Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday accused the Islamic Hamas movement of putting obstacles on the way of national reconciliation.
Abbas said that Hamas put the obstacles by refusing his nominee to lead a technocratic government that would be formed to administer the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the West Bank, ruled by Abbas's Fatah party.
Salam Fayyad, the West Bank-based prime minister, "is my only candidate," Abbas told Voice of Palestine Radio over the phone from Amman.
"Fayyad is an independent and experienced" leader, Abbas said.
In May, Fatah and Hamas signed an Egyptian-brokered agreement to reconcile and end political split that started when Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and took over Gaza in 2007.
Hamas says that Fayyad, who was sworn in immediately after the Gaza takeover, was a symbol of the division era and that the new government should be made of professional, apolitical figures.
"It is not going to be a national unity government, it is a technocratic government with special tasks," Abbas explained, adding that Hamas "has not understood this."
The transitional government will prepare for presidency, parliamentary and national elections within a year after its formation and would be tasked to rebuild Gaza.
Fayyad, a Western-respected economist, is believed to be able to succeed promoting the government to the international community that doesn't recognize Hamas.
Meanwhile, Abbas said that 130 countries will recognize a Palestinian state on the lands that Israel has occupied in 1967 within a month.
He reiterated that the Palestinians are determined to go to the United Nations in September to seek recognition of their state, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
But Abbas revealed that there were pressures on the Palestinian leadership to cancel its drive to the UN. "The world is not united and there are many who believe that there is no wisdom in this step and they try to thwart it," Abbas said.
Israel and the United States say the recognition of the Palestinian state should follow a peace agreement in the Middle East, but the Palestinians took this decision in response to the resumption of Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank last year.
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 18:10:05 FeedbackPrintRSS
RAMALLAH, June 2 (Xinhua)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Iran ready to help Libyan refugees: spokesman
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help the Libyan refugees, local Press TV reported.
"Iran supports popular uprisings in the region which happen on the basis of Islamic awakening," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying on Friday.
He condemned the genocide of innocent Libyan civilians by any group and under any pretext, adding that "the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the demands of the oppressed and Muslim people of Libya must be met."
In June, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs Ali Ahani condemned the deadly strikes by NATO on Libya, saying the attacks are "killing innocent people and destroying the country's economic infrastructure."
Ahani criticized NATO's military intervention in Libya during a meeting with Serbian Foreign Ministry's special envoy Darko Tanaskovic in Tehran.
He said the intervention was a misinterpretation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 04:28:43 FeedbackPrintRSS
TEHRAN, July 1 (Xinhua)
"Iran supports popular uprisings in the region which happen on the basis of Islamic awakening," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying on Friday.
He condemned the genocide of innocent Libyan civilians by any group and under any pretext, adding that "the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the demands of the oppressed and Muslim people of Libya must be met."
In June, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs Ali Ahani condemned the deadly strikes by NATO on Libya, saying the attacks are "killing innocent people and destroying the country's economic infrastructure."
Ahani criticized NATO's military intervention in Libya during a meeting with Serbian Foreign Ministry's special envoy Darko Tanaskovic in Tehran.
He said the intervention was a misinterpretation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 04:28:43 FeedbackPrintRSS
TEHRAN, July 1 (Xinhua)
Jordanian protestors demand dissolving lower house, sacking gov't
Thousands of Jordanians across the Arab Kingdom demonstrated Friday, demanding the dissolution of the Lower House, which cleared Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit from a suspected corruption case.
The demonstrators, who accused the Lower House of treason by not voting for a decision to accuse Bakhit of involvement in the suspected corruption case dubbed the "casino file", said the government should also be sacked.
"People want the government down. People want the lower house," chanted thousands of demonstrators in downtown Amman Friday.
The demonstrators also accused the government of lack of seriousness to embark on reforms and said the lower house had lost its legitimacy.
Similar protests took place Friday in different Jordanian governorates, including Tafileh, Karak, Maan and Irbid.
Three Jordanian MPs on Wednesday submitted their resignations on the backdrop of a decision by lower house not to impeach Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit in a suspected corruption file dubbed the " casino case."
