Face-to-face with Abu Sakkar, Syria's 'Heart-eating Cannibal'

BBC: It sounded like the most far-fetched propaganda claim - a Syrian rebel commander who cut out the heart of a fallen enemy soldier, and ate it before a cheering crowd of his men.

The story turned out to be true in its most important aspect - a ritual demonstration of cannibalism - though when I met the commander, Abu Sakkar, in Syria last week, he seemed hazy on the details.

"I really don't remember," he says, when I ask if it was the man's heart, as reported at the time, or liver, or a piece of lung, as a doctor who saw the video said. He goes on: "I didn't bite into it. I just held it for show."

The video says otherwise. It is one of the most gruesome to emerge from Syria's civil war. In it, Abu Sakkar stands over an enemy corpse, slicing into the flesh.

"It looks like you're carving him a Valentine's heart," says one of his men, raucously. Abu Sakkar picks up a bloody handful of something and declares: "We will eat your hearts and your livers you soldiers of Bashar the dog."

Then he brings his hand up to his mouth and his lips close around whatever he is holding. At the time the video was released, in May, we rang him and he confirmed to us that he had indeed taken a ritual bite (of a piece of lung, he said).

Now, meeting him face-to-face, he seems a bit more circumspect, though his anger builds when I ask why he carried out this depraved act. (+ video) » | Paul Wood | BBC News, Syria | Friday, July 05, 2013

Egypt Army Opens Fire on Pro-Morsi Protesters

At least three supporters of deposed President Morsi killed, as crowd marches on barracks where ousted leader is held.

2am Sunday: The Time We Finally Boot Out Abu Qatada

EXPRESS: A MASSIVE security operation will swing into action when a jet carrying hate preacher Abu Qatada out of Britain touches down in the Jordanian desert

Qatada, 53, is due finally to be put on a plane at RAF Northolt in west London around 2am on Sunday.

It will carry British officials and Jordanians who will take charge of the Islamic fundamentalist when it lands at an isolated airstrip.

Qatada, who faces terrorism charges in his home country, is expected to be taken to the maximum security Muwaqqar prison in a military zone near the capital Amman.

Once inside the jail he will be put in solitary confinement until Jordan’s authorities are ready to quiz him about his alleged involvement in two bomb plots in the late 1990s. The father-of-five was found guilty in his absence of terror offences and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1999. » | Friday, July 05, 2013

Saudi Activists Face Jail for Taking Food to Woman Who Said She Was Imprisoned

THE GUARDIAN: Court finds women's rights campaigners guilty of inciting wife to defy husband's authority

Two female human rights activists are facing prison sentences in Saudi Arabia for delivering a food parcel to a woman who told them she was imprisoned in her house with her children and unable to get food.

Wajeha al-Huwaider, who has repeatedly defied Saudi laws by posting footage of herself driving on the internet, and Fawzia al-Oyouni, a women's rights activist, face 10 months in prison and a two-year travel ban after being found guilty on a sharia law charge of takhbib – incitement of a wife to defy the authority of her husband.

But campaigners argue the women have been targeted because of their human rights work, and fear that the sentences send out a chilling message to other activists who dare to criticise the repressive regime, under which women cannot drive and can only cycle in recreational areas when accompanied by a male guardian.

"These women are extremely brave and active in fighting for women's rights in Saudi Arabia, and this is a way for the Saudi authorities to silence them," said Suad Abu-Dayyeh, the Middle East and north Africa consultant for Equality Now, which is fighting for the women's release. "If they are sent to jail it sends a very clear message to defenders of human rights that they should be silent and stop their activities – not just in Saudi Arabia, but across Arab countries. These women are innocent – they should be praised for trying to help a woman in need, not imprisoned." » | Alexandra Topping | Friday, July 05, 2013

Restore the Fourth: Nationwide Anti-NSA Spying Protests Hit US

An anti-NSA surveillance nationwide protest and online campaign was triggered on Thursday. It aimed to restore the Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights, which protects US citizens from "unreasonable searches and seizures."

Spying Survey: German Trust in US at Lowest Level Since Bush

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Ongoing revelations about the NSA spying scandal have pushed German trust in the US to its lowest level since the presidency of George W. Bush. A new survey also finds that Germans want Chancellor Merkel to stand up to Washington.

It wasn't all that long ago that US President Barack Obama could take credit for having repaired a trans-Atlantic relationship that had taken a hit under his predecessor, George W. Bush. Early in his first term, some 78 percent of Germans saw the US as "a country that could be trusted."

This week, though, following revelations of large-scale US spying in Europe and vast Internet surveillance, that trust has taken a hit. A survey released late on Thursday found that only 49 percent of Germans now view the United States as trustworthy, the lowest level since Bush was in the White House. It also marks a plunge of 16 points relative to a survey taken in December 2011. » | cgh -- with wire reports | Friday, July 05, 2013

Bashar Al Assad Sees Removal Of Morsi As A Victory

Controversial: Egypt's Morsi Stripped of Power, Constitution Suspended

Egypt is undergoing a full-scale military coup. President Mohamed Morsi has been stripped of his power by the Egyptian army and the constitution has been suspended, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said in a statement. Egypt's chief justice of the constitutional court will become the interim president.

