Al Qaeda's biggest threat By Paul Cruickshank, Nic Robertson, and Tim Lister
Ibrahim al-Asiri is the sort of terrorist who keeps intelligence officials awake at night. He’s al Qaeda’s chief bomb-maker, and he built explosive devices hidden in printer cartridges that got onto several planes in October 2010. He’s still at large in Yemen. The bomb plots he’s alleged to have masterminded – the 2009 underwear bomb plot and printer bombs dispatched to the United States in 2010 – have very nearly worked. And security experts say al-Asiri and al Qaeda in Yemen may yet penetrate the security screening that is meant to protect aviation.
A U.S. missile strike in September 2011 killed al-Awlaki.
U.S. officials believe his death has temporarily lessened the threat of an attack on the United States. But they also believe that AQAP has emerged as the most dangerous part of the al Qaeda terrorist network.
As for al-Asiri, "he is in fact undoubtedly one of, if not the largest threats that we face right now," a senior U.S. counter-terrorism official told CNN. "He's smart, determined and quite secretive about his activities and clearly determined."
Saudi counter-terrorism officials believe that political turmoil in Yemen is allowing AQAP to gain strength, according to Alani, because the regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh has focused its efforts on survival rather than counter-terrorism.
Recent months have seen jihadist militants linked to AQAP but operating under the banner Ansar al Shariah periodically take control of towns in southern Yemen.
In their public statements, AQAP commanders have claimed to be at the forefront of such efforts - in line with their pledge after the death of bin Laden to follow the guidance of al Qaeda’s new leader, al-Zawahiri, whose strategic maxim for jihadists has long been to create "an Islamic base in the heart of the Arab region."
Some eyewitness accounts report a new focus within the group on seizing territory. Abdul Razzaq al-Jamal, a Yemeni journalist who was given unique access to al Qaeda fighters in Abyan province, wrote in the Al Quds al Arabi newspaper last autumn that the group had "used a new strategy recently, which is the strategy of showing themselves and controlling."
Counter-terrorism analysts disagree on how significant a role the group has played in the fighting in Yemen. An extensive field study published by West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center in September found that most of AQAP’s fighters - in the low hundreds - were drawn from urban areas, and there was no conclusive evidence that the group had yet won the allegiance of tribes in southern Yemen.
By contrast, al-Jamal, the Yemeni journalist, described seeing significantly greater numbers of al Qaeda fighters and witnessing their control of several towns in Abyan province last September. Despite a fluctuating situation on the ground, jihadist militants still control significant territory in southern Yemen, including much of the town of Zinjibar, according to reports.
Saudi counter-terrorism officials believe AQAP has taken a back seat in the fighting in Yemen, and has instead taken advantage of the breathing space opened up by jihadist advances to build up its cell structure and a network of safe houses, according to Alani. The group, he says, has learned lessons from Iraq, when seizing territory made al Qaeda an easy target for American airstrikes.
CNN’s Ken Shiffman, Pam Benson and Tristan Milder contributed to this report.
Leaders of a country are chosen because people feel that they have the capability to wield the power given to them wisely. However, there are some people who take advantage of this trust and abuse their power. Such a person is known as a dictator, like Kim Jong Il. While North Korea was in the grip of a famine, he was busy building up a nuclear arsenal to threaten neighbouring countries. If he had been a good leader, he would not have abused his power and neglected his people, who love him with almost a fanatical devotion. He is a good example of people who use power solely to further their own agenda rather than use it for the good of others.
From iTODAY:UK's Hague fears Iran could start 'new Cold War'
LONDON - Iran is clearly trying to develop a nuclear weapons capability, and if it succeeds it will set off a dangerous round of nuclear proliferation across the Middle East, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in an interview published today.
Iran says its uranium enrichment program is purely for civilian purposes, but Western powers suspect Tehran is trying to develop the ability to produce nuclear weapons.
Western powers have been pressing Tehran to hold substantive talks on its nuclear program and want it to halt its uranium enrichment, but Iran says it has an absolute right to press ahead with its plans.
Several rounds of increasingly punitive United Nations and Western sanctions have failed to persuade Iran to stop its enrichment program, some of which has been moved to underground buildings for greater security.
The Iranians "are clearly continuing their nuclear weapons program," Hague told The Daily Telegraph. "If they obtain nuclear weapons capability, I think other nations across the Middle East will want to develop nuclear weapons."
"The most serious round of nuclear proliferation since nuclear weapons were invented would have begun, with all the destabilizing effects in the Middle East, and the threat of a new Cold War in the Middle East without necessarily all the safety mechanisms," he said. "That would be a disaster in world affairs."
There has been public discussion in Israel about whether it should attack Iran to stop it from developing a nuclear bomb, and tension between the two foes has been raised by attacks on Israeli diplomats abroad and the recent assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran.
"We are very clear to all concerned that we are not advocating military action," Hague said in the interview. "We support a twin-track strategy of sanctions and pressure, and negotiations on the other hand."
"We are not favouring the idea of anybody attacking Iran at the moment," he added.
The latest signal from Tehran that it might be willing to resume talks on the nuclear issue, in the form of a letter to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, have been greeted with cautious optimism by the United States and the European Union. REUTERS
Taiwan court jails former president for corruption: A Taiwanese court today sentenced former president Chen Shui-bian to life in prison after finding him guilty of corruption.
The high-profile, politically charged case also involved Chen's wife, who was sentenced to life for corruption, and numerous relatives and aides.
"Chen Shui-bian and Wu Shu-chen were sentenced to life in prison because Chen has done grave damage to the country, and Wu, because she was involved in corruption deals as the first lady," said a court spokesman, Huang Chun-ming. He said the couple had also been fined a total of NT$500m (£9m).
Chen, the former Democratic Progressive party leader, was the first non-Nationalist to lead the self-ruled island since Chiang Kai-shek fled there at the end of the civil war in 1949.
Prosecutors had charged Chen with embezzling £1.9m from a special presidential office fund, accepting bribes of about £5.4m in connection with a land deal, laundering money through Swiss bank accounts, and forging documents.
The 58-year-old pleaded not guilty – at one point going on hunger strike – and claimed he was being persecuted for his anti-Beijing views by his successor, Ma Ying-jeou, who has thawed relations with China.
Hundreds of Chen supporters demonstrated outside the court in Taipei holding flags and banners saying "Free him" and "Chen's innocent".
