Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran does not consider Britain, France and Germany to be the sole negotiating partners on its nuclear programme and believes the process should be opened out beyond Europe, the foreign ministry said Sunday. “We will continue negotiating with them, but on the other hand we will not …
Read More »Road to Iraqi charter far rockier than expected due to miscalculations, overblown optimism
BAGHDAD — Since the early days of the occupation, the United States has aimed for a democratic constitution to serve the interests of all Iraq’s ethnic and religious groups. Getting one has proven tough. The tortured process, now approaching a climactic stage, has been marked by false starts, overblown optimism …
Read More »Bush touts constitution, prods Sunnis
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) — President George W. Bush on Sunday dismissed the rejection of Iraq’s new draft constitution by Sunni negotiators as the opinion of a few, expressing confidence that the failure to secure backing from all the country’s ethnic and political groups won’t derail a transition to democracy. Bush …
Read More »Main points of Iraq constitution
BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraqi leaders presented the final draft of a new constitution to parliament Sunday ending weeks of tortuous negotiation without winning the endorsement of representatives of the disgruntled Sunni Arab minority. The draft constitution brings in a federal system of government with Islamic law as “a principal source …
Read More »Iraq charter ready for referendum
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials finished the new constitution Sunday but failed to win the endorsement of Sunni Arab negotiators, a major setback for the Bush administration strategy to lure Sunnis away from the insurgency and hasten the day US troops can go home. Absence of Sunni Arab endorsement, after …
Read More »Triple bombing breaks Baghdad lull, kills 43
BAGHDAD (Reuters) — Three car bombs killed at least 43 people in a coordinated attack on a Baghdad bus station in the morning rush hour on Wednesday, ending a lull in insurgent attacks as Iraqi leaders resumed talks on a new constitution. At least 43 people were killed and 88 …
Read More »UN 150 years behind target on improving health — WHO
GENEVA (AFP) — UN targets to improve children’s health in poor countries within 10 years will take at least 150 years to achieve despite a concerted international effort to tackle mortality and malnutrition, the UN health agency said Monday. The World Health Organisation reiterated that the health-related targets set under …
Read More »MPs receive 1st post-Saddam charter
BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq’s first post-Saddam Hussein draft constitution was presented to parliament Monday under intense US pressure, just minutes before a new deadline ran out, but with a number of issues still unresolved. Parliament Speaker Hajim Hasani said MPs received the draft constitution on time Monday, after tortuous negotiations, …
Read More »Israeli army, settlers battle to dominate public opinion
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — As Israeli soldiers dragged Jewish settlers from their homes, one settler walked in front of about a dozen television cameras and wailed: “How could they do this? This the land of Israel.†When the cameras were turned off, he stopped crying and walked away. Another family invited …
Read More »Mauritanians’ shifting allegiance
NOUAKCHOTT — After 20 years of oppression under the previous regime, the people of Mauritania have welcomed the arrival of their new leader after a bloodless coup in the country. Nouakchott is bleached by the Saharan sun and smothered in the desert sands on a daily basis. It is a …
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