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> Thur., July. 13, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Israel Bombs Lebanese Airport
Israel's New Two Front War
Effects of the 19 Day Attack on the Gaza Strip
U.S. Reacts to Mid East Crisis
Voting Rights Act
G8 Meetings and President Bush Visits Germany Today
FSRN Headlines
HAND OVER OF IRAQI PROVINCE
British forces have handed over security responsibilities
to Iraqi authorities in the Muthanna province in southern
Iraq. Approximately 700 British and Australian troops had
been watching the desert province since the 2003 invasion.
In a joint statement, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and
American commander in Iraq, General George Casey, said the
handover "represents a milestone in the successful development
of Iraq's capability to govern and protect itself as a sovereign
and democratic nation". Muthanna is the first of 18 provinces
the return to Iraqi control.
HUNDREDS QUESTIONED IN MUMBAI INVESTIGATION
Police in Mumbai, India have rounded up some 350 people for
questioning in the aftermath of the serial bomb attack on
the city's rail system. The death toll for Tuesday's attacks
has passed 200. The rush-hour blasts wounded over 700 passengers.
AL QAEDA SURFACES IN KASHMIR
A man claiming to be an Al Qaeda spokesman says that the terrorist
network has formed a group in Jammu and Kashmir. Shahnawaz
Khan reports from Srinagar.
A man identifying himself as Abu Al Hadeed, called a local
news service in Srinagar and claimed to the spokesman of Al-Qaeda
Jammu and Kashmir. According to Current News Service (CNS),
the caller told them that the group has already been formally
launched, with Abu Abdur Rehman Ansari as its chief commander.
The caller saluted the men behind the Tuesday Serial Blasts
in Mumbai and described the attacks as a reaction to what
he called India's repressive measures against the minority
community of Muslims. The self-described Al Qaeda in Jammu
and Kashmir spokesperson told Current News Service that the
new organization will soon announce its modus operandi and
organizational motive. Police have yet to verify the authenticity
of the claim. An army spokesman in Srinagar told AFP that
investigators will evaluate the claim and, if found to be
authentic, is a cause for concern. For FSRN, I'm Shahnawaz
Khan.
WORLD COURT RULING ON PAPER PULP MILLS
The International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled yesterday
that Uruguay can continue building two paper pulp mills on
the river that forms its border with Argentina. Marie Trigona
has more from Buenos Aires.
The UN's highest court rejected Argentina's request for an
order to immediately halt the construction of the plants.
Argentina had wanted the World Court to temporarily halt construction
of the mills on the shared river, while it weighed its claim
that the mills violated a bilateral treaty, which states both
countries must consent to all issues that could affect the
water of the shared river body. The court said it did not
find evidence that the construction of the pulp mills posed
an immediate and irreversible threat to the environment. British
judge, Rosalyn Higgins said that work could continue while
the judges weighed the potential environmental risks of the
mills once they begin to operate. Uruguay may be ordered to
tear down the mills, that are due to start operating in 2007
and 2008, if the court finds it in violation of the 1975 treaty.
The paper mills project has strained diplomatic relations
between Uruguay and Argentina, historically friendly neighbors.
Argentina fears the mills will damage the environment and
also hurt tourism and property values in the border region.
For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Marie Trigona in Buenos Aires.
LEGAL BATTLE OVER NUCLEAR WASTE
The state of Washington has appealed a judge's ruling that
struck down a voter initiative preventing the federal government
from shipping high-level nuclear waste to that state's Hanford
Nuclear Reservation. Leigh Robartes has more.
The Hanford Clean-up Initiative, I-297, passed with 70% of
the vote in 2004; the largest margin of victory for any initiative
in state history. It requires the federal government to finish
its ongoing clean-up of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation before
more radioactive waste can be shipped in. The clean-up has
been plagued with cost overruns and delays - and is now expected
to cost taxpayers $11.3 billion. After it passed, the federal
government immediately sought to stay Initiative 297, saying
it violated the Atomic Energy Act, as well as the federal
government's constitutional right to regulate interstate commerce.
