January, 2006

• 17 January

  Islamists win to force Palestinian ties rethink — Spanish FM

  RAMALLAH (AFP) — Europe will have to re-evaluate its links with the Palestinians in the event of a Hamas victory in next week’s legislative elections, Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Monday.

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• 17 January

  US copter down in Iraq

  Agencies A US HELICOPTER came down near Baghdad on Monday in what appeared to be the second shooting down of an aircraft in three days, with rebel violence expected to escalate as Iraq’s election results are confirmed.

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• 15 January

  Iran defiant in face of Security Council threat

  TEHRAN (AP) — Iran’s president stood fast Saturday behind his decision to conduct uranium enrichment research, shrugging off threats of international sanctions, while his foreign ministry invited Europe and the UN nuclear watchdog back to the negotiating table. In a ringing defence of Iran’s resumption Tuesday of research at its …

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• 15 January

  No word on kidnapped US journalist

  BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi and US officials said Saturday they were working to free a female American journalist kidnapped off a Baghdad street one week ago but had not yet made contact with her captors. Jill Caroll, a 28-year-old freelance reporter, has not been heard from since she was kidnapped …

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• 15 January

  Saddam judge threatens to quit

  BAGHDAD (Reuters) — The judge trying Saddam Hussein has tendered his resignation, a source said on Saturday, making a protest at political interference and casting new doubt on the US-backed Iraqi government’s ability to ensure a fair trial. High tribunal officials were trying to talk Kurdish judge Rizgar Amin out …

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• 12 January

  Tehran to resume nuclear fuel research

  TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran said it would resume nuclear fuel research on Monday, triggering fresh Western warnings that Tehran could face sanctions and wreck dialogue to end a dispute over its controversial nuclear programme. “The possibility of… sanctions continues to exist. But… this should be a last resort,” said Austrian …

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• 12 January

  Khartoum vows commitment to year-old peace

  KHARTOUM (AFP) — Sudan pledged to implement a historic north-south peace deal on its first anniversary, but aid agencies said there was little to celebrate as peace dividends were slow to come for many Sudanese. “Sudan and its national government renews its steadfast determination to implement all the articles of …

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• 12 January

  Zarqawi attacks Sunnis for voting in Iraqi polls

  CAIRO (AP) — An Internet statement in the name of the Al Qaeda in Iraq terror group has rebuked Sunnis for taking part in last month’s Iraqi elections, saying that by voting the Sunnis had “thrown a rope” to save US policy in the country. The statement by the group’s …

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• 12 January

  Iraqi widows feel lost in land that can’t provide

  MOSUL — Three sewing machines in a dingy apartment were all Munna Abdul Adeem Ahmed could scrape together when she set up a tailoring co-op for poor widows. She soon realised it was not enough. More than 1,000 women from the northern city of Mosul turned up looking for work …

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• 12 January

  Muslim pilgrims pray for salvation

  MOUNT ARAFAT (AP) — More than 2 million Muslim pilgrims made the climactic ascent to Mount Arafat, Islam’s most sacred site, to pray Monday for salvation, and Saudi Arabia’s top cleric called for Islamic unity in the face of what he called the West’s war on Islam. After offering prayers …

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