Inside Story: Egypt: The Army Steps In

The military intervenes in the midst of a political crisis, but at what cost to the country's recent democratic gains?

Rouhani Urges End to Meddling in Iranians' Private Lives

BBC: Iran's President-elect, Hassan Rouhani, has called on the government to stop interfering in people's private lives.

In a speech to clergy, Mr Rouhani said a strong government was not one that "limits the lives of the people".

He earlier called on Twitter for internet access to be freed up and for state media to report Iran's problems.

Mr Rouhani was considered politically the most moderate of the contenders in last month's presidential election, which he won with 50.7% of the vote.

He is due to be sworn in on 3 August, after the result has been ratified by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. » | Wednesday, July 03, 2013

UK to Be First Non-Muslim Country to Host Islamic Economic Forum

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: London will host the ninth World Islamic Economic Forum in October, the first time that the event will be held outside of a Muslim country, as the British capital looks to become a global hub for Sharia finance.

More than 1,500 delegates, including government and business leaders, as well as scholars, will descend on London for the three-day event, which sets out to boost trade partnerships between Islamic and European markets.

"Hosting this prestigious conference... presents huge opportunities to promote London as a world beating business hub, highlighting our status as a major centre of Islamic finance and as a compelling destination for foreign investors," Mayor of London Boris Johnson said in comments posted on the event's website.

Britain has the largest Islamic banking sector outside the Middle East and Asia, the website said. Read on and comment » | Edited by Andrew Trotman | Thursday, July 04, 2013

Adolf Hitler's Dark Charisma

Overthrow of Muslim Brotherhood Leader 'Has International Reverberations'

Read the CNN article here | Jane Kinninmont, Special to CNN | Thursday, July 04, 2013

Egypt's Army Drives Mohamed Morsi from Presidency in Dramatic Coup; Morsi Detained at Military Facility

Egypt's deposed president Mohamed Morsi is being detained in a military facility and arrest warrants have been issued for 300 members of the Muslim Brotherhood after the army took control of the country following a week of protest.

Read the Telegraph article here | Richard Spencer, Cairo | Thursday, July 04, 2013
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Egypt ousts Mohamed Morsi: Barack Obama 'deeply concerned': Barack Obama has said he is "deeply concerned" by the Egyptian military's political intervention as he faced growing pressure to cut off American aid to the country's armed forces. » | Raf Sanchez in Washingon | Thursday, July 04, 2013

Belgium's King Albert Abdicates on Grounds of Ill-health

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: King Albert II of Belgium has announced his abdication, the first time a Belgian monarch has voluntarily stepped down, amid ill health and a court case over his alleged paternity of an illegitimate daughter.

In an unexpected address to the nation, the king, aged 79, announced that he would formally abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Philippe on July 21, Belgium's national day.

"I am at an age never attained by my predecessors. I have noticed that my age and health no longer allow me to fulfill my job as I should have wished. I would not meet my duties and not honour my view of the royal function if I stuck to my post at all costs," he said.

"It's a question of elementary respect for the institutions and of respect towards you. Following a twenty year reign I am of the opinion that the moment has come to hand the torch on to the next generation."

"I want to tell you now that it was an honour and a joy to devote a large part of my life to the service of this country and its people." » | Bruno Waterfield | Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Egypt Army Topples President, Announces Transition

REUTERS.COM: Egypt's armed forces overthrew elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday and announced a political transition with the support of a wide range of political, religious and youth leaders.


After a day of drama in which tanks and troops deployed near the presidential palace as a military deadline for Mursi to yield to mass protests passed, the top army commander announced on television that the president had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people".

Flanked by political and religious leaders and top generals, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the suspension of the Islamist-tinged constitution and a roadmap for a return to democratic rule under a revised rulebook.

The president of the supreme constitutional court will act as interim head of state, assisted by an interim council and a technocratic government until new presidential and parliamentary elections are held. » | Tom Perry and Yasmine Saleh | Cairo | Wednesday, Junly 03, 2013

Belgium's King Albert II Announces Abdication

BBC: The King of the Belgians, Albert II, has announced his abdication.

In a national televised address, the 79-year-old monarch said he would step down in favour of his son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, on 21 July, Belgium's national day.

He said his health was no longer good enough to fulfil his duties, and it was time to "pass on the torch to the next generation".

He said Philippe was "well prepared" to be his successor.

During Belgium's political deadlock in 2010-11, the king - who was set to mark 20 years on the throne next month - took on the role of mediator. » | Wednesday, July 03, 2013

France Slams US Bugging, Wants to Delay Trade Talks

France is at the forefront of the EU's rhetorical offensive against Washington's surveillance activities. Officials have even said that a massive trade pact being negotiated by the Atlantic allies - could well be sunk by spying revelations. RT's Maria Finoshina reports.

George Galloway on Syria - 2013

George Galloway Demolishes David Cameron for Supporting Arab Dictators

Hypocrisy unbounded: David Cameron -- arms dealer to Arab and Middle East despots -- attacks George Galloway for "supporting Arab dictators".