Chen, who has been held in a suburban Taipei jail since late December, chose not to attend today's proceedings. He won power in 2000, having campaigned on a pledge to clean up Nationalist corruption and deepen Taiwan's de facto independence. But the Nationalist majority in the legislature, and his alleged tendency to play fast and loose with accepted procedures, quickly caused him problems.
Chen angered Beijing with pro-independence views and also alienated Taiwan's most important ally, the US, which feared that his stance was increasing the risks of a war and damaging US-China relations.
An appeal is automatic and experts say it is too early to tell how long he will serve even if his conviction is upheld.
Most Taiwanese believe the former president is guilty of at least some of the charges against him, but supporters fear the decision to prosecute him was politically influenced.
Critics also say that Chen was unfairly confined to jail during his trial. The three-judge panel originally trying him agreed he did not need to be held, but it was replaced by a new panel which accepted prosecutors' arguments that he might flee or collude with co-conspirators.
President Ma Ying-jeou and justice ministry officials have said Chen's prosecution upholds the democratic principle that no one stands above the law in Taiwan.
"I think basically most people still have confidence that the trial itself was relatively fair and feel that something had to be done to deal with corruption," said Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies.
"People had very high expectations of [Chen] dealing with corruption by the former government. Unfortunately, he himself was deeply involved."
TEHRAN: Iranian warships entered the Mediterranean Sea after crossing the Suez Canal on Saturday to show Tehran's "might" to regional countries, the navy commander said, amid simmering tensions with Israel.
"The strategic navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has passed through the Suez Canal for the second time since the (1979) Islamic Revolution," Admiral Habibollah Sayari said in remarks quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
He did not say how many vessels had crossed the canal, or what missions they were planning to carry out in the Mediterranean, but said the flotilla had previously docked in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
Two Iranian ships, the destroyer Shahid Qandi and supply vessel Kharg, had docked in the Red Sea port on February 4, according to Iranian media.
Sayari said the naval deployment to the Mediterranean would show "the might" of the Islamic republic to regional countries, and also convey Tehran's "message of peace and friendship."
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, fuelled by the longstanding dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme and rising speculation that Israel might launch pre-emptive strikes against Iranian facilities.
Israeli officials are also accusing Tehran of orchestrating anti-Israeli bombings in India and Georgia as well as blasts in Thailand. Iran denies the allegations.
The first Iranian presence in the Mediterranean in February 2011 provoked strong reactions from Israel and the United States, with the Jewish state putting its navy on alert.
During the 2011 deployment, two Iranian vessels, a destroyer and a supply ship, sailed past the coast of Israel and docked at the Syrian port of Latakia before returning to Iran via the Red Sea.
Israeli leaders denounced the move as a "provocation" and a "powerplay."
Iran's navy has been boosting its presence in international waters in the past two years, deploying vessels to the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden on missions to protect Iranian ships from Somali pirates.
And Iran sent submarines to the Red Sea last June to "collect data," its first such mission in distant waters, while its naval commanders say they plan on deploying ships close to US territorial waters in the future.
Iranian naval forces are composed of small units, including speedboats equipped with missiles, which operate in the Gulf and are under the command of the Revolutionary Guards.
The navy, using small frigates, destroyers, and three Russian-made Kilo class submarines, oversees high seas missions in the Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.
It now permanently has at least two vessels in those areas to escort merchant ships, and has been involved in more than 100 confrontations with armed pirates, according to the navy commander in December.
BBC news- Power struggles deepens divisions among Bahraini royal family Senior Bahraini police officers suspended for torturing detainees are being swiftly reinstated in a sign of a growing struggle for power within the al-Khalifa royal family over the extent of the repression to be used against pro-democracy protesters.
Increasing divisions within the Sunni royal family are becoming more blatant as statements by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa aimed at conciliating the majority Shia community are not followed up by action. Though he told state and private companies to reinstate the 2,500 employees sacked for taking part in pro-democracy protests, many have been unable to get their old jobs back.
The hardliners in the royal family, supported by Saudi Arabia, have sought to marginalise Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad, seen as the most liberal royal. Before the March crackdown he sought to work out an agreement with al-Wifaq, the main opposition party. Since then he, along with King Hamad, has lost much of his authority.
The government crackdown was accompanied by the state media launching an anti-Shia campaign, claiming, without any evidence, that Iran had fomented armed rebellion against the al-Khalifa dynasty. Sectarian hatreds increased, leading to Sunni-run private companies and state organisations refusing to re-employ sacked Shia employees despite the King's order.
Mohammed Sadiq of Justice for Bahrain says that among those sacked who have not been re-employed are 24 Shia journalists, working on Al-Ayam newspaper, who were fired on 16 March. Some 402 workers at Aluminium Bahrain (almost all Shia) were sacked and only 50 have been re-employed though they have had to sign new employment contracts whereby they lose all annual leave and sickness benefits.
The continuing repression has not returned stability to Bahrain and is not likely to do so. There are nightly protests in Shia districts with the police using rubber bullets and stun grenades. Occasional deaths of protesters enrage the Shia community. Particular fury was caused by the death of Ali Jawad al-Sheikh, 14, apparently killed by a tear gas grenade fired at point-blank range.
The ruling family – from liberal voice to hardline colonel
Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa
Seen as the most liberal member of the Khalifa family, the Crown Prince had sought an agreement with opposition parties before protests began. Now, increasingly marginalised by hardliners in the royal family, he has lost much of his authority.
King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
Conciliatory moves from the king aimed at the majority Shia community have not been followed up by action. Despite ordering state companies to reinstate employees sacked for taking part in protests, many have not yet been able to get their jobs back.
Colonel Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Khalifa
As the leading hardliner within the royal family, the army commander has benefited from the support of Saudi Arabia, which sent a military force to help crush protests in March. He has seen his influence grow as the crackdown continues. Richard Hall
BBC news:Akhilesh Yadav emerges as challenger in Uttar Pradesh
With the regional Samajwadi Party emerging as the main challenger to the government of Dalit icon Mayawati in the ongoing assembly elections in India's Uttar Pradesh state, the spotlight is on Akhilesh Yadav, the party's young president who is being credited with its turnaround.
'Fed up'
In Jalalpur constituency, he talks about inflation, the problems of farmers and the lack of development: "The government took away all the funds meant for building hospitals and schools for you and spent it on statues."
