Archive for May 10th, 2008
War With Iran Might Be Closer Than You Think
War With Iran Might Be Closer Than You Think
There is considerable speculation and buzz in Washington today suggesting that the National Security Council has agreed in principle to proceed with plans to attack an Iranian al-Qods-run camp that is believed to be training Iraqi militants. The camp that will be targeted is one of several located near Tehran. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was the only senior official urging delay in taking any offensive action. The decision to go ahead with plans to attack Iran is the direct result of concerns being expressed over the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, where Iranian ally Hezbollah appears to have gained the upper hand against government forces and might be able to dominate the fractious political situation. The White House contacted the Iranian government directly yesterday through a channel provided by the leadership of the Kurdish region in Iraq, which has traditionally had close ties to Tehran. The US demanded that Iran admit that it has been interfering in Iraq and also commit itself to taking steps to end the support of various militant groups. There was also a warning about interfering in Lebanon. The Iranian government reportedly responded quickly, restating its position that it would not discuss the matter until the US ceases its own meddling employing Iranian dissident groups. The perceived Iranian intransigence coupled with the Lebanese situation convinced the White House that some sort of unambiguous signal has to be sent to the Iranian leadership, presumably in the form of cruise missiles. It is to be presumed that the attack will be as “pinpoint” and limited as possible, intended to target only al-Qods and avoid civilian casualties. The decision to proceed with plans for an attack is not final. The President will still have to give the order to launch after all preparations are made.
Sudan rebels say they entered Khartoum By Opheera McDoom
Sudan rebels say they entered Khartoum By Opheera McDoom
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Darfur rebel commander said on Saturday his JEM group had entered Khartoum and was aiming to take power in Sudan.
However, a security source denied that rebels had entered the city, telling Reuters that the situation was under control.
Khartoum was placed under an overnight curfew after fighting in the west of the capital.
Heavy gunfire was heard and helicopters and army vehicles headed towards the suburb of Omdurman, witnesses said. Artillery was heard later, becoming more frequent as the evening wore on.
The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels said they had taken control of Omdurman which lies on the opposite bank of the River Nile from Khartoum.
“We are now trying to control Khartoum. God willing we will take power, it’s just a matter of time,” senior JEM commander Abdel Aziz el-Nur Ashr told Reuters by telephone.
“We have support from inside Khartoum even from within the armed forces.” It would be the first time a rebel group has entered Khartoum.
The security source told Reuters several JEM vehicles had been cornered in Omdurman, saying: “It’s under control.”
Darfur rebels fought battles with Sudan’s army in the North Kordofan province bordering Khartoum on Friday and Saturday, according to a local government official and witnesses.
The army said the curfew was to preserve the safety of the civilians and the situation was under control.
“We are announcing a curfew in the state of Khartoum from 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) until 6 a.m. starting from today May 10th, 2008,” an army spokesman said on state television.
Army helicopters flew overheard and roads were closed in Khartoum as the curfew began to take effect.
Khartoum airport was taken over by Sudan’s army. One witness said he saw three Egyptian fighter planes and one Egyptian army cargo plane landing at the airport. The witness said he could see the Egyptian flag on the side of the planes.
“IT’S ALL GREEN”
The shooting in Omdurman could be heard on the telephone of one resident who telephoned Reuters on Saturday.
“It’s all green here because of the military uniforms. There is a lot of army on the streets, security men and military trucks,” another witness in the suburb said.
Diplomatic missions held emergency meetings early on Saturday. They have been on alert since early Friday.
Khartoum houses the bulk of Sudan’s population with an estimated 8 million people living in the state. Despite civil wars ravaging Sudan’s peripheries for decades, the capital has remained a haven of safety with armed clashes unheard of.
International experts estimate some 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million made homeless in five years of fighting in Darfur after mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms accusing central government of neglect.
New weapons and a loose military alliance with SLA Unity has turned JEM into the most threat to the Khartoum government on the ground in recent months.
JEM is led by Khalil Ibrahim. Ibrahim is distrusted by some who they say has an Islamist agenda and has his eye on power in Khartoum rather than the rights of Darfuris.
Earlier, JEM said it was strengthening its forces in Kordofan but not attacking government troops to avoid causing civilian casualties.
A local government official said the heavily armed rebels had scattered after an army counter-attack.
The army accused Chad on Saturday of backing the rebels. State minister for information, Kamal Obeid, called the events strange and unacceptable. Clearly flustered, he told state television that JEM was “paying the bill for Chad.”
Khartoum under curfew after clashes
JEM is one of the biggest armed groups fighting government forces in Darfur province File: EPA
Curfew has been declared in Khartoum after government forces clashed with fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in an area north of the Sudanese capital.
“Army forces are currently facing attack by rebels loyal to Khalil Ibrahim JEM leader in the north of Omdurman the capital’s twin city,” the Sudanese army said in a statement read on state television on Saturday.
The JEM website said that its fighters had taken control of Wadi Saidna air force base, about 16km north of Khartoum, although this has not been verified.
Anti-government fighters waged battles with Sudan’s army in the North Kordofan province bordering Khartoum on Friday and Saturday, according to a local government official.
The JEM said it was strengthening its forces in Kordofan but not attacking government troops to avoid causing civilian casualties.
The JEM has attacked government forces in Kordofan in the past in hit-and-run raids.
‘Heavy artillery fire’
Witnesses said that heavy fighting had been taking place for at least two hours in Omdurman.
Sadiq Babo Nimr, a local resident, told the AFP news agency by telephone that residents were hiding inside their homes amid heavy artillery fire.
“It’s just outside my flat, I can hear bombardment from very heavy artillery,” he said.
“We’re just lying down, there are stray bullets whistling around the building, my wife and children are very scared.”
ht tp://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/51DF8D2C-009B-4262-BCC2-C59F07219ABB.htm
The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) entered Khartoum… is this the same Darfur were a genocide was taking place according to the west ?
