UNITED NATIONS (AFP) – Investigators have evidence that Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi ordered mass rapes and bought containers of sex drugs to encourage troops to attack women, the chief ICC prosecutor said Wednesday.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he may ask for a new charge of mass rape to be made against Kadhafi following the new evidence.
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor is expecting a decision from judges within days on his request for charges of crimes against humanity to be laid against the Libyan leader, one of his sons and his intelligence chief.
"Now we are getting some information that Kadhafi himself decided to rape and this is new," Moreno-Ocampo told reporters.
He said there were reports of hundreds of women attacked in some areas of Libya, which is in the grip of a months-long internal rebellion.
There was evidence the Libyan authorities bought "Viagra-type" medicines and gave them to troops as part of the official rape policy, Moreno-Ocampo said.
"They were buying containers to enhance the possibility to rape women," he said.
"It was never the pattern he used to control the population. The rape is a new aspect of the repression. That is why we had doubts at the beginning, but now we are more convinced that he decided to punish using rape," the prosecutor said.
"It was very bad -- beyond the limits, I would say."
Kadhafi's regime had not previously been known for using rape as a weapon against political opponents and Moreno-Ocampo said he had to find evidence that the Libyan leader had given the order.
In March, a Libyan woman made international headlines when she entered a Tripoli hotel and said she had been raped by Kadhafi troops.
Iman al-Obeidi was detained but managed to escape from Libya. She ended up in Qatar but was deported back from there to rebel-held Libya. She is now resting at a refugee centre in Romania.
Moreno-Ocampo issued arrest warrants last month against Kadhafi, his son Seif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi. ICC judges are to announce in days whether they agree to the charges.
The Libyan government does not recognize the international court's jurisdiction.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Qaeda's Zawahri says U.S. facing Muslim rebellion
CAIRO (Reuters) – Al-Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri said the United States faced a Muslim rebellion following the death of Osama bin Laden, according to a video recording posted on YouTube and monitored on Wednesday.
The Egyptian-born Zawahri devoted much of his 28-minute recording to mourning bin Laden, who was killed in a raid by U.S. special forces on his home in Pakistan in May after a nearly 10-year worldwide hunt.
"The sheikh has departed, may God have mercy on him, to his God as a martyr and we must continue on his path of jihad to expel the invaders from the land of Muslims and to purify it from injustice," Zawahri said.
"Today, and thanks be to God, America is not facing an individual or a group ... but a rebelling nation which has awoken from its sleep in a jihadist renaissance."
Zawahri has long been seen as the brains and potential successor to bin Laden, founder of al Qaeda, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
But Al Jazeera television has said that another Egyptian militant called Saif al-Adl has been named as temporary leader of the group following bin Laden's death.
The Egyptian-born Zawahri devoted much of his 28-minute recording to mourning bin Laden, who was killed in a raid by U.S. special forces on his home in Pakistan in May after a nearly 10-year worldwide hunt.
"The sheikh has departed, may God have mercy on him, to his God as a martyr and we must continue on his path of jihad to expel the invaders from the land of Muslims and to purify it from injustice," Zawahri said.
"Today, and thanks be to God, America is not facing an individual or a group ... but a rebelling nation which has awoken from its sleep in a jihadist renaissance."
Zawahri has long been seen as the brains and potential successor to bin Laden, founder of al Qaeda, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
But Al Jazeera television has said that another Egyptian militant called Saif al-Adl has been named as temporary leader of the group following bin Laden's death.
Syrians flee town as troops approach
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Turkey called on Syria on Wednesday to rein in violence against civilians and promised not to turn away refugees as some residents of a Syrian border town headed for the Turkish frontier in fear of a military assault.
"Syria should change its attitude toward civilians and should take its attitude to a more tolerant level as soon as possible," said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has had warm relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad's government has accused armed bands of killing scores of its security men in Jisr al-Shughour and has vowed to send in the army to carry out their "national duty to restore security."
Accounts of the violence that began in the hilly town of Jisr al-Shughour Friday vary, with officials saying gunmen ambushed troops and residents reporting an army mutiny.
The bloodshed has triggered international alarm that Syria may be entering an even more violent phase after three months of popular unrest that has cost more than 1,000 lives.
France and Britain, allies in the war against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, will put forward a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday condemning Assad's crackdown on protesters, British Prime Minister David Cameron said.
"And if anyone votes against that resolution or tries to veto it, that should be on their conscience," Cameron said.
The draft resolution condemns the repression and demands humanitarian access, Cameron said in London. But it was unclear how Russia, which holds a veto, would vote. Citing NATO's inconclusive bombing of Tripoli, Moscow says it will not back intervention against Syria in the Security Council.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, at U.N. headquarters in New York, said it was "a question of days, maybe hours" before the Council voted on a resolution condemning Syria. A draft circulated last month does not propose military intervention.
At Jisr al-Shughour, home to tens of thousands of people, residents said they were taking cover and bracing for attacks. Some 120 men, women and children fled into Turkey overnight to seek refuge, the Anatolian news agency said.
Erdogan, who has distanced himself from Assad since the Syrian uprising began, said Turkey would not "close its doors" to refugees fleeing Syria.
Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops had deployed in villages around Jisr al-Shughour, including Ariha to the east and on the main Latakia highway to the southwest.
Residents said about 40 tanks and armored vehicles were about 7 km (4 miles) from Jisr al-Shughour, which was now mostly empty, save for youth protesters.
Ali Haj Abrahim said his son Bilal, who had volunteered to help the wounded at the weekend, was shot by security forces on Sunday on the outskirts of Jisr al-Shoughour.
"Two machinegun rounds tore through his chest and his left shoulder. He was 26 with a geography degree, married four months ago. His wife is pregnant," Haj Ibrahim said.
"We are not taking condolences. We consider his martyrdom a wedding for the defense of freedom," he told Reuters.
Abdulrahman said there were protests against Assad on Tuesday in suburbs of Damascus, including Harasta and Douma, and in Deir Al-Zor and Qamishli in the northeast. Pro-Assad rallies were also held in some of the capital's suburbs.
The government has expelled independent journalists, making it hard to determine clearly what is happening in the country.
Despite enthusiasm for pro-democracy movements that have unseated presidents in Tunisia and Egypt, few Western leaders -- let alone their autocratic Arab partners -- have shown a willingness to intervene in Syria, an Iranian ally whose volatile mix of ethnic and religious groups sits astride a web of regional conflicts.
FOREIGN PRESSURE
Assad's family and supporters from the minority Alawite sect have dominated Syria since his late father seized power 41 years ago. He has responded with promises of reform, and a crackdown on protesters in towns across the country. His officials accuse radical Islamists of fomenting a violent, armed revolt.
Neighboring countries, including Israel and Turkey, worry that a collapse into chaos in Syria could set off sectarian conflict and the emergence of violent, radical Islamists, as happened in neighboring Iraq after the U.S. invasion of 2003.
But Western powers are keeping up the pressure on Assad, with U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to lead a transition to democracy or "get out of the way."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, in some of London's strongest language yet against the 45-year-old leader, on Tuesday told parliament: "President Assad is losing legitimacy and should reform or step aside." He said European governments were looking at further sanctions.
Russia appears opposed to a general condemnation of Assad, let alone authorizing military action against him.
"The prospect of a U.N. Security Council resolution that's along the same lines as Resolution 1973 on Libya will not be supported by my country ... The use of force, as Libya shows, does not provide answers," said Russia's envoy to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov.
Syria's ambassador to France Lamia Chakkour denied a report Tuesday that she had resigned in protest at the government's repression of protests, saying it was part of a campaign of disinformation against Damascus
"Syria should change its attitude toward civilians and should take its attitude to a more tolerant level as soon as possible," said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has had warm relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad's government has accused armed bands of killing scores of its security men in Jisr al-Shughour and has vowed to send in the army to carry out their "national duty to restore security."
Accounts of the violence that began in the hilly town of Jisr al-Shughour Friday vary, with officials saying gunmen ambushed troops and residents reporting an army mutiny.
The bloodshed has triggered international alarm that Syria may be entering an even more violent phase after three months of popular unrest that has cost more than 1,000 lives.
France and Britain, allies in the war against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, will put forward a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday condemning Assad's crackdown on protesters, British Prime Minister David Cameron said.
"And if anyone votes against that resolution or tries to veto it, that should be on their conscience," Cameron said.
The draft resolution condemns the repression and demands humanitarian access, Cameron said in London. But it was unclear how Russia, which holds a veto, would vote. Citing NATO's inconclusive bombing of Tripoli, Moscow says it will not back intervention against Syria in the Security Council.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, at U.N. headquarters in New York, said it was "a question of days, maybe hours" before the Council voted on a resolution condemning Syria. A draft circulated last month does not propose military intervention.
At Jisr al-Shughour, home to tens of thousands of people, residents said they were taking cover and bracing for attacks. Some 120 men, women and children fled into Turkey overnight to seek refuge, the Anatolian news agency said.
Erdogan, who has distanced himself from Assad since the Syrian uprising began, said Turkey would not "close its doors" to refugees fleeing Syria.
Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops had deployed in villages around Jisr al-Shughour, including Ariha to the east and on the main Latakia highway to the southwest.
Residents said about 40 tanks and armored vehicles were about 7 km (4 miles) from Jisr al-Shughour, which was now mostly empty, save for youth protesters.
Ali Haj Abrahim said his son Bilal, who had volunteered to help the wounded at the weekend, was shot by security forces on Sunday on the outskirts of Jisr al-Shoughour.
"Two machinegun rounds tore through his chest and his left shoulder. He was 26 with a geography degree, married four months ago. His wife is pregnant," Haj Ibrahim said.
"We are not taking condolences. We consider his martyrdom a wedding for the defense of freedom," he told Reuters.
Abdulrahman said there were protests against Assad on Tuesday in suburbs of Damascus, including Harasta and Douma, and in Deir Al-Zor and Qamishli in the northeast. Pro-Assad rallies were also held in some of the capital's suburbs.
The government has expelled independent journalists, making it hard to determine clearly what is happening in the country.
Despite enthusiasm for pro-democracy movements that have unseated presidents in Tunisia and Egypt, few Western leaders -- let alone their autocratic Arab partners -- have shown a willingness to intervene in Syria, an Iranian ally whose volatile mix of ethnic and religious groups sits astride a web of regional conflicts.
FOREIGN PRESSURE
Assad's family and supporters from the minority Alawite sect have dominated Syria since his late father seized power 41 years ago. He has responded with promises of reform, and a crackdown on protesters in towns across the country. His officials accuse radical Islamists of fomenting a violent, armed revolt.
Neighboring countries, including Israel and Turkey, worry that a collapse into chaos in Syria could set off sectarian conflict and the emergence of violent, radical Islamists, as happened in neighboring Iraq after the U.S. invasion of 2003.
But Western powers are keeping up the pressure on Assad, with U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to lead a transition to democracy or "get out of the way."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, in some of London's strongest language yet against the 45-year-old leader, on Tuesday told parliament: "President Assad is losing legitimacy and should reform or step aside." He said European governments were looking at further sanctions.
Russia appears opposed to a general condemnation of Assad, let alone authorizing military action against him.
"The prospect of a U.N. Security Council resolution that's along the same lines as Resolution 1973 on Libya will not be supported by my country ... The use of force, as Libya shows, does not provide answers," said Russia's envoy to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov.
Syria's ambassador to France Lamia Chakkour denied a report Tuesday that she had resigned in protest at the government's repression of protests, saying it was part of a campaign of disinformation against Damascus
Syrians flee town as troops approach
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Turkey called on Syria on Wednesday to rein in violence against civilians and promised not to turn away refugees as some residents of a Syrian border town headed for the Turkish frontier in fear of a military assault.
"Syria should change its attitude toward civilians and should take its attitude to a more tolerant level as soon as possible," said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has had warm relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad's government has accused armed bands of killing scores of its security men in Jisr al-Shughour and has vowed to send in the army to carry out their "national duty to restore security."
Accounts of the violence that began in the hilly town of Jisr al-Shughour Friday vary, with officials saying gunmen ambushed troops and residents reporting an army mutiny.
The bloodshed has triggered international alarm that Syria may be entering an even more violent phase after three months of popular unrest that has cost more than 1,000 lives.
France and Britain, allies in the war against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, will put forward a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday condemning Assad's crackdown on protesters, British Prime Minister David Cameron said.
"And if anyone votes against that resolution or tries to veto it, that should be on their conscience," Cameron said.
The draft resolution condemns the repression and demands humanitarian access, Cameron said in London. But it was unclear how Russia, which holds a veto, would vote. Citing NATO's inconclusive bombing of Tripoli, Moscow says it will not back intervention against Syria in the Security Council.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, at U.N. headquarters in New York, said it was "a question of days, maybe hours" before the Council voted on a resolution condemning Syria. A draft circulated last month does not propose military intervention.
