Now you can follow VOA on Twitter! As always, VOANews.com, with its community
site USAVotes2008.com, will continue to provide you with coverage on the
transition from President Bush to President Obama. And be sure to contact VOA
to receive your free copy of the 2009 VOA Calendar! (You may also request a
copy by sending an email to [email protected].)
Guinea PM Defers to Coup Leader
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Reports from scene say Ahmed Tidiane Souare told Camara: 'We are at your
complete disposal'
Guinean PM Ahmed Tidiane Souare (L) talks to media at army camp near Conakry,
25 Dec 2008Guinea's prime minister has acknowledged the leader of this week's
coup, Moussa Camara, as the new head of the country.Prime Minister Ahmed
Tidiane Souare and about 30 other government officials turned themselves in at
an army barracks outside Conakry Thursday, after Camara announced they had 24
hours to surrender or be hunted down.Reports from the scene say Mr. Souare told
Camara, "We are at your complete disposal."The prime minister had been in
hiding since Tuesday, when Camara and fellow military officers announced their
coup following the death of Guinea's longtime President Lansana Conte.In
remarks to reporters late Wednesday, Camara declared himself the new
president. He has promised elections by the end of 2010.The military group is
planning a funeral for Mr. Conte at the main stadium and Grand Mosque on
Friday. Witnesses say life was returning to normal in the capital Thursday,
with businesses reopening and people and traffic returning to the streets. A
curfew announced Wednesday has been postponed until Friday, after the Christmas
holiday.Despite the general calm, the coup has drawn strong criticism abroad.
The United States has said it may cut off aid to the West African country if
civilian, democratic and constitutional rule is not restored. The African
Union Peace and Security Council also condemned the coup during an emergency
meeting in Ethiopia Wednesday.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Bloomberg.
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Pope Appeals for Peace in Middle East, Africa
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Benedict XVI says he hopes Christmas would bring hope to those suffering from
wars, terrorism, injustice, poverty
Pope Benedict XVI delivered his traditional Christmas Day message with an
impassioned appeal for peace in the Middle East and Africa. Pope Benedict XVI
delivers blessing during 'Urbi et Orbi' message in St. Peter's square, 25 Dec
2008.The huge crowd in Saint Peter's square cheered as the bands played the
Vatican and Italian anthems. Pope Benedict appeared at the balcony of Saint
Peter's Basilica to deliver his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" message to the City
of Rome and to the World, Pope Benedict addressed the faithful and issued a
strong appeal for peace in the Middle East and in Africa."May the divine light
of Bethlehem radiate throughout the Holy Land where the horizon seems once
again bleak for Israelis and Palestinians," the pope said.The pope mentioned
Lebanon and Iraq in particular calling for an end to the clashes and violence.
He also called for peace in Zimbabwe, Congo, Darfur and Somalia.The people of
Zimbabwe, the pope said, have been trapped for all too long in a political and
social crisis which sadly keeps worsening.
Pontiff expresses greetings in many languagesPope Benedict said he hoped
Christmas would bring hope to those suffering from wars, terrorism, injustice
and poverty. He then sent his Christmas greetings to the faithful all over the
world in 64 different languages.Pope Benedict XVI blesses children during
celebration of Christmas Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican,
25 Dec 2008On Wednesday night, thousands turned out in Saint Peter's Basilica
for the Pope's Christmas Midnight Mass. In his homily, Benedict issued an
appeal for children who are abused, forced to live on the street or serve as
soldiers. He called on the faithful to help children who are denied the love of
their parents and those who are exploited across the world.Benedict recalled
the plight of "street children who do not have the blessing of a family home."
He also spoke of minors who are victims of the industry of pornography.During
midnight mass, the pope also turned his thoughts to the Holy Land, which he is
expected to visit next May. He prayed for an end to the conflict between Israel
and the Palestinians.