In Tanda, a town dominated by Muslim weavers, he tells a huge rally: "We will give free electricity to weavers if we are elected."
Mr Yadav's rallies have been well attended Isa Kalim is sold on the promise: "We received a lot of benefits when his father was chief minister. He gave us power at 65 rupees ($1.32; 84 pence) per loom. If they make it free, that will benefit us further."
Later, as we head back to Lucknow, Mr Yadav says: "The people are fed up of bad governance, they want a change."
He is confident his party will return to power. "The government is facing a strong anti-incumbency and that will help us. We will win," he says.
But, analysts say, it's easier said than done. The biggest challenge the party is facing is a negative public perception.
Their earlier stints in power were associated with a surge in gang violence when thugs threatened shopkeepers and harassed women.
"During Mulayam Singh's rule, chain snatchings, thefts were common, people had to pay protection money to goons," says journalist Ashwini Bhatnagar.
"Serious atrocities were committed against Dalits and other low-caste people and memories of those years are very strong in [the] public mind and people fear that petty crimes will go up if the party wins."
It is a perception Mr Yadav is fighting to change.
"We will not shelter or harbour ruffians," he has said. And last month, he stalled controversial politician DP Yadav's attempt to join the Samajwadi party.
But critics point out that many of his party candidates have criminal records and some of them are contesting from inside the jail.
They say that if the Samajwadi Party is elected, it will be back to the old days of muscle-power ruling the state.
It seemed like a telling smile. The new president of this country of 1,000 paradise islands walked in for his first news conference looking like everything was going to plan.
But appearances take time to understand - and rumour, suspicion and competing narratives swirl about this tiny island capital amid the sting of tear gas.
Was it a coup or not? And as always, the question, where does the money trail lead?
And rumours travel fast here - you can walk the island in less than half an hour.
But Male is a bubble too, with the Indian Ocean on all sides.
'Unfair' question Tourists are still arriving at the airport - on another island - before being whisked away to yet another protected isle, with no sign so far of the disturbances reaching there. But envoys from the US and the UN are now flying in, too, as concern spreads that the Maldives' young democracy may be sinking like its islands.
"Do I look like someone who'd bring about a coup d'etat?" new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan replied indignantly to a reporter's question. "Huh. I think that's unfair."
It was his former boss, Mohammed Nasheed, who caused the crisis, he said, by "unlawfully" detaining a senior judge.
President Hassan, a former UN official, said he was the one upholding the constitution - and protecting democracy.
This is where it gets even more complicated.
Mr Nasheed's supporters says the judge was arrested because he was stalling an investigation into how the president for 30 years, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, had amassed his wealth.
And Mr Nasheed - the Maldives first democratically-chosen leader - insists he was pushed from power at gunpoint.
On Tuesday, he had given a slightly different version of events - saying he was stepping down to try to prevent violence.
When he told a large rally of his supporters that he had been forced out, new violence on the streets seemed inevitable.
What really happened on Tuesday will now be a key part of deciding what happens next.
Many suspect the former president of playing some hand in the week's events. He is currently abroad and denies this. But asked by the BBC by phone if he wanted to return to power, he said he was keeping his "options open". And some accuse the new president of in effect being a puppet.
Diplomats are making appeals for calm on all sides, calling for the rule of law to be respected.
There has been surprise here at how quickly the outside world appeared to accept what had happened.
Neighbouring India - which sent troops to stop the last coup attempt in 1988 - was quick to reach out to the new president.
An initial statement from the UK, the former colonial power, seemed to accept Mohammed Nasheed had simply resigned.
Its first concern is the safety of some 2,500 British tourists here, along with a handful of permanent residents.
But there are now signs of some back-pedalling going on, after the violence that erupted in Male on Wednesday.
Britain's high commissioner in Sri Lanka is already here. US envoy Robert Blake is due here on Saturday, with American diplomats on the ground "fact-gathering" beforehand.
Warrants for the arrest of the former president and his defence minister do not bode well for calm here.
President Hassan later told the BBC he's ordered the arrest warrant to be suspended - as long as his former boss "co-operates", a sign he too is listening to appeals for calm.
Heavy rain helped keep the streets quieter on Thursday. But there are fears Friday prayers could create a new flashpoint.
Prime Minister David Cameron has offered to consider more powers for Scotland, in the event of a vote against independence.
Ahead of a referendum expected in 2014, Mr Cameron admitted Scotland could go it alone, but said he believed in the United Kingdom "head, heart and soul".
He said it would be "deeply, deeply sad" if Scotland became independent.
The prime minister also suggested the move would have implications for the UK's EU and Nato membership.
Mr Cameron has since been in talks with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who said after the meeting: "Things have moved on quite substantially".
He said the only serious issue of disagreement was over the question used in the referendum and whether there should be a second question on "devo max".
However, he said he wouldn't "buy a pig in a poke" from Mr Cameron over a referendum on independence.
He said: "The prime minister's position is he wants to have one question. My position is we are in the middle of a consultation with the Scottish people and we are open-minded.
If there is a strong demand from civic Scotland, from the unions, the voluntary sector, the churches, civic society in Scotland, for something different, for some other option to be tested, politicians at the very least should listen to that."
Mr Salmond said it was now incumbent on Mr Cameron and others to set out more details on the offer of further devolution for Scotland.
"The prime minister is now saying for the first time that another option is now on the table. What I said to the prime minister in the discussions is if that is the case, we now have to know what it will be."
Mr Cameron said he had made little progress with Mr Salmond and reiterated that his "absolute priority" was to preserve the United Kingdom.
He said voters in Scotland should be presented as soon as possible with a "simple, straightforward and legal" question over whether they wanted to remain in the UK or not.
He described his discussions with Mr Salmond as "constructive", but told the BBC: "On the issue of independence, separating Scotland, leaving the United Kingdom, I am afraid there wasn't much progress."
Demonstrators from the Occupy Edinburgh movement tried to enter the Apex in the Grassmarket, but were stopped by the large police presence.
Mr Cameron's visit came amid an on-going dispute between the Scottish and UK governments over several referendum issues, including who has the legal power to run it.
The Scottish government is open-minded about including a second question on the ballot paper, asking people if they want more powers for the Holyrood parliament, short of independence.
Mr Cameron said the independence issue had to be dealt with simply, telling BBC News: "We have to settle that question before then going on and asking, I think quite legitimately, is there more that we can do to improve the devolved settlement?
