Saturday, September 25, 2010


Police arrest passenger after plane makes emergency landing in SwedenFrom Per Nyberg and Ben Brumfield, CNN

September 25, 2010 -- Updated 0954 GMT (1754 HKT)

(CNN) -- Authorities arrested a passenger after a plane made an emergency landing in Sweden on Saturday morning, police said.

The plane -- which had 260 people onboard and was flying from Canada to Pakistan -- landed after a caller told authorities that a passenger had explosives with him.

All passengers were later evacuated from the plane, Stockholm Police spokesman Kjell Lindgren said.

The man arrested is suspected of a threat against air traffic, Lindgren said, but declined to say whether the man had any explosives.

Authorities will interrogate the man and thoroughly search the plane, he said. Earlier Saturday, police said bomb technicians were at the scene.

"The arrest was made in a very nondramatic fashion," he said.

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 782 was heading from Toronto, Canada, to Karachi, Pakistan, when it landed because of "security reasons," said Sultan Hassan, an airline spokesman.

The plane landed at Arlanda airport in Stockholm, Sweden, at 7:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. ET) Saturday after a woman calling from a pay phone in Canada tipped off police that a man on the plane had explosives, police spokesman Janne Hedlund said.

Canadian authorities contacted the plane while it was in Swedish airpsace, Hedlund said.

The man is from Pakistan and has a Canadian passport, Hedlund said.

Authorities do not know whether the man has explosives, what kind of explosives could be in his possession or whether he knows the person who notified authorities, Hedlund said.

There was no direct bomb threat against the flight, he said.

Hassan said he did not have more specific details about the cause of the diversion. All passengers onboard are safe, he said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/pakistan.canada.flight/index.html?eref=edition

British Broadcasting Corporation

Iran v US: A war of words, not of bombs and guns
Mark Mardell | 21:40 UK time, Friday, 24 September 2010

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been at it again. At a news conference today he repeated his call for an investigation into the 9/11 attacks. Despite what the networks insist on broadcasting, he didn't actually say the US government was behind the murderous attacks, he said it was one of three theories and most Americans, and most people, believe it. I'm sure he was well aware most would not bother with this subtlety and today said:

Something happened and that event was the pretext for the invasion of two countries. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed as a result. Don't you think that that we need to explore the real reason for 9/11... to look at that excuse?
In his interview with the BBC Persian service today, President Barack Obama's anger seemed unfeigned. He said:

It was offensive. It was hateful. And particularly for him to make the statement here in Manhattan, just a little north of Ground Zero, where families lost their loved ones, people of all faiths, all ethnicities who see this as the seminal tragedy of this generation, for him to make a statement like that was inexcusable.
And it stands in contrast with the response of the Iranian people when 9/11 happened, when there were candlelight vigils and I think a natural sense of shared humanity and sympathy was expressed within Iran. And it just shows once again sort of the difference between how the Iranian leadership and this regime operates and how I think the vast majority of the Iranian people who are respectful and thoughtful think about these issues.


So in a sense it played into his hands, the last point his theme of the day. BBC Persian broadcasts to around 10 million people in Iran, and Mr Obama's message was directed at them, an effort to persuade that his quarrel wasn't with them but with their leaders, and in particular their president. He suggested one of the reason the west and Russia were so worried were because of odd outbursts like this.

Then my colleague Bahman Kalbasi asked him what is for many the key question.

For a lot of Iranians who are looking at how this scenario is playing out, many see similarities to the run-up to the Iraq War. You know, a succession of UN resolutions, toughened economic sanctions, on-and-off talk about war and a military strike. What do you say to those who are worried that they'll wake up to a military attack by America or Israel?
Mr Obama replied:

Well, I think what people should remember is that I don't take war lightly. I was opposed to the war in Iraq. I am somebody who's interested in resolving issues diplomatically.
He went on:

