Australian churches begin campaign against late-term abortion

Australian churches have begun a public campaign opposing late-term abortion. Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Buddhist, Hindu, Lutheran, Sikh, Salvation Army, Wesleyan and Seventh-Day Adventist religious groups issued a signed statement yesterday calling for laws limiting abortions after a pregnancy has reached its 20th week.

The statement also calls for information to be provided to women considering abortion. They should receive detailed information about the health risks, the stage of the actual foetal development and the exact nature of the medical procedure. Additionally, a seven day "cooling down period" should follow initial counseling to give women more time to consider their decision.

But according to the document, the concerned church leaders are also aware that public opinion in Australia is predominantly pro-choice.

And New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has revealed that of 31,600 abortions in NSW last year, only 200 were in fact late term.

Prime Minister John Howard has welcomed the renewed debate about abortion without committing himself yet.


Australiska kyrkor påbörjar kampanj mot sen abort

Australien – Australiska kyrkor har inlett en offentlig kampanj som motsätter sig sen abort. Många religiösa grupper står bakom: anglikaner, katoliker, baptister, presbyterianer, buddister, hinduer, lutheraner, sikher, Frälsningsarmén m.fl. Dessa vill att aborter ska begränsas efter att en graviditet nått dess 20:e vecka.

Man vill även att särskild information ska ges till kvinnor som överväger abort. De ska få detaljerad information om hälsorisker, hur långt fostret utvecklats samt hur ingreppet görs. Dessutom ska kvinnorna skall kvinnorna ha sju dagar till att fundera över beslutet.


Australian federal election 2010: Parliament hung

Australia's parliament will be hung after this year's federal election. With 73% of the nation wide vote counted, the governing Australian Labor Party has been confirmed to have 50.7% of the two party preferred votes, and predicted to win 73 seats in the House of Representatives, 3 short of majority.

The coalition of the Liberal and National parties has 70 secure seats and predicted to win 73 seats. This figure includes Queensland's Liberal National Party and the Northern Territory's Country Liberal Party, both of which are mergers of the local branches of the Liberal and National parties.

The Australian Greens have picked up their first seat at a general election in the House of Representatives. Adam Bandt is projected to become the member for the Division of Melbourne. The Greens vote in the Senate reached 12.95%, meaning 1.26 million Australians voted for the party in the upper house. Its predicted tally of nine senators will guarantee it the balance of power in the Senate.

Two days after the election, a handful of seats are still in doubt. Sky News and ABC report that three seats are in doubt, while the Australian Electoral Commission lists four.

Rob Oakeshott, a re-elected independent, told ABC Television that he and the other independents want a stable government. "If we can't get that, let's go back to the ballot box," he said.

"At the launch of our campaign this morning we had representatives from the Opposition, the shadow minister for youth as well as the Greens spokesperson for youth showing that this is not about who people vote for, it's about the fact that they've got the chance to vote," said Prime Minister Julia Gillard as she launched the campaign five weeks ago.

The ALP came to power in 2007 after they won 83 seats in the House of Representatives under the leadership of Kevin Rudd. In July 2010, Rudd was replaced as leader of the ALP and as Prime Minister by Ms Gillard.

Tony Abbott became leader of the Liberal Party of Australia in December 2009 replacing Malcolm Turnbull, who had replaced Brendan Nelson two years previously.


Labour-Partei verliert bei Wahl in Australien Mehrheit

Canberra (Australien), 26.08.2010 – Bei den Parlamentswahlen in Australien am vergangenen Samstag, dem 22. August, hat die Labour-Regierung unter Julia Gillard ihre absolute Mehrheit eingebüßt.

Nach Auszählung der am Samstag abgegebenen Stimmen erhielt die Labour-Partei 72 Sitze. Das konservative Koalitionsbündnis (Liberal Party of Australia, Liberale Nationalpartei, Nationale Partei Australiens) unter Tony Abbott kam auf 73 Sitze, die Grünen auf einen Sitz und unabhängige Kandidaten auf vier Sitze. Zu einer Mehrheit im Parlament werden 76 Sitze benötigt. Obwohl sich die Zahlen noch leicht ändern können, da noch nicht alle Briefwahlstimmen ausgezählt sind, ist es sicher, dass weder die konservative Opposition noch die Labour-Partei mit Unterstützung der Grünen eine Mehrheitsregierung bilden können.

Julia Gillard hatte die vorgezogenen Parlamentswahlen einberufen, da sie selbst nicht gewählt worden war, sondern ihr Amt im Juni dieses Jahres von Kevin Rudd übernommen hatte. Kontroverse Themen im Wahlkampf waren unter anderem Klimaschutz, Einwanderung und die Beteiligung am Afghanistan-Krieg.

Die großen Parteien haben Gespräche mit den Unabhängigen begonnen, die zum Teil konservative, zum Teil linke und grüne Positionen vertreten und bereits mit Neuwahlen gedroht haben, wenn ihre Reformabsichten nicht ernst genommen würden.


Australian vaalitulos suo riippumattomille vaa'ankieliaseman

Kumpikaan Australian poliittisista pääryhmittymistä (työväenpuolue ja liberaalit–konservatiivit-koalitio) ei saanut parlamenttivaaleissa enemmistöä parlamenttiin.

Työväenpuoluetta edustavan pääministeri Julia Gillardin mukaan kumpikaan osapuoli ei näin ollen itsessään ole saanut kansalta valtakirjaa hallituksen muodostajaksi. Äänenlaskennan ollessa kesken työväenpuolue näyttää olevan saamassa 72 ja oikeistokoalitio 73 paikkaa, vihreät yhden ja riippumattomat neljä. Enemmistöön vaaditaan 76 paikkaa.

Gillard on ryhtynyt neuvottelemaan riippumattomien kanssa yhteistyöstä voidakseen jatkaa hallituksessa. Myös oikeistopomo Tony Abbott on ilmaissut haluavansa muodostaa hallituksen.

Australia on Kansainyhteisön jäsen, ja monarkkia edustava maan kenraalikuvernööri Quentin Bryce voi lain mukaan hajottaa hallituksen ja määrätä järjestettäväksi uudet vaalit. Tätä pidetään epätodennäköisenä, mutta toisaalta tämänhetkinen tilanne on ennennäkemätön Australiassa. (Britanniassa vastaava tilanne koettiin toukokuussa.)


ஆஸ்திரேலியப் பொதுத்தேர்தல் 2010: எக்கட்சிக்கும் அறுதிப் பெரும்பான்மை கிடைக்கவில்லை

நேற்று சனிக்கிழமை ஆத்திரேலிய நாடாளுமன்றத்திற்காக இடம்பெற்ற தேர்தல்களின் முடிவுகள் வெளியான நிலையில் எக்கட்சிக்கும் அறுதிப் பெரும்பான்மை கிடைக்கவில்லை. இதனை அடுத்து அங்கு தொங்கு நாடாளுமன்றம் அமையவிருப்பதாக ஏபிசி செய்தி நிறுவனம் அறிவித்துள்ளது. யார் ஆட்சியமைக்கப் போகிறார்கள் எனத் தெரிய மேலும் ஒரு வாரம் எடுக்கும் என அரசியல் நோக்கர்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர்.

ஆத்திரேலிய நாடாளுமன்றத்தின் கீழவையின் மொத்தம் 150 இடங்களுக்கான தேர்தல்கள் நாடெங்கும் நேற்று நடத்தப்பட்டன. ஆளும் தொழிற் கட்சி, முக்கிய எதிர்க்கட்சியான லிபரல் கட்சி இரண்டுமே ஆட்சியமைப்பதற்குத் தேவையான 76 இடங்களைக் கைப்பற்றத் தவறிவிட்டன. இறுதி முடிவுகள் அறிவிக்கப்படாத நிலையில், ஆளும் தொழிற்கட்சி 72 இடங்களையும், லிபரல் கட்சி 73 இடங்களையும் கைப்பற்றும் என ஏபிசி செய்தி நிறுவனம் எதிர்வு கூறியுள்ளது. பசுமைக் கட்சி ஒரு இடத்தைக் கைப்பற்றியுள்ளது. சுயேட்சையாகப் போட்டியிட்ட நால்வர் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளனர்.

இந்நிலையில் இரண்டு கட்சிகளின் தலைவர்களும் சுயேட்சைகளின் ஆதரவை வேண்டி நிற்கின்றனர். பசுமைக் கட்சியில் இருந்து வெற்றி பெற்றவர் தாம் எப்போதும் லிபரல் கட்சிக்கு ஆதரவளிக்கப் போவதில்லை என அறிவித்துள்ளார். பிரதமர் ஜூலியா கிலார்ட் ஏற்கனவே சுயேட்சைப் பிரதிநிதிகளுடன் பேச்சுவார்த்தைகளை ஆரம்பித்துள்ளார். சுயேட்சையாக தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்படவ்ர்களில் மூவர் மக்களாட்சிக் கட்சியில் இருந்து பிரிந்து சென்றவர்கள் ஆவர். மக்களாட்சிக் கட்சி லிபரல் கட்சியின் கூட்டமைப்பில் உள்ளது.

எதிர்க்கட்சித் தலைவர் டொனி அபொட் கருத்துத் தெரிவிக்கையில், “தொழிற்கட்சி நாடாளுமன்றப் பெரும்பான்மையை இழந்து விட்டதும் அல்லாமல் அதன் சட்டவுரிமை நிலையையும் இழந்து விட்டது,” எனக் குறிப்பிட்டார்.

ஆத்திரேலியாவில் கடந்த 70 ஆண்டுகளில் எந்த ஒரு கட்சிக்கும் பெரும்பான்மை கிடைக்காமல் தொங்கு நாடாளுமன்றம் உருவாகும் நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது இதுவே முதல் தடவை என்று சுட்டிக்காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சர்ச்சைக்குரிய தலைமைத்துவப் போட்டியில் கெவின் ரட் பிரதமர் பதவியில் இருந்து அகற்றப்பட்டு இரண்டு மாதங்களுக்குள் தேர்தல்கள் இடம்பெற்றமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

பசுமைக் கட்சியைச் சேர்ந்த உறுப்பினர் ஒருவர் நாடாளுமன்றத்திற்குத் தெரிவானது இதுவே முதற் தடவையாகும். கடந்த 106 ஆண்டுகளாக தொழிற்கட்சியின் அசைக்க முடியாத கோட்டையாக இருந்த மெல்பேர்ண் நாடாளுமன்றத் தொகுதியில் இருந்து தெரிவாகியுள்ளார்.

எதிர்க்கட்சித் தலைவர் டொனி அபொட் எட்டு மாதங்களுக்கு முன்னரே லிபரல் கட்சியின் தலைவராக ஒரு வாக்கு வித்தியாசத்தில் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டார்.

14 மில்லியன் பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட வாக்காளர்களைக் கொண்ட ஆத்திரேலியாவில் வாக்களிப்பு சட்டப்படி கட்டாயம் ஆகும்.

ஞாயிறு, ஆகத்து 22, 2010


Australian government commits more troops to Iraq

Australian prime minister John Howard has admitted this week's decision to commit an additional 450 troops to Iraq is a policy backflip.

During the 2004 election campaign Mr Howard indicated that there would be no major increase in the number of Australian troops in Iraq.  However yesteday's announcement is set to more than double the number of Australian troops on the ground in Iraq.

Mr Howard justified the reversal of policy as being in the "broader interests of democracy in the Middle East".  He also explained that the decision came in response to requests from British and Japanese leaders.

The commitment of extra troops comes as a result of the Dutch government's decision to withdraw 1400 soldiers from Iraq, in response to political pressure in Holland.

