World News Blog

Friday, October 24, 2008

Pakistan Parliament rejects "American war"

Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution Friday calling for dialogue with insurgents and an end to military action along its borders.

The move, which was passed overwhelmingly by parliamentarians, is apparently a response to unilateral US attacks across the border from Afghanistan. The resolution vows to halt such attacks against militants based in the tribal border regions.

"We need to prioritise our own national security interests," said Raza Rabbani, a leading member of the ruling Pakistan People's party. "As far as the US is concerned, the message that has gone with this resolution will definitely ring alarm bells, vis-a-vis their policy of bulldozing Pakistan."

Yesterday, suspected US drones attacked a madrasa suspected of links with the Taliban killing 11 people in Pakistani territory.

Reuters AlertNet

Pakistan rejects 'America's war' on extremists
guardian.co.uk - 9 hours ago
Serious doubts multiplied yesterday about Pakistan's commitment to America's military campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban after parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for dialogue with extremist groups and an end to military action ...
Pakistan Plan to Arm Tribal Militias Poses Risks Voice of America
Pakistani tribal militias walk tightrope in Taliban fight International Herald Tribune

Labels: afghanistan, border raids, dialogue, drones, Pakistan, parliament, taliban

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Ukraine ruling coalition collapses

Ukraine's ruling coalition collapsed in the face of a political standoff over joining the NATO alliance.

President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko of the Orange coalition split over what approach should be taken in relations with Russia. The former favors a hard line confrontational stance while the latter wants diplomacy with Moscow, one of Ukraine's most important trading partners.

Yushchenko has accused Tymoshenko of collaborating with Moscow, and said the latter has been supporting a separatist movement in the Crimea.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko delivers a speech during a press conference on September 8 in Kiev. Ukraine's governing coalition collapsed on Tuesday in a crisis that threatens to knock the ex-Soviet country of 47 million people off its pro-Western course and back into Moscow's orbit.(AFP/File/Sergei Supinsky)

Wall Street Journal

Ukraine's Ruling Coalition Collapses
Wall Street Journal - 1 hour ago
By ANDREW OSBORN MOSCOW -- Ukraine's pro-Western coalition government formally collapsed, deepening a political crisis that has clouded the country's prospects of joining the NATO military alliance.
Ukraine: Orange Coalition Falls New York Times
Ukraine faces poll as coalition falls Financial Times

Labels: crimea, moscow, parliament, russia, separatist, urkraine