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Weather Guide
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Tehran
High: 35 - Low: 23
Birjand
Gorgan
Isfahan
Kashan
Sanandaj
Beirut
Bern
Islamabad
Jakarta
Sanaa
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Identification
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Published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA)
Address:
Iran Cultural & Press Institute, #212 Khorramshahr Avenue Tehran/Iran
Chief Editor:
Amir Ali Abolfath
Editorial Dept. Tel: 88755761-2
Editorial Dept. Fax: 88761869
Subscription Dept. Tel: 88329002-4
Advertising Dept. Tel: 88500616-7
Internet Address:
www.iran-daily.com
E-mail Address:
iran-daily@iran-daily.com
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Majlis Backs Nuclear Policy
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Nuclear officials are seen before a closed Majlis session in Tehran on Sunday.
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Majlis deputies in a closed session held on Sunday for reviewing the latest nuclear developments endorsed Iran’s negotiations with the Group 5+1 and the initiative in presenting a package of proposals to global powers.
Several lawmakers emphasized that the Majlis will strongly back Iran’s nuclear program. They also lauded the effective performance of the team of negotiators in talks with the six foreign powers, Fars News Agency reported.
Speaking to reporters after the closed parliamentary session, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili said European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana has announced that the 5+1 group has agreed to the general outlines in Iran’s proposals.
“If we are successful in the nuclear arena, it is because of the national consensus,“ he said, and added that the parliament has endorsed the nuclear program.
“(Majlis Speaker Ali) Larijani had asked the nuclear officials to present a report on the latest developments to the chamber. This was the topic of today’s closed meeting,“ he pointed out.
Jalili expressed satisfaction over the fact that the MPs, irrespective of their political affiliations, are united over the nuclear issue.
“É After handling the pending issues of concern to the International Atomic Energy Agency, an opportunity emerged to cooperate with some big powers about common interests and concerns. Based on this notion, we prepared a package of proposals. Of course, the nuclear issue is not the only case mentioned in the package. Iran does not have any demands in its package. The package can be negotiable and enhance cooperation through of constructive interaction,“ he noted.
Iran has declared that the commonalities of the package offered by Group 5+1 and Iran’s proposals can help serve as a prelude to resumption of talks, the top nuclear negotiator said.
“We will study their offer for continuing negotiations and will subsequently present our point of view. In addition to the proposals, the Group 5+1 has also offered a timetable for negotiations,“ he noted.
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More German Troops
For Afghanistan
German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung said on Saturday he favors bolstering Germany’s military presence in Afghanistan--currently fixed at 3,500 troops--by another 1,000 soldiers.
“We are going to formulate a new mandate ceiling, giving more flexibility to the Bundeswehr,“ or German military ground forces, said Jung in an interview on Deutschland radio, according to AFP.
He justified the proposal by the need to reinforce civil reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan, where Germany is part of the NATO-led international force.
The German Parliament is to decide later this year on prolonging Germany’s participation in the NATO force and reshaping its mission.
With troops in the Afghan capital Kabul and in the north, Germany has resisted pressure from NATO allies who want more troops in the south of the country, where fighting against Taliban insurgents is more intense.
Growing insecurity and new missions in northern Afghanistan have raised concern in Germany that its contingent is overworked and vulnerable.
Meanwhile, several militants and five soldiers from the international troops stationed in Afghanistan have been killed since early Friday as militancy has been on rise in the war-torn country.
In the first incident, four soldiers of the US-led Coalition forces were killed and two more were seriously wounded Saturday morning by roadside bombing while conducting operation in southern Afghan province of Kandahar, said a Coalition statement. However, in the statement, the Coalition forces did not disclose the identity of the soldiers, adding the identity and nationality of the service members will be released pending notification of next of kin.
The incident came just a day after a roadside bomb killed one Coalition soldier and wounded three others in western Afghan province of Farah Friday evening.
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Iraqi Bomber Strikes Gov’t Offices
A female suicide bomber struck near a government compound northeast of Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 13 people and wounding 35, police said.
Nearly 20 suicide attacks this year have been carried out by women.
The bomber detonated her explosives in front of a heavily guarded area that includes the courthouse, the post office and the governor’s offices in the city of Baqouba, a police officer said, AP reported.
The attack occurred about 1 p.m., at a time when large numbers of people were visiting the compound to get official papers or conduct other business.
A car bomb across the street from the compound killed at least 40 people last April.
The bomber on Sunday apparently had hidden an explosives belt under a traditional black Islamic robe usually worn by Iraqi women. One man who was hit by shrapnel in his hand and shoulder said the blast occurred as many people were leaving the compound ahead of the 2 p.m. close of business. “I was trying to get out of the court when the explosion took place,“ the witness said, declining to give his name because of security concerns.
“I heard some of the injured people saying they saw a woman wearing a black robe blew herself up.’’
Baqouba, 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad and the capital of Diyala province, was an Al-Qaeda stronghold until local tribal leaders joined forces with the Americans and turned against the terror network, helping to curb the violence.
Followers of Muqtada Al-Sadr accused the government on Saturday of targeting their political movement as security forces arrested 20 policemen linked to the anti-American cleric.
The arrests occurred on the third day of a security operation in Amarah, a southern Shiite city and purportedly a hub for smuggling weapons to Iraqi extremists.
Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki had promised not to arrest Sadr’s followers who were not involved in criminal activity.
But Sadr also commands the Mahdi Army group, and the line between legitimate political activity and links to the militia are often blurred.
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155 Killed in Philippine Typhoon
At least 155 people are confirmed dead and 27 missing after Typhoon Fengshen swept into the central and southern Philippines.
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Time Up for MKO
By Mohammad Asgari
The Iraqi government has again demanded that the terrorist group Mujahideen Khalq Organization, for long under American military protection, be expelled from its territory.
Baghdad has also prohibited contacts between Iraqi and/or foreign groups with the banned MKO. So, any form of interaction or relationship with MKO in Iraq is in clear breach of the laws for fighting terrorism and will be subject to judicial action.
The MKO, its commanders and agents have been based in Iraq since the early1980s and were used (depending on time and events) as champions or cannon fodder by the disgraced despot Saddam Hussein. The terror outfit did a terribly wonderful job for Saddam in silencing the opposition Iraqi Kurds in the north and Shiites to the south.
After the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation of the Arab country by the coalition forces, the Americans took direct control of the MKO as it fell in irreversible disgrace among the vast majority of the Iraqis and their newly elected leaders.
However, it is the first time that Baghdad has officially and publicly called on the Americans to relegate all affairs related to the MKO to the Iraqi government. If and when this demand is met, any link between the American military and MKO will be taken care by Iraq’s judicial apparatus.
America’s open support for and keen interest in the MKO is outrageous to say the least, especially when seen in light of the deafening noises made by the Bush crew and its predecessors regarding the “global fight against terror“.
The destructive backing from Washington and its minions in Europe and elsewhere has resulted in the MKO also interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs.
Moreover, despite a heavy catalog of MKO crimes, including murder of innocent civilians and officials, bombing public places in IranÉWashington continues to make a mockery of international law by refusing to extradite the terrorists to face justice.
It seems that America’s irresponsible support for the terrorist organization stems from serious concern in the White House that criminal proceedings against the abhorrent acts of the group will be a can of worms. It will further expose America’s three-decade-old financial and military support for one of the most detestable unlawful groups in recent times.
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