparpillées entre Tripoli et Benghazi (à 1.000 km à l’est) et nous allons essayer de couper le soutien logistique" à partir de lundi, avait expliqué dimanche le plus haut gradé américain, l’amiral Michael Mullen, après avoir assuré que la zone d’exclusion aérienne était instaurée.
La coalition, avec à sa tête les Etats-Unis, la France et la Grande-Bretagne, est entrée en action samedi en bombardant par air et par mer des objectifs militaires, en vertu de la résolution 1973 de l’ONU adoptée jeudi soir.
Dans la nuit, un missile a détruit un bâtiment administratif à l’intérieur du complexe résidentiel de M. Kadhafi dans le sud de Tripoli. Selon un responsable militaire de la coalition, il abritait un centre "de commandement et de contrôle" des forces gouvernementales. » | AFP | Lundi 21 Mars 2011
THE TIMES: Diplomacy: killing Gaddafi ‘is legal’ – The Government’s legal advice suggests that assassinating Colonel Gaddafi would be legal under UN Resolution 1973. Amid confusing public statements over the issue of a decapitation strike, the Government and senior military figures tried to play down such an attack » | Sam Coates, Deputy Political Editor | Monday, March 21, 2011 [£]
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Im Jemen haben sich die Kommandeure der wichtigsten Armeeeinheiten gegen Staatspräsident Salih gestellt und damit einen Militärputsch eingeleitet. In den Straßen von Sanaa kam es bereits zu Verbrüderungsszenen von Soldaten und Demonstranten wie beim Sturz Husni Mubarak in Kairo.
Führende Generäle habe sich im Jemen gegen Staatspräsident Ali Abdullah Salih gestellt und damit einen Militärputsch eingeleitet. Am Montag hat Generalmajor Ali Muhsin al Ahmar, ein Halbbruder des Präsidenten und Kommandeur der wichtigen Ersten Division, erklärt, seine Truppen schützten nun die Demonstranten gegen die Angriffe der Einheiten den Präsidenten. Er kenne die Emotionen der Offiziere und unterstütze daher die Revolution der Jugend, sagte er. » | Von Rainer Hermann | Montag, 21. März 2011
Related »
THE TIMES: Yemen: coup fears as military defects – Three of Yemen’s most senior army commanders defected and pledged the support for anti-government protesters today, raising concerns of a military coup against an increasingly isolated President Ali Abdullah Saleh » | Iona Craig, Sanaa | Monday, March 21, 2011 [£]
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: Police have broken up a small protest outside the interior ministry in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, leading to the arrest of at least a dozen people.
According to reports, riot police prevented the crowd from rushing into the building.
Reuters reported that at least 50 police cars surrounded the ministry, with riot police vastly outnumbering the number of protesters.
"They arrested a lot of people," pro-democracy activist Mohammed Al-Qahtani told CNN. "They started putting them in police cars and even buses to take them away."
The demonstrators were demanding the release of people detained by the government without trial for long periods on security charges. » | Monday, March 21, 2011
Related »
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: „UN-Resolution ist Aufruf zum Kreuzzug“ : Der russische Ministerpräsident Putin hat den Westen wegen des Vorgehens in Libyen scharf kritisiert. Präsident Medwedjew hält dagegen Vergleiche mit Kreuzzügen für „unangebracht“. » | M.L.; F.A.Z. | Montag, 21. März 2011
YNET NEWS: Putin joins fierce opposition to Libya ‘crusade’: Russian PM slams 'US foreign policy trend of interfering in other countries' affairs.' Qaeda to rebels: Don't trust Americans » | News agencies | Monday, March 21, 2011
EURASIA REVIEW: One of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s sons died in a Tripoli hospital of suffering severe burn wounds, a German website reported on Monday.
Khamis, aged 32 and Gaddafi’s sixth son, was allegedly injured on Saturday when a Libyan Air Force pilot deliberately ploughed his jet into a compound in Tripoli where Gaddafi and some of his family were staying, the Deutsch-Tuerkische Nachrichten said.
