Arab world wants democracy, may upset Qaeda agenda

Source: Indian express
For nearly two decades, the leaders of al-Qaeda have denounced the Arab world's dictators as heretics and puppets of the West and called for their downfall. Now, people in country after country have risen to topple their leaders — and al-Qaeda has played absolutely no role.

In fact, the motley opposition movements that have proved so powerful have shunned the two central tenets of the Qaeda credo: murderous violence and religious fanaticism. The demonstrators have used force defensively, treated Islam as an afterthought and embraced democracy, which is anathema to Osama bin Laden and his followers.
So for al-Qaeda — and perhaps no less for the US policies that have been built around its threat — the democratic revolutions that have gripped the world's attention present a crossroads. Will the terrorist network shrivel slowly to irrelevance? Or will it find a way to exploit the chaos produced by upheaval?
For many specialists on terrorism and West Asia, though not all, the past few weeks have the makings of an epochal disaster for al-Qaeda, making the jihadists look like ineffectual bystanders to history while offering young Muslims an appealing alternative to terrorism.
"So far — and I emphasise so far — the score card looks pretty terrible for al-Qaeda," said Paul R Pillar, who studied terrorism for nearly three decades at the CIA . "Democracy is bad news for terrorists."
Osama's deputy Ayman al-Zawahri has issued rambling statements from his hide-out in the Af-Pak border region. "Knocking off Mubarak has been Zawahri's goal for over 20 years, and he was unable to do it," said Brian Fishman, a terrorism expert. "Now a nonviolent, nonreligious, pro-democracy movement got rid of him."
However, there is evidence that the uprisings have enthralled some jihadists. One Algerian man with al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, network's North African affiliate, welcomed uprisings saying militants were returning from exile to join the battle in Libya.
IndianExpress

Sherry Rehman next on terror hit list?

Source: IANS
London: With two of three Pakistani politicians who opposed the blasphemy law assassinated, friends of the third, the glamorous Sherry Rehman, now fear for her life.

Gunmen have shot dead Punjab governor Salman Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in the Pakistani government.
Rehman, known for her outspoken views, led the efforts to reform the blasphemy law after Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother of four, was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.
Rehman was joined by Taseer and Bhatti. Both men are now dead, and friends feel that Rehman could be the next, The Guardian reported. "Make no mistake: she is in grave danger, like nobody else," the paper quoted a friend as saying.
It said Rehman lived in near hiding and had spent most of January at her Karachi home, surrounded by police. She has been advised by government ministers to leave Pakistan.
"I get two types of advice about leaving. One from concerned friends, the other from those who want me out, so I'll stop making trouble. But I'm going nowhere," Rehman was quoted as saying.
She recently went to Bangkok for a meeting on Pakistan-India relations and later to New Delhi. In Pakistan, she remains absent from public life. She goes to Islamabad discreetly but rarely attends parliament, it said.
Source: IANS

India condemns killing of Pakistan minister

Source: IANS

New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) India Wednesday condemned the 'tragic assassination' of Pakistan's minister for minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti and offered condolences to the bereaved family.
'We convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the people and the government of Pakistan on the tragic assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, federal minister of minority affairs of Pakistan,' the external affairs ministery said in a statement.
'We condemn this dastardly crime. In this difficult hour, our prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved family and the people of Pakistan,' the ministry said.
Christians across India have condemned the murder of Bhatti, 42, a Christian, who was gunned down in Islamabad Wednesday by unidentified men allegedly for his views on the country's controversial blasphemy law.
Bhatti was the only Christian minister in the Muslim majority country and met the same fate as Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was gunned down by his bodyguard Jan 4.
'The killing of an important leader of minorities shows the threats and pressures under which minorities are living in Pakistan. There have been reports about abduction and false implication in blasphemy cases and killings of members of the minority communities on a daily basis,' said secretary general of the All India Christian Council John Dayal.
Activists demanded measures to curtail right wing extremists and ensure safety of minorities in Pakistan.
--Indo-Asian news Service

Maoist lynch MG-NREGA activist

Source: PTI
Ranchi/Latehar (Jharkhand), Mar 3 (PTI) An activist who had raised his voice against alleged improper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA) was lynched by Maoists at Jerua village in Latehar district, police said today.