On Monday, a total of 86 MPs voted for a decision to accuse Dabbas, a matter that allows for the formation of a nine-member high tribunal to rule on the case.
Although Jordan's Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit was on the top of officials suspected for being involved in the case, only 50 MPs voted for the decision to accuse the premier, while 53 voted against the decision. Ten MPs abstained from voting and six were absent.
Bakhit first served as prime minister from 2005 to 2007, when his government and British company Oasis Holding Investment Ltd. signed the casino agreement, under which the Jordanian government tasked the London-based investor to create a casino on the shores of the Dead Sea.
One week after endorsing the agreement, however, the officials in charge decided to hold the deal until further notice. The government of former Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, who served from 2007 to 2009, renegotiated the deal to avoid paying 1. 4 billion U.S. dollars in fines for annulling the agreement.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 02:46:05 FeedbackPrintRSS
AMMAN, July 1 (Xinhua)
The demonstrators, who accused the Lower House of treason by not voting for a decision to accuse Bakhit of involvement in the suspected corruption case dubbed the "casino file", said the government should also be sacked.
"People want the government down. People want the lower house," chanted thousands of demonstrators in downtown Amman Friday.
The demonstrators also accused the government of lack of seriousness to embark on reforms and said the lower house had lost its legitimacy.
Similar protests took place Friday in different Jordanian governorates, including Tafileh, Karak, Maan and Irbid.
Three Jordanian MPs on Wednesday submitted their resignations on the backdrop of a decision by lower house not to impeach Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit in a suspected corruption file dubbed the " casino case."
On Monday, a total of 86 MPs voted for a decision to accuse Dabbas, a matter that allows for the formation of a nine-member high tribunal to rule on the case.
Although Jordan's Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit was on the top of officials suspected for being involved in the case, only 50 MPs voted for the decision to accuse the premier, while 53 voted against the decision. Ten MPs abstained from voting and six were absent.
Bakhit first served as prime minister from 2005 to 2007, when his government and British company Oasis Holding Investment Ltd. signed the casino agreement, under which the Jordanian government tasked the London-based investor to create a casino on the shores of the Dead Sea.
One week after endorsing the agreement, however, the officials in charge decided to hold the deal until further notice. The government of former Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, who served from 2007 to 2009, renegotiated the deal to avoid paying 1. 4 billion U.S. dollars in fines for annulling the agreement.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 02:46:05 FeedbackPrintRSS
AMMAN, July 1 (Xinhua)
Yemeni armed tribesmen blow up oil pipeline
Armed tribesmen in Yemen's northeast Marib province blew up late on Thursday another oil pipeline that was empty since tribesmen destroyed the main pipeline in the area three months ago, which caused losses of nearly 1 billion U.S. dollars.
An official told Xinhua Friday on condition of anonymity that the pipeline located in Sirwah region in Marib, some 173 km northeast of the capital Sanaa, blaming the attack for the opposition-backed armed tribesmen who support anti-government protesters' demands to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The five-month-old unrest in Yemen bred black markets across the country and forced many foreign oil companies halted their works.
Trade and Industry Minister Hisham Sharaf said earlier last month that his government has lost nearly one billion U.S. dollars due to the attack on the key oil pipelines.
Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was assigned as acting president after Saleh was hospitalized in the Saudi capital due to wounds he sustained in an attack on his palace on June 3, said on Thursday that he has reached an agreement with opposition leaders to repair the damaged pipeline within ten days.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 01:53:31 FeedbackPrintRSS
SANAA, July 1 (Xinhua)
An official told Xinhua Friday on condition of anonymity that the pipeline located in Sirwah region in Marib, some 173 km northeast of the capital Sanaa, blaming the attack for the opposition-backed armed tribesmen who support anti-government protesters' demands to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The five-month-old unrest in Yemen bred black markets across the country and forced many foreign oil companies halted their works.
Trade and Industry Minister Hisham Sharaf said earlier last month that his government has lost nearly one billion U.S. dollars due to the attack on the key oil pipelines.
Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was assigned as acting president after Saleh was hospitalized in the Saudi capital due to wounds he sustained in an attack on his palace on June 3, said on Thursday that he has reached an agreement with opposition leaders to repair the damaged pipeline within ten days.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 01:53:31 FeedbackPrintRSS
SANAA, July 1 (Xinhua)
Bahrain opposition group open to talks with probe commission
Bahrain's largest Shiite opposition society on Friday affirmed it would cooperate with a high profile independent commission formed by the government to probe the political unrest.
Al Wefaq leader Shaikh Ali Salman welcomed the formation of the fact finding commission and said they were ready to discuss issues with them.
"We are ready to share information with members of the commission. Twenty-five people have died, including four in custody, in the past few months," said the leader, addressing thousands of men and women in a peaceful gathering held at Duraz village.
Shaikh Salman said in his speech that despite being personally targeted and threatened for life, he would engage in talks with war crimes expert Professor Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni.
"We demand justice for the martyr's families and will cooperate with Bassiouni," he said.
The peaceful gathering called by Al Wefaq witnessed thousands of supporters waving the red and white Bahrain flag, with a model of the Pearl Roundabout placed in the venue, symbolizing their ongoing movement for reforms.
Bassiouni is heading the fact finding commission that will discuss all aspects and reasons behind the unrest. In a press conference on Thursday, the official said they would cooperate with all stakeholders and release a comprehensive report of the findings open for the public and media.
The commission has been appointed by King Hamad which includes former International Criminal Court president Judge Phillipe Kirsch, former UN special rapporteur on human rights Nigel Rodley, international legal expert Dr Mahnoush Arsanjani and Sharia ( Islamic law) specialist Dr Badria Al Awadhi.
Al Wefaq has still not decided to participate in the national dialogue that begins on Saturday that would feature over 300 representatives from political societies, human rights groups, experts and non-governmental organizations discussing key issues on the table.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 01:52:24 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAMA, July 1 (Xinhua)
Al Wefaq leader Shaikh Ali Salman welcomed the formation of the fact finding commission and said they were ready to discuss issues with them.
"We are ready to share information with members of the commission. Twenty-five people have died, including four in custody, in the past few months," said the leader, addressing thousands of men and women in a peaceful gathering held at Duraz village.
Shaikh Salman said in his speech that despite being personally targeted and threatened for life, he would engage in talks with war crimes expert Professor Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni.
"We demand justice for the martyr's families and will cooperate with Bassiouni," he said.
The peaceful gathering called by Al Wefaq witnessed thousands of supporters waving the red and white Bahrain flag, with a model of the Pearl Roundabout placed in the venue, symbolizing their ongoing movement for reforms.
Bassiouni is heading the fact finding commission that will discuss all aspects and reasons behind the unrest. In a press conference on Thursday, the official said they would cooperate with all stakeholders and release a comprehensive report of the findings open for the public and media.
The commission has been appointed by King Hamad which includes former International Criminal Court president Judge Phillipe Kirsch, former UN special rapporteur on human rights Nigel Rodley, international legal expert Dr Mahnoush Arsanjani and Sharia ( Islamic law) specialist Dr Badria Al Awadhi.
Al Wefaq has still not decided to participate in the national dialogue that begins on Saturday that would feature over 300 representatives from political societies, human rights groups, experts and non-governmental organizations discussing key issues on the table.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
English.news.cn 2011-07-02 01:52:24 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANAMA, July 1 (Xinhua)
New round of protests kick off across Syria: state TV
Hundreds of anti-government protestors poured into the streets in some Syrian cities; some of them were dispersed in a short time, Syria's state TV reported on Friday.
Protests began after noon prayers in many cities, including suburbs of the capital Damascus, the coastal city of Latakia, the northern provinces of al-Raqqa, Hasaka and the central provinces of Homs and Hama, said the TV.
Homs and Hama have witnessed anti-government protests over the past two months.
However, the state television said that hundreds of pro-government demonstrators on Friday hit the streets in the northern province of Halab, the second largest city in Syria after the capital Damascus, in support of the Syrian President Bashar al- Assad.
