Recent Appearances...

Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/rantburg/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !
Recent Appearances...

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Gaza ceasefire ‘not a permanent solution’: Arab League

2025-01-24

[GEO.TV] Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that the ceasefire in the Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Strip ''is not a permanent solution'', adding that peace can only be achieved by creating an independent Paleostinian state, reported Al Jazeera on Thursday.

Describing Israel's 15-month assault on Gaza as a ''war of genocide'', Gheit told the UN Security Council: ''The basis for peace can only be achieved by the realisation of the Paleostinian people of their right to an independent state on the borders of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.''

He said Israel's oppression of Paleostinians is ''a threat to international peace and security'' and its war ''did not stop at the borders of Gaza or Paleostine but has spilled over and its flames have reached the region''.

Link

Africa North

Libyan leaders agree to form unified govt that will supervise elections

2024-03-13

[insert definition of insanity here]
[AFRICANEWS] Representatives of Libya's rival administrations have pledged to form a unified government.

The Head of the country's Presidential Council, the Speaker of the eastern based House of Representatives, and the Head of the western based High Council of State met Sunday (Mar. 10) in Cairo, Egypt.

The meeting was convened by the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
Secretary-General.

"The attendees agreed on the following: first, emphasising on the illusory sovereignty, independence and the unity of the Libyan soil and the rejection of any foreign intervention the affects the Libyan political process negatively," Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.

"Second, considering the political agreement and what follows it, a technical committee will be formed within a given timeframe to look into the proper amendments that expand the base of consensus in the work that was executed by the 6+6 committee, and to finalise the unsettled matters regarding the points of disagreement in accordance to the legislations in force."

Link

International-UN-NGOs

Arab League and African Union: ground operation in Gaza will lead to genocide

2023-10-16

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Israeli army's planned ground operation in the Gaza Strip could lead to genocide of the local population, the Arab League and the African Union said in a joint statement published on October 15.

They have to spout such stupidities — it’s in the contract.

“Israel’s ground operation will undoubtedly entail a large number of civilian casualties, including women and children, which could lead to unprecedented genocide,” said a statement adopted following a meeting between League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Union Commission head Musa Faqi Mahamata.

Not if most of the civilians make their way to the southern end of the Gaza Strip, where the water is once again running, leaving only jihadis of various flavours to be crushed by the israeli juggernaut.

The League and Union are calling for an immediate ceasefire in the sector and urgent humanitarian assistance to local residents to avoid the development of “a catastrophe that is happening right before our eyes,” the statement noted.

No. They beheaded babies and tortured children, so now they get to reap the consequences.

As Regnum reported, earlier the Prime Minister and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud , said that the Israeli army must stop the escalation of the conflict, lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip and stop military operations that are taking the lives of civilians.

Again: no.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in turn, noted that if the Israeli army does not stop striking residents of the Gaza Strip, the scale of the conflict may expand.

Oh dear. How dreadful that would be for those in Israel’s crosshairs, to be sure.

He called for the collective mobilization of Islamic countries "to end the Zionist regime's war crimes against the people of Gaza."

The leaders of the EU countries, in their joint statement, previously condemned Hamas for taking hostages and called for their release, expressed their readiness to provide humanitarian assistance to the residents of the Gaza Strip and declared recognition of Israel's right to self-defense, emphasizing that the rights of civilians must be respected. At the same time, they called for the resumption of the “Middle East peace process” and its conduct on the principles of “two states” (Israel and Palestine).

Later, perhaps. At the moment Israel is otherwise occupied.

Russian President Vladimir Putin previously noted that in order to resolve the situation in Israel, it is necessary to implement the UN decision on the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Ah. It’ll be a while, then.

It is important to prevent the conflict from expanding; Russia is ready to contribute to resolving the situation and calls on others to also seek a compromise, the president said. The one-sided position of the United States has led the Palestinian-Israeli settlement to a dead end, Vladimir Putin emphasized.

The military conflict in Israel escalated on October 7. The radical Palestinian movement Hamas carried out a rocket attack on Israeli territory, and several settlements were captured.

A little more happened than that...

Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip, regaining control over the cities. The parties continue to exchange blows; Israel has blocked the supply of water and electricity to Gaza. Israeli authorities announced a ground operation in the sector. In addition, Syrian authorities said that the Israeli army shelled the airports of Aleppo and Damascus, and Israeli authorities reported strikes on Hezbollah bases in Lebanon.