The Australians will be deployed to the Iraqi province of Al Muthanna to provide military support for Japanese engineers working on reconstruction projects.


Australien skickar fler trupper till Irak

Australiens premiärminister John Howard medgav denna vecka att han beslutat sända ytterligare 450 soldater till Irak. Beslutet står i kontrast till hans utfästelser under valrörelsen förra året att inga ytterligare soldater skulle skickas till Irak. Med gårdagens beslut mer än fördubblas antalet australiensiska soldater i Irak. Howard menar dock att kursändringen stärker demokratin i allmänhet i Mellanöstern. Han motiverar också beslutet med förfrågningar från brittiska och japanska ledare.

Beslutet att sända fler trupper kommer efter att Nederländerna på grund av det politiska trycket i landet, beslutat dra tillbaka 1 400 av sina soldater från Irak. De australiensiska trupperna kommer att stationeras i Al Muthanna som militärt stöd till de japanska ingenjörstrupper som där är sysselsatta med ett återuppbyggnadsprojekt.


Australian government pays A$20m for copyright to Aboriginal flag

On Tuesday, the day preceding Australia Day, the Australian government announced it had purchased the copyright to the Australian Aboriginal Flag for A$20.05 million.

The flag, created by Luritja man Harold Thomas in 1970, represents the connection Aboriginal people have to the land. It was adopted as a national flag in 1995, however copyright remained with Thomas. The flag could not be used without his approval or compensation.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised the flag would be treated in a comparable way to the national flag, which can be used by anyone so long as it is displayed in a "respectful and dignified way."

Morrison promised: "All Australians can now put the Aboriginal Flag on apparel such as sports jerseys and shirts, it can be painted on sports grounds, included on websites, in paintings and other artworks, used digitally and in any other medium without having to ask for permission or pay a fee,"

"We’ve freed the Aboriginal Flag for Australians."

Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt said: "Over the last 50 years we made Harold Thomas’ artwork our own — we marched under the Aboriginal Flag, stood behind it, and flew it high as a point of pride,"

"Now that the Commonwealth holds the copyright, it belongs to everyone, and no-one can take it away."

The commercial arrangements surrounding the flag were highlighted in 2019 after one of the clothing companies holding a licence for the flag, WAM Clothing, gave notices to the National Rugby League and Australian Football League, alleging jerseys worn at their Indigenous round infringed upon their copyright. At the time, Wyatt urged football fans to show their objections to the claim by clothing themselves in the flag. It is understood several other organisations were given similar notices.

Under the agreed deal, the government paid A$20.05 million to Thomas and licence holders to secure copyright and buy back the rights of licence holders. They have pledged to:

Bangarang woman Geraldine Atkinson told Nine News she was "absolutely pleased" about the flag passing to the government, saying the news gave Indigenous Australians something to celebrate on Australia Day. Atkinson said: "When I read it, it was the first I'd heard about it, and I punched the air, I was so excited [...] We're not going to be celebrating the day, but we're going to be celebrating our flag. We're going to be celebrating that we can fly our flag, and wear it on our shirts."

While Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe welcomed the news, she was wary about the deal, saying: "I’m concerned that the Commonwealth owns the copyright over our flag and what that means for the unceded sovereignty and the self-determination of our people [...] We need to have genuine conversations about what it means for the Commonwealth to own the copyright of our flag and if any other models of community ownership were seriously considered. For the moment, this is a win."

Labor Party Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said she would be scrutinising the deal during the Senate's forthcoming budget estimates: "I look forward to scrutinising this deal and examining the details through Senate Estimates next month, in particular the copyright and custodianship of the flag". McCarthy went on to state, "Scott Morrison and the Indigenous Affairs Minister need to also clarify where the money for this deal is coming from."


incubator:Wn/hu/Az ausztrál állam megvette az őslakosok zászlajának szerzői jogait

Az ausztrál állam kedden, a január 26-i nemzeti ünnep, az Ausztrália nap előtti napon bejelentette, hogy 20,05 millió ausztrál dollárért megvásárolta az ausztrál őslakosok zászlajának szerzői jogait.

Az őslakosok földdel való kapcsolatát kifejező zászlót 1970-ben alkotta meg Harold Thomas, a bennszülött luritja nép tagja. 1995-ben ausztrál nemzeti jelképpé nyilvánították, de a szerzői jog az alkotónál maradt, így a zászlót nem lehetett használni a tulajdonos engedélye és a jogdíj megfizetése nélkül.

Scott Morrison miniszterelnök megígérte, hogy a zászló az országzászlóhoz hasonlóan szabadon használható lesz minden esetben, amikor „megadják neki a kellő tiszteletet.”[1]

– Az őslakos zászlót most már minden ausztrál viselheti a ruháján, legyen az sportöltözet vagy ing, felfesthető sportpályákra, feltüntethető a honlapokon, festményeken és más alkotásokon, használható digitális vagy bármely egyéb formátumban külön engedély vagy díjfizetési kötelezettség nélkül... felszabadítottuk a zászlót az ausztrál nép számára.[2]

– Az elmúlt 50 évben Harold Thomas alkotása hozzánk nőtt – vonultunk alatta, beálltunk mögé, és büszkén figyeltük, ahogy lobog a szélben[3] – tette hozzá a bennszülött ügyekért felelős miniszter, Ken Wyatt. – Most, hogy már a szövetségi állam a szerzői jog birtokosa, a zászló mindenkié, és senki nem veheti el [tőlünk][4]

A zászló körüli jogi problémákra 2019-ben vetült fény, amikor az egyik használati licenccel rendelkező ruházati cég, a WAM Clothing szerzői jogi figyelmeztetéseket küldött egyebek közt az Ausztrál Futball Ligának és a Nemzeti Rögbi Ligának, amiért a bennszülött mérkőzéseken a mezeken szerepelt a zászló. Ken Wyatt akkor arra buzdította a szurkolókat, hogy a védjegy elleni tiltakozásuk jeléül viseljék a zászlót.

A kormány végül 20,05 millió dollárt fizetett ki Thomasnak és a licenctulajdonosoknak, hogy a szerzői jog átszálljon, és ígéretet tett rá, hogy:

Lidia Thorpe, a zöldpárti szövetség[6] szenátora, aki maga is bennszülött, üdvözölte a megállapodást, de fenntartásainak is hangot adott:

– Aggaszt, hogy a szerzői jog a zászlónk felett most már az állam tulajdona, és hogy ez mivel jár közösségeink soha fel nem adott önállóságára és önmeghatározására nézve... Őszintén kellene beszélnünk róla, hogy a szövetségi államnak mit is jelent ez a szerzői jog, és hogy felmerültek-e egyáltalán más lehetséges megoldások a tulajdonviszonyok rendezésére, [gondolva itt] a közösségi tulajdonra. Most úgy tűnik, hogy ez így jó.[7]

Malarndirri McCarthy, az Ausztrál Munkáspárt[8] szenátora ugyanakkor bejelentette, hogy alaposabban megvizsgálja majd az ügyet:
– A következő havi bizottsági üléseken átnézzük és górcső alá fogjuk venni a megállapodást, különös tekintettel a szerzői jogok és egyéb fenntartói feladatok szempontjából... Scott Morrison és a bennszülött ügyekért felelős miniszter azzal is el kell számoljon, honnan volt erre pénz.[9]


Australian Labor Party caucus vote to change prime minister

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) caucus has changed their leader and prime minister.  The ALP is currently in government holding a majority in the House of Representatives.  Julia Gillard will replace Kevin Rudd.  It is believed that party instability and a drop in Rudd's popularity was the cause for change.

"The new leader elected unopposed is Julia Gillard and the deputy will be Wayne Swan," Senator Michael Forshaw told media after the caucus.
The "leadership spill", as it is known, occurred at 9:00am Australian Eastern Standard Time this morning (11:00 pm last night UTC). According to reports, there was no ballot after Rudd pulled out.

Gillard becomes Australia's first female prime minister in the country's 109 year history and has been sworn in as such by Australia's first female Governor-General, Quentin Bryce.

Channel Nine editorialised prior to the spill that Gillard had the votes to become prime minister.


Julia Gillard pierwszą kobietą premier w Australii

Julia Gillard została w czwartek nowym premierem Australii, po tym jak dotychczasowy szef rządu i przywódca Australijskiej Partii Pracy Kevin Rudd zrezygnował z obu tych stanowisk przed wyborami nowego szefa partii.

Gillard została pierwszą kobietą premier w historii Australii. Wcześniej zajmowała stanowisko wicepremiera oraz ministra pracy i spraw społecznych.

Po licznych niepowodzeniach Rudda w polityce wewnętrznej członkowie gabinetu i kierownictwa Partii Pracy poparli kandydaturę Gillard, licząc na poprawę notowań rządu i doprowadzenie ich partii do zwycięstwa w wyborach.


Australian parliament to apologise to Stolen Generations

The Australian parliament will apologise tomorrow for past mistreatment of Australia's indigenous population. The wording of the apology will be revealed after 5pm AEDT (UTC+11) today, and will be read in parliament tomorrow at 9am AEDT.

Opposition leader Brendan Nelson has given in-principle support to an apology, but has criticised the government for the delay in releasing the wording. He has written his speech without seeing the apology.

"If Mr Rudd wants to unify Australia, to bring our nation together, the most important person he should be negotiating with is me," Mr Nelson said yesterday. "We're two days away from this, for goodness sake. He should be sitting down with me and saying 'these are the words which we propose, what do you think?"

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that the words must be tabled to parliament first.

The Government's manager of business, Anthony Albanese, said that it was more important for members of the Stolen Generations to approve of the apology. "Quite frankly, what's important is the people most affected are comfortable with that wording," he said.

In an opinion piece in today's The Sydney Morning Herald, Tony Abbott defended John Howard's legacy. "Its refusal to say 'sorry' meant that Howard never received the credit he deserved for groundbreaking policies such as the intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal townships," Mr Abbott wrote. "The Liberal Party's decision to support an apology to stolen children is not a repudiation of John Howard. It should help us to defend a key part of his legacy, the Northern Territory intervention, and to pursue good policy without accusations of bad faith."


Australië verontschuldigt zich bij Aboriginals

Op 13 februari zal Australië zich verontschuldigen bij de Aboriginals, de oorpronkelijke bewoners van het land, voor "het grote verdriet" en "de vernedering en achterstelling" die hun in het verleden zijn aangedaan. Een motie van die strekking werd door de sociaaldemocratische premier Kevin Rudd bij het parlement ingediend.

"Voor de pijn, het leed en de krenking van deze Gestolen Generaties, hun nakomelingen en de families die achterbleven zeggen wij sorry", luidt de tekst van de motie. "Tegen de moeders en de vaders, de broers en de zusters, voor het kapot maken van gezinnen en gemeenschappen, zeggen we sorry. En voor de vernedering en achterstelling die hierdoor een trots volk en een trotse cultuur werden aangedaan, zeggen we sorry."

De motie had de steun van de belangrijkste oppositiepartijen en werd daarom aangenomen. Op 13 februari sprak premier Rudd de verontschuldigingen uit. De Aboriginals stelden het zeer op prijs dat deze werden geuit maar hadden anderzijds ook negatieve gevoelens. Diverse Aboriginals beraden zich op stappen om schadeclaims in te dienen voor wat hen in het verleden is aangedaan, zoals het weghalen van kinderen uit Aboriginalgezinnen en ze vervolgens onderbrengen bij blanke gezinnen.


Australian PM arrives in Aceh

Aceh, Indonesia —Australian Prime Minister John Howard has arrived in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh. He is taking a short tour of the tsunami-hit region, and meeting with Indonesian government officials.

He was met at the airport by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and officials coordinating relief efforts in the region.

He will tour the coastline by helicopter, and visit Australian military engineers who are clearing debris.