"Are there powers that could be devolved, how can we make the United Kingdom work better?"
Asked if he would devolve more power, to Scotland, Mr Cameron replied: "I'm very prepared. I believe in devolution, and I don't just mean devolution in terms of power, I mean devolution in terms of giving people greater control over their own lives."
Making his case for the Union, Mr Cameron said: "I'm not saying that Scotland couldn't make it on her own, of course Scotland could, just as England could - but ideally hope that this doesn't happen."
"I believe in the United Kingdom, head, heart and soul."
The prime minister said: "It's never been part of my argument that Scotland couldn't make it on her own - there are countries in Europe, small countries that make it on their own, but my argument is, we are better off, we are stronger together, we're fairer together, we're richer together
The following article shows how the Syrian authorities have abused their power, therefore leading to protests and stirring up rebellion amongst the people.
Symbols of the Syrian opposition
At protests across the country, people's faces are often now painted with the green, white and black flag of the former Syrian Republic, which existed before the Baath Party and the Assad family came to power.
The flag has been officially adopted by the main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council, and the Free Syrian Army, an armed rebel group that has vowed to overthrow Mr Assad by force.
As well as the old flag, women and children have appeared at protests both inside the country and outside embassies around the world with their faces painted with blood-red tears to symbolise people's suffering.
The cases of particular individuals among the thousands of reported dead have also come to symbolise the uprising and encouraged widespread outrage.
In May, a number of pages were created on Facebook in memory of a 13-year-old boy, Hamza al-Khatib, who was allegedly arrested and tortured to death by security forces at the end of the previous month.
Officials said he had been shot dead at a protest, but video footage of his body seemed to show evidence of cigarette burns and other signs of torture and mutilation, including emasculation, as well as bullet wounds.
Hamza's death became a powerful symbol of the uprising, reflecting a trend in the Middle East of holding up "martyrs" as symbols of "resistance".
His picture was subsequently raised at many demonstrations in many towns, while the Facebook pages were invoked by world leaders to argue for further pressure to be placed on President Assad's government.
Then in June, a man from Hama named Ibrahim Qashush wrote a protest song in which he told the president: "Hey Bashar, hey liar. Damn you and your speech, freedom is right at the door. So come on, Bashar, time to leave."
The song became popular as the crackdown on protests in the city intensified, and at the beginning of July, Qashush was filmed performing it in front of a huge crowd of protesters, many of whom sang along.
Days later, a video began circulating online showing a body found floating in the River Orontes, which flows through Hama. Residents said it was Qashush's, and that his throat had been cut and vocal chords ripped out.
It is impossible to verify the claims about his death, but Qashush and his song soon became a symbol of the power of the protesters' message and the brutal actions of the government. The song was chanted at protests across the country and many people posted their own versions online.
LONDON: Iran may be preparing to expand its nuclear programme at an underground plant near the city of Qom, a diplomat has told the BBC, just days ahead of a visit by United Nations nuclear inspectors.
Iran appears to be poised to install thousands of new centrifuges at the underground site in the northern city, a Vienna-based diplomat told the British broadcaster late Saturday.
The BBC said the centrifuges could speed up the production of enriched uranium, which can be used both for generating nuclear power and to manufacture atomic weapons.
Iran said on Wednesday it had installed another 3,000 centrifuges to increase its uranium enrichment abilities, but it was unclear Sunday whether these were the same as those mentioned by the diplomat.
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, are due to visit Tehran this week.
Iran insists that its nuclear drive is peaceful, but Western countries suspect the Islamic Republic of trying to develop an atomic bomb.
Iran has been slapped with four sets of UN sanctions and a raft of unilateral US and European Union measures over its nuclear drive.
There has been feverish speculation in recent weeks that Israel is preparing to mount a pre-emptive strike on the country's nuclear programme, though Israel has denied reaching such a decision.
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague warned over the weekend that Iran's nuclear ambitions could spark an atomic arms race in the Middle East.
This article shows how countries feel safe and secure only if they have power to wield which they feel would deter other countries to try anything against them.
Lawyers acting for Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir and his two co-accused have accused the police of abusing their power.
The defence said the arrests on Sunday afternoon were an abuse of power because their clients had been willing to hand themselves over since October last year.
Krejcir, Veselin Laganin and former bouncer Jason Domingues appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday. The trio allegedly robbed an electronics store in the capital city in October 2011.
The accused appeared dejected after being told that a bail application would be heard on Thursday. The prosecutor said he was not ready on Monday, as he had to clarify phone records and questions around whether the men were in the country legally.
Eddie Classen, one of the lawyers acting for the trio, described the decision to postpone bail as "absolute nonsense". He said the state had been in possession of all relevant information since October, and that the defense had been co-operative throughout the case.
Domingues was wounded in the arm during the alleged robbery and a case against him was withdrawn, pending further investigation.
He in turn laid a charge against the owners of the electronics shop.
The Green revolution is a good example for man's obsession to pursue and retain power. The elections of 2009 and 2010 were flawed.
"Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009. The protests were given several titles by their proponents including Green Revolution, Green Wave or Sea of Green, reflecting presidential candidate Mousavi's campaign color, and also Persian Awakening." -Wikipedia
In order to keep his power, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used drastic actions to oppress the people of Iran.
His government resorted to the arrests of all Opposition candidates, activists and even former government office holders. Raids were conducted to catch those who opposed him. All these prisoners were tortured badly, many were killed, sexually abused, raped and suffered from broken bones.
In a desperate attempt, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad censored all internet and news media networks. Social websites were prohibited. Universities were closed down as well.
In the end, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad managed to oppressed the people of Iran and retained his power.
However, what was significant about this revolution was that it was one of the largest and bravest protests against their dictatorial leader. Many took to the streets to demand free and democratic elections, despite the crackdowns on protesters.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did lost the elections of 2009 and 2010, he lost by a landslide but he refused to relinquish his powers. He used all sorts of inhumane and undemocratic ways to hold on to his power. Yes, he did called the elections "completely free" but we all know that it is a lie -just a mere statement to cover his innate lust for power.
