VOA News: News

Syrian Forces Pound Homs, Western Diplomacy Continues

Edward Yeranian — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 10:14:20 GMT

Syrian government forces continued their attacks Thursday on several rebellious areas across the country, including the embattled central city of Homs, as divided world powers struggled to end the escalating crackdown against an 11-month opposition uprising.

The ferocious shelling in the Homs region erupted at dawn, leaving at least 57 dead, and targeting Baba Amr and other largely Sunni Muslim districts protected by the rebel Free Syrian Army.

Activists say that hundreds have died since the offensive began early Saturday. Several neighborhoods reportedly are without water and electricity, and basic supplies are running low.

Video footage from Homs

Witnesses say the government forces fired rockets, mortars and heavy artillery into parts of Homs on Thursday, blasting holes into buildings and causing numerous casualties. It was the sixth consecutive day of the offensive.

VOA spoke with a Syrian activist in Homs who goes by the alias Abo Emad to conceal his identity. He said Syrian security forces are not letting up on their assault, adding that even walking one block from the building where he is hiding can be deadly.

“Everyday is worse than the day before," he said of the government assault. "More deaths, more casualties, more injured people. More destroying buildings, more. Everything bad is more everyday.”

He also said there is very little access to mobile phones or landlines. He added that hospitals are overflowing with injured people and there are not enough doctors or medical supplies to care for the wounded.

Homs suburb under siege

Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London told Alhurra TV that the shelling hit a number of districts and is creating a human crisis. He said that sporadic shelling engulfed parts of the city, including Khaldiyeh and Bayadah, but that the heaviest onslaught is against the Baba Amr district, where conditions are extremely difficult.

Government forces are focusing on Baba Amr as it has been a center of the opposition.

In an opposition video, Muhammad al Muhammad, a doctor who is treating the wounded in Baba Amr, urged Syrians and the world community to protest the shelling attacks. He pointed to five children who appear to be wounded and called on Syrians to take to the streets to protest.

VOA cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the video's contents.

Diplomatic efforts continue

Amid the mounting offensive, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon denounced what he called “appalling brutality” against civilian neighborhoods in Homs, adding that it was a “grim harbinger of things to come.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is in Washington to discuss the widening conflict with top U.S. officials. Turkey is hoping to convene an international conference to discuss how to put an end to Syria's conflict and to provide aid to its victims.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has pledged to assign his deputy, Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, to hold a dialogue with the opposition, but those groups have rejected talks with the government.

The Associated Press reported a senior Arab League official as saying the Cairo-based organization will discuss Sunday whether to recognize the opposition Syrian National Council as the legitimate representative of Syria and allow it to open offices in Arab capitals.

Diplomats expelled

Meanwhile, Germany said Thursday it is expelling four diplomats from the Syrian Embassy in Berlin after authorities arrested two men suspected of spying on Syrian opposition groups.

China, which joined Russia in vetoing a U.N. resolution on Syria, said Thursday it wants to maintain contact with Syrian activists after an opposition delegation visited Beijing last week. Moscow, a staunch ally of Damascus, has insisted any solution to end the bloodshed must come from within Syria.

Defector Colonel Riyadh al-Asaad, who heads the loosely-knit Free Syrian Army that is fighting government forces, called the Syrian regime a tyranny and asked for help to defeat it.

Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, said the Syrian government is trying to retake Homs in hopes of crushing the popular revolt at a key hub.

"They have been bombarding the city for the past six days," he said. "The bombarding is so heavy that it is clear that it is setting the stage for a ground offensive. The regime has made up its mind on conquering Homs, because they feel that if they conquer Homs, much of the uprising in the country will abate.”

Wire services and VOA reporter JulieAnn McKellogg contributed to this report.

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Israel Debates Possible Fallout From Attack on Iran

Scott Bobb — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:38:42 GMT

In recent months, Israeli leaders have stepped up their rhetoric about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and increasingly are warning that Israel might attack Iranian nuclear installations to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Lately they are warning that such an attack could come this year. This is sparking widespread debate in Israel, where memories are still vivid of missile attacks on the country two decades ago during the Iraq war.

Bitter memories

Lawyer Moshe Meiron, 86, sits in the living room of his house in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan. He was deputy mayor of the town when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, under attack by a coalition of Western and Arab states because of his invasion of Kuwait, 21 years ago launched Scud missiles against Israel.

Meiron recalls the night after a siren alert when he was huddled with his wife in a safe room, wearing gas masks. A missile struck their car parked in the driveway nine meters away.

“Everything, five or six villas, were completely destroyed," Meiron said. "All the cars were burned up. And it's a miracle that we are here alive, my wife and I.”

Photo Gallery: Iran's military assets

Global threat

Such memories of retaliation by Israel's enemies have not deterred Israel's senior leaders from warning that they are prepared to attack another country in the region, Iran, to prevent it from gaining nuclear weapons. They say a military attack is a last option but that they are prepared to go it alone if the international community hesitates.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a nuclear Iran would pose a global threat.

"A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to Israel, to the region, to the world. Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Period," Netanyahu said.

How Israel is planning to stop Iran from doing so has been the subject of a number of media reports in recent weeks.

Time running out

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently told a conference of military strategic experts in Hertzliya near Tel Aviv that time is running out for an effective military strike, possibly before the end of this year, and the problem must be dealt with soon.

Experts say Tehran is moving important nuclear facilities into an underground fortress that is not likely to be seriously damaged by even the heaviest bombs.

Iranian leaders deny any intent to make nuclear weapons and say their nuclear program is for peaceful uses: power generation and medical research.

But Iran has warned it would retaliate for any attack. Tehran possesses ballistic missiles that can reach Israel and as far as Europe. One expert at the conference said Tehran is working on a missile that could reach the United States.

Missile range

Iran specialist David Menashri says the repercussions of an Israeli attack could also de-stabilize the region.

“Using such an option can have devastating consequences for a long time and for the sake of peace in the Middle East it's better to find other solutions," he said. "I think other solutions exist.”

Menashri believes sanctions and international pressure should be ratcheted up until the Iranian government agrees to negotiate an end to any nuclear weapons program.

The United States and European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Iran, including restrictions on its Central Bank and an embargo on Iranian oil exports, which make up one-half of its domestic product.

Retaliation

Iran has responded by saying it will cut off oil supplies to Europe and might block the Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for crude oil exports from other Gulf oil producers.

Some analysts believe Israel does not intend to attack Iran unilaterally but is talking about it to marshal public opinion and pressure its allies to enact even stiffer sanctions.

But, according to media reports, senior Israeli officials do not believe sanctions will ultimately persuade Iran to abandon its supposed nuclear ambitions.

Others, like military history professor Martin van Creveld, say a military attack would only delay Iran's nuclear program by a few years. He says the international community should accept that Iran will one day acquire a nuclear weapons capability.

"There is the possibility that the Iranians will say, look, this nuclear business is causing us so much trouble let's get the bomb as soon as we can; tell the whole world; and then no one will be able to touch us," he said.

Regional stability

But allowing Iran to develop a nuclear capability would be a disaster, according to other analysts, such as Ephraim Kam of Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies.

“It will make the Middle East less stable. It might induce other countries in the Middle East to join the nuclear race, countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Turkey, or Syria, in the long run perhaps even Iraq," said Kam. "The Middle East is going to be a much less safe place for many countries.”

Even if Israel launches a military strike against Iran, critics say it does not have the capability to successfully destroy Iran’s nuclear installations.They note that attack planes would need to refuel to reach Iran, 1,000 kilometers away. And they would need some kind of agreement to fly over Iran's neighbors.

US urges restraint

While U.S. President Barak Obama says Washington will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran and that all options are on the table, U.S. officials have urged restraint to allow the sanctions to work.

Public opinion surveys show the Israeli public is divided over attacking Iran. In a recent poll, 43 percent of respondents said they support an attack, while 41 percent said they oppose it.

However, nearly two-thirds of the respondents (62 percent) said they believe Iran will eventually develop nuclear weapons.

Lasting effects

On a street in Jerusalem, salesman Jonathan Fisher believes war is inevitable.

