Benazir e-mail implicates Musharraf in death

Benazir e-mail implicates Musharraf in death
28 Dec 2007, 2118 hrs IST,CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA,TNN

WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto implicated military ruler Pervez Musharraf in her death in an e-mail she sent to a friend, it has been revealed, even as the US media began an unsparing review of Washington’s support to the dictator and the country’s pervasive military.

US aid ‘diverted’ in Pakistan

US aid ‘diverted’ in Pakistan

More than $5bn in US military aid to Pakistan has often failed to reach frontline units fighting al-Qaeda and the Taleban, the New York Times says. It quoted officials saying much of the money was diverted to weapons systems designed to counter India, rather than to fighting Islamist militants.

The US provides the money to reimburse Pakistan for military operations carried out in its “war on terror”.

Obituary: Benazir Bhutto

Obituary: Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto followed her father into politics, and both of them died because of it – he was executed in 1979, she fell victim to an apparent suicide bomb attack.

Israel confirms settlement plans

 

Israel confirms settlement plans

(Taken from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7158072.stm)

Israel plans to build 740 new homes in settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, a minister said, despite its commitment to freeze all settlement activity.

Rafi Eitan, minister for Jerusalem affairs, said Israel had never promised to stop building within Jerusalem and had a duty to house its citizens.

It is budgeting to build 500 new homes in Har Homa and 240 in Maaleh Adumim.

A Palestinian spokesman condemned the plans, accusing Israel of seeking to destroy renewed peace talks.

Every day we hear a new settlement expansion plan – this cannot be tolerated Saeb Erekat Palestinian negotiator

The two sides agreed at a peace conference in Annapolis in the US in late November to revive the 2003 peace plan known as the roadmap.According to the plan, Israel must halt all settlement activity and the Palestinians must rein in militants.

Israel considers new settlement

Israel considers new settlement

Israel says it is examining plans for a new settlement in East Jerusalem, after facing heavy criticism for expanding an existing Jewish settlement there.

Housing minister Zeev Boim said it was a preliminary look at possible housing development in the Atarot area.

He played down its significance, saying such checks were done year round on areas with building potential.

Palestinians say the Har Homa expansion announced this month threatened to derail re-launched peace negotiations.

Israeli army ‘crimes’ unpunished

Israeli army ‘crimes’ unpunished

An Israeli human rights group says the overwhelming majority of Israeli troops suspected of criminal offences against Palestinians are never indicted. The small number of investigations and even fewer indictments showed Israel’s army was ignoring its duty to protect Palestinian civilians, Yesh Din says.

Red Cross demands Mid-East action

Red Cross demands Mid-East action

The International Committee of the Red Cross has called for immediate political action to contain the “deep crisis” in the West Bank and Gaza. The statement was an unusual departure from its normally non-political stance.

The ICRC said the measures imposed by Israel had denied the Palestinian population the right to live a normal and dignified life.

Inquiry into destroyed CIA tapes

Inquiry into destroyed CIA tapes

(Taken from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7134860.stm)

The US justice department and the CIA are launching a joint inquiry into the CIA’s destruction of two videotapes of interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects. CIA chief General Mike Hayden said the agency would co-operate fully with the inquiry, which will decide whether a full investigation is necessary.

Democrats have accused the CIA of a cover-up to hide evidence of possible torture and abuse of detainees.