Niyamat Ansari died last night after about 12 Maoist ultras beat him up with lathis, Latehar Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said at Latehar.

The rebels dragged him out of his residence at 7 PM and started beating him up. He was admitted to a local hospital where he died at 10 PM, he said.

The Maoists had also searched for another MG-NREGA activist, Bhukhan Singh, but could not find him.

The SP said Ansari had raised objections against improper implementation of the schemes and the police were investigating whether middlemen had him killed by the Maoists.

Ansari was working with noted economist Jean Dreze on proper implementation of MG-NREGA as an active member in Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in Latehar�s Maneka block, his friends said.

"He used to highlight problems and irregularities in the implementation of schemes at jan adalats organized by the district administration, which might have angered certain people," a close friend of Ansari told the media in Latehar.

Earlier in the day, DGP control room sources in Ranchi said the Maoists had on July 7 last year pasted posters warning Ansari and Singh not to "exploit forest land or face consequences".

Three years ago, another MG-NREGA activist, who worked with Dreze, had been killed by unidentified persons in neighbouring Palamau district which triggered widespread protests by several people, including Dreze.

MG-NREGA is the flagship scheme of the government for the poor and aims at enhancing livelihood security of people in rural belts by guaranteeing 100 days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household.

495 Indian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates in 4yrs: Govt

Source: IANS

New Delhi: The government today said 495 Indian sailors were held hostages by the Somali pirates in last four years, and barring 64, all of them have been released safely.