Australiens premiärminister anländer till Aceh

Aceh, Indonesien – Australiens premiärminister John Howard har anlänt till provinshuvudstaden Banda Aceh. Han tar en kort rundtur i den tsunamidrabbade regionen och möter indonesiska regeringstjänstemän.

Han möttes på flygplatsen av utrikesminister Hassan Wirajuda och tjänstemän som samordnar hjälpinsatser i regionen.

Han kommer åka långs kustlinjen i helikopter och besöka australiska militäringenjörer.


Australian PM rules out economic sanctions against Myanmar

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has announced that it will investigate implementing "targeted financial sanctions against regime figures and supporters," but has ruled out economic sanctions against Myanmar. He noted that economic sanctions could harm the people of Myanmar. "You always have a conflict in these situations between demonstrating your position by some kind of sanction, but making sure that those sanctions don't hurt the people who we are really trying to help," he said.

Howard noted the important role that China has in the crisis. "The country that can exert most pressure on Burma is China and we will be encouraging, and we are doing it already, encouraging China to exert a positive influence on the regime to encourage it to hold back on the repression and to adopt a more accommodating attitude towards the people," he said.

Howard described the government of Myanmar as "a thoroughly loathsome regime." He said that his government would tighten visa restrictions for regime officials, and maintain the ban on defence exports to Myanmar.


Le premier ministre australien n'envisage pas de sanctions économiques contre le Myanmar

Publié le 28 septembre 2007   Le Premier ministre australien, John Howard, a annoncé le 27 septembre que son gouvernement n'entendait pas imposer de sanctions économiques au Myanmar.

Le chef du gouvernement australien a en effet déclaré qu'il étudierait la possibilité de mettre en place des "sanctions financières ciblées contre les personnalités et les soutiens du régime" birman, mais a rejeté l'idée de sanctions économiques contre le pays. Il a expliqué que de telles sanctions économiques nuiraient à la population du Myanmar : "Dans des situations de ce type, il y a toujours une contradiction entre le besoin de prouver sa position en imposant une sanction, et celui de s'assurer que ces sanctions ne font pas de tort aux personnes qu'on souhaite justement aider".

John Howard a souligné le rôle important que joue la Chine dans cette crise : "La Chine est l'État qui peut exercer la pression la plus forte sur le Myanmar et nous allons encourager - ce que nous faisons déjà - Pékin à exercer une influence positive sur le régime, afin que celui-ci renonce à la répression et adopte une attitude plus accomodante à l'égard de sa population."

Le Premier ministre australien a décrit les hautes autorités du Myanmar comme un "régime absolument détestable", et a relevé que son gouvernement allait durcir les restrictions de visa pour les officiels de la junte tout en maintenant l'interdiction d'exporter des armes vers le Myanmar.


Australian Prime Minister announces results of reshuffle

The Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced the results of an earlier anticipated reshuffle of the Government cabinet.

Brendan Nelson, previously of the Education portfolio, who introduced the controversial Voluntary Student Unionism legislation late 2005, has been promoted to the Defence portfolio. Malcolm Turnbull, who had been in the media several times in 2005 regarding tax law, is now a parliamentary secretary, as is Andrew Robb.

The Treasurer Peter Costello, Foreign Affairs minister Alexander Downer, and Health minister Tony Abbott remain unchanged. With former Nationals senator Julian McGauran's defection to the Liberal Party, Nationals Veterans Affairs minister De-Anne Kelly has lost her place, in reflection of the new Coalition numbers, with Bruce Billson taking up the job.

The Opposition has commented on the reshuffle, with Opposition Leader Kim Beazley stating that the Cabinet consists of "old faces" from the "uninspired to the incompetent".


Australiens premiärminister offentliggör regeringsombildning

Australien –
Australiens premiärminister John Howard meddelade reslutatet av sin regeringsombildning.

Den tidigare utbildningsministern, Brendan Nelson, tillsattes som försvarsminister. Nelson har tidigare gjort sig känd för att ha sjösatt en kontroversiell lag som gjorde medlemskap i studentorganisationer frivillig vid landets universitet. Malcom Turnbull, som figurerat i media under förra året i samband med nya skatter, tillsattes som parlamentssekreterare tillsammans med Andrew Robb.

Kvar på sina poster blir finansminister Peter Costello, utrikesminister Alexander Downer och hälsominister Tony Abbot. Sedan Julian McGauran hoppat av nationalistpartiet förlorar krigsveteranminister De-Anne Kelly sin post till Bruce Billson.

Oppositionledaren Kim Beazley sa i en kommenterar att det nya kabinettet bestod av "gamla välbekanta ansikten" som skiftar mellan "det oinpirerade och det inkompetenta"-


Australian Prime Minister calls federal election

The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard has announced that the Australian federal election will be held on November 24, 2007. Howard visited the Governor General of Australia Michael Jeffries earlier today and then announced the news.

Mr Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia for over ten years now, said that the country's "best years lie ahead", but only if the "right leadership" team is in power.

"Is it a Government that has a proven track record in those areas? Or is it an inexperienced group of men and women, 70 per cent of whom are former trade union officials?", Mr Howard said. "The right leadership has the experience to further expand the prosperity of the Australian economy."

"I believe very passionately that this country's best years can lie ahead of us in the years immediately ahead," he said. "In order for that to happen this country does not need new leadership, it does not need old leadership, it needs the right leadership."

Mr Howard also stated that if his party, the Liberal Party is elected into government yet again, Peter Costello will hold the place of Treasurer of Australia and Alexander Downer will take the seat of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Prime Minister announced that the writs will be issued on October 17. Consequently, following recent changes to the electoral act, Australians have until that date to ensure that they are on the electoral rolls and are able to have their vote. Voting is compulsory in Australian Federal elections.


El Primer Ministro de Australia convoca elecciones federales

14 de octubre de 2007Sídney, Australia —

El Primer Ministro de Australia, John Howard, ha anunciado las elecciones legislativas australianas, que tendrán lugar el 24 de noviembre de 2007. Howard había visitado al Gobernador General de Australia, Michael Jeffries, hoy más temprano y anunció luego la noticia.

Howard, que ha sido Primer Ministro por más de 10 años, dijo que Australia "puede vivir su mejor momento en los próximos años", pero solamente si el "liderazgo correcto" se encuentra en el poder.

"¿Es el Gobierno el que ha probado antecedentes en esas áreas? ¿O es el grupo inexeperimentado de hombres y mujeres, del cual 70 por ciento son antiguos oficiales de sindicatos?", preguntó Howard sarcásticamente. "El liderazgo correcto tiene la experiencia para expandir más aún la prosperidad de la economía australiana."

"Creo con pasión que este país puede vivir su mejor momento en los próximos años", declaró. "Para que esto ocurra, este país no necesita un liderazgo nuevo, no necesita un liderazgo viejo, necesita el liderazgo correcto."

Howard también afirmó que si su partido político, el Partido Liberal, es elegido nuevamente para el gobierno, Peter Costello será quien sea elegido para el oficio de w:Tesorero de Australia, mientras que Alexander Downer será quien ocupe el lugar de Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores.

El Primer Ministro anunció que la orden judicial será emitida el 17 de octubre. Consecuentemente, los australianos tendrán hasta aquella fecha para asegurarse que se encuentran en la lista electoral y serán capaces de tener su voto. El voto es obligatorio para las elecciones federales de Australia.


Australie : le Premier ministre annonce des élections fédérales

Le Premier ministre australien, John Howard, a annoncé que les élections fédérales australiennes de 2007 se tiendront le 24 novembre 2007. John Howard s'était rendu chez le Gouverneur général d'Australie Michael Jeffery plus tôt dans la journée puis a annoncé la nouvelle.

John Howard, Premier ministre australien depuis plus de 10 ans maintenant, a indiqué que les « meilleures années sont à venir » pour le pays, mais seulement si la « bonne direction » est au pouvoir.

« Sera-ce un Gouvernement qui a fait déjà ses preuves dans l'exercice du pourvoir ? Ou sera-ce un groupe inexpérimenté d'hommes et de femmes, dont 70 % sont issus de l'encadrement des syndicats ? » s'est interrogé John Howard. « La bonne équipe dirigeante a l'expérience d'étendre encore plus la prospérité de l'économie australienne ».

« Je crois avec une forte conviction que les meilleurs années de ce pays peuvent être devant nous dans les prochaines années », a-t-il indiqué. « Afin que cela se réalise, ce pays n'a pas besoin de nouveaux dirigeants, ni d'anciens, mais des dirigeants adéquats ».

John Howard a aussi précisé que si son parti, le Parti libéral est reconduit au Gouvernement, Peter Costello deviendra Trésorier d'Australie (ministre de l'Économie) et Alexander Downer continuera à assurer les fonctions de ministre des Affaires étrangères.

Le Premier ministre a annoncé que les arrêts seront publiés le 17 octobre. Ainsi, suivant les modifications récentes du code électoral, les Australiens auront jusqu'à jusqu'à cette date pour vérifier qu'ils sont sur les listes électorales et capables de voter. Voter est obligatoire dans les élections fédérales australiennes.


Australian Senate passes resolution opposing death penalty in shadow of Van Nguyen execution

The Australian Senate has passed a resolution "opposing the death penalty" in response to the looming execution of Van Tuong Nguyen. The 25-year-old Australian salesman was convicted of trafficking 396 grams of heroin through Singapore, a country which has a mandatory death sentence for trafficking more than 15 grams of heroin.

There was some argument in the Senate, however, over the exact wording of the resolution. The motion, as originally moved by Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens, expressed the government's "abhorrence of the death penalty."

Senator Chris Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs, moved to substitute "abhorrence of" for "opposition to."

Greens members and Australian Democrat members were angered at this. "Should we just say 'We oppose that but we don't abhor it'...Is trade so important that we cannot speak our mind on utterly important matters of life and death[?]" Senator Brown asked.

There was confusion about whether the Australian Labor Party supported the Government amendment.

Australian Democrat's Senator Natasha Stott Despoja made her opposition to the amendment clear. "What is wrong with this place? How can two major parties be such wimps and wimp out on this word? If 'wimp' is considered inappropriate, I could say 'weak',
'timorous' or 'ineffectual'," she said. She later apologised to the Labor Party and redirected her criticism to the Government.

Senator Ellison later said, "when you look at international instruments, you do not often find the language of emotion. You do not often find language which is colourful or extreme. You find language which spells out the situation...We should not bring emotion into the debate which could well hamper other efforts being made in relation to the Van Nguyen matter."

A division on the amendment was called and the motion was amended in the Government's favour, 34 to 30. The amended motion was then carried.


Australiens senat antog resolution mot dödsstraff

30 november 2005 Den australiensiska senaten antog en resolution som "motsäger sig dödsstraffet" som ett svar på den hotande avrättningen av den australiensiske medborgaren Van Nguyen i Signarpore. Han har dömdes för narkotikahandel, ett brott som i Signapore är belagt med ett strängt dödsstraff.

De exakta ordvalen i resolutionen har varit föremål för viss debatt i senaten. Den ursprungliga formuleringen i den första version som lades fram av den gröne senatorn Bob Brown lydde "avsky mot dödsstraffet", en formulering som justitieministern Chris Ellison ändrade till "motstånd mot dödsstraffet".

