Yemen slides towards all-out war after President Saleh survives rocket attack
June 3, 2011 No Comment
Government claims attack on presidential compound was ‘attempted coup’ as fighting intensifies in Sana’a Yemen’s embattled president survived an apparent attempt to kill him on Friday as fighting intensified in Sana’a amidst warnings that the country is sliding inexorably into all-out war. Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for 32 years, emerged defiant from his compound in the capital after it was attacked: shells or a missile hit a mosque inside, killing three guards and a cleric and lightly injuring him and two other senior government figures. The incident fuelled growing anxieties that the Arab uprisings, which have have brought dramatic changes to Egypt and Tunisia, is turning Yemen — already the Arab world’s poorest country — into something far more volatile and dangerous. The government was quick to accuse Saleh’s bitter rival, Hamid al-Ahmar of the opposition Islah party, of launching the attack, and government forces immediately shelled his mansion in Sana’a. “The al-Ahmars have committed a great crime, and crossed a red line,” said Tareq al-Shami, a government spokesman. “This was an attempted coup, and the government will take all necessary measures.” Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the powerful Hashid tribal federation, blamed Saleh himself for the shelling, saying it was carried out to help justify the government’s escalation of streetfighting in the capital. Saleh, who was treated at a military hospital, was reported to be preparing to give a press conference later. Claims of his death were first reported by an oppostion TV station and made headlines around the world before being denied. Abdul Ghani al-Iryani, a Yemeni political analyst, told al-Jazeera it was “quite reasonable to assume” that Ahmar’s fighters were behind the palace attack. “[The tribesmen] probably wanted him to know that [Saleh] can no longer attack them with impunity, and that they can reach him as he can reach them,” Iryani said. Other regional analysts say the chances for a democratic or peaceful transition of power in Yemen are slim. It was a violent end to a violent week. On Thursday government jets strafed roads and villages north of Sana’a as thousands of tribesmen tried to enter the capital to fight Saleh loyalists. Residents described an atmosphere of fear and alarm at food shortages and rising prices. Saleh has reneged on a deal brokered by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states under which he would step down in return for an amnesty to be followed by free elections. The US, which has leaned on the Yemeni leader in its fight against al-Qaida, has increased pressure for Saleh to go, blaming the bloodshed on his backpedalling from the agreement. Britain and the EU are also pushing hard for him to implement it. The latest violence is likely to persuade neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which has strong ties with the Yemeni tribes, to strongly press Saleh to step aside, and so avert disaster in a country where half of the 23 million people owns a gun. The attack on the president came after Friday prayers, with heavy artillery repeatedly striking the presidential compound and shaking nearby buildings. The streets were deserted after many residents fled the city for the safety of nearby villages. “People there were happy to hear that he [the president] had been killed, but then the government denied that,” said Ibrahim Mothana, 22, a student. “It means we will experience an escalation and it will probably be more violent.” Another resident told the Guardian: “The streets are empty. I managed to go out yesterday to buy some food but the prices are going up daily. In the street where I live all the families have gone back to their villages and just left a family member to stay behind to look after the house. There must be more than 100,000 in total who have left the city.” The US emphasised the need for an orderly and peaceful transfer of power. “Violence cannot resolve the issues that confront Yemen, and today’s events cannot be a justification for a new round of fighting,” a White House spokesman said. President Barack Obama’s counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, spent two days this week trying to peruade the Saudis and the UAE to boost efforts to help bring an end to Yemen’s violence. On Thursday, the official Yemeni news agency said the government was, again, willing to endorse the Gulf-brokered transition agreement. Yemen Middle East Ian Black guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Yemen slides towards all-out war after President Saleh survives rocket attack
June 3, 2011 No CommentGovernment claims attack on presidential compound was ‘attempted coup’ as fighting intensifies in Sana’a Yemen’s embattled president survived an apparent attempt to kill him on Friday as fighting intensified in Sana’a amidst warnings that the country is sliding inexorably into all-out war. Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for 32 years, emerged defiant from his compound in the capital after it was attacked: shells or a missile hit a mosque inside, killing three guards and a cleric and lightly injuring him and two other senior government figures. The incident fuelled growing anxieties that the Arab uprisings, which have have brought dramatic changes to Egypt and Tunisia, is turning Yemen — already the Arab world’s poorest country — into something far more volatile and dangerous. The government was quick to accuse Saleh’s bitter rival, Hamid al-Ahmar of the opposition Islah party, of launching the attack, and government forces immediately shelled his mansion in Sana’a. “The al-Ahmars have committed a great crime, and crossed a red line,” said Tareq al-Shami, a government spokesman. “This was an attempted coup, and the government will take all necessary measures.” Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the powerful Hashid tribal federation, blamed Saleh himself for the shelling, saying it was carried out to help justify the government’s escalation of streetfighting in the capital. Saleh, who was treated at a military hospital, was reported to be preparing to give a press conference later. Claims of his death were first reported by an oppostion TV station and made headlines around the world before being denied. Abdul Ghani al-Iryani, a Yemeni political analyst, told al-Jazeera it was “quite reasonable to assume” that Ahmar’s fighters were behind the palace attack. “[The tribesmen] probably wanted him to know that [Saleh] can no longer attack them with impunity, and that they can reach him as he can reach them,” Iryani said. Other regional analysts say the chances for a democratic or peaceful transition of power in Yemen are slim. It was a violent end to a violent week. On Thursday government jets strafed roads and villages north of Sana’a as thousands of tribesmen tried to enter the capital to fight Saleh loyalists. Residents described an atmosphere of fear and alarm at food shortages and rising prices. Saleh has reneged on a deal brokered by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states under which he would step down in return for an amnesty to be followed by free elections. The US, which has leaned on the Yemeni leader in its fight against al-Qaida, has increased pressure for Saleh to go, blaming the bloodshed on his backpedalling from the agreement. Britain and the EU are also pushing hard for him to implement it. The latest violence is likely to persuade neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which has strong ties with the Yemeni tribes, to strongly press Saleh to step aside, and so avert disaster in a country where half of the 23 million people owns a gun. The attack on the president came after Friday prayers, with heavy artillery repeatedly striking the presidential compound and shaking nearby buildings. The streets were deserted after many residents fled the city for the safety of nearby villages. “People there were happy to hear that he [the president] had been killed, but then the government denied that,” said Ibrahim Mothana, 22, a student. “It means we will experience an escalation and it will probably be more violent.” Another resident told the Guardian: “The streets are empty. I managed to go out yesterday to buy some food but the prices are going up daily. In the street where I live all the families have gone back to their villages and just left a family member to stay behind to look after the house. There must be more than 100,000 in total who have left the city.” The US emphasised the need for an orderly and peaceful transfer of power. “Violence cannot resolve the issues that confront Yemen, and today’s events cannot be a justification for a new round of fighting,” a White House spokesman said. President Barack Obama’s counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, spent two days this week trying to peruade the Saudis and the UAE to boost efforts to help bring an end to Yemen’s violence. On Thursday, the official Yemeni news agency said the government was, again, willing to endorse the Gulf-brokered transition agreement. Yemen Middle East Ian Black guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …President Obama signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act in December, but it’s not entirely safe for servicemen and women to come out of the closet just yet. The Air Force discharged an Airman under the policy as recently as April 29, the Metro Weekly reports. That’s because the…
Continue reading …America’s sweethearts are together again: Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords reunited last night after Kelly returned from his space shuttle mission, and the couple held hands for two hours. “They are smiling ear-to-ear and haven’t let go of each other’s hands,” Giffords’ spokesperson told the AP , calling it “a very…
Continue reading …Bahrain gets go-ahead for grand prix as rights activists condemn F1 decision
June 3, 2011 No Comment
FIA chiefs reinstate Bahrain grand prix after original race was postponed because of clashes between protesters and regime Bahrain was granted permission to stage the most coveted event on its calendar – the Formula One Grand Prix – in a move that has drawn condemnation from rights groups angered by a three-month crackdown against anti-regime protesters. The event, to be held in October, was originally scheduled for March but was postponed as clashes intensified between the country’s majority Shia population and security forces who were heavily backed by the militaries of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. Public pressure on organisers to not reschedule the race had been intense, with a Facebook campaign calling for a cancellation drawing 320,000 signatures. At least one quarter of staff from the Grand Prix’s organising committee, Bahrain International Circuit – all of them Shia – were sacked in April after being accused of taking part in anti-government demonstrations. Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone had earlier indicated that staging the race in Bahrain would be difficult if widespread allegations of discrimination and torture against civilians were proven. Sports teams had lobbied Ecclestone and Formula One executives not to hold the event, citing numerous human rights violations. The sport’s organising body, the FIA, said yesterday: “After considering all the factors and taking into consideration all stakeholders’ concerns, the World Motor Sport Council unanimously agreed to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix … this decision reflects the spirit of reconciliation in Bahrain, which is evident from the strong support the race receives from the government and all major parties in Bahrain, including the largest opposition group, all of whom endorse the Formula One grand prix and motorsport in the country. The decision has enraged human rights activists. Alex Wilks, the Avaaz campaign director whose online poll to ban the race was backed by hundreds of thousands of people including former world champion Damon Hill, said: “Formula One’s decision is a kick in the teeth for the Bahraini people. The race will happen in a country where government troops continue to shoot and arrest peaceful protesters. “Money has trumped human rights and good judgment, so now Formula One, plus Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and every other team will be directly linked with a bloody crackdown that’s ruined the lives of hundreds of innocent people.” Amnesty International yesterday claimed serious human rights abuses continue to be committed in Bahrain. It said more than 2,000 people had been suspended or sacked from public and private sector jobs because they had been involved in protests. Zayad R al-Zayani, the chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, hailed the FIA decision. “This is welcome news for all of Bahrain. As a country we have faced a difficult time, but stability has returned; with businesses operating close to normal, the State of National Safety lifted and countries removing travel restrictions. “Importantly, it will also offer a significant boost to the economy. The Grand Prix attracts 100,000 visitors, supports 3,000 jobs and generates around $500m of economic benefit. Its positive effect will be felt throughout the country.” Three months of martial law imposed by the ruling monarchy was lifted this week, but recriminations from the anti-regime protests that have paralysed the kingdom are still being played out. Some of those arrested are still being tried in secret by a powerful judicial body set up under emergency laws. Several dozen doctors and nurses remain under arrest. And Bahrain’s Human Rights Watch claims the number of people detained could top 1,000. Clashes have continued in the four days since martial law was lifted, though not on the same scale as the running battles seen in mid-February and March. Security forces again fired rubber bullets and bird shot at demonstrators in several parts of Manama on Friday. Authorities have been pursuing Shia opposition supporters who staged street marches to demand greater freedoms, equal rights and an elected government in the island kingdom. As the violence intensified, the calls for reform became calls for an overthrow of the 200-year-old Sunni dynasty, which demonstrators say actively discriminates against the country’s majority Shia population. The kingdom accused Iran of inciting the demonstrations and invited in Saudi forces under heavy pressure from Riyadh to help quell dissent. The Formula One Teams’ Association – which represents 11 of the marques, with Hispania Racing the exception – is to look into the FIA decision. A McLaren spokesperson said: “All FOTA teams, of which McLaren is one, acknowledge the decision made by the FIA World Motor Sport Council today. That decision is likely to be discussed internally within FOTA, and a more detailed joint position may be defined after those discussions have taken place.” Hill, the 1996 world champion, and Max Mosley, the former FIA president, have both called for the Bahrain race to be abandoned, while Red Bull’s Mark Webber is the only driver to speak out against the country hosting the race. Formula One Bahrain Middle East Motor sport Paul Weaver Martin Chulov guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Bahrain gets go-ahead for grand prix as rights activists condemn F1 decision
June 3, 2011 No CommentFIA chiefs reinstate Bahrain grand prix after original race was postponed because of clashes between protesters and regime Bahrain was granted permission to stage the most coveted event on its calendar – the Formula One Grand Prix – in a move that has drawn condemnation from rights groups angered by a three-month crackdown against anti-regime protesters. The event, to be held in October, was originally scheduled for March but was postponed as clashes intensified between the country’s majority Shia population and security forces who were heavily backed by the militaries of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. Public pressure on organisers to not reschedule the race had been intense, with a Facebook campaign calling for a cancellation drawing 320,000 signatures. At least one quarter of staff from the Grand Prix’s organising committee, Bahrain International Circuit – all of them Shia – were sacked in April after being accused of taking part in anti-government demonstrations. Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone had earlier indicated that staging the race in Bahrain would be difficult if widespread allegations of discrimination and torture against civilians were proven. Sports teams had lobbied Ecclestone and Formula One executives not to hold the event, citing numerous human rights violations. The sport’s organising body, the FIA, said yesterday: “After considering all the factors and taking into consideration all stakeholders’ concerns, the World Motor Sport Council unanimously agreed to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix … this decision reflects the spirit of reconciliation in Bahrain, which is evident from the strong support the race receives from the government and all major parties in Bahrain, including the largest opposition group, all of whom endorse the Formula One grand prix and motorsport in the country. The decision has enraged human rights activists. Alex Wilks, the Avaaz campaign director whose online poll to ban the race was backed by hundreds of thousands of people including former world champion Damon Hill, said: “Formula One’s decision is a kick in the teeth for the Bahraini people. The race will happen in a country where government troops continue to shoot and arrest peaceful protesters. “Money has trumped human rights and good judgment, so now Formula One, plus Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and every other team will be directly linked with a bloody crackdown that’s ruined the lives of hundreds of innocent people.” Amnesty International yesterday claimed serious human rights abuses continue to be committed in Bahrain. It said more than 2,000 people had been suspended or sacked from public and private sector jobs because they had been involved in protests. Zayad R al-Zayani, the chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, hailed the FIA decision. “This is welcome news for all of Bahrain. As a country we have faced a difficult time, but stability has returned; with businesses operating close to normal, the State of National Safety lifted and countries removing travel restrictions. “Importantly, it will also offer a significant boost to the economy. The Grand Prix attracts 100,000 visitors, supports 3,000 jobs and generates around $500m of economic benefit. Its positive effect will be felt throughout the country.” Three months of martial law imposed by the ruling monarchy was lifted this week, but recriminations from the anti-regime protests that have paralysed the kingdom are still being played out. Some of those arrested are still being tried in secret by a powerful judicial body set up under emergency laws. Several dozen doctors and nurses remain under arrest. And Bahrain’s Human Rights Watch claims the number of people detained could top 1,000. Clashes have continued in the four days since martial law was lifted, though not on the same scale as the running battles seen in mid-February and March. Security forces again fired rubber bullets and bird shot at demonstrators in several parts of Manama on Friday. Authorities have been pursuing Shia opposition supporters who staged street marches to demand greater freedoms, equal rights and an elected government in the island kingdom. As the violence intensified, the calls for reform became calls for an overthrow of the 200-year-old Sunni dynasty, which demonstrators say actively discriminates against the country’s majority Shia population. The kingdom accused Iran of inciting the demonstrations and invited in Saudi forces under heavy pressure from Riyadh to help quell dissent. The Formula One Teams’ Association – which represents 11 of the marques, with Hispania Racing the exception – is to look into the FIA decision. A McLaren spokesperson said: “All FOTA teams, of which McLaren is one, acknowledge the decision made by the FIA World Motor Sport Council today. That decision is likely to be discussed internally within FOTA, and a more detailed joint position may be defined after those discussions have taken place.” Hill, the 1996 world champion, and Max Mosley, the former FIA president, have both called for the Bahrain race to be abandoned, while Red Bull’s Mark Webber is the only driver to speak out against the country hosting the race. Formula One Bahrain Middle East Motor sport Paul Weaver Martin Chulov guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Following his inconclusive media blitz , Anthony Weiner yesterday said he was done talking about that crotch shot. CBS 2 political reporter Marcia Kramer still wasn’t feeling quite satisfied, though, and decided to pay him a visit at his Capitol Hill office. But instead of getting answers, she got the cops…
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As Nato continues strikes on Tripoli, US expresses concerns for the safety of Iman al-Obeidi A Libyan woman who claimed she was gang-raped by Muammar Gaddafi’s troops has been deported from Qatar, where she sought refuge, and is now in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, a UN official has said. Her expulsion casts light on one of the most widely covered alleged abuses by Gaddafi’s forces. Meanwhile Nato continued its relentless nightly bombing raids on Libyan military and security bases, backing rebels who are trying to unseat the Libyan dictator after a four-decade rule. A series of at least 10 strikes hit targets in and around the Libyan capital early on Friday. The attacks targeted military barracks close to Gaddafi’s sprawling compound in central Tripoli, a police station and a military base, according to a government official speaking on condition of anonymity. He said it was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. The US government expressed concern for the safety of the Libyan woman, Iman al-Obeidi. In March, al-Obeidi rushed into Tripoli’s Rixos hotel where all foreign correspondents are forced to stay while covering the part of Libya under Gaddafi’s control, and shouted out her story of being stopped at a checkpoint, dragged away and gang-raped by soldiers. As she spoke, and as photographers and reporters recorded her words, government minders whose job is to escort reporters around the area, dragged her away. She disappeared for several days, then turned up in Tunisia and later Qatar. Little was heard from her until Thursday, when she was suddenly expelled from Qatar and ended up in Benghazi, the Libyan rebels’ de facto capital. No explanation was forthcoming from Qatar. Rebel spokesman Jalal el-Gallal said