Syria has been in unrest since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread into other Syrian cities. Syria blamed the unrest on "armed groups and foreign conspiracy" and stressed that it would track down gunmen who have intimidated people and damaged public and private properties.
The government said that hundreds of security agents and policemen were killed by gunmen since the eruption of protests in the country in mid-March. Syrian oppositions, however, accused the Syrian security forces of harshly cracking down the protests.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-07-01 20:21:55 FeedbackPrintRSS
DAMASCUS, July 1 (Xinhua)
Protests began after noon prayers in many cities, including suburbs of the capital Damascus, the coastal city of Latakia, the northern provinces of al-Raqqa, Hasaka and the central provinces of Homs and Hama, said the TV.
Homs and Hama have witnessed anti-government protests over the past two months.
However, the state television said that hundreds of pro-government demonstrators on Friday hit the streets in the northern province of Halab, the second largest city in Syria after the capital Damascus, in support of the Syrian President Bashar al- Assad.
Syria has been in unrest since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread into other Syrian cities. Syria blamed the unrest on "armed groups and foreign conspiracy" and stressed that it would track down gunmen who have intimidated people and damaged public and private properties.
The government said that hundreds of security agents and policemen were killed by gunmen since the eruption of protests in the country in mid-March. Syrian oppositions, however, accused the Syrian security forces of harshly cracking down the protests.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-07-01 20:21:55 FeedbackPrintRSS
DAMASCUS, July 1 (Xinhua)
Security Council welcomes Iraq's assumption of oversight over development fund
The UN Security Council welcomed Iraqi government's assumption of full autonomy over the proceeds of the Development Fund for Iraq starting on July 1, said a press statement issued here on Thursday.
The Security Council welcomed the Iraqi government's establishment of a successor arrangement for the transition of the Development Fund for Iraq, the statement said.
The transition will be consistent with resolution 1956, which was adopted by the Council in 2010 to terminate UN supervised arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq, going into effect on June 30, 2011.
Oversight of the full proceeds from the Development Fund for Iraq has been transferred from the International Advisory and Monitoring Board to the Government of Iraq's Committee of Financial Experts, which will exercise authority in accordance with its terms of reference approved by Iraq's Council of Ministers, Moungara explained.
The Council reiterated their welcome of the ongoing efforts and commitment by the Government of Iraq to ensure that oil revenue is used in the interests of the Iraqi people, and that "transition arrangements remain consistent with the constitution and with international best practices in respect of transparency, accountability and integrity," he said.
The Council set up the trust fund in May 2003 so that oil and other revenues could be paid into it, to be disbursed at the discretion of the then U.S.-led Provisional Authority for humanitarian and economic reconstruction, replacing the previous oil-for-food program that allowed the sanctions-bound government of Saddam Hussein to use some oil revenues for the monitored purchase of humanitarian supplies.
Editor: en_hl
English.news.cn 2011-07-01 08:03:53 FeedbackPrintRSS
UNITED NATIONS, June 30 (Xinhua)
The Security Council welcomed the Iraqi government's establishment of a successor arrangement for the transition of the Development Fund for Iraq, the statement said.
The transition will be consistent with resolution 1956, which was adopted by the Council in 2010 to terminate UN supervised arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq, going into effect on June 30, 2011.
Oversight of the full proceeds from the Development Fund for Iraq has been transferred from the International Advisory and Monitoring Board to the Government of Iraq's Committee of Financial Experts, which will exercise authority in accordance with its terms of reference approved by Iraq's Council of Ministers, Moungara explained.
The Council reiterated their welcome of the ongoing efforts and commitment by the Government of Iraq to ensure that oil revenue is used in the interests of the Iraqi people, and that "transition arrangements remain consistent with the constitution and with international best practices in respect of transparency, accountability and integrity," he said.
The Council set up the trust fund in May 2003 so that oil and other revenues could be paid into it, to be disbursed at the discretion of the then U.S.-led Provisional Authority for humanitarian and economic reconstruction, replacing the previous oil-for-food program that allowed the sanctions-bound government of Saddam Hussein to use some oil revenues for the monitored purchase of humanitarian supplies.