Gröna och demokratiska ledamöter upprördes av denna ändring och Bob Brown sa: "Ska vi bara säga: 'vi är emot det men vi avskyr det inte'?", och frågade: "Är handel så viktigt att vi inte kan tala högt om så ytterst viktiga angelägenheter som liv och död?" Arbetarpartiets ställningstagande i formuleringsfrågan blev oklar sedan deras senator Natascha Scott Despoja sagt: "Vad är det för fel på det här stället? Hur kommer det sig att två stora partier är så menlösa att man nördar in sig på detta ord? Om 'menlös' anses opassande skulle jag kunna säga 'svag'. 'räddhågad' eller 'verkningslös'". Hon bad dock partiet om ursäkt och gjorde klart i ett nytt anförande att partiet motsatte sig regeringens ändring i texten.

Senator Ellison kommenterade senare att man i internationella handlingar sällan ser emotionella, måleriska eller extrema uttryck utan vanligtvis ett språk som tydligt beskriver situationen. Han ansåg det olämpligt att blanda in känslor i debatten, något som få negativa konsekvenser i fallet med Van Nguyen.

En enkel votering i frågan (rösträkning) utföll till regeringens fördel med siffrorna 34-30.


Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

Matthew Locke, an Australian special forces soldier with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) has been shot and killed while taking part in a 300-man special operatives attack against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The death, Australia's third combat soldier death since the Vietnam War, is the second to occur in October.

The soldier, believed to be employed in Perth, Australia in the State of Western Australia and married with an unknown amount of children, was immediately lifted from the scene by the aero-medical helicopter evacuation team and was pronounced dead early this morning after suffering critical wounds throughout his chest. It is reported that he had received "high bravery honors" just before the battle.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston was quoted saying fine details of the operation, which took place in the Orūzgān Province, would not be released as it would "aid the Taliban [and] ... add to the dangers already facing our special operations troops."

"The soldier's mates reacted to the incident by extracting the soldier from further danger and providing immediate first aid. Their courage under fire and their determination to help a fallen mate is to be commended," added Houston who also stated that no other soldiers were injured or wounded during the fighting.


Soldado australiano é morto no Afeganistão

Matthew Locke, um soldado das forças especiais australianas com o Regimento Special Air Service (SAS) foi morto à tiros enquanto tomava parte em uma operação de ataque (com aproximadamente 300 homens) contra os talibãs no Afeganistão. A morte, o terceiro combatente australiano morto desde a guerra do Vietnã, é o segundo a ocorrer em outubro.

O soldado, que se pensa ser empregado em Perth, na Austrália, no Estado da Tasmânia e casado com uma quantidade desconhecida de filhos, foi imediatamente levantada a partir da cena pelos aviões e helicóptero de evacuação médica; e para a equipe foi dado o pronunciamento da morte do soldado esta manhã depois de sofrer tiros em todo o seu peito.  É relatado que havia recebido "alta bravura honrosa" pouco antes da batalha.

O chefe da Air Chief Marshal, Angus Houston, disse após o atentado detalhes da operação, que ocorreu na Província de Orūzgān, dizendo que os soldados não iriam para seus países tão cedo, pois "eles ajudam muito no combate aos talibãs ...  e em caso de saída dos soldados, as tropas de operações especiais não teriam reforço, ficando indefesas"

"Os soldados da operaçãos reagiram rápido no momento do incidente, por remover o soldado de um maior perigo e fornecimento imediato dos primeiros socorros. Sua coragem sob fogo e a sua determinação em ajudar um caído de morte é digno de louvor", acrescentou Houston, que também afirmou que nenhum outro soldado foi ferido durante os combates.


Australian state of Victoria swears in new cabinet

At 11:20 a.m. in the Australian state of Victoria, the Governor David de Kretser started the ceremony for the swearing in of the new Brumby's cabinet, attended by family and friends of the ministers. This comes a full week after the resignation of Steve Bracks from the top position, and his deputy John Thwaites.

The ministers and their portfolios are:


El estado australiano de Victoria juramenta al nuevo gabinete

3 de agosto de 2007Victoria, Australia —

Este viernes a las 11:20 a.m. (hora local), el gobernador David de Kretser juramentó al nuevo gabinete de Brumby en una ceremonia, a la cual acudieron las familias y amigos de los ministros. El evento ocurre una semana después de que Steve Bracks renunciase a su posición, y también su diputado John Thwaites.

Los ministros son:


Austrian People's Party wins majority national election, Sebastian Kurz to become world's youngest national leader at 31

The exit polls of yesterday's snap parliamentary elections in Austria showed the centre-right Austrian People's Party ((de))German language: Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) led the election, receiving about 31% of the votes. The far-right Freedom Party of Austria ((de))German language: Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ), which received about 26% seats, is reported a likely choice to form a coalition with ÖVP, having finished narrowly third in the election. 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, leader of ÖVP, form a minority government, becoming the chancellor of the country and thereby the world's youngest national leader.

The parliamentary elections, which were scheduled to be held next year, were preponed after the current coalition with the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria ((de))German language: Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) was broken in May. FPÖ and ÖVP were in favour of snap election, which requires a majority in the parliament.

Kurz currently serves as the foreign minister of Austria. Kurz was the youngest European foreign minister when he filled the place in 2013 at the age of 27. Addressing the public after the election, Kurz said, "Today is not the day of triumph over the others, but today is out chance for real change in this country." Kurz and his party have supported stricter immigrant laws after 2015's immigrant crises. The far-right FPÖ last participated in forming a governing majority in the parliament in 2000.

After the result, current chancellor and Social Democrats' leader Christian Kern said, "We have seen a massive shift to the right in the country. During the last 24 months here, possibly more — there has been a constant and brutal right-wing political agenda carried out by political parties but honestly we cannot exclude the media from this either." ((de))German language: Wir haben gesehen, dass wir hier es mit massiven Rechtsrutsch im Land zu tun hatten, dass hier 24 Monate – vielleicht noch länger — eine permanente brutale rechte politische Themenlage vorbereitet worden ist – von politischen Parteien, aber ganz ehrlich, da kann man die Medien auch nicht ausnehmen.

According to reports, the total vote count is expected by mid-week. There were at least 800,000 absentee votes in the election. As of today, about 90% of the votes were counted, the Evening Standard reported.


Sondeos dan victoria a los conservadores en las elecciones de Austria; la ultraderecha en segundo lugar

Las primeras estimaciones dadas a conocer por la televisora pública ORF dan la victoria al conservador Partido Popular Austríaco (ÖVP) en las elecciones legislativas efectuadas este domingo. Encabezada por el ministro de Exteriores, Sebastian Kurz, la formación habría alcanzado el 30.2% votos, superando por poco al Partido de la Libertad de Austria (FPÖ) de extrema derecha.

Las encuestas a pie de urna colocan al Partido Socialdemócrata de Austria (SPÖ) en tercer lugar. Las estimaciones se basan en el 42% de votos escrutados, incluyendo estimaciones para el voto por correo. Sin embargo, la diferencia entre el FPÖ (26.6%) y el SPÖ (26.3%), del canciller Christian Kern es tan reducida que se considera un empate técnico a resolver cuando avance el escrutinio.

La difusora privada ATV da al ÖVP un 31%, 27.6% a los ultraderechistas y 25.5% a los socialdemócratas. Aunque el segundo lugar tendrá que definirse, parece una realidad que el nuevo canciller de Austria será el democristiano Kurz. Podría llegar incluso a formarse un gobierno con el FPÖ. A los tres partidos principales, se suman al menos dos de los menores (Los Verdes-La Alternativa Verde y el NEOS), que alcanzaron a superar el 4% para entrar al Parlamento.

Alrededor de 6.4 millones de austríacos estaban llamados a las urnas. Además, 890 mil personas solicitaron el voto por correo. Una eventual coalición VPÖ-FPÖ no sería una sorpresa para los austríacos, pues la campaña de Kurz ha sido básicamente una versión diluida del mensaje antiinmigración del partido ultraderechista. Por su parte, el canciller Kern ha sufrido por acusaciones en su contra de emprender una campaña sucia contra Kurz.

Kern se mostró esperanzado de que ocurriera "una sorpresa" luego de que su campaña recuperara "fuerzas en los últimos días". Mientras que el ministro Kurz declaró que "Espero conseguir un buen resultado para poder realizar un cambio real para Austria". Esta fue la segunda ocasión en que se abrió el censo electoral a los mayores de 16 años, lo que permitió alcanzar las 6.4 millones de personas con derecho a voto.


ÖVP wint Oostenrijkse verkiezingen

ÖVP wint Oostenrijkse verkiezingen

Vandaag waren de tweeëntwintigste parlementsverkiezingen in Oostenrijk. De stemlokalen sloten om 17:00. Een eerste exitpoll geeft aan dat de Oostenrijkse Volkspartij (ÖVP) − met aan het roer de 31-jarige Sebastian Kurz − de grote winnaar is, met 31,6% van de stemmen. Wanneer Kurz als kanselier van Oostenrijk, zal hij de jongste regeringsleider ter wereld zijn.

De sociaaldemocratische SPÖ lijkt tweede te worden met 26,9% van de stemmen. De rechts-populistische (volgens velen zelfs extreemrechtse) FPÖ komt op de derde plaats (eerder leken de twee nek aan nek te gaan en stond de FPÖ zelfs iets voor). De grote verliezers zijn Die Grünen; zij halen slechts 3,9% van de stemmen, wat zou betekenen dat ze de kiesdrempel deze keer niet eens halen.

De officiële uitslag zal pas in de loop van volgende week bekend worden, omdat de stemmen die per post zijn uitgebracht pas donderdag worden geteld. De voorspelde uitslag betekent hoe dan ook dat politiek rechts in Oostenrijk grote winst heeft geboekt.


Authorities impose vehicle ban on Baghdad

As of Friday, March 3, police will be ordered to confiscate any private vehicle on the roads of Baghdad during a day-time vehicle ban. The restrictions come on top of the regular night time curfew, which ends at 6 AM, when the new curfew will kick in. Despite the traffic ban, people may walk on foot to their local mosques for Friday prayers.

The curfew is part of the efforts by the Iraqi government to combat escalating violence after the bombings of the golden mosque of Sammarra on the 22nd of February. According to the BBC at least 400 people have died in the violence following the assault on the Shia shrine; the Arab network Al-Jazeera estimates this number to be at least 500.

The security situation in the country as a whole has greatly deteriorated since the attack that triggered a wave of violence between the Shiite and Sunni Muslim groups. The Iraqi administration fears that clerics might encourage violence during the day's Friday prayer, and interim prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari made an appeal on Iraqi TV for the religious leaders, asking them to "express themselves in the language of national unity."


Le couvre-feu étendu en Irak

La police irakienne imposera ce vendredi 3 mars un couvre-feu d'une journée en confisquant tous les véhicules privés qui circuleraient sur les routes de Bagdad. Ces restrictions s'ajoutent à celles habituelles du couvre-feu nocturne, qui se termine à 6 heures du matin. Malgré l'interdiction de circulation, les déplacements à pied vers les mosquées seront autorisés pour la prière du vendredi.

Ce couvre-feu vient en complément des efforts du gouvernement irakien pour enrayer l'escalade de violence après la destruction du dôme de la Mosquée d'Or de Samarra le 22 février. D'après la BBC, au moins 400 personnes sont mortes dans les affrontements récents entre chiites et sunnites. Le réseau arabe Al-Jazeera dénombre pour sa part au moins 500 victimes.

La sécurité en Irak s'est nettement détériorée depuis l'attaque du plus haut lieu de culte chiite, qui a provoqué une vague de violence entre les communautés chiites et sunnites. L'administration irakienne craint un encouragement de ces violences pendant la prière du vendredi, et le premier ministre par intérim, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a exhorté les leaders religieux à l'apaisement en déclarant à la télévision : "Ce vendredi, les imams devront parler eux-même le langage de l'unité nationale".


