Sudan oil-war spiral could split world powers

Laaska News Apr.19, 2012
Bashir says fighting the only way to resolve differences with South Sudan 

Over 2,300 Mujahideen pledge allegiance to President al-Bashir to defend Sudan 

A SPLA (South Sudan People’s Liberation Army) soldier sits next to a machine gun on a vehicle outside a SAF compound in Heglig, on April 17, 2012 (AFP Photo / Adriane O’Hanesian) – RT

Sudan’s president has threatened to topple the government to his south to “liberate” the South Sudanese. As a bloody battle over a disputed oil field heads towards full-scale war, it threatens to provoke conflict between the US and Russia-China.

Iran, Gulf states dispute over islands

Laaska News Apr.19, 2012

Tensions are mounting between Iran and the Gulf Arab countries over 3 disputed islands near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week visited one of the islands, Abu Musa. Iran has effectively controlled the islands since 1971, when 7 Gulf emirates gained full independence from Britain and formed the United Arab

Libya freezes rewards for ex-rebels over mass fraud

Libya’s National Transitional Council has suspended a multi-million-dollar payout program to former anti-Gaddafi rebels after admitting it was steeped in fraud. Officials cited duplicate payouts, and claims from impostors and even the dead.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi ‘determined to defend himself – like Milosevic’ – RT

Laaska News Apr. 12, 2012

Saif al-Islam is seen after his capture, in the custody of revolutionary fighters in Obari, Libya November 19, 2011 (Reuters/Ammar El-Darwish).

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of the late Libyan leader, told his lawyer he was prepared to defend himself in court, just like former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. But it’s still unclear which court will try Gaddafi Jr.

Syrian govt: ‘We have begun troop withdrawal’

Laaska News  Apr. 10, 2012

By RT

An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube on April 9, 2012 shows Syrian troops deploying in Saqba on the outskirts of Damascus (AFP Photo/Youtube).- RT

The Syrian foreign minister says the Assad regime has withdrawn troops from several provinces. The president has until the end of Tuesday to pull out all forces ahead of a planned ceasefire between conflicting sides.

Renewed clashes between Libyan militias, 26 dead

At least 26 people have been killed as violence flares up once again in the western Libyan town of Zwara.
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­This comes after tensions sparked over the weekend between the Arab-majority town of Ragdalein and the Berber-dominated town of Zwara, about 110 kilometers west of the capital Tripoli.

UK to help Syrian opposition unite against Assad with £500,000

by RT.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague. (Reuters / Lucas Jackson)

The UK has announced it will allocate some £500,000 ($795,000) to supply non-military aid to the Syrian opposition. The Foreign Secretary says it will help the ‘hard-pressed’ opposition groups to register violations by the Assad government.

Libya’s ‘non state’: Tribal war claims 50 lives

50 have been killed and dozens injured in Libya as tribal groups are fighting in the country’s south. After the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is left in a condition which some residents call a ‘non state’.

Fight between Sudan and South Sudan intensifies

Continued border violence between Sudan and South Sudan has sidelined a planned presidential summit between the countries.

South Sudan’s government says Sudanese fighters have bombed towns and an area near oil fields along the border over the past two days.

Too many powers wanted Gaddafi dead – NTC head

by RT

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was wanted dead so his secrets would die with him. So insists Mahmoud Jibril, the man who led the NTC uprising to overthrow Colonel Gaddafi’s regime, in an exclusive interview with RT.

Russia backs daily truce in Syria

Laaska News  Mar. 20, 2012

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has backed a call by the International Committee of the Red Cross for a daily humanitarian truce in Syria.

Lavrov met with the president of the ICRC, Jakob Kellenberger, in Moscow on Monday.

Militia and Gaddafi loyalists clash outside Tripoli

Laaska News  Mar. 19, 2012

 

Still frame from a video uploaded to Twitter by user Libynprincess featuring clashes in Abu Salim on March 18, 2012 –   RT

At least one person was killed outside Tripoli in a fight between a powerful militia group from Zintan and local residents loyal to slain leader Muammar Gaddafi, reports the Associated Press.

Afghan massacre suspect on flight to US

An American soldier suspected of shooting 16 civilians in Afghanistan on Sunday is being moved to a military base in Kansas, say US officials.

Many Syria solutions but little agreement in out-of-sync UN

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has pleaded for a divided Security Council to “pull back from the brink of a deeper catastrophe” over Syria. But as war continues to tear apart the Middle Eastern country, diplomatic unity is nowhere to be found.

Syria denies allegations of military atrocities against civilians

DAMASCUS, March 12 (Xinhua) — Syria’s mainstream media refuted Monday allegations and amateur videos broadcasted by some Arab news TVs about atrocities committed allegedly by government troops, saying the reports came as part of the “hysterical media campaign” against Syria ahead of the upcoming UN Security Council meeting.

Syrian talks fail, but Annan is “optimistic” -RT

The UN delegation led by Kofi Annan has completed the second round of talks with Syrian President Assad. The envoy said the mutual agreement between the government and the opposition would be hard to reach, but he is optimistic.

Libya ready to use force against eastern separatists -RT

Libya’s integrity will be defended by any means – even “with force” if needed – says Libyan “transitional” leader, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. His statement comes a day after the eastern tribal leaders declared autonomy for the region.

Eastern Libya declares autonomy

Cyrenaica, the eastern region of Libya, has elected a regional congress and declared autonomy from the capital Tripoli.

Thousands of major tribal leaders and militia commanders attended a celebratory ceremony in the region’s center Benghazi.

Assad could be classified as a war criminal – Clinton

By: RT
With the US labeling the Syrian President as a “war criminal” and France calling for his prosecution in the International Criminal Court, the West appears to be ratcheting up its rhetoric against the Syrian government.

SNC ‘halfway to recognition’ by Friends of Syria – RT

Burhan Ghalioun (C), President of the SNC, at the Friends of Syria Conference in Tunis, on February 24, 2012 (AFP Photo / Pool / Jason Reed) 

The Friends of Syria meeting in Tunisia has gone halfway to recognizing the Syria’s opposition umbrella group the National Council as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. And promised more pressure and sanctions on the existing regime.