BANGKOK -- Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters poured into Bangkok on Sunday demanding that the government step down in what was one of the largest demonstrations in the recent tumultuous history of Thailand. Convoys of farmers in pickup trucks and busloads of families wearing the protesters' trademark red shirts blanketed a district of ministries and government offices. "We are here to announce class warfare, in peace and for democracy," Nattawut Saikua, a charismatic protest leader, said to a roaring crowd not deterred by the scorching sun. Organizers estimated the crowd at 250,000 people and said more were on the way by road and riverboat. The police estimated the number of protesters at 55,000 but said the number was likely to increase into the night. The protest leaders have vowed to continue their demonstration well into the week if their demands are not met. In four years of political turmoil here, the divisions in Thai society have been complex and manifold. But on Sunday, protesters and their leaders portrayed the demonstration as a struggle of the poor and disaffected against a government supported and controlled by the elite.
BANGKOK -- Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters poured into Bangkok on Sunday demanding that the government step down in what was one of the largest demonstrations in the recent tumultuous history of Thailand.
Convoys of farmers in pickup trucks and busloads of families wearing the protesters' trademark red shirts blanketed a district of ministries and government offices.
"We are here to announce class warfare, in peace and for democracy," Nattawut Saikua, a charismatic protest leader, said to a roaring crowd not deterred by the scorching sun.
Organizers estimated the crowd at 250,000 people and said more were on the way by road and riverboat. The police estimated the number of protesters at 55,000 but said the number was likely to increase into the night. The protest leaders have vowed to continue their demonstration well into the week if their demands are not met.
In four years of political turmoil here, the divisions in Thai society have been complex and manifold. But on Sunday, protesters and their leaders portrayed the demonstration as a struggle of the poor and disaffected against a government supported and controlled by the elite.
Tens of thousands of red-shirted supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed prime minister, have gathered in Bangkok to demand the government's ouster, sparking a major security operation. Riot police and soldiers guarded government offices as part of a 50,000-strong security force deployed on the streets to prevent any outbreak of violence on Sunday. Bangkok police said 45,000 protesters from the north and northeast of the country had turned up at the rally site by Saturday night. The government said it expected about 70,000 Red Shirts(the colour worn by Thaksin supporters) to attend, but the protesters have said the number will be several times higher.
Tens of thousands of red-shirted supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed prime minister, have gathered in Bangkok to demand the government's ouster, sparking a major security operation.
Riot police and soldiers guarded government offices as part of a 50,000-strong security force deployed on the streets to prevent any outbreak of violence on Sunday.
Bangkok police said 45,000 protesters from the north and northeast of the country had turned up at the rally site by Saturday night.
The government said it expected about 70,000 Red Shirts(the colour worn by Thaksin supporters) to attend, but the protesters have said the number will be several times higher.
WASHINGTON -- The looming vote for final passage of the historic health-care bill is the stiffest challenge House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has faced in his three-plus years as the lawmaker responsible for counting heads and ensuring passage of major legislation. The South Carolina Democrat has spent the past week in endless meetings and conversations with key factions of Democrats in the House of Representatives, among them black, Hispanic and the fiscally conservative "Blue Dog" lawmakers.The forthcoming health-care vote puts Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, in the tough position of securing enough Democratic support to gain final passage of a historic initiative that will help define the legacy of President Barack Obama. Thirty-nine Democrats voted against the original House health-care measure in November, 24 of them Blue Dogs. The outcome, he said, could be tighter than the 220-215 vote by which the House passed the original health-care bill in November."I need 216 votes to pass this bill," Clyburn told McClatchy. "I think I'm going to get 216 votes. It could be closer than last time. All I want is 216 votes.
WASHINGTON -- The looming vote for final passage of the historic health-care bill is the stiffest challenge House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has faced in his three-plus years as the lawmaker responsible for counting heads and ensuring passage of major legislation.
The South Carolina Democrat has spent the past week in endless meetings and conversations with key factions of Democrats in the House of Representatives, among them black, Hispanic and the fiscally conservative "Blue Dog" lawmakers.
The forthcoming health-care vote puts Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, in the tough position of securing enough Democratic support to gain final passage of a historic initiative that will help define the legacy of President Barack Obama. Thirty-nine Democrats voted against the original House health-care measure in November, 24 of them Blue Dogs.
The outcome, he said, could be tighter than the 220-215 vote by which the House passed the original health-care bill in November.
"I need 216 votes to pass this bill," Clyburn told McClatchy. "I think I'm going to get 216 votes. It could be closer than last time. All I want is 216 votes.
KABUL -- A decade ago, when the Taliban controlled the Afghan government, their militiamen -- barely motivated, untrained conscripts -- tried for five years to seize control of the entire country from more moderate forces but didn't succeed, even with the help of Osama bin Laden's Arab and other foreign volunteers. Today, although the United States and more than three dozen NATO allies and other countries are supporting Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Taliban dominate a growing swath of territory, and their power trumps the government's in three-quarters of the country.Although they're often portrayed as mindless fanatics, the militant Islamists' "life experience" from their years in the wilderness, their study of American military tactics and their analysis of the Karzai government's shortcomings have helped reverse their fortunes, U.S. intelligence experts say. With President Barack Obama sending at least 30,000 additional American troops to knock the Taliban off-balance and a U.S.-led offensive in Helmand province, a better understanding of today's Taliban is central to the effort to defeat them and to begin withdrawing some American troops from Afghanistan in summer 2011.While much is made of the recent arrests of Taliban leaders in Pakistan and the deaths of others in U.S. unmanned drone attacks, the group appears to be a movement in transition, with greater sophistication along with limited central control and considerable autonomy for its local commanders in Afghanistan.
KABUL -- A decade ago, when the Taliban controlled the Afghan government, their militiamen -- barely motivated, untrained conscripts -- tried for five years to seize control of the entire country from more moderate forces but didn't succeed, even with the help of Osama bin Laden's Arab and other foreign volunteers.
Today, although the United States and more than three dozen NATO allies and other countries are supporting Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Taliban dominate a growing swath of territory, and their power trumps the government's in three-quarters of the country.
Although they're often portrayed as mindless fanatics, the militant Islamists' "life experience" from their years in the wilderness, their study of American military tactics and their analysis of the Karzai government's shortcomings have helped reverse their fortunes, U.S. intelligence experts say.
With President Barack Obama sending at least 30,000 additional American troops to knock the Taliban off-balance and a U.S.-led offensive in Helmand province, a better understanding of today's Taliban is central to the effort to defeat them and to begin withdrawing some American troops from Afghanistan in summer 2011.
While much is made of the recent arrests of Taliban leaders in Pakistan and the deaths of others in U.S. unmanned drone attacks, the group appears to be a movement in transition, with greater sophistication along with limited central control and considerable autonomy for its local commanders in Afghanistan.
more moderate forces
Israel's prime minister has ordered an investigation into how government officials announced plans for a new Jewish housing project in East Jerusalem during a visit by Joe Biden, the US vice-president.Binyamin Netanyahu's office said he ordered the probe late on Saturday after he met with senior cabinet ministers. The announcement of Israel's approval of 1,600 new homes while Biden was visiting Israel earlier this week in a bid to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations embarrassed the US vice-president and overshadowed his visit. Netanyahu has since apologised for the bad timing of the announcement, but has given no sign he will cancel the construction orders.
Israel's prime minister has ordered an investigation into how government officials announced plans for a new Jewish housing project in East Jerusalem during a visit by Joe Biden, the US vice-president.Binyamin Netanyahu's office said he ordered the probe late on Saturday after he met with senior cabinet ministers.
The announcement of Israel's approval of 1,600 new homes while Biden was visiting Israel earlier this week in a bid to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations embarrassed the US vice-president and overshadowed his visit.
Netanyahu has since apologised for the bad timing of the announcement, but has given no sign he will cancel the construction orders.
Nigeria's police chief has said that police officials in Nigeria's central Plateau State will be held responsible for future violent incidents. Ogbonna Onovo made his comments while on a visit to the region, which has seen two massacres in just three months. "Henceforth, DPOs [district police officers] will be held responsible for any such attacks in their areas of jurisdiction," Onovo said. "We will provide more logistics and incentives to the police in Plateau State for the effective maintenance of law and order in the state." He urged police officers to act promptly on intelligence reports on such attacks and promised to help the state police command in its operations. More than 500 people, predominantly Christian villagers near the central city of Jos, were killed last week in an attack blamed on Muslim herders from nearby hills.
Nigeria's police chief has said that police officials in Nigeria's central Plateau State will be held responsible for future violent incidents.
Ogbonna Onovo made his comments while on a visit to the region, which has seen two massacres in just three months.
"Henceforth, DPOs [district police officers] will be held responsible for any such attacks in their areas of jurisdiction," Onovo said.
"We will provide more logistics and incentives to the police in Plateau State for the effective maintenance of law and order in the state."
He urged police officers to act promptly on intelligence reports on such attacks and promised to help the state police command in its operations.
More than 500 people, predominantly Christian villagers near the central city of Jos, were killed last week in an attack blamed on Muslim herders from nearby hills.