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Egypt Urges Israel, Hamas to Show Restraint in Gaza Fighting
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Egyptian foreign minister made plea after President Hosni Mubarak and Israeli
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni held talks Thursday in Cairo
Egypt has urged Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to hold their
fire in order to quell an upsurge in violence along the Israel-Gaza
border.Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, greets Israeli Foreign Minister
Tzipi Livni during meeting at Presidential Palace in Cairo, 25 Dec 2008Egypt's
foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, made the plea after President Hosni
Mubarak and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni held talks Thursday in
Cairo.Aboul-Gheit says he hopes Israel and Hamas return to a cease-fire that
ended last week. But he says it will be hard for Egypt to convince the two
sides to do so as long as the violence escalates.Egypt helped mediate the
six-month cease-fire between Hamas and Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert urged Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to stop the
territory's Hamas rulers from firing rockets and mortars at Israel. Mr. Olmert
spoke in an interview with the Arab television station Al-Arabiya, a day after
Hamas militants fired more than 60 rockets and mortars into southern Israel.
Livni vowed to stop the Hamas attacks, saying "enough is enough."Israeli
defense officials say the military is preparing an operation against Hamas
targets in Gaza. Military sources have not said when it would happen, but say
it depends partly on weather conditions.Israel also has raised the alert level
for emergency rescue services, and connected all towns within 30 kilometers of
the Gaza Strip to a warning system.Hamas says it attacked Israel Wednesday to
avenge the killing of three militants by Israeli troops Tuesday. Israeli
forces killed another militant Wednesday in response to the attacks.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, AFP and AP.
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Bush, Obama Remember Troops at Christmas
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President Bush calls nine members of armed forces on Christmas Eve to thank
them for their service; President-elect Obama echoes those thoughts in official
Democratic Party response
Both U.S. President George Bush and President-elect Barack Obama are spending a
quiet Christmas out of the media spotlight with family and friends. They are
urging Americans to remember U.S. troops abroad as they celebrate this holiday
season.President George W. Bush makes his annual Christmas Eve telephone call
to US Armed Forces from his presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, 24
Dec 2008President Bush is at Camp David - the U.S. presidential retreat in the
mountains of western Maryland. President-elect Obama is in Hawaii, where he
was born and raised.They are one in spirit on this Christmas - uniting in
calling on all Americans to remember and honor U.S. troops who are far from
home for the holidays.Mr. Bush called nine members of the armed forces on
Christmas Eve to thank them for their service. All are deployed abroad,
primarily in Iraq and AfghanistanIn his weekly radio address - released early
to coincide with the holiday - Mr. Bush reflected on their love of
country."Every one of them has sacrificed to serve our nation. And with their
sacrifices, they preserve the peace and freedom that we celebrate during the
season," he said.President-elect Barack Obama (file) President-elect Obama
echoed those thoughts in the official Democratic Party response. "Our troops
and military families have won the respect and gratitude of their broader
American family," he said. "Michelle and I have them in our prayers this
Christmas, and we must all continue to offer them are full support in the weeks
and months to come."But Mr. Obama went on to stress these are also tough times
for Americans hit hard by the nation's economic ills. He said there are many
who need a job, struggle to pay bills, and worry that they could lose their
homes."That is why this season of giving should also be a time to renew a sense
of common purpose and shared citizenship. Now, more than ever, we must
rededicate ourselves to the notion that we share a common destiny as Americas -
that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper," he added.The Obama
family is expected to remain in Hawaii to ring in 2009 on January 1. President
Bush will travel from Camp David to his Texas ranch on Friday and will remain
there until New Year's Day.
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US Looks at Iraq-Style Community Policing for Afghanistan
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Pentagon spokesman confirms plant to launch program similar to one in Iraq that
was key factor in security improvements there during last year
The Pentagon is preparing what it calls a "pilot program" to organize local
Afghan citizens to help secure their towns and neighborhoods. The program is
similar to one in Iraq that was a key factor in security improvements there
during the last year. Pentagon spokesman Brian Whitman (file photo)Pentagon
Spokesman Bryan Whitman confirmed the plan to launch the program, which was
first reported by The New York Times. "It is, I guess, best described as kind
of a grassroots program, with prospects that could lead to improved Afghanistan
security," Whitman said. "This is more of a pilot program, a very modest
initial look at a community type policing program."Whitman describes the plan
as an Afghan government initiative that U.S. and NATO forces are supporting.