Myndigheterna i Bagdad inför fordonsförbud

Polisen kommer under ett endagsförbud idag att beordras att beslagta alla privata fordon på Bagdads gator. Restriktionerna är en förlängning av det vanliga nattliga utegångsförbudet som upphör klockan 6 på morgonen lokal tid. Trots förbudet är det tillåtet att vistas på gatorna för att ta sig till de lokala moskéerna för fredagsbönen.

Utegångsförbudet är en del av de irakiska myndigheternas försök att bekämpa det ökande våldet på grund av bombningen av gyllene moskén den 22 februari. Enligt BBC har minst 400 människor dödats i våldet till följd av förstörelsen av den shiamuslimska helgedomen. Den arabiska nyhetsbyrån Al-Jazeera uppskattar dödstalet till minst 500.

Säkerheten i hela landet har kraftigt försämrats eftersom attacken startade en våg av våld mellan shiamuslimska och sunniarabiska grupper. Den irakiska administrationen fruktar att präster kan uppmuntra till mer våld under fredagsbönen och den interimistiske premiärministern Ibrahim al-Jaafari uppmanade i irakisk TV de religiösa ledarna att "uttrycka sig i en ton av nationell enighet".

Denna artikel är en kort telegramartikel. Vet du mer om ämnet den beskriver kan du hjälpa till med att utvidga den.

21 juli 2010: Nyheter kort: 29 januari 2005
24 mars 2008: 4000 amerikanska soldater döda i Irak
3 mars 2008: Bilbomber dödar 19 i Bagdad
1 februari 2008: Bombdåd i Bagdad bröt nedåtgående våldstrend
24 januari 2008: Ny irakisk flagga utan Saddam Hussein
21 januari 2008: Självmordsbombare dödade 14 begravningsgäster
11 januari 2008: Amerikanska övergrepp utan fällande dom
10 januari 2008: Amerikansk militär bombade al-Qaida
6 januari 2008: Attacker mot kristna i Irak
2 april 2006: Rice och Straw gör oannonserat besök i Bagdad

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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks about Iranian presidential election protests at prayers

At Friday prayers today at the mosque of Tehran University, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei spoke about the disturbances in Iran that have followed its recent presidential election.  He stated that the elections had been fairly run, urged the opposition to stop the protests by demonstrators, and accused foreign countries, singling out the United Kingdom in particular, of interference in internal Iranian affairs.

Ali Khamenei issued a veiled warning to opposition leaders, including Mir Hossein Mousavi, who was not present in the prayer hall where Ali Khamenei was speaking, that street demonstrations were unacceptable and challenges to democracy. He stated that such street demonstrations must stop, and that if it did not, people would be held accountable.

He called the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was present in the prayer hall, a definitive victory and stated that there had been no vote-rigging, an activity that he likened to the commission of treason, pointing to the 11 million vote margin by which Mahmoud had won as evidence of this.

He accused diplomatic representatives of foreign governments to Iran of casting aside their masks of courtesy and revealing their "true enmity towards the Iranian Islamic state", saying that "the most evil of them is the British government", a statement that was greeted by roars from the crowd before him of "Death to the English!".

He blamed foreign news media, which he described as partly Zionist-controlled, for incorrectly portraying Mir Hossein as being in conflict with the Islamic establishment, saying that "[t]hey have no right to say that.  That is not true.".

He also accused the United States of hypocrisy, commenting on the contrast between U.S. President Barack Obama's letter offering better relations between the U.S. and Iran with his comments on the Iranian presidential election, and pointing to the U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, saying "We do not need any advice on human rights from them.".

He similarly contrasted, albeit without explicitly naming their source, remarks made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about human rights in Iran with the events of the FBI raid on the Branch Davidian cult's headquarters in Waco, Texas in 1993, where 75 people were killed.


İran'da gerilim

1979 devriminden bu yana en hareketli günlerini yaşayan İran'da, dini lider Ayetullah Ali Hamaney, Tahran Üniversitesi'ndeki Cuma Namazı hutbesinde açıklamalarda bulundu. Hutbeyi izleyenler arasında Mahmut Ahmedinejad'ın da olduğu bildirildi.

ABD ve Avrupa ülkelerine seslenen Hamaney seçimlerde şike ve hilenin olmadığını belirtti. %85'lik katılımın düşmanlar için büyük bir darbe olduğunu belirten Hamaney'in açıklamaları BBC, CNN gibi uluslararası televizyonlarca canlı yayınlandı. Sokaklarda yaşanan gerilimede değiney Hamaney, seçim sonuçlarının sandıktan çıkacağını sokaktan çıkmayacağını belirtti.

Öte yandan Anayasayı Koruyucular Konseyi sözcüsü Abbas Ali Kedhudai, ülkedeki herhangi 10 sandıktan 1'nin tekrar sayılabileceğini belirtti.


Ayman al-Zawahiri releases new tape

The CIA has confirmed that a tape that surfaced today is that of Ayman al-Zawahiri.

A spokesman for the CIA said, "Following technical analysis of the tape, the CIA has assessed that it is the voice of Ayman al-Zawahiri."

The tape was posted on an internet forum that has carried Al Qaeda communiqués before.

On the tape, Zawahiri read a poem called the "martyrs of jihad". He said that he dedicates it to "Muslim brothers everywhere, to the mujahedeen brothers in Islam's fortified borderlines against the Zionist-Crusader campaign in Palestine and Iraq, Afghanistan and Chechnya and to the lions chasing the crusaders' gangs and hired hands in Afghanistan's mountains and valleys and its wounded capital, Kabul."

He then went on to say, "I am honored to present this mujahedeen poem, written by Maulai Muhibbulla al-Qandahari, who carried the pen and the sword and was known in the circles of scholars and the training camps and the battlefields of jihad."

It is still unclear as to when the tape was made exactly and it is still unclear if it has anything to do with the release of Bin Laden's tape yesterday.

On the tape, Zawahiri makes no mention of the U.S. missile attacks that killed 18 people, including women and children, and is suspected of killing 4 terrorists last week.

A U.S. counterterrorism expert said there was "no reason to believe it was done recently. It could be something that someone pulled off the shelf and decided to post."

U.S. officials reasoned that the tapes release "might have been timed to assure his followers that Bin Laden was alive and well" just days after the U.S. air strikes.

On Thursday, Vice President, Dick Cheney dismissed Bin Laden's truce saying that "We don't negotiate with terrorists. I think you have to destroy them."

Cheney also said that he thinks the Al Qaeda truce appeared to be a "ploy," but also added that "it is too early to draw conclusions." He also said, "I'm not sure what he's offering by way of a truce. I don't think anybody would believe him...it sounds to me like it's some kind of a ploy. This is not an organization that's ever going to sit down and sign a truce."


CIA: Taśma z głosem al-Zawahiriego jest prawdziwa

CIA potwierdziła autentyczność wyemitowanej dziś taśmy z głosem Aymana al-Zawahiriego. Rzecznik Centralnej Agencji Wywiadowczej powiedział, że po wielu analizach taśmy, CIA stwierdziła, że głos należy do al-Zawahiriego.

Taśma została opublikowana na internetowym forum, z którego już wcześniej korzystali członkowie Al-Kaidy. W nagraniu al-Zawahiri recytuje wiersz "Męczennicy dżihadu", który dedykuje braciom muzułmanom na całym świecie, braciom mudżahedinom wzmacnianym przez Islam przeciwko krucjacie syjonistów w Palestynie, Iraku, Afganistanie i Czeczenii, a także lwom przeganiającym grupy krzyżowców i ich najemników w górach i dolinach Afganistanu i w jego ranionej stolicy, Kabulu. Na końcu przywódca Al-Kaidy dodał, że jest zaszczycony, że może zaprezentować ten wiersz, napisany przez Maulai Muhibbulla al-Kandahariego, który dzierżąc pióro i miecz był znany w kręgach uczonych, w obozach treningowych i na polach bitewnych dżihadu.

Nadal niejasne jest, kiedy taśma została nagrana i czy ma coś wspólnego z wyemitowanym w czwartek przez katarską telewizję Al-Dżazira nagraniu głosu Usamy bin Ladina. W nagraniu al-Zawahiri nie wspomina nic o amerykańskim ataku rakietowym, w którym zginęło 18 osób, w tym kobiety i dzieci. Według doniesień wśród ofiar miało być też 4 terrorystów. Według amerykańskiego specjalisty ds. terroryzmu, istnieje przypuszczenie, że taśma została nagrana znacznie wcześniej, a dopiero teraz ktoś zdecydował się ją opublikować.

W czwartek wiceprezydent USA, Dick Chaney, odrzucił ultimatum postawione przez bin Ladina w nagraniu wyemitowanym przez Al-Dżazirę. Nie negocjujemy z terrorystami – powiedział Chaney.
Wiceprezydent Stanów Zjednoczonych dodał także, że jego zdaniem propozycja Al-Kaidy to tylko taktyka, ale powiedział również, że jest za wcześnie, by wyciągać wnioski.


Ayman al-Zawahiri warns: Israel will "pay the price" for attacking muslims

Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's second in command, has released a new videotape calling for a holy war against the "Zionists and crusaders" and saying that "the war with Israel does not depend on ceasefires."

"Oh Muslims everywhere, I call on you to fight and become martyrs in the war against the Zionists and the crusaders. The war with Israel does not depend on ceasefires... It is a jihad for God's sake and will last until religion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq. My fellow Muslims, it is obvious that Arab and Islamic governments are not only impotent but also complicit...and you are alone on the battlefield. Rely on God and fight your enemies...make yourselves martyrs," said Zawahiri.

Zawahiri also said that the entire planet is an "open battlefield," and that "we [al-Qaeda] will attack everywhere." He claimed that the rockets Israel is using to take out Hezbollah are supplied by the "countries of the crusader coalition. Since they are attacking us everywhere, we will attack everywhere," he said. "We cannot just watch these shells as they burn our brothers in Gaza and Lebanon and stand by idly, humiliated," Zawahiri added.

In the video, an image of the burning World Trade Center towers could be seen in the background and the images of two other militants, Mohammed Atta and Mohammed Atef, were also present.

Zawahiri also makes reference to the three Israeli soldiers that were kidnapped saying, "The 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel's prisons do not move anything while three Israeli prisoners have shaken the world."

This is the tenth message Zawahiri has made since the beginning of 2006.


Al-Zawahirí convoca una "guerra santa" a Israel

En un vídeo emés per la cadena qatarí Al-Jazira, Aiman al-Zawahirí, un dels màxims líders de l'organització al Qaeda, va convocar a tots els musulmanes a realitzar una jihad ("guerra santa") contra Israel, els judeus i els seus aliats. Aquesta és la desena gravació de vídeo d'al Qaeda divulgada enguany i la primera des que es va desencadenar el conflicte.

Al-Zawahirí, metge egipci, va dir en la cinta, transmesa aquest dijous (27), que la seua organització no quedarà callada mentres "els atacs d'Israel continuen cremant als nostres germans", en al·lusió al  conflicte entre Israel i el grup Hesbol·là, que té com a escenari el Líban.

Tenint com a fons una imatge del World Trade Centre de Nova York en flames durant els  atacs del 11-S, el número dos del Qaida va convocar els musulmans a rebel·lar-se i convertir-se en màrtirs del yihad contra la coalició de la croada (cristiana) i Israel: "Oh, musulmans de tot arreu! Us convide a lluitar i a tornar-vos màrtirs en la guerra contra els  sionistes i els croats. La guerra contra Israel no depén d'alts el foc... és una jihad en nom de Déu i durarà fins que la religió prevalga... des d'Espanya (Al-Àndalus, segons EFE) fins a Iraq. Els meus correligionaris musulmans, és obvi que els governs àrabs i islàmics no són només impotents sinó còmplices... i esteu sols en el camp de batalla. Confieu en Déu i lluiteu contra els vostres enemics... feu-vos màrtirs".