Al Qaeda's biggest threat
ReplyDeleteBy Paul Cruickshank, Nic Robertson, and Tim Lister
Ibrahim al-Asiri is the sort of terrorist who keeps intelligence officials awake at night. He’s al Qaeda’s chief bomb-maker, and he built explosive devices hidden in printer cartridges that got onto several planes in October 2010. He’s still at large in Yemen. The bomb plots he’s alleged to have masterminded – the 2009 underwear bomb plot and printer bombs dispatched to the United States in 2010 – have very nearly worked. And security experts say al-Asiri and al Qaeda in Yemen may yet penetrate the security screening that is meant to protect aviation.
A U.S. missile strike in September 2011 killed al-Awlaki.
U.S. officials believe his death has temporarily lessened the threat of an attack on the United States. But they also believe that AQAP has emerged as the most dangerous part of the al Qaeda terrorist network.
As for al-Asiri, "he is in fact undoubtedly one of, if not the largest threats that we face right now," a senior U.S. counter-terrorism official told CNN. "He's smart, determined and quite secretive about his activities and clearly determined."
Saudi counter-terrorism officials believe that political turmoil in Yemen is allowing AQAP to gain strength, according to Alani, because the regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh has focused its efforts on survival rather than counter-terrorism.
Recent months have seen jihadist militants linked to AQAP but operating under the banner Ansar al Shariah periodically take control of towns in southern Yemen.
In their public statements, AQAP commanders have claimed to be at the forefront of such efforts - in line with their pledge after the death of bin Laden to follow the guidance of al Qaeda’s new leader, al-Zawahiri, whose strategic maxim for jihadists has long been to create "an Islamic base in the heart of the Arab region."
Some eyewitness accounts report a new focus within the group on seizing territory. Abdul Razzaq al-Jamal, a Yemeni journalist who was given unique access to al Qaeda fighters in Abyan province, wrote in the Al Quds al Arabi newspaper last autumn that the group had "used a new strategy recently, which is the strategy of showing themselves and controlling."
Counter-terrorism analysts disagree on how significant a role the group has played in the fighting in Yemen. An extensive field study published by West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center in September found that most of AQAP’s fighters - in the low hundreds - were drawn from urban areas, and there was no conclusive evidence that the group had yet won the allegiance of tribes in southern Yemen.
By contrast, al-Jamal, the Yemeni journalist, described seeing significantly greater numbers of al Qaeda fighters and witnessing their control of several towns in Abyan province last September. Despite a fluctuating situation on the ground, jihadist militants still control significant territory in southern Yemen, including much of the town of Zinjibar, according to reports.
Saudi counter-terrorism officials believe AQAP has taken a back seat in the fighting in Yemen, and has instead taken advantage of the breathing space opened up by jihadist advances to build up its cell structure and a network of safe houses, according to Alani. The group, he says, has learned lessons from Iraq, when seizing territory made al Qaeda an easy target for American airstrikes.
CNN’s Ken Shiffman, Pam Benson and Tristan Milder contributed to this report.
Leaders of a country are chosen because people feel that they have the capability to wield the power given to them wisely. However, there are some people who take advantage of this trust and abuse their power. Such a person is known as a dictator, like Kim Jong Il. While North Korea was in the grip of a famine, he was busy building up a nuclear arsenal to threaten neighbouring countries. If he had been a good leader, he would not have abused his power and neglected his people, who love him with almost a fanatical devotion. He is a good example of people who use power solely to further their own agenda rather than use it for the good of others.
ReplyDeleteFrom iTODAY:UK's Hague fears Iran could start 'new Cold War'
ReplyDeleteLONDON - Iran is clearly trying to develop a nuclear weapons capability, and if it succeeds it will set off a dangerous round of nuclear proliferation across the Middle East, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in an interview published today.
Iran says its uranium enrichment program is purely for civilian purposes, but Western powers suspect Tehran is trying to develop the ability to produce nuclear weapons.
Western powers have been pressing Tehran to hold substantive talks on its nuclear program and want it to halt its uranium enrichment, but Iran says it has an absolute right to press ahead with its plans.
Several rounds of increasingly punitive United Nations and Western sanctions have failed to persuade Iran to stop its enrichment program, some of which has been moved to underground buildings for greater security.
The Iranians "are clearly continuing their nuclear weapons program," Hague told The Daily Telegraph. "If they obtain nuclear weapons capability, I think other nations across the Middle East will want to develop nuclear weapons."
"The most serious round of nuclear proliferation since nuclear weapons were invented would have begun, with all the destabilizing effects in the Middle East, and the threat of a new Cold War in the Middle East without necessarily all the safety mechanisms," he said. "That would be a disaster in world affairs."
There has been public discussion in Israel about whether it should attack Iran to stop it from developing a nuclear bomb, and tension between the two foes has been raised by attacks on Israeli diplomats abroad and the recent assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran.
"We are very clear to all concerned that we are not advocating military action," Hague said in the interview. "We support a twin-track strategy of sanctions and pressure, and negotiations on the other hand."
"We are not favouring the idea of anybody attacking Iran at the moment," he added.
The latest signal from Tehran that it might be willing to resume talks on the nuclear issue, in the form of a letter to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, have been greeted with cautious optimism by the United States and the European Union. REUTERS
Taiwan court jails former president for corruption:
ReplyDeleteA Taiwanese court today sentenced former president Chen Shui-bian to life in prison after finding him guilty of corruption.
The high-profile, politically charged case also involved Chen's wife, who was sentenced to life for corruption, and numerous relatives and aides.
"Chen Shui-bian and Wu Shu-chen were sentenced to life in prison because Chen has done grave damage to the country, and Wu, because she was involved in corruption deals as the first lady," said a court spokesman, Huang Chun-ming. He said the couple had also been fined a total of NT$500m (£9m).
Chen, the former Democratic Progressive party leader, was the first non-Nationalist to lead the self-ruled island since Chiang Kai-shek fled there at the end of the civil war in 1949.
Prosecutors had charged Chen with embezzling £1.9m from a special presidential office fund, accepting bribes of about £5.4m in connection with a land deal, laundering money through Swiss bank accounts, and forging documents.
The 58-year-old pleaded not guilty – at one point going on hunger strike – and claimed he was being persecuted for his anti-Beijing views by his successor, Ma Ying-jeou, who has thawed relations with China.
Hundreds of Chen supporters demonstrated outside the court in Taipei holding flags and banners saying "Free him" and "Chen's innocent".
