Aleppo airport closes due to 'rebel attacks'

The international airport in Syria’s commercial hub of Aleppo has been temporarily closed because of “attacks by rebel fighters,” an anonymous airport official said Tuesday. The official reason is "maintenance work."

The international airport in Syria's second city of Aleppo has been temporarily closed due to repeated attacks by rebel fighters, an airport official said on Tuesday.
"There have been continued attempts by opposition militants to target civilian aircraft, which could cause a humanitarian disaster," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The airport's authorities said the closure was due to maintenance work on the runway and other facilities on the ground.
The official said the critical transportation hub would be closed for a "very short period of time" while the army worked to regain control of surrounding areas where large numbers of rebels have set up base.
Fighting in Aleppo, located in the largely rebel-held north of Syria, has been at a stalemate for months since opposition fighters launched a massive assault on the former commercial hub in mid-July.

Defected Syrian journalists tell of regime pressure

Three Syrian journalists from media controlled by Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Damascus have defected to France. They told FRANCE 24 of the pressures they had been under and the feeling that they had been “accomplices to the regime.”

An editor at Syrian state broadcaster Radio Damascus has told FRANCE 24 how he fled the country with two colleagues because of the huge pressure he was under to “distort the truth.”
In a rare interview with a defected Syrian journalist, Kamal Jamal Bik explained how the Damascus regime and his managers suspected anyone who looked at external sources as being an opponent of the regime.
He also said that the atmosphere of suspicion was compounded by a total lack of balance in the way he and his colleagues were allowed to report the news.

“We were only allowed to use the official SANA news agency, and what reporters we had in the field were only with the state army,” he said. “We on the news desks were told to deform the news, to clean it up. There was constant pressure and censorship.”
Bik said that continuing to work at Radio Damascus had made him “an accomplice to the regime” and called on his colleagues he left behind not to believe claims by the regime that his defection was part of “a foreign agenda”.
"An ongoing revolution"

Attacks kill 16 across Iraq as sectarian tensions grow

Four Shia pilgrims were killed and six were injured when a car bomb exploded in Baghdad's Karrada district, Iraq's Interior Ministry said.

          At least 16 people were killed and dozens were injured in attacks across Iraq Monday amid an apparent uptick in sectarian tensions.

Most of the attacks targeted Shiites, including bomb blasts that injured pilgrims traveling to shrines just days before a religious celebration.

 

And four Shia pilgrims were injured when three car bombs exploded simultaneously in the town of Balad Rouz, said Muthana Altimimi, head of the security and defense committee in Diyala province.

Thursday will mark 40 days after Ashura, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson. Shiite pilgrims often mark the occasion by traveling to shrines.

Violence also erupted outside Baghdad. Seven people were killed and four were injured after their houses were bombed in the city of Mussyab, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, the Interior Ministry said. It was unclear who was responsible for the blast or why the houses were targeted.

Monday's attacks come amid rising sectarian tensions, as tens of thousands of Sunni demonstrators nationwide protest what they say is second-class treatment by Iraq's Shiite-led government.

Sunnis largely boycotted Iraq's 2005 elections, leading to the emergence of a Shiite-led government. The move left the once-ruling minority disaffected, which contributed to years of bloody insurgency and sectarian warfare.

Car bomb claims 15 in Iraq

(CNN) -- A car bomb in the Iraqi city of Musayyib claimed at least 15 lives Thursday and injured dozens, a government official told CNN.

The bomb targeted Shiite pilgrims returning from Karbala, an Interior Ministry official said.

Musayyib is located 50 miles south of Baghdad.

The attack, which injured 37, comes amid rising sectarian tensions.

This week, tens of thousands of Sunnis participated in nationwide protests against what they say is second-class treatment by Iraq's Shiite-led government.

Sunnis largely boycotted Iraq's 2005 elections, leading to the emergence of a Shiite-led government. The move left the once-ruling minority disaffected, which contributed to years of bloody insurgency and sectarian warfare.

Several apparent sectarian attacks were reported Monday, leaving 16 dead.

Egypt opposition backs referendum 'No' vote

Egypt's opposition National Salvation Front has urged supporters to vote "No" in a looming referendum on a controversial draft constitution.

However, it said it could still call a boycott if its demands for the ballot - including the judiciary acting as overseer - were not met.

The opposition says the draft document, backed by President Mohammed Morsi and his supporters, is too Islamist.

The controversy has prompted mass demonstrations across Egypt.

In a separate development, conciliation talks called for Wednesday by the head of the armed forces have been postponed, with no new date announced.
Key conditions
The National Salvation Front on Wednesday spelled out its stance on the referendum, issuing a call to Egyptians to "go to polling stations to refuse the proposed constitution and to vote 'no'".