al-Obeidi arrived in Benghazi by plane. “She’s welcome to stay, this is her country,” el-Gallal told the Associated Press. The UN refugee agency’s Sybella Wilkes said al-Obeidi should have been allowed to stay in Qatar, and her deportation runs contrary to international law. Al-Obeidi “is a recognized refugee, and we don’t consider there is any good reason for her deportation,” Wilkes told AP. US state department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was “monitoring the situation” and working to ensure al-Obeidi’s safety. “We’re going to work to make sure that she’s kept safe, first and foremost, and that she finds appropriate asylum,” Toner told reporters in Washington on Thursday. Libyan authorities have alternately labeled her a drunk, a prostitute and a thief. Al-Obeidi has maintained that she was targeted by Gaddafi’s troops because she is from Benghazi, the rebel stronghold. Human rights violations are one aspect of the rebels’ complaints against the Gaddafi regime. This week a report by a UN body said it found evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Gaddafi’s government, and also charged that the rebels have committed abuses. Four of the early morning blasts on Friday shook and rattled the city, targeting an area where military barracks are located, said the government official. Those barracks, which had been hit in the past, are close to the sprawling compound of the Libyan leader. The blasts shook windows of the hotel where reporters stay in Tripoli. The official said it wasn’t immediately clear if there were any casualties. Six earlier strikes targeted a police station and a military base outside of Tripoli in the areas of Hera and Aziziya, said the official. The strikes appeared to be the heaviest to hit Tripoli since South African president Jacob Zuma visited Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in the capital last week in an effort to find a peaceful resolution to the country’s crisis. Libya Iman al-Obeidi Muammar Gaddafi Arab and Middle East unrest Qatar Middle East Africa guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Long after the time allotted by ESPN had passed, the Scripps National Spelling Bee was still going strong last night. The five remaining competitors were on a streak—21 correct words in a row—and one started to wonder “if they could declare five-way co-champions.” But when the streak finally…
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Military portrays China as victim rather than perpetrator of cyber-attack and vows to strengthen online defences China must bolster its online defences in the battle for public opinion, two military officers said on Friday as Beijing sought to portray itself as a victim rather than a perpetrator of cyberwarfare. Two days after the US-based search engine Google revealed China was the origin of a high-profile hacking attack , senior colonel Ye Zheng and his colleague Zhao Baoxian of the People’s Liberation Army emphasised the need for a robust internet strategy. “Just as nuclear warfare was the strategic war of the industrial era, cyberwarfare has become the strategic war of the information era, a form of battle that is massively destructive and concerns the life and death of nations,” the strategists from the Academy of Military Sciences wrote in the China Youth Daily. The article did not mention Google, but it comes amid a stream of angry rebuttals to the company’s accusation that the hacking originated in China. The Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday that the claims revealed “ulterior motives”. An editorial in the nationalist Global Times newspaper went further, describing Google as “snotty-nosed” and resentful about its failure to secure a larger share of the market in China. Neither Google nor the US government has directly blamed Chinese authorities for the hacking incidents against several hundred senior US and South Korean officials, human rights activists and journalists. But the search engine traced the attacks to Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong and home to a school that has previously been suspected of hosting hackers . US secretary of state Hillary Clinton described the allegations as “very serious”. Chinese officials acknowledged last week that their army – like that of several other nations – had established a cyberwarfare unit. Known as the “cyber blue team”, the group of 30 officers is reportedly organised under the Guangdong military command in the south of China and has a multi-million pound budget, the Global Times reported. “Cyber-attacks have become an international problem affecting both civilian and military areas,” China’s defence ministry spokesman, Geng Yansheng, was quoted as saying at a rare media briefing. “China is relatively weak in cyber security and has often been targeted. This temporary programme is aimed at improving our defences against such attacks.” The unit and others are said to have already been engaged in simulations of cyberwarfare. Rather than hacking attacks aimed at obtaining private or secret information, Ye and Zhao said China was threatened by psychological operations that used the internet to shift public opinion against governments. They cited the “domino effect” seen in the Middle East and north Africa created by Facebook, Twitter and other social media that are banned by China’s great firewall of censorship. “Cyberwarfare is an entirely new mode of battle that is invisible and silent, and it is active not only in wars and conflicts, but also flares in the everyday political, economic, military, cultural and scientific activities,” the article went on to say. China Google Censorship United States Jonathan Watts guardian.co.uk
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