At Jisr al-Shughour, home to tens of thousands of people, residents said they were taking cover and bracing for attacks. Some 120 men, women and children fled into Turkey overnight to seek refuge, the Anatolian news agency said.
Erdogan, who has distanced himself from Assad since the Syrian uprising began, said Turkey would not "close its doors" to refugees fleeing Syria.
Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops had deployed in villages around Jisr al-Shughour, including Ariha to the east and on the main Latakia highway to the southwest.
Residents said about 40 tanks and armored vehicles were about 7 km (4 miles) from Jisr al-Shughour, which was now mostly empty, save for youth protesters.
Ali Haj Abrahim said his son Bilal, who had volunteered to help the wounded at the weekend, was shot by security forces on Sunday on the outskirts of Jisr al-Shoughour.
"Two machinegun rounds tore through his chest and his left shoulder. He was 26 with a geography degree, married four months ago. His wife is pregnant," Haj Ibrahim said.
"We are not taking condolences. We consider his martyrdom a wedding for the defense of freedom," he told Reuters.
Abdulrahman said there were protests against Assad on Tuesday in suburbs of Damascus, including Harasta and Douma, and in Deir Al-Zor and Qamishli in the northeast. Pro-Assad rallies were also held in some of the capital's suburbs.
The government has expelled independent journalists, making it hard to determine clearly what is happening in the country.
Despite enthusiasm for pro-democracy movements that have unseated presidents in Tunisia and Egypt, few Western leaders -- let alone their autocratic Arab partners -- have shown a willingness to intervene in Syria, an Iranian ally whose volatile mix of ethnic and religious groups sits astride a web of regional conflicts.
FOREIGN PRESSURE
Assad's family and supporters from the minority Alawite sect have dominated Syria since his late father seized power 41 years ago. He has responded with promises of reform, and a crackdown on protesters in towns across the country. His officials accuse radical Islamists of fomenting a violent, armed revolt.
Neighboring countries, including Israel and Turkey, worry that a collapse into chaos in Syria could set off sectarian conflict and the emergence of violent, radical Islamists, as happened in neighboring Iraq after the U.S. invasion of 2003.
But Western powers are keeping up the pressure on Assad, with U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to lead a transition to democracy or "get out of the way."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, in some of London's strongest language yet against the 45-year-old leader, on Tuesday told parliament: "President Assad is losing legitimacy and should reform or step aside." He said European governments were looking at further sanctions.
Russia appears opposed to a general condemnation of Assad, let alone authorizing military action against him.
"The prospect of a U.N. Security Council resolution that's along the same lines as Resolution 1973 on Libya will not be supported by my country ... The use of force, as Libya shows, does not provide answers," said Russia's envoy to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov.
Syria's ambassador to France Lamia Chakkour denied a report Tuesday that she had resigned in protest at the government's repression of protests, saying it was part of a campaign of disinformation against Damascus.
"Syria should change its attitude toward civilians and should take its attitude to a more tolerant level as soon as possible," said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has had warm relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad's government has accused armed bands of killing scores of its security men in Jisr al-Shughour and has vowed to send in the army to carry out their "national duty to restore security."
Accounts of the violence that began in the hilly town of Jisr al-Shughour Friday vary, with officials saying gunmen ambushed troops and residents reporting an army mutiny.
The bloodshed has triggered international alarm that Syria may be entering an even more violent phase after three months of popular unrest that has cost more than 1,000 lives.
France and Britain, allies in the war against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, will put forward a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday condemning Assad's crackdown on protesters, British Prime Minister David Cameron said.
"And if anyone votes against that resolution or tries to veto it, that should be on their conscience," Cameron said.
The draft resolution condemns the repression and demands humanitarian access, Cameron said in London. But it was unclear how Russia, which holds a veto, would vote. Citing NATO's inconclusive bombing of Tripoli, Moscow says it will not back intervention against Syria in the Security Council.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, at U.N. headquarters in New York, said it was "a question of days, maybe hours" before the Council voted on a resolution condemning Syria. A draft circulated last month does not propose military intervention.
At Jisr al-Shughour, home to tens of thousands of people, residents said they were taking cover and bracing for attacks. Some 120 men, women and children fled into Turkey overnight to seek refuge, the Anatolian news agency said.
Erdogan, who has distanced himself from Assad since the Syrian uprising began, said Turkey would not "close its doors" to refugees fleeing Syria.
Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops had deployed in villages around Jisr al-Shughour, including Ariha to the east and on the main Latakia highway to the southwest.
Residents said about 40 tanks and armored vehicles were about 7 km (4 miles) from Jisr al-Shughour, which was now mostly empty, save for youth protesters.
Ali Haj Abrahim said his son Bilal, who had volunteered to help the wounded at the weekend, was shot by security forces on Sunday on the outskirts of Jisr al-Shoughour.
"Two machinegun rounds tore through his chest and his left shoulder. He was 26 with a geography degree, married four months ago. His wife is pregnant," Haj Ibrahim said.
"We are not taking condolences. We consider his martyrdom a wedding for the defense of freedom," he told Reuters.
Abdulrahman said there were protests against Assad on Tuesday in suburbs of Damascus, including Harasta and Douma, and in Deir Al-Zor and Qamishli in the northeast. Pro-Assad rallies were also held in some of the capital's suburbs.
The government has expelled independent journalists, making it hard to determine clearly what is happening in the country.
Despite enthusiasm for pro-democracy movements that have unseated presidents in Tunisia and Egypt, few Western leaders -- let alone their autocratic Arab partners -- have shown a willingness to intervene in Syria, an Iranian ally whose volatile mix of ethnic and religious groups sits astride a web of regional conflicts.
FOREIGN PRESSURE
Assad's family and supporters from the minority Alawite sect have dominated Syria since his late father seized power 41 years ago. He has responded with promises of reform, and a crackdown on protesters in towns across the country. His officials accuse radical Islamists of fomenting a violent, armed revolt.
Neighboring countries, including Israel and Turkey, worry that a collapse into chaos in Syria could set off sectarian conflict and the emergence of violent, radical Islamists, as happened in neighboring Iraq after the U.S. invasion of 2003.
But Western powers are keeping up the pressure on Assad, with U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to lead a transition to democracy or "get out of the way."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, in some of London's strongest language yet against the 45-year-old leader, on Tuesday told parliament: "President Assad is losing legitimacy and should reform or step aside." He said European governments were looking at further sanctions.
Russia appears opposed to a general condemnation of Assad, let alone authorizing military action against him.
"The prospect of a U.N. Security Council resolution that's along the same lines as Resolution 1973 on Libya will not be supported by my country ... The use of force, as Libya shows, does not provide answers," said Russia's envoy to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov.
Syria's ambassador to France Lamia Chakkour denied a report Tuesday that she had resigned in protest at the government's repression of protests, saying it was part of a campaign of disinformation against Damascus.
China warns U.S. debt-default idea is "playing with fire"
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Republican lawmakers are "playing with fire" by contemplating even a brief debt default as a means to force deeper government spending cuts, an adviser to China's central bank said on Wednesday.
The idea of a technical default -- essentially delaying interest payments for a few days -- has gained backing from a growing number of mainstream Republicans who see it as a price worth paying if it forces the White House to slash spending, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
But any form of default could destabilize the global economy and sour already tense relations with big U.S. creditors such as China, government officials and investors warn.
Li Daokui, an adviser to the People's Bank of China, said a default could undermine the U.S. dollar, and Beijing needed to dissuade Washington from pursuing this course of action.
"I think there is a risk that the U.S. debt default may happen," Li told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Beijing. "The result will be very serious and I really hope that they would stop playing with fire."
[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]
China is the largest foreign creditor to the United States, holding more than $1 trillion in Treasury debt as of March, U.S. data shows, so its concerns carry considerable weight in Washington.
"I really worry about the risks of a U.S. debt default, which I think may lead to a decline in the dollar's value," Li said.
Congress has balked at increasing a statutory limit on government spending as lawmakers argue over how to curb a deficit which is projected to reach $1.4 trillion this fiscal year. The U.S. Treasury Department has said it will run out of borrowing room by August 2.
If the United States cannot make interest payments on its debt, the Obama administration has warned of "catastrophic" consequences that could push the still-fragile economy back into recession.
"It has dire implications for the economy at a time when the macro data is softening," said Ben Westmore, a commodities economist at National Australia Bank.
"It's just a horrible idea," he said.
Financial markets are following the U.S. debate but see little risk of a default.
U.S. Treasury prices were firm in Europe on Wednesday, supported by a flight to their perceived safety on the back of the Greek debt crisis and worries about a slowdown in U.S. economic growth.
Marc Ostwald, a strategist with Monument Securities in London, said markets were working on the assumption that the U.S. debt story "will go away." But nervousness would grow if a resolution was not reached in the next five to six weeks.
'WOULDN'T HAPPEN'
The Republicans' theory is that bondholders would accept a brief delay in interest payments if it meant Washington finally addressed its long-term fiscal problems, putting the country in a stronger position to meet its debt obligations later on.
But interviews with government officials and investors show they consider a default such a grim -- and remote -- possibility that it was nearly impossible to imagine.
"How can the U.S. be allowed to default?" said an official at India's central bank. "We don't think this is a possibility because this could then create huge panic globally."
Indian officials say they have little choice but to buy U.S. Treasury debt because it is still among the world's safest and most liquid investments. It held $39.8 billion in U.S. Treasuries as of March, U.S. data shows.
The officials declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
Oman is concerned about the impact of a default on the currency reserves of the sultanate and its Gulf neighbors.
"Our economies are substantially tied up with the U.S. financial developments," said a senior central bank official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It just wouldn't happen," said Barry Evans, who oversees $83 billion in fixed income assets at Manulife Asset Management. "They would pay their Treasury bills first instead of other bills. It's as simple as that."
Monument's Ostwald called the default scenario "frightening" and said bondholders' patience would wear thin if lawmakers persisted in pitching this strategy in the coming weeks.
"This isn't a debate, this is like a Mexican standoff and that is where the problem lies," he said.
Yuan Gangming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank, smelled some political wrangling behind the U.S. debt debate as the 2012 presidential election draws nearer and said Republicans "want to make things difficult for Obama."
But with time running short before the U.S. Treasury exhausts its borrowing room, Yuan said default was a real risk.
"The possibility is quite high to see a default of the U.S. debt, which would harm many countries in the world, and China in particular," he said.
The idea of a technical default -- essentially delaying interest payments for a few days -- has gained backing from a growing number of mainstream Republicans who see it as a price worth paying if it forces the White House to slash spending, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
But any form of default could destabilize the global economy and sour already tense relations with big U.S. creditors such as China, government officials and investors warn.
Li Daokui, an adviser to the People's Bank of China, said a default could undermine the U.S. dollar, and Beijing needed to dissuade Washington from pursuing this course of action.
"I think there is a risk that the U.S. debt default may happen," Li told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Beijing. "The result will be very serious and I really hope that they would stop playing with fire."
[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]
China is the largest foreign creditor to the United States, holding more than $1 trillion in Treasury debt as of March, U.S. data shows, so its concerns carry considerable weight in Washington.
"I really worry about the risks of a U.S. debt default, which I think may lead to a decline in the dollar's value," Li said.
Congress has balked at increasing a statutory limit on government spending as lawmakers argue over how to curb a deficit which is projected to reach $1.4 trillion this fiscal year. The U.S. Treasury Department has said it will run out of borrowing room by August 2.
If the United States cannot make interest payments on its debt, the Obama administration has warned of "catastrophic" consequences that could push the still-fragile economy back into recession.
"It has dire implications for the economy at a time when the macro data is softening," said Ben Westmore, a commodities economist at National Australia Bank.
"It's just a horrible idea," he said.
Financial markets are following the U.S. debate but see little risk of a default.
U.S. Treasury prices were firm in Europe on Wednesday, supported by a flight to their perceived safety on the back of the Greek debt crisis and worries about a slowdown in U.S. economic growth.
Marc Ostwald, a strategist with Monument Securities in London, said markets were working on the assumption that the U.S. debt story "will go away." But nervousness would grow if a resolution was not reached in the next five to six weeks.
'WOULDN'T HAPPEN'
The Republicans' theory is that bondholders would accept a brief delay in interest payments if it meant Washington finally addressed its long-term fiscal problems, putting the country in a stronger position to meet its debt obligations later on.
But interviews with government officials and investors show they consider a default such a grim -- and remote -- possibility that it was nearly impossible to imagine.
"How can the U.S. be allowed to default?" said an official at India's central bank. "We don't think this is a possibility because this could then create huge panic globally."