He says it will start in Wardak Province, near Kabul, where Taliban fighters
have been gaining strength in recent months.Whitman says the idea is to
deputize local citizens to improve security and extend the reach of the Afghan
government. "This is designed to facilitate sharing of information, building
trust, all with an eye toward improving governance at the district and
provincial level and connecting it better to the central government," Whitman
said. Whitman says the initial program will involve only several dozen
Afghans, but the Times says commanders plan to expand it rapidly if it
succeeds.A similar program in Iraq organized more than 100,000 local citizens,
including former insurgents, and put them at checkpoints and local police
stations. Commanders credit the program with improving security, partly by
turning government opponents into allies. The Iraqi government is in the
process of taking responsibility for those forces, absorbing some into the
security services and disbanding others.Officials say it was not necessary to
provide weapons to the Iraqi groups, which became known as the Sons of Iraq.
The New York Times says there is a plan to provide arms to the Afghan citizens'
groups, but Whitman could not confirm that. The Times also quotes Afghans as
saying the plan could lead to new local militias and potentially spark a civil
war. But Whitman says it is "premature" to be concerned about such things.The
former U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, is now in charge of U.S.
efforts in both wars. He has said he wants to transfer some of the concepts
used in Iraq to the increasingly difficult fight in Afghanistan. And while he
acknowledges the two wars are very different, and he has not said exactly which
techniques will transfer and which will not, he believes both have the same top
priority - providing security so government efforts to build long-term
stability can take hold.
------------------------------------------------------
US Says Iraq Won't Force Rebel Group Back to Iran
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Status of about 3,500 members of Mujaheddin-e Khalq, or MEK, has been issue of
contention between Iraq, Iran
The State Department said Wednesday that Iraq has assured the United States it
will not forcibly repatriate members of an Iranian rebel group that has been
based in Iraq since the Saddam Hussein era. The status of about 3,500 members
of the Iranian exile group, the Mujaheddin-e Khalq, or MEK, has been an issue
of contention between Iraq and Iran.
The Iraqi government served notice late last week that it intends to evict the
MEK members from its U.S.-protected encampment north of Baghad. But officials
here say Baghdad authorities have assured the Bush administration the group's
members will not be forced to return to Iran, where they could face
imprisonment or worse.
The MEK was founded in the 1960s as an opponent of the late Shah of Iran. It
carried out attacks the following decade that killed several U.S. military
personnel and civilians working on defense projects in Iran-earning it a place
on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations.
The group was driven into exile after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. It
regrouped in Iraq under the protection of Saddam Hussein and staged attacks
into Iran that killed government officials and security forces.
After the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the group was disarmed by
American forces and its members remain at the northern Iraqi site, Camp Ashraf,
protected by U.S. troops despite the terrorist designation.
Their presence has been an irritant in relations between the Baghdad
government and Iran. Iraq will assume jurisdiction over the camp once the new
U.S.-Iraqi forces agreement takes effect in the new year and senior Iraqi
officials went to Camp Ashraf Saturday to tell the group it faced expulsion.
In a talk with reporters, State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood said
Iraqi officials also assured the United States there will be no effort to
forcibly repatriate the rebels to Iran despite calls for that from Tehran.
"We've talked to the Iraqis about the Mujaheddine-e Khalq in Camp Ashraf, and
they've committed to us that they would deal with these people according to the
Iraqi constitution. They would not force anybody to return to Iran, and we
believe that to be the case, that they don't plan to do that. And we'll go from
there," he said.
Spokesman Wood said Iran can make any kind of demand it wants with regard to
the MEK members, but said U.S. officials "have no reason to doubt" Iraq's
commitment not to send them back to their home country.