These 64 sailors, who are still to be rescued, were crew members of 6 ships -- MV Iceberg-I, MV Rak Afrikana, MV Suez, MV Asphalt Venture, MV Savina Caylyn, and MV Sinin -- that were high jacked by the pirates in last one year, the Shipping Ministry said in a statement.
It added that all of them have been reported safe. The statement further said that two foreign flag ships -- MV Savina Caylyn, and MV Sinin--, having 26 Indians as crew members, were high jacked this year, in January and February respectively.
Talking about the increasing attacks by the pirates, the statement said none of the Indian ships have got high jacked in last four years, although seven had come under attack by the pirates of the Somalia coast between 2007 to 2011.
It added that 200 Indian seafarers were held hostage on board foreign flag ships during the same period. In addition to this, the pirates managed to capture about 20 Indian MSVs (Motor support vessels) and 295 sailors on board these MSVs in last four years, the statement said, while adding that all of them have got released.
Shipping Minister G K Vasan, after meeting about 6-7 families of the Indian sailors taken hostage, today said that "I share the anxiety and concerns of the family members and we are making all efforts to ensure the safety of Indians and also to expedite their release."
Vasan said his ministry officials are in touch with their counterparts in the Ministry of External Affairs on the issue but refused to elaborate the steps taken by the government.
Antony rules out military action to free Indian sailors
"No, there is no military option," Antony told reporters on the sidelines of an international hydrography seminar organised by the Indian Navy here when asked if the government was considering an offensive against the pirates to free the hostages.
At the same time, he admitted to a "sorry state of affairs" in the efforts to contain piracy. "It is a sorry state of affairs. Because, in spite of the fact that 18 navies of the world (have a presence in the Gulf of Aden) we are not able to contain this piracy," Antony said.
However, he exuded confidence that the world navies would be able to stop piracy through joint efforts.
"But efforts (to contain piracy) are going on. More and more coordination is there between all the nations. Even though we are finding it difficult to contain them, we will be able to succeed ultimately. We will not let up. Not only India, piracy is a cause of worry to all the nations," he said.
Expressing concern over the plight of the Indian sailors held hostage, Antony said the government understood the pain of their families.
"The entire government is aware of the sensitivity. We are all concerned about the agonies of the people. So the government is doing its best to understand the problem," he added.
Somali pirates are holding nine Indians among 22 crew members of Iranian merchant vessel M.V. Sinan since Feb 12 year and another six Indians among 25 sailors on board Egyptian cargo ship M.V. Suez since Aug 2, 2010.
The pirates have threatened to kill the hostages if their ransom demands were not met. "All agencies of the government are working together. We are doing everything possible to find a solution. We are continuing our efforts. We hope there will some solution in the near future," he said.
Asked if any ransom would be paid to the pirates to free the Indian sailors, Antony said the government was not handling the money part of the negotiations.
"That part, government is not handling. We are trying to hasten the process of releasing the abducted. For that, all agencies are working together. Ministry of external affairs is coordinating and all others are cooperating," he added.
Addressing the seminar, Antony said that keeping the Indian Ocean free of piracy was one of the prime drivers of energy security of several nations, including India.
"Maritime security is extremely crucial for our energy security as well as overall national security. The necessary precondition to maintain our economic growth is our dependence on stable energy supplies," he said.
"Actually, it (piracy) is becoming a more and more serious problem. Everyday, we are getting alerts and threats. There are families of the abducted and their worries. Their pain and agony is a matter of concern to all of us," he said.
Haryana seeks safe return of captive Indian sailors
The Haryana government Thursday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure the safe return of six Indian sailors held by Somali pirates.
The Indians were among 25 crew members of MV Suez, an Egyptian cargo vessel which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden Aug 2 last year. The pirates have demanded over $4 million for their release.
"Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has called on Manmohan Singh and urged his intervention in this issue," a Haryana government spokesman said. "Manmohan Singh has promised assured of all help of the central government for the release of Indian hostages," he added.
The 22 hostages comprise 11 Egyptians, six Indians (including two from Haryana and one each from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir), four Pakistanis and four Sri Lankans.
They are reportedly living in inhuman conditions and get only boiled rice and fish to eat, according to those negotiating with the pirates. Family members of Ravinder Gulia, 30, one of the hostages and a resident of Haryana's Rohtak town, met Hooda Wednesday.
"Efforts are being made to get the Indian workers released from the Somalian pirates. The whole nation is concerned about their well-being," the chief minister said. Family members of the hostages plan to meet Manmohan Singh.

