Iranian authorities said they would teach an exemplary lesson to "rioters" held in the worst unrest since the birth of the Islamic Republic and pressed accusations that violence was being incited by Western powers. "Those arrested in recent events will be dealt with in a way that will teach them a lesson," the official IRNA news agency quoted senior judiciary official Ebrahim Raisi as saying on state television late on Monday.
"Those arrested in recent events will be dealt with in a way that will teach them a lesson," the official IRNA news agency quoted senior judiciary official Ebrahim Raisi as saying on state television late on Monday.
The Iranian authorities have ordered the family of a student shot dead in Tehran to take down mourning posters as they struggle to stop her becoming the rallying point for protests against the presidential election. Neda Salehi Agha Soltan, 26, was killed as she watched a pro-democracy protest, and mobile phone footage of her last moments have become a worldwide symbol of Iran's turmoil. The authorities had already banned a public funeral or wake and have prevented gatherings in her name while the state-controlled media has not mentioned Miss Soltan's death. Today it was reported that they had also told her family to take down the black mourning banners outside their home in the Tehran suburbs to prevent it becoming a place of pilgrimage. They were also told they could not hold a memorial service at a mosque.
Neda Salehi Agha Soltan, 26, was killed as she watched a pro-democracy protest, and mobile phone footage of her last moments have become a worldwide symbol of Iran's turmoil.
The authorities had already banned a public funeral or wake and have prevented gatherings in her name while the state-controlled media has not mentioned Miss Soltan's death.
Today it was reported that they had also told her family to take down the black mourning banners outside their home in the Tehran suburbs to prevent it becoming a place of pilgrimage. They were also told they could not hold a memorial service at a mosque.
They won, so they get to write the history. I'm sure it will record their actions as consistent with islam. keep to the Fen Causeway
The Iranian opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi is under 24-hour guard by secret police and no longer able to speak freely to supporters, according to the film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Mr Makhmalbaf, 52, an informal spokesman abroad for the protest in Iran, said that Mr Mousavi was not under arrest but "he has security agents, secret police with him all the time. He has to be careful what he says."
Mr Makhmalbaf, 52, an informal spokesman abroad for the protest in Iran, said that Mr Mousavi was not under arrest but "he has security agents, secret police with him all the time. He has to be careful what he says."
The West has recently turned up the volume on its critique of Iran. But diplomats are also wary of closing the door on dialogue, particularly given the long list of regional problems. How far is too far? For a time, diplomatic reserve was the name of the game. Now though, Western governments have seemed to shed their wariness of openly criticizing Iran's leadership as it continues to face ongoing demonstrations stemming from opposition concerns of massive election fraud in the presidential vote held earlier this month. How far is too far? Western politicians are feeling domestic pressure to be more aggressive in their critique of Iran. Here, a woman at a demonstration in Los Angeles holds up Iranian currency depicting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with his eyes cut out. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have both gone on the offensive as has US President Barack Obama. All have demanded that Tehran refrain from violence and oppression as it seeks to put an end to the mass protests in the Iranian capital. On Sunday, the German government also joined in the chorus of criticism. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the violence "unacceptable" and Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a five-item catalogue of demands that includes a vote recount in the June 12 elections which saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaimed victor.
The West has recently turned up the volume on its critique of Iran. But diplomats are also wary of closing the door on dialogue, particularly given the long list of regional problems. How far is too far?
For a time, diplomatic reserve was the name of the game. Now though, Western governments have seemed to shed their wariness of openly criticizing Iran's leadership as it continues to face ongoing demonstrations stemming from opposition concerns of massive election fraud in the presidential vote held earlier this month.
How far is too far? Western politicians are feeling domestic pressure to be more aggressive in their critique of Iran. Here, a woman at a demonstration in Los Angeles holds up Iranian currency depicting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with his eyes cut out. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have both gone on the offensive as has US President Barack Obama. All have demanded that Tehran refrain from violence and oppression as it seeks to put an end to the mass protests in the Iranian capital.
On Sunday, the German government also joined in the chorus of criticism. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the violence "unacceptable" and Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a five-item catalogue of demands that includes a vote recount in the June 12 elections which saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaimed victor.
Iran's legislative body, the Guardian Council, has said there were no major polling irregularities in the 12 June election and ruled out an annulment.Opposition supporters called for the vote to be set aside and the elections re-run amid claims of vote tampering. Iran has also condemned UN chief Ban Ki-moon for "meddling" in its affairs. It comes after Mr Ban urged the authorities to respect fundamental civil rights "especially the freedom of assembly and expression". Guardian Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhoda'i said there was "no major fraud or breach in the election". Meanwhile, opposition candidate Mehdi Karoubi urged Iranians to mourn for dead protesters on Thursday.
Iran's legislative body, the Guardian Council, has said there were no major polling irregularities in the 12 June election and ruled out an annulment.
