Five years after Georgia's Rose Revolution and weeks after the Russian-Georgian
War, correspondent Sonja Pace visited the Caucasus nation to check on Georgia:
Beyond the War. Our special report includes video, an interactive timeline,
slideshows and more. Follow economic news on our Global Economic Turmoil page.
And, VOANews.com, with its new community site USAVotes2008.com, will continue
to provide you with coverage on the transition from President Bush to President
Obama.
September 11 Suspects Request Guilty Plea During Pre-Trial Hearing
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Judge at detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba says five men decided to
confess on November 4, the day Barack Obama was elected to US presidency
Image reviewed by U.S. Military, shows "Camp Justice" sign near high-security
courtroom in Guantanamo, Cuba, 08 Dec 2008A US military judge at the detention
center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, says the five men accused of plotting the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have asked to plead guilty.Judge Stephen
Henley Monday read a note from the defendants, including alleged September 11
mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, asking for "an immediate hearing session to
announce our confessions."The judge then individually questioned the five
defendants, who are representing themselves, to confirm they wanted to withdraw
all pending motions and enter guilty pleas. They said they decided to confess
on November 4, the day Barack Obama was elected to the presidency.Mr. Obama has
said he wants to close the controversial Guantanamo facility after taking
office next month and try the detainees in regular US civilian or military
courts instead of the special tribunal.
Mastermind Mohammed previously wanted to be executedMohammed has previously
told the court he wants to be executed so he can become a martyr.The accused
are appearing before army Colonel Stephen Henley, who was assigned to the case
after the original judge, Ralph Kohlmann, stepped down. Kohlmann said he would
not be able to preside over the trial because it would probably still be going
on at the time of his planned retirement in April.Monday's hearing was attended
by family members of five victims of the attacks. They were chosen by the
Pentagon from more than 100 applicants. They sit in a viewing gallery at the
back of the court, separated from the defendants, whom they will not be allowed
to address.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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Pakistan Raids Suspected Militant Camp, Arrests Mumbai Suspect
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Pakistani security forces detain alleged planner of Mumbai attacks in Kashmir
while promising further cooperation with India as diplomatic pressure continues
to rise
Security forces in Pakistan have raided a suspected militant camp run by an
outlawed Islamic group that India accuses of planning last month's deadly
assaults on Mumbai.Raid took place near Muzaffarabad, the capital of
Pakistani-administered KashmirEyewitnesses say Pakistani forces conducted the
raid late on Sunday targeting the suspected militant facility near
Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir.The camp was run by
an Islamic charity, Jamat-ud dawa, regarded as a front for the outlawed
Lashkar-e-Taiba group that India identified as a prime suspect in the Mumbai
attacks.A VOA reporter in the region, Roshan Mughal, visited the scene and gave
details by telephone."I saw their military persons standing high alert. They
have taken over the camp and they are searching every local who is residing
near the camp," said Mughal. "And people in the area, they were telling [us]
that they heard explosions [and] after that they saw the rooftops of this camp
just shattered in the air. They also saw military vehicles moving around in the
area carrying the people who were arrested from this camp."
Alleged planner of Mumbai attacks detained in raid
Pakistani officials have not publicly commented but news reports quote an
official as saying one of the alleged planners of the Mumbai attacks was among
those detained in the raid. The man is identified as Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, who
is accused of giving orders by telephone to the gunmen for carrying out the
bloodshed in the Indian financial capital.
India's allegations that the attackers have links inside Pakistan have
increased tensions between the two rival nations. Pakistani leaders have
repeatedly asked for proof and have promised to cooperate with India in the
investigation to bring the militants to justice.Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf
Raza Gilani on Monday chaired the first ever meeting of his cabinet's defense
committee to discuss rising tensions with India in the wake of the Mumbai
terrorist attacks.