Global war crimes court to investigate Gaddafi Reuters

Source: Reuters

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The international war crimes tribunal said on Thursday it would investigate Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his sons and members of their inner circle for crimes committed by their security forces.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo of the Hague-based International Criminal Court, pointing to a bloody crackdown on demonstrators against Gaddafi's rule in which thousands may have died, said that no one had the authority to massacre civilians.
He said the court would investigate "serious crimes" and had identified several people at the top of the command chain who could be investigated.
"They are Muammar Gaddafi, his inner circle including some of his sons, who had de facto authority," Moreno-Ocampo said.
If opposition groups also have weapons and commit crimes, their leaders will also be investigated. "We will act with impartiality," he said.
The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Gaddafi and his family on Saturday, and referred Libya's crackdown on demonstrators to the court.
Gaddafi has vowed to stay in Libya and fight to the death since protests against his 41-year rule began in mid-February, inspired by the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that ousted longstanding authoritarian rulers.
The prosecutor said air strikes and attacks, alleged to have been made by security forces, and illegal detentions of hundreds of people would be investigated, including violence in the eastern city of Benghazi on Feb. 15 and attacks in the capital Tripoli on Feb. 20.
"No one has the authority to attack and massacre civilians," Moreno-Ocampo said, adding that he could request the issue of arrest warrants over the atrocities in a few months' time.
COMMAND CHAIN
Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim called the probe "close to a joke" since no fact-finding mission had been sent to his country, and said it was based purely on media reports.
"We have armed gangs having tanks, aircraft and machineguns and attacking police stations, army camps, ports and airports and occupying Libyan cities. This is far away from a peaceful movement," he told BBC radio.
Khaled Kaim, deputy Libyan foreign minister, told Al Arabiya "We are not under the jurisdiction of the court, we are not signatories ... The court has no power over Libya."
Other people in Gaddafi's circle who will come under the court's scrutiny include the commander of the 32nd brigade, foreign mercenaries, a government spokesman and the National Security Adviser, Moreno-Ocampo said.
He did not name them but said the inner circle included some of Gaddafi's sons. The 32nd brigade leader is Gaddafi's son Khamis.
Outside that circle, he pointed to the head of Gaddafi's personal security, the director general of the Libyan External Security Organisation, the head of the Security Forces and other organisation leaders as potential suspects.
Earlier on Thursday, Gaddafi's forces struck at rebel control of oil export hubs in eastern Libya for a second day as Arab states weighed a plan to end the turmoil.
Rebels are also calling for a no-fly zone, echoing a demand by Libya's deputy U.N. envoy, who now opposes Gaddafi.
The ICC has no police force and has struggled in the past to have suspects arrested.
* Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is still at large after being charged with genocide in Darfur
* Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony has eluded efforts to capture him.
* Former Liberian president Charles Taylor was arrested, and is now on trial for war crimes at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague.
Bill Pace, head of a coalition of NGOs that support the work of the court, said the Security Council and member states should now stand by the referral and ensure that arrests are made.
"The involvement of the ICC indicates that crimes of grave concern will not be tolerated," Pace said.
(Reporting by Aaron Gray-Block; additional reporting by Stefano Ambrogi; editing by Sara Webb and Tim Pearce)

Relatives of jailed Islamists protest in Jordan IANS India Private Limited

source: IANS

Amman, March 1 (DPA) Hundreds of relatives protested in Amman Tuesday to press for the release of dozens of Islamists, 27 of whom are currently on hunger strike in prison.
The protesters chanted slogans and held posters in front of the Grand Husseini Mosque in central Amman to urge King Abdullah to release their jailed relatives held at Swaqa prison, 50 km south of the capital.
'The place of those who fight the Zionists should not be jail,' read one slogan on a poster, in reference to those who are jailed for plotting attacks against Israeli targets.
Jordan was the second Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel after Egypt, and shares a border with both Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Scores of Islamists were also found guilty by Jordan's State Security Court for plotting to fight US troops in Afghanistan and in neighbouring Iraq, judicial sources said.

Armed guards open fire as ship attacked off Yemen The Associated Press

source : AP on yahoo

A maritime news portal says armed guards stopped an attack on a Danish-owned vessel when they exchanged fire with suspected pirates.
Maritimedanmark.dk says no one was injured on the Singapore-registered Brattingborg that has a Thai crew in Thursday's attack.
Shipowner Lars Steen Rasmussen was quoted as saying it was the first time the company had armed guards on one of its ships. He could not be reached for comments.
The attack comes days after suspected Somali pirates captured a Danish yacht in the Indian Ocean.
Earlier Thursday, the head of a private security company said his guards retook a yacht from Somali pirates after the Dutch couple on board locked themselves in a safe room.
Thomas Jakobsson of Naval Guards said Thursday that six of his guards were accompanying the Capricorn yacht on a separate motorboat. Six armed pirates were able to get aboard the Capricorn but the Dutch couple barricaded themselves in the boat.
Jakobsson says his men had a brief exchange of fire with the pirates before retaking the Capricorn with no casualties on either side.

Attack on US troopers may be a terror strike: Germany

Source: Rediff

A shooting incident on a military bus at the Frankfurt airport, in which two American soldiers were killed and two others wounded, may have been a terrorist attack, German security authorities have said.