A ground operation in the Gaza Strip is unprofitable for Israel, but it also cannot refuse to carry it out, Andrei Zeltyn, a senior lecturer at the HSE School of Oriental Studies, said in an interview with a Regnum correspondent. An operation in a densely populated region will lead to numerous casualties and condemnation of Israel’s actions, and refusal from it will be a demonstration of Israel’s weakness, as a result of which other groups, following Hamas, may attack its territory, the expert noted.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Arab, Muslim nations react to Hamas attack on Israel

2023-10-09

[GEO.TV] Leaders of Arab and Moslem nations reacted to the deadly Hamas, one of the armed feet of the Moslem Brüderbund millipede, attack on Israel on Saturday, advising caution, criticising Israel, and asking for a ceasefire.

The early morning Hamas offensive by air, land, and sea was met by Israeli air strikes on the blockaded coastal enclave, in the bloodiest escalation since May 2021.

Here is a roundup of reactions from the region:

EGYPT

The foreign ministry appealed to "both the Paleostinian and Israeli sides to exercise the utmost restraint", warning of the "dire danger of ongoing escalation".

Cairo has historically been a key mediator in conflicts between the two sides.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made a series of calls to regional and international leaders, including his Jordanian, UAE, ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish, German, and French counterparts, and to European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.

A foreign ministry statement said Shoukry sought to rally "international actors" to "intervene immediately".

SODDY ARABIA
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...

"The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control," a foreign ministry statement said.

Riyadh echoed statements by other regional states — including Kuwait, Iraq, QATAR
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
, and Oman — that Saturday's attack was "a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Paleostinian people of their legitimate rights".

The violence comes amid growing speculation about the impending normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, after Riyadh and Washington held talks on certain Saudi conditions, according to people briefed on the meetings.

SYRIA
The foreign ministry called the Hamas operation an "honourable achievement that proves the only way for Paleostinians to obtain their legitimate rights is resistance in all its forms".

Syria also expressed its "support" for the Paleostinian people and the forces "fighting against Zionist terrorism".

IRAN
A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
...the very aged actual dictator of Iran, successor to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini...
expressed support for the attack, calling it a "proud operation".

"We support this operation," Yahya Rahim Safavi said, quoted by ISNA news agency.

Safavi backed the Paleostinian murderous Moslems "until the liberation of Paleostine and Jerusalem".

At a parliament session, politicians chanted "Down with Israel", "Down with America" and "Welcome Paleostine", according to a video published by the Tasnim news agency.

UAE
The United Arab Emirates called for "an immediate ceasefire" and "exercising the utmost restraint," state news agency WAM reported.

"The UAE has expressed its sincere condolences to all the victims of the recent crisis," a foreign ministry statement said, stressing the importance of protecting civilians.

Abu Dhabi normalised relations with Israel in 2020 under the US-backed Abraham Accords, along with Bahrain and Morocco.

MOROCCO
"The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its deep concern at the deterioration of the situation and the outbreak of military action in the Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Strip, and condemns attacks against civilians wherever they may be," a foreign ministry statement said.

ARAB LEAGUE
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...

Arab League Chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for "an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza" and "the cycle of armed confrontation between the two sides".

He said, "Israel's continued implementation of ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful and Death Eater policies is a time bomb depriving the region of any serious opportunity for stability in the foreseeable future."

YEMEN
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of...

Iran's Houthi sock puppets

...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews They like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him...
rebels who control the capital Sanaa said they supported "the heroic jihadist operation".

In a statement published on the website of the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency, the Iran-aligned group said the attack "revealed the weakness, fragility and impotence" of Israel.

It called the operation "a battle of dignity, pride, and defence".

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon ministers hold crisis meeting over dispute with Saudi Arabia

2021-10-31

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] A Lebanese crisis group of ministers met Saturday to discuss a deepening diplomatic rift with Saudi Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Fifteen of the nineteen WTC hijackers were Saudis, and most major jihadi commanders were Saudis, to include Osama bin Laden. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman quietly folded that tent in 2016, doing terrible things to the guys running it, and has since been dragging the kingdom into the current century...
that has seen the kingdom expel Leb
Leb

...the home of Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity™, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade...
’s envoy to the Gulf state and ban all Lebanese imports.