The news comes as Western forces launched a second wave of air strikes on Gaddafi’s positions under a UN resolution authorizing military action to protect Libyan civilians.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday called the resolution “defective and flawed,” but it remains unclear why Russia, which opposed Western intervention in Libya from the start, did not use its power to veto the move. » | Ria Novosti | Monday, March 21, 2011
Related »
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood gains upper hand – Islamist reformers seemed to be gaining the upper hand over their secular rivals in Egypt on Monday after gaining a boost in a referendum on constitutional change. » | Adrian Blomfield, Middle East Correspondent | Monday, March 21, 2011
REUTERS: Unrest spread in southern Syria on Monday with hundreds of people demonstrating against the government in the town of Jassem, activists said, but authorities did not use force to quell the latest protest.Security forces killed four civilians in demonstrations that erupted last week in the town of Deraa, in the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad's rule since the 45-year-old succeeded his father 11 years ago.
"This is peaceful, peaceful. God, Syria, freedom," chanted the protesters in Jassem, an agricultural town 30 km (20 miles) west of Deraa.
The authorities appeared to adopt less heavy-handed tactics, choosing not to intervene against protests demanding freedom and an end to corruption and repression, but not the overthrow of Assad. The ruling Baath Party has banned opposition and enforced emergency laws since 1963.
In Deraa, hundreds of black-uniformed security forces wielding AK-47 assault rifles lined the streets but did not confront thousands of mourners who marched at the funeral of 23-year-old Raed al-Kerad, a protester killed in Deraa.
"God, Syria, freedom. The people want the overthrow of corruption," they chanted.
The slogan is a play on the words "the people want the overthrow of the regime," the rallying cry of revolutions that overthrew the veteran rulers of Tunisia and Egypt and have spread across the Arab world. » | Khaled Yacoub Oweis | DAMASCUS | Monday, March 21, 2011
REUTERS AFRICA: MUSCAT - About 200 workers at two refineries staged demonstrations on Sunday, demanding higher wages, as a series of concessions by Oman's veteran ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said have failed to quell discontent and unrest.
The protesters, along with those working in an oil field who went on strike last week, have complained that they are among the least-paid oil workers in the Gulf.
"We want higher pay, better pension, training, regular promotions and more Omanis in the management team," Mohamed Al Harthi, one of the protesters at the Muscat refinery, said. » | © Thomson Reuters | Sunday, March 20, 2011
AFP: GAINESVILLE, Florida — A controversial US evangelical preacher oversaw the burning of a copy of the Koran in a small Florida church after finding the Muslim holy book "guilty" of crimes.
The burning was carried out by pastor Wayne Sapp under the supervision of Terry Jones, who last September drew sweeping condemnation over his plan to ignite a pile of Korans on the anniversary of September 11, 2001 attacks.
Sunday's event was presented as a trial of the book in which the Koran was found "guilty" and "executed."
The jury deliberated for about eight minutes. The book, which had been soaking for an hour in kerosene, was put in a metal tray in the center of the church, and Sapp started the fire with a barbecue lighter.
The book burned for around 10 minutes while some onlookers posed for photos. » | AFP | Monday, March 21, 2011
REUTERS: Hundreds of young Shi'ite men marched down a commercial street in the Saudi city of Qatif, near the heart of the kingdom's oil industry, pounding their fists in anger over their country's military intervention in Bahrain."With our blood and soul we sacrifice for you, Bahrain," they chanted as they walked, according to videos of a recent protest posted on the internet. Some wore scarves to conceal their faces. Others waved Bahraini flags.
"People are boiling," one Shi'ite activist in Qatif told Reuters by phone, asking not to be named for fear of arrest. "People are talking about strikes, demonstration and prayer to help the Bahrainis."
The protests were in response to Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter and most powerful Gulf Arab state, sending troops to Bahrain last week to help quell weeks of protests by majority Shi'ites in the Sunni-led monarchy. Bahrain's opposition called it a declaration of war.
Riyadh, facing Shi'ite protests of its own, fears a sustained revolt in neighboring Bahrain could embolden its own Shi'ite minority, which has long grumbled about sectarian discrimination, charges Riyadh denies.
The military intervention, however, appears to have only deepened Shi'ite resentment in the kingdom, where between 10 and 15 percent of the 18 million Saudi nationals are Shi'ites.