Opposition supporters called for the vote to be set aside and the elections re-run amid claims of vote tampering.
Iran has also condemned UN chief Ban Ki-moon for "meddling" in its affairs.
It comes after Mr Ban urged the authorities to respect fundamental civil rights "especially the freedom of assembly and expression".
Guardian Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhoda'i said there was "no major fraud or breach in the election".
Meanwhile, opposition candidate Mehdi Karoubi urged Iranians to mourn for dead protesters on Thursday.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's president, has said that Moscow aims to hold a peace conference before the end of 2009 to help resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. After holding talks in Cairo with Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, Medvedev said a two-state solution, the issue of settlements and a future capital would be on the agenda at the meeting. Medvedev said: "We paid special attention to Middle East issues. We highly appreciate efforts by the Egyptian president to create an atmosphere of trust and co-operation in the region. "[The] Moscow Middle East conference, which we plan to hold before the end of the year, will also contribute to achieving this goal."
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's president, has said that Moscow aims to hold a peace conference before the end of 2009 to help resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
After holding talks in Cairo with Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, Medvedev said a two-state solution, the issue of settlements and a future capital would be on the agenda at the meeting.
Medvedev said: "We paid special attention to Middle East issues. We highly appreciate efforts by the Egyptian president to create an atmosphere of trust and co-operation in the region.
"[The] Moscow Middle East conference, which we plan to hold before the end of the year, will also contribute to achieving this goal."
Nairobi -- An old man with a walking stick trudges while being guided by an aide. 'Mzee, have you been blind since childhood?,' I curiously ask. "No," says M'njau Ndei. "My eyes were gouged out for being a Mau Mau supporter.'
When in March, 1959, 11 inmates died in the Hola camp, the investigating magistrate, W. H. Goudie, blamed officially-sanctioned brutality for the deaths. So what now? Today, the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Mau Mau War Veterans Association will file a suit in London against the British Government for human rights abuses and torture. It is expected that the British Government will present a range of legal arguments to stall the case, deny responsibility or refute the allegations. The case could drag on for years.
So what now? Today, the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Mau Mau War Veterans Association will file a suit in London against the British Government for human rights abuses and torture. It is expected that the British Government will present a range of legal arguments to stall the case, deny responsibility or refute the allegations. The case could drag on for years.
The wazee are in London to make their plight known to the British public. And what will they be asking for? An apology at the very least and some form of reparation to enable them to live their sunset years with some degree of dignity, comfort and security.
Earlier this month, Zainuddin criticised Mehsud after an attack on a mosque which killed 33 people. He told Associated Press: "Whatever Baitullah Mehsud and his associates are doing in the name of Islam is not a jihad, and in fact it is rioting and terrorism". "Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism," he had said.
He told Associated Press: "Whatever Baitullah Mehsud and his associates are doing in the name of Islam is not a jihad, and in fact it is rioting and terrorism".
"Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism," he had said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is traveling to Washington this week to discuss the financial crisis and climate change with US President Barack Obama -- two issues where Germany and the US are deeply divided. In the new world order, Europe is looking increasingly irrelevant for the US. When US President Barack Obama recently met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden, he did something completely unexpected in the middle of their conversation: He deviated from the program. When high-ranking politicians meet, the program is one of the most important elements. It includes the agenda and the things a politician is expected to say. Chancellors and presidents like to stick to a program, because it gives them security.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is traveling to Washington this week to discuss the financial crisis and climate change with US President Barack Obama -- two issues where Germany and the US are deeply divided. In the new world order, Europe is looking increasingly irrelevant for the US.
When US President Barack Obama recently met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden, he did something completely unexpected in the middle of their conversation: He deviated from the program.
When high-ranking politicians meet, the program is one of the most important elements. It includes the agenda and the things a politician is expected to say. Chancellors and presidents like to stick to a program, because it gives them security.
Chancellors and presidents like to stick to a program, because it gives them security. In Dresden, Obama remained true to the program at first. But then he unexpectedly asked "Angela" why, exactly, she didn't want Turkey to be accepted into the European Union. Merkel was taken aback. She had to think on her feet and quickly come up with an answer for an issue on which she had no pre-prepared comments.
In Dresden, Obama remained true to the program at first. But then he unexpectedly asked "Angela" why, exactly, she didn't want Turkey to be accepted into the European Union.
Merkel was taken aback. She had to think on her feet and quickly come up with an answer for an issue on which she had no pre-prepared comments.
Yes, becuase she would not be able to talk about Tuky membership without pre-prepared remarks, as the topic has never come up before... She's so dumb and ... European.
The prosperity and well-being of ordinary people are more threatened than they have been in a long time, and yet Germany and its most important partner seem unable to agree on a common course.
Yes, Germany's most important partner is the USA. Right. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
