A powerless Gadhafi could stay in Libya, some NATO countries concede

Moammar Gadhafi remains defiantly in power after more than four months of bombing, and the nations carrying out most of the air strikes want to end the war, even if it means allowing the dictator to step down but remain in Libya.

The bloody stalemate in the ground war has dimmed early hopes that ill-equipped but enthusiastic rebels could topple the despot. With the holy Muslim month of Ramadan looming and no military end in sight, Britain has publicly echoed an offer first floated by France that would allow for Colonel Gadhafi to talk his way into retirement.

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/a-powerless-gadhafi-could-stay-in-libya-some-nato-countries-concede/article2110834/

China warns U.S. officials not to meet Dalai Lama

China's Foreign Ministry warned U.S. officials on Thursday not to meet with visiting exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying it hoped Washington "appropriately dealt" with Tibet-related issues.


China reviles the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Dalai Lama, saying he supports the use of violence to establish an independent Tibet. He strongly denies either accusation, insisting he seeks only true autonomy for the remote region.

The Dalai Lama is currently visiting the United States and is due to give a public talk in Washington Saturday.

The U.S. State Department said he met on Wednesday with Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero, but that it remained to be decided whether he would have any meetings at higher levels.

On Thursday, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and other senior U.S. lawmakers also met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing's position on the Dalai Lama's foreign visits was clear.

"We oppose the underhand visits of the Dalai Lama which he uses to engage in activities to split the motherland," Hong told a regular news briefing.

"At the same time, we also oppose any foreign government or politicians supporting or abetting in such activities by the Dalai Lama," he added.

"We hope that the United States strictly abide by its promises on the Tibet issue and ... cautiously and appropriately deal with relevant issues," Hong said.

The Dalai Lama met U.S. President Barack Obama last year, drawing strong denunciation from Beijing.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/us-china-usa-dalailama-idUSTRE7667OI20110708

US warns Syria over troop movement at Turkey border

The US has expressed concern over reports that Syria is moving troops near the border with Turkey, and warned of a possible escalation of conflict.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the reported Syrian troops movements were "very worrisome".

She said it could increase the risk of a border clash with Turkey and worsen the plight of refugees.

Syrian tanks and snipers reportedly entered the village of Khirbet al-Jouz, forcing resident to flee to Turkey.

More than 1,300 people are said to have been killed since a crackdown on anti-government protests began in March.

Thousands more protesters have been detained, opposition activists say.

Several Syrian cities - including Homs and Hama - have declared a general strike after deadly clashes with security forces and supporters of President Bashar al-Assad earlier this week.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13899035

Syrian Regime's Backers Take a Turn at Protest

Syrian supporters of President Bashar al-Assad took to the streets in large demonstrations in several cities, as the regime and its supporters threw their weight behind the leader's offers of reform.

Opposition activists, who dismissed the president's pledges in a speech Monday as insufficient, also demonstrated on Tuesday, leading to the deaths of at least four people in three cities when security forces fired on protesters, according to activists.

Mr. Assad, in his first public address since April 16, promoted a process of national dialogue as a path to reform. Opposition leaders have said they wouldn't take part.

Assad supporters were out in force in Damascus, the Syrian capital,which has yet to see sustained, mass antiregime demonstrations. In a central square, thousands of people waved flags and portraits of Mr. Assad, chanting: "We sacrifice ourselves for you, Bashar."

The proregime demonstrations were backed, and possibly organized to some extent, by the government. Mass text messages were sent Monday urging people to march. Syria's state news agency said millions of people across the country were "flocking to the public squares in support of the reform process under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad."

But almost four months into protests that have polarized Syrian society, Mr. Assad maintains a loyal base among the large merchant families of Damascus and Aleppo, the country's second-largest city. He also commands support among some minorities—including the Christian population—who prefer his autocratic rule over an unknown alternative and the potential of sectarian strife.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304887904576399703507263370.html

Ban Ki-moon unanimously elected for second term as UN chief

The 192-nation UN General Assembly has voted unanimously to elect Ban Ki-moon for a second five-year term as the global body's secretary-general. The assembly unanimously backed the former 67-year-old South Korean foreign minister by acclamation on Tuesday. Ban's second term will commence from January 1 2012.

With no contenders to throw a challenge for the post, the assembly approved the new term by consensus. Ban declared his candidacy two weeks ago and had the formal backing by the Security Council on Friday. All regional groups at the UN also endorsed him.

