[Libya Herald] Abdulrahmen Sewehli has been re-elected as president of the State Council, with 66 votes compared to 23 for his competitor Abdulsalem Gwailah.
Via Twitter, Sewehli thanked those who voted for him, saying "democracy will prevail."
The State Council set itself up a year ago.
He was "proud of the renewed trust by HCS (State Council) and determined to continue an inclusive national reconciliation process. A good day for democracy," he added.
Mohammed Bagi was elected as First Deputy President with 58 votes, beating Saleh Makhzoum, while Mohammed Mzaib was chosen to remain in his post as the Second Deputy President.
The State Council set itself up a year ago. That's worked well since, too. I think I'll begin my papacy this June.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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[Libya Herald] The National Tebu Assembly (NTA) has rejected the Tebu-Tuareg-Awlad Sulieman peace deal signed in Rome at the end of last month, criticising what it said was blatant intervention Italia in Libyan internal affairs.
One of those who helped draw up the NTA statement said that those Tebus who had signed the Rome deal did not represent the Tebu community. They were from Qatrun, he said, while the festivities from 2011 to 2015 between Tuareg and Tebus and between Tebus and the Awlad Suleiman occurred in Obari, Sebha and Murzuk.
Last month’s peace deal was the second to be brokered in Rome involving the Tebus and the Tuareg. An initial peace deal was sponsored by the Italian Sant’Egidio community in April 2016. Last month’s deal bringing in the Awlad Suleiman and mentored by Presidency Council member Abdelsalam is said to have been fully backed by the Italian Foreign Ministry.
Saying that it understood Italia’s need to control the growing tide of migrants colonists coming from Libya, the NTA added that this did not give Rome the right to intervene in Libyan internal affairs or disregard the official channels where the Italian government could lend a help.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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[Asharq al-Aswat] The number of captives in prisons of Saleh and Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ... militias has exceeded 14, 000 since the coup that began two years ago and the invasion of a series of Yemeni provinces.
In a statement, Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights stated that around 3,000 were kidnapped including: Defense Minister Mahmoud al-Subaihi, Nasser Hadi and Mohammad Qahtan. Other political, media and rights figures were also kidnapped.
According to the statement, Saleh and Houthi militias adopted the gag policy, locked away Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! opposing parties- or suspected opposers- and transformed more than 400 public facilities into detention and torture sites.
Up to 73 individuals were killed after being tortured by the militias that have used all possible means of torture and humiliation.
The statement added that: "While the world national, regional and international institutions demand the halt of criminal acts and the prompt release of detainees, those continue with their criminal acts, arrests, torture and humiliation. "
The ministry, through its report submitted to the United Nations ...an organization originally established to war on dictatorships which was promptly infiltrated by dictatorships and is now held in thrall to dictatorships... Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in its 34th session, clarified the number of detainees and discussed with several international authorities the necessity of taking action to release the captives and reveal their fate.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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#3
Russia was already saying that some acts are unacceptable, whoch they've never done before, and they were given notice before the Tomahawks flew.
Interestingly, there was concern voiced yesterday in an interview on NPR about the fact that there has not been peer-to-peer direct communication between our guys and Russia for a number of years, i.e. going back to President Obama's time in office. So this may be articulation of a pre-existing condition.
[AnNahar] Germany is investigating 20 people for allegedly spying on followers of an exiled preacher targeted by Turkish President Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him... 's government.
"At the moment, a total of 20 accused and persons unknown are under investigation over suspicions that they worked as secret service agents on the orders of the Turkish government, and spied on followers of the Gulen movement," said Germany's interior ministry in a written reply to a query by an opposition Left party politician.
Erdogan blames U.S.-based holy manFethullah Gulen ... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world... for a failed coup last July, and has launched a sweeping crackdown against his followers.
Gulen has denied all accusations, but more than 41,000 people in The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... have been tossed in the calaboose Book 'im, Mahmoud! over suspected links to his movement.
German prosecutors last month announced a probe into claims that Turkish agents have been spying on Gulen's followers in Germany.
They have also launched an investigation into the actions of Turkish imams suspected of acting as spies under Ankara's orders.
The interior ministry did not specify in its parliamentary reply if the 20 under probe included the imams.