Leading Saudi Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Hassan al-Saffar has called for Gulf leaders to find a political solution.
Saudi Shi'ites, inspired by pro-democracy protests across the Arab world that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia, have held sporadic protests in a handful of eastern towns over the past three weeks.
"Before the start of revolution in Tunis, people felt rather incapable of making a difference," activist Tawfiq al-Seif said. "They (now) feel they can make a difference." » | Cynthia Johnston | QATIF, Saudi Arabia | Monday, March 21, 2011
SIFY NEWS: A senior Iranian cleric on Friday urged Bahrain's majority Shiites to keep up their protests — until death or victory — against the Sunni monarchy in the tiny island kingdom.
Bahrain has been rocked by a month long uprising of the Shiite-led opposition against its Sunni rulers. And though there are no apparent links between Bahrain's Shiite opposition and Iran's predominantly Shiite nation, the Persian Gulf leaders are concerned that political gains by Bahrain's Shiites could give Iran a stepping stone to its archrival Saudi Arabia.
Iran has denounced the deployment of a Saudi-led force from Sunni Arab allies this week to prop up the Sunni monarchy in Bahrain.
In Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati spoke to worshippers after Friday prayers and called on "brothers and sisters" in Bahrain to "resist against the enemy until you die or win."
Jannati, a supporter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, asked all Muslims to help the Bahraini Shiites "restore rights" and also accused the United States of being an "accomplice in all crimes." » | AP | Monday, March 21, 2011
BLOOMBERG: Voters in Egypt’s first referendum after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak backed a set of constitutional changes that some critics say may favor established groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood in future elections.
More than 18 million valid ballots were counted, with 77.2 percent of voters approving the changes, Mohammed Attia, the head of the judicial commission overseeing the referendum, said today at a press conference in Cairo.
“This is the first referendum after the people regained Egypt,” said Attia. “The citizen felt after the January 25 revolution that his vote counts.” Turnout was about 41 percent, he said.
Voters cast their ballots yesterday, many for the first time, to approve measures including term limits for presidents and fuller judicial oversight of voting. The changes, drafted by a committee appointed by the military council running the country since last month’s ouster of Mubarak, are aimed at paving the way for parliamentary and presidential elections later this year.
Backers such as the Muslim Brotherhood, banned under Mubarak, say the amendments will help speed up the transition to civilian rule, free the army for duties like guarding national security and end turmoil that is hurting the economy.
Opponents say the proposals aren’t enough to advance democracy and that a rushed transition will let established forces -- the Brotherhood, and Mubarak’s former ruling party -- dominate parliament at the expense of young activists who led the popular uprising. » | Mariam Fam | Sunday, March 20, 2011
BBC: Key Yemeni General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, who is close to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, says he has joined the protest movement against the regime.
Two other army commanders are also reported to have resigned.
The announcement comes a day after the president dismissed his entire cabinet in apparent response to the protests against his rule. He asked them to stay in place in a caretaker capacity.
Meanwhile in the north, 20 people have been killed in fighting, reports say.
Fighting between Shia rebels, Yemeni troops and their tribal allies erupted over a north Yemen military site at the entrance to the northern province of al-Jawf, military and tribal sources are quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
'Preserving stability'
Gen Mohsen is the commanding officer of a division of the army which has sent units to a main square in the capital, Sanaa, where protests have taken place.
"The crisis is getting more complicated and it's pushing the country towards violence and civil war," the general - who commands an armoured infantry division - said in a statement broadcast by al-Jazeera television.
"According to what I'm feeling, and according to the feelings of my partner commanders and soldiers... I announce our support and our peaceful backing to the youth revolution... We are going to fulfil our duties in preserving security and stability."