Pakistan to cooperate with India despite rising tensions
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Federal Information Minister Sherry
Rehman says the meeting reiterated Pakistan's resolve not to allow its soil to
be used for terrorist activity against any country."The Committee decided to
renew the offer of full cooperation with India, including intelligence sharing
and assistance in investigation as well as setting up of a joint investigative
commission," Rehman said. "The Committee was of the view that the security and
stability of South Asia is in the fundamental interests of the people of this
region. It is therefore imperative to proactively defuse the prevailing
tensions."The United States also has increased diplomatic pressure on Pakistan
to fully cooperate with India to bring the plotters of the Mumbai assault to
justice. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told at least two American
television networks this week that, as she put it, there is no doubt that
Pakistani territory was used by "non-state actors" to launch the Mumbai
bloodshed. However, she reiterated that there is no evidence linking the state
of Pakistan to the terrorist attacks that killed more than 170 people.
------------------------------------------------------
Taliban Strikes NATO Supply Depot in Pakistan
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Sunday's assault by estimated 300 fighters destroyed more than 160 trucks,
military vehicles
Pakistani firefighters extinguish smoldering trucks at a NATO container
terminal near Peshawar, 08 Dec 2008Taliban militants in Pakistan have raided
another supply depot used to support international troops in
Afghanistan as a new report estimated
Taliban fighters have a permanent presence in nearly three-quarters of
Afghanistan. In
the past two days militants have stormed two warehouses in Peshawar
that are key transport hubs for supply convoys moving between the
Pakistani port of Karachi and military bases in Afghanistan. Sunday's
assault by an estimated 300 fighters destroyed more than 160 trucks and
military vehicles. On Monday, militants targeted another depot just two
kilometers away, setting fire to about 50 shipping containers. Peshawar
straddles Taliban-dominated areas of western Pakistan and has long been
a key regional transit route. An estimated 70 percent of supplies for
foreign troops in Afghanistan pass through the area. More than 90
percent of Afghanistan's foreign food aid relies on the route. U.S.
military spokesman Colonel Jerry Ohara in Kabul downplayed the
significance of the most recent raids, but said officials continue to
consider alternate supply routes into Afghanistan. "Initial
reports indicate this equipment was for the Afghan National Army. There
are no immediate effects on our combat capability, but one of our
priorities is to get the Afghan security force to increase their
capability and capacity," he said. Boosting the capabilities of Afghanistan's
army and police remains a key part of improving security in the country.
Analysts say Afghanistan security situation is worseningBut a new report by an
international think tank said security is worsening in the country, even in the
capital Kabul. The
International Council on Security and Development said militant groups
are surrounding Kabul, endangering three of the four major roads into
the city. ICOS has been studying security issues in Afghanistan for
several years, and was previously known as the Senlis Council. ICOS Director
Paul Burton said the Taliban has a permanent presence in 72 percent of the
country, up from 54 percent last year."The
increase in the Taliban's geographic spread illustrates they are now
controlling the political and military dynamic in the country. And
their superior tactics and strategies are now proven more successful
than those used by the West," Burton said.
Officials rebuff criticismAfghan
and NATO officials have rejected the findings, saying they overstate
the Taliban's capabilities. U.N. officials who recently visited
Afghanistan called the situation "difficult", but not a security
crisis. ICOS
researchers said Taliban factions and criminal gangs are now loosely
working together to create insecurity and undermine support for the
government. The group said the Afghan government and international
troops have done little to respond to the militants' changing tactics.Analysts
recommended doubling the number of NATO troops, building a bigger jobs
creation program, and licensing some legal poppy cultivation for
morphine medicines. The
group also called for better integrating foreign military operations
and humanitarian projects by creating a joint civil-military command.