Ban has termed his re-election as a "very great honour beyond expression."

The UN chief's first term has been a mixed bag of sorts.

Ban has faced criticism for not adequately addressing human rights violations in countries like Sri Lanka and China, but has been seen as championing the cause of climate change, women's rights and more recently speaking out against the crackdown on protesters in the Middle East and North Africa.

His role in backing decisive action by the Security Council in Libya and Ivory Coast has also gone down well with the international community.

Ban's re-election was welcomed by US envoy to the UN, Susan Rice.

"No one understands the burden of this role, better than he and my government is grateful that he willing to continue to take them on," she said.

"Secretary-General Ban is a leader who listens to the voices of the voiceless," she said.

Among other agendas, the UN chief will oversee 'Rio+20' next year, which is being dubbed as the most important environmental summit in recent times.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/Ban-Ki-moon-unanimously-elected-for-second-term-as-UN-chief/Article1-712270.aspx

First lady Michelle Obama visits ex-president Nelson Mandela in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG —First lady Michelle Obama has said she hopes to inspire young adults during her visit this week to South Africa and Botswana, but she seemed inspired herself after a brief visit Tuesday with former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The unscheduled talk with Mandela, the nation’s first black president and patriarch of racial equality here, came after a visit to his foundation. Mandela, 92, who has not been seen often in recent months, is revered here. He was hospitalized in January, and rumors of his ill health have been reported in the local news media.

In photos taken of the private 20-minute visit between members of Mandela’s extended family and Obama, her mother, daughters, niece and nephew, he is sitting on his couch holding a book of his quotations that he is signing for the first lady.

Earlier, during a tabletop tour of a display of letters, photos and years of desk calendars that Mandela kept while in prison for 27 years, Obama said, “Wow,” and asked how he kept up with all of the documents.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/first-lady-michelle-obama-visits-ex-president-nelson-mandela-in-south-africa/2011/06/21/AGHs8oeH_story.html

Colonel Gaddafi wants Libyans to vote for him as leader meets rebels

MUAMMAR Gaddafi's regime is in direct talks with Libya's rebels, a Russian envoy indicated today, as the strongman's son said the way out of a months-long conflict is the staging of elections.

Russia's Mikhail Margelov, in Tripoli for one day after visiting the rebels in their Benghazi stronghold last week, made the remarks following a meeting with Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al Mahmudi.

"I was assured at today's negotiations that direct contacts between Benghazi and Tripoli are already underway," Mr Margelov said, according to Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency.

"The Libyan prime minister told me that a round of such contacts concluded yesterday in Paris," he said, adding that French President Nicolas Sarkozy "has been informed of the outcome of these contacts".

He did not disclose the nature of the talks, which could not be confirmed by the rebels' Transitional National Council.

Mr Mahmudi said Colonel Gaddafi's departure from power was a "red line" that cannot be crossed, despite growing international calls for him to quit and the armed insurrection against his 41-year rule.

"Of utmost concern to us in any dialog is the unity of Libya," Mr Mahmudi told a news conference in Tripoli.

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/colonel-gaddafi-wants-libyans-to-vote-for-him-as-leader-meets-rebels/story-e6frf7jx-1226077079165

China, Russia issue joint statement on major international issues

China and Russia on Thursday issued a joint statement on a broad range of key international issues.

The statement was signed by visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev.

Countries of the world have become increasingly interdependent against the backdrop of profound changes and major adjustments in the international situation as well as the emergence of global challenges and regional threats such as the international financial crisis, regional conflicts, natural disasters, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,terrorism and climate change, said the statement.

The two sides recognize the need to make concerted efforts to effectively cope with such global challenges and threats, it said.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-06/16/c_13934280.htm

Huge Protests in Yemen Call for Transitional Government

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis have rallied in major cities throughout the country, demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down and calling for a transitional council that excludes members of the current government.

In the capital, Sana'a, a huge crowd swelled Tuesday outside the home of Yemen's acting leader, Vice President Abd al-Rab Mansur Hadi - a day after Yemen's political opposition held talks with him on a possible transition plan.

Similar demonstrations were held in several other cities, Hadramawt, Hodeida, Ibb, Damar and Saada.