El líder terrorista va afegir: "Les bales i les bombes que tiren contra els nostres germans a Gaza i Líban no són purament israelians, sinó que procedeixen o són finançades per tots els països de l'aliança, i per això, tots aquells que participen en el crim han de pagar el preu". "La presència de 10.000 capturats [àrabs en presons israelianes] no ha mogut a ningú, però tot el món s'ha mobilitzat després de la captura de tres soldats [israelians]".


Al-Zawahirí convoca "guerra santa" contra Israel

En un video emitido por la cadena qatarí Al-Yazira, Aymán al-Zawahirí, uno de los máximos líderes de la organización al Qaida, convocó a todos los musulmanes a realizar un yihad ("guerra santa") contra Israel, los judíos y sus aliados. Esta es la décima grabación de video de al Qaida divulgada este año y la primera desde que se desató el conflicto.

Al-Zawahirí, médico egipcio, dijo en la cinta, transmitida este jueves (27), que su organización no se quedará callada mientras "los ataques de Israel sigan quemando a nuestros hermanos", en alusión al conflicto entre Israel y el grupo Hezbolá, que tiene como escenario el Líbano.

Teniendo como fondo una imagen del World Trade Centre de Nueva York en llamas durante los ataques del 11-S, el número dos de al Qaida convocó a los musulmanes a rebelarse y convertirse en mártires del yihad contra la coalición cruzada (cristiana) e Israel: "¡Oh, musulmanes de todas partes! Os invito a luchar y a tornaros mártires en la guerra contra los sionistas y los cruzados. La guerra contra Israel no depende de altos el fuego... es una jihad en nombre de Dios y durará hasta que la religión prevalezca... desde España (Al Andalus, según EFE) hasta Iraq. Mis correligionarios musulmanes, es obvio que los gobiernos árabes e islámicos no son sólo impotentes sino cómplices... y estáis solos en el campo de batalla. Confiad en Dios y luchad contra vuestros enemigos... haceos mártires".

El líder terrorista añadió: "Las balas y las bombas que arrojan contra nuestros hermanos en Gaza y Líbano no son puramente israelíes, sino que proceden o son financiadas por todos los países de la alianza, y por ello, todos aquellos que participan en el crimen tienen que pagar el precio". "La presencia de 10.000 capturados [árabes en cárceles israelíes] no ha movido a nadie, pero todo el mundo se ha movilizado tras la captura de tres soldados [israelíes]".


Líder da Al Qaeda incita muçulmanos a fazer Guerra Santa Mundial contra os judeus

Uma liderança da Al Qaeda conclamou todos os muçulmanos a levarem adiante uma Guerra Santa (Jihad) contra Israel, todos os judeus e seus amigos, no mundo inteiro.

Ayman al-Zawahiri, médico egípcio e proeminente membro da organização terrorista Al Qaeda, disse numa fita de vídeo divulgada pelo canal de televisão árabe Al Jazira nesta quinta-feira (27) que  sua organização não ficará em silêncio enquanto "os ataques de Israel continuarem a queimar nossos irmãos", numa alusão ao conflito entre Israel e Hizbolla, e que envolve também o Líbano.

Esta é a décima fita de vídeo da Al Qaeda divulgada este ano e é a primeira desde que eclodiu o confronto entre Israel e o Hizbollah.

Zawahiri, tendo ao fundo uma imagem do World Trade Centre em chamas durante os ataques de 11 de setembro de 2001, conclamou todos os muçulmanos a se revoltar e tornarem-se mártires numa Jihad contra a coalizão cruzada e Israel: "Oh, muçulmanos de todo lugar! Convido-os a lutar e a tornarem-se mártires na guerra contra os Sionistas e os cruzados".

Zawahiri também declarou: "As balas e os foguetes que despedaçam corpos muçulmanos em Gaza e no Líbano não são só  israelitas, mas são fornecidos por todos os países da coalizão cruzada. Por causa disso, cada participante do crime pagará o preço".

E disse: "Os 10 mil  prisioneiros palestinos em prisões de Israel não moveram nada enquanto três presos israelenses sacudiram o mundo".

E acrescentou: "O mundo inteiro é um campo de batalha aberto para nós e desde que eles nos estão atacando em todo lugar, atacaremos em todo lugar. "

Zawahiri  ainda disse: "A guerra com o Israel não depende de cessar-fogos... Ele é uma Jihad pelo amor de Deus e durará até que a religião prevaleça ... da Espanha ao Iraque."


Ayman al-Zawahri releases new video tape

Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al-Qaeda's second in command, has released a new videotape.

In the tape Zawahiri says that Jesus and the Prophet Mohammed "are not sacred anymore."

Zawahiri also referred to the Prophet Muhammad cartoons saying, "they did it on purpose and they continue to do it without apologizing, even though no one dares to harm Jews or to challenge Jewish claims about the Holocaust nor even to insult homosexuals. The insults against Prophet Muhammad are not the result of freedom of opinion but because what is sacred has changed in this culture. The Prophet Mohammed, prayers be upon him, and Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, are not sacred anymore, while Semites and the Holocaust and homosexuality have become sacred.".

In the video, Zawahiri also called for Muslims to attack the west. He also said Muslims need to prevent the West from "stealing Muslims' oil.".

"(Muslims have to) inflict losses on the crusader West, especially to its economic infrastructure with strikes that would make it bleed for years. The strikes on New York, Washington, Madrid and London are the best examples. We have to prevent the crusader West from stealing the Muslims' oil which is being drained in the biggest robbery in history. Reaching power is not a goal by itself ... and no Palestinian has the right to give away a grain of the soil. The seculars in the Palestinian Authority have sold out Palestine for crumbs... Giving them legitimacy is against Islam.".


Nouvelle vidéo d'Ayman al-Zawahri

Ayman al-Zawahri, commandant en second d'Al-Qaida, a publié une nouvelle cassette vidéo.

Sur la bande, Zawahri, dit que Jesus et Mohammed "ne sont plus sacrés".

Zawahri fait référence aux caricatures en disant : "Ils les ont fait consciemment et ils continuent de le faire sans présenter leurs excuses alors même que personne n'ose blesser les Juifs ou contredire les affirmations des Juifs sur l'Holocauste voir même insulter les homosexuels. Ces insultes contre le Prophète Mohammed ne sont pas un effet de la liberté d'expression mais un changement de la notion de sacré dans cette culture. Le Prophète Mohammed et Jesus ne sont plus sacrés, alors que les Juifs, l'Holocauste et les homosexuels le sont devenus".

Sur la cassette, Zawahri appelle les Musulmans à attaquer l'Ouest. Il demande aux Musulmans d'empêcher les Occidentaux de voler "le pétrole des Musulmans".

"(Les Musulmans doivent) doivent infliger des pertes aux croisés occidentaux, surtout à leurs infrastructures économiques avec des coups qui doivent les faire saigner pendant des années. Des attaques sur New-York, Washington, Madrid et Londres sont les meilleurs exemples. Nous devons empêcher les croisés occidentaux de voler le pétrole des Musulmans par ce qui est le plus grand vol de l'histoire. Gagner le pouvoir n'est pas le but, ... et aucun Palestinien n'a le droit de donner un grain de son sol. Les laïcs (séculiers) de l'Autorité Palestinienne ont vendu la Palestine pour des ruines... Leur donner une légitimité est contre l'Islam".


Kolejne nagranie al-Zawahriego

Ayman al-Zawahri, druga pod względem znaczenia osoba w terrorystycznej organizacji Al-Kaida, opublikował nowe nagranie wideo.

W nagraniu Zawahri mówi, że Jezus i prorok Mahomet "nie są już święci". Skomentował karykatury Mahometa: "[europejskie gazety] zrobiły je celowo i nie przepraszają za nie, pomimo, że żadna z nich nawet nie śmie skrzywdzić Żydów, sprzeciwić się żydowskim twierdzeniom na temat Holokaustu a nawet obrazić homoseksualistów. Obrazy proroka Mahometa nie są wynikiem wolności opinii, ale wynikają z tego, że zmieniło się to, co jest święte w kulturze. Prorok Mahomet i Jezus Chrystus nie są już święci, podczas gdy Semi, Holokaust i homoseksualizm stały się święte".

Oprócz tego al-Zawahri wzywa muzułmanów do atakowania Zachodu i by uniemożliwili Zachodowi "kradzież muzułmańskiej ropy".


Ban Ki-moon calls for Zimbabwe elections to be postponed

Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, has said that the elections in Zimbabwe should be postponed due to the fact that Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe's main opposition party, has said that he will pull out of the race to become the president of Zimbabwe.

Ban released a statement highlighting his concerns. "The Secretary-General deeply regrets that, despite the repeated appeals of the international community, the Government of Zimbabwe has failed to put in place the conditions necessary for free and fair run-off elections," he said.

"The circumstances that led to the withdrawal of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai today from the presidential elections represents a deeply distressing development that does not bode well for the future of democracy in Zimbabwe.  The campaign of violence and intimidation that has marred this election has done a great disservice to the people of the country and must end immediately," continued the Secretary general.

He finished by saying that "the Secretary-General has discussed the situation with various leaders, including those of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  He strongly supports the statement of the Chairman of SADC that conditions do not exist for a run-off election to be held at this time and that they should be postponed."

This move by Ban Ki-moon comes after Morgan Tsvangirai called for the international community to intervene to improve the situation in Zimbabwe.


津巴布韋總統候選人退選

南非津巴布韋的反對派總統候選人茨萬吉拉伊說，由於他的支持者受到暴力攻擊，所以宣佈退出星期五舉行的第三輸總統選舉，以抗議選舉不公平。

津巴布韋今年三月進行總統大選，但由於沒有候選人能取得過半票數，選舉委員會宣布由得票領先的反對黨爭取民主變革運動領袖茨萬吉拉伊，和穆加貝在6月27日進行第二輪投票。

反對派民主變革運動的支持者，原本打算在星期日於首都舉行一次競選集會，但由穆加貝領導的執政黨的支持者，佔據了舉行集會的體育場以及通往該體育場的道路。據目擊者指，數百名揮舞棍棒、高喊口號的青年包圍了體育館，他們專門攻擊反對派活動者，導致多人嚴重受傷。並指非洲選舉監督員也被這些青年從會場趕走。

民主變革運動說，已有至少70名反對派支持者在第二輪投票前被殺害。但穆加貝總統指，這些暴力事件是由反對派製造的。


Ban Ki-moon leads contest for next UN Secretary-General: Poll

South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki-moon emerged as the likely successor to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday when an unofficial poll of Security Council members resulted in Ban being the only candidate to avoid a possible veto by one of the five permanent members of the council.

A formal ballot to choose the next Secretary-General has been scheduled for October 9. The Security Council's recommendation will then go to the UN General Assembly for ratification which is usually a formality. Annan's term ends on December 31, 2006.

The 15 members of the council voted "encourage", "discourage" or "no opinion" beside each candidate's name on Monday's straw vote. The ballot was secret, however the five permanent members of the council who have veto rights, the United Kingdom, United States, France, China and Russia, voted on a blue ballot paper in order to demonstrate which candidates, if any, could escape a veto in the formal vote.

Ban received 14 "encourage" votes, 1 "no opinion" and no "discourage" or veto votes. Every other candidate received a veto from one of the five permanent members. Ban, 62, has won all four Security Council straw votes which have been held over the past several months but Monday's vote was the first straw poll which distinguished votes by veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council from votes cast by the other ten members.

Following the release of the vote results, India's Shashi Tharoor announced his withdrawal as a candidate saying of Ban "It is clear that he will be our next secretary general."