------------------------------------------------------
Obama Remains Committed to Troop Withdrawal From Iraq
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US president-elect reaffirms his intention to withdraw American combat forces
from Iraq after taking office
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has reaffirmed his intention to withdraw
American combat forces from Iraq after taking office. Mr. Obama spoke as a top
member of the Bush administration admitted that U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq
after the 2003 invasion were lacking.President-elect Barack Obama listens to a
reporter's question during a news conference in Chicago, 26 Nov. 2008While
campaigning for the presidency, Barack Obama's most often repeated pledge was
to bring home American combat forces from Iraq within 16 months of entering the
White House.Since the election, the United States and Iraq have finalized an
accord that stipulates a 2011 deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops.Speaking on
NBC television's Meet The Press program, Mr. Obama said he remains committed to
ending the Iraq War, although he gave no specific dates for doing so."One of my
first acts as president will be to bring in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to bring
in my national security team, and design a plan for a responsible drawdown,"
said Barack Obama. "When I began the campaign, there was a lot of controversy
about the idea of starting to draw down troops. Now, we have seen this
administration sign an agreement with the Iraqi government, creating a
timeframe for removing U.S. troops."The president-elect, who opposed the 2003
U.S.-led invasion of Iraq while serving as an Illinois state senator, said he
wants to act quickly but also to preserve stability in Iraq. He said there
must be a mechanism for Iraq to assume more responsibility for its security
without allowing a resurgence of terrorism in the country.In a recent
interview, President Bush said the greatest regret of his presidency was the
intelligence failure that led the United States to believe that Saddam Hussein
possessed weapons of mass destruction. In the past, Mr. Bush has admitted that
mistakes were made in attempting to secure the country after the Iraqi ruler's
ouster.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks during a joint press
conference with Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Copenhagen, 5 Dec. 2008
Speaking on the Fox News Sunday television program, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said the structure of America's presence in Iraq was not up to
the task of helping to forge a democracy while maintaining security in the face
of a violent insurgency.Rice was asked whether former Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld, who played a key role in deciding U.S. troop levels in Iraq after the
invasion, bore the blame."Look, I take responsibility for that, too," said
Condoleezza Rice. "We just did not have the right structure."At the same time,
Rice said she believes that, in the long run, the overthrow of Saddam Hussein
will prove to be what she termed "a strategic achievement" for America. She
said Iraq will be at the core of what she described as "a different kind of
Middle East".
------------------------------------------------------
French Leader Says Mugabe 'Must Go'
http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=20E62D6:2DA063D257D4393128AB7E84FCA150B45C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&;
Nicolas Sarkozy accuses Zimbabwe leader of taking his people hostage
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, 08 Dec 2008French President Nicolas Sarkozy,
the current head of the European Union, says Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe
"must go."Speaking in Paris Monday, Mr. Sarkozy accused the Zimbabwean leader
of taking his people hostage.The French leader adds his voice to other
European, African and American officials calling for immediate political change
in Zimbabwe. The country is reeling from food shortages, a breakdown of
government services, and a cholera epidemic that has killed at least 575
people.A South African government delegation is in Zimbabwe Monday to assess
ways of easing the crisis.State-run media in Zimbabwe has accused western
powers of using the health crisis as a means to rally support for Mr. Mugabe's
ouster.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters Monday in Brussels
the time has come to pressure Mr. Mugabe into leaving power and giving the
people of Zimbabwe a chance to move their country forward.Solana's comments
came just ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss what further
action to take against Mr. Mugabe's government, widely blamed for the
catastrophic state of the country.Mr. Mugabe was returned to power after a
second-round run-off presidential vote in June boycotted by the opposition,
which had won parliamentary elections. A power-sharing deal reached in
September has yet to be implemented, amid wrangling over the allocation of key
cabinet positions.
------------------------------------------------------
DRC Rebels, Government Begin Talks
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Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula pledges support of international
community, but says parties to conflict need to take responsibility
Talks aimed at finding a solution to fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo have begun in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The meeting is expected to
provide the first direct talks between the government and rebels loyal to
Laurent Nkunda, but neither Nkunda nor Congolese president Joseph Kabila are in
attendance. Kenya's Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula (file)At the opening of
the conference, the UN's special envoy, former Nigerian president Olusegun
Obasanjo, described the need for a ceasefire and agreement to allow access for
humanitarian aid in eastern Congo. Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula
pledged the support of the international community, but said the parties to the
conflict would need to take responsibility."The International Community is here
with you, to support you, to encourage you, to assist you, but at the end of
the day we expect enormous responsibility great unanimity, patriotism to your
country and above all the realization that the pictures and clips that we have
been seeing on international TV screens remains a terrible indictment to all of
us Africans, you Congolese in particular," said Wetangula.