But the investigation of the Moslem preachers had followed raids in February on the homes of four Turkish imams who are believed to have passed on information about Gulen followers to the Turkish consulate.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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[Rooters] Dozens of Dutch citizens of Turkish descent, many linked to the opposition Gulen movement, are being prevented from leaving The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... , a Dutch foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday, confirming an earlier television report.
Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan has led a crackdown on people suspected of involvement with the movement led by exiled holy manFethullah Gulen ... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world... , which he blames for last year's failed military coup.
Public broadcaster NOS said as many as 100 Dutch citizens were unable to leave the country, but the spokeswoman said precise numbers were difficult to obtain since the ministry knew only of those who had sought consular help.
"The reasons why they have been detained are very diverse, but it looks like some of them may be connected to the Gulen movement," the spokeswoman said, adding that all those they were aware of were Turkish-Dutch dual citizens.
"We are prepared to help people who actively seek assistance," the Dutch foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that Turkish authorities had been informed. "It appears that other countries' citizens are having similar problems in Turkey."
Other European countries, including Austria and Switzerland ...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell... , have also seen citizens of Turkish descent prevented from leaving the country
Posted by: trailing wife ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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[Asharq al-Aswat] The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... has asked Germany to hand over a group of people who are suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations as Ankara accuses Berlin of providing support for terrorists.
Kurds and Gulenists? Those are the only groups President Erdogan truly considers to be terrorists. He isn't quite ready to openly describe Zionists in those terms, whatever he might think privately.
Turkish President Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him... and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused Berlin of not responding to 4,500 dossiers sent by Turkey on suspects.
Turkish officials provided additional information ‐ to a German delegation visiting Turkey ‐ about people they believe to have links to terrorist groups, Interior Ministry sources said on Tuesday.
The material has been sent to the Federal Crime Office and the BfV domestic intelligence agency for further investigation, the sources said.
It was not immediately clear if the material included additional individuals or provided further information about suspected terrorist activities.
Germany last week opened a second investigation into suspected spying by Turkey, following media reports that Turkish intelligence had given German officials a list of more than 300 supposed supporters of Fethullah Gulen ... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world... , whom Ankara accused of criminal masterminding a failed July 15 coup.
The list included telephone numbers and photographs, including some that may have been taken by hidden surveillance cameras.
Erdogan said that he proposed the issue to German Chancellor Angela Merkel ...current chancellor of Germany and the impetus behind Germany's remarkably ill-starred immigration program. Merkel used to be referred to by Germans as Mom... during her visit to Ankara in February, noting that Turkey handed over some gunnies to Germany. Yet when Turkey asks Berlin to deport suspects, the authorities do not reply and based on that Turkey will act likewise.
Tensions are running high between the two NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and structure.... allies ahead of an April 16 referendum in Turkey that proposes expanding the powers of Erdogan.
Berlin infuriated Ankara by cancelling several campaign rallies by Turkish ministers on German soil, drawing accusations from Turkey of "Nazi" tactics.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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[Ynet] Australia said on Thursday it had received information that snuffies may be planning to attack a World War One commemoration service at Gallipoli in The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... later in the month.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement that Turkish authorities were aware of the information "and traditionally provide a high level of protective security around Anzac Day commemorations on the peninsula."
Human Rights Watch on Thursday condemned Hamas, after the terrorist group executed three men in Gaza who were accused of "collaborating" with Israel.
In a statement quoted by AFP, the organization urged Hamas to stop the "barbaric" practice. As Pappy says, "Is the contributions' drive time is upon us again?"
A Russian warship entered the eastern Mediterranean Friday and was heading toward the area where two U.S. Navy destroyers launched missile strikes into Syria, Fox News has learned. The Russian frigate, Admiral Grigorovich RFS-494, crossed through the Bosphorus Strait “a few hours ago” from the Black Sea, according to a U.S. defense official.
The Russian warship is now in the eastern Mediterranean steaming in the direction of the U.S. warships. The Admiral Grigorovich is armed with advanced Kalibr cruise missiles.
It's going to have a very short, exciting life if it launches any of those at our destroyers...
The frigate was bound for the Syrian port of Tartus on a routine voyage, the Russian news agency TASS reported Friday, citing a military-diplomatic source.
"The Russian ship armed with cruise missiles Kalibr will visit the logistics base in Tartus, Syria," the source said, according to TASS.