Indian officials say they have little choice but to buy U.S. Treasury debt because it is still among the world's safest and most liquid investments. It held $39.8 billion in U.S. Treasuries as of March, U.S. data shows.
The officials declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
Oman is concerned about the impact of a default on the currency reserves of the sultanate and its Gulf neighbors.
"Our economies are substantially tied up with the U.S. financial developments," said a senior central bank official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It just wouldn't happen," said Barry Evans, who oversees $83 billion in fixed income assets at Manulife Asset Management. "They would pay their Treasury bills first instead of other bills. It's as simple as that."
Monument's Ostwald called the default scenario "frightening" and said bondholders' patience would wear thin if lawmakers persisted in pitching this strategy in the coming weeks.
"This isn't a debate, this is like a Mexican standoff and that is where the problem lies," he said.
Yuan Gangming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank, smelled some political wrangling behind the U.S. debt debate as the 2012 presidential election draws nearer and said Republicans "want to make things difficult for Obama."
But with time running short before the U.S. Treasury exhausts its borrowing room, Yuan said default was a real risk.
"The possibility is quite high to see a default of the U.S. debt, which would harm many countries in the world, and China in particular," he said.
German minister pushes 7-year Greek debt rollover
BERLIN (AFP) – Germany, facing pressure from lawmakers within its ruling coalition, has laid out its conditions for new aid for Greece: private banks must forego collecting Greek public debts for seven years.
In a letter sent to eurozone partners and made public on Wednesday, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said an agreement could be reached "through a bond swap leading to a prolongation of the outstanding Greek sovereign bonds by seven years."
Schaeuble has insisted for weeks that a second aid package being negotiated for Greece must include contributions by private investors, though without detailing what would be expected of them.
A rollover, or renewal of credits to Greece would allow for "a fair sharing of the burden between taxpayers and investors," finance ministry spokesman Martin Kreienbaum said Wednesday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has just returned from the United States and was to speak with deputies from liberal and conservative parliamentary groups to calm heated passions and convince them to back more aid for Athens.
She is expected to assure the lawmakers that, as Schaeuble said in his letter, Germany will agree to nothing that did not include "a quantified and substantial contribution of bondholders to the support effort" for Greece.
Taxpayers in several European countries such as Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Slovakia are firmly opposed to more aid for Greece, which is being crushed by some 350 billion euros ($500 billion) in debt.
While the German proviso may go some way towards appeasing them, it will probably not go down well in other parts of Europe.
The French position is "a refusal to restructure Greek debt," government spokesman Francois Baroin said Wednesday, something the German proposal could be seen as.
The European Central Bank in Frankfurt is also unlikely to appreciate Schaeuble's letter.
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday he would only accept a voluntary gesture on the part of banks to reinvest money they earned on Greek bonds into more credit for the country.
Schaeuble's idea goes much further however by establishing a period long enough to fully implement necessary reforms and regain market confidence.
He specifically called for a commitment by holders of Greek bonds that goes beyond the approach summed up as the Vienna Initiative.
That was a model created during the global financial crisis that saw banks roll over credits to Hungary, Latvia and Romania, and has support from the European Commission and French authorities.
"Someone will have to give ground," Commerzbank analyst Christoph Rieger concluded.
He supposed that it would be Germany that would probably ease its demands at some point.
Berlin has already stressed the "voluntary" aspect to decisions by investors.
"We assume that private creditors are aware of their responsibilities," finance ministry spokesman Kreienbaum said.
Andreas Schmitz, head of the German federation of private banks, allowed that "an extension of the maturity of Greek bonds might be a solution."
Banks might not have a choice in any event, since the alternative could be getting hit with severe losses.
Schaeuble warned in his letter that "I see the need to agree on a new program for Greece in order to close the financing gap and prevent default," which could spell disaster for the 17-nation eurozone
In a letter sent to eurozone partners and made public on Wednesday, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said an agreement could be reached "through a bond swap leading to a prolongation of the outstanding Greek sovereign bonds by seven years."
Schaeuble has insisted for weeks that a second aid package being negotiated for Greece must include contributions by private investors, though without detailing what would be expected of them.
A rollover, or renewal of credits to Greece would allow for "a fair sharing of the burden between taxpayers and investors," finance ministry spokesman Martin Kreienbaum said Wednesday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has just returned from the United States and was to speak with deputies from liberal and conservative parliamentary groups to calm heated passions and convince them to back more aid for Athens.
She is expected to assure the lawmakers that, as Schaeuble said in his letter, Germany will agree to nothing that did not include "a quantified and substantial contribution of bondholders to the support effort" for Greece.
Taxpayers in several European countries such as Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Slovakia are firmly opposed to more aid for Greece, which is being crushed by some 350 billion euros ($500 billion) in debt.
While the German proviso may go some way towards appeasing them, it will probably not go down well in other parts of Europe.
The French position is "a refusal to restructure Greek debt," government spokesman Francois Baroin said Wednesday, something the German proposal could be seen as.
The European Central Bank in Frankfurt is also unlikely to appreciate Schaeuble's letter.
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday he would only accept a voluntary gesture on the part of banks to reinvest money they earned on Greek bonds into more credit for the country.
Schaeuble's idea goes much further however by establishing a period long enough to fully implement necessary reforms and regain market confidence.
He specifically called for a commitment by holders of Greek bonds that goes beyond the approach summed up as the Vienna Initiative.
That was a model created during the global financial crisis that saw banks roll over credits to Hungary, Latvia and Romania, and has support from the European Commission and French authorities.
"Someone will have to give ground," Commerzbank analyst Christoph Rieger concluded.
He supposed that it would be Germany that would probably ease its demands at some point.
Berlin has already stressed the "voluntary" aspect to decisions by investors.
"We assume that private creditors are aware of their responsibilities," finance ministry spokesman Kreienbaum said.
Andreas Schmitz, head of the German federation of private banks, allowed that "an extension of the maturity of Greek bonds might be a solution."
Banks might not have a choice in any event, since the alternative could be getting hit with severe losses.
Schaeuble warned in his letter that "I see the need to agree on a new program for Greece in order to close the financing gap and prevent default," which could spell disaster for the 17-nation eurozone
11 die in sect attacks in Nigeria's northeast
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – At least 11 people have been killed in multiple blasts and targeted attacks orchestrated by a feared radical Muslim sect in Nigeria's restive northeast, police said Tuesday.
Borno State police chief Mohammed Abubakar said members of the radical sect locally known as Boko Haram detonated bombs at two police stations and at St. Patrick's Church Tuesday afternoon in the city of Maiduguri. Ten people died in the attacks including three suspected sect members and a soldier, he said.
The multiple blasts come a day after motorcycle-mounted gunmen shot dead Sheik Ibrahim Birkuti, a cleric from a rival sect. The police also blame Boko Haram for killing the cleric Monday at his home in the town of Biu, south of Maiduguri.
Birkuti had been critical of Boko Haram's violence and belonged to the Wahabbi group, a splinter faction of Sunni Muslims. Boko Haram is also a splinter group of Sunni Muslims who have pushed for the implementation of Shariah law in Borno State. However, Wahabbi has done so through peaceful means, while Boko Haram has vowed to keep killing people believed to support the establishment until Shariah law is adopted alongside other demands.
Nigeria, a nation of 150 million people, is divided between the Christian-dominated south and the Muslim north. A dozen states across Nigeria's north already have Shariah law in place, though the area remains under the control of secular state governments.
Boko Haram is responsible for a rash of killings which have targeted police officers, soldiers, politicians and clerics in Nigeria's north over the last year. They have also attacked churches and engineered a massive prison break. However, authorities say attacks intensified after April 26 gubernatorial elections kept the same political party in power.
Governor-elect Kashim Shettima promptly reached out to the sect members to calm tensions by offering an amnesty, but a man claiming to speak for Boko Haram told the BBC last month that the group was rejecting the offer.
In a separate and more recent interview with the BBC's Hausa language service, a man claiming to speak for Boko Haram claimed responsibility for three blasts that rocked two cities in Nigeria's north and a town close to the capital hours after the inauguration of Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the southern part of the country. The National Emergency Management Agency said that 18 people died in the May 29 attacks.
Boko Haram was thought to be vanquished in 2009 after Nigeria's military crushed its mosque into concrete shards, and its leader was arrested and died in police custody. But now, Maiduguri and surrounding villages in Borno state again live in fear.
Routine attacks mean that residents are subjected to searches at dozens of checkpoints. Drivers have to come out of their vehicles, along with their passengers, and walk with their arms raised to prove weapons aren't hidden in their clothing several times a day.
Borno State police chief Mohammed Abubakar said members of the radical sect locally known as Boko Haram detonated bombs at two police stations and at St. Patrick's Church Tuesday afternoon in the city of Maiduguri. Ten people died in the attacks including three suspected sect members and a soldier, he said.
The multiple blasts come a day after motorcycle-mounted gunmen shot dead Sheik Ibrahim Birkuti, a cleric from a rival sect. The police also blame Boko Haram for killing the cleric Monday at his home in the town of Biu, south of Maiduguri.
Birkuti had been critical of Boko Haram's violence and belonged to the Wahabbi group, a splinter faction of Sunni Muslims. Boko Haram is also a splinter group of Sunni Muslims who have pushed for the implementation of Shariah law in Borno State. However, Wahabbi has done so through peaceful means, while Boko Haram has vowed to keep killing people believed to support the establishment until Shariah law is adopted alongside other demands.
Nigeria, a nation of 150 million people, is divided between the Christian-dominated south and the Muslim north. A dozen states across Nigeria's north already have Shariah law in place, though the area remains under the control of secular state governments.
Boko Haram is responsible for a rash of killings which have targeted police officers, soldiers, politicians and clerics in Nigeria's north over the last year. They have also attacked churches and engineered a massive prison break. However, authorities say attacks intensified after April 26 gubernatorial elections kept the same political party in power.
Governor-elect Kashim Shettima promptly reached out to the sect members to calm tensions by offering an amnesty, but a man claiming to speak for Boko Haram told the BBC last month that the group was rejecting the offer.
In a separate and more recent interview with the BBC's Hausa language service, a man claiming to speak for Boko Haram claimed responsibility for three blasts that rocked two cities in Nigeria's north and a town close to the capital hours after the inauguration of Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the southern part of the country. The National Emergency Management Agency said that 18 people died in the May 29 attacks.
Boko Haram was thought to be vanquished in 2009 after Nigeria's military crushed its mosque into concrete shards, and its leader was arrested and died in police custody. But now, Maiduguri and surrounding villages in Borno state again live in fear.
Routine attacks mean that residents are subjected to searches at dozens of checkpoints. Drivers have to come out of their vehicles, along with their passengers, and walk with their arms raised to prove weapons aren't hidden in their clothing several times a day.
Gaddafi's forces advance on Libya's Misrata: rebels
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Thousands of troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi advanced on the rebel-held western city of Misrata on Wednesday, shelling it from three sides in attacks that killed at least 12 rebels, a rebel spokesman said.
There was no immediate comment from Gaddafi's government.
"Misrata is under heavy shelling ... Gaddafi forces are shelling Misrata from three sides: east, west and south," rebel spokesman Hassan al-Misrati told Reuters from inside the town.
"He has sent thousands of troops from all sides and they are trying to enter the city. They are still outside, though."
He added that 12 rebels had been killed and 26 wounded.
The offensive followed a lull in NATO bombing of Tripoli on Wednesday, after 24 hours of some of the heaviest bombardments of the Libyan capital since air strikes began in March.
NATO defense ministers met in Brussels on Wednesday, but there were few signs of willingness to intensify their Libya mission, which has so far failed to oust Gaddafi.
The alliance says the bombing aims to protect civilians from the Libyan leader's military, which crushed popular protests against his rule in February, leaving many dead.
But with officials like British Foreign Secretary William Hague talking explicitly of Gaddafi being forced out, critics say NATO has gone beyond its U.N. mandate to protect civilians.
Western powers are lining up behind the rebels. Spain on Wednesday said it had recognized their National Transitional Council as the country's only representative.
"I'm here today to confirm that the National Transitional Council is the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people," Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez told reporters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Wednesday.
Rebel spokesman Abdulrahman said from Zintan that Gaddafi's forces had also shelled the western town on Wednesday morning, after massing large numbers of troops toward it.
"They are now using anti-aircraft weapons," he said.
Gaddafi's troops and the rebels have been deadlocked for weeks, with neither side able to hold territory on a road between Ajdabiyah in the east, which Gaddafi's forces shelled on Monday, and the Gaddafi-held oil town of Brega further west.
Rebels control the east of Libya, the western city of Misrata and the range of western mountains near the border with Tunisia. They have been unable to advance on the capital against Gaddafi's better-equipped forces.
