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Sunday, February 7, 2010

US plays down chances of atomic deal with Iran


U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Saturday he saw no sign a deal was close between Iran and Western powers on exchanging some of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) for higher-grade fuel, suggesting it was time to move forward with sanctions. "I don't have the sense that we're close to an agreement," Gates told reporters in Ankara where he met Turkish leaders. His comments stood in contrast to those by Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, who said on Friday he saw good prospects for clinching a deal with world powers on exchanging LEU for higher-grade fuel it can use in a reactor producing medical isotopes. "If they are prepared to take up the original proposal of the P-5 plus one of delivering 1,200 kilograms of their low enriched uranium, all at once to an agreed party, I think there would be a response to that," he added, referring to the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany. Gates said President Obama had taken unprecedented steps to engage with Iran, describing the response so far as "disappointing".

Thousands protest boy's killing in Srinagar


Thousands of demonstrators shouting “blood for blood” and “we want freedom” protested in revolt-hit Indian-administered Kashmir Saturday against the killing of a second teenage boy in a week. Witnesses said 17-year-old Zahid Farooq was killed Friday when security forces opened fire after a group of boys refused to leave a high-security area. Police in the Muslim-majority region where a revolt against Indian rule began two decades ago said they were investigating the death. Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vowed strong action over the boy's death. “Incidents of unprovoked or innocent killings will not be tolerated and whosoever is involved in such killings will be brought to book and doled out exemplary punishment,” Abdullah said in a statement. But Abdullah's promise failed to placate residents of Brein, the suburb of state summer capital Srinagar where the killing took place. Thousands of men, women and children took to the streets, shouting pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans.

Beijing plays hardball with Washington


The first clear sign of China's new self-regard went on display at the unlikeliest of venues last fall: the Frankfurt Book Fair. A Chinese delegation had bullied fair organizers into revoking invitations to a pre-fair event to two dissident Chinese writers. Then, the organizers had a re-think and announced they'd allow the dissidents after all. At the announcement, the official Chinese delegation rose and walked out of the hall. "We didn't come here for a lesson in democracy," former Chinese ambassador Mei Zhaorong fumed to reporters. "Those times are over." Few outside Germany took note of China's tough, new tone then. Now many are. After weeks of rancorous squabbling between Washington and Beijing over a range of issues, one thing is clear: China is emerging on the international stage as a stronger, tougher, more assertive nation than at any time in recent memory. U.S. President Barack Obama knows it well. His government's public support for Google in a bitter censorship wrangle; America's intent to ship billions of dollars worth of weapons to Taiwan; and a planned U.S. presidential meeting with the Dalai Lama, have all been met by Beijing with a barrage of threats. Joint military meetings between the U.S. and China have been cancelled. Sanctions against American companies have been promised, and hints have emerged that some official Chinese visits might be scrapped.

Taliban reject Karzai reconciliation offer


Afghanistan's Taliban rejected President Hamid Karzai's latest attempt to reach out to them as "futile" and "farcical" on Sunday, but said they were open to talks to achieve their goal of an Islamic state. "This is not the first time that the Kabul regime and the invading countries want to throw dust into the eyes of the public of the world by announcing reconciliation in words and, in practice, make preparation for war," said a statement posted in English on the Afghan Taliban's website, alemarah.info. "Similarly, they put forward conditions, which are tantamount to escalating the war rather than ending it. For example, they want Mujahideen to lay down arms, accept the constitution and renounce violence. None can name this reconciliation," it said. Karzai used a conference in London last month to repeat a call for reconciliation with his "disenchanted brothers" in the Taliban. He has since travelLed to Saudi Arabia to ask its leaders for help reaching out to the militants. At the conference, Western governments approved language in a communique that said Afghans who disavow violence and accept the constitution should be accepted in the political process, signalling support for Karzai's outreach bid. But the Taliban statement rejected Western support for Karzai's reconciliation efforts as "an eyewash" designed to convince anti-war voters in the West their leaders want peace, even as they prepare for a new offensive in Helmand province.

Michael Jackson's doctor to face criminal charges


Michael Jackson's doctor will be charged in connection with the pop star's death next week, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office confirmed Friday. A terse two-sentence statement said charges against Conrad Murray would be filed on Monday followed by an arraignment hearing. The statement did not state what charges Murray would face. However, a law enforcement source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to AFP Murray would be charged with involuntary manslaughter. The announcement followed days of speculation about the possibility of criminal charges being filed against Murray, the Houston-based physician who was with Jackson shortly before the pop icon died suddenly in June. Murray had initially been expected to surrender to custody on Friday ahead of a court hearing but charges were delayed amid reports of a disagreement between prosecutors and the Los Angeles Police Department.

Russia Cool to U.S. Plan for Missiles in Romania

Russian officials reacted coolly on Friday to the news that Romania had agreed to host American missile interceptorsstarting in 2015, with a top envoy saying that the announcement could directly affect Moscow’s position as negotiations to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or Start, reach their conclusion. Dmitri O. Rogozin, Russia’s permanent representative to NATO, said the United States had not fulfilled its promise to consult Russia on developments in the missile defense system. He suggested that the interceptors could pose a threat to Russia’s security, while noting that both Romanian and American officials went out of their way to assure Moscow otherwise. “It seems to be in line with Freud’s theory — it means they have some thoughts that the system could be targeted against Russia, otherwise why would they dissuade us about something we never asked about?” he said.