Leading opposition politician and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa told Reuters news agency: "We will vote 'no'."
Analysis

  Jon Leyne BBC News, Cairo

Iran hails progress in nuclear talks with IAEA

Iran says progress has been made at key talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Tehran.

Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said the meeting had been constructive and more talks would be held back in Tehran next month.

The IAEA has not commented, nor is it known whether it gained access to the Parchin military complex, as requested.

The IAEA is investigating "possible military dimensions" to Iran's nuclear programme.

The IAEA's chief inspector, Herman Nackaerts, is expected to issue a statement on returning to Vienna on Friday morning.
'Extensive activities'
Tehran has vehemently denied that it is trying to produce nuclear weapons, but has for seven years refused IAEA inspectors access to Parchin, where the agency believes explosives tests with potential nuclear elements may have been conducted.

Syria government 'losing control' - Russian official

Separately, Syria denied reports it had fired Scud missiles at rebels.

A Russian official has said for the first time that the Syrian government may be defeated by opposition forces.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces are "losing more and more control and territory", deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.

He said Russia, one of Syria's staunchest allies, was making plans for a possible evacuation of thousands of its citizens.


Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen earlier said the organisation had detected the launch of such short-range missiles, saying it showed an "utter disregard" for the lives of the Syrian people.
'Unacceptable price'
Russia, along with China, has used its veto at the UN Security Council to block resolutions condemning the Syrian government's use of violence.

But Mr Bogdanov said on Thursday: "Unfortunately, we cannot rule out the victory of the Syrian opposition."

Hamas stages first West Bank rally in five years

A rift developed between the PA's Fatah party and Hamas after the Islamist movement won legislative elections in 2006 and came to power in Gaza a year later.

Thousands of Palestinians have joined the first mass rally organised by Hamas in the West Bank since 2007.

Demonstrators in the city of Nablus celebrated the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Islamist militant group, which governs the Gaza Strip.

It is the first time in five years that the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs in the West Bank, has granted Hamas permission to hold a rally.

The move is seen as a sign that ties are improving between the two sides.

But some observers say there have been indications that tensions between the rivals factions have eased in recent times, in particular after last month's eight-day conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Last week, Fatah leaders attended a rally by Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, held during his first ever visit to Gaza.

Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held two contrasting periods in office - the first characterised by political instability and limited territorial withdrawals; the second by a remarkably enduring coalition and lack of progress in the peace process.

Telegenic and media savvy, the Likud party leader was elected premier in March 2009 for the second time, after becoming the youngest person to hold the post in 1996.

For the first three years of his second term, Mr Netanyahu led a coalition dominated by right-wing and religious parties.
Though it was relatively popular among Israelis, Mr Netanyahu's government was criticised by some in the international community for not renewing a partial freeze on Jewish settlement-building and avoid a collapse in peace talks with the Palestinians in late 2010.

Is Israel's missile defence a conflict game-changer?

For many Israelis, the recent fighting in Gaza provoked mixed feelings of both fear and a certain euphoria.

Fear because, for the first time, longer-range missiles from Hamas and other Palestinian groups reached the outskirts of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; and euphoria because of the remarkable success of Israel's Iron Dome defensive system.
Experts claim that this had up to an 85% success rate in engaging missiles heading for populated areas. In the wake of the conflict, some Israeli experts claim that Iron Dome and other similar systems - that are either operational or in development - have changed the strategic rules of the game in the region.
As Israeli strategic analyst Ofer Shelah told me: "Since Syria's defeat in the air-battles during the Lebanon War in 1982, when some 82 Syrian aircraft were shot down for no Israeli losses and Syria's anti-aircraft defences were destroyed, Arab forces around Israel have sought to balance Israel's air superiority by amassing vast arsenals of rockets and missiles."

What was good for Syria was also good for its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and for Hamas and other Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip. They both saw rockets and missiles as a way of striking back at Israel despite its overwhelming military superiority.

Some estimates suggest that Israel faces some 60,000 rockets from Hezbollah alone and Hezbollah spokesmen have warned that rocket fire will rain down upon Israel's major cities in the event of any future confrontation.

Upper hand

Israel's military were for a long time sceptical about developing anti-missile defences which appeared to go against the traditional Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) doctrine that has always placed the emphasis upon offensive operations. It was only after the Second Lebanon War in 2006 that steps were taken to defend against short and medium-range rockets.