NATO SEEKS MORE SUPPORT
NATO sought broader support for the Western bombing campaign in Libya on Wednesday, given that the alliance's air power has been stretched by the latest strikes on Tripoli.
"We want to see increased urgency in some quarters in terms of Libya," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
But some NATO allies that have not taken part in the bombing said they would not alter their stance, and Sweden, a non-NATO participant, said it would scale down its role.
Of the 28 NATO allies, only eight, led by Britain and France, have been conducting air strikes on Gaddafi's forces, and a senior U.S. official warned this week that fatigue was beginning to set in among the aircrews already committed.
NATO allies agree Gaddafi must go, but not all view military intervention as the best way to achieve this.
Germany, which opposed the Libyan intervention, said it understood the pressures on Britain and France but would not change its position. Spain said it would not join the mission, despite now recognizing the rebels as Libya's representatives.
"Germany sticks to its position -- no military engagement," German Deputy Defense Minister Christian Schmidt told reporters.
GADDAFI DIGS IN
As bombs fell late on Tuesday, Gaddafi vowed to fight to the end, after strikes on his Bab al-Aziziya compound.
"We only have one choice: we will stay in our land dead or alive," he said in a fiery audio address on state television.
Gaddafi says the rebels are a minority of Islamist militants and the NATO campaign is an attempt to grab Libya's oil.
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it was "just a matter of time before Gaddafi goes."
Diplomatic overtures are being made to the rebels by world powers, even Russia and China, despite their misgivings about interference in Libya's sovereign affairs.
A Russian special envoy for Africa said in the rebel capital of Benghazi on Tuesday that Gaddafi could no longer represent Libya and that Russia was ready to help in any way possible.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said an Egypt-based Chinese diplomat had visited Benghazi to talk with the rebels.
There was no immediate comment from Gaddafi's government.
"Misrata is under heavy shelling ... Gaddafi forces are shelling Misrata from three sides: east, west and south," rebel spokesman Hassan al-Misrati told Reuters from inside the town.
"He has sent thousands of troops from all sides and they are trying to enter the city. They are still outside, though."
He added that 12 rebels had been killed and 26 wounded.
The offensive followed a lull in NATO bombing of Tripoli on Wednesday, after 24 hours of some of the heaviest bombardments of the Libyan capital since air strikes began in March.
NATO defense ministers met in Brussels on Wednesday, but there were few signs of willingness to intensify their Libya mission, which has so far failed to oust Gaddafi.
The alliance says the bombing aims to protect civilians from the Libyan leader's military, which crushed popular protests against his rule in February, leaving many dead.
But with officials like British Foreign Secretary William Hague talking explicitly of Gaddafi being forced out, critics say NATO has gone beyond its U.N. mandate to protect civilians.
Western powers are lining up behind the rebels. Spain on Wednesday said it had recognized their National Transitional Council as the country's only representative.
"I'm here today to confirm that the National Transitional Council is the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people," Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez told reporters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Wednesday.
Rebel spokesman Abdulrahman said from Zintan that Gaddafi's forces had also shelled the western town on Wednesday morning, after massing large numbers of troops toward it.
"They are now using anti-aircraft weapons," he said.
Gaddafi's troops and the rebels have been deadlocked for weeks, with neither side able to hold territory on a road between Ajdabiyah in the east, which Gaddafi's forces shelled on Monday, and the Gaddafi-held oil town of Brega further west.
Rebels control the east of Libya, the western city of Misrata and the range of western mountains near the border with Tunisia. They have been unable to advance on the capital against Gaddafi's better-equipped forces.
NATO SEEKS MORE SUPPORT
NATO sought broader support for the Western bombing campaign in Libya on Wednesday, given that the alliance's air power has been stretched by the latest strikes on Tripoli.
"We want to see increased urgency in some quarters in terms of Libya," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
But some NATO allies that have not taken part in the bombing said they would not alter their stance, and Sweden, a non-NATO participant, said it would scale down its role.
Of the 28 NATO allies, only eight, led by Britain and France, have been conducting air strikes on Gaddafi's forces, and a senior U.S. official warned this week that fatigue was beginning to set in among the aircrews already committed.
NATO allies agree Gaddafi must go, but not all view military intervention as the best way to achieve this.
Germany, which opposed the Libyan intervention, said it understood the pressures on Britain and France but would not change its position. Spain said it would not join the mission, despite now recognizing the rebels as Libya's representatives.
"Germany sticks to its position -- no military engagement," German Deputy Defense Minister Christian Schmidt told reporters.
GADDAFI DIGS IN
As bombs fell late on Tuesday, Gaddafi vowed to fight to the end, after strikes on his Bab al-Aziziya compound.
"We only have one choice: we will stay in our land dead or alive," he said in a fiery audio address on state television.
Gaddafi says the rebels are a minority of Islamist militants and the NATO campaign is an attempt to grab Libya's oil.
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it was "just a matter of time before Gaddafi goes."
Diplomatic overtures are being made to the rebels by world powers, even Russia and China, despite their misgivings about interference in Libya's sovereign affairs.
A Russian special envoy for Africa said in the rebel capital of Benghazi on Tuesday that Gaddafi could no longer represent Libya and that Russia was ready to help in any way possible.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said an Egypt-based Chinese diplomat had visited Benghazi to talk with the rebels.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Ghana national security men (BNI) seizes "Atta Mortuary Man" movies
A movie producer has expressed utter disgust at the seizure of Video CDs of two of his yet-to-be-released movies “Atta Mortuary Man” and “Oh Uncle Atta,” by persons said to be armed national security men.
Kofi Asamoah claimed the men besieged the premises of his distributor on Saturday and seized 13,000 copies of the CDs which they took to the offices of the BNI.
The Distributor, George Walker Darko, who was arrested but later released Saturday evening confirmed the story to host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Monday.
According to Mr Darko, no reasons were given for the seizure except the unequivocal instruction by one of the muscled men that the movies could not be released to the public.
He could not fathom how and why his two comedy movies which have no political inclination or content, except the titles - both of which could manifestly be linked to the President John Atta Mills - would be seized.
He explained that efforts by his distributor to convince the men that the movies had no political coloration fell on deaf ears as the men sang the chorus that they were operating with an order from above.
According to him the two movies have been given a clean bill of health by the Ghana Cinematography Control Board which has the statutory mandate to evaluate contents of movies before they are aired to the public.
He said despite the Board’s decision, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation prior to the seizure refused, for no justifiable reasons, to promote the movies even though he was ready to pay for it.
Explaining the synopsis of the movies, Kofi Asamoah said “Atta Mortuary Man” is purely a comedy in which the lead actor-Agya Koo, playing the role as Atta, is a susu collector who after fraudulently embezzling the amounts he had collected from the residents decided to ran away from the vicinity. Finding himself in a new locality, he had to pursue other jobs for a living and settled on being a mortuary man.
He noted that similarly, the “Oh Uncle Atta” has no political connotation.
For now the 13,000 CDs are still with the BNI, he said, adding the movies were supposed to be released this week.
He expressed deep frustration at what he described as needless impediments being put on his way by national security over harmless movies that are purely for comedic purposes.
He also lamented the huge financial costs that went into the production.
The National Security is yet to react to the allegations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal has said in an interview with Peace FM Monday that the 13,000 copies of the movie were seized because the producer did not complete censorship procedures.
He further explained that though the movie itself had been censored and approved by the Cinematography board, its posters and adverts had not yet been scrutinised since the producer did not make them available at the time the movie was under scrutiny.
Mr Jamal said until the adverts and posters have been properly censored, the movie should not be sold. He added that the national security had to intervene and seize the copies to ensure that laws governing film production were strictly adhered to.
Story by Nathan Gadugah and Dorcas Efe Mensah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
Kofi Asamoah claimed the men besieged the premises of his distributor on Saturday and seized 13,000 copies of the CDs which they took to the offices of the BNI.
The Distributor, George Walker Darko, who was arrested but later released Saturday evening confirmed the story to host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Monday.
According to Mr Darko, no reasons were given for the seizure except the unequivocal instruction by one of the muscled men that the movies could not be released to the public.
He could not fathom how and why his two comedy movies which have no political inclination or content, except the titles - both of which could manifestly be linked to the President John Atta Mills - would be seized.
He explained that efforts by his distributor to convince the men that the movies had no political coloration fell on deaf ears as the men sang the chorus that they were operating with an order from above.
According to him the two movies have been given a clean bill of health by the Ghana Cinematography Control Board which has the statutory mandate to evaluate contents of movies before they are aired to the public.
He said despite the Board’s decision, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation prior to the seizure refused, for no justifiable reasons, to promote the movies even though he was ready to pay for it.
Explaining the synopsis of the movies, Kofi Asamoah said “Atta Mortuary Man” is purely a comedy in which the lead actor-Agya Koo, playing the role as Atta, is a susu collector who after fraudulently embezzling the amounts he had collected from the residents decided to ran away from the vicinity. Finding himself in a new locality, he had to pursue other jobs for a living and settled on being a mortuary man.
He noted that similarly, the “Oh Uncle Atta” has no political connotation.
For now the 13,000 CDs are still with the BNI, he said, adding the movies were supposed to be released this week.
He expressed deep frustration at what he described as needless impediments being put on his way by national security over harmless movies that are purely for comedic purposes.
He also lamented the huge financial costs that went into the production.
The National Security is yet to react to the allegations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal has said in an interview with Peace FM Monday that the 13,000 copies of the movie were seized because the producer did not complete censorship procedures.
He further explained that though the movie itself had been censored and approved by the Cinematography board, its posters and adverts had not yet been scrutinised since the producer did not make them available at the time the movie was under scrutiny.
Mr Jamal said until the adverts and posters have been properly censored, the movie should not be sold. He added that the national security had to intervene and seize the copies to ensure that laws governing film production were strictly adhered to.
Story by Nathan Gadugah and Dorcas Efe Mensah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
STX In Danger
Source: Daily Guide - Daily Guide
The controversial STX Housing project, which sparked intense debate before the deal was approved by Parliament, appears to be stalling as the Ghanaian and Korean partners are virtually trading punches.
The partners are battling it out in court over the sourcing of funds for the project, while the government panics, with the dream of building the supposed 30,000 houses for the country's security agencies fizzling out.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government reached an agreement with STX Engineering & Construction Limited, Korea, through its subsidiary in Ghana for the construction of 200,000 houses in Ghana within a period of five years, estimated at $10billion; and in August 2010, Parliament approved an initial off-take agreement for 30,000 housing units for the security agencies at a proportionate cost of $1.5 billion.
However, sources of funding for the project as well as the alleged attempt by STX Korea to remove the Ghanaian directors from the company has cast serious doubts on the take-off of the project, five months after the ground-breaking by President Atta Mills amidst fanfare.
STX had promised to bring the money from Korea as captured in the agreement, but that has not happened, compelling the government and local partners to look elsewhere for cash.
According to DAILY GUIDE sources, the sovereign guarantee issued by the Ghana government to STX to enable it to raise a loan has allegedly been given to B.K. Asamoah, the man who facilitated the deal to source for funding in the financial market without reference to the Koreans.
This side-stepping is what has infuriated the Koreans, prompting them to go to court to dismiss the Ghanaian directors.
The government is trying feverishly to make things appear as if all is well with the project, as Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban Bagbin says the parties have been spoken to.
When Mr Bagbin was asked by Joy FM about additional sources of funding for the project he simply said, 'The money is available so it is not an issue of funding. I won't disclose the source of additional funding but the money is coming into our account at the bank of Ghana.'
He continued: 'There is no difficulty in sourcing funds. Funds have been sourced and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning can confirm that money is available.'
Mr. Bagbin said since the Bank of Ghana issued sovereign guarantee to cover the project, there is mad rush by banks to provide financial support for the project.
He also alleged that the government is committed to the project, saying, 'It is government's project and not STX project. Government definitely has a plan B to continue with the works. The parties are in court we can deal with the technical team.'
He said the problem between the directors was as a result of a breakdown in communication and that government has another strategy to ensure that the project still continues even if the standoff is not resolved on time.
B.K. Asamoah is credited largely for bringing about the STX Korean deal, which the Mills administration is hoping would provide accommodation for many Ghanaians; but sensing that the Koreans are planning to remove him from the company through an emergency board meeting, he went to court in Accra to stop the move.
In the motion, Mr. Asamoah wants the court to declare as illegal and wrongful, notices of an impending extraordinary meeting where he and another director, J. B. Asafo Boakye would be dismissed.
Recently for instance, Danquah Institute (DI), a policy analysts group, raised red flags over the implementation of the project because of what it calls 'the government's ambiguity, changes and re-arrangements with sources of funding of the project'.