So the Iranian government itself has said 'we are not interested in nuclear weapons'. That's their public statement. If that's the case, there should be a mechanism whereby they can assure and prove to the international community, including the IAEA, that that is in fact the case. And if they take those constructive steps in serious negotiations, then not only should there not be a threat of war but there also won't be the sanctions that are currently in place.
This may not be tempting for Mr Ahmadinejad, Iran's 9/11 Truther in Chief, but some in Iran's complex democracy and ruling classes may like the thought of sanctions being lifted. Despite the harsh words and calculated insults even Mr Ahmadinejad did suggest that the European Union set up talks for next month. It is true that his remarks were as cryptic as ever and hedged with caveats. But low-level contacts between Iran and the EU were going on the whole time. The US and the world are in no mood for another war, and Mr Obama would be loathe to be the president to start one. That doesn't mean Israel will not act alone, but I suspect this will remain a war of words for some time to come.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2010/09/iranian_leader_mahmoud_ahmadin.html

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Suggests To U.N. General Assembly 9/11 Was An Inside Job
by Colby Hall | 4:11 pm, September 23rd,

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke to the United Nations General Assembly this afternoon, sharing some rather provocative rhetoric over the United States worst terrorist attack in history. Ahmadinejad suggested to the assembled diplomats, ambassadors and world leaders that the events that occurred on 9/11 were actually orchestrated by the U.S. Government.. This prompted the U.S. delegation to abruptly leave the assembly hall while many other national delegates followed suit.

Writing for the Associated Press, Ali Akbar Dareini reports:

The U.S. delegation has walked out of the U.N. speech of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after he said some in the world have speculated that Americans were actually behind the Sept. 11 terror attacks, staged in an attempt to assure Israel’s survival.

He did not explain the logic of that statement that was made as he attacked the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Iranian leader spoke of threats to burn the Quran by U.S. religious groups, calling that an act of “evil.” He held up a copy of the Muslim holy book, saying “the truth cannot be burned.”

http://www.mediaite.com/online/mahmoud-ahmadinejad-tells-u-n-general-assembly-911-was-an-inside-job/

Wednesday, September 15, 2010



THE WASHINGTON TIMES

7:53 p.m., Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Shariah a danger to U.S., security pros say
Obama policy change urged

A panel of national security experts who worked under Republican and Democratic presidents is urging the Obama administration to abandon its stance that Islam is not linked to terrorism, arguing that radical Muslims are using Islamic law to subvert the United States.

In a report set for release today, the panel states that "it is vital to the national security of the United States, and to Western civilization at large, that we do what we can to empower Islam's authentic moderates and reformers."

The study group, sponsored by the conservative-oriented Center for Security Policy, says in its report that proponents of advancing Islamic law mark the "crucial fault line" in Islam's internal divisions separating truly moderate Muslims, like the late Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, from the large portion of the world's 1 billion Muslims who advocate imposing what they call Shariah law throughout the world.

Mr. Wahid, who died in December, is a widely respected Muslim visionary who promoted pluralism in Indonesia, which has the world's largest population of Muslims.

According to the report, proponents of Shariah are "Muslim supremacists" waging "civilization jihad" along with the Islamist terrorists engaged in violent jihad, like al Qaeda.

The 19-member study group was led by retired Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence in the George W. Bush administration, and retired Army Lt. Gen. Harry E. Soyster, Defense Intelligence Agency director from 1988 to 1991.

Included in the team of former defense, law enforcement and intelligence officials were Clinton administration CIA Director R. James Woolsey and Andrew C. McCarthy, former assistant U.S. attorney in New York, a career counterterrorism prosecutor during the Clinton administration.

Frank Gaffney, director of the Center for Security Policy, said the Obama administration's policy is based on an incorrect assumption. The Team B report seeks to expose flaws in anti-terror programs, including the policy of not referring to al Qaeda and similar groups as "Islamist" to avoid offending Muslims, he said.

"What if it turns out that some of the people the Obama administration has been embracing are actually promoting the same totalitarian ideology and seditious agenda as al Qaeda, only they're doing it from White House Iftar dinners?" said Mr. Gaffney, referring to the daily meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast during Ramadan.

The group of experts was modeled after the official CIA Team B, whose 1976 contrary analysis said U.S. intelligence assessments had underestimated Soviet nuclear forces. That Team B report led to the military buildup under the Reagan administration.

