January, 2007

• 16 January

  2 Saddam aides hanged

  A convoy of US vehicles from Kuwait arrives Monday in Basra, 550km south of Baghdad. The first additional US troops, who will take part in a major new security plan in Baghdad, arrived in Baghdad, General George Casey, the US commander in Iraq, said (Reuters photo by Atef Hassan)

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• 16 January

  US chiefs warn against expecting quick results from Baghdad plan

  BAGHDAD (AP) — The US ambassador and top American commander in Iraq are set to leave their jobs with the country’s security arguably no better than when they arrived, and they cautioned Monday against expecting significant success in quelling the violence soon.

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• 16 January

  Tehran seeks Riyadh’s help to ease tensions with Washington

  RIYADH (Reuters) — Iran asked Saudi Arabia to help ease tensions between the Islamic republic and the United States as Washington held out the possibility of “engagement” with Tehran if it changed tack in Iraq.

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• 16 January

  Iran says pressing ahead with expanded enrichment

  TEHRAN (Reuters) — Iran said on Monday it was pressing ahead with a plan to install 3,000 atomic centrifuges and achieve industrial-scale production of nuclear fuel, which the West fears is part of a programme to make bombs.

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• 16 January

  Baghdad families imprisoned, divided by fear

  BAGHDAD — For Abu Mina, a ceramic artist and professor, Baghdad is one big jail — too dangerous for him to live with his wife and daughters, too dangerous for him to meet his students openly, too dangerous to work in his studio.

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• 16 January

  Somali gov’t launches media crackdown

  MOGADISHU (Reuters) — Somalia’s government, with new emergency powers in hand to tame the chaotic country, ordered four major media outlets to shut down on Monday as the president named a team to take charge of the capital.

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• 16 January

  Ahmadinejad guest of honour in Ecuador

  QUITO (AFP) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be a guest of honour Monday at the inauguration of leftist Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, who won an election late last year as a fervent critic of the United States.

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• 16 January

  Jazeera journalist released on bail by Egyptian authorities

  CAIRO (AP) — A journalist from the pan-Arab Al Jazeera TV channel was released on bail Sunday after being interrogated for possessing     videotapes with fabricated scenes of torture by Egyptian police, her lawyer said.

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• 15 January

  Better Late Than Never: Retarded De-communization in Poland

  “In a land of shadows where the state has all the power and all the secrets and its citizens have neither, simple survival can require at least a dialogue, if not a deal, with the devil. The lines separating prudence from cowardice, silence from acquiescence and compromise from collaboration can …

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• 15 January

  Eurasian Secret Services Daily Review

  REVIEW TOPICS: Novaya Gazeta blames Russian secret services, army special-task troops on involvement in death squads Russia seeks British help in Litvinenko’s death probe, asks for permission to interview more than 100 people Russia’s FSB hosts informal meeting of 118 security services from 55 countries

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