Mr. Saleh transferred power to his deputy after traveling to Saudi Arabia to seek medical treatment for wounds suffered in an attack on his presidential compound earlier this month. Several high-ranking Yemeni officials wounded in the attack are also being treated in Riyadh.

Yemen's state news agency said Mr. Saleh told Saudi King Abdullah by telephone Tuesday that his health is "constantly improving."

Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council met in Riyadh Tuesday to discuss how to resurrect its initiative aimed at resolving Yemen's political crisis.

The United States and Saudi Arabia are attempting to persuade Yemen's ruling party to adopt the GCC deal that would end Mr. Saleh's rule, create a unity government and conduct elections within two months. The group's efforts to help resolve the unrest stalled after President Saleh refused to sign a proposal which calls for him to eventually leave office.

In another development, Yemeni security sources say a bomb killed an army officer in a region near the southern port of Aden. Officials said the blast tore through the car of Colonel Muti'a al-Sayani while he was driving Monday.

In Washington, the State Department's counterterrorism coordinator said the U.S. is concerned Yemen's ongoing unrest could fuel connections between al-Qaida-linked militants there and al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia.

Daniel Benjamin said the United States is still cooperating with Yemen in the fight against al-Qaida despite the Gulf nation's political crisis and Mr. Saleh's absence.

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http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Bomb-Kills-Colonel-in-Yemens-South-123823269.html

Thousands Of Syrians Flee Into Turkey

Thousands of Syrians have fled into Turkey fearing a military attack, officials have said, as the country prepares for the possibility of more violent anti-government protests

Government troops have massed outside the town of Jisr al-Shughour, the scene of recent demonstrations, residents have said, adding that the settlement was now largely deserted.

There are now fears violence could intensify after Friday prayers.

The latest reports of a government crackdown intensified international concerns over Syria's handling of the protests.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal have asked the UN Security Council to condemn President Assad, although veto-wielding Russia has said it would oppose such a move.

Foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the Damascus government must be allowed time to implement promised reforms.

He said: "We do not believe the Syrian issue is a subject for consideration by the Security Council, let alone the adoption of some kind of resolution.


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West seeks UN vote condemning Syria

UNITED NATIONS — Western powers pressed the UN Security Council to condemn Syria's deadly crackdown on opposition protests in the face of strong opposition from Russia and China.

Britain and France have drawn up a new resolution which demands that President Bashar al-Assad end the violence and lift the siege of protest cities. It also calls for an arms embargo on Syria.

But there is no threat of sanctions and France's envoy said that there was no intention to launch Libya-style military action.

Meanwhil hundreds of residents fled the flashpoint town of Jisr al-Shughur in northern Syria on Wednesday, fearing bloody reprisals for the alleged killing earlier this week of 120 police and troops.

Fears that the regime could be about to exact brutal revenge for what it said was a "massacre" on Monday by "armed terrorists" appeared to galvanize efforts at the United Nations.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal have submitted the resolution and say they are ready to risk a veto by Russia which reaffirmed its opposition to action by the 15-member Security Council.

"We believe that the world should not stand silent in the face of the outrages that are happening and we therefore hope that we will be able to move to vote on the resolution in coming days," said Britain's UN ambassador Mark Lyall Grant.

French ambassador Gerard Araud called the resolution an attempt to send a "political message" to Assad that it is time to carry out reforms.

He said in an interview with French television: "We all know, and it has been said by the French authorities, that we are not going to get engaged in military operations against Syria."

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Study: Egyptians Less Satisfied, More Hopeful

A new survey finds that Egyptians are less satisfied with their lives than they have been in recent years, but they also have more hope for their futures than they did during the days of ousted President Hosni Mubarak's government.

There is no question that it has been a tumultuous year in Egypt.

In January, Egyptians took to the streets to protest against the government, corruption and human rights abuses.

In February, President Mubarak stepped down, ending his nearly 30 years in office.

And in late March and early April, Egyptians were less satisfied with their standard of living than they had been in years.

That is a finding in a new report from the Abu Dhabi Gallup Center, based on face-to-face interviews with about 1,000 Egyptian adults. In the wake of the popular uprising, Egyptians reported that they felt their communities had become less safe, and they said it was hard to find jobs, healthcare and housing.

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http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Study-Egyptians-Less-Satisfied-More-Hopeful-123398908.html

President Obama hosts star-studded farewell dinner

US President Barack Obama has hosted a dinner in honour of the Queen at the end of his state visit to the UK.