Investigators of the German Federal Criminal Office have received information that the gunman, a 21-year-old man from Kosovo who has been living in Frankfurt for many years, had contacts with people associated with radical Muslim groups, media reports have said.
Two members of the United States Air Force were killed and two others injured in the incident. According to one report, the gunman had linked up his Facebook profile with websites propagating radical views.
There are also growing indications that the attacker was well informed about the travel plans of the US soldiers, the reports said. It was possible that he had planned the attacker for a long time and he may have accomplices, said authorities.
Boris Rhein, interior minister of the state of Hessen where Frankfurt airport is located, described the attack as a 'hideous crime' which must be cleared up in cooperation with the American security authorities.
Nearly a dozen soldiers belonging to the military police of the US Air Force [ Images ], who are stationed at the Lakenheath air base in Britain, arrived at the Frankfurt airport on Wednesday afternoon from London [ Images ] on board a civilian flight.
They boarded the military bus parked outside Terminal 2 to travel to the US air base in Ramstein. From there, they were scheduled to leave for Afghanistan or Iraq. Ramstein has been a hub for military operations in the two countries.
According to the police, the attacker fired several shots at the bus, killing a soldier and the driver, who were standing near the bus.
He then entered the bus and fired at the soldiers sitting inside. He was overpowered and arrested by the police when he tried to escape by running inside the terminal. Besides the local police, the Federal Criminal Office, Frankfurt State Prosecutor and American security authorities are involved in the investigations.
The Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are sending a large team of specialists to Frankfurt. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama [ Images ] have sharply condemned the attack.
The German government will do everything to clear up this 'shocking incident', she said. The Chancellor also expressed her condolences for the bereaved families of the soldiers.
President Obama said the US government would do everything to find out how this "dastardly act" happened.
Flight operations at the Frankfurt airport were not affected by the attack and most of the air travellers were unaware of it, an airport spokesman said.
Germany [ Images ] had stepped up security for airports, railway stations and other public places at the end of last year following warnings that Islamic terrorists were planning to carry out attacks on high-profile targets in this country.
Image: A police car stands next to the US Army bus that was attacked by a gunman in front of Frankfurt airport | Photograph: Ralph Orlowski/Reuters

Suicide car bomber kills six in northwest Pak

Source: Rediff
A suicide car bomber targeted a security vehicle in Pakistan's northwestern Hangu city on Thursday, killing at least six persons, including four policemen, and injuring 30 others.

The attacker, who was in an explosives-laden pick-up truck, blew himself up as a police van passed by, officials said.

Four policemen, who were in the van, were killed, district administration chief Adil Siddiq told the media.

Other officials said two civilians were also killed. Several women and children were among the injured.

Siddiq described the condition of three of the injured as serious. All the injured had been rushed to a nearby state-run hospital after the blast.

The blast, in which police officials said 600 kg of explosives were used, also hit several nearby vehicles and 15 houses.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The blast came a day after a woman was killed and three others injured near Doaba town in Hangu district when an explosive device planted along the road went off as the van they were travelling in passed by.

Bombs kill 10 Afghans at dog fight

Source: Hindustantimes
Two bomb explosions tore through a crowd of villagers watching a dog fight in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Sunday, killing 10 people, officials said. The double bombing in Arghandab district targeted villagers and a police vehicle, killing eight civilians and two police, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told AFP.

The violence follows a deadly Taliban-led campaign of blasts and suicide attacks that have rocked Afghanistan this month and killed more than 100 people, mostly civilians.

"There have been two bomb blasts, one at the middle of a gathering and the other on the side of the road nearby. Eight civilians have been killed, two cops have been killed," the spokesman said.

He said a dozen civilians and five police were wounded.

Shah Mohammad, the district chief of Arghandab, said the attack was aimed at villagers watching a dog fight. "People had gathered to watch dog fighting. Two explosions, from planted bombs, happened. Eight people, all civilians, have been killed," he told AFP.