Chen, who has been held in a suburban Taipei jail since late December, chose not to attend today's proceedings. He won power in 2000, having campaigned on a pledge to clean up Nationalist corruption and deepen Taiwan's de facto independence. But the Nationalist majority in the legislature, and his alleged tendency to play fast and loose with accepted procedures, quickly caused him problems.
Chen angered Beijing with pro-independence views and also alienated Taiwan's most important ally, the US, which feared that his stance was increasing the risks of a war and damaging US-China relations.
An appeal is automatic and experts say it is too early to tell how long he will serve even if his conviction is upheld.
Most Taiwanese believe the former president is guilty of at least some of the charges against him, but supporters fear the decision to prosecute him was politically influenced.
Critics also say that Chen was unfairly confined to jail during his trial. The three-judge panel originally trying him agreed he did not need to be held, but it was replaced by a new panel which accepted prosecutors' arguments that he might flee or collude with co-conspirators.
President Ma Ying-jeou and justice ministry officials have said Chen's prosecution upholds the democratic principle that no one stands above the law in Taiwan.
"I think basically most people still have confidence that the trial itself was relatively fair and feel that something had to be done to deal with corruption," said Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies.
"People had very high expectations of [Chen] dealing with corruption by the former government. Unfortunately, he himself was deeply involved."
TEHRAN: Iranian warships entered the Mediterranean Sea after crossing the Suez Canal on Saturday to show Tehran's "might" to regional countries, the navy commander said, amid simmering tensions with Israel.
ReplyDelete"The strategic navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has passed through the Suez Canal for the second time since the (1979) Islamic Revolution," Admiral Habibollah Sayari said in remarks quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
He did not say how many vessels had crossed the canal, or what missions they were planning to carry out in the Mediterranean, but said the flotilla had previously docked in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
Two Iranian ships, the destroyer Shahid Qandi and supply vessel Kharg, had docked in the Red Sea port on February 4, according to Iranian media.
Sayari said the naval deployment to the Mediterranean would show "the might" of the Islamic republic to regional countries, and also convey Tehran's "message of peace and friendship."
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, fuelled by the longstanding dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme and rising speculation that Israel might launch pre-emptive strikes against Iranian facilities.
Israeli officials are also accusing Tehran of orchestrating anti-Israeli bombings in India and Georgia as well as blasts in Thailand. Iran denies the allegations.
The first Iranian presence in the Mediterranean in February 2011 provoked strong reactions from Israel and the United States, with the Jewish state putting its navy on alert.
During the 2011 deployment, two Iranian vessels, a destroyer and a supply ship, sailed past the coast of Israel and docked at the Syrian port of Latakia before returning to Iran via the Red Sea.
Israeli leaders denounced the move as a "provocation" and a "powerplay."
Iran's navy has been boosting its presence in international waters in the past two years, deploying vessels to the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden on missions to protect Iranian ships from Somali pirates.
And Iran sent submarines to the Red Sea last June to "collect data," its first such mission in distant waters, while its naval commanders say they plan on deploying ships close to US territorial waters in the future.
Iranian naval forces are composed of small units, including speedboats equipped with missiles, which operate in the Gulf and are under the command of the Revolutionary Guards.
The navy, using small frigates, destroyers, and three Russian-made Kilo class submarines, oversees high seas missions in the Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.
It now permanently has at least two vessels in those areas to escort merchant ships, and has been involved in more than 100 confrontations with armed pirates, according to the navy commander in December.
- AFP/wk
BBC news- Power struggles deepens divisions among Bahraini royal family
ReplyDeleteSenior Bahraini police officers suspended for torturing detainees are being swiftly reinstated in a sign of a growing struggle for power within the al-Khalifa royal family over the extent of the repression to be used against pro-democracy protesters.
Increasing divisions within the Sunni royal family are becoming more blatant as statements by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa aimed at conciliating the majority Shia community are not followed up by action. Though he told state and private companies to reinstate the 2,500 employees sacked for taking part in pro-democracy protests, many have been unable to get their old jobs back.
The hardliners in the royal family, supported by Saudi Arabia, have sought to marginalise Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad, seen as the most liberal royal. Before the March crackdown he sought to work out an agreement with al-Wifaq, the main opposition party. Since then he, along with King Hamad, has lost much of his authority.
The government crackdown was accompanied by the state media launching an anti-Shia campaign, claiming, without any evidence, that Iran had fomented armed rebellion against the al-Khalifa dynasty. Sectarian hatreds increased, leading to Sunni-run private companies and state organisations refusing to re-employ sacked Shia employees despite the King's order.
Mohammed Sadiq of Justice for Bahrain says that among those sacked who have not been re-employed are 24 Shia journalists, working on Al-Ayam newspaper, who were fired on 16 March. Some 402 workers at Aluminium Bahrain (almost all Shia) were sacked and only 50 have been re-employed though they have had to sign new employment contracts whereby they lose all annual leave and sickness benefits.
The continuing repression has not returned stability to Bahrain and is not likely to do so. There are nightly protests in Shia districts with the police using rubber bullets and stun grenades. Occasional deaths of protesters enrage the Shia community. Particular fury was caused by the death of Ali Jawad al-Sheikh, 14, apparently killed by a tear gas grenade fired at point-blank range.
The ruling family – from liberal voice to hardline colonel
Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa
Seen as the most liberal member of the Khalifa family, the Crown Prince had sought an agreement with opposition parties before protests began. Now, increasingly marginalised by hardliners in the royal family, he has lost much of his authority.
King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
Conciliatory moves from the king aimed at the majority Shia community have not been followed up by action. Despite ordering state companies to reinstate employees sacked for taking part in protests, many have not yet been able to get their jobs back.
Colonel Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Khalifa
As the leading hardliner within the royal family, the army commander has benefited from the support of Saudi Arabia, which sent a military force to help crush protests in March. He has seen his influence grow as the crackdown continues. Richard Hall
BBC news:Akhilesh Yadav emerges as challenger in Uttar Pradesh
ReplyDeleteWith the regional Samajwadi Party emerging as the main challenger to the government of Dalit icon Mayawati in the ongoing assembly elections in India's Uttar Pradesh state, the spotlight is on Akhilesh Yadav, the party's young president who is being credited with its turnaround.
'Fed up'
In Jalalpur constituency, he talks about inflation, the problems of farmers and the lack of development: "The government took away all the funds meant for building hospitals and schools for you and spent it on statues."