The president and his wife Michelle organised the intimate evening as a thank-you to the Queen for Tuesday's state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

It was held in London at the official home of the US ambassador to Britain.

Oscar winners Tom Hanks and Colin Firth, England footballer David Beckham and Harry Potter author JK Rowling were among the guests.

While the state banquet on Tuesday night had been a white-tie affair, the dress code for the Obamas' dinner was black tie.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed when they arrived by the Obamas. The two couples greeted each other warmly, shaking hands, and exchanging smiles and a few words before posing for the waiting international media.

The Queen wore an Angela Kelly white evening dress with gold and silver sequins, and an emerald necklace and matching earrings.

Mrs Obama was dressed in a black off-the-shoulder dress, and wore what appeared to be a diamond necklace and matching bracelet.

The two heads of state led the way through the residence's entrance, which was flanked by two US marines.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13554520

Obama cites peace in Northern Ireland, alluding to Middle East

Reporting from Dublin, Ireland—
Lauding the ability of former warring sides to "reimagine their relationships," President Obama paid tribute to the Northern Ireland peace process during a visit to this once-troubled island, a thinly veiled allusion to the possibility that peace is attainable even in such unlikely places as the Middle East.

Obama did not mention the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by name during remarks after landing in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. But he cited the greatly diminished sectarian violence in the British province of Northern Ireland — since the 1998 Good Friday agreement was signed under American guidance — as a beacon to others caught in seemingly intractable conflicts.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-europe-20110524,0,7898913.story

Obama begins tough trip with family time in Ireland

Reporting from Dublin, Ireland—
President Obama lands Monday in Ireland to begin a weeklong visit to Europe, trying to forge a common way forward with allies facing two wars, turmoil in the Middle East, and economies still struggling to recover from the 2008 collapse.

But before he gets down to the hard stuff, Obama will indulge in a dash of the Irish roots politics so beloved by American presidents who trace their ancestry to this island.

The White House and Irish officials planned the one-day stop in Ireland around a drop-in visit to Moneygall, a one-pub village about 48 miles from Dublin on the road to Limerick. In 1850, Fulmouth Kearney, the second son of a Moneygall shoemaker, joined the mass exodus fleeing the Irish famine in hopes of finding a better life in America.

Now, 160 years later, his great-great-great-grandson returns as president of the United States, to be welcomed by a tiny village that sees its own possibilities for prosperity in the connection.

It won't be the first time. Whether greeting Irish American presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan or pouring a pint for Bill Clinton, the Irish have been eager to boast of their ties to the U.S. presidency. And presidents have been happy to go along with propping up an ethnic connection that could appeal to some voters. "There is special symbolism in going to the country of origin for many Americans of European immigrant descent," says Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, a political science professor at Northwestern University.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-europe-20110523,0,7833376.story

Pressure Mounts on Strauss-Kahn to Resign

European officials closed ranks to defend their hold on the International Monetary Fund’s top job as pressure mounted on the agency’s jailed leader, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, to step down.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said the IMF needs to formally name an interim leader because Strauss-Kahn is “obviously not in a position” to run the fund. Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter told reporters in Brussels yesterday that Strauss-Kahn “risks damaging the IMF,” and Senator Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois, sought his resignation.

At stake is leadership of an institution that approved a record $91.7 billion in emergency loans last year and provides a third of bailout packages in Europe. Strauss-Kahn’s arrest may give emerging markets, the drivers of global growth, momentum to their push to end a postwar deal under which a European heads the fund and the U.S. picks the World Bank president.

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http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-18/europe-seeks-to-keep-top-imf-post-as-strauss-kahn-starts-facing-exit-calls.html

Kerry Visits Pakistan with Warning on Aid

Saying this is a "critical moment" in relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, Sen. John Kerry was set to arrive in Islamabad Sunday night with a firm message: Cooperate more in uprooting terrorists in Pakistan or face losing vital aid.

On a visit to Kabul before traveling to Islamabad, Mr. Kerry said Sunday that Pakistan faces "profound" changes in its relationship with the U.S. unless it recognizes that the dynamics have fundamentally changed in the two weeks since U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden in a night raid at a comfortable sanctuary 40 miles from the country's capital.