Uneasy calm prevails in curfewed Valley

Another youth succumbs, toll 89; 60 injured in fresh clashes, Bemina youth critical; Over 100 missing inTangmarg; 2 women sustain bullet injuries
GOWHAR BHAT/MUDDASIR ALI


Srinagar, Sept 14: A day after police and CRPF killed 17 persons in the Valley over the protests against alleged desecration of Quran, a strict curfew was clamped thought out the Valley on Tuesday even as another injured succumbed to his injuries taking the toll of killings since June 11 to 89. People defied curfew at a few places during the day stating protests. At least sixty persons, one of them critically, were injured in fresh clashes today.
NORTH KASHMIR
A youth injured in the firing at Tangmarg on Monday succumbed to his injuries today. Abdul Qayoom of Sangrama was injured in police and CRPF firing at Tangmarg yesterday and he succumbed to his injuries this morning, witnesses said. With Qayoom’s death toll in Tangmarg firing mounted to six.
The Tangmarg town and its peripheries remained tense after the killings today. Hospital authorities revealed 72 persons were injured in Monday’s firing with 70 of them sustaining bullets.
Since yesterday, locals say scores of youth are missing from several localities of Tangmarg, Pattan and Varmul. They had participated in the protest march to Tangmarg. Locals said around 40 youth are in police custody. They said many senior citizens approached police seeking their release but police have rejected their pleas.
Protests broke out at a few places including Mazhama and its neighbourhood. The protesters protested the alleged desecration of the dead bodies by police and forces Monday.
In the evening, people, defied curfew, and assembled on Srinagar-Gulmarg road near Kunzar Bridge demanding the release of arrested youth. They pelted stones forces with stones before being chased away by police.
Reports said protesters defied curfew at Khanpora, in North Kashmir’s Varmul town and staged protests against the fresh killings. Police and paramilitary forces caned and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters who pelted stones on them. Witnesses said two persons were injured in police action.
The injured were identified as Tariq Ahmad Sofi son of Bashir Ahmad and Showkat Ahmad Khan so of Ali Muhammad, both residents of Khanpora. Tariq, 21, was shifted to SKIMS, Srinagar in a critical condition. He had a firearm injury in head.
Witnesses said protests also erupted in several localities of Sopur including Warpora, Bomia, Arampora and Haathishah. Police and CRPF used force to disperse the protesters.
Police said that protesters pelted stones on a CRPF camp at Bomai. One person, Khazir Mohammed Nadaf son of Habibullah Nadaf of Bomai was injured in clashes.
Police, however, said that he was injured after in the clashes after a group of locals “objected to stone-pelting on CRPF camp.” Police said it has registered an FIR.
Protests also broke out at Chogal and Harpora in Handwara; Drugmulla in Kupwara; Sumbal and Watpora in Bandipora. At Watpora, protesters attacked the house of a Congress activist, Habibullah Bhat of Watpora.
Later in the evening, three youths were wounded when police and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire near Kaloosa, Bandipore.
They said people had taken to streets to protest against the arrests of few youth from the Kaloosa locality. However, troopers opened fire injuring three youths, as Muhammad Akram, Sajad Ahmed and Ishfaq Ahmed They were rushed to a hospital.
Police said the forces dispersed the protesters using mild force. No one was injured.
At Mansbal in Ganderbal, youth from Mansbal, Kondbal, Yangoora and other adjoining areas marched towards Mansbal Park raising pro-freedom slogans. They damaged a tourist hut near the parking area. Police and CRPF forces soon swung into action and chased them away using and shot numerous tear smoke shells triggering clashes. One youth was injured in the clashes.
CENTRAL KASHMIR; 15 INJURED
At least 15 persons were injured, one of them critically, when police and CRPF opened fire to disperse stone pelting youth at two separate places in central Kashmir Budgam. Elsewhere in the district, situation continued to be tense even as curfew was clamped down in several areas, day after killing of six persons in police and CRPF firing. Protesters also attacked the house of provincial president of ruling National Conference.
Eight persons were injured when CRPF and police opened fire on a group of youth who had engaged the paramilitary troopers in stone pelting at Chadoora.
“One of the injured, Abdul Rashid Ganai, 45, was hit by a rubber bullet in chest. Though his bullet was removed at the Chadoora hospital he was referred to SKIMS for further treatment,” said a senior doctor working in one of the district hospitals. Seven other persons who had received minor injuries in the actions by the forces were treated at the Chadoora hospital, doctors said.
In a separate incident seven persons were injured when CRPF troopers of 174 battalion stationed at Doonwari near Wathora opened fire on group of stone pelting youth.
Of the eight persons, Bilal Ahmad Beg, 20, Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani, and Aqib Javaid—all three from Wathora area- who had received bullet injuries in firing by CRPF were referred to SMHS hospital.
While Beg had a bullet injury in abdomen and was shifted in critical condition, Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani had bullet injury in his left knee, and Aqib was hit by teargas shell in his left eye, doctors said.