"It is a great honour and a huge responsibility to be secretary-general, and I wish Mr Ban every success in that task," said Tharoor.

Tharoor had placed second in the race receiving 10 "encourage" votes and three "discourages", one of which was from a country with a veto.

"It is quite clear that from today's straw poll that Minister Ban Ki-moon is the candidate that the Security Council will recommend to the General Assembly," said Chinese ambassador Wang Guangya.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and former Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani each received four votes in favour. Ghani had three vetoes against him and Surakiart two.

The fifth candidate, Prince Zeid al-Hussein of Jordan had only two votes in favour and eight against, with one veto.

Monday's vote was not binding.


Ban Ki-moon als Nachfolger von Kofi Annan favorisiert

New York (Vereinigte Staaten), 03.10.2006 – Der derzeitige Außen- und Handelsminister Südkoreas, der 62-jährige Ban Ki-moon, wurde bei einer weiteren Probeabstimmung im UN-Sicherheitsrat von 14 der 15 Mitglieder – darunter alle fünf Vetomächte – zum Favoriten auf den Posten des UN-Generalsekretärs gewählt. Lediglich ein Land im Rat enthielt sich der Stimme. Somit wird Ban Ki-moon aller Voraussicht nach die Nachfolge des derzeitigen Amtsinhabers Kofi Annan übernehmen.

Dies war die vierte Probeabstimmung, jedoch die erste, in der die Stimmen den ständigen beziehungsweise nicht-ständigen Mitgliedern des Sicherheitsrats zugeordnet werden konnten. Die definitive Abstimmung wird noch in diesem Monat erwartet. Bei dieser muss der Kandidat neun der 15 Stimmen erlangen, ohne dabei eine Gegenstimme einer Vetomacht einzufangen. Der Sieger dieser Abstimmung wird dann der UN-Vollversammlung vorgeschlagen, die ihn dann bestätigt.

Ban hatte bereits in den vorausgegangenen Abstimmungen die Nase vorn. An zweiter Stelle rangierte der Inder Shashi Tharoor, derzeitiger UN-Generalsekretär für Kommunikation. Dieser hat Ban bereits zu seinem Ergebnis gratuliert. „Es ist klar, dass er unser nächster Generalsekretär wird“, erklärte er und zog seine Kandidatur zurück. Ban steht nun als einziger Kandidat, der noch keine Gegenstimme erhalten hat, als zukünftiger Generalsekretär schon so gut wie fest. Auf Tharoor entfielen zehn Ja- und drei Nein-Stimmen. Dahinter folgte die frühere lettische Präsidentin Vaira Vike-Freiberga mit fünf Stimmen. Insgesamt traten sechs Kandidaten an.

Annans zweite fünfjährige Amtszeit endet am 31. Dezember. Nach dem Rotationsprinzip, das zwar kein schriftliches Gesetz darstellt, aber zu den Gepflogenheiten der Vereinten Nationen gehört, folgt auf das Mandat eines Afrikaners dasjenige eines Asiaten.


Генеральным секретарём ООН будет Бан Ги Мун

Министр иностранных дел Южной Кореи Бан Ги Мун — самый вероятный претендент на пост Генерального секретаря ООН. Вчера на неофициальном голосовании в Совете безопасности ООН стало ясным, что он единственный кандидат, который может избежать вето на выборах. Все пять постоянных члена Совета безопасности одобрили его кандидатуру.

Выборы Генерального секретаря ООН назначены на 9 октября. Рекомендация Совета безопасности будет передана Генеральной ассамблее ООН, где и будет выбран новый Генеральный секретарь. Считается, что голосование на Генеральной ассамблее будет формальным. Срок полномочий нынешнего Генерального секретаря Кофи Анана истекают 31 декабря 2006 года.

15 членов Совета безопасности могли выбирать между: «За», «Против» и «Воздержался». Голосование было тайным, но постоянные члены Совета голосовали голубыми бюллетенями, чтобы было видно, который из кандидатов может быть заблокирован с помощью «вето».

Бан Ги Мун получил 14 голосов «За» и 1 — «Воздержался». Каждый из других кандидатов получил, по крайней мере, один голос против от постоянных членов Совета. Бан Ги Мун выиграл все четыре предварительных голосований в Совете безопасности, которые проводились в течение последних месяцев.

Кандидат от Индии Шаши Тарур отказался от дальнейшей борьбы, сказав, что это ясно, следующим Генеральным секретарём будет Бан Ги Мун.

«Это большая честь и огромная ответственность быть Генеральным секретарём. Я желаю успехов Бан Ги Муну», сказал Шаши Тарур.

Тарур получил 10 голосов «За» и 3 «Против», в том числе один «Против» от постоянного члена Совета.

Заместитель Премьер-министра Таиланда Суракиарт Сатиратаи получил 4 голоса «За» и 2 голоса «Против» от постоянных членов Совета.
Бывший министр финансов Афганистана Ашраф Ганди получил 4 голоса «За» и 3 голоса «Против» от постоянных членов Совета.
Принц Иордании Зохед-аль-Хусейн получил 2 голоса «За», 8 голосов «Против», в том числе один «Против» от постоянного члена Совета.

3 октября 2006 года


Ban on cluster bombs adopted by 111 countries

Today, representatives of 111 countries have adopted a formal ban on cluster bombs. The ban is to be signed and ratified by each country during December 2-3 in Oslo, Norway, the country that initiated the discussions on the ban.

Following almost two weeks of negotiations, the ban was agreed upon at a ceremony held in Dublin, Ireland. Signatories will be required to completely get rid of cluster bomb stockpiles within eight years.

Cluster bombs are characterized by the small "bomblets" that they release while falling. Many are opposed to this type of munition because the "bomblets" spread over a large area, meaning that they can easily injure or kill innocent civilians even when aimed at a specific enemy target.

Despite U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voicing his hopes that all nations would agree to the ban, many countries have boycotted the ban, including the United States, Russia, Israel, Pakistan and India. Military analyst Marc Garlasco of the organization Human Rights Watch noted that these nations will be less likely to use the munitions due to the stigma that will be attached to them.

While widely celebrated, some criticize the pact for not being strong enough in its implications. For example, signatories will still be allowed to cooperate on military operations with non-signatories.

The ban will go into effect in mid-2009.


Firmata a Dublino la convenzione internazionale contro le bombe a grappolo

111 nazioni hanno firmato a Dublino la convenzione internazionale per la messa al bando delle bombe a grappolo, i micidiali ordigni che contengono al loro interno centinaia di bombe più piccole che si sparpagliano sul territorio creando molti più danni a cose e persone. Assenti erano però i principali produttori ed utilizzatori di bombe a grappolo al mondo, ovvero Stati Uniti d'America, Russia, Cina, Israele, India e Pakistan. Tom Casey, portavoce del Dipartimento di Stato statunitense, ha spiegato che «i nostri comandanti militari sono convinti che questo tipo di arma sia assolutamente critico ed essenziale alle nostre truppe per portare a termine le missioni a loro affidate in modo sicuro e appropriato». Non si sono invece astenuti la Gran Bretagna, alleato storico di Washington, ed il Giappone, che hanno stupito tutti in quanto avevano in precedenza più volte detto di essere contrari al bando di quelle armi.

Le bombe a grappolo (cluster bomb in inglese) sono comuni bombe che esplodendo lanciano tutto attorno centinaia di bombe più piccole con lo scopo di fare più danno. Tuttavia accade molto spesso che alcune di queste "bombette" non esplodano e rimangano in terra, talvolta nascoste dalla vegetazione, diventando vere e proprie mine antiuomo che possono uccidere o mutilare anche in seguito, a conflitto finito, chi le calpesta senza vederle o le maneggia senza conoscerne la pericolosità. Questo tipo di arma è stato usato in passato in Cambogia, Kosovo, Afghanistan e Libano.

Il trattato, che verrà ufficialmente firmato a Oslo in dicembre, impegnerà i firmatari a cessare definitivamente l'uso, la produzione, la vendita e l'immagazzinaggio di quegli ordigni entro otto anni. Il patto impegna anche a provvedere all'assistenza delle vittime e alla bonifica delle aree interessate. «Da ora in poi chi usa questi ordigni avrà su di sé lo stigma della comunità internazionale, e anche solo questo è un risultato», ha detto Stephen Goose di Human Rights Watch, una delle centinaia di organizzazioni che hanno creato la Coalizione per le munizioni a grappolo, che ha sostenuto fino in fondo questa campagna.


Bangladesh elects new Prime Minister

Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has won a landslide victory in Monday's first Bangladesh election since 2001, to return the South Asian country to democracy and after two years of emergency rule under an army-backed interim caretaker government. Commission spokesman S.M. Asaduzzaman declares "she has a clear majority to govern without any other party."

Election official Humayun Kabir on Tuesday has confirmed that Hasina's Bangladesh Awami League alliance obtained a two-thirds majority in the 330-seat unicameral National Parliament, the Jatiya Sangsad. "Voter turnout was high, with about 70 percent of the 81 million eligible voters casting ballots," he added. According to Channel i, unofficial counts reveal Hasina's Bangladesh Awami League coalition got 255 seats, while former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had only 32 seats, and independents and other minor parties have had only five seats. The results have been declared in 267 of 300 seats, according to the Election Commission’s public relations officer, S.M. Asadujan.

Sheikh Hasina (শেখ হাসিনা ওয়াজেদ Shekh Hasina Oajed) was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. She has been the President of the Awami League, a major political party in Bangladesh, since 1981. She was the second female prime minister of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ [ˈbaŋlad̪eʃ]), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh (গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ Gônoprojatontri Bangladesh) is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma (Myanmar) to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south. Together with the Indian state of West Bengal, it makes up the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal.

The general election was held in Bangladesh on 29 December, after being postponed from the original date of 18 December 2008. It was originally scheduled for 21 January 2007, but postponed by two days due to demands by the opposition made in December 2006.

The general election has been contested between Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League. The Awami League has formed a 14-party alliance including Ershad's Jatiya Party, and the BNP has formed a 4-party alliance which includes the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami. Both Zia and Hasina, however, still have pending corruption charges. In 2007, both were detained but were released on bail.

Bangladesh has been under the 2007 interim caretaker government (বাংলাদেশের তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সরকার). Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed (ড. ফখরুদ্দীন আহমেদ Fokhruddin Ahmed) was appointed as the Chief Adviser (Head of the Government) of the non-party interim caretaker government of Bangladesh on 12 January, 2007, amidst chaos in Bangladeshi politics. President Iajuddin Ahmed swore him into Office.

The Election Commission has earlier announced the following numbers: Registered voters: 81,130,973; Candidates: 1,538; Constituencies: 300; Registered parties: 32. International Crisis Group's Rhoderick Chalmers says “It will be very hard for the BNP to swallow the result, but it will be very hard to reject outright. Early indications were that it was a clean election. There wasn’t much possibility for rigging.”

Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, European Union's chief election observer, has reported that "what we have heard is that voting has largely been peaceful, turnout has been high and procedures were followed adequately." The EU participated among the 200,000 observers including 2,500 vote watchers from abroad. A UN-funded digital electoral roll erased 12.7 million fake election names, and this has resulted in stopping widespread vote rigging allowed in previous elections.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has issued a congratulatory statement to the Bangladesh Election Commission on the successful election. The United States has vowed "to continue to support the Bangladesh people and its new government," it added.


Bangladesh: elezioni vinte dalla Lega Awami

Si sono tenute ieri in Bangladesh le prime consultazioni elettorali dal 2001.

Le elezioni hanno portato alla schiacciante vittoria il partito laico di centrosinistra Lega Awami, guidato oggi da Sheikh Hasina, la più giovane figlia dello storico presidente Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Il suo partito ha vinto nello scontro contro il Partito Nazionalista Bengalese, anche questo guidato da una donna: Khaleda Zia, vedova di un altro presidente del Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman.