A fellow at IMANI Ghana, Kofi Bentil, has also challenged Bagbin's claim that there is funding for the project and stated that evidence available clearly showed that there is no funding for the project.
He further challenged the Minister on Joy FM to come out with the details of the names of organizations which have provided the money and the amounts involved.
He said such details should not be concealed and treated as though it was a national security matter.
He reiterated his belief that the STX project is a misplaced priority which government should have avoided.
According to him, money for the project will be of better use if channeled towards solving the perennial water problems the nation faces.
By William Yaw Owusu
The controversial STX Housing project, which sparked intense debate before the deal was approved by Parliament, appears to be stalling as the Ghanaian and Korean partners are virtually trading punches.
The partners are battling it out in court over the sourcing of funds for the project, while the government panics, with the dream of building the supposed 30,000 houses for the country's security agencies fizzling out.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government reached an agreement with STX Engineering & Construction Limited, Korea, through its subsidiary in Ghana for the construction of 200,000 houses in Ghana within a period of five years, estimated at $10billion; and in August 2010, Parliament approved an initial off-take agreement for 30,000 housing units for the security agencies at a proportionate cost of $1.5 billion.
However, sources of funding for the project as well as the alleged attempt by STX Korea to remove the Ghanaian directors from the company has cast serious doubts on the take-off of the project, five months after the ground-breaking by President Atta Mills amidst fanfare.
STX had promised to bring the money from Korea as captured in the agreement, but that has not happened, compelling the government and local partners to look elsewhere for cash.
According to DAILY GUIDE sources, the sovereign guarantee issued by the Ghana government to STX to enable it to raise a loan has allegedly been given to B.K. Asamoah, the man who facilitated the deal to source for funding in the financial market without reference to the Koreans.
This side-stepping is what has infuriated the Koreans, prompting them to go to court to dismiss the Ghanaian directors.
The government is trying feverishly to make things appear as if all is well with the project, as Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban Bagbin says the parties have been spoken to.
When Mr Bagbin was asked by Joy FM about additional sources of funding for the project he simply said, 'The money is available so it is not an issue of funding. I won't disclose the source of additional funding but the money is coming into our account at the bank of Ghana.'
He continued: 'There is no difficulty in sourcing funds. Funds have been sourced and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning can confirm that money is available.'
Mr. Bagbin said since the Bank of Ghana issued sovereign guarantee to cover the project, there is mad rush by banks to provide financial support for the project.
He also alleged that the government is committed to the project, saying, 'It is government's project and not STX project. Government definitely has a plan B to continue with the works. The parties are in court we can deal with the technical team.'
He said the problem between the directors was as a result of a breakdown in communication and that government has another strategy to ensure that the project still continues even if the standoff is not resolved on time.
B.K. Asamoah is credited largely for bringing about the STX Korean deal, which the Mills administration is hoping would provide accommodation for many Ghanaians; but sensing that the Koreans are planning to remove him from the company through an emergency board meeting, he went to court in Accra to stop the move.
In the motion, Mr. Asamoah wants the court to declare as illegal and wrongful, notices of an impending extraordinary meeting where he and another director, J. B. Asafo Boakye would be dismissed.
Recently for instance, Danquah Institute (DI), a policy analysts group, raised red flags over the implementation of the project because of what it calls 'the government's ambiguity, changes and re-arrangements with sources of funding of the project'.
A fellow at IMANI Ghana, Kofi Bentil, has also challenged Bagbin's claim that there is funding for the project and stated that evidence available clearly showed that there is no funding for the project.
He further challenged the Minister on Joy FM to come out with the details of the names of organizations which have provided the money and the amounts involved.
He said such details should not be concealed and treated as though it was a national security matter.
He reiterated his belief that the STX project is a misplaced priority which government should have avoided.
According to him, money for the project will be of better use if channeled towards solving the perennial water problems the nation faces.
By William Yaw Owusu
Ghana Minister admits building 20-room mansion on waterway
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Deputy Minister for Agriculture, in-charge of Animal Husbandry, Alfred Sugri Tia, Wednesday admitted ownership of a five-acre waterlog land, located at the Tema Golf City Estates, on which he is putting up a 20-room mansion.
Though the building project, according to neighbours started recently, the Deputy Minister, in a curious submission, told Citi FM and Joy FM Wednesday that he was constructing the housing project for his former poultry farm workers who were laid off when the farm was shut down in 2007.
“The Minister is only playing politics. He is struggling to show that he started the project before his appointment. But we live here with the floods and we know when he started. How come his men are working day and night, four years after he shut down the poultry if indeed this mansion is to provide accommodation for them?” commented a Golf City Estates resident yesterday.
Even though a building consultant puts the housing project at GHC2.5 million (25 billion old cedis), the Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nalerigu/Gambaga, insists the 20-room mansion will not cost more than GH¢100,000.
The NDC has been putting up a basic 6-unit classroom block at GH¢220,000 in Tema.
Speaking on Accra based Joy FM, Dr Tia stunned his listeners when he said he was not sure of the number of rooms in the building, even though he had earlier said on Citi FM that the building contained 15 rooms.
“The rooms are about 18 thereabout; it could be 20; I am not too certain,” he told listeners Joy FM.
Neighbours of Dr Tia say they live in danger of having their homes and belongings drowned in floods because of the decision by the Minister to put up the massive 20-room building on a water way in the area.
They blame the unusual flooding of the area in recent times on the fact that the Minister’s building has eaten into a part of a bridge, blocking the free flow of water.
Over 30 detached houses in the area suffer from severe floods whenever there is a heavy downpour, a situation which the residents say is getting worse and damaging their property.
“We never used to face this problem before the Minster and his wife started their building project,” lamented a neighbour who refused to be named for fear of reprisals.
When the New Statesman visited the area, workers were busily at work and neighbours were busily complaining. Work on the site goes on nonstop, day and night, seven times a week, according to residents.
Most obviously affected by the waterway blockade is the Delawen Poultry Farm, located right opposite the Minister’s building. The animal husbandry lost over 10,000 birds and hundreds of sheep at an estimated cost of GHc70, 000. This loss, according to sources at the farm, occurred during the recent rains.
Some resident say the Minister has ignored all their complaints. “He’s serious about showing us where power lies and we are seriously reeling from it,” one resident cried.
After several complaints, including clear warnings from the Tema Development Corporation and the Tema Municipal Assembly, construction on the waterway stopped. But, this was only for a short period before work resumed full steam.
Our checks at both the TMA and TDC suggest that the authorities have been impressed upon “to allow the Minister to break the law”, said a TDC source, and “to get away with murder,” added a TMA insider.
Yaw Kudjorji, a resident, shared his frustration with our reporter. He said the residents were tired of making official complaints to both the TDC and TMA because “nothing happens.”
His fear was that things could get worse as the raining season kicks in and the flooding could cause more havoc than so far endured.
Another resident could not hide her anger and exasperation. “We are afraid that any rainfall can flood all our houses due to one man’s negligence and power as a Minister,” said Madam Florence Donkor.
2 Ghanaians Fighting while airborne Boeing 767 ?
Before things got out of hand, it was a typical annoyance that happens once a flight gets airborne: A passenger hit the recline button and sent his seat intimately close to the lap of the guy sitting behind him.
What followed wasn’t typical at all: a smack to the head, peacemakers diving about the cabin to intervene and a pair of Air Force F-16 fighter jets scrambling into the night skies over Washington.
It happened late Sunday, just after a United Airlines Boeing 767 bound for Ghana with 144 passengers took off from Dulles International Airport.
Not long after the 10:44 p.m. departure for the overnight flight, the offending seat was lowered into the offended lap, and a fight ensued. A flight attendant and another passenger jumped in between, said sources familiar with the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to provide details.
The pilot has complete authority over the aircraft, a United spokesman said, and he decided to return to Dulles to sort things out rather than continue the transatlantic flight to Ghana when he was unsure of the scope of the problem.
[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]
Airline and Homeland Security Department officials said they had no other details on the incident.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, pilots have learned to be wary. In recent years, disturbances have revealed terrorist attempts to ignite explosives hidden in shoes and underwear. Air Force fighter jets stand ready to respond to situations such as this one, in which passengers, who might be terrorists, cause trouble in flight.
(LISTEN: The audio between the pilot and the control tower)
A 767 can take off with 16,700 gallons of fuel, and for the more-than-5,000-mile flight to Accra, Ghana, it probably would have needed all of it. The full load of fuel weighs more than 57 tons, and, although a 767 can get that weight airborne, it can’t land with it.
As the plane turned back to Dulles, an air traffic controller directed the United pilot to fly around for about 25 minutes, shadowed by the fighter jets, to burn off an undetermined amount of fuel.
(RESPOND: What would you have done if you were on the plane)
Audio transmissions indicate that the two Air Force fighters scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base at 11:03 p.m, just as the plane reentered Washington airspace.
Five minutes later, the fighter escorts took up position 1,000 feet above the jetliner as it headed toward Dulles, sources said.
At 11:10 p.m., the controller asked about the passenger who slapped his neighbor, and a voice from the cockpit replied: “The passenger is not secured at this time; the passenger has settled down, though, but an assault has taken place, but at this time he is not secured.”
Members of the Dulles police force met the flight at the gate, said Rob Yingling, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Officers determined that the incident didn’t warrant pressing charges, Yingling said.
It was probably expensive, however.
In addition to the fuel cost — jet fuel averaged $3.03 a gallon last month — the flight was delayed until Monday. Given that no arrests were made, there was no official record of the incident, and the identities of the men involved were not known. It was unclear whether they were on the flight when it left Monday morning or, if so, where they sat, United spokesman Mike Trevino said.
What followed wasn’t typical at all: a smack to the head, peacemakers diving about the cabin to intervene and a pair of Air Force F-16 fighter jets scrambling into the night skies over Washington.
It happened late Sunday, just after a United Airlines Boeing 767 bound for Ghana with 144 passengers took off from Dulles International Airport.
Not long after the 10:44 p.m. departure for the overnight flight, the offending seat was lowered into the offended lap, and a fight ensued. A flight attendant and another passenger jumped in between, said sources familiar with the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to provide details.
The pilot has complete authority over the aircraft, a United spokesman said, and he decided to return to Dulles to sort things out rather than continue the transatlantic flight to Ghana when he was unsure of the scope of the problem.
[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]
Airline and Homeland Security Department officials said they had no other details on the incident.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, pilots have learned to be wary. In recent years, disturbances have revealed terrorist attempts to ignite explosives hidden in shoes and underwear. Air Force fighter jets stand ready to respond to situations such as this one, in which passengers, who might be terrorists, cause trouble in flight.
(LISTEN: The audio between the pilot and the control tower)
A 767 can take off with 16,700 gallons of fuel, and for the more-than-5,000-mile flight to Accra, Ghana, it probably would have needed all of it. The full load of fuel weighs more than 57 tons, and, although a 767 can get that weight airborne, it can’t land with it.
As the plane turned back to Dulles, an air traffic controller directed the United pilot to fly around for about 25 minutes, shadowed by the fighter jets, to burn off an undetermined amount of fuel.
(RESPOND: What would you have done if you were on the plane)
Audio transmissions indicate that the two Air Force fighters scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base at 11:03 p.m, just as the plane reentered Washington airspace.
Five minutes later, the fighter escorts took up position 1,000 feet above the jetliner as it headed toward Dulles, sources said.
At 11:10 p.m., the controller asked about the passenger who slapped his neighbor, and a voice from the cockpit replied: “The passenger is not secured at this time; the passenger has settled down, though, but an assault has taken place, but at this time he is not secured.”
Members of the Dulles police force met the flight at the gate, said Rob Yingling, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Officers determined that the incident didn’t warrant pressing charges, Yingling said.
It was probably expensive, however.
In addition to the fuel cost — jet fuel averaged $3.03 a gallon last month — the flight was delayed until Monday. Given that no arrests were made, there was no official record of the incident, and the identities of the men involved were not known. It was unclear whether they were on the flight when it left Monday morning or, if so, where they sat, United spokesman Mike Trevino said.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Report: both committed atrocities in Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Only days after Ivory Coast's president was inaugurated, ending a monthslong power struggle with the outgoing leader who refused to leave office, a rights group said in a new report that supporters of both men killed hundreds of civilians and committed atrocities in the battle for power.
In a report released Wednesday from Paris, Amnesty International said armed men fighting for both President Alassane Ouattara and ousted strongman Laurent Gbagbo carried out crimes against civilians. The report said both sides targeted their victims by their political affiliation, ethnicities or names. Other rights groups and the United Nations have also said both sides carried out massacres in the five-month political standoff.
"Evidence collected by Amnesty International clearly demonstrate that crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by all sides," the report said, while also criticizing the new government's approach by saying that "much more is needed than just a process of truth and reconciliation."
