Monthly archive

By Wajid Ali Syed – Washington Correspondent for Asian Tribune

The US has urged the government of Sri Lanka to allow international observers to ascertain a more precise figure of civilians trapped in the no-fire zone. It called on the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to refrain from indiscriminate fire and shelling into and from the no-fire zone, saying that it has credible reports of increasing casualties as a result of intensified military action.

By Asian Tribune Correspondent in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Riyadh Tuesday morning on a five-day official visit to discuss bilateral issues on her first foreign trip since she took the office on January 6. Dr Saud bin Saeed al Mat’hami, Minister in-Charge of Shoura Council Affairs, received the prime minister at King Khaled International Airport at 3:15am (local time). Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Fazlul Karim and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi were among others present at the airport. The premier went straight to the Conference Palace in a ceremonial motorcade from the airport.

By Wajid Ali Syed – Washington Correspondent

President Obama made a break today from previous White House statement, saying that the Justice Department might bring charges against officials of the Bush administration who devised harsh interrogation policies. He opened the door to possible legal action against the authors of the interrogation policy memos and suggested that if there is any sort of investigation into these past policies and practices, he would be more inclined to support an independent commission outside the typical congressional hearing process. The president made his remarks in the Oval Office during a joint press availability with His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein.

By Asian Tribune Correspondent in Bangladesh

Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will hold a protest rally at Muktangan in the Dhaka city today (Wednesday) against the notice served on party Chief Khaleda Zia to leave her Dhaka cantonment house. The student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal held a rally at the central party office at Naya Paltan Tuesday afternoon. The leaders including BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain reiterated their demand to withdraw the decision of lease cancellation. Other associate organizations would also continue launching protest programmes, party sources said.

Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal

Differences among ruling political parties coupled with the threats of over half of the total political parties representing in the Constituent Assembly (CA) to launch a fresh stir against government plan deferred the cabinet meeting supposed to dismiss Nepal Army chief Rookmangud Katawal. Amidst controversy all around, the Maoist-led government had earlier announced to relieve Nepali Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal through the Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday. The next Cabinet is likely to be held on Wednesday, but it is not clear whether the government would take decision to this effect, given the growing differences within coalition partner and protest from 17 of the 24 parties representing in the CA over the issue.

By Thalif Deen, Inter Press Service

The secretary-general of the United Nations rarely, if ever, lashes out at world leaders - at least not in public - because he is a perceived as a political servant who owes his existence to member states. Nor do world leaders lambaste the Secretariat or its chief administrative officer. They are both known to pull their punches. But in recent times, both protocol and caution have been thrown to the winds, as ground rules are apparently changing. First, it was Robert Mugabe, the beleaguered president of Zimbabwe, who implicitly accused Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of playing politics.

By Sarla Handoo - Syndicate Features

The US President Barak Obama’s first visit to a Muslim country - Turkey- followed by his Iraq visit has raised hopes among the Muslims and set the stage for a turn around in the America’s relations with the Muslim world. Obama has done every thing to say that he is a friend to the Muslims. In his address to the Turkish Parliament he announced that "the US state is not and will never be at war with Islam." His mention of Muslims in his family and also the comment that he had to wrap up a meeting with the Turkish students "before the call of prayer" was enough to show that he was no stranger to Islam. The trip to Turkey did suggest that it can open doors for a re-look at the US relations with Muslim world. Libyan leader Gadhafi described the visit as "light in imperialist darkness." So did many other leaders representing the Muslims, the world over.