Tycoon pursues Russian coup d'état
Exiled Russian multimillionaire, Boris Berezovsky, has disclosed that he intends to instigate a coup in the Kremlin to oust President Putin. Based in Britain, he is said to have forged close ties with, as well as have bankrolled, Russian political elites close to Mr. Putin. "It isn't possible to change this regime through democratic means", he remarked, lambasting Mr. Putin for having unstitched democratic reforms, violated the country's constitution, suffocated political opposition and monopolised the reins of power. Dmitry Peskov, the chief spokesperson for the Kremlin, last night described this proclamation as a criminal offence under Russian legislation. He also hastened that such a statement might serve to undermine Mr. Berezovsky's claim to asylum in Britain.
Iraqi parliament urged to "defy the bombers"
Parliamentary speaker, Mahmoud Mashhadani, has urged Iraqi politicians to "defy the bombers" after yesterday's attack on the building's cafeteria, located in the Green Zone stronghold of Baghdad, which left 8 dead and 23 injured. "The parliament, government and the people are all the same", al-Mashhadani proclaimed, explaining that "they are all in the same ship which, if it sinks, will make everyone sink". The meeting, which was poorly attended owing to heightened security measures in Baghdad, was marked by one minute's silence and a recitation from the Quran to commemorate those killed in the attack, while a bouquet of flowers was laid on the seat used by one of the yesterday's casualties, Sunni politician Mohammed Awad. An investigation into the incident has been launched.
Regional impact of Iraqi refugee flows
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), refugee flows from Iraq are placing a considerable strain on neighbouring countries, such as Syria and Jordan. Syria, for instance, has received roughly 1.2 million Iraqis fleeing the instability in their homeland which ensued following the US-led invasion, while a further 800,000 reside in Jordan. In the case of the latter, there is the fear, according to UNHCR's regional representative Stephane Jaquemet, "that the number is growing and that the balance between the local population and the refugee community is now quite shaky". A UNHCR conference to be held next week in Geneva is set to focus on the humanitarian requirements for the 2 million Iraqis who have been translocated by hostilities in Iraq, along with the further 1.9 million internally displaced persons.
Incremental steps to de-nuclearisation
Chief US nuclear envoy, Christopher Hill, has proclaimed that, with the resolution of a disagreement over the freezing of North Korean funds in 2005 - after the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia was accused of using these monies to finance money laundering and counterfeiting of US $100 bills, it is time for North Korea to start meeting its obligations to initiate disarming of its nuclear program. After a meeting with officials in Seoul, Hill observed that delay is no longer a matter of Macau, but rather "a matter of whether (the North Koreans) want to fulfill what they said they would do for the de-nuclearisation process". The North Korean foreign ministry has reiterated its intention to abide by the six-nation agreement signed in February, and will advance with its commitments once release of the Macau funds "is proved to be a reality".
North Korea's commitment to disarmament has meanwhile been disputed by former US deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage. It is his contention that Kim Jong-il will not institute anything irreversible, but rather delay, making small steps toward the six-nation proposals, all the while "playing a very good game" of exploiting US concessions.
Sudanese officials pursue A.U.-U.N. mission
In their pursuit of a final blueprint for the deployment of a joint UN-African Union (AU) mission in Darfur, Sudanese officials have advised Khartoum to allow the use of attack helicopters by peacekeepers. The Foreign Ministry now awaits the decision of President Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir. The UN is currently approaching a deal with Khartoum to assist the AU with an additional 3,000 UN military personnel and equipment, but so far Sudan has refused the proposal to dispatch six attack helicopters to the region, while the al-Bashir administration is also yet to commit to the next stage in the hybrid AU-UN Darfur operation, which is designed to involve 25,000 troops and police. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed that these helicopters are strictly for AU defensive purposes, and will not be employed offensively.
Omert ready to broach dialogue with Abbas
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that he is willing to discuss governmental, legal and economic structures of a Palestinian state with President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday. These "political horizon" talks are not, however, set to include, remarked Olmert's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin, "the three hardest, central issues" on its agenda: the setting of proposed Palestinian state borders, the status of Jerusalem, and the fate of Palestinian refugees. Yet, senior Abbas aide, Saeb Erekat, would not offer further details as to the schema for the talks. Sunday will mark the first dialogue between Olmert and Abbas since US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's visit to the region last month, during which the two leaders agreed to meet on a fortnightly basis in an effort to harbour more efficacious relations between Israel and Palestine. Olmert and Abbas are anticipated to discuss the fate of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit, which is said to be crucial to the future of cordial relations, although at present Abbas is not thought to be able to personally resolve this linchpin issue.
Anti-PKK operations proposed for Iraq
General Yasar Buyukanit, head of Turkey's army, has advocated a military operation into Northern Iraq, in an effort to tackle the "freedom of movement" which the region affords the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). A US State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, has criticised the statement, claiming that a cross-border operation is "not an appealing option" for Iraqi stability. There are already several large-scale operations being conducted in Turkey against the PKK, although the army is yet to submit this most recent proposal to the Turkish parliament for approval.
Rio de Janeiro requests troop presence
Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has met with military commanders to discuss a request made by the governor of Rio de Janeiro for a military presence on the city's streets, as a means of supplementing police patrols. Drug-fuelled crime has long ravaged Rio's slums, but now violence is spreading. No decision was reached yesterday, but the president will meet with commanders again next week, who have agreed to lend assistance "within the constitutional parameters".
Somali clan declares war on Ethiopia
Tribal leaders of Somalia's largest clan, the Hawai, have declared war against Ethiopian troops. A spokesperson for the Hawai clan has implored Somalis to assist them in their fight, exclaiming: "The war is not between Ethiopia and our tribe, it is between Ethiopia and all Somali people". The move threatens to undermine the already precarious Ethiopian-backed interim government. Diplomats from neighbouring nations met today in Kenya in a bid to address the escalating violence in Somalia, as well the role and cost of the AU presence in the country. They are expected to push for an increased peacekeeping force for the country.