The ship was currently near the Black Sea straits, Tass reported. The ship left on a voyage after stopping at Novorossiisk for supplies and taking part in a joint exercise with Turkish ships in the Black Sea.
So it may all be just a coincidence, if you believe in that sort of thing...
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/07/2017 12:16 ||
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#1
And the two US destroyers will pull along on either side and make a Russian Waitress Sandwich.
Posted by: Marilyn Snath8125 ||
04/07/2017 16:21 Comments ||
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#2
What? No mention of the Tug Boats deployed with Russian warship?
Posted by: Penguin of the Desert ||
04/07/2017 17:34 Comments ||
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#5
Media heavy-breathing aside, it's not steaming toward US destroyers - it's steaming towards the Mediterranean from the Black Sea, a round trip Russian ships have done many, many times because that's what big power navies do - operate in different regions of the world just so they're ready if they need to deploy there during a wartime situation.
Russia's deputy U.N. envoy, Vladimir Safronkov, warned on Thursday of "negative consequences" if the United States carries out military strikes on Syria over a deadly toxic gas attack.
"We have to think about negative consequences, negative consequences, and all the responsibility if military action occurred will be on shoulders of those who initiated such doubtful and tragic enterprise," Safronkov told reporters when asked about possible U.S. strikes.
When asked what those negative consequences could be, he said: "Look at Iraq, look at Libya."
That's not a negative consequence, that's a request that Trump not be as incompetent as Obama...
And shortly thereafter, President Trump ordered the Tomahawks loosed. So much for the tool of Putin narrative.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
I don't expect any real response from Russia. If anything it brings a weak coastal Allawitastan closer. Dependent on Russia for protection, and Russia gets the nice Med base it wants.
[An Nahar] After repeated troubles between the United Nations ...a formerly good idea gone bad... International Forces in Leb (UNIFIL) and citizens in south Leb over the forces' military vehicles patrols in some towns, UNIFIL Commander Michael Beary said on Thursday that the forces would use its military vehicles to evacuate the citizens shall a crisis erupt in the area, al-Akhbar daily reported on Thursday.
Our forces "will evacuate the citizens, women and kiddies using these very military vehicle when a crisis occurs in the south," he said during chitchats with news hounds at the headquarters in Naqoura.
Giving an example on how their vehicles are used, Beary said: "Not many know the use of these vehicle which I would like to mention here."
A few days ago, the UNFIL carried out a live exercise to evacuate its soldiers, employees and their families in the event of an incident. Although the training was a regular procedures carried out at all United Nations missions around the world, but the added measures to the recent training were striking, said the daily.
Reports said that residents of some towns in south Leb have been protesting the UNIFIL's village patrols.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] Turkish President Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him... has said he hopes U.S. President Donald Trump ...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States... will take military action in Syria after this week's chemical attack.
The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... 's state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as reacting to news reports Thursday that Trump was mulling military action after the assault in the northern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun, which killed more than 80 people.
It quoted Erdogan as saying Turkey would be prepared to do "whatever falls on us" to support possible military action. Turkey is a leading supporter of the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Terror of Aleppo ...
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
Golly. The Turks seem to have the balls it takes to stand up to indomitable Russia. Why is everyone in the world's only superpower quaking in their boots about this?
#2
It quoted Erdogan as saying Turkey would be prepared to do "whatever falls on us" to support possible military action.
...restore the Ottoman Empire! FIFY.
[An Nahar] An initial analysis of victims of the suspected chemical attack in Syria brought to The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... for treatment suggests they were exposed to the deadly nerve agent sarin, the Turkish health ministry said on Thursday.
"According to the results of the initial analysis, the findings suggest the injured were exposed to a chemical substance (sarin)," the health ministry said in a statement.
It confirmed that 31 people were being treated in southern Turkey and three had died in hospital.
The statement said according to the initial findings victims has suffered "pulmonary edema (accumulation of fluid), increase in the lung weight and blood in the lungs."
"These findings suggest there was a link between these injuries and the use of chemical weapons."
It said that the autopsies in the southern city of Adana were conducted in the presence of officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations ...the Oyster Bay money pit... Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
It said further investigations were underway at a laboratory in Ankara on samples taken from the victims. Meanwhile the OPCW was also taking samples for examination at its headquarters in The Hague, it added.
The WHO and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had previously said victims showed symptoms consistent with the possible use of a nerve agent, such as sarin.