Amnesty's report, which drew from interviews with hundreds of witnesses, detailed numerous cases where even women and children were targeted for ethnic, political or religious reasons. The report broke the violence into two phases. The first phase occurred in the urban center of Abidjan and was largely perpetrated by Gbagbo's forces. The violence then moved to the countryside after Ouattara accepted the help of northern rebels, who killed hundreds as they pushed toward Abidjan.
Ouattara's government claims Gbagbo's forces killed at least 3,000 people. Gbagbo, his wife and close allies are under arrest in a northern city, where federal investigators have opened their case.
Government officials did not respond immediately to calls for comment. But in a speech given after Tuesday's swearing-in of a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ouattara said Ivory Coast's justice system isn't capable of bringing all perpetrators to justice.
Last week, Ouattara formally asked the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes committed during the postelection crisis. He has said that his supporters are not above the law.
Elected president last November, Ouattara was unable to assume office because Gbagbo refused to recognize the results, which had been certified by the U.N. and gave Ouattara the victory.
Both men took oaths of office, creating a bloody stalemate during which Ouattara attempted to govern while barricaded inside a luxury hotel. Gbagbo meanwhile turned his security forces on populations seen to support his rival, conducting nighttime kidnappings and killing hundreds in machine gunnings and mortar attacks on civilian neighborhoods.
The report cited dozens of witnesses who described how police or soldiers would enter a house, workplace or even a mosque, often under the pretext of searching for illegal weapons. They would then open fire, killing as many as 10 or 15 people on several occasions.
For months, multiple attempts at international mediation fell flat and financial sanctions failed to persuade Gbagbo to step down. In March, rebel forces supporting Ouattara launched an offensive and conquered the country, eventually arresting Gbagbo with support from the U.N. and French military.
During the offensive, the report said, pro-Ouattara forces killed hundreds of civilians in the west of the country, targeting ethnicities perceived to have supported Gbagbo and slitting the throats of hundreds of men, including priests.
While the disputed election was a catalyst for the violence, the report said, underlying divisions in Ivorian society as well as the failure to investigate and prosecute previous outbreaks of violence set the stage for the massacres.
Gbagbo's supporters are often from the south and the west, belong to certain ethnicities and practice Christianity. Ouattara's supporters come from the north, belong to other ethnicities and are for the most part Muslim. While much was made of overcoming these divisions during the election campaign, once the postelection violence began, these categories became the basis for selecting victims.
Immediately following the election in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's biggest city, Gbagbo's security forces targeted and attacked perceived Ouattara supporters on the basis of their clothing, their names or even where they lived, said the report, which was titled "They looked at his identity card and shot him dead."
Using roadblocks to catch victims was another tactic commonly used by pro-Gbagbo youth militias, who "carried out deliberate and arbitrary killings — mainly of people with a Muslim name or wearing Muslim clothing — with the consent or acquiescence of security forces," the report said. Many of the people caught by militiamen were burned to death, the report said.
Shortly afterward, in the west of the country, a rural battle ensued.
Rebels used the pro-Ouattara advance as a pretext for carrying out killings, targeting people likely to have supported Gbagbo on the basis of ethnicity and religion.
In first days of the offensive, "(pro-Ouattara forces) took complete control of Duekoue and, in the hours and days that followed, hundreds of people belonging to the Guere ethnic group were killed deliberately and systematically," the report said.
Citing more than 100 witness statements, the report said that during the massacre, women were raped, many of the victims had their throats cut, children were shot and the bodies of 12 priests in their robes were found outside a seminary.
Amnesty International has called for all perpetrators to be brought to justice, regardless of their ethnicity or political affinity, but said it worries not enough is being done.
In particular, the conditions under which Gbagbo, his family and his collaborators are being held are unknown and International Committee of the Red Cross has been refused access to them.
The report also criticized the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast for not having done more to prevent the massacres in the west, which in at least one case took place just over half a mile (less than 1 kilometer) from a U.N. base.
In a report released Wednesday from Paris, Amnesty International said armed men fighting for both President Alassane Ouattara and ousted strongman Laurent Gbagbo carried out crimes against civilians. The report said both sides targeted their victims by their political affiliation, ethnicities or names. Other rights groups and the United Nations have also said both sides carried out massacres in the five-month political standoff.
"Evidence collected by Amnesty International clearly demonstrate that crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by all sides," the report said, while also criticizing the new government's approach by saying that "much more is needed than just a process of truth and reconciliation."
Amnesty's report, which drew from interviews with hundreds of witnesses, detailed numerous cases where even women and children were targeted for ethnic, political or religious reasons. The report broke the violence into two phases. The first phase occurred in the urban center of Abidjan and was largely perpetrated by Gbagbo's forces. The violence then moved to the countryside after Ouattara accepted the help of northern rebels, who killed hundreds as they pushed toward Abidjan.
Ouattara's government claims Gbagbo's forces killed at least 3,000 people. Gbagbo, his wife and close allies are under arrest in a northern city, where federal investigators have opened their case.
Government officials did not respond immediately to calls for comment. But in a speech given after Tuesday's swearing-in of a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ouattara said Ivory Coast's justice system isn't capable of bringing all perpetrators to justice.
Last week, Ouattara formally asked the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes committed during the postelection crisis. He has said that his supporters are not above the law.
Elected president last November, Ouattara was unable to assume office because Gbagbo refused to recognize the results, which had been certified by the U.N. and gave Ouattara the victory.
Both men took oaths of office, creating a bloody stalemate during which Ouattara attempted to govern while barricaded inside a luxury hotel. Gbagbo meanwhile turned his security forces on populations seen to support his rival, conducting nighttime kidnappings and killing hundreds in machine gunnings and mortar attacks on civilian neighborhoods.
The report cited dozens of witnesses who described how police or soldiers would enter a house, workplace or even a mosque, often under the pretext of searching for illegal weapons. They would then open fire, killing as many as 10 or 15 people on several occasions.
For months, multiple attempts at international mediation fell flat and financial sanctions failed to persuade Gbagbo to step down. In March, rebel forces supporting Ouattara launched an offensive and conquered the country, eventually arresting Gbagbo with support from the U.N. and French military.
During the offensive, the report said, pro-Ouattara forces killed hundreds of civilians in the west of the country, targeting ethnicities perceived to have supported Gbagbo and slitting the throats of hundreds of men, including priests.
While the disputed election was a catalyst for the violence, the report said, underlying divisions in Ivorian society as well as the failure to investigate and prosecute previous outbreaks of violence set the stage for the massacres.
Gbagbo's supporters are often from the south and the west, belong to certain ethnicities and practice Christianity. Ouattara's supporters come from the north, belong to other ethnicities and are for the most part Muslim. While much was made of overcoming these divisions during the election campaign, once the postelection violence began, these categories became the basis for selecting victims.
Immediately following the election in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's biggest city, Gbagbo's security forces targeted and attacked perceived Ouattara supporters on the basis of their clothing, their names or even where they lived, said the report, which was titled "They looked at his identity card and shot him dead."
Using roadblocks to catch victims was another tactic commonly used by pro-Gbagbo youth militias, who "carried out deliberate and arbitrary killings — mainly of people with a Muslim name or wearing Muslim clothing — with the consent or acquiescence of security forces," the report said. Many of the people caught by militiamen were burned to death, the report said.
Shortly afterward, in the west of the country, a rural battle ensued.
Rebels used the pro-Ouattara advance as a pretext for carrying out killings, targeting people likely to have supported Gbagbo on the basis of ethnicity and religion.
In first days of the offensive, "(pro-Ouattara forces) took complete control of Duekoue and, in the hours and days that followed, hundreds of people belonging to the Guere ethnic group were killed deliberately and systematically," the report said.
Citing more than 100 witness statements, the report said that during the massacre, women were raped, many of the victims had their throats cut, children were shot and the bodies of 12 priests in their robes were found outside a seminary.
Amnesty International has called for all perpetrators to be brought to justice, regardless of their ethnicity or political affinity, but said it worries not enough is being done.
In particular, the conditions under which Gbagbo, his family and his collaborators are being held are unknown and International Committee of the Red Cross has been refused access to them.
The report also criticized the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast for not having done more to prevent the massacres in the west, which in at least one case took place just over half a mile (less than 1 kilometer) from a U.N. base.
NATO ups strikes in Tripoli, sees no Iraq parallel
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – NATO warplanes pounded Tripoli for a second day, raising military pressure on Muammar Gaddafi while diplomatic efforts mounted to force his departure.
Six loud explosions rocked Tripoli late on Tuesday within 10 minutes, following powerful strikes 24 hours earlier, including one on Gaddafi's compound, that Libyan officials said killed 19 people and state television blamed on "colonialist crusaders."
A NATO official said the alliance hit a vehicle storage bunker, a missile storage and maintenance site and a command- and-control site on the outskirts of Tripoli. Government targets around the Western rebel outpost of Misrata had also been hit.
"We were quite active in the past 24 hours and will continue to be so," the official said. "Striking fighting units and people trying to give the orders is having the desired effect."
Libyan news agency Jana says NATO hit a telecommunications station in Zlitan overnight, causing "material and human casualties losses" west of Misrata.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague dismissed fears that Western states were being drawn into an Iraq-style conflict. "It's very different from Iraq because of course in the case of Iraq there were very large numbers of ground forces deployed from Western nations," Hague told BBC Radio on Wednesday.
France, Britain and the United States are leading the air strikes, which began on March 19 after the U.N. Security Council authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Gaddafi's forces as he sought to crush an uprising against his 41-year rule.
The three countries say they will keep up the campaign until Gaddafi leaves power. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Tuesday that the NATO bombing campaign was making progress and should achieve its objectives within months.
"There are more and more centers of resistance (to Gaddafi), especially in the west," Juppe said in the French parliament. "Defections are speeding up."
"I can assure you that our will is to ensure that the mission in Libya does not last longer than a few months."
France said this week it would deploy attack helicopters to ensure more precise attacks against Gaddafi forces embedded among the civilian population of Libyan cities. Britain said on Tuesday it was considering doing the same.
Military analysts said these plans and the intensified bombing of Tripoli reflected growing Western worries that Libya's civil war was dragging on indecisively. But they said the new moves may not be enough to tip the balance quickly.
ZUMA VISIT POSSIBLE
Diplomatic activity is also intensifying. G8 world powers will discuss ways to break the impasse this week, with some expecting Russia to propose a mediation plan to the meeting.
South African President Jacob Zuma also announced he would visit Tripoli next week for talks with Gaddafi.
"President Zuma will stop over in Tripoli for a discussion with Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi on the 30th of May in his capacity as a member of the African Union high-level panel for the resolution of the conflict in Libya," his office said in a statement.
The South African president headed an African Union mission to Tripoli in April but the bid to halt the civil war collapsed within hours.
While critics argue that NATO has overstepped its mandate, rebels have complained Western forces are not doing enough to break Gaddafi's army.
Gaddafi denies his forces target civilians and says rebels, who control the east of the oil-producing country, are criminals, religious extremists and members of al Qaeda.
The United States bolstered the credentials of the Benghazi-based rebel National Transitional Council as a potential government-in-waiting on Tuesday when a U.S. envoy invited it to set up a representative office in Washington.
Unlike France, Italy and Qatar, the United States has not established formal diplomatic ties with the rebels.
Jordan said on Tuesday it recognized the rebel council as a legitimate representative of Libya's people and planned to open an office in Benghazi.
Libyan news agency Jana said targets hit by NATO on Tuesday included a Tripoli mosque called Nuri Bani, though this could not be independently verified.
A French newspaper reported that Gaddafi was tired of fighting a civil war under constant pressure from NATO bombs, and would step down if allowed to remain in his country.
France Soir, citing "reliable sources, close to Libyan power," said people in Gaddafi's entourage had been holding secret meetings with representatives from Western countries, including France, for weeks.
It said Gaddafi, traumatized by the death of a son and three grandchildren in a NATO raid, was tired of living as a hunted man and spent several hours a day watching Arabic news channels and surfing news on Arab, English and Italian web sites. In his public pronouncements, Gaddafi has vowed to fight to the death.
Six loud explosions rocked Tripoli late on Tuesday within 10 minutes, following powerful strikes 24 hours earlier, including one on Gaddafi's compound, that Libyan officials said killed 19 people and state television blamed on "colonialist crusaders."
A NATO official said the alliance hit a vehicle storage bunker, a missile storage and maintenance site and a command- and-control site on the outskirts of Tripoli. Government targets around the Western rebel outpost of Misrata had also been hit.
"We were quite active in the past 24 hours and will continue to be so," the official said. "Striking fighting units and people trying to give the orders is having the desired effect."