A BBC correspondent says that one by one, the pillars of President Saleh's power are being knocked away. » | Monday, March 21, 2011
LE POINT: Ligue arabe : "Nous respectons la résolution de l'ONU" – Lors d'une conférence de presse avec Ban Ki-moon, Amr Moussa a assuré qu'il n'y avait "aucun désaccord" avec la coalition internationale. » | LePoint.fr | Lundi 21 Mars 2011
LE POINT: Grâce à la division de la droite, le FN obtient plus de 15 % des voix au premier tour du scrutin."La fameuse vague bleu Marine existe bel et bien !" Au siège du Front national, à Nanterre, dans les Hauts-de-Seine, l'atmosphère est à la fête. Avec 15,26 % des voix, dimanche, au premier tour des élections cantonales (consultez les résultats canton par canton), le parti de Marine Le Pen confirme dans les urnes sa forte poussée dans les sondages et talonne l'UMP, qui atteint 17,13 % (estimation dimanche minuit). La numéro un du FN jubile : "C'est un record historique dans des conditions difficiles, puisque l'UMP et le PS sont aux manettes depuis trente ans, et donc très implantés localement." Vêtue simplement d'un jean et d'un chemisier noir, Marine Le Pen analyse : "Ce scrutin confirme que le vote Front national n'est plus un vote de protestation, mais bel et bien un vote d'adhésion." Le FN affronterait en duel le PS ou l'UMP au second tour dans 206 cantons. » | Ségolène Gros de Larquier | Lundi 21 Mars 2011
LE POINT: Un responsable des Affaires étrangères israélien a lancé des menaces de mort contre les chefs du Hamas à la suite de tirs de roquettes.
Le vice-ministre israélien des Affaires étrangères Dany Ayalon a lancé, lundi, des menaces de mort contre les chefs du Hamas à la suite de tirs de dizaines de roquettes de la bande de Gaza vers le sud d'Israël. "Si le Hamas décide de provoquer une escalade, nous y mettrons fin. (...) Nous disposons de plusieurs niveaux d'action avant de faire entrer des forces terrestres (dans la bande de Gaza), y compris des menaces directes contre les chefs du Hamas", a prévenu Dany Ayalon à la radio publique. » | Source AFP | Lundi 21 Mars 2011
TAGES ANZEIGER: Der US-Präsident will im Libyen-Krieg weder führen noch einen raschen Machtwechsel erzwingen. Eine solch offene Strategie könnte Ghadhafi nützen.
Libyen hat für die USA weder strategisch noch politisch Priorität. Nichts hätte diese Vernachlässigung im Vergleich zu den Revolten in Ägypten oder Tunesien mehr unterstreichen können als die Pläne des Präsidenten selber. Noch vor dem ersten Flugangriff auf Anlagen der libyschen Armee meldete sich Barack Obama, wie seit langem geplant, zusammen mit Frau und Töchtern für mehrere Tage nach Südamerika ab, wo er als Erstes einmal die Ambitionen Brasiliens auf einen ständigen Sitz im UNO-Sicherheitsrat unterstützte. Was es zu Libyen zu sagen gab, überliess er derweil seiner Aussenministerin Hillary Clinton und verschiedenen Generälen, was der Sache nicht diente. Welche Ziele die USA in Libyen verfolgen, bleibt so unklar.
Was soll aus Ghadhafi werden?
Die noch immer nicht konsolidierte Position der Regierung Obamas wurde übers Wochenende überdeutlich sichtbar. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chef des Generalstabs und somit oberster Stratege der Streitkräfte, sprach zunächst vom zeitlich begrenzten Einsatz der US-Einheiten in Libyen und präzisierte, es sei nicht das Ziel, «ihn (Ghadhafi) gehen zu sehen». Die Angriffe könnten «sehr wohl» auch als erfolgreich betrachtet werden, wenn der Despot an der Macht bleibe, so Mullen auf NBC. Kurz danach musste sich der Admiral erklären, und diesmal blieb er vage. Wie die Militärintervention politisch ausgehe, könne er nicht sagen, so Mullen auf CNN, er wolle nicht spekulieren. » | Von Walter Niederberger, San Francisco | Montag, 21. März 2011
LE FIGARO: Emporté par sa conviction, le président a mené l'offensive diplomatique avant de prendre la tête de la coalition.