The row over critical comments made by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi about the Arab Coalition military intervention in Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of...
threw the government into a new crisis amid calls for Kordahi’s resignation.

If Kordahi resigns, ministers backed by the heavily armed Shia

Hezbollah group and its Amal ally could follow suit at a time when the government is already paralyzed by a dispute over an inquiry into the August 2020 Beirut blast.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati asked Kordahi on Friday evening to consider Lebanon’s "national interest" but stopped short of asking for his resignation.

Kordahi has been publicly backed by Hezbollah and has declined to apologize or resign over the comments.

The crisis risks widening to more Gulf states, with Bahrain also asking Lebanon’s ambassador to leave shortly after the Saudi decision.

The Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
said in a statement on Saturday it was concerned about the souring of Lebanese-Gulf relations and appealed to Gulf countries "to reflect on the measures proposed to be taken...in order to avoid further negative effects on the collapsing Lebanese economy."

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed "deep concern and regret over the rapid deterioration in Lebanese-Gulf relations...," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia has also recalled its ambassador to Lebanon for consultations.

Mikati has been hoping to improve ties with Gulf Arab states strained for years because of the influence wielded in Beirut by the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

In April, Saudi Arabia banned all fruit and vegetable imports from Lebanon, blaming an increase in drug smuggling.

The ban added to the economic woes of Lebanon, already in the throes of one of the deepest financial crises in modern times.

Link

Africa North

Tunisian President Rejects Constitutional Court Amendments

2021-04-06

[ENGLISH.AAWSAT] Tunisian President Kais Saied refused to sign the Constitutional Court Law amendments introduced by the parliament, fearing they would be used to overthrow him.

Saied’s decision further escalates the political tensions between the presidency and parliament, in addition to the government backed by Ennahda Movement.

The president sent a letter to Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, rejecting the amendments, calling for respecting all provisions of the constitution.

Constitutional law experts voiced their concerns that the recent amendments could be used to remove Saied from office.

The parliament approved the ratified revisions of the draft bill for electing members of the Constitutional Court and reduced the number of votes from 145 to only 131.

The amendment was proposed by Ghannouchi to reduce the number of votes constitutionally necessary to pass the members of the court to 109 votes representing the absolute majority.

Observers believe Ennahda can obtain the necessary number of votes to pass certain candidates of the Constitutional Court.

Earlier, the president rejected the ministerial amendment carried out by Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and approved by the parliament.

The Constitutional Court is able to end the president of the republic's term, declaring the position of president vacant, receive the presidential oath and examine disputes related to the jurisdiction of both the president and prime minister.

It plays a pivotal role in monitoring constitutional amendments and treaties, draft laws and procedures related to the parliament's internal system.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wreckage, Captain Poindexter wished he had a cup of coffee. Even instant would do...
Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
Sec-Gen Ahmed Aboul Gheit, began Sunday a visit to Tunis, following an official invitation within the framework of coordination and consultation with Tunisia as the current president of the 30th Arab summit.

An official at the League’s General Secretariat said that during the visit, Aboul Gheit is scheduled to meet with the Tunisian president to discuss various Arab issues, including the situation in Libya, the Paleostinian cause, and the ongoing Arab crises.

The source stated that the talks between the summit presidency and the General Secretariat include all decisions of the 30th Arab summit. They will also evaluate measures that could be implemented, in light of the exceptional circumstances that the Arab region and the world witnessed due to the coronavirus (aka COVID19 or Chinese Plague)
...the twenty first century equivalent of bubonic plague, only instead of killing off a third of the population of Europe it kills 3.4 percent of those who notice they have it. It seems to be fond of the elderly, especially Iranian politicians and holy men...
pandemic.

The Secretary-General is also expected to meet the Foreign Minister Othman al-Jerandi to discuss issues of common interest between Tunisia and the General Secretariat.

Abul Gheit will meet with directors of specialized Arab organizations operating in Tunisia to discuss the role of the joint Arab action in helping member states mitigate the effects and repercussions of COVID-19.