“Aqib was working in his orchard when he was hit by a teargas shell,” sources said.
Four other persons who had received minor injuries in the incident were treated at a local hospital in the area, doctors said.
Reports said a group of youth also attacked the house of the Provincial President, National Conference, with stones in the Doonwari area. The security on guard resorted to aerial firing to chase away the youth who caused minor damage to the windowpanes of the house, reports said. However a top police official termed the reports as a “rumor.” “There was no such incident,” he said.
He however said at least eight CRPF troopers were injured in the stone pelting by the youth in the area.
At many places including Charar-i-Sharief announcement were made early in the morning with authorities asking people to stay indoors and respect curfew.
However massive pro-freedom protests broke out in main town Char, which witnessed killing of a 7th class student, Danish Nabi, in CRPF firing. Raising slogans the protestors took the roads and burnt down worn out tyres. But strict restriction were put in place in New Colony and other areas of the town with authorities putting in deployment of CRPF to prevent people from coming out.
The condition of two other youth from Char who were injured in CRPF firing and were shifted to Srinagar is reported to be stable.
Strict curfew was clamped down in Humhama area of the district where four persons, including a woman from Ompora, Budgam, were killed in police and CRPF firing over a procession, which was protesting over alleged desecration of Holy Quran in America.
Though protests also broke out in Ompora village and scores of peripheral villages of the district, the main town of Budgam remained comparatively calm as authorities had put in heavy deployment of CRPF and police in the entire area.
Situation continued to be tense in Nagam Kralpora, and other villages of the district with reports of anti-government protests being received from the places.
Reports said there was heavy deployment of police and CRPF in areas en-route to the Srinagar International airport, which has been closed down for three days for any air traffic to and from the Valley.
Meanwhile district health authorities have send to different Srinagar hospitals more than 150 points of blood which was donated for injured by people at Magam, Nowgam and Padshahi Bagh areas of the district, sources said.
SRINAGAR; 2 INJURED IN FIRING; BEMINA YOUTH CRITICAL
In the summer capital here protests broke out at Boatman colony, Bemina and Zainakot.
Protesters raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans blocked the Srinagar-Varmul highway near Boatman Colony and resorted to stone pelting on forces. One person was injured critically after police fired teargas shells and live ammunition to disperse them. The injured was shifted to SKIMS where doctors identified him as Fayaz Ahmad Naikoo, 32.
“He has a firearm injury in his brain. He has been operated upon,” a senior doctor at SKIMS said.
He said Fayaz was in a critical condition.
In Zainakot protesters attacked a paramilitary camp. The forces responded by caning, firing teargas shell and live ammunition. One protester, Mudasir Ahmad Dar of HMT was injured in the police action. He was shifted to SKIMS where he was kept in an ICU after being operated upon. He had firearm injuries in both legs.
A doctor at SKIMS said that they received eight injured persons during the day, of which two were from Srinagar and were from critical.
Elsewhere in the city, police and CRPF were deployed in large numbers. They imposed a strict curfew for the third day running and didn’t allow people to step out of their homes.
Through out the day police and CRPF vehicles fitted with loud speakers made rounds of localities asking people to stay indoors failing which they will be shot at.
KHALID GUL ADDS FROM SOUTH KASHMIR
At least 40 people were injured in clashes across the South Kashmir as people defied curfew at many areas includin Bijbehara, Islamabad, Pampore and some areas of Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam district while the teenager is still missing after he drowned in Jehlum river as he was chased by police and CRPF men on Monday at Khanabal in Islamabad town.
At least eight persons were injured two of them with bullets in police and CRPF action at Zirpura ,Bijbehara when locals defying curfew came to streets after the CRPF troopers allegedly ransacked many houses and injured many youth inside their homes. " Some youth were also arrested from the area," locals said.
One Imad Ahmad sustained head injury and was taken to the Sub-district hospital, Bijbehara.
The incident triggered massive protests in the area as men along women and children came on streets. Police fired 'indiscriminately' on the protesters resulting in critical injuries to two women, Sakina 25 , Rifat 26 who sustained bullet injuries in the buttocks and are undergoing treatment at the Sub-district hospital, Bijbehara. Clashes also erupted in Sangam area of the district of the National Highway. Several people sustained injuries there too.
Despite severe curfew restrictions, protests continued in Khanabal area of Islamabad as people alleged that police and CRPF men drowned one Raju Nath ,17, on Monday in the nearby Jehlum river by hurling a brick on his head inside the river. Raju is missing since Monday afternoon.