In Tanda, a town dominated by Muslim weavers, he tells a huge rally: "We will give free electricity to weavers if we are elected."
Mr Yadav's rallies have been well attended
Isa Kalim is sold on the promise: "We received a lot of benefits when his father was chief minister. He gave us power at 65 rupees ($1.32; 84 pence) per loom. If they make it free, that will benefit us further."
Later, as we head back to Lucknow, Mr Yadav says: "The people are fed up of bad governance, they want a change."
He is confident his party will return to power. "The government is facing a strong anti-incumbency and that will help us. We will win," he says.
But, analysts say, it's easier said than done. The biggest challenge the party is facing is a negative public perception.
Their earlier stints in power were associated with a surge in gang violence when thugs threatened shopkeepers and harassed women.
"During Mulayam Singh's rule, chain snatchings, thefts were common, people had to pay protection money to goons," says journalist Ashwini Bhatnagar.
"Serious atrocities were committed against Dalits and other low-caste people and memories of those years are very strong in [the] public mind and people fear that petty crimes will go up if the party wins."
It is a perception Mr Yadav is fighting to change.
"We will not shelter or harbour ruffians," he has said. And last month, he stalled controversial politician DP Yadav's attempt to join the Samajwadi party.
But critics point out that many of his party candidates have criminal records and some of them are contesting from inside the jail.
They say that if the Samajwadi Party is elected, it will be back to the old days of muscle-power ruling the state.
It seemed like a telling smile. The new president of this country of 1,000 paradise islands walked in for his first news conference looking like everything was going to plan.
ReplyDeleteBut appearances take time to understand - and rumour, suspicion and competing narratives swirl about this tiny island capital amid the sting of tear gas.
Was it a coup or not? And as always, the question, where does the money trail lead?
And rumours travel fast here - you can walk the island in less than half an hour.
But Male is a bubble too, with the Indian Ocean on all sides.
'Unfair' question
Tourists are still arriving at the airport - on another island - before being whisked away to yet another protected isle, with no sign so far of the disturbances reaching there.
But envoys from the US and the UN are now flying in, too, as concern spreads that the Maldives' young democracy may be sinking like its islands.
"Do I look like someone who'd bring about a coup d'etat?" new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan replied indignantly to a reporter's question. "Huh. I think that's unfair."
It was his former boss, Mohammed Nasheed, who caused the crisis, he said, by "unlawfully" detaining a senior judge.
President Hassan, a former UN official, said he was the one upholding the constitution - and protecting democracy.
This is where it gets even more complicated.
Mr Nasheed's supporters says the judge was arrested because he was stalling an investigation into how the president for 30 years, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, had amassed his wealth.
And Mr Nasheed - the Maldives first democratically-chosen leader - insists he was pushed from power at gunpoint.
On Tuesday, he had given a slightly different version of events - saying he was stepping down to try to prevent violence.
When he told a large rally of his supporters that he had been forced out, new violence on the streets seemed inevitable.
What really happened on Tuesday will now be a key part of deciding what happens next.
Many suspect the former president of playing some hand in the week's events. He is currently abroad and denies this. But asked by the BBC by phone if he wanted to return to power, he said he was keeping his "options open".
And some accuse the new president of in effect being a puppet.
Diplomats are making appeals for calm on all sides, calling for the rule of law to be respected.
There has been surprise here at how quickly the outside world appeared to accept what had happened.
Neighbouring India - which sent troops to stop the last coup attempt in 1988 - was quick to reach out to the new president.
An initial statement from the UK, the former colonial power, seemed to accept Mohammed Nasheed had simply resigned.
Its first concern is the safety of some 2,500 British tourists here, along with a handful of permanent residents.
But there are now signs of some back-pedalling going on, after the violence that erupted in Male on Wednesday.
Britain's high commissioner in Sri Lanka is already here. US envoy Robert Blake is due here on Saturday, with American diplomats on the ground "fact-gathering" beforehand.
Warrants for the arrest of the former president and his defence minister do not bode well for calm here.
President Hassan later told the BBC he's ordered the arrest warrant to be suspended - as long as his former boss "co-operates", a sign he too is listening to appeals for calm.
Heavy rain helped keep the streets quieter on Thursday. But there are fears Friday prayers could create a new flashpoint.
Prime Minister David Cameron has offered to consider more powers for Scotland, in the event of a vote against independence.
ReplyDeleteAhead of a referendum expected in 2014, Mr Cameron admitted Scotland could go it alone, but said he believed in the United Kingdom "head, heart and soul".
He said it would be "deeply, deeply sad" if Scotland became independent.
The prime minister also suggested the move would have implications for the UK's EU and Nato membership.
Mr Cameron has since been in talks with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who said after the meeting: "Things have moved on quite substantially".
He said the only serious issue of disagreement was over the question used in the referendum and whether there should be a second question on "devo max".
However, he said he wouldn't "buy a pig in a poke" from Mr Cameron over a referendum on independence.
He said: "The prime minister's position is he wants to have one question. My position is we are in the middle of a consultation with the Scottish people and we are open-minded.
If there is a strong demand from civic Scotland, from the unions, the voluntary sector, the churches, civic society in Scotland, for something different, for some other option to be tested, politicians at the very least should listen to that."
Mr Salmond said it was now incumbent on Mr Cameron and others to set out more details on the offer of further devolution for Scotland.
"The prime minister is now saying for the first time that another option is now on the table. What I said to the prime minister in the discussions is if that is the case, we now have to know what it will be."
Mr Cameron said he had made little progress with Mr Salmond and reiterated that his "absolute priority" was to preserve the United Kingdom.
He said voters in Scotland should be presented as soon as possible with a "simple, straightforward and legal" question over whether they wanted to remain in the UK or not.
He described his discussions with Mr Salmond as "constructive", but told the BBC: "On the issue of independence, separating Scotland, leaving the United Kingdom, I am afraid there wasn't much progress."
Demonstrators from the Occupy Edinburgh movement tried to enter the Apex in the Grassmarket, but were stopped by the large police presence.
Mr Cameron's visit came amid an on-going dispute between the Scottish and UK governments over several referendum issues, including who has the legal power to run it.
The Scottish government is open-minded about including a second question on the ballot paper, asking people if they want more powers for the Holyrood parliament, short of independence.