La Lega Awami ha ottenuto il 75% dei 300 seggi dell'Assemblea nazionale, ponendo fine al governo ad interim guidato dal Consulente in Capo Fakhruddin Ahmed.


哈西娜再度当选孟加拉国总理

孟加拉国前总理哈西娜在星期一的选举中获胜，赢得她的第二届任期。哈西娜是孟加拉国建国之父以及第一任总统拉赫曼的女儿。她1947年出生在一个当时还属于东巴基斯坦的小村庄。1975年8月，哈西娜的父亲及大多数家人在一次军事政变中遇难。之后哈西娜接任孟加拉国人民联盟的主席一职。在发生政变时，哈西娜和她的姐姐在国外，两人成为家中仅剩的幸存者。哈西娜在1996年领导人民联盟获取政权，但是在2001年被其主要政治对手齐亚和她领导的孟加拉国民族主义党击败。2004年，哈西娜再次死里逃生。当时，伊斯兰激进分子嫌疑人在一次政治集会中投掷了一枚手榴弹，炸死20多人，并导致数百人受伤。哈西娜则在那次爆炸中丧生了部分听力。


Bangladesh hit by several bomb explosions

Several cities and towns in Bangladesh have been rocked by around 459 small explosions occurring simultaneously.  To date at least 125 people have been injured and two people have been killed.  The two people killed were a bicycle rickshaw driver in the northern town of Chapainawabganj and a 10-year-old boy in the central town of Savar.

The attacks are being blamed on the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen group. Leaflets bearing the Islamic group’s message were found near many of the homemade bombs. The group is said to want to establish an Islamic state in place of current secular laws.

The bombs were apparently made to cause limited damage.  The explosives were packed in small containers and wrapped in tape, paper or sawdust.  Explosives created for high collateral damage would typically contain nails or other items that could be used as shrapnel.

Bangladesh currently has the world's third largest Muslim population in the world. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen was banned in February after a series of bombings against non-governmental groups including holy shrines and other targets.


Centinaia di esplosioni di bombe in Bangladesh: 2 morti

Una serie di esplosioni, quasi simultanee (tra le 7 e le 7,30 ora italiana), sono avvenute nel Bangladesh.

Le esplosioni sono state più di trecento, tutte di piccolo potenziale, e hanno provocato 2 morti e il ferimento di centinaia di persone.

Tra le diverse città colpite, anche la capitale, Dacca, Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet e Mymensingh.

Fonti della polizia di Chittagong, indicano come le bombe sia state fabbricate in loco e che avevano un innesco a telecomando. L'attentato sarebbe stato rivendicato da un gruppo islamico integralista attraverso dei volantini, in cui viene richiesta l'applicazione della legge islamica.

Novanta persone sono state arrestate.

Khaleda Zia, premier del Bangladese, ha definito gli attentati: «un atto di codardia».


Barack Obama announces 2012 re-election bid

2012 United States presidential election

US President Barack Obama has released details on his plan to run for re-election next year. A video was released on Obama's official website and e-mails sent to supporters. The announced plan to run for a second term was widely expected; the campaign team are expected to file for election papers later this week.

In his e-mail to supporters Obama says, "[w]e're doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you — with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers, and friends. And that kind of campaign takes time to build."

The president also revealed a new look for his website stating, "[t]he idea is to improve upon what's worked for the past four years, scrap what hasn't, and build a campaign that reflects the thoughts and experiences of the supporters who've powered this movement."

The November 2012 election is 20 months away. Several Republican candidates hope to receive the nomination to stand against Obama but so far only one, former governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty, has made an official bid.

During the first term of his presidency Obama has seen his popularity drop with conflicts in the Middle East and Africa as well as the economic climate back home. In 2012 the unemployment rate in the United States is projected to stand at 8.3%. Although this is lower than the current 8.8%, no president since World War II has been re-elected with an unemployment figure above 7.5%.


Barack Obama anuncia su candidatura a la reelección presidencial

3 de abril de 2011Washington, Estados Unidos —

El actual mandatario de los Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, anunciará mañana mediante las redes sociales su candidatura a la reelección presidencial para el 2012.

El diario digital Político, adelantó que hay probabilidades de que Obama llene los papeles para que su candidatura quede en firme este lunes ante la Comisión Federal Electoral.

Obama realizaría el comunicado mediante mensajes de texto a sus partidarios lo cual descartaría totalmente la posibilidad de aparecer personalmente a los medios de comunicación.

Las redes sociales comentan que Obama no tiene todo a su favor, pues ha sido criticado duramente por diversas organizaciones de los derechos humanos debido a la deportación de casi un millón de indocumentados que ha realizado durante su gobierno así como la falta de una reforma migratoria que favorezca a los 12 millones de ilegales que residen en el país.

Obama ha iniciado su campaña con programas de reducción de la importación petrolera hacia otros países e invertir en programas de innovación y educación.

Al mismo tiempo califica de "necesaria" la intervención conjunta en Libia.

Una encuesta realizada por el Real Clear Politics informó que un 47,7% de los estadounidenses aprueban la labor de Obama en sus años de gobierno mientras que un 46,6% lo desaprueba.


Barack Obama effectively clinches Democratic nomination

2008 United States presidential election

Barack Obama has reportedly achieved enough Democratic Party delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination to become the Presidential candidate to face Republican Senator John McCain in the November 2008 United States elections. Obama will be the first black candidate ever to stand for the United States presidency with the backing of a major political party.

While Obama needed another 40 primary delegates coming into Tuesday's final two primaries to secure the nomination with the required 2,118 total, he was considered to be likely to achieve this through the primaries in Montana and South Dakota. However, due to the superdelegates that have gone in favor of Obama, he has achieved the needed count ahead of today's primaries. According to two anonymous Clinton campaign officials, the New York Senator believed that Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois, had done enough to win the Democratic nomination.

Hillary Clinton's campaign has denied reports that she will concede the Democratic Party of the United States primary campaign to Barack Obama during a speech tonight in New York City.

The Associated Press first reported that two campaign officials stated she would announce her concession tonight. In a statement to the press, Clinton's campaign commented in two sentences: "The AP story is incorrect. Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination this evening."

Interviewed on CNN today, Clinton's campaign manager Terry McAuliffe called reports of concession "100 percent incorrect," but stated on NBC's Today that once Obama reached the crucial delegate count of 2,118, Clinton would congratulate him and "call him the nominee". She also told NBC that, "until someone has that magic number, we're going to continue to fight for literally those 17.5 million people."

On Monday, former President Bill Clinton was quoted as saying that "this may be the last day I'm ever involved in a campaign of this kind. I thought I was out of politics, till Hillary decided to run. But it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to be able to go around and campaign for her for president." President Clinton's aides later downplayed the statement.

The decision not to terminate Clinton's campaign officially was observed to give her a bargaining and leverage tool with Obama on various matters, up to and including the possibility of Clinton being Obama's vice presidential candidate. Speaking on conditions of anonymity, a Clinton campaign official stated that all Clinton campaign staff would be paid through June 15.

Called the "Comeback Girl" for her ability to come from behind to win states when the primary campaign showed Obama beginning to take both delegate and popularity leads, Clinton had campaigned late into Monday night for the chance of still taking a final come-from-behind victory in the final two primary elections. But today, Obama took the nomination ahead of the time frame analysts had predicted.

The Barack Obama campaign website has reported that there are 31.5 more delegates required before Obama receives the nomination.

A news report released by the Boston Globe has claimed that the Clinton Campaign is indicating that "she [Clinton] will gracefully exit the stage and won't take her fight to the convention." Sources close to Clinton hinted that if asked, she would be willing to serve as Obama's running mate.


Barack Obama est le candidat officiel des démocrates

Publié le 5 juin 2008  « Notre heure est arrivée. » C'est par ces mots prononcés devant 17 000 personnes rassemblées dans un stade de Saint Paul, dans le Minnesota que Barack Obama a conclu officiellement la longue lutte des primaires dans le camp démocrate pour l'élection présidentielle américaine de 2008.

Le sénateur de l'Illinois a en effet reçu, lors de ces deux derniers jours, suffisamment de soutiens venant des « super-délégués » du parti pour prétendre à une majorité de 2 135 voix face à sa concurrente Hillary Clinton qui n'en totalise que 1 925 et n'a plus aucune chance de repasser devant.

Après une journée de réflexion, Hillary Clinton a annoncé qu'elle se retirait de la course et qu'elle apporterait, dès samedi, son soutien à Barack Obama. Selon un communiqué publié dans la soirée, « son principal message, après les remerciements à ses partisans, sera d'appeler à l'unité du parti démocrate contre le candidat républicain John McCain ». La sénatrice de New-York n'a cependant pas encore mis un terme officiellement à sa campagne qui n'est pour l'instant que « suspendue ».

De son côté, Barack Obama a commencé hier à lancer quelques pistes pour trouver son vice-président. Il a chargé trois personnalités du parti, dont Caroline Kennedy, de proposer des personnes pouvant remplir ce rôle, qui pourrait échoir à Hillary Clinton.


Barack Obama elected 44th President of the United States

The 2008 Democratic presidential nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, 47, is projected to win at least 349 electoral votes, more than enough to clinch the Presidency of the United States. Obama is the first African American to be elected President in U.S. history. His Republican opponent, Arizona senator John McCain is projected to win at least 173 electoral votes. McCain has phoned Obama to concede the election. Obama officially became the President-elect when John McCain issued his concession speech shortly after 9:00PM Mountain Time.

The Electoral College will officially elect Obama on December 15 and he will be inaugurated as the 44th President on January 20, 2009 at noon.

"We have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken and spoken clearly. This is an historic election and I realize the significance this has for African-Americans [...] Let there be no reason now, for any American should fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth," said McCain at a final event in Arizona.

Barack Hussein Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. from Kenya and Ann Dunham from Wichita, Kansas. He grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia. He graduated from high school in 1979 and attended Occidental College and Columbia University, receiving his B.A. in political science in 1983. Afterwards he moved to Chicago and worked as a community organizer.

He enrolled in Harvard Law School in 1988, became the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, and graduated magna cum laude in 1991. He returned to Chicago, lecturing at the University of Chicago and practicing as a civil rights attorney.

He was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1997, and became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Illinois in March 2004. The following July, he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, catapulting him into the national spotlight.

He won election to the U.S. Senate with 70% of the vote. On February 20, 2007 he announced his candidacy for President and clinched the Democratic nomination on June 3, 2008, after a tense primary battle with Hillary Clinton. Obama is married to Michelle née Robinson, with whom he has two daughters.

At 05:00 UTC, Obama commemorated his victory with a speech to thousands in Chicago. He launched the speech by stating that his victory shows the power of democracy, the people and the United States. He then stated that people voted for him because "people believe this time must be different."

The new president-elect then praised the McCain campaign team for their work, before stating that the time for change has come.

Obama then thanked people for their work in ensuring the victory. He thanked his family, and said that even though his grandmother has passed away, she would be watching his victory from heaven. He also thanked his campaign organizer, chief strategist and staff members who ensured his victory in this election. Obama then thanked the people who have donated or volunteered for his campaign.

The new leader then said that an Obama government is a government of the people, for the people and by the people, before warning that there would be a long steep road ahead for his office, and stating that all his goals may not even be achieved in one term.

He then pledged to be honest as leader before stating that the victory is not change, but an opportunity for change, and that people must work to achieve this in this "new dawn of American leadership."He added, "change is coming to America" while speaking in front of 65,000 people.

This is a tally of all of the polls closed so far.

National turnout: