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There is no good in much of their secret conferences save (in) whosoever enjoineth charity and fairness and peace-making among the people and whoso doeth that, seeking the good pleasure of God, We shall bestow on him a vast reward.
(Al-Nisa, 4:114).

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Monday, July 22, 2013

WHERE IS MORSI NOW?

His daughter Shaimaa told a news conference in Cairo that the family was taking legal measures against the army. Mr Morsi has been held at an undisclosed location, without charge, since he was removed from power on 3 July.

BBC REPORT  HERE  :

Egypt's Ousted President Morsi Abducted By Army 
 Mr Morsi's son Osama spoke of his anger at his father's "kidnapping"






Hezbollah 'deeply rooted in Lebanese society'

Published on 22 Jul 2013 | EU foreign ministers have agreed to list the military wing of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.

It will now become illegal for Hezbollah sympathisers in Europe to send the group money or for European diplomats to meet its militant staff.

The BBC's Jim Muir spoke to people in Beirut who told him that Hezbollah was "everything to us... It is not a terrorist organisation".

He also suggested that Hezbollah would dismiss the EU move as politically motivated, given the group's controversial involvement in the war in Syria.



BBC REPORT READ HERE >>



Sunday, July 21, 2013

Ex-MI6 chief threatens to expose secrets of Iraq war.


Ex-MI6 chief threatens to expose secrets of Iraq war if he faces censure from the Chilcot inquiry.
Ex-MI6 chief threatens to expose secrets of Iraq war if he faces censure from the Chilcot inquiry.

Former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove has threatened to expose secrets of Iraq war if he faces censure from the Chilcot inquiry into British involvement in the Iraq war.

Sir Richard told the Daily Mail that he wrote a detailed account of events leading up to Iraq invasion that he intended to make available to historians after his death. 

Sir Richard, who provided intelligence about former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) said he might release his memoir “sooner” depending on the finding of the long-awaited Chilcot inquiry. 

“What I have written (am writing) is a record of events surrounding the invasion of Iraq from my then professional perspective,” he said in an email to the newspaper. 

“My intention is that this should be a resource available to scholars, but after my decease (may be sooner depending on what Chilcot publishes). I have no intention, however, of violating my vows of official secrecy by publishing any memoir,” he added. 

According to the Daily Mail, sources close to Sir Richard say he accepts the inaccuracy of some MI6’s information on Iraq WMDs and that he believes the inquiry’s chairman Sir John Chilcot should investigate misleading statements by former British PM Tony Blair and his chief spokesperson and strategist Alastair Campbell about WMDs. 

The US and Britain invaded Iraq in blatant violation of international law in 2003 under the pretext of finding WMDs allegedly stockpiled by Saddam Hussein. No WMDs, however, were ever discovered in Iraq. 

The Chilcot Inquiry was established by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who succeeded Blair in 2007. 

Those appearing before the inquiry included Blair, other leading figures within the 1997-2010 Labour government, former cabinet secretaries and the military high command. 

source : MOS/HE


Syria government is stronger now, British PM admits


British Prime Minister David Cameron
British Prime Minister David Cameron 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has strengthened his position in recent months, British Prime Minister David Cameron admits.

Speaking on the state-run BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Cameron said the Syrian government is stronger now than few months ago. 

"I think he [Assad] may be stronger than he was a few months ago but I'd still describe the situation as a stalemate,” Cameron said. 

He also said London is still committed to help the insurgents in Syria despite dorpping plans to arm them in the Arab country. 

Britain pushed to lift an European Union (EU) arms embargo on Syria militants to open up the possibility for the West to arm the insurgents fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 

Cameron, however, held off after military chiefs warned over the risks of arming the insurgents. 

According to reports, British public is largely against sending arms to the militats in Syria. There are also fears that any weapons Britain supply could fall into the hands of extremists. 

Syrian government forces recaptured the strategically important town of al-Qusayr in Western Syria in June. Most of the much bigger city of Homs also has been retaken by the government troops. 

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 90,000 people have died and millions of others displaced in the violence. 

The Western countries, including Britain, and their other regional allies, have been supporting over two years of militancy in Syria. 

source : MOS/HE



Monday, July 15, 2013

Pakatan sues EC members to force re-election?

Published on 14 Jul 2013 : Pakatan Rakyat has filed a lawsuit against all seven members of the Election Commission (EC) in a bid to seek a declaration that the results of the 13th general election are null and void.



Pakatan’s uphill GE13 battle in the courts


The Malaysian Insider | July 15, 2013
The simple summary of Pakatan Rakyat’s suit in court today is that it did not get a fair election. The question now is, what can and will the courts do?
No matter how you slice or dice it, it is tough for Pakatan to win its suit against the Election Commission (EC) because courts here are loath to disturb anything to do with elections. It is even rare for election courts to overturn polls results.
What more nullifying the whole Election 2013.
Also, Malaysian courts have in recent years not demonstrated a willingness to confront the government of the day on various issues – be it conversions of minors to land matters.
That said, it is remains important for Pakatan to thoroughly detail its cases in which it believed fraud prevented it from winning on May 5, 2013. In dispute are at least 43 seats before the courts.
But what is quite clear is that the EC’s handling of the indelible ink over the past five years would have made the Keystone Kops proud. Never have we seen a commission blunder and make a hash of things the way it has.
All these years under the Prime Minister’s Department has insulated it so much so that it has fallen out of touch with the people and the need to be independent.
One hopes having parliamentary oversight will at least improve the commission because more is needed than a change of staff, and that is a change of mindset.
The commission has one job only, conduct free and fair elections. But Pakatan and other civil societies have complained that they have done the reverse.
So, the courts now have to decide whether Pakatan’s lawsuit has merits or the EC did conduct free and fair elections on May 5. – July 15, 2013.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Military Coup in Egypt

BBC News Egypt unrest Morsi marchers die as army fires | Published on 5 Jul 2013



Thursday, July 4, 2013

International reactions to Morsi's removal.

World leaders weigh in after Egypt's army commander announces that president had been removed.  Last Modified: 04 Jul 2013 18:28

The Egyptian army's suspension of the constitution and removal of President Mohamed Morsi has drawn mixed responses from world leaders:

European Union

The EU has called for a rapid return to democracy in Egypt.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said: "I urge all sides to rapidly return to the democratic process, including the holding of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections and the approval of a constitution, to be done in a fully inclusive manner, so as to permit the country to resume and complete its democratic transition,"

"I strongly condemn all violent acts, offer my condolences to the families of the victims, and urge the security forces to do everything in their power to protect the lives and well-being of Egyptian citizens."

France

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Paris took note that elections had been announced in Egypt following a transition period after the army ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

"In a situation that has worsened seriously and with extreme tension in Egypt, new elections have finally been announced, after a transition period."

France hoped a timetable would be drawn up respecting "civil peace, pluralism, individual liberties and the achievements of the democratic transition, so that the Egyptian people can freely choose their leaders and their future", he added.

Qatar

Qatar's new emir congratulated Egypt's Adli Mansour after he was sworn in as an interim leader.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, "sent a cable of congratulations" following the swearing in.

The foreign ministry said: "Qatar will continue to respect the will of Egypt and its people across the spectrum," the source said.

Qatar was alone among Gulf Arab states in celebrating the 2011 Arab Spring revolt that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi King Abdullah sent a message of congratulations to Adly Mansour ahead of his appointment as interim president.

"In the name of the people of Saudi Arabia and on my behalf, we congratulate your leadership of Egypt in this critical period of its history. We pray for God to help you bear the responsibility laid upon you to achieve the ambitions of our brotherly people of Egypt," the message said.

Syria

Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday praised Egypt's protests against their leader and said his overthrow by the military means the end of "political Islam".

Assad, who is seeking to crush a revolt against his own rule, said Egyptians have discovered the "lies" of the Muslim Brotherhood.

He spoke in an interview with the state-run Al-Thawra newspaper.

"What is happening in Egypt is the fall of so-called political Islam," Assad said. "This is the fate of anyone in the world who tries to use religion for political or factional interests."

United Arab Emirates

The UAE welcomed the change in Egypt, according to state news agency WAM, and praised the Egyptian armed forces.

"His Highness Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan, the foreign minister of the UAE, expressed his full confidence that the great people of Egypt are able to cross these difficult moments that Egypt is going through," WAM said in a statement.

"Sheikh Abdullah said that the great Egyptian army was able to prove again that they are the fence of Egypt and that they are the protector and strong shield that guarantee Egypt will remain a state of institutions and law," it added.

United Kingdom

The UK urged for calm in Egypt, but stopped short of calling the military intervention a coup.

"The situation is clearly dangerous and we call on all sides to show restraint and avoid violence," said Foreign Secretary William Hague. "The United Kingdom does not support military intervention as a way to resolve disputes in a democratic system."

The UK called on all parties to move forward and "show the leadership and vision needed to restore and renew Egypt's democratic transition".

"It is vital for them to respond to the strong desire of the Egyptian people for faster economic and political progress for their country," stressed Hague.

This must involve early and fair elections and civilian-led government, he said.

United States

The US State Department expressed concern over the military intervention.

The US ordered the mandatory evacuation of its embassy in Cairo, just hours after the army deposed Morsi. A later travel advisory confirmed that "the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members from Egypt due to the ongoing political and social unrest."

US President Barack Obama released a statement saying he was deeply concerned by the decision by Egyptian military to depose Morsi, and called for a swift return to civilian government.

"No transition to democracy comes without difficulty, but in the end it must stay true to the will of the people. An honest, capable and representative government is what ordinary Egyptians seek and what they deserve," Obama said.

"The long-standing partnership between the United States and Egypt is based on shared interests and values, and we will continue to work with the Egyptian people to ensure that Egypt’s transition to democracy succeeds.”

However, the US also stopped short of calling the military intervention a coup.

Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, noted that any country involved in a coup was not entitled to aid from the US.

Germany

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the military intervention was "a major setback for democracy in Egypt" and called for "dialogue and political compromise".

"This is a major setback for democracy in Egypt," Westerwelle said during a visit to Athens. "It is urgent that Egypt return as quickly as possible to the constitutional order... there is a real danger that the democratic transition in Egypt will be seriously damaged."

"We call on all sides to renounce violence. We will watch developments in Egypt very closely. And then make our political decisions.

"Political detentions and a political wave of repression must be avoided at all cost. Now this is about returning to the path of democratic order."

source >>


As the army takes control of Egypt, demonstrators in favour of the ousted president feel isolated and ignored.



Supporters of Mohamed Morsi react after hearing that the army 
have decided to overthrow Morsi [Reuters]


Cairo - The fireworks celebrating Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s removal by the military are visible a few kilometres away, where thousands of his supporters are holding a sit-in, a protest they plan to continue until Morsi is reinstated.


Hours after his removal, the mood at the rally, outside a mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City neighbourhood, was sombre and confused.


Supporters of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood wondered how the man who last year became Egypt’s first democratically-elected president could be ousted so ignominiously.


Fear hovered over the rally, too, with many Brotherhood members wondering if Morsi’s removal would portend a wider crackdown on the once-banned group.


The army has encircled the site of the protest, blocking main roads with barbed wire and armoured vehicles; helicopters buzz overhead, often to jeers and curses from below. One man spat at a helicopter, dismissing its pilots as traitors.