Editor: en_hl
English.news.cn 2011-07-01 08:03:53 FeedbackPrintRSS
UNITED NATIONS, June 30 (Xinhua)
Syrian opposition forms new body to unify stands
A prominent Syrian opposition figure announced Thursday the formation of the National Coordination Body that would represent the Syrian opposition at home and abroad.
Speaking during a media conference, Lawyer Hassan Abdel-Azim, the secretary general of the Arab Socialist Union party and the spokesman for the National Democratic Gathering, stressed that the recently formed body aims to bring national and democratic changes in Syria.
"This step came after three months of hectic efforts carried out by some national parties to unify the stand of the Syrian opposition at home and abroad," Abel-Azim told a media conference.
The body comprises many groups and opposition parties including five parties that represent the Kurdish movement in Syria and other independent opposition figures. Abdel-Azim expressed his rejection to "any foreign intervention in Syria," asserting that the only outlet to the current crisis is through an overall national dialogue.
In his last week speech, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called for a comprehensive national dialogue and said this dialogue has become the title of the "current phase." Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem also said in the following day that whoever wants to test Syria's seriousness to make changes in the country should take part in the dialogue to help shape the country's future.
Abdel-Azim said last week that the recent speech made by al- Assad was "insufficient and not reassuring."
The newly formed body issued a statement at the end of the media conference in which it urged the Syrian authorities to release all of the political detainees and demanded a new constitution for the country without the article number eight providing that the Baath party is the leader of the state and society.
Since coming to power in 2000, al-Assad has freed political prisoners and passed laws aimed at liberalizing the state- controlled economy. But he has also clamped down on political activists, jailing pro-democracy advocates and cracking down on government critics.
Syria has been in unrest since mid March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to other Syrian cities. Syria blamed the unrest on "armed groups and foreign conspiracy" and stressed that it would track down gunmen who have intimidated people and damaged public and private properties.
The government said that hundreds of security agents and policemen were killed by gunmen since the eruption of protests in the country in mid March. Syrian oppositions, however, accused the security forces of harshly cracking down on the protests.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-07-01 00:57:39
Speaking during a media conference, Lawyer Hassan Abdel-Azim, the secretary general of the Arab Socialist Union party and the spokesman for the National Democratic Gathering, stressed that the recently formed body aims to bring national and democratic changes in Syria.
"This step came after three months of hectic efforts carried out by some national parties to unify the stand of the Syrian opposition at home and abroad," Abel-Azim told a media conference.
The body comprises many groups and opposition parties including five parties that represent the Kurdish movement in Syria and other independent opposition figures. Abdel-Azim expressed his rejection to "any foreign intervention in Syria," asserting that the only outlet to the current crisis is through an overall national dialogue.
In his last week speech, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called for a comprehensive national dialogue and said this dialogue has become the title of the "current phase." Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem also said in the following day that whoever wants to test Syria's seriousness to make changes in the country should take part in the dialogue to help shape the country's future.
Abdel-Azim said last week that the recent speech made by al- Assad was "insufficient and not reassuring."
The newly formed body issued a statement at the end of the media conference in which it urged the Syrian authorities to release all of the political detainees and demanded a new constitution for the country without the article number eight providing that the Baath party is the leader of the state and society.
Since coming to power in 2000, al-Assad has freed political prisoners and passed laws aimed at liberalizing the state- controlled economy. But he has also clamped down on political activists, jailing pro-democracy advocates and cracking down on government critics.
Syria has been in unrest since mid March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to other Syrian cities. Syria blamed the unrest on "armed groups and foreign conspiracy" and stressed that it would track down gunmen who have intimidated people and damaged public and private properties.
The government said that hundreds of security agents and policemen were killed by gunmen since the eruption of protests in the country in mid March. Syrian oppositions, however, accused the security forces of harshly cracking down on the protests.
Editor: yan
English.news.cn 2011-07-01 00:57:39
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