Federal Judge Alan Macdonald of Yakima agreed. Washington
Secretary of State Rob McKenna has now appealed to the 9th
Circuit Court, saying the State is not content to let the
decision rest with a single district court judge. Leigh Robartes,
FSRN.
SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONISTS CONDEMN GAZA SIEGE
The Congress of South African Trade Unions, an umbrella group
representing some 2 million workers, has called on the South
African government to break off diplomatic and trade relations
with Israel in response to military actions against civilians
in the Gaza Strip. COSATU president Willie Madisha called
the "apartheid state" in Israel worse than the apartheid
system that dominated South Africa, saying that heavy machinery
and tanks were not used against the opposition in his country.
South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad
dismissed the calls for diplomatic and economic sanctions,
saying that it is important to maintain open lines of communication
with both sides of the conflict.
[top]
Israel Bombs Lebanese Airport
In the early morning hours today, Israel widened its offensive
against Lebanon, hitting the Lebanese airport with missile
fire and pounding over 40 targets throughout southern Lebanon.
Official medical and government sources put the number of
Lebanese dead from the Israeli attacks at over 50, with at
least 10 of those casualties being children. Israel has also
imposed a naval blockade, and official Israeli sources have
said that the air force is prepared to strike anywhere in
Lebanon, including the capital city of Beirut, if Hezbollah
doesn’t return two soldiers it captured in raids on
a military installation in southern Lebanon yesterday. UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the Lebanese government
to help secure the release of the soldiers and honor UN Security
Council Resolution 1559, which calls on Hezbollah to disarm.
FSRN’s Eric Klein spoke with correspondent Jackson Allers
in Beirut.
[top]
Israel's New Two Front War
Residents in the northern Israeli city of Haifa have been
told to stay in bomb shelters following a rocket attack on
the city today, which Hezbollah has so far denied. No injuries
or deaths were reported from the blast. Israel’s ambassador
to the U.S. called the Haifa attack “a major, major
escalation” in the region. FSRN’s Irris Makler
reports from Jerusalem on Israel’s strategy.
[top]
Effects of the 19 Day Attack on the Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continue their massive military campaign
across Gaza for the 19th consecutive day today, which has
so far claimed the lives of at least 74 Palestinians and severely
damaged major infrastructure including the early Thursday
shelling of the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Ministry building,
as well as the sole power plant and bridges. Rami Almeghari
reports.
[top]
U.S. Reacts to Mid East Crisis
Top U.S. officials are blaming what they call the lack of
democracy in Lebanon for the spread of militias like Hezbollah,
and are accusing Syria and Iran of harboring elements of Hezbollah.
The Bush Administration, which has long been accused of neglecting
the region’s deteriorating situation, is insisting that
Israel has a right to self-defense, and echoed Israel’s
view that Syria and Iran are partly to blame for the violence.
Anastasia Gnezditskaia reports from Washington, DC.
[top]
Voting Rights Act
After internal debate within the Republican Party derailed
the Voting Rights Act renewal, the House is set to vote on
it. Republicans pulled it from the floor last month because
they were denied an opportunity to offer amendments that would
dilute the Act's protections for minority voters. FSRN's Leigh
Ann Caldwell reports.
[top]
G8 Meetings and President Bush Visits Germany Today
Leaders from the world’s most powerful countries:
Russia, the U.S., Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Canada
and Italy, are meeting this weekend in St Petersburg, Russia
for the Group of 8, or G8 Summit. The three issues of energy
security, infectious diseases and education will dominate
the agenda, but there is also serious concern over Iran’s
nuclear program and the stalled WTO negotiations. Russia,
a major supplier of gas to many European nations and the G8’s
newest member, and is hosting the Summit for the first time
amid serious concern regarding the country’s lack of
democracy. Cinnamon Nippard reports.
[top]
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