Link

The Grand Turk

Erdogan: Northeast Syria is suitable area for Arabs, not Kurds, to live

2019-10-26

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish President His Enormity, Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First
...Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey. In Anatolia did Recep Bey a stately Presidential Palace decree, that has 1100 rooms. That's 968 more than in the White House, 400 more than in Versailles, and 325 more than Buckingham Palace, so you know who's really more important...
said on Thursday that northeastern Syria is suitable for Arab people to live, but not Kurdish people, because of the area’s desert topography.

"What is important is to prepare a controlled life in this enormous area, and the most suitable people for it are Arabs. These areas are not suitable for the lifestyle of Kurds ... because these areas are virtually desert," Erdogan said, pointing to a map of the Syria, in an interview with ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish television channel TRT.

Erdogan’s remarks attempt to defend Ankara’s military offensive, "Operation Peace Spring," against Kurdish-led militias in Syria, which is still ongoing according to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite a truce.

The SDF accused ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...just another cheapjack Moslem dictatorship, brought to you by the Moslem Brüderbund...
on Thursday of targeting three villages in northeast Syria despite a US-brokered ceasefire and a Turkey-Russia peace plan.

Ankara views the Kurdish-led fighters as turbans and justifies the operation as self-defense.

Launched on October 9, the incursion sparked widespread condemnation from the US, who saw Kurdish forces as an effective tool in the fight against ISIS
ISIS

...embracing their inner Islamic Brute...
, and Arab leaders, who condemned the operation as an invasion of an Arab state’s land.

Erdogan specifically addressed the negative reaction of the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
to Turkey’s operation on Thursday.

"The Arab League’s reaction to our Operation Peace Spring is strange, as they have kicked Syria out of the union. Turkey is actively helping Arabs in the region while they are attacking them with barrel bombs," he said in the interview with TRT.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on October 12 that the ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish offensive was an "invasion of an Arab state’s land and an aggression on its illusory sovereignty."

Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt condemned the ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish military operation at its start.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said the ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish attack was causing the Syrian people further suffering and demanded all foreign forces withdraw from the country.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Arab states urge Lebanon to rein in Hezbollah

2017-11-21

[ARABNEWS] Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri

Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too.
, who resigned on Nov. 4, will land in Cairo on Tuesday to meet the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi "to complement his international and Arab tours," Hariri’s media office announced.

Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit arrived in Beirut on Monday ‐ the day after his urgent meeting in the Egyptian capital with Arab foreign ministers, at which he condemned "the firing of an Iranian-made ballistic missile from Yemeni territories to Riyadh" and considered it "blatant aggression against Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and a threat to Arab national security."

The statement released after the meeting held "the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, a major player in the Lebanese government, responsible for supporting terrorism and terrorist groups in Arab countries through providing them with advanced arms and ballistic missiles."

Aboul Gheit heard Lebanese President

Michel Aoun
...president of Leb, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah...
say: "Leb is not responsible for Arab or regional conflicts and had never attacked any country. Therefore, it must not pay the price for these conflicts."

Aoun stressed that "Leb faced Israeli aggression and managed to free its lands, but Israel continues to target Leb, which gives Lebanese people every right to resist and thwart Israel’s plans in every possible way."

He also refused to "suggest that the Lebanese government plays a role in terrorist acts," pointing out that "the stance of the permanent representative of Leb to the vaporous Arab League during the foreign ministers’ meeting reflects a strong national determination."

Leb objected to "the describing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, as well as referring to it as being part of the government."

In a statement released by the presidential palace after Aboul Gheit’s meeting with Aoun, Aboul Gheit said: "Arab states are keen on ensuring Leb’s illusory sovereignty, independence and role as well as protecting its unique political structure and refusing to allow any harm to get to it."

Link

Arabia

Security Forces Pursue Terrorists after Aden Suicide Attack

2016-09-01

Aden-Security forces in Aden carried out on Tuesday evening a series of raids at hideouts of suspected terrorist cells run by security and intelligence officials that are known for their support to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The terrorist operations are targeting the stability and security of Aden. The latest terrorist explosion struck a group of recruits in Aden, killing and injuring 170 people.

Aden intensified security procedures and deployed security forces at the entrance and exit of the temporary base of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

They said the coup militias are plotting for terrorist operations in response to the announcement of the governor of Aden, Aidaroos al-Zubaidi,that the city is safe and the legitimate government should return to it.