An AFP reporter at the site saw human flesh scattered across the area and several barking dogs leashed to nearby electricity poles.

India’s progress on Anti Money Laundering and combating Financing of Terrorism

Source: indiainfoline

India Infoline News Service / 12:52 , Feb 28, 2011

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)  is an  inter‐governmental policy making  body, comprised of over 30 countries, that has a ministerial mandate to establish international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.  Over 180 jurisdictions have joined the FATF or an FATF‐style regional body, and  committed at the ministerial level to implementing the FATF standards and having  their anti‐money laundering (AML)/counter‐terrorist financing (CFT) systems assessed. The FATF sets international standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. It assesses and monitors compliance with the FATF standards, conducts typologies studies of money laundering and terrorist financing methods, trends  and techniques and responds to new and emerging threats, such as proliferation  financing.   India became FATF’s 34 th Member in June 2010. As per the FATF procedure, every  country has to give an Action Plan to bring their AML/CFT regime close to the compliance zone of the FATF. India also gave an Action Plan in June 2010 and  followed up with Action Taken Report in October 2010 and in February 2011. The 2 nd review of India’s Action Taken Report was discussed by the FATF Plenary  on 23 rd February in Paris. The FATF Plenary appreciated the strong commitment demonstrated by India to the international drive against money laundering and  financing of terrorism.  During the meeting, India reiterated its commitments to adopt, enforce and  contribute to international best practices in AML and CFT. India also highlighted  the implementation of the 2010-11 budget announcement relating to the  establishment of a Financial Stability and Development Council that would interalia  review the effective implementation of India’s multilateral commitments including  FATF priorities. In addition, India informed the plenary of the steps taken for the  fulfillment of another budget announcement of 2010-11 relating to the creation of  the high powered Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission to look at all the financial sector legislations, regulations and rules with a view to making them synchronous with each other; that would also help India implement its FATF  action plan more effectively.an more effectively.  During the plenary, it was observed that India is on track on fulfilling its  commitment and it was recognized that India is taking all efforts in securing a  more transparent and stable financial system by ensuring that financial institutions  are not vulnerable to infiltration or abuse by organized crime groups. The Union Finance Minister, Shri. Pranab Mukherjee, today approved India taking  over as the co-chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Review Group of the FATF. It is  one of the four FATF International Co-operation Review Groups. The others are:  Europe/Eurasia, Americas, Middle East / Africa. India replaces Australia and the other co-chair is Macau. Through this position, India would send an important  signal of its interest in and commitment to countering  money laundering and  financing of terror both in the region, as well as in terms of the nation’s overall  membership of FATF.  The Asia Pacific Regional Review Group of FATF is tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the  compliance and  actions taken by countries  in this region to meet FATF standards.  The Indian delegation to the FATF Plenary was led by Dr. Thomas Mathew, JS, Capital Markets, Department of Economic Affairs.

Three policemen killed in Maoist attack

Source: hindustan times
Maoists attacked a police patrol party and opened indiscriminate fire, leaving three policemen, including an officer, dead in Jharkhand's Chatra district. The Naxalite fired at the policemen when they were returning from a patrol in a jeep at Lajrai More late last night, police said today. Two home guards and the civilian driver were injured in the attack.

Those killed included Assistant Sub-inspector Narayan Mandal, hawaldar Akhilesh Paswan and home guard Gandru, police said, adding it was not a landmine blast as initially reported.

R K Mallick, Spokesperson of Jharkhand Police said, "The patrolling party had gone to inspect a road construction site and the Maoists were laying ambush in that particular area and the party came under fire. We have lost three persons".

The rebels also looted two guns and torched the jeep.

Sources at the Tandua police station, under which the incident took place, earlier said it was a landmine blast.

The incident comes close on the heels of the Maoists abducting a district collector and a junior engineer from Orissa's Malkangiri district. The two were released after the Orissa government conceded to some of the demands of the rebels.