He said it would be "premature" to discuss possible resettlement scenarios for
the MEK members.
But he did say the Bush administration is reviewing the group's terrorist
designation, which he said has made resettlement of group members in the United
States "problematic."
A senior State Department official said if the MEK is taken off the terrorism
list, the United States would "obviously" consider admitting some of it members.
The official said he could not predict how long the review might take but said
a decision could pass to the incoming administration which takes office January
20 and that he expected consultations on the issue with the Obama transition
team.
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Russian President Talks Military Force During End-Of-Year Interview
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Dmitri Medvedev says Russia will use all available means to protect its
interests, during nationally televised remarks
President Dmitri Medvedev says Russia reserves the right to use military force
to defend its interests, and will also take steps to protect the dignity and
lives of its citizens, wherever they may be. Mr. Medvedev made those remarks
during a nationally televised end-of-year interview, in which he focused on the
economy, but also touched on relations with the United States and gas supplies
for Ukraine. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks during his interview
with the top Russian television channels at the Kremlin in Moscow, 24 Dec
2008In an interview broadcast nationwide late Wednesday on Russia's major
television networks, President Dmitri Medvedev said he occasionally senses
foreign attempts to "put Russia in its place," but rejected them as
unacceptable. As an example, he mentioned "the desire of colleagues and
partners in NATO to expand the organization without limit."Ukraine and Georgia
are seeking membership in the Western defense alliance. Some citizens of both
countries have been issued Russian passports, in effect granting them dual
citizenship. Moscow used that as a pretext in August to send tanks into
Georgia, saying it needed to protect its citizens. Mr. Medvedev said Russia
will continue to take firm and direct action whenever and wherever the lives
and dignity of Russian citizens are endangered.
Russia will use all available means to protect its interestsThe Kremlin leader
says he is firmly convinced that Russia must protect its interests using all
available means. He says these include, first of all, international law, as
well as international organizations such as the United Nations, and regional
bodies, in which Russia participates. But when necessary, Mr. Medvedev says
the country must also use its military potential.Russia's use of force during
the Georgian conflict was condemned by many countries, including the United
States, as excessive. Mr. Medvedev told interviewers he was the one who made
the decision to send troops into Georgia, and that he needed to do so quickly
without opportunity to consult with anybody.
Russian president hopes for improved relations under Obama administrationMr.
Medvedev says U.S. President-elect Barack Obama told him over the telephone
that relations with the Russian Federation are one of America's top foreign
policy priorities, an assessment the Kremlin leader says is mutual. He
expressed hope for more effective and reliable ties with the United States,
noting that Russia is not to blame for what he says are lost opportunities to
have built normal relations with America in recent years.President Medvedev
also assured consumers in Europe and other countries that Russia will fulfill
all of its obligations to supply them with natural gas, despite Moscow's threat
to cut deliveries to Ukraine for non-payment of a $2 billion debt. Much of
Europe's gas is delivered via pipelines across Ukraine. Mr. Medvedev says
Ukrainians must pay every last ruble if they want to avoid having their economy
hit by sanctions and demands from the Russian Federation.
Medvedev concerned about economic crisisMost of the Medvedev interview focused
on economic issues, particularly the global economic crisis. He acknowledged
rising unemployment in Russia and also threatened legal action against
employers for illegal layoffs or failure to pay workers, adding that this is
the only way to prevent such things from spreading. Mr. Medvedev says a list
is also being prepared of hundreds of companies targeted for government
assistance. The Russian president says this is not something the government
planned to do six months ago, but now there is no choice. He adds that direct
subsidies are needed for companies of strategic importance for Russia, and to
firms that are the principle employer and mainstay of entire towns.Russian
authorities recently issued a warning to a former deputy social services
minister, Yevgeny Gontmakher, for publishing a newspaper article that examined
the potential for social unrest in Russia, particularly in one-industry towns
that could be hit hard by layoffs. Russia has about 700 such towns.