But the statement from the health ministry was the first time the Turkish government had indicated it believed sarin was to blame.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
Sarin doesn't tend to cause pulmonary edema. Other gas agents do.
[An Nahar] The Kremlin on Thursday said US allegations that Syrian forces carried out a deadly chemical attack are not based on "objective" information.
"Any data that the American side or our colleagues in other countries could have cannot be based on objective materials or evidence," Kremlin front man Dmitry Peskov told news hounds, adding that the incident in rebel-held Khan Sheikhun was a "monstruous crime."
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
It was idiotic for Alawis to use Sarin - but they're idiots.
#3
Moscow Says US Has No Objective Data on 'Monstrous Crime' in Syria
So Russia takes Step One towards walking back their reaction to us bombing the crap out of one of Syria's air bases. They opened a path to agreement that what the US did is not bad if it can be proven that Assad gassed his people.
[An Nahar] Syria's armed forces "did not and will not" use chemical weapons, even against jihadist groups, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Thursday.
"I stress to you once again: the Syrian army has not, did not and will not use this kind of weapons -- not just against our own people, but even against the forces of Evil that attack our civilians with their mortar rounds," he said.
Muallem spoke at a presser in Damascus two days after a suspected chemical attack left at least 86 people dead in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun in northwestern Syria.
The deaths have sparked international outrage with many pointing the finger at the government of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Terror of Aleppo ... , but Muallem cast doubt on the evidence.
"The first air raid conducted by the Syrian army was at 11:30 am (0830 GMT) on that day (Tuesday) and it attacked an arms depot belonging to al-Nusra ...formally Jabhat an-Nusrah li-Ahli al-Sham (Support Front for the People of the Levant), also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant. They aim to establish a pan-Arab caliphate. Not the same one as the Islamic State, though .. ... Front that contained chemical weapons," he said.
Al-Nusra -- now known as Fateh al-Sham ...formerly al-Nusra, the current false nose and mustache of al-Qaeda in the Levant... Front -- was once al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate and is the main jihadist rival of the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... group.
"Al-Nusra Front and ISIS (IS) and other organizations continue to store chemical weapons in urban and residential areas," Muallem added.
The Syrian army denied on Tuesday that it had used chemical weapons against Khan Sheikhun, and Damascus ally Moscow said "toxic substances" may have been released when the army struck a "terrorist warehouse".
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
It wouldn't surprise me if the Turks were behind this.
#5
Remember the starving children in Somalia, that lead to Blackhawk Down (and a retreat after we had taken out most of the warlord's manpower). Never let the press set the agenda.
#7
Al Nusra & ISIL funded by U S State Dept under Hill & Kerry so Muallem is probably telling to truth.
Posted by: Sonny Darling of the Platypi5488 ||
04/07/2017 16:37 Comments ||
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#8
The false flag possibility is the one that really bugs me. I haven't particularly trusted civilian casualty reports since the Kuwaiti's admitted they lied about the Iraqis' tossing babies out of incubators and admitting later they would have said anything to get the US involved.
I just have to hope the US has better sources these days and Matthis wouldn't have gone off half-cocked without stronger evidence than media reports and the rebel's word for it.
I just wish I trusted our overly-politicized Intelligence services a bit more these days.
[An Nahar] French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Thursday that "a day will come when international justice will give its verdict on Bashir al-Assad who is massacring his people."
Speaking to news channel CNEWS, he added: "These crimes must not go unpunished. In any case, there are investigations, United Nations ...an organization conceived in the belief that we're just one big happy world, with the sort of results you'd expect from such nonsense... commissions... there will be a war crimes trial."
At least 86 people were killed on Tuesday in rebel-held Khan Sheikhun in northern Syria in a suspected chemical attack that left people choking and foaming at the mouth.
La Belle France is again pushing for a resolution at the United Nations to condemn the attack blamed by the West on Assad's regime, but Ayrault did not sound optimistic after the first discussions on Wednesday at the international body.
"It's difficult because up to now every time we have presented a resolution, there has been a veto by Russia and sometimes by China ... but we must cooperate because we need to stop this massacre," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2017 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Asharq al-Aswat] The number of captives in prisons of Saleh and 
[Asharq al-Aswat] 
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
[An Nahar] Syria's armed forces "did not and will not" use chemical weapons, even against jihadist groups, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Thursday. 