US envoy Susan Rice admits Benghazi attack error

A US diplomat hotly tipped to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has admitted releasing incorrect information after September's attack on the American consulate in Libya.
UN Ambassador Susan Rice said there had been no attempt to mislead the public, but Republicans were unconvinced.
After meeting Ms Rice on Tuesday, senators said they were troubled.

The envoy said her initial line that the Benghazi attack appeared to have sprung from a protest had been wrong.

The 11 September assault on the US consulate triggered a major political row over who knew what and when.
Days afterwards, Ms Rice, 48, said in a series of TV interviews that it seemed to have developed out of protests over an anti-Islamic film.

Later intelligence reports suggested it was possibly tied to al-Qaeda affiliates.

The attack left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
'Disturbed'
On Tuesday, Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte met privately with Ms Rice and acting CIA Director Michael Morell to discuss the attack.

 

Tunisians wounded in Siliana clashes over unemployment

More than 150 people have been wounded in a second day of clashes in the Tunisian town of Siliana, medical officials have said.

The security forces have been using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators demanding jobs.
There are also reports of people being treated for shotgun injuries at the town's hospital.
Tunisia was the birthplace of the Arab Spring, deposing their long-time president in January 2011.
Hunger strike
The BBC's Sihem Hassaini in the capital, Tunis, says the unrest in Siliana is the latest in a series of protests by people disappointed by the lack of progress following the revolution.
She says residents went on strike on Tuesday, angered that the mayor had failed to create jobs.

All offices and businesses in Siliana, which is about 120km (75 miles) south of Tunis, remained closed on Wednesday, as protests continued.
According to AFP news agency, several armoured vehicles were deployed as demonstrators set up barricaded on Wednesday.

William Hague says UK may abstain in Palestinian UN vote

However, a yes vote would also have a practical diplomatic effect as it would allow the Palestinians to participate in debates at the UN and improve their chances of joining UN agencies, although the process was neither automatic nor guaranteed.

                  Foreign Secretary William Hague has suggested the UK is likely to abstain in a key vote on upgraded diplomatic status at the UN for Palestinians.

He said the UK would not oppose moves to recognise the Palestinians as a "non-member observer state".

But he said he needed a number of assurances, principally that the Palestinians would seek negotiations with Israel "without pre-conditions".

Palestinian diplomats said they had rejected the "unrealistic" demands.

The vote on upgrading the Palestinians from their current "permanent observer" status is seen as a symbolic milestone in Palestinian ambitions for statehood.
In a statement to MPs, Mr Hague set out the conditions he said were needed for the UK to back the move, suggesting they would not be "difficult" to achieve.
'Public assurances'
The first was an "indispensable" assurance had to be given by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinians were committed to return to negotiations with Israel without any conditions.

Egypt appeals courts launch anti-Mursi strike action

Meanwhile, Egypt's new constitution will be completed on Wednesday, the head of the assembly drafting the document has said.

      Judges in Egypt's appeal courts have called a strike in protest at President Mohammed Mursi's recent decree giving himself new powers.

The decree, issued last Thursday, gave Mr Mursi powers to take any measures to protect the revolution, and stated that no court could overturn his decisions.
The move sparked widespread protests.

The constituent assembly is expected to vote on the draft on Thursday, officials say.

"Tomorrow [Thursday] will be a great day," said the head of the Islamist-dominated assembly, Hossam al-Gheriani.
He urged the non-Islamist parties, the syndicate of journalists and Egyptian churches - who walked out of the assembly last week - to return.
Once adopted by the assembly, the proposed constitution will then be put to a national referendum.
'Protecting the revolution'

Syria conflict: Twin bomb blasts shake Damascus suburb

At least 34 people are reported to have been killed and many injured by two car bomb explosions in a south-eastern district of Syria's capital, Damascus.

State media said "terrorists" were behind the blasts in Jaramana and broadcast pictures showing several charred vehicles and damaged buildings.
The district is predominantly Druze and Christian, two communities which have so far not joined the uprising.

Earlier, there were clashes between security forces and rebels in Jaramana.

There has been fierce fighting in recent days in eastern parts of the countryside around Damascus, known as the Ghouta.
'Suicide attacker'
Pro-government TV channel Addounia said the car bombs had exploded in Jaramana shortly after 06:40 local time (04:40 GMT).

Analysis

The car bombs exploded in an area which is predominantly Druze and Christian - two minorities which President Bashar al-Assad's government says it is protecting from "terrorist extremists".
These are not the first attacks in Jaramana to have been blamed on those seeking to overthrow the government. But in the past, the armed opposition has denied any involvement and repeatedly said it is targeting Mr Assad's forces and not minority groups. Areas like Jaramana are heavily guarded by pro-government militia known as Popular Committees.