Meeting is first opportunity for direct talks between rebels, government The
meeting offers the first possibility for direct talks between the Congolese
government and the CNDP since fighting resumed in August. But with neither
Congolese president Joseph Kabila, nor rebel leader Laurent Nkunda present, the
prospects for progress are limited. The rebel delegation is headed by Nkunda's
deputy, Serge Kambasu Ngeve, while the government is represented by Minister
for Regional Cooperation Raymond Tshibanda and the governor of North Kivu
province, Julien Paluku.Representatives from other armed groups operating in
eastern Congo have also been invited, and it remains unclear what their role
will be. The rebels have threatened to abandon the negotiations unless there
are direct talks with the government.The government, has repeatedly insisted
that any negotiation must follow the existing negotiating framework that
involves all of the 20 armed groups in the region.
January agreement has not led to peaceNkunda and the government signed a peace
agreement in January, but fighting resumed in August. So far some 250,000
people have been displaced. The United Nations said on Monday that 30,000
people have fled across the border into Uganda. After advancing to the edge of
Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, Nkunda declared a unilateral
ceasefire, and for the past month government and rebel forces have remained in
a standoff. The United Nations has approved the deployment of an additional
3,000 peacekeepers to the region. With 17,000 troops, the current peacekeeping
force is the largest in the world, but spread over a large area, has struggled
to prevent fighting.European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday
to discuss an appeal by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send a temporary
force of 3,000 European troops, who would stay until the UN reinforcements
arrived.
------------------------------------------------------
India's Ruling Congress Party Fares Well in State Elections
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Victory over BJP gives party major boost as it prepares for national elections
next year
Congress Party supporters celebrate outside residence of Delhi state Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit in New Delhi, 08 Dec 2008India's ruling Congress Party
is set to win three of five states, in recent elections, despite fears it would
suffer a political setback because of a series of terror attacks in the country
and a slowing economy. These victories will give the ruling party a major
boost, as it prepares for national elections next year. The Congress
Party, which heads the federal coalition, had much to celebrate as votes were
counted Monday from five states which chose local governments, in the past
month.The Congress Party retained hold of Delhi for a third term and emerged
victorious in the remote northeastern state, Mizoram. It is set to wrest
control of Rajasthan from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP
retained power in the central state, Madhya Pradesh and is the front-runner in
Chattisgarh. The elections in the five states were held months before the
country heads into national elections.
Criticism turns to victory for Congress PartyTwo of the states - Delhi and
Rajasthan - voted days after terror strikes in Mumbai killed 175 people and
unleashed a wave of anger across the country. The Mumbai attacks were the
latest in a series of terror strikes this year that have hit other cities,
including Delhi and the capital of Rajasthan (Jaipur). The attacks had raised
the specter of a political battering for the Congress Party, which the
opposition BJP slammed for being weak and unable to defend the nation. The BJP
had turned security into a major issue, particularly after the terror strikes
in Mumbai.But relieved Congress Party officials say its victories in Delhi and
Rajasthan show that the issue did not impact voters.
Analyst says using terror to score political points, not a good ideaScience and
technology minister and senior Congress Party leader, Kapil Sibal, says terror
is a national concern and should not have been used to score political points.
"People are far too mature, especially in cosmopolitan centers, to be taken in
by this crass propaganda," Sibal noted. "This was a national calamity and
people were expressing great national concern and in the midst of that to try
and take political advantage of it ought not to have been done by a responsible
party."
Election results viewed as setback for BJPSome political analysts called the
results a disappointment for the BJP, which had been on a winning streak in the
last year when it won several state elections. Political analyst, Swapan
Daspgupta, told television the BJP's hopes of building on its earlier successes
have suffered a setback, as it gears up for national elections next year."I
think this is a reality check for the BJP," Daspgupta said. "It is not a
disaster, it is almost a draw. The mere fact that they had expected a clean
sweep suggests it might be a disappointment for them."The Congress Party's
better-than-expected performance will give it fresh momentum and help it to
cement crucial political alliances, ahead of the national polls. The Congress
Party must hold national elections by May next year, when its five-year term
expires. The recent victories may prompt the government to call elections
sooner rather than later.