Mr Cameron said the independence issue had to be dealt with simply, telling BBC News: "We have to settle that question before then going on and asking, I think quite legitimately, is there more that we can do to improve the devolved settlement?
"Are there powers that could be devolved, how can we make the United Kingdom work better?"
Asked if he would devolve more power, to Scotland, Mr Cameron replied: "I'm very prepared. I believe in devolution, and I don't just mean devolution in terms of power, I mean devolution in terms of giving people greater control over their own lives."
Making his case for the Union, Mr Cameron said: "I'm not saying that Scotland couldn't make it on her own, of course Scotland could, just as England could - but ideally hope that this doesn't happen."
"I believe in the United Kingdom, head, heart and soul."
The prime minister said: "It's never been part of my argument that Scotland couldn't make it on her own - there are countries in Europe, small countries that make it on their own, but my argument is, we are better off, we are stronger together, we're fairer together, we're richer together
The following article shows how the Syrian authorities have abused their power, therefore leading to protests and stirring up rebellion amongst the people.
ReplyDeleteSymbols of the Syrian opposition
At protests across the country, people's faces are often now painted with the green, white and black flag of the former Syrian Republic, which existed before the Baath Party and the Assad family came to power.
The flag has been officially adopted by the main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council, and the Free Syrian Army, an armed rebel group that has vowed to overthrow Mr Assad by force.
As well as the old flag, women and children have appeared at protests both inside the country and outside embassies around the world with their faces painted with blood-red tears to symbolise people's suffering.
The cases of particular individuals among the thousands of reported dead have also come to symbolise the uprising and encouraged widespread outrage.
In May, a number of pages were created on Facebook in memory of a 13-year-old boy, Hamza al-Khatib, who was allegedly arrested and tortured to death by security forces at the end of the previous month.
Officials said he had been shot dead at a protest, but video footage of his body seemed to show evidence of cigarette burns and other signs of torture and mutilation, including emasculation, as well as bullet wounds.
Hamza's death became a powerful symbol of the uprising, reflecting a trend in the Middle East of holding up "martyrs" as symbols of "resistance".
His picture was subsequently raised at many demonstrations in many towns, while the Facebook pages were invoked by world leaders to argue for further pressure to be placed on President Assad's government.
Then in June, a man from Hama named Ibrahim Qashush wrote a protest song in which he told the president: "Hey Bashar, hey liar. Damn you and your speech, freedom is right at the door. So come on, Bashar, time to leave."
The song became popular as the crackdown on protests in the city intensified, and at the beginning of July, Qashush was filmed performing it in front of a huge crowd of protesters, many of whom sang along.
Days later, a video began circulating online showing a body found floating in the River Orontes, which flows through Hama. Residents said it was Qashush's, and that his throat had been cut and vocal chords ripped out.
It is impossible to verify the claims about his death, but Qashush and his song soon became a symbol of the power of the protesters' message and the brutal actions of the government. The song was chanted at protests across the country and many people posted their own versions online.
Iran 'building up nuclear site near Qom': BBC
ReplyDeleteLONDON: Iran may be preparing to expand its nuclear programme at an underground plant near the city of Qom, a diplomat has told the BBC, just days ahead of a visit by United Nations nuclear inspectors.
Iran appears to be poised to install thousands of new centrifuges at the underground site in the northern city, a Vienna-based diplomat told the British broadcaster late Saturday.
The BBC said the centrifuges could speed up the production of enriched uranium, which can be used both for generating nuclear power and to manufacture atomic weapons.
Iran said on Wednesday it had installed another 3,000 centrifuges to increase its uranium enrichment abilities, but it was unclear Sunday whether these were the same as those mentioned by the diplomat.
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, are due to visit Tehran this week.
Iran insists that its nuclear drive is peaceful, but Western countries suspect the Islamic Republic of trying to develop an atomic bomb.
Iran has been slapped with four sets of UN sanctions and a raft of unilateral US and European Union measures over its nuclear drive.
There has been feverish speculation in recent weeks that Israel is preparing to mount a pre-emptive strike on the country's nuclear programme, though Israel has denied reaching such a decision.
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague warned over the weekend that Iran's nuclear ambitions could spark an atomic arms race in the Middle East.
This article shows how countries feel safe and secure only if they have power to wield which they feel would deter other countries to try anything against them.
Lawyers acting for Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir and his two co-accused have accused the police of abusing their power.
ReplyDeleteThe defence said the arrests on Sunday afternoon were an abuse of power because their clients had been willing to hand themselves over since October last year.
Krejcir, Veselin Laganin and former bouncer Jason Domingues appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday. The trio allegedly robbed an electronics store in the capital city in October 2011.
The accused appeared dejected after being told that a bail application would be heard on Thursday. The prosecutor said he was not ready on Monday, as he had to clarify phone records and questions around whether the men were in the country legally.
Eddie Classen, one of the lawyers acting for the trio, described the decision to postpone bail as "absolute nonsense". He said the state had been in possession of all relevant information since October, and that the defense had been co-operative throughout the case.
Domingues was wounded in the arm during the alleged robbery and a case against him was withdrawn, pending further investigation.
He in turn laid a charge against the owners of the electronics shop.
The case will commence on 16 February.
The Green revolution is a good example for man's obsession to pursue and retain power. The elections of 2009 and 2010 were flawed.
ReplyDelete"Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009. The protests were given several titles by their proponents including Green Revolution, Green Wave or Sea of Green, reflecting presidential candidate Mousavi's campaign color, and also Persian Awakening." -Wikipedia
In order to keep his power, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used drastic actions to oppress the people of Iran.
His government resorted to the arrests of all Opposition candidates, activists and even former government office holders. Raids were conducted to catch those who opposed him. All these prisoners were tortured badly, many were killed, sexually abused, raped and suffered from broken bones.
In a desperate attempt, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad censored all internet and news media networks. Social websites were prohibited. Universities were closed down as well.
In the end, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad managed to oppressed the people of Iran and retained his power.
However, what was significant about this revolution was that it was one of the largest and bravest protests against their dictatorial leader. Many took to the streets to demand free and democratic elections, despite the crackdowns on protesters.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did lost the elections of 2009 and 2010, he lost by a landslide but he refused to relinquish his powers. He used all sorts of inhumane and undemocratic ways to hold on to his power. Yes, he did called the elections "completely free" but we all know that it is a lie -just a mere statement to cover his innate lust for power.