------------------------------------------------------
Zimbabwe Police Ignore Order to Release Seized Activists
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Police defy court order to hospitalize Jestina Mukoko, eight co-defendants
accused of anti-government activities
Police in Zimbabwe have defied a court order to hospitalize a human rights
activist accused of anti-government activities.Zimbabwean human rights activist
Jestina Mukoko arrives at magistrate's court in Harare, 24 Dec 2008On
Wednesday, Zimbabwe's High Court ordered that Jestina Mukoko and eight
co-defendants be transferred to a Harare hospital, under police guard, until
their next court date on Monday. But lawyers say police instead took the
activists to an undisclosed location.Mukoko and more than 20 other people were
arrested in recent weeks for allegedly recruiting people to overthrow the
government. Lawyers say Mukoko and fellow activists may have been tortured in
custody.Mukoko heads the Zimbabwe Peace Project and was taken from her home by
armed men on December 3. Prosecutors say she recruited people to go to
Botswana for military training. Botswana has denied the allegations.Her arrest
comes as opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai
threatens to abandon power-sharing talks with the ruling ZANU-PF party if his
party members continue to be abducted. He said more than 42 people, including
members of his party, have been kidnapped in the past two months.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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Kashmir Vote Ends Amid Clashes
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Government troops use tear gas, batons to disperse protesters from polling
stations in India's summer capital, Srinagar, at least 20 injured
Indian-administered Kashmir has wrapped up its seventh and final stage of
voting in state elections that were marked by protests and separatist
boycotts. Indian policemen detain bleeding Kashmiri Muslim protester during
anti-election protest in downtown Srinagar, 24 Dec 2008Government troops used
tear gas and batons to disperse protesters from polling stations in the summer
capital, Srinagar, Wednesday. Authorities say at least 20 people were
injured.Heavy troop deployments and restrictions on movement of people made
Srinagar look like a city under a curfew.Muslim separatists boycott vote
Many Muslim separatists boycotted the election saying it only serves to
legitimize India's control over Kashmir which is claimed by both India and
Pakistan.Rouf Ahmad is a Srinagar resident. He said the people did not vote
because of the bad situation and he said authorities drag people from homes and
kill them whenever anything happens. He said he will only vote after freedom
is established.Officials say about 20 percent of Srinagar voters cast ballots
in the Muslim-majority city, far more than the five percent who voted in the
2002 elections. But even among the people who voted in Srinagar, not many were
happy with the situation. Some voters unhappy with process
Irshad Ahmad a resident of Srinagar voted but was unhappy with the process.
"This is no free and fair election. Democracy needs liberation of mind of
heart. But you see all over the [Kashmir] Valley has been turned into an army
[camp]. Everywhere you see army personnel," Ahmed said. In the Hindu-majority
city of Jammu, about 65 percent of voters went to the polls.Voter turnout was
higher in other parts of the region during earlier phases of the seven-stage
election. Top Kashmiri separatist Mirwaiz Umar says that many people came
out to vote to try and focus the attention of the government on their day to
day problems. "We do acknowledge that in many places people have voluntarily
voted, they have voted for a good governance, better governance, but that vote
should never be misconstrued as vote against freedom," Umar said. The vote
concludes a year that has been marked by some of the biggest protests against
Indian rule since a Muslim insurgency began in 1989. Preliminary results from
the state elections are expected by Sunday.
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Libya Bans Swiss Flights
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Move is latest twist in ongoing diplomatic row between countries over arrest of
Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi's son, Hannibal
Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi (file photo)Libya has banned Switzerland's
national carrier, Swiss International Air Lines, from flying to Tripoli. This
is the latest twist in ongoing diplomatic row between countries over the arrest
of Moammar Gadhafi's son, Hannibal.
