5/31 News
May 31, 2008
US absent from conference banning cluster bombs
The United States was absent at a Friday conference of 111 countries agreed to ban the use of cluster bombs. The summit in Dublin, Ireland expressed concern about the civilian effects of cluster bombs, which are unreliable and inaccurate.
The signed document expresses concern “that cluster munition remnants kill or maim civilians, including women and children, obstruct economic and social development, including through the loss of livelihood, impede post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction, delay or prevent the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, can negatively impact on national and international peace-building and humanitarian assistance efforts, and have other severe consequences that can persist for many years after use.”
According to human rights groups, countries with the most frequent cluster bomb use such as the USA, China, Russia and Israel all were absent from the conference.
Algerian student interviewed after detained for possessing Al-Qaeda training material
An Algerian grad student at Nottingham University and his friend were detained under the Terrorism Act for six days last week, and gave an interview to The Guardian yesterday. His friend was researching Al-Qaeda training techniques for his MA and gave a copy to Hichem Yezza. A colleague noticed the documents on his computer and alerted authorities. Yezza is currently being held at the immigration center near Heathrow.
“This is not the way I should have been treated. It is hurtful to see myself being treated this way in a country I love, would protect and where I’ve done everything I can to engage with and be a good citizen.”
Iraqis protest security agreement
Thousands of Iraqis hit the street Friday to protest the proposed US-Iraq security agreement. Many are suspicious of how long the US government will keep troops and permanent bases in their country.
“We denounce the government’s intentions to sign a long-term agreement with the occupying forces,” said Asaad al-Nassiri, a sheik loyal to anti-American leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
President Bush signed a statement with Iraq prime minister Nouri al-Maliki pledging to sign an agreement by July 31.
Obama and McCain battle over misstatements, Iraq knowledge
Presumptive nominees John McCain and Barack Obama exchanged blows over McCain’s Thursday claim that “We have drawn down to pre-surge levels. Basra, Mosul and now Sadr City are quiet.”
Obama responded with “That’s not true and anyone running for commander in chief should know better.” Troop levels haven’t returned to the pre-surge level.
There are currently around 155,000 troops in Iraq, compared with approximately 135,000 before the surge.
McCain’s campaign blamed the misstatement on verb tenses, while McCain insisted that he didn’t misspeak. “Of course not. I said we’ve drawn down. The rest of them will be home at the end of July.”
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