Authorities engaged Navy persons on Tuesday; however, they were unable to fish out the body of the teenager. Angry protesters torched a SOG wanton vehicle at Batengoo, Khanabal after the CRPF and police persons ran amok in the area and severely thrashed the inmates and ransacked the house hold goods. The clashes were on till last reports came in. Strict curfew was enforced in the Islamabad town and shoot at sight orders were in place after Monday’s incident in which a teenager, Aqib Ahmad Wagay, aged 14 who was killed outside the residence of Parliamentarian and senior NC leader Dr. Mehboob Beig at Sarnal. However, late in the evening youth engaged police in pitched battles at many areas of old town including , Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk , Reeshi Bazar, Kadipora, Sarnal, Mattan Chowk, Dangerpora, Lal Chowk and in some K.P road areas; Lazbal, Gulshanabad, Naibasti and Khanabal.
On Monday night police and CRPF troops allegedly looted money and ransacked house of , District Bar Association president and Democratic Freedom Party leader, Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar.
Curfew was extended to the peripheries of Islamabad including Mattan, Dialgam, Achabal, Dooru, Shangus and Kokernag. However, clashes broke out in Dooru. Several people including the cops were injured.
In Srigufwara area of Bijbehara 6 persons sustained rubber bullet injures after they clashed with CRPF troops stationed in the area. Clashes were on until last reports came in.
Kulgam
In Malpora, Wanpoh area of Kulgam a female, Nidu Jan, aged 15 daughter of Muhammad Yousuf Dar received head injuries after CRPF and police went berserk and barged into the houses mercilessly beating the inmates including women. Another youth Khurshid Ahmad Dar son of Ghulam Muhmamd Dar was also injured in the police action.
The injured were being treated in the hospital.
Meanwhile, Kulgam town remained under strict curfew, however, clashes were reported from Naikpora after some youth were arrested from the area. People also staged pro-freedom demonstrations in the peripheral areas like Chawalgam.
Intense clashes broke out in Khudwani after police detained six youth. Seven people were injured as police fired tear smoke canister to disperse the protestors who tried to attack the CRPF bunker.
Curfew was also clamped in the Qaimoh town while clashes broke late in the evening. In Bogund village of Kulgam the CRPF persons without any provocation barged into several houses ransacked the house hold goods and thrashed the inmates. Protest demonstrations also broke out in Aishmuji, Frisal and Redwani areas.
Pulwama
After three people were killed and 50 injured on Monday in police and CRPF firing in the Pampore township. People defied curfew in Namlabal and Kadlabal after police detained several youth.
The arrests triggered clashes as youth fought pitched battles with police and CRPF who resorted to arial firing and also fired tear gas canisters resulting in injuries to 12 people.
Locals alleged that late in the evening CRPF went berserk and ransacked many houses and also damaged window panes of many private vehicles.
People staged demonstrations on the Srinagar -Jammu Highway to protest the killings and the CRPF action in the area.
CRPF troops allegedly ransacked the house of late Peoples League (PL) leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz and also injured his relatives. Clashes also erupted in Khrew and Samboora areas.
Strict Curfew was imposed in Pulwama and Kakapora towns. However, pro-freedom demonstrations rocked in the peripheral areas of Prechoo, Bunura, Pachibugg, Chatpora. Several people were injured in the clashes.
Reports of pro-freedom demonstrations were also received from Tral and Awantipora.
Shopian
Strict curfew was imposed in Shopian town also. However, 17 persons were injured when police and CRPF personal resorted to cane charging and tear gas shelling in the peripheral areas of Aliyarpora, Kanipora and Gagran.
Clashes were reported from the town late in the evening.
Police Speaks
“A mob defied curfew in Khanpora Baramulla (Vamul) this morning and indulged in heavy pelting on the forces. The police used tear smoke shells to disperse them. One miscreant has got injured. A mob attacked battalion Headquarters of forces in Zainakote on the outskirts of Srinagar city. In the retaliatory action one miscreant got injured. His condition is stable.
Meanwhile, in the after mob pelted stones on security forces in Boatman colony. The forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the mob. The miscreants did not relent. The pelting was very intense in the response action of the security forces one person has got injured. He has been referred to SKIMS, Soura,” a police spokesman said.
“Some miscreants defied curfew in Chadoora in Budgam and pelted stones on forces. Stone pelting has also been reported from Sumbal in Bandipore district. In Bandipore a mob pelted stones on the house of Ex MLC Habeebullah at Watipora. Some miscreants pelted stones on forces in Harapora Handwara,” he added.
“Last evening an unruly mob set ablaze the building of a private school at Pulwama. The residential house, cowshed and a fire wood shed belonging to a police constable was set on fire at Thandan, Kreeri.”
“A group clash erupted between two groups in Bomai in Sopur in which one person was injured. A group of miscreants from a village Tujjar had come over to Bomai to attack the CRPF camp. This camp has been attacked a number of times in the past. The miscreants started pelting stones on the camp. The local people of Bomai objected to it, which led to heated exchanges and a clash erupted between the two groups,” spokesman said.
In this clash, he claimed, Khazir Muhammad Nadaf son of Habib ul Nadaf of Bomai was injured in head.






Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
protesters beat an effigy of President Obama after burning it in Srinagar, India

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

15 killed during Kashmir clashes
Violence sparked in part by report of Koran desecration in U.S.


NEW DELHI | Fourteen civilians and an Indian police officer were killed in clashes Monday in India-controlled Kashmir after a TV channel played a video that showed the destruction of a Koran in United States.

Ongoing anti-India protests in the Muslim-majority region merged with outrage over the Koran desecration to spark a cycle of violence that included the torching of government buildings and an attack on a school run by a Christian missionary.

With 15 deaths reported Monday, the toll resulting from protests has topped 80 since mid-June in Kashmir. Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan have fought over this border area they share since gaining independence in 1947.

"We had law-and-order problems in dozens of places today. In today's incidents, [Indian forces opened fire] at about dozen places in which [14] civilians died, besides one policeman," said Kuldeep Khoda, police chief of the Jammu and Kashmir state.

He said 45 civilians and 113 officers were injured in the violence.

"The loss of property is huge," Chief Khoda said. "Buildings, police stations and a local school [run by the missionary] were attacked and burned."

The police chief said the violence erupted after Press TV, an Iranian channel, reported that a Koran had been destroyed in the United States.

A Florida pastor who had threatened to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks called off his plan late last week.

But Press TV apparently aired video of another man destroying a Koran in Tennessee.

"News reports have stated that on Saturday, Sept. 11, one misguided individual in the United States desecrated the Holy Koran by tearing pages from it," U.S. Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer told reporters in New Delhi.