'Technical reasons' prompted cancellationSwitzerland's national carrier had
three weekly flights from Zurich to Tripoli until mid-July when the Libyan
authorities reduced them to one, citing "technical reasons." Swiss Air Lines
spokeswoman Andrea Kreuzer says the company received a letter saying it had to
stop its last remaining flight."The reason given in the letter was the same as
in July that for technical reasons related to the execution of the Tripoli
International Airport Project, we are not allowed for the moment to fly between
Zurich and Tripoli," she said. "As we had to stop the flights for the time
being we can not say what impacts this has and we do not publish any booking
figures for single flights… Regarding our passengers, we are, of course about
to inform all our passengers to book on other flights.Kreuzer says Swiss is in
touch with the Libyan authorities regarding the resumption of service between
the two countries. For the time being, she says, the situation remains under
discussion."No, we were informed by the civil aviation office of Libya that we
have to stop for the time being until further notice," she said.
Arrest of Gadhafi's son, wife, triggered tension between two countriesThe row
between Libya and Switzerland erupted after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's
son, Hannibal and his wife, Aline, were arrested in Geneva during the summer.
They were charged with assaulting two domestic staff. The couple was released
after the servants received compensation and withdrew their charges.But, this
set off a series of tit-for-tat measures, which seriously threatened diplomatic
relations between the two countries. Libya arrested two Swiss nationals
shortly after Hannibal Gadhafi and his wife were released on bail and left
Switzerland. The Libyan authorities also forced Swiss businesses to close
their offices. They cut the number of weekly Swiss flights to Tripoli from
three to one and threatened to stop crude oil deliveries to Switzerland.The
Swiss Foreign Ministry has been in talks with Libya since the dispute broke out
and officials say they thought relations were on the mend. Apparently, they
were mistaken.Mr. Gadhafi has neither forgotten nor forgiven, what he considers
to be, an insult to his family. He continues to demand an apology from
Switzerland for the so-called "abuse of Libyan diplomats and business people by
the Geneva police."
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Astronauts Remember 40th Anniversary of Apollo 8 Moon Mission
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Space flight was first time humans orbited the moon and never before seen
pictures of Earth from lunar orbit were widely displayed on front pages of
newspapers around the world
The famous "Earth rise" picture from lunar orbit taken by the Apollo 8
astronautsThe U.S. space agency, NASA, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of
the Apollo 8 space mission. The spacecraft's three-man crew conducted the first
mission to orbit the Moon.
On Christmas Eve, 1968, astronauts aboard craft issued a live television
broadcast from space. Lunar module pilot William Anders read from the Bible.
"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was
without form . . . ."
Millions of people around the world saw the broadcast, which included the
first live images taken from space of the Moon's surface and the Earth.
Magazines and newspapers reprinted photographs of the Earth from a distance,
showing blue oceans, swirling clouds and the continents.
The images became a lasting memory of the first manned space mission to leave
Earth orbit and circle the Moon. The Apollo 8 mission also played a key role in
preparing for future space missions, including the first manned lunar landing
by the crew of Apollo 11, less than a year later.
At a recent event in Washington, Apollo 8 command module pilot James Lovell
recalled that his crew was trained to study the Moon's surface. "The mission of
Apollo 8 was really to check the navigation and check for landing spots, the
flat areas, the sea that would give the people who would attempt the first
landing the greatest chance of survival," he said.
Even after many months of training, the decision for Apollo 8 to visit the
Moon was made only four months ahead of launch. NASA officials had planned for
the crew to conduct a low Earth orbit flight, similar to earlier Apollo
missions. But officials revised the mission following the success of recent
missions unmanned probes by the Soviet Union.
Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman said the rivalry between the two nations was a
major motivation. "NASA now likes to talk about scientific exploration and our
lunar experts talk about picking up all the rocks in the world. The reason we
went to the Moon on Apollo 8 was to beat the Russians," he said.
In 1957, the Soviet Union became the first country to launch an artificial
satellite; the United States was the first to land a man on the Moon, in 1969.
The space race between the United States and Soviet Union is over. Today, NASA
and the Russian space agency are key partners on the International Space
Station. That partnership may be crucial in years to come as the United States
prepares to send manned missions back to the Moon.
------------------------------------------------------
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