These strict security procedures and raids came less than 24 hours after the Aden explosion which ISIS claimed responsibility for.

Some analysts say that the presence of ISIS in Yemen is unlikely. These sources informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the last terrorist cell arrested by the security forces had received instructions from parties that support the ousted Yemeni president.

In a related matter, local medical sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that 54 people were dead and 120 were injured in the blast and some of the wounded are in critical condition. Internal and external parties widely denounced the suicide attack.

GCC Secretary General Abdul Latif Al-Zayani described the attack as a terrorist crime that contradicts with all humanitarian values and morals. Zayani guaranteed the GCC countries’ full support to Yemen in the security procedures taken to shore up stability.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also denounced the operation and offered condolences to the victims’ families and the Yemeni government and people.

Link

Africa North

Egypts new government sworn in

2011-03-08

[Ennahar] The new Egyptian government led by Essam Sharaf, sworn in Monday at the head of the Supreme Council of the armed forces, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, according to the state television.

Six departments were renewed, including oil, which goes to Abdullah Ghorab, Culture, Justice and Labor.

Foreign Affairs and the Interior were filled on Sunday. Nabil al-Arabi, replaced Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the head of diplomacy, Mansour al-Issawi was appointed to the Interior Ministry to replace Mahmoud Wagdi.

The new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf was named Thursday to replace Ahmad Chafic.

Link

Africa North

Egypt replaces several Mubarak-era ministers

2011-02-23

CAIRO Egypts military rulers swore in a new Cabinet Tuesday that includes 11 new ministers in a nod to the opposition movement that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak but keeps three former members of the regime in key posts.

The move comes as the military leadership that is overseeing the countrys transition works to assure the anti-Mubarak movement that led mass protests it is committed to democratic reforms.

However, the decision to keep Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and Justice Minister Mamdouh Marie, three Mubaraks loyalists, in their post are likely to draw criticism from the youth activists and others who launched the uprising on Jan. 25.

The coalition government included independents and members of opposition parties for the first time in decades, pushing out the longtime ministers of oil, social justice and labor. The new Cabinet also included two Coptic Christians, including an ex-lawmaker.

Among the new names were Monier Fakhri Abdel Nour, a Coptic member of the Wafd opposition party as minister of tourism, filling a position that has been vacant since Zuhair Garana was jailed on corruption charges. Top leftist Tagammu party member Gouda Abdel Khaleq also was named minister of social justice.

Link

Africa North

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood plans political party

2011-02-16

[Asharq al-Aswat] Egypt's long banned Moslem Brüderbund said Tuesday it intends to form a political party once democracy is established, as the country's new military rulers launched a panel of experts to amend the country's constitution enough to allow democratic elections later this year.

The panel is to draw up changes at a breakneck pace -- within 10 days -- to end the monopoly that ousted geriatric President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party once held, which it ensured through widespread election rigging. The initial changes may not be enough for many in Egypt calling for the current constitution, now suspended by the military, to be thrown out completely and rewritten to ensure no one can once again establish autocratic rule. Two members on the panel said the next elected government could further change the document if it chooses.

The military's choices for the panel's makeup were a sign of the new political legitimacy of the Moslem Brüderbund, the fundamentalist group that was the most bitter rival of Mubarak's regime. Among the panel's members is Sobhi Saleh, a former politician from the Brotherhood seen as part of its reformist wing.

The eight-member committee, which met with Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi on Tuesday, also includes a Christian supreme court judge, along with other judges and legal experts, one of its members Mohammed Hassanein Abdel-Al, a legal scholar told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. The panel is headed by Tareq el-Bishri, a widely respected former judge and scholar who was once a secular leftist but later became one of the most foremost thinkers of what Egyptians refer to as the "moderate Islamic" political trend and is seen as a bridge between the movements.

The panel's convening indicated the military was trying to push ahead quickly with a transition after Mubarak resigned Friday in the face of 18 days of unprecedented popular protests that massed hundreds of thousands. The military is now also urging an end to labor strikes that spread wildly across the country Sunday and Monday, unleashed by the turmoil.

The strikes, many hitting state agencies and industries, are a further blow to Egypt's economy, damaged by the three weeks of upheaval. Egypt's Foreign Minster Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on the international community to provide aid to boost Egypt's economy.

Link

Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/rantburg/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More