"Of war, I'm sure about it," said Fisher. "A war in Israel is just a matter of time. It will surely happen. When? I do not know."

Recent immigrant Pascal Roy says he feels safe in Israel.

"I wish there was a compromise before reaching," said Roy. "I'm totally opposed to a military attack before talking."

Student Oriyana Spitzer, 14, is worried about the future. She wants a peace that will allow people to live together with no more wars.

Yaniv Shemesh was 14 years old when a Scud missile hit his apartment's neighborhood in Ramat Gan 21 years ago, wounding dozens of people. He still suffers from the trauma (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and cannot work.

He says he has nightmares, nervousness and tension. He avoids leaving his tiny apartment and anything that reminds him of the attack. He says he is obsessive and suspicious.

Like many Israelis, he hopes the confrontation between Israel and Iran will not go beyond saber rattling.

Deal Reached in Massive US Foreclosure Case

VOA News — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 16:45:17 GMT

U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday that a $25 billion deal with banks is a "major step" toward reviving the troubled housing market, and turns the page on an era of "recklessness."

Banks have agreed to cut the amount of money some homeowners owe, allow others to refinance their loans at lower interest rates, and compensate still other people who suffered wrongful foreclosures.

It took top federal and state legal officials 16 months of haggling with the five biggest banks to get the agreement. It resolves widespread civil complaints about the way lenders handled thousands of foreclosures growing out of the financial crisis.

The scandal erupted when it was learned that many companies that process foreclosures failed to verify documents, had employees sign many documents they had not read, or used fake signatures to speed foreclosures.

A foreclosed home tends to reduce the appeal and the price of neighboring homes, which is one of the reasons that this key part of the U.S. economy has been so slow to recover from the financial crisis.

The banks involved are: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

China Shows New Assertiveness as VP Prepares For US Visit

Stephanie Ho — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:55:46 GMT

China is continuing to stress the need for Sino-American cooperation, as Vice President Xi Jinping heads to the United States next week. However, an official says Beijing will increasingly act in its own national interest, even if such moves anger other countries.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told reporters that despite current Sino-American disagreements about issues like Syria, Tibet and trade, he thinks overall relations will continue to improve.

Cui is optimistic about the relationship he says, as long as both countries continue to follow the direction mapped out by both presidents last year, for cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

He was asked about possible friction during Xi's visit to the White House because China vetoed a U.S.-backed United Nations resolution against Syria.

Cui says China has cast the fewest vetoes of any of the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members and seriously considers each decision.

Despite the different positions on U.N. action against Syria, Cui says this does not rule out future cooperation between China and other countries, including the United States.

Meanwhile, the Chinese official says deals will accompany Xi's visit. However, he indicated that hugely expanding trade is not the main purpose of this trip.

Cui says observers should not see this trip as a procurement trip or as a trip where, "the visitor is extending gifts to the host".

He urged Washington to end export controls on American high-tech exports to China and adds that Beijing is committed to reforming its currency exchange regime, but will continue to do so at its own pace.

Xiong Zhiyong, diplomacy professor at Beijing's Foreign Affairs College, says in China, foreign policy has always taken a back seat to domestic concerns.

Xiong says foreign affairs are dependent on domestic policy, so it is most important that Chinese leaders take care of domestic issues.

At the same time, the professor says China views ties with the United States as very important and knows it needs to get the Sino-American relationship right if it hopes to effectively handle domestic and economic issues.

Next week, Vice President Xi travels to Washington, Iowa and California. To add to the significance Washington places on the trip, Xi is the man expected to be named China's next top leader.

US Drone Kills Top Militant in NW Pakistan

VOA News — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:41:27 GMT

Pakistani intelligence sources say a U.S. drone strike in northwest Pakistan has killed a senior militant with links to al-Qaida.

Badar Mansoor was killed in the attack early Thursday at a house in Miran Shah, the main town in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal agency. His death was confirmed by members of the Pakistani Taliban.

Officials say Mansoor led a group of Taliban fighters in the region and had close ties to al-Qaida. He was allegedly involved in a number of attacks throughout Pakistan.

Four other militants were also killed in the missile strike.

It was the second such attack in northwest Pakistan in as many days.

Pakistan's northwest border region is home to both Pakistani and Afghan Taliban fighters.

A look at recent drone strikes against Islamic militants in Pakistan

February 8, 2012: Ten suspected militants killed in North Waziristan tribal region.

January 23, 2012: Four suspected militants killed in North Waziristan tribal region.

January 12, 2012: Four suspected militants killed in North Waziristan tribal region.

January 10, 2012: Four suspected militants killed in near Miran Shah.

November 17, 2011: Eight suspected militants killed in North Waziristan tribal region.

November 16, 2011: Sixteen suspected militants killed in South Waziristan.

November 15, 2011: Seven suspected militants killed in South Waziristan.

Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama publicly acknowledged for the first time that the United States uses drone strikes against militants in Pakistan.

Mr. Obama defended the operations, which have greatly increased during his administration, saying they are used for "very precise, precision strikes" in the fight against al-Qaida.

Pakistan rejects the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.

The Washington-based New America Foundation says drone strikes in Pakistan have killed between 1,700 and 2,700 people in the past eight years.

Drone strikes have picked up in northwest Pakistan after an apparent six-week slowdown following the November 26 NATO attack that mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani troops along the Afghan border. That attack plunged U.S.-Pakistan relations to a new low.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Zuma Engages S. African Public with New Media

Delia Robertson — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 17:34:01 GMT

South African President Jacob Zuma is set to deliver his annual state of the nation speech in which he is expected to outline his government’s job creation initiatives and infrastructure development at the cost of more than $100 billion over the next three years. What is different about this year, however, is Zuma asked South Africans to tell him this week what they hope and expect from his government using social media platforms Facebook and Twitter.

Zuma and his government need to create an environment in which job creation can flourish. Last year he promised his African National Congress government would deliver five million new jobs by 2020.

But in the past year job losses in the private sector have continued, and most new jobs have been temporary opportunities in public works programs.

The South African economy’s recovery from the global recession has been very slow with growth still below three percent. December’s unemployment figure of 24 percent is likely to increase this quarter as a consequence of new school and university graduates coming into the job market.

Even before the start of the 2008 recession - during two decades of uninterrupted growth - the economy did not create enough jobs to significantly reduce unemployment nor did it keep pace with new job seekers which have increased exponentially since the end of apartheid.

Many South Africans are frustrated and angry at the apparent inability of the government to create an environment for job growth. In addition they feel that corruption has become endemic at all levels of government, and many believe that Zuma’s government is characterized by profligate spending and self-enrichment.

It seems unsurprising therefore that hundreds responded to Zuma’s call to share their feelings on Twitter and Facebook. Here is a sampling of what South Africans want their president to know.

Innocentia Mkhize of KwaZulu-Natal wrote" “Mr. President, please address the issue of job creations for people with disabilities, I'm a qualified Chemical Engineer but sitting at home for years not employed. It seems as if both public and private sector are still discriminating against us.”

Nkosingiphile Cofu of Durban wants Mr. Zuma do something about what he described as the appalling and dysfunctional state of education, particularly in traditionally black schools, which produce high school graduates who cannot read and write. Cofu said to Mr. Zuma. “If we cannot arrest this divide where one [is] very poor and other is opulent we are running a risk of a class revolution. We can avoid that by bridging that divide. Our education is in a mess you can save our future by acting now Msholozi [Zuma’s clan name - use demonstrates respect]."

Ntlatlapa Bokang is particularly angry with Mr. Zuma telling him: “What do you pride yourself with? corruption, nepotism, undermining the courts and off course protection of information bill. I always honestly ask myself what do you say to God when you pray! how do you sleep at night when you know too well that your government is failin south africans.”

Thato Nteso pleaded for Mr. Zuma to turn words into actions saying: “We hear of the ways for job creation and skills development in the speech but we see little being done about the matters in regards to youth especially new graduates out of institutions with no experience and still struggling to get employment no matter how many qualifications they have its heartbreaking, having to spend time and money only to come back sit at home with multiple degrees. If something more could be done to tackle that.”

But some people were complimentary and encouraging.