«Tu as bien joué», a glissé à Nicolas Sarkozy l'un de ses ministres régaliens au lendemain du vote de la résolution de l'ONU. «Je n'ai pas joué, j'y croyais», lui a répondu le chef de l'État. Il est vrai qu'il y a encore dix jours, personne ne pariait grand-chose sur l'initiative franco-britannique, jugée par beaucoup comme «aventureuse». Nicolas Sarkozy n'a pourtant jamais voulu se lancer dans une opération militaire contre Tripoli sans le sésame de l'ONU.
Samedi, quand il a autorisé les premiers avions français à attaquer les positions de l'armée libyenne, il a agi en chef de file de la coalition et en chef de guerre. «Les Américains n'auraient jamais envoyé leurs avions sans avoir préalablement tapissé de bombes les défenses antiaériennes de l'ennemi», note un proche du président. Du commencement jusqu'à la fin, Sarkozy a donc estimé que le sauvetage des rebelles libyens valait qu'il renoue avec la stratégie du forcing, celle qui lui avait si bien réussi au mois d'août 2008, pendant la crise russo-géorgienne.
Tout commence le 26 février à l'ONU. La France et ses partenaires européens tentent d'obtenir au Conseil de sécurité le vote de la résolution 1970, qui doit proposer des sanctions économiques et des poursuites judiciaires contre Kadhafi et ses proches. Mohammed Shalgham, l'ambassadeur de Libye, prend la parole et stupéfie des homologues du monde arabe en lançant ce jour-là un appel à l'aide pour faire cesser le «bain de sang». C'est du jamais-vu. Ses homologues des pays arabes lui font un triomphe. Son intervention permet de débloquer un vote favorable. » | Par Charles Jaigu | Dimanche 20 Mars 2011
GLOBAL ARAB NETWORK: "Your presence is a support and gives us strength," King Hamad said in a meeting with the commander and senior officers from the Peninsula Shield forces, deployed in Bahrain in line with a common defence agreement between the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.King Hamad, cited by official media, said the deployment of the peninsula shield forces was not to restore domestic order in Bahrain but to "have the duty of defending any country of the GCC states." The Bahraini Monarch said there was an "external plot" which has been ongoing for at least 30 years targeting the GCC. He asserted that the plot has failed. He did not elaborate.
The GCC consists of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates [.] » | Mohammed Almasri | Monday, March 21, 2011
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Bahrain's opposition bloc appeared to have eased its preconditions for talks with the ruling monarchy, with one leader saying the only condition now was to stop bloodshed.
As the Gulf kingdom struggled to regain normality after a week of violent tumult, the opposition released a set of demands which stopped short of previous ambitious requirements.
The group called for a lifting of military control at the main hospital, the withdrawal of Saudi and Emirati troops deployed to aid the king, and the release of prisoners seized in the violence.
But it did not mention earlier contentious preconditions including an elected council to redraft the constitution. » | Ben Framer, Manama | Sunday, March 20, 2011
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Col Muammar Gaddafi's location could not be established on Sunday night after missile attacks prompted the Libyan leader to go to ground.The only response from Col Gaddafi to scores of missile strikes and air force bombing raids came in phone calls to state television in which he vowed to distribute arms to all Libyans and turn the Mediterranean into a battleground.
Col Gaddafi disappeared from view after cancelling a planned speech to loyalists at his Bab al-Azizia compound in central Tripoli late on Saturday night.
News of the missiles strikes marked the first chink in Col Gaddafi's fortified sanctuary, as the chanting crowd, which had vowed to die with the leader, slunk away.
As the sound of songs and chanting was replaced by trudging feet, questions started to flow. "Why do you bomb us? Tell us why," said Aeshia Tajbouri. "Why don't you tell your governments there is no killing here." The two phone calls were broadcast yesterday on state television against the backdrop of a golden fist crushing a US jet – a monument to the 1986 bombing of Tripoli by President Ronald Reagan.
Col Gaddafi's failure to appear could mean he has left the compound to evade probable attack or represent a double-bluff to fox the coalition.
His speech amounted to a belligerent rejection of the UN-backed action to protect civilians in areas targeted by his troops.