His location, in a garrison town that also is home to Pakistan's chief military academy, has prompted U.S. officials to suggest that bin Laden may have received some measure of support from elements of Pakistan's military or intelligence establishment though so far they have offered no proof.

"This is not a moment for anything except very sober, serious discussions with an understanding that there's a lot at stake," Mr. Kerry told reporters as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Afghanistan. "There's no other way to put it."

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281504576325274176490968.html

Pakistan's prime minister rejects backlash on Bin Laden

Pakistanis in Karachi watch a televised address by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to parliament in which Gilani rejected allegations that the sanctuary of Osama bin Laden in the country showed Pakistani incompetence or complicity.

Reporting from Washington and Islamabad, Pakistan—
In signs of worsening relations with Washington, Pakistan's prime minister angrily rejected claims that collusion or incompetence allowed Osama bin Laden to hide near the Pakistani capital for years, and news media made public what they claim is the name of the top CIA agent in the country.

A private TV station and a right-wing newspaper with ties to Pakistan's spy agency have each reported the name in recent days, marking the second time in six months that journalists here have sought to expose the local CIA station chief.

The U.S. and Pakistan have strongly criticized each other in the week since a team of Navy SEALs killed Bin Laden, although they say they intend to continue security cooperation.

U.S. officials have demanded an explanation of how Pakistan failed to find Bin Laden for more than five years in Abbottabad, a city with a heavy military presence that is close to Islamabad. The Pakistanis have complained that the U.S. raid was an infringement of their sovereignty and have called for a scaling back of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in their country.

In a speech to parliament Monday, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani denied U.S. suggestions that the government harbored Bin Laden or was incompetent because it failed to track him down. Gilani vowed to find out how the terrorist leader was able to hide for so long, but he also lashed out at Washington for the raid.

A senior U.S. official said the United States was "committed to having this relationship continue and grow" and noted that despite some harsh words, Pakistani officials had not yet taken any steps to curb security cooperation.

But he added: "It's going to be more difficult.... Some of this may be bombast for public consumption, but they certainly feel aggrieved by what's happening and are struggling to figure out what's next." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-us-pakistan-20110510,0,4688802.story

New protest launched to demand Yemen president to leave office

BEIJING, May 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Several thousand protesters gathered in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Monday, to demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Earlier on Monday, Yemeni forces fired at protesters blockading a government building, killing a shopkeeper and two protesters.

The latest violence came as the Arabian Peninsula country's main opposition group awaits word on whether the Gulf Arab states could revive a deal to edge Saleh out of power within a month. Saleh, who refused to sign the transition deal, has clung to power despite three months of street protests that regularly draw thousands of people. Many protesters have vowed to stay on the streets until Saleh leaves office.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/video/2011-05/10/c_13867470.htm

NATO airstrike mistakenly kills 12 Libyan rebels

Reporting from Benghazi, Libya—
A NATO airstrike in the besieged rebel-held city of Misurata mistakenly killed 12 Libyan rebels, an official with the transitional government confirmed Thursday, while new fighting was reported on Libya's western border with Tunisia.

The strike Wednesday was at least the third reported friendly fire incident since North Atlantic Treaty Organization fighter jets began pounding forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi more than five weeks ago in a mission to protect Libyan civilians.

Leaders of the anti-Kadafi forces have labeled the incidents unfortunate accidents in a worthy cause, reflecting wide support in rebel ranks for the NATO strikes.

Nonetheless, both NATO and the rebels have said additional precautions — such as marking rebel vehicles and reporting precise positions to NATO — have been employed to avoid further tragedies.

"It is regrettable, but we know the people of Misurata understand," said Shamsiddin Abdulmolah, a press liaison with the transitional council, who confirmed the death toll. "We know NATO didn't do this on purpose."

There was no immediate response from North Atlantic Treaty Organization officials.

NATO's bombing campaign is widely seen as having prevented Kadafi forces from retaking rebel-held territory, including the eastern city of Benghazi, de facto capital of the opposition. Despite the deadly friendly fire episodes, rebel officials have urged their international allies to step up the air campaign against the Kadafi regime.

Two previous inadvertent NATO strikes on anti-Kadafi forces left at least 18 rebels dead and many injured.

Reports from the scene indicated that Wednesday's strike occurred near Misurata's port, which has been a lifeline for supplies into the city and refugees going out. NATO has been bombarding loyalist forces shelling the port area.


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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-fighting-20110429,0,2078877.story