Libyan news agency Jana says NATO hit a telecommunications station in Zlitan overnight, causing "material and human casualties losses" west of Misrata.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague dismissed fears that Western states were being drawn into an Iraq-style conflict. "It's very different from Iraq because of course in the case of Iraq there were very large numbers of ground forces deployed from Western nations," Hague told BBC Radio on Wednesday.
France, Britain and the United States are leading the air strikes, which began on March 19 after the U.N. Security Council authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Gaddafi's forces as he sought to crush an uprising against his 41-year rule.
The three countries say they will keep up the campaign until Gaddafi leaves power. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Tuesday that the NATO bombing campaign was making progress and should achieve its objectives within months.
"There are more and more centers of resistance (to Gaddafi), especially in the west," Juppe said in the French parliament. "Defections are speeding up."
"I can assure you that our will is to ensure that the mission in Libya does not last longer than a few months."
France said this week it would deploy attack helicopters to ensure more precise attacks against Gaddafi forces embedded among the civilian population of Libyan cities. Britain said on Tuesday it was considering doing the same.
Military analysts said these plans and the intensified bombing of Tripoli reflected growing Western worries that Libya's civil war was dragging on indecisively. But they said the new moves may not be enough to tip the balance quickly.
ZUMA VISIT POSSIBLE
Diplomatic activity is also intensifying. G8 world powers will discuss ways to break the impasse this week, with some expecting Russia to propose a mediation plan to the meeting.
South African President Jacob Zuma also announced he would visit Tripoli next week for talks with Gaddafi.
"President Zuma will stop over in Tripoli for a discussion with Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi on the 30th of May in his capacity as a member of the African Union high-level panel for the resolution of the conflict in Libya," his office said in a statement.
The South African president headed an African Union mission to Tripoli in April but the bid to halt the civil war collapsed within hours.
While critics argue that NATO has overstepped its mandate, rebels have complained Western forces are not doing enough to break Gaddafi's army.
Gaddafi denies his forces target civilians and says rebels, who control the east of the oil-producing country, are criminals, religious extremists and members of al Qaeda.
The United States bolstered the credentials of the Benghazi-based rebel National Transitional Council as a potential government-in-waiting on Tuesday when a U.S. envoy invited it to set up a representative office in Washington.
Unlike France, Italy and Qatar, the United States has not established formal diplomatic ties with the rebels.
Jordan said on Tuesday it recognized the rebel council as a legitimate representative of Libya's people and planned to open an office in Benghazi.
Libyan news agency Jana said targets hit by NATO on Tuesday included a Tripoli mosque called Nuri Bani, though this could not be independently verified.
A French newspaper reported that Gaddafi was tired of fighting a civil war under constant pressure from NATO bombs, and would step down if allowed to remain in his country.
France Soir, citing "reliable sources, close to Libyan power," said people in Gaddafi's entourage had been holding secret meetings with representatives from Western countries, including France, for weeks.
It said Gaddafi, traumatized by the death of a son and three grandchildren in a NATO raid, was tired of living as a hunted man and spent several hours a day watching Arabic news channels and surfing news on Arab, English and Italian web sites. In his public pronouncements, Gaddafi has vowed to fight to the death.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
President Obama's Middle East speech (full text)
US President Barack Obama
I want to thank Hillary Clinton, who has traveled so much these last six months that she is approaching a new landmark - one million frequent flyer miles. I count on Hillary every day, and I believe that she will go down as one of the finest Secretaries of State in our nation's history.
The State Department is a fitting venue to mark a new chapter in American diplomacy. For six months, we have witnessed an extraordinary change take place in the Middle East and North Africa. Square by square; town by town; country by country; the people have risen up to demand their basic human rights. Two leaders have stepped aside. More may follow. And though these countries may be a great distance from our shores, we know that our own future is bound to this region by the forces of economics and security; history and faith.
Today, I would like to talk about this change - the forces that are driving it, and how we can respond in a way that advances our values and strengthens our security. Already, we have done much to shift our foreign policy following a decade defined by two costly conflicts. After years of war in Iraq, we have removed 100,000 American troops and ended our combat mission there. In Afghanistan, we have broken the Taliban's momentum, and this July we will begin to bring our troops home and continue transition to Afghan lead. And after years of war against al Qaeda and its affiliates, we have dealt al Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader - Osama bin Laden.
Obama: America's future bound to Middle East
Bin Laden was no martyr. He was a mass murderer who offered a message of hate - an insistence that Muslims had to take up arms against the West, and that violence against men, women and children was the only path to change. He rejected democracy and individual rights for Muslims in favor of violent extremism; his agenda focused on what he could destroy - not what he could build.
Bin Laden and his murderous vision won some adherents. But even before his death, al Qaeda was losing its struggle for relevance, as the overwhelming majority of people saw that the slaughter of innocents did not answer their cries for a better life. By the time we found bin Laden, al Qaeda's agenda had come to be seen by the vast majority of the region as a dead end, and the people of the Middle East and North Africa had taken their future into their own hands.
That story of self-determination began six months ago in Tunisia. On December 17, a young vendor named Mohammed Bouazizi was devastated when a police officer confiscated his cart. This was not unique. It is the same kind of humiliation that takes place every day in many parts of the world - the relentless tyranny of governments that deny their citizens dignity. Only this time, something different happened. After local officials refused to hear his complaint, this young man who had never been particularly active in politics went to the headquarters of the provincial government, doused himself in fuel, and lit himself on fire.
Sometimes, in the course of history, the actions of ordinary citizens spark movements for change because they speak to a longing for freedom that has built up for years. In America, think of the defiance of those patriots in Boston who refused to pay taxes to a King, or the dignity of Rosa Parks as she sat courageously in her seat. So it was in Tunisia, as that vendor's act of desperation tapped into the frustration felt throughout the country. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets, then thousands. And in the face of batons and sometimes bullets, they refused to go home - day after day, week after week, until a dictator of more than two decades finally left power.
The story of this Revolution, and the ones that followed, should not have come as a surprise. The nations of the Middle East and North Africa won their independence long ago, but in too many places their people did not. In too many countries, power has been concentrated in the hands of the few. In too many countries, a citizen like that young vendor had nowhere to turn - no honest judiciary to hear his case; no independent media to give him voice; no credible political party to represent his views; no free and fair election where he could choose his leader.
This lack of self determination - the chance to make of your life what you will - has applied to the region's economy as well. Yes, some nations are blessed with wealth in oil and gas, and that has led to pockets of prosperity. But in a global economy based on knowledge and innovation, no development strategy can be based solely upon what comes out of the ground. Nor can people reach their potential when you cannot start a business without paying a bribe.
In the face of these challenges, too many leaders in the region tried to direct their people's grievances elsewhere. The West was blamed as the source of all ills, a half century after the end of colonialism. Antagonism toward Israel became the only acceptable outlet for political expression. Divisions of tribe, ethnicity and religious sect were manipulated as a means of holding on to power, or taking it away from somebody else.
But the events of the past six months show us that strategies of repression and diversion won't work anymore. Satellite television and the Internet provide a window into the wider world - a world of astonishing progress in places like India, Indonesia and Brazil. Cell phones and social networks allow young people to connect and organize like never before. A new generation has emerged. And their voices tell us that change cannot be denied.
In Cairo, we heard the voice of the young mother who said, "It's like I can finally breathe fresh air for the first time."
In Sanaa, we heard the students who chanted, "The night must come to an end."
In Benghazi, we heard the engineer who said, "Our words are free now. It's a feeling you can't explain."
In Damascus, we heard the young man who said, "After the first yelling, the first shout, you feel dignity."
Those shouts of human dignity are being heard across the region. And through the moral force of non-violence, the people of the region have achieved more change in six months than terrorists have accomplished in decades.
Of course, change of this magnitude does not come easily. In our day and age - a time of 24 hour news cycles, and constant communication - people expect the transformation of the region to be resolved in a matter of weeks. But it will be years before this story reaches its end. Along the way, there will be good days, and bad days. In some places, change will be swift; in others, gradual. And as we have seen, calls for change may give way to fierce contests for power.
The question before us is what role America will play as this story unfolds. For decades, the United States has pursued a set of core interests in the region: countering terrorism and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons; securing the free flow of commerce, and safe-guarding the security of the region; standing up for Israel's security and pursuing Arab-Israeli peace.
We will continue to do these things, with the firm belief that America's interests are not hostile to peoples' hopes; they are essential to them. We believe that no one benefits from a nuclear arms race in the region, or al Qaeda's brutal attacks. People everywhere would see their economies crippled by a cut off in energy supplies. As we did in the Gulf War, we will not tolerate aggression across borders, and we will keep our commitments to friends and partners.
Yet we must acknowledge that a strategy based solely upon the narrow pursuit of these interests will not fill an empty stomach or allow someone to speak their mind. Moreover, failure to speak to the broader aspirations of ordinary people will only feed the suspicion that has festered for years that the United States pursues our own interests at their expense. Given that this mistrust runs both ways - as Americans have been seared by hostage taking, violent rhetoric, and terrorist attacks that have killed thousands of our citizens - a failure to change our approach threatens a deepening spiral of division between the United States and Muslim communities.
That's why, two years ago in Cairo, I began to broaden our engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. I believed then - and I believe now - that we have a stake not just in the stability of nations, but in the self determination of individuals. The status quo is not sustainable. Societies held together by fear and repression may offer the illusion of stability for a time, but they are built upon fault lines that will eventually tear asunder.
So we face an historic opportunity. We have embraced the chance to show that America values the dignity of the street vendor in Tunisia more than the raw power of the dictator. There must be no doubt that the United States of America welcomes change that advances self-determination and opportunity. Yes, there will be perils that accompany this moment of promise. But after decades of accepting the world as it is in the region, we have a chance to pursue the world as it should be.
As we do, we must proceed with a sense of humility. It is not America that put people into the streets of Tunis and Cairo - it was the people themselves who launched these movements, and must determine their outcome. Not every country will follow our particular form of representative democracy, and there will be times when our short term interests do not align perfectly with our long term vision of the region. But we can - and will - speak out for a set of core principles - principles that have guided our response to the events over the past six months:
The United States opposes the use of violence and repression against the people of the region.
We support a set of universal rights. Those rights include free speech; the freedom of peaceful assembly; freedom of religion; equality for men and women under the rule of law; and the right to choose your own leaders - whether you live in Baghdad or Damascus; Sanaa or Tehran.
And finally, we support political and economic reform in the Middle East and North Africa that can meet the legitimate aspirations of ordinary people throughout the region.
Our support for these principles is not a secondary interest- today I am making it clear that it is a top priority that must be translated into concrete actions, and supported by all of the diplomatic, economic and strategic tools at our disposal.
Let me be specific. First, it will be the policy of the United States to promote reform across the region, and to support transitions to democracy.
That effort begins in Egypt and Tunisia, where the stakes are high -as Tunisia was at the vanguard of this democratic wave, and Egypt is both a longstanding partner and the Arab World's largest nation. Both nations can set a strong example through free and fair elections; a vibrant civil society; accountable and effective democratic institutions; and responsible regional leadership. But our support must also extend to nations where transitions have yet to take place.
Unfortunately, in too many countries, calls for change have been answered by violence. The most extreme example is Libya, where Moammar Gaddafi launched a war against his people, promising to hunt them down like rats. As I said when the United States joined an international coalition to intervene, we cannot prevent every injustice perpetrated by a regime against its people, and we have learned from our experience in Iraq just how costly and difficult it is to impose regime change by force - no matter how well-intended it may be.
But in Libya, we saw the prospect of imminent massacre, had a mandate for action, and heard the Libyan people's call for help. Had we not acted along with our NATO allies and regional coalition partners, thousands would have been killed. The message would have been clear: keep power by killing as many people as it takes. Now, time is working against Gaddafi. He does not have control over his country. The opposition has organized a legitimate and credible Interim Council. And when Gaddafi inevitably leaves or is forced from power, decades of provocation will come to an end, and the transition to a democratic Libya can proceed.
While Libya has faced violence on the greatest scale, it is not the only place where leaders have turned to repression to remain in power. Most recently, the Syrian regime has chosen the path of murder and the mass arrests of its citizens. The United States has condemned these actions, and working with the international community we have stepped up our sanctions on the Syrian regime - including sanctions announced yesterday on President Assad and those around him.