Zolani Ndlela of East London wrote: “We are proud of you as the nation, our father. We wish you a good luck on your speech, qina sizwe [isiXhosa: strength to the people].”

And enthusiastic supporter Sheila Raphunga wrote: “This is one of the million reasons that makes me to be a proudly South African. am an ANC member for life no matter what! Well done Mr. President.”

Photographs on Zuma’s Facebook page show that he keeps up-to-date with his Twitter and Facebook accounts using an iPad.

Kremlin attacks on US Embassy: Electioneering or End of Reset?

James Brooke — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 19:43:30 GMT

For three years, Michael McFaul worked in the White House to promote a “reset’ in relations between the United States and Russia. But within days of arriving in Moscow as Ambassador, he has become the target of some of the harshest anti-American rhetoric since the end of the Cold War.

A group called “Network of Putin Supporters” held a flash mob protest Thursday in front of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. It was so fast, and now so routine, that it was over before reporters arrived.

In the past month, the embassy has flared up as an issue in Russia’s presidential election campaign.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has charged anti-government protesters are in the pay of the U.S. government. Ruling party legislators have said any legislator who enters the U.S. Embassy is a traitor.

On his second day on the job, U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul was denounced on national television as a man with a secret mission to promote a so-called Arab Spring in Russia.

Inside and outside the embassy, debate rages about whether this is just pre-election politics or the end of the so-called "reset" in bilateral relations.

Carnegie Center analyst in Moscow, Nikolai Petrov, says Mr. Putin is going negative to boost his ratings before the March 4 election.

"The Kremlin now is so much focused on elections, and playing the anti-American card is one of the opportunities that they are trying to exploit,” said Petrov.

Petrov says that with the vote three weeks away, Mr. Putin needs a credible enemy fast.

"The United States being the single superpower is a good candidate to play this role,” said Petrov.

The danger is that the attacks on Ambassador McFaul go straight back to the White House. If the attacks continue after the March 4 election, analysts say President Obama could devote less time to Russian issues, believing the reset if over and his investment of time will yield little payback.

Mr. Putin is expected to win a third term as president in the March elections, either in the first round on March 4 or in a second round, on March 25.

One week after the inauguration on May 7, Russia’s next president is to take his first foreign trip, to Chicago for a combined NATO-Group of 8 meeting. Earlier this week, Mr. Putin told a group of Russian editors that NATO was a Cold War relic that should be dissolved.

Although Barack Obama has been president for three years, he barely knows Mr. Putin. For protocol reasons, almost all the American president’s meetings have been with President Dmitry Medvedev.

During the past three years the two presidents followed the reset policy, working on areas of common ground.

Russia dropped sales of anti-aircraft missiles to Iran and allowed the transshipment of NATO military hardware to Afghanistan. Washington helped Russia win admission to the World Trade Organization.

Mark Feygin and other analysts say the reset is not dead.

He predicts that shortly after the election, Kremlin officials will lower their anti-American rhetoric and try to minimize the damage to U.S.-Russian relations.

And even though Ambassador McFaul is being attacked daily in Russia’s state press, analysts like Petrov believe he has a future in Moscow.

"I do think that Michael McFaul can be very effective,” said Petrov.

Under this scenario, the Cold War rhetoric will melt away, along with February’s snow and ice.

Peace Eludes South Sudan's Jonglei State

Gabe Joselow — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 17:03:54 GMT

Inter-tribal fighting in South Sudan's Jonglei state is testing the government's ability to maintain security, while church-led peace efforts have stalled, raising the possibility of more violence.

Long before the birth of South Sudan, the tribes of Jonglei state have waged battles. For hundreds of years, the men of the Lou Nuer and Murle tribes have launched raids to steal each other's cattle, perpetuating a battle of retaliation and revenge.

But in recent times, the pitch of the fighting has grown more extreme.

Amanda Hsiao, field researcher for the Enough Project, based in South Sudan, said the violence has taken on a new dimension.

“The latest attacks in December saw 6,000 to numbers as high as 12,000 youth organized, highly sophisticated, well-armed, moving down to the Murle areas," Hsiao said. "This is something new and this is a very serious threat to the government's authority.”

The introduction of heavy weapons, which made their way into the hands of Jonglei militias during Sudan's civil war, has raised the casualty and death toll from recent cattle raids into the thousands.

Past efforts at disarmament have only complicated matters, said Hsiao.

“These communities are holding on to their guns because that is their means of defense. So in order for them to be convinced of letting go of their only form of defense and in order for them not to be vulnerable after a disarmament campaign the government has to be able to provide security afterward.”

The other crucial element to securing the peace in Jonglei is bringing the warring factions together for negotiations.

That job has fallen on the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) which, with the government's support, began mediation efforts following an attack by the Murle against the Lou Nuer in August of last year. The SCC had been training members of each tribe in the art of negotiation so that they would be prepared for a join conference. However, the two sides could not agree on a venue. The talks finally fell apart with the Lou Nuer attack in December.

Bu the council is working on a new plan, said Reverend Mark Akec, the acting general secretary of the SCC.

“We will continue to carry out reconciliation among the communities because that is the role of the church," said Akec. "Although they fight themselves, we are still telling them please live as brothers, be peacemakers.”

Akec added the new strategy involves short and long-term solutions, including establishing pastors and other watchmen in Jonglei to gather information and to serve as an early warning system for future attacks. And he said there are plans to provide more work opportunities for the youth, to incorporate women in the community in the peace process and to empower local church leaders.

But asked when the council expects the actual peace talks between the different tribes to resume, Akec said they are waiting for the funding.

“Now we are still working on our plans, to raise funding and all those things to enable us to do the work. Because if we are not getting any funding from the international community and our partners, NGO's, we can not do anything. So we are working now on a plan then we will send it out to the partners, so we are waiting for their response and as soon as we get their response we will start the work," said Akec.

While the council is optimistic that peace talks will work, renewed violence may be on its way.

Last week, the Lou Nuer militia, which calls itself the White Army, announced plans to surround Murle communities, ostensibly to prevent them from launching any attacks of their own.

Humanitarian agencies have been rushing food and aid to Jonglei in the past few weeks to assist some 120,000 people affected by the violence.

Rights Group Criticizes Russia, China for Supplying Sudan with Weapons

VOA News — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:02:22 GMT

Amnesty International says that weapons from Russia and China are being used by the Sudanese government to commit serious human rights violations against civilians.

The international rights group said in a report that Moscow and Beijing continue to supply weapons and munitions to Khartoum, despite "compelling evidence" they are being used against civilians in Darfur.

The organization said Russia and China have provided Sudan with significant quantities of ammunition, helicopter gunships, attack aircraft, air-to-ground rockets and armored vehicles.

Amnesty is calling for the United Nations to suspend all international arms transfers to Sudan and extend an arms embargo to the entire country. Currently, governments must receive guarantees that the imported arms will not be used to commit atrocities.

The Sudanese government has been fighting rebels in the western Darfur region since they began an anti-government campaign in 2003. The United Nations says more than 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict. It estimated last month that 1.9 million people remain displaced.

The International Criminal Court has indicted President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and genocide in Darfur. The court accuses him of masterminding a campaign of murder, rape, and other atrocities against civilians in the region.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

Maldives Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Leader

VOA News — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:05:07 GMT

A criminal court in the Maldives has issued an arrest warrant for the country's first democratically elected president, who says he was ousted in a coup earlier this week.

An official from former President Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic party says the court has ordered the arrest of Nasheed and his former defense minister, but that the charges against them remain unclear.

The former president told reporters at his home in the capital Male Thursday that he hopes the international community will respond quickly because he expects to be jailed soon.

Nasheed's wife and daughter have fled to Sri Lanka. But the former leader says he will fight the proceedings and not leave the Maldives because, as he put it, "the whole country will go to the dogs."

Nasheed resigned Tuesday after numerous calls by protesters and police officers for him to step down. His former deputy, Waheed Hassan, was sworn in as president hours later. He has denied claims of a plot to oust Nasheed.

The resignation came after Nasheed ordered the arrest of a senior judge, sparking three weeks of protests.