------------------------------------------------------
Asian Stocks Bounce on Global Anti-Recession Efforts
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Stocks rose because of word a deal may be nearing to avert collapse for
struggling American carmakers and because of other economic intervention by
governments around the world
Stock markets around Asia rallied to a three-week high on news that the United
States and other governments are considering bold steps to counter a global
economic slowdown. Stocks rose Monday because of word a deal may be nearing to
avert collapse for struggling American carmakers and because of other economic
intervention by governments around the world.A man walks past an electronic
stock indicator in Tokyo, Japan, 08 Dec 2008Shares jumped 7.5 percent in Seoul,
more than five percent in Tokyo and more than seven percent in Hong Kong. The
All Ordinaries in Sydney also got a boost of more than four percent.Han
Dong-wook is an analyst with Hyundai Securities, here in Seoul. He says the
market rally has to do with some positive signals investors are getting from
world capitals.He says incoming American President Obama's announcements of a
forthcoming public-spending plan to rebuild U.S. infrastructure sounds a
positive note. He says there are also signs China is getting ready to take an
active role in its economy, spending billions to cushion its economy from the
global slowdown.Stimulus efforts are already underway in other countries,
including India, South Korea and Australia. Central bankers, around the world,
are also seeking to reinvigorate lending that constricted after the failure of
several major financial firms in the United States. Congressional leaders in
Washington indicated, this weekend, a deal may be near to extend about $15
billion in emergency loans to the so-called "big three" U.S. auto
manufacturers.Pyo Han-hyeong, a researcher at Seoul's Hyundai Research
Institute, says Asian exporters do not want to see the American car industry
fail. He says a suffering auto industry is likely to make U.S. policymakers
more favorable toward trade protectionism and that would mean Asian
manufacturers would sell fewer products in the American market.Economists warn
that a one-day bounce in Asian stock markets should not be interpreted as a
sign of a global recovery. They point to dismal U.S. employment figures and
predictions from incoming President Obama, himself, that things are likely to
get worse before they get better.
------------------------------------------------------
Muslim Pilgrims Symbolically Stone Satan During Annual Hajj Ritual
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Annual pilgrimage attracts hundreds of thousands of Muslims to Saudi Arabia for
'Eid al Adha' which means 'Feast of the Sacrifice'
Muslim pilgrim throw pebbles at a stone pillar representing the devil, during
the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 08 Dec 2008Hundreds of thousands of
Muslim pilgrims are performing the ritual "stoning of the Devil," Monday, at
Muzdalifa, outside of Mecca, in one of the high points of the annual Hajj.
Pilgrims will also sacrifice a lamb to mark the day Muslims call Eid al- Adha,
or "Feast of the Sacrifice." Throngs of pilgrims cast pebbles, while some
threw much larger stones at symbolic pillars, meant to symbolize Satan, on the
Muzdalifa plain outside Mecca.Saudi religious authorities had urged Hajjis not
to congregate around the pillars, or "jumrat", all at once, to avoid any bloody
incidents or stampedes that have marred the event in previous years. Saudi
Arabia has spent more than $1 billion on a massive infrastructure project to
build multi-level bridges leading up to Muzdalifa, to allow a steady, but safe
flow of pilgrims into the area and to avoid crushing.Hajj tradition goes back
to AbrahamSaudi police and National Guard troops looked on silently as
white-cloaked pilgrims drew as close to the pillars as possible to throw their
stones, and to symbolically drive Satan away from themselves and mankind. It
is the customary belief in Islam, that Satan unsuccessfully tried to tempt
Abraham as he was on his journey to Mecca to sacrifice his son. In a special
ceremony, Saudi King Abdullah thanked his top officers for their efforts in
keeping the annual Hajj safe, and providing help and comfort to those pilgrims
who may have needed it.Saudi Arabia proud of effort to keep Hajj safeKing
Abdullah says Saudis are selfless and devoted to doing their duty, with
patience, and responsibility towards their fellow man, their religion and their
country. He thanked the Saudi armed forces, as well, for being pillars of the
nation and protecting their countrymen from evil and from terrorists with
sacrifice and courage, often falling in the line of duty as martyrs, to keep
the peace and maintain security.The Arab press reports that up to 100,000 Saudi
police and security troops have been deployed, this year, to keep the peace and
maintain security at the annual Hajj. Muslim ritual also includes sacrificing
animalAfter stoning the devil, pilgrims will go on to have their heads shaved,
before symbolically removing their two-piece white cloaks or "ihram," which
they have worn throughout the Hajj from Mecca to Mount Arafat and back.The
Hajjis will also sacrifice a lamb or goat to mark the successful completion of
their pilgrimage. For this reason the day has come to be known as Eid al Adha
throughout the Islamic world, and Muslims everywhere are sacrificing animals to
mark the occasion.In Cairo, hundreds of people gathered in most neighborhoods
to sacrifice animals, slaughtering them according to the Islamic ritual as old
men, women and children looked on, and as pools of blood filled the streets.