The Syrian people have shown their courage in demanding a transition to democracy. President Assad now has a choice: he can lead that transition, or get out of the way. The Syrian government must stop shooting demonstrators and allow peaceful protests; release political prisoners and stop unjust arrests; allow human rights monitors to have access to cities like Dara'a; and start a serious dialogue to advance a democratic transition. Otherwise, President Assad and his regime will continue to be challenged from within and isolated abroad
Thus far, Syria has followed its Iranian ally, seeking assistance from Tehran in the tactics of suppression. This speaks to the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime, which says it stands for the rights of protesters abroad, yet suppresses its people at home. Let us remember that the first peaceful protests were in the streets of Tehran, where the government brutalized women and men, and threw innocent people into jail. We still hear the chants echo from the rooftops of Tehran. The image of a young woman dying in the streets is still seared in our memory. And we will continue to insist that the Iranian people deserve their universal rights, and a government that does not smother their aspirations.
Our opposition to Iran's intolerance - as well as its illicit nuclear program, and its sponsorship of terror - is well known. But if America is to be credible, we must acknowledge that our friends in the region have not all reacted to the demands for change consistent with the principles that I have outlined today. That is true in Yemen, where President Saleh needs to follow through on his commitment to transfer power. And that is true, today, in Bahrain.
Bahrain is a long-standing partner, and we are committed to its security. We recognize that Iran has tried to take advantage of the turmoil there, and that the Bahraini government has a legitimate interest in the rule of law. Nevertheless, we have insisted publically and privately that mass arrests and brute force are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain's citizens, and will not make legitimate calls for reform go away. The only way forward is for the government and opposition to engage in a dialogue, and you can't have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail. The government must create the conditions for dialogue, and the opposition must participate to forge a just future for all Bahrainis.
Indeed, one of the broader lessons to be drawn from this period is that sectarian divides need not lead to conflict. In Iraq, we see the promise of a multi-ethnic, multi-sectarian democracy. There, the Iraqi people have rejected the perils of political violence for a democratic process, even as they have taken full responsibility for their own security. Like all new democracies, they will face setbacks. But Iraq is poised to play a key role in the region if it continues its peaceful progress. As they do, we will be proud to stand with them as a steadfast partner.
So in the months ahead, America must use all our influence to encourage reform in the region. Even as we acknowledge that each country is different, we will need to speak honestly about the principles that we believe in, with friend and foe alike. Our message is simple: if you take the risks that reform entails, you will have the full support of the United States. We must also build on our efforts to broaden our engagement beyond elites, so that we reach the people who will shape the future - particularly young people.
We will continue to make good on the commitments that I made in Cairo - to build networks of entrepreneurs, and expand exchanges in education; to foster cooperation in science and technology, and combat disease. Across the region, we intend to provide assistance to civil society, including those that may not be officially sanctioned, and who speak uncomfortable truths. And we will use the technology to connect with - and listen to - the voices of the people.
In fact, real reform will not come at the ballot box alone. Through our efforts we must support those basic rights to speak your mind and access information. We will support open access to the Internet, and the right of journalists to be heard - whether it's a big news organization or a blogger. In the 21st century, information is power; the truth cannot be hidden; and the legitimacy of governments will ultimately depend on active and informed citizens.
Such open discourse is important even if what is said does not square with our worldview. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard, even if we disagree with them. We look forward to working with all who embrace genuine and inclusive democracy. What we will oppose is an attempt by any group to restrict the rights of others, and to hold power through coercion - not consent. Because democracy depends not only on elections, but also strong and accountable institutions, and respect for the rights of minorities.
Such tolerance is particularly important when it comes to religion. In Tahrir Square, we heard Egyptians from all walks of life chant, "Muslims, Christians, we are one." America will work to see that this spirit prevails - that all faiths are respected, and that bridges are built among them. In a region that was the birthplace of three world religions, intolerance can lead only to suffering and stagnation. And for this season of change to succeed, Coptic Christians must have the right to worship freely in Cairo, just as Shia must never have their mosques destroyed in Bahrain.
What is true for religious minorities is also true when it comes to the rights of women. History shows that countries are more prosperous and peaceful when women are empowered. That is why we will continue to insist that universal rights apply to women as well as men - by focusing assistance on child and maternal health; by helping women to teach, or start a business; by standing up for the right of women to have their voices heard, and to run for office. For the region will never reach its potential when more than half its population is prevented from achieving their potential.
Even as we promote political reform and human rights in the region, our efforts cannot stop there. So the second way that we must support positive change in the region is through our efforts to advance economic development for nations that transition to democracy.
After all, politics alone has not put protesters into the streets. The tipping point for so many people is the more constant concern of putting food on the table and providing for a family. Too many in the region wake up with few expectations other than making it through the day, and perhaps the hope that their luck will change. Throughout the region, many young people have a solid education, but closed economies leave them unable to find a job. Entrepreneurs are brimming with ideas, but corruption leaves them unable to profit from them.
The greatest untapped resource in the Middle East and North Africa is the talent of its people. In the recent protests, we see that talent on display, as people harness technology to move the world. It's no coincidence that one of the leaders of Tahrir Square was an executive for Google. That energy now needs to be channeled, in country after country, so that economic growth can solidify the accomplishments of the street. Just as democratic revolutions can be triggered by a lack of individual opportunity, successful democratic transitions depend upon an expansion of growth and broad-based prosperity.
Drawing from what we've learned around the world, we think it's important to focus on trade, not just aid; and investment, not just assistance. The goal must be a model in which protectionism gives way to openness; the reigns of commerce pass from the few to the many, and the economy generates jobs for the young. America's support for democracy will therefore be based on ensuring financial stability; promoting reform; and integrating competitive markets with each other and the global economy - starting with Tunisia and Egypt.
First, we have asked the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to present a plan at next week's G-8 summit for what needs to be done to stabilize and modernize the economies of Tunisia and Egypt. Together, we must help them recover from the disruption of their democratic upheaval, and support the governments that will be elected later this year. And we are urging other countries to help Egypt and Tunisia meet its near-term financial needs.
Second, we do not want a democratic Egypt to be saddled by the debts of its past. So we will relieve a democratic Egypt of up to $1 billion in debt, and work with our Egyptian partners to invest these resources to foster growth and entrepreneurship. We will help Egypt regain access to markets by guaranteeing $1 billion in borrowing that is needed to finance infrastructure and job creation. And we will help newly democratic governments recover assets that were stolen.
Third, we are working with Congress to create Enterprise Funds to invest in Tunisia and Egypt. These will be modeled on funds that supported the transitions in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. OPIC will soon launch a $2 billion facility to support private investment across the region. And we will work with allies to refocus the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development so that it provides the same support for democratic transitions and economic modernization in the Middle East and North Africa as it has in Europe.
Fourth, the United States will launch a comprehensive Trade and Investment Partnership Initiative in the Middle East and North Africa. If you take out oil exports, this region of over 400 million people exports roughly the same amount as Switzerland. So we will work with the EU to facilitate more trade within the region, build on existing agreements to promote integration with U.S. and European markets, and open the door for those countries who adopt high standards of reform and trade liberalization to construct a regional trade arrangement. Just as EU membership served as an incentive for reform in Europe, so should the vision of a modern and prosperous economy create a powerful force for reform in the Middle East and North Africa.
Prosperity also requires tearing down walls that stand in the way of progress - the corruption of elites who steal from their people; the red tape that stops an idea from becoming a business; the patronage that distributes wealth based on tribe or sect. We will help governments meet international obligations, and invest efforts anti-corruption; by working with parliamentarians who are developing reforms, and activists who use technology to hold government accountable.
Let me conclude by talking about another cornerstone of our approach to the region, and that relates to the pursuit of peace.
For decades, the conflict between Israelis and Arabs has cast a shadow over the region. For Israelis, it has meant living with the fear that their children could get blown up on a bus or by rockets fired at their homes, as well as the pain of knowing that other children in the region are taught to hate them. For Palestinians, it has meant suffering the humiliation of occupation, and never living in a nation of their own. Moreover, this conflict has come with a larger cost the Middle East, as it impedes partnerships that could bring greater security, prosperity, and empowerment to ordinary people.
My Administration has worked with the parties and the international community for over two years to end this conflict, yet expectations have gone unmet. Israeli settlement activity continues. Palestinians have walked away from talks. The world looks at a conflict that has grinded on for decades, and sees a stalemate. Indeed, there are those who argue that with all the change and uncertainty in the region, it is simply not possible to move forward.
I disagree. At a time when the people of the Middle East and North Africa are casting off the burdens of the past, the drive for a lasting peace that ends the conflict and resolves all claims is more urgent than ever.
For the Palestinians, efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won't create an independent state. Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist.
As for Israel, our friendship is rooted deeply in a shared history and shared values. Our commitment to Israel's security is unshakeable. And we will stand against attempts to single it out for criticism in international forums. But precisely because of our friendship, it is important that we tell the truth: the status quo is unsustainable, and Israel too must act boldly to advance a lasting peace.
The fact is, a growing number of Palestinians live west of the Jordan River. Technology will make it harder for Israel to defend itself. A region undergoing profound change will lead to populism in which millions of people - not just a few leaders - must believe peace is possible. The international community is tired of an endless process that never produces an outcome. The dream of a Jewish and democratic state cannot be fulfilled with permanent occupation.
Ultimately, it is up to Israelis and Palestinians to take action. No peace can be imposed upon them, nor can endless delay make the problem go away. But what America and the international community can do is state frankly what everyone knows: a lasting peace will involve two states for two peoples. Israel as a Jewish state and the homeland for the Jewish people, and the state of Palestine as the homeland for the Palestinian people; each state enjoying self-determination, mutual recognition, and peace.
So while the core issues of the conflict must be negotiated, the basis of those negotiations is clear: a viable Palestine, and a secure Israel. The United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine. The borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states. The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state.
As for security, every state has the right to self-defense, and Israel must be able to defend itself - by itself - against any threat. Provisions must also be robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism; to stop the infiltration of weapons; and to provide effective border security. The full and phased withdrawal of Israeli military forces should be coordinated with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state. The duration of this transition period must be agreed, and the effectiveness of security arrangements must be demonstrated.
These principles provide a foundation for negotiations. Palestinians should know the territorial outlines of their state; Israelis should know that their basic security concerns will be met. I know that these steps alone will not resolve this conflict. Two wrenching and emotional issues remain: the future of Jerusalem, and the fate of Palestinian refugees. But moving forward now on the basis of territory and security provides a foundation to resolve those two issues in a way that is just and fair, and that respects the rights and aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians.
Recognizing that negotiations need to begin with the issues of territory and security does not mean that it will be easy to come back to the table. In particular, the recent announcement of an agreement between Fatah and Hamas raises profound and legitimate questions for Israel - how can one negotiate with a party that has shown itself unwilling to recognize your right to exist. In the weeks and months to come, Palestinian leaders will have to provide a credible answer to that question. Meanwhile, the United States, our Quartet partners, and the Arab states will need to continue every effort to get beyond the current impasse.
I recognize how hard this will be. Suspicion and hostility has been passed on for generations, and at times it has hardened. But I'm convinced that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians would rather look to the future than be trapped in the past. We see that spirit in the Israeli father whose son was killed by Hamas, who helped start an organization that brought together Israelis and Palestinians who had lost loved ones. He said, "I gradually realized that the only hope for progress was to recognize the face of the conflict." And we see it in the actions of a Palestinian who lost three daughters to Israeli shells in Gaza. "I have the right to feel angry," he said. "So many people were expecting me to hate. My answer to them is I shall not hate...Let us hope," he said, "for tomorrow"
That is the choice that must be made - not simply in this conflict, but across the entire region - a choice between hate and hope; between the shackles of the past, and the promise of the future. It's a choice that must be made by leaders and by people, and it's a choice that will define the future of a region that served as the cradle of civilization and a crucible of strife.
For all the challenges that lie ahead, we see many reasons to be hopeful. In Egypt, we see it in the efforts of young people who led protests. In Syria, we see it in the courage of those who brave bullets while chanting, 'peaceful,' 'peaceful.' In Benghazi, a city threatened with destruction, we see it in the courthouse square where people gather to celebrate the freedoms that they had never known. Across the region, those rights that we take for granted are being claimed with joy by those who are prying lose the grip of an iron fist.
For the American people, the scenes of upheaval in the region may be unsettling, but the forces driving it are not unfamiliar. Our own nation was founded through a rebellion against an empire. Our people fought a painful civil war that extended freedom and dignity to those who were enslaved. And I would not be standing here today unless past generations turned to the moral force of non-violence as a way to perfect our union - organizing, marching, and protesting peacefully together to make real those words that declared our nation: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal."
Those words must guide our response to the change that is transforming the Middle East and North Africa - words which tell us that repression will fail, that tyrants will fall, and that every man and woman is endowed with certain inalienable rights. It will not be easy. There is no straight line to progress, and hardship always accompanies a season of hope. But the United States of America was founded on the belief that people should govern themselves. Now, we cannot hesitate to stand squarely on the side of those who are reaching for their rights, knowing that their success will bring about a world that is more peaceful, more stable, and more just.
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