Key Facts About Maldives

Maldives is a chain of almost 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean.
Less than 200 of the islands are inhabited.
80 percent of the land area is one meter or less above sea level.
Tourism is Maldives' largest industry.
Population in 2010 was 310,000 people.
Maldives gained independence in 1965

On Wednesday, clashes between police and supporters of Nasheed spread throughout the capital to several outlying islands. The national police commissioner, Abdullah Riyaz, said 18 police stations across several islands were destroyed, and damage had been done to other government buildings.

Newly appointed Home Minister Mohammed Jamil Ahmed told reporters the violence marked the worst day in the Maldives' modern history.

In an opinion piece published in The New York Times Thursday, Nasheed said his administration inherited from the nation's earlier dictatorship "a looted treasury, a ballooning budget deficit, and a rotten judiciary."

Nasheed said the judiciary was hand-picked by then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the archipelago for three decades. He said the judges provided protection for Gayoom and his allies, many of whom are accused of corruption, embezzlement and human rights crimes.

In the opinion piece, Nasheed said "dictatorships don't always die when the dictator leaves office." He said warned the people of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya - where autocrats were toppled last year - that "powerful networks of regime loyalists can remain behind and attempt to strangle their nascent democracies."

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

40 Dead After Boat Sinks Near Dominican Republic Coast

VOA News — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:57:41 GMT

At least 40 people are dead after a boat crowded with migrants sank in the waters off the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, last week.

According to authorities, search crews recovered at least 20 more bodies Wednesday near the coast of Sabana de la Mar. The overloaded vessel sank last Saturday during a voyage to Puerto Rico.

At least a dozen passengers were rescued from the disaster, which officials say is the Caribbean nation's worst maritime accident in memory.

Dominican migrants routinely crowd rickety boats and illegally sail to Puerto Rico to escape economic hardship.

Video footage from the scene

Former Khmer Rouge Prisoners Sell Story of Their Lives

Say Mony — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 16:36:31 GMT

The United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia has ordered the Khmer Rouge’s main jailer to spend the rest of his life in prison for crimes it says were “among the worst in recorded history.”

The tribunal said Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch oversaw a “factory of death” in the 1970’s at the feared Tuol Sleng Prison, where an estimated 14,000 people died.

The prison itself, called “S-21” by the Khmer Rouge, is now a museum.

One of two former inmates, Bou Meng sits outside the Tuol Sleng Museum selling copies of his biography, "A Survivor From Khmer Rouge Prison S-21". He makes $70 to $80 per day. On a lucky day, he can earn up to $200 to $300.

“If I sell [the book] at $10 a copy, they give me $20. They say I can keep the change. They wave their hand like this and say ‘You can keep the change.’ I thank them by holding their hands and kiss them, to mean that it is these hands that work to buy my books and give me a livelihood,” Bou Meng said.

Bou Meng endured severe torture at Tuol Sleng so it is hard for him to return there every day.

“Whenever I enter this place, I get really tense, but I have to earn some money, to feed my family, because I’m inadequately supported by the state," he explained. "So I have to come here to sell my books.”

Huy Vannak wrote the book.

“I wrote Mr. Bou Meng’s story in hopes of making his life meaningful, and to help him in various ways, both financially and mentally,” he explained. He is now a public affairs officer for the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

Canadian tourist Claude Brale bought a copy after touring the museum and talking to Bou Meng.

“I saw a lot of depth in his face and his eyes," he said. "And from there I wanted to read more about his story.”

In another corner of the museum grounds, survivor Chum Mey sells books about the Khmer Rouge and magazines about his survival. He and Bou Meng are both critical of the U.N.-backed tribunal.

“As you know, ever since it started, the court has never provided anything to the victims. There were only three [Tuol Sleng] survivors, and now that Mr. Van Nath has died, there are just two left," noted Chum Mey. "Still there has been no results whatsoever for victims.”

“Why I’m not at the court? Why does the court not pity the two remaining survivors who are sitting selling books to feed our stomachs? Why does it pity only the accused so much? What court is it! I’m so disappointed,” Bou Meng said.

“The court doesn’t distinguish which victims are more important, whether prisoners of Tuol Sleng or other prisons. [Victims] can participate in the trial process directly or indirectly. The court always welcomes direct participation but we don’t think there should be special treatment for any party,” Huy Vannak added.

Visitors to Tuol Sleng say that by buying books from the prison’s survivors, they hope they can help in some way.

“I hope he gets some satisfaction from being able to tell his story," tourist Adam Marris said. "And perhaps make the world a better place.”

Britain's Prince Harry Finishes Top in Class

VOA News — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:54:23 GMT

Britain's Prince Harry has qualified to fly Apache attack helicopters in combat, finishing training as the best co-pilot gunner in his group.

British Defense Ministry officials said Wednesday, Prince Harry, who is known in the military as Captain Wales, was recognized as the top co-pilot gunner by members of his training group.

Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, trained for 18 months in Britain and in desert and mountain conditions in the United States.

The defense ministry says Prince Harry will now participate in exercises in Britain to gain more experience flying Apaches.

Prince Harry served a brief tour in Afghanistan in 2007 and has expressed aspirations to return. Defense officials have not confirmed any future deployment plans.

The prince's military career is in line with his older brother, Prince William, who serves as a search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

Somali Minister Decries Latest Al-Shabab Attack

James Butty — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:57:17 GMT

A Somali deputy national security minister has expressed disappointment over Wednesday’s suicide car bombing outside a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu.

At least 15 people were killed in the attack and dozens more wounded, including Somali parliament members. The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility.

Abdihakim Egeh, Somalia’s deputy Interior National Security minister said the bombings will not prevent the security progress that he said is currently taking place in Mogadishu.

“First of all, on behalf of the government, I’d like to send our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in that cowardly act from yesterday in Mogadishu, and I’d also like to wish [a] speedy recovery to those who were injured in the act as well,” he said.

Lack of good governance has made Somalia almost ungovernable for decades. But Egeh said Somalis, especially those in capital Mogadishu, have started to rebuild their lives, thanks to relative security.

“After our government liberated Mogadishu, people are coming back to their houses; they are coming back to rebuild their destroyed businesses and houses, and, it’s really depressing to see something like this [Wednesday’s bombing],” Egeh said.

Egeh credits Somali security forces and African Union peacekeepers for their role in bring relative stability to Mogadishu.

“I can assure you that the streets of Mogadishu are becoming safer and safer every day, and I’d like to take this moment to thank our security forces for making this possible,” Egeh said.

Egeh said the Transitional Federal Government has reached out to al-Shabab, but the Islamist group has not responded in kind.

“Our doors are open to anyone who is willing to talk to us about bringing Somalia back to what it used to be,” Egeh said.

Turkey Wants International Conference on Syria

Dorian Jones — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 20:49:24 GMT

Turkey is calling for renewed international efforts to end bloodshed in neighboring Syria, where a government assault on the city of Homs, a center of dissent, is intensifying.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday called for an urgent meeting of regional and world players to end the ongoing violence.

Explaining that Turkey is determined to establish a broad-based forum to promote international understanding with all countries concerned, the foreign minister said his country is ready to host such a meeting and that it should be as broadly encompassing as possible. He said the conference could take place in Istanbul or another regional center.

As a Syrian neighbor and NATO member that has worked closely with Washington on the Syrian crisis, Ankara, observers say, is well-placed to organize such a gathering.

The Turkish government has close ties with many North African and Middle Eastern countries, and Davutoglu, who said he already laid the groundwork for a broad meeting, speaking in recent days with his Italian, Qatari and Iranian counterparts, is flying to Washington Wednesday to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other officials.

His announcement follows Saturday's veto by Russia and China of a U.N. Security Council motion against the Syrian crackdown, which Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday condemned as a fiasco.

The diplomatic move is seen by some as an attempt to circumvent the U.N. impasse and build an international alliance similar to the Libya Contact Group, which helped Libyan opposition oust Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

Ankara has been backing Syrian opposition, harboring many of its leaders and providing sanctuary along the Turkey-Syria border to members of the Free Syrian Army, a militia of military defectors fighting Syrian security forces.

Turkish diplomats say they are aware that, with Syria's crackdown on the opposition intensifying, time is against them.

"We will not let tyranny continue in Syria and we [won't] let the region enter a phase of instability," said Davutoglu, who made it clear that Turkey will not stand back from Syria's deepening crisis.

UN Chief: Arab League Mission to Return to Syria

Margaret Besheer — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 01:10:46 GMT

The U.N. Secretary-General said Wednesday that the Arab League has asked for U.N. help in sending its observer mission back to Syria, where the bloody anti-government crackdown has intensified in recent days. Ban Ki-moon said he and the Arab League chief are also considering creating a joint special envoy to Syria.

Ban Ki-moon used some of his strongest language yet on Syria, saying he deeply regretted the Security Council’s failure to adopt a resolution on Syria last week and that it has had disastrous consequences for the people of Syria.

“It has encouraged the Syrian government to step up its war on its own people. Thousands have been killed in cold blood, shredding President [Bashar Al-]Assad’s claims to speak for the Syrian people. I fear that the appalling brutality we are witnessing in Homs, with heavy weapons firing into civilian neighborhoods, is a grim harbinger of worse to come," he said.

The U.N. chief, who just returned from a Middle East trip, rhetorically asked reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council on his travels, how many deaths would it take to end the “dangerous slide toward civil war and sectarian strife” in Syria? He said he is convinced that the deteriorating situation in Syria will negatively affect the entire Middle East.

Mr. Ban said he spoke with Arab League chief Nabil ElAraby on Tuesday about how to stop the violence and begin political negotiations. “He informed me that he intends to send the Arab League observer mission back to Syria and asked for U.N. help. He further suggested that we consider a joint observer mission in Syria, including a joint special envoy,” he said.

The Arab League suspended its observer mission in late January, after violence intensified. Some countries, particularly those from the Arab Persian Gulf, withdrew their monitors.

Mr. Ban said he would consult further with the 15-nation Security Council before fleshing out details on such a move, but he said the United Nations stands ready to help in any way it can.

The U.N. chief warned that as the violence escalates, the Syrian leader continues to lose legitimacy and should be held responsible for the more than 5,000 deaths that have occurred since the protests began last March.

On Saturday, Russia and China vetoed an Arab and Western-sponsored Security Council resolution calling for full support of an Arab League plan that demands President Assad transfer authority to a deputy as a prelude to multi-party elections.

White House Underscores Displeasure with China, Russia Votes on Syria

Dan Robinson — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:32:51 GMT

The White House is underscoring U.S. displeasure with China and Russia for blocking a United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria, saying it is important to continue increasing pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

As the United States works with international partners to step up pressure on President Assad, including a new plan for a "Friends of Syria" group, the White House continues to voice displeasure with China and Russia.

Watch a related video by Scott Stearns

After the veto of the Security Council resolution on Saturday, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said the United States was "disgusted" by the votes, which she said prevented members from addressing the "ever-deepening crisis in Syria and a growing threat to regional peace and security."

At Tuesday's White House news briefing, press secretary Jay Carney was asked if Mr. Obama would use the same word. The sentiments Rice expressed, he said, reflect "great disappointment" with China and Russia.

"The sentiments the ambassador was expressing reflect our great disappointment with that position taken. We will continue obviously to have these discussions with all of our partners internationally, at the U.N. Security Council and elsewhere, and we will continue to work with others, other "Friends of Syria" to put the pressure that is required on the Assad regime," he said.

Against the background of continuing violence in Syria, Carney was also asked about remarks on Capitol Hill by Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman.

Speaking with reporters, Lieberman said he believes the international community needs to take "bold" action, including providing weapons to the Free Syrian Army.

"One of the things I hope the international contact group will do is to begin to give aid to the Syrian Free Army, the opposition to Assad's army. It can begin with medical assistance, with intelligence, with training. And ultimately, I would not hesitate to give them lethal weapons, because Assad's army is using lethal weapons to kill the Syrian people, so the defenders of the Syrian people need weapons, as well," he said.

Press secretary Carney said the U.S. is not considering arming the opposition "right now" and went on to discuss what is being talked about with the "Friends of Syria" group. "We are exploring the possibility of providing humanitarian aid to Syrians and we are working with our partners, again to ratchet up the pressure, ratchet up the isolation on Assad and his regime," he said.

President Obama's spokesman declined to go into detail about options under discussion beyond humanitarian aid.

On the visit to Damascus by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Carney said Russia must realize that "betting everything on Assad is a recipe for failure."

Biden, Xi Discuss Upcoming US Visit

Dan Robinson — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 22:23:02 GMT

The U.S. and Chinese vice presidents have conferred by telephone ahead of next week's visit to the White House by China's vice president Xi Jinping, who is expected to assume his country's presidency in 2013.

The conversation came as the White House prepares to welcome Vice President Xi. He and President Barack Obama are expected to discuss a range of bilateral topics, including differences over trade, security issues in Asia, and other issues, including Iran and Syria.

Last year, the Chinese vice president hosted Vice President Joe Biden during his visit to China. Since then, Biden is reported to have taken over at least part of the China "portfolio" in the White House.

A White House statement described the conversation as a follow-up to discussions they had in China last August, and a preview of the agenda for Xi's visit to the United States next week.

It said they spoke about a broad range of economic and trade issues, and regional and global developments, and that Biden emphasized "the importance of building a relationship that addresses practical issues important to both countries."

It is unclear whether the conversation touched on all of the key differences over tougher U.S. and Western sanctions against Iran, and China's recent veto with Russia of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria.

China opposes increasing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. And the United States has expressed "disgust" with Chinese and Russian votes against a Security Council resolution that called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

In addition to his White House talks next week, Xi will meet with top U.S. officials and also is expected to meet with U.S. congressional leaders.

David Lampton, who heads the China Studies Program at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, says Xi's visit is intended to go beyond discussions of security and trade.

"Probably the two principal missions that Xi Jinping would have in his meetings with the [U.S.] president is economic cooperation, and [to] find out the strategic intentions of the United States," said Lampton. "Beyond that, I think Xi Jinping then wants to make friends with Americans, meaning not only Congress and the government here, but he is going to Iowa and California. And he will, I think, have the objective of putting a human face on China."

In recent remarks in Florida mentioning Xi's upcoming visit, Biden spoke in general terms about conversations he had with Chinese leaders last year, and about the American and Chinese economies.

Biden suggested it would be difficult for China to sustain its current rate of economic growth, although he said he hopes China continues to grow. He also repeated his criticism of China's one-child policy. Biden said it remains "a simple reality" that the United States is "better positioned than any other country in the world to lead the 21st century."

Sudan Oil Dispute Raises War Rhetoric

Gabe Joselow — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 17:18:57 GMT

A deepening oil dispute between South Sudan and Sudan has raised hostility to a point where leaders of both countries have suggested there is the strong possibility of a conflict.

Last week, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, speaking on national television, said his country is closer to war than to peace with South Sudan without progress on an oil deal.

His comments followed similar remarks from South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, who has warned that fighting could erupt if Sudan does not meet the south's terms.

Dispute over pipeline transit fees

The dispute stems from South Sudan's use of Sudan's pipelines to transport its oil abroad. The south began shutting down its oil fields last month after accusing the north of stealing $815 million worth of southern-produced oil. Khartoum said it confiscated the oil to compensate for unpaid transit fees.

Asked about the possibility that the dispute could lead to war, South Sudanese Deputy Defense Minister Majak D'Agoot told VOA that Sudan already launched the first attack.

“Isn't it an aggression? How could an independent state be obligated to share its resources with another country? Where does it happen? Is it that some external force or some former colonial master is trying to continue to exercise hegemony and control over the people of South Sudan and their resources? What could be the basis for that?” asked D'Agoot.

The north and south fought a 21-year war when Sudan was a unified nation, and the sides skirmished as recently as last May in the disputed, oil-rich Abyei region.

Old scores remain unsettled

Before the current oil shutdown, South Sudan was producing about 350,000 barrels of oil per day. But without refining capacity or a port to ship it from, the landlocked country relies on pipelines that extend through the north to reach international markets.

Khartoum is seeking revenue to replace the estimated $7 billion it lost with South Sudan's separation, in which the South took three-quarters of Sudan's oil production.

In addition to the oil dispute, the two nations also have failed to reach a final agreement on the final demarcation of the border.

D'Agoot said the Defense Ministry is working on turning the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army [SPLA], a former rebel force, into a more formal, standing army to face future threats.

“Anything that stands in the way of securing the security of our natural resources, securing ourselves, securing our people, securing our land, it stands to be a source of threat," said D'Agoot. "I don't want to pinpoint it to any particular source, but anything that tends to threaten our core interests as a nation of course will have to be responded to.”

While D'Agoot did not want to pinpoint which nation poses the biggest threat to South Sudan's sovereignty - outside his office, in the middle of the military base - a statue of the former SPLA General John Garang points firmly toward the north.

Maldives Protests Spread After Leader Ousted

VOA News — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 14:41:13 GMT

Clashes between police and supporters of the Maldives' former president, Mohamed Nasheed, have spread beyond the capital of Male to several outlying islands, a day after an alleged coup forced his resignation.

Residents of the islands told media outlets that protesters seized several police stations on smaller islands late Wednesday following unconfirmed reports that police had beaten up the former president during an earlier protest in the capital.

At the time, he was leading supporters in a demonstration that erupted into violence when police responded with tear gas and baton charges.

Coup allegations

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president, says he was forced from office in a coup and that the new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, his former second-in-command, should immediately step down.

In an interview with the French news agency, Nasheed said he feared that his successor was involved in the coup attempt and had seized the chance to take over. He is urging the country's judiciary to investigate those responsible for his ouster.

President Hassan has denied the allegations, saying he was unprepared to take control of the country. He also announced he plans to appoint a unity cabinet in the next few days.

Unity cabinet

Hassan was sworn in Tuesday after Nasheed resigned following weeks of anti-government protests that were joined by police. The former president told the country in a televised speech on Tuesday that he was stepping down because he had no desire to use force to maintain his rule.

Nasheed's resignation announcement came after mutinous police took over the state television headquarters in the capital, Male, and broadcast calls for him to step down. Earlier, a group of police had joined an opposition protest and attacked a nearby demonstration led by members of the ruling party, prompting soldiers to use tear gas.

Police protests

The government had faced three weeks of mounting protests after Mr. Nasheed ordered the arrest of a senior judge on charges of misconduct and favoring opposition figures.

Waheed, the Supreme Court and the United Nations Human Rights Commission all called for the judge to be released.

Nasheed became president in 2008, replacing Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who held office for 30 years under a one-party system.

Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is a Muslim-majority nation made up of about 1,200 islands scattered in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka. It is famous for its beach resorts and hotels that cater to newly married couples and high-end travellers. There was no immediate indication that the political unrest has affected the country's tourism industry.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility for Mogadishu Suicide Bombing

VOA News — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 20:22:39 GMT

Somali militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb explosion Wednesday outside a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu.

At least 15 people were killed in the attack and dozens more wounded, including Somali parliament members.

The Hotel Muna, which is next to the Somali presidential palace, is known as a residence and gathering point for Somali lawmakers.

Lawmaker Liban Abdullahi Diriye told says a small car full of explosives was detonated at a cafe next to the hotel.

An al-Shabab suicide bomber attacked the same hotel in August of 2010. At least 32 people died in that attack, including six lawmakers.

Somali government forces and African Union troops recently drove al-Shabab out of its last Mogadishu strongholds, but the group has continued to bomb and attack targets in the city.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Anti-Nuclear Campaign in Japan Moves Forward, Acknowledges Struggles

Steve Herman — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:45:00 GMT

A citizen's group in Japan says it has collected five million signatures - halfway to its goal - on a petition calling on the government to permanently shut down all nuclear power plants in the country. But amid traditional apathy among Japanese toward political movements and longstanding strong ties between power companies and lawmakers in a resource-poor country, anti-nuclear campaigners are acknowledging an uphill struggle.

The meltdowns of three reactors at a Japanese nuclear power plant 10 months ago have helped energize millions of people here to sign a petition calling for an end to reliance on atomic energy in the country.

Petitioners in Tokyo and Osaka separately say they have collected enough signatures for referenda in Japan's two largest cities. But it is unclear if those campaigns will clear all the legal hurdles to get on the ballot.

The Fukushima disaster also gave rise to some of Japan's largest public protests in decades, which have been peaceful. But one of the most prominent domestic anti-nuclear figures in the country, Nobel laureate for literature Kenzaburo Oe, says citizens' initiatives have not gone far enough.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Oe called for a national referendum on nuclear power. He contends Japanese seismologists have understated the risk of earthquakes at reactor locations and that some nuclear industry scientists in the country have reversed opinion and now express doubts about the safety of Japan's aging reactors.

The Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic failure on March 11, following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake that generated a killer tsunami.

Oe also called for children in Fukushima to undergo detailed screening for internal radiation exposure, comparing their plight to the victims of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War Two.

Sitting alongside Oe, another prominent author, Keiko Ochiai, says she is not terribly optimistic that the majority of her fellow citizens will see things their way.

The author says she feels the crest of the wave of the anti-nuclear sentiment after last year's disaster has already passed.

Proponents of nuclear power say the economic benefits outweigh the relatively small environmental and health risks, noting that - aside from nuclear - Japan is almost entirely dependent on imported fossil fuels for its economy. They contend alternative forms of energy are not yet efficient nor affordable for Japan.

All but three of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors are offline, mainly because of safety inspections or routine maintenance. Media reports say the government hopes to bring two of them back into operation as soon as April, amid concerns a prolonged hiatus could lead to blackouts and factory shutdowns.

Pakistan, NATO Hold Border Talks Following Deadly Attack

VOA News — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:46:52 GMT

Pakistani military and NATO officials are holding talks on border security after last November's cross-border coalition attack that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

Recent Drone Attacks in Pakistan

U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed on January 31, 2012 that the U.S. uses drone strikes against militants in Pakistan. He defended the operations, which have greatly increased during his administration, saying they are used for "very precise, precision strikes" in the fight against al-Qaida.

There have been several recent strikes.

Jan. 23, 2012: Four suspected militants killed in North Waziristan tribal region.
Jan. 12, 2012: Four suspected militants killed in North Waziristan.
Jan. 10, 2012: Four suspected militants killed in near Miran Shah.
Nov. 17, 2011: Eight suspected militants killed in North Waziristan.
Nov. 16, 2011: Sixteen suspected militants killed in South Waziristan.
Nov. 15, 2011: Seven suspected militants killed in South Waziristan.

That attack brought relations between the United States and Pakistan to a new low and prompted Pakistan to block NATO supply routes into Afghanistan.

The Pakistani army said Wednesday's talks were taking place at a border coordination center in the town of Torkham. The operations chief for the Pakistani army, Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, attended the meeting.

Officials in Islamabad have said the supply routes will eventually be re-opened to NATO, but with Pakistan charging higher fees.

Last month, Pakistan's army rejected a U.S. military probe into the November 26 cross-border coalition attack. The army said it did not agree with U.S. findings that American forces acted in self-defense and with appropriate force after being fired on by Pakistani soldiers.

U.S. defense officials blamed inadequate coordination by both American and Pakistani forces.

Ties between the two countries were already strained following last May's U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad and repeated U.S. drone strikes targeting militants in Pakistan's northwest.

Pakistani officials say the latest drone attack, which took place in the North Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday, killed 10 people.

Officials say two missiles hit a compound suspected of belonging to militants. Security officials say the dead included foreigners and locals.

Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama publicly acknowledged for the first time that the United States uses drone strikes against militants in Pakistan.

Obama defended the operations, which have greatly increased during his administration, saying they are used for "very precise, precision strikes" in the fight against al-Qaida.

The Washington-based New America Foundation says drone strikes in Pakistan have killed between 1,700 and 2,700 people in the past eight years.

Pakistan rejects the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Winter Tightens Icy Grip Across Europe

VOA News — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 17:05:33 GMT

A brutal cold front blamed for hundreds of deaths across Europe is threatening to linger even longer.

High winds whipped across Russia's Krasnodar region Wednesday, churning water in the port city of Novorossiysk, tearing apart buildings and causing some roofs to collapse. Heavy snow also blanketed the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, freezing roads and lakes.

Officials say the death toll across Europe has now climbed to more than 400 people, with new fatalities being reported in central and Eastern Europe. The French news agency said Russian officials on Wednesday raised their death toll to more than 100, with 44 new deaths blamed on the cold since the start of the month.

As parts of Europe issue emergency declarations, forecasters warn it could be several weeks before the vicious cold snap departs. Omar Baddour with the World Meteorological Organization said he expects the sub-zero temperatures to start warming next week. Baddour added it could take until the end of the month for Europe to see a significant change.

Hundreds of villages, and tens of thousands of people, have been cut off from supplies as snow continues to pile up. Ice has also been a problem, clogging rivers and shutting down key ports. The French news agency said Bosnian authorities started using helicopters to carry needed supplies to isolated hamlets near Mostar and Kalinovic.

Italy has also been hit with heavy snow and at the Vatican Wednesday, Pope Benedict prayed for victims of the bitter cold.

"In the past weeks a wave of cold weather and ice have battered parts of Europe, bringing with it grave disruptions and heavy damage," he said. "I wish to express my proximity to all the people affected by such adverse weather conditions and invite you to pray for the victims and their families. At the same time I call for solidarity So that the people tested by such tragic events may be helped with generosity.''

One of the hardest hit countries has been Ukraine, where temperatures have fallen below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Officials the blame the cold for at least 135 deaths. Many of the victims were homeless.

Some European officials have warned that even warmer temperatures may bring little relief, instead causing more damage and death as melting snow causes rivers to flood their banks.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Greek Party Leaders Move Closer to Deal on More Spending Cuts

VOA News — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 17:13:17 GMT

Talks between Greek political leaders on whether to accept the EU demand for more spending cuts broke up early Thursday with only one outstanding issue remaining.

The heads of the three political parties that make up the coalition government must agree on the spending cuts before the European Union and International Monetary Fund grants another badly needed rescue package.

Reports say the party chiefs and Prime Minister Lucas Papademos have agreed on all points except for pensions cuts. They plan to meet again later Thursday.

Demands by Greece's international creditors include a 20 percent cut in the minimum wage, a 15 percent cut in some pensions, and eliminating 15,000 civil service jobs. Without approval from Greek party chiefs, the lenders will not hand Greece a new $170 billion bailout, its second in two years.

Greece needs the money to avoid default when $19 billion in bond payments come due in March. Greece is negotiating a bond swap with its lenders, asking them to accept less than what they are owed.

Greek workers have held a series of general strikes and large street protests, saying they cannot make any more sacrifices.

Video of Greek police clashing with striking workers in Athens

Unexpected Santorum Wins Upend US Republican Presidential Race

VOA News — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 00:37:42 GMT

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is riding high Wednesday after nominating contest victories in three states, which have raised questions about the front-runner status of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

The socially conservative Santorum is campaigning Wednesday in Texas after winning Tuesday's caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado, and the primary in Missouri. The wins raise pressure on Romney and emphasize his struggle to gain the support of the conservative Republican base.

''Tonight was a victory for the voices of our party... conservatives and Tea Party people who are out there every single day and night in the vineyards building the conservative movement in this country... building the base of the Republican party... and building a voice for freedom in this land... thank you,'' said Santorum.

VOA's National Correspondent Jim Malone discusses the results:

Tuesday's shake-up in the battle to take on Democratic U.S. President Barack Obama in November also dealt a blow to former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich, who had previously been seen as the top alternative to Romney. Gingrich finished a distant third in Colorado and a distant fourth in Minnesota. He was not on the ballot in Missouri.

Gingrich is now focusing his attention on Ohio, which has begun early voting ahead of its primary on March 6, when about 10 states hold their nominating contests in an event known as "Super Tuesday."

Romney also is campaigning in a Super Tuesday state Wednesday, with events in Georgia. Despite his losses, Romney told a rally in Colorado Tuesday night that he still expects to be the Republican nominee.

"I want to congratulate Senator Santorum, wish him the very best, we will keep on campaigning down the road, but I expect to become our nominee with your help," said Romney.

Meanwhile, Texas Congressman Ron Paul celebrated his second place finish in Minnesota. Paul has no campaign events planned Wednesday.

With most of the Minnesota returns counted, Paul took 27 percent of the vote behind former Pennsylvania senator Santorum, who had 45 percent. Romney finished a distant third with 17 percent.

Santorum also pulled off an upset victory over Romney in the Colorado caucuses, winning more than 40 percent of the vote, compared to Romney's 35 percent.

The outcome was especially disappointing for Romney considering he won both Colorado and Minnesota in the 2008 Republican race.

In the Missouri primary, with all the votes counted, Santorum won 55 percent of the vote, while Romney came in second with 25 percent and Paul finished third with 12 percent.

A total of 70 delegates are up for grabs in Colorado and Minnesota, although they will be awarded later at district and state conventions. Missouri's primary is non-binding, with no delegates at stake.

To be selected to face Obama in the November general election, a Republican needs to have the support of 1,144 delegates at the Republican nominating convention in Florida in August.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Activists Say Syrian Troops Kill 50 in Homs

Edward Yeranian — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 15:55:38 GMT

Syrian rights activists say government forces have killed at least 50 people in an ongoing assault on the central city of Homs, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pledged to consider sending a joint U.N.-Arab League team to Syria to monitor the escalating violence.

British-based activist say troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attacked Homs with gunfire, rockets and shells on Wednesday, heavily damaging more than 20 buildings in rebel-held districts. The activists say the government bombardment of Homs has killed hundreds of people since it began early Saturday. They say at least 13 other people were killed in violence around Syria Wednesday.

Syrian state media say "armed terrorists" detonated a car bomb in Homs, killing and wounding civilians and troops. State media also accused rebels of attacking the city's oil refinery.

_{Undated citizen journalism image provided by Local Coordination Committees in Syria shows man weeping as he sits next to a man who was purportedly killed in shelling by Syrian government forces, Homs, February 8, 2012. (AP Photo)}

In an opposition video, a young man named Danny Abou Diyne, working in a field clinic in the Homs district of Baba Amr, points to the dead body of a two-year old boy. He says the child was killed when a shell slammed into his house, destroying it.

“He's about two years old," he said. "He got hit in this war zone, in his house. Is this what the U.N. is waiting for, until there are no more children left? Until they kill all the children and all the women?

VOA cannot independently confirm the video or opposition figures concerning deaths because Syria restricts independent reporting.

_{Free Syrian Army (FSA) members in Saqba, a Damascus suburb, February 8, 2012. (Reuters photo)}

Homs low on medical supplies

A doctor calling himself Mohammed Mohammed told Al Arabiya TV via webcam that he and his colleagues were working under extreme duress and that medical supplies were running low. He begged the world to pressure Syria to allow ambulances to evacuate the wounded.

Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London told Alhurra TV that the government shelling was creating a human disaster. He added that it is difficult to get an exact casualty figure because many people were buried under the rubble.

Abdel Rahman also said pro-government militias killed 30 members of three families overnight when they stormed their homes on the outskirts of Homs. He called the killings “a massacre.”

Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, says Syrian military actions are taking place in a number of parts of the country and that most of the operations are under the command of President Assad's family members.

He says the military campaign is taking place in the northern district of Idlib, the southern Horan region bordering Jordan, in the outer suburbs of Damascus, as well as in Homs. He says top members of Assad's family, including his brother-in-law Assef Shawqut and his brother Maher, are directing the campaign, resembling the Gadhafi family's involvement in the fighting in Libya.

**Recent Comments on Syria**
	U.S. President Barack Obama said February 4 the citizens of Syria must know the United States is with them, and the Assad regime must come to an end.
	Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin condemned all violence "regardless of its source," but said February 8 outside forces should let Syrians settle their conflict "independently."
	Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Februray 7 the recent failure of the U.N. Security Council to pass a motion pressuring Syria was a fiasco.
	U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said February 6 no government can attack its population "without its legitimacy being eroded."
	U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay has called for urgent international action to protect civilians in Syria, saying she is "appalled" by the government's "willful assault on the city of Homs."
	French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said February 8 Mr. Assad's reform promises are merely manipulation and should not be believed.
	Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday Russia and China had set themselves apart from Arab and world opinion by voting against a U.N. resolution on Syria.

Turkey proposes conference

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Wednesday his government is ready to host an international conference to support the Syrian people. He said the conference should be held promptly in Istanbul or in another regional country. Davutoglu spoke before leaving for Washington to meet U.S. congressional leaders and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for talks likely to focus on Syria.

Washington has been exploring the possibility of providing humanitarian aid to Syrians in cooperation with U.S. allies. Western powers and Arab nations have said repeatedly they do not want to intervene militarily in the Syrian conflict.

A senior EU official said the 27-nation bloc plans to announce a tightening of economic sanctions on the Assad government at a foreign ministers meeting February 27.

The EU official said new measures against Syria are likely to include a block on financial transactions with the Syrian central bank and a ban on purchases of Syrian phosphates - one of the country's main natural resources. EU nations buy about 40 percent of Syria's phosphate exports. The EU stopped importing oil from Syria last year.

Russia opposes unilateral moves

The Kremlin said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy to avoid "hasty unilateral moves" toward Syria. Mr. Medvedev spoke to the French president by telephone Wednesday.

Moscow used its U.N. Security Council veto last week to block a Western and Arab-backed resolution that would have endorsed an Arab League plan calling on Mr. Assad to step aside. The Syrian president is a key Russian military ally.

Mr. Sarkozy's office said he used the phone conversation to call on the Russian president to fully support the Arab League plan and increase pressure on Mr. Assad to stop brutally repressing the Syrian people.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Mr. Assad in Damascus on Tuesday and secured a pledge from the Syrian president to assign his deputy to hold a dialogue with the Syrian opposition. But Syrian opposition groups have rejected dialogue with the Assad government.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday Mr. Assad had an opportunity to talk to the opposition early in the uprising, but Washington believes that opportunity no longer exists.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday he has "very little confidence" in the Russian-Syrian efforts, while French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Mr. Assad's promises are merely manipulation and should not be believed.

U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay called for urgent international action to protect civilians in Syria, saying she is "appalled" by the government's "willful assault on the city of Homs." Pillay also said is it time for the international community to "cut through the politics and take action" to protect the civilian population.

_{VOA Wire Services and reporter Dorian Jones in Istanbul contributed to the report.}

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South Sudan Businesses Fear Oil Shutdown Fallout

Gabe Joselow — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 16:30:15 GMT

When South Sudan decided to shut down its oil production to protest against alleged injustices from the north, the country was also cutting off 98 percent of its revenue. Businessmen in the south are particularly concerned about the economic consequences of the shutdown.

Mustafa Ayoo runs a small hardware store at the Jebel market on the outskirts of the capital. Like many other business owners here, he has been closely following news of the oil shutdown, a two-week process begun late last month which should be nearing completion.

“Well, I'm concerned for sure, because it's like even foreign exchange is going to be a problem," said Ayoo. "Because mostly here the things we sell are coming from another country - mostly from Uganda and Kenya. Here I'm sure it's going to affect my business.”

Ayoo says he typically buys his materials using U.S. dollars. But the dollar and other foreign currencies that had been brought into the country through the oil trade are getting harder to find since the shutdown.

South Sudan's central bank, trying to conserve dollar reserves, has ordered that wire transfers to Kenya and Uganda be conducted using only the South Sudanese pound.

Michael Toma, originally from Uganda, has been selling household goods at the Jebel market for the past year.

“Yeah, I'm so concerned in that I believe it's already has impact as of now. Though we are worried if the impacts are going to be a long term impact definitely we the common man will have to suffer," said Toma. "But however, I overheard the president say 'it's for the better' and in hearing what he said I have reason to believe that he was right in ordering the shutdown of the oil. It's affecting us, right, but we believe its a better decision for the future.”

South Sudan depends on northern pipelines to send its oil to international markets. The south cut off its oil trade with the north after accusing Sudan of stealing $815 million worth of oil. Khartoum says it took the oil to compensate for unpaid transit fees.

An African Union panel led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki put forward a proposal to settle the dispute in which South Sudan would pay the north some $5 billion over the next five years to make up for the lost revenue.

South Sudan rejected the proposal. Toma says he supports that decision.

“I believe in that, because given the provisions that were drafted by the AU and trying to peruse through them I have the feeling that South Sudan as a nation was being cheated," said Toma. "Its sovereignty was being tampered with and it was being reduced [from] an independent country to a dependent country.”

South Sudan also faces enormous development challenges. The United Nations estimates that only a quarter of the population is literate and about the same percentage has access to health care.

Some traders, like Dayo King, think the nation may still be too fragile to sacrifice so much of its economy.

“This is still a country that has just begun, in fact was trying to do development just from the start, so if there's no oil maybe when the oil even stops maybe like one week it affects people terribly," King said.

Others like Simon Gatdier Yieh support South Sudan at all costs. Having witnessed years of war, Yieh says the south, as an independent nation, is in the right to stand up to Khartoum.

“The people of the Arab side like Omar al-Bashir they've not forgotten the war; it's not good," said Yieh. "So we're very happy for our president to shutdown the oil because oil belongs to the south. It does not belong to the north.

The government of South Sudan is preparing to announce austerity measures to reduce spending in order to make up for the economic shortfall.

But with so many people in the country lacking basic services, and many others kept alive through emergency humanitarian interventions, any significant cuts could be painful.

Diver Rescues Killer Whale

VOA News — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 16:23:56 GMT

A scuba diver in New Zealand diver has rescued an orca, commonly known as a killer whale, he found trapped in a fisherman's rope.

New Zealand media report the whale had become entangled in a rope attached to a crayfish trap off the coast of Coromandel Peninsula.

Diver Rhys Cochrane said the whale did not seem to mind when he swam down to cut the rope and said it swam away quickly once it was freed. He said several other whales had watched from a distance.

New Zealand orca expert Ingrid Visser watched the video Cochrane had taken of the experience. She said whales are smart enough to know when you are trying to help them.

Visser said she could see bite marks on the whale, indicating other whales had tried to free it.

Visser added that swimmers should never jump in the water to swim with orcas as they are a top predator. But, she said, at the same time, there is no record of a person being attacked by an orca in the wild.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Greek Police Clash with Austerity Protesters

VOA News — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 16:42:52 GMT

Greek police clashed Tuesday with some of the thousands of striking workers in Athens protesting the latest austerity measures the government is seeking to impose to meet the demands of the country's international creditors.

Some demonstrators charged the steps of parliament and threw rocks at police, who fired tear gas at the protesters and hit some of them with their batons. A handful of protesters burned a German flag and a Nazi flag in protest of the role Germany, Europe's biggest economic power, has played in demanding Greek economic reforms. The planned day-long general strike, the second this year, disrupted transportation services, closed government services and schools and shut shops.

The protest came as government officials were set to meet later in the day to try again to reach agreement on several austerity measures sought by the country's creditors.

The international lenders have demanded that Greece's three fractious political parties jointly agree to impose new budget cuts. The lenders have said they fear that if there is no uniform consensus, the winner of planned national elections this spring could renege on spending reductions.

Greece said late Monday it would abolish 15,000 government jobs this year, while it is still considering a steep cut in the country's minimum wage and other changes.

The country's main unions and employers have rejected government plans for more wage cuts, saying they have already sustained significant losses with earlier spending cuts and tax increases.

Despite weeks of negotiations, Greece has been unable to complete an agreement with large international financial institutions to cut $130 billion of the country's debt, half the amount it owes them. In addition, the Athens government is seeking to work out details of a new $170 billion bailout, its second in two years, from the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Greece says it needs the debt relief and new funding to avoid defaulting next month on $19 billion of its financial obligations, something analysts say could trigger a worldwide recession. Caretaker Prime Minister Lucas Papademos met through much of the early hours of Tuesday with EU and IMF lenders about the perilous financial condition of Greece, now in its fifth straight year of recession with high unemployment.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.