Middle east envoy Tony Blair has warned that the peace process may "go backwards", joining a chorus of foreboding as Israel's new hard-line cabinet takes office. After a long period of coalition building since Israeli elections on 10 February, Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded in forming a right-wing coalition government and was finally sworn in as Prime Minister today. Mahmoud Abbas was more open in his criticism of Netanyahu as a man who "does not believe in peace" and called for global pressure on the new Israeli government. Even Israeli President Shimon Peres has cautioned Netanyahu not to disregard international opinion, which he said was wholly behind the Palestinian demand for an independent state. Only Hamas denied any difference between the two administrations or any of the other "governments of the Zionist entity.... because all of them have killed and slaughtered our people".
The toD verdict: Netanyahu has attempted to dampen criticism, pledging to pursue peace talks with the Palestinians and Arab neighbours, but not yet endorsing Palestinian statehood. It seems likely he will publicly focus on establishing a peace treaty with Syria and improving the economic situation in the West Bank, sidestepping more contentious issues such as settlements, state borders and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
The greatest potential for provocation, however, lies with Avigdor Lieberman, the new foreign minister and the leader of the far right Yisrael Beiteinu party of the governing coalition. Lieberman has already disturbed western leaders at a handover ceremony at the foreign office by denying that Israel has any obligations under the Annapolis agreements, which outlined a two state solution for Israel-Palestine represented by Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas under the auspices of then US president George W. Bush. Arab and European leaders are likely to cold shoulder Lieberman, while courting Labour politician and Defence Minister Ehud Barak along with Netanyahu in a bid to temper Israeli foreign policy.
Pakistani and Afghan premiers in key meeting
Asif Ali Zardari and Hamid Karzai, the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan, are meeting in Turkey in an attempt to improve their countries' troubled relations and formulate a joint strategy for improving security in the region. Turkey has proved a valuable intermediary between the two nations, playing host to a breakthrough summit in December when Karzai and Zardari announced they would pursue a joint strategy in tackling the militants that thrive along the Afghan-Pakistani border. The impetus to come away with a concrete and articulate plan for tackling terrorism in the two countries could hardly be greater, following high profile militant attacks and accusations that Pakistan is "the epicentre of terrorism" made by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in today's Financial Times.
East Asia on stand-by for imminent North Korean rocket launch
North Korean has promised to shoot down any US surveillance aircraft that attempts to monitor preparations for its forthcoming missile test, one of several indications that such a launch may be imminent. State media claimed preparations were being made for "a satellite launch for peaceful purposes" and denounced US spyplane flights as a "dangerous military provocation". Daniel Pinkston, a defence analyst with International Crisis Group has further claimed that North Korea had deployed nuclear warheads at underground facilities in advance of the launch. The commercial satellite company DigitalGlobe has released images purporting to show the rocket being readied for launch at a military base in the northeast of the country. The government of North Korea has warned international bodies that the test will take place between 4 and 8 of April.
US drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan
A missile launched by a US drone has struck a Taliban training centre in Pakistan, according to reports emanating from the Taliban-controlled borderlands with Afghanistan. The use of drones by the US has been criticised by the Pakistani government as causing civilian casualties and hence prompting support for the Taliban insurgency. Pakistan Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud claimed Monday's police station siege in Lahore was in retaliation against previous drone attacks.
Sudan leader tests UN arrest warrant
Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has again defied UN authority, embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Bashir, whose arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Darfur was issued by the International Criminal Court on 4 March, has so far disregarded the ruling, attending an Arab League summit in Qatar on Monday and visiting Libya, Egypt and Eritrea in recent weeks. The arrest warrant has provoked controversy in the Arab world, with Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan president, denouncing the ICC's proclamation as "first-world terrorism" and the Arab League issuing a statement on Sunday also condemning the ruling.
Casualties on both sides in Afghanistan
Both the US and Taliban have claimed recent successes in fighting across Afghanistan. Kabul's Interior Ministry issued reports that over thirty Taliban fighters and a local commander were killed and a further twenty wounded in a joint US-Afghan raid in Helmand province, adding to yesterday's dispatch of a further thirty Taliban fighters in neighbouring Uruzgan province. The Taliban meanwhile claimed victory as three suicide bombers disguised as soldiers stormed a government building in Kandahar after a fourth militant detonated a car bomb destroying the offices gates. The attack claimed the lives of five civilians and a policeman, but was too late to target Ahmad Wali Karzai, President Karzai's brother and head of Helmand council, who had left the building just five minutes earlier.
Baghdad Awakening mutineers desist but retain arms and ammunition
Up to one third of the 250 Awakening paramilitaries who rebelled in Baghdad this weekend may have retained their weapons after they were dispersed by Iraqi police. Forces loyal to Adil al Mashadani, the Awakening leader of the Fadhil district of Baghdad, revolted after he was arrested on suspicion of ties with terrorist organisations. The confrontation raises questions regarding the autonomous power of the Sunni Awakening movements, who have been credited with improvements over the last two years in the security situation in Iraq, and the potential destabilisation that may ensue if there were any breakdown in their relations with the Shia-majority government. Security in the area is now being directly managed by US and Iraqi government forces.