------------------------------------------------------
Acute Malnutrition Among Indicators Leading to Famine
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Relief agencies say the Horn of Africa is showing signs of acute food
insecurity, including the sale of family assets like livestock for survival and
migration in search of food
Relief agencies say the Horn of Africa is showing signs of acute food
insecurity, including the sale of family assets like livestock for survival and
migration in search of food. There is also a growing number of people
suffering from malnutrition. Humanitarian aid groups say more than six-million
people in the Horn may be in need of help. Health worker Margaret Aguirre was
alarmed at the sight of the little boy. His mother, named Adena, had brought
the severely malnourished seven-year-old to the therapeutic feeding center run
by the International Medical Corps. "It was quite frightening to see him - he
was skin and bones. To say his ribs were poking out is an understatement," she
said. "He could barely stand, and she had to hold him. The child is tall and
it was upsetting to see the child could not stand. His mother had to carry him
into the clinic."Health experts say families like this have run out of ways to
survive. Drought means no pasture for their livestock, which provide the
family with milk. Some sell off livestock, tools and other family assets to
buy food. Others eat seeds needed for planting or survive on foods like the
false banana, or enset, which has few calories or nutrients. By the famine
stage, families and entire communities have often left in search of food. It
was a similar situation for Ethiopia Director Aine Fay, of the Irish NGO
Concern Worldwide. She describes a child she met at one of her group's feeding
stations. "He was a one-year-old [Abraham Adwiro] and weighed 4.2 kilograms.
[The father], who had migrated in search of labor and the money, had not come
back," she said. "In the meantime, this one-year-old had deteriorated to the
point where food alone was not going to help him. We gave him both food and
medicines. He needed antibiotics for an infection."A malnourished boy is
portrayed at a feeding center in Damota Pulassa village, southern Ethiopia
(File)Concern is helping more than 50,000 children and mothers in Ethiopia.
Many children show up at any one of its many therapeutic feeding centers with
the large sores and swollen bellies of kwashiorkor, a condition linked to a
lack of protein. They may also show wasting, or marasmus. International relief
agencies are working to prevent adults and children from reaching famine
levels. That includes two deaths for every 100,000 people, due in part to a
daily consumption of less than 2,100 kilocalories of food, and four liters of
water. To alleviate acute malnutrition in Ethiopia, Concern is giving out 8.3
kilogram packages of fortified flour and a liter of cooking oil as
supplementary food for thousands of malnourished children and pregnant mothers.
Children are also given a high-nutrition formula called F75 or a high protein,
ready-to-eat peanut paste called plumpy nut.Similar help is also offered at the
supplementary feeding centers of the International Medical Corps, which also
focuses on long-term solutions to acute hunger. They include providing clean
water and sanitation, and efforts to teach people to plant nutritious foods in
their own gardens. Margaret Aguirre says the situation in Ethiopia is severe,
but she notes that there has been an improvement in rainfall recently and says
that for now, that should move some pockets of the country away from famine.
------------------------------------------------------
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