"We will not leave our oil to America or France or Britain or the enemy Christian states that are aligned now against us," he said. "We will not leave our land. We will fight for every inch of our land and liberate every inch of it." Officials said the government was handing out weapons to one million Libyans, men and women, in preparation for a last ditch defence of the regime. » | Damien McElroy, Tripoli | Sunday, March 20, 2011
Watch Telegraph video here
AL ARABIYA: Crowds set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party in the Syrian city of Deraa on Sunday, residents said, as the wave of unrest in the Arab world shook even one of its most authoritarian states.
The demonstrators also set ablaze the main courts complex and two phone company branches. One of the firms, Syriatel, is owned by President Bashar al-Assad's cousin Rami Makhlouf.
"They burned the symbols of oppression and corruption," an activist said, according to Reuters. "The banks nearby were not touched."
Thousands rallied to demand an end to 48 years of emergency law in the southern city, on the third consecutive day of protests emerging as the biggest ever challenge to Syria's ruling party since it seized power nearly half a century ago. » | Agencies | DAMASCUS | Monday, March 21, 2011
AL ARABIYA: Explosions rocked Tripoli as Western forces staged fresh air strikes to halt Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on civilians, with one raid flattening a building in the strongman's heavily-fortified residence, as U.S. defense chief described any attempt by the coalition forces to kill Gaddafi as "unwise".
The airstrike destroyed the Libyan leader's "command and control capability," a coalition official said Sunday.
"The coalition is actively enforcing UNSCR (U.N. Security Council Resolution) 1973, and that in keeping with that mission, we continue to strike those targets which pose a direct threat to the Libyan people and to our ability to implement the no-fly zone," the official told AFP.
"Barbaric bombing"
The building, which was about 50 meters (165 feet) from the tent where Gaddafi generally meets guests, was flattened.
Smoke was seen on Sunday billowing from the residence and barracks at Bab al-Aziziya in the south of the Libyan capital as anti-aircraft guns fired shots.
"It was a barbaric bombing," said government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim, showing pieces of shrapnel that he said came from the missile. "This contradicts American and Western (statements) ... that it is not their target to attack this place."
Ibrahim said no one had been hurt in the attack. He declined to say whether Gaddafi was still inside the compound.
Nearby, crowds of Gaddafi loyalists, allowed into the compound as a human shield against possible air strikes, shouted anti-Western slogans including "Obama should be slaughtered." » | AlArabiya.net, Agencies | TRIPOLI/WASHINGTON | Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: With 42 killed in Sanaa, regimes show they will keep power at any costA brutal counter-revolution is sweeping through the Arabian Peninsula as Bahrain and Yemen both declare war on reform movements and ferociously try to suppress them with armed force.
In Yemen police and snipers on rooftops opened fire on Friday on a mass demonstration outside the main university, killing at least 42 people. The government has since declared martial law and set up checkpoints throughout the capital, Sanaa.
In Bahrain repression began a few days earlier, when King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa called for military support from other Gulf monarchs and 1,000 troops from Saudi Arabia crossed into the island kingdom. "This was the green light for our army to kill people," says Ali Salman, the leader of al-Wefaq, the main opposition party.
As decisively as in Yemen the Bahraini al-Khalifa royal family has rejected reform and showed that it intends to hold power by armed force. Serried ranks of riot police advancing behind a cloud of tear gas and backed by armoured vehicles and helicopters cleared protesters from Pearl Square, which has been the gathering point for protesters. The 300ft-high monument commemorating the pearl fishers of the Gulf, a rallying point for protesters, has been torn down by the army. "It was a bad memory," said the Bahraini Foreign Minister, Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa.
"There are 80 people still missing that we don't know what happened to," said Mohammed al-Maskati, an opposition activist, in a telephone interview. He added that there was no information on the whereabouts of the seven reform leaders who have been detained, but they have been charged with "incitement to kill" and being in communication with a foreign power. Mr Maskati did not think there was much that the pro-democracy protesters could do in the face of the army and police.
"They have made clear that they will stop any demonstration by brute force," he said. He added that the opposition have called on people to go to the roofs of their houses between 4.30 and 5.30 pm and wave the red-and-white Bahraini flag. They were also asked to shout "God is great" at set times. » | Patrick Cockburn | Sunday, March 20, 2011
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