Al menos 72 muertos en un nuevo atentado en Irak

* En cinco días, han muerto más de 150 personas en una nueva ola de atentados
* Coinciden con la inminente retirada de las tropas de EEUU de las ciudades
* El sábado, otro atentado dejó 72 muertos en Kirkuk. Fue el peor de 2009

Al menos 72 personas han fallecido y otras 127 han resultado heridas por el estallido de una moto-bomba esta tarde en un mercado popular en el barrio de Ciudad Sadr, en el este de Bagdad, según han informado fuentes policiales. El atentado se produce unos días antes de que las tropas estadounidenses se retiren de los núcleos urbanos de Irak.

El motorista, con un vehículo cargado de explosivos ocultos bajo frutas y legumbres, se detuvo a la entrada del mercado de aves, justo a una hora de gran afluencia, según ha informado el Ministerio de Interior iraquí. El conductor dejó su moto y huyó antes de que se produjese la explosión.

"Hacía mis compras en el mercado de Mraidi, como todos los días. He visto una vola de fuego y he visto una enorme explosión que ha hecho temblar el mercado. He visto coches saltando por los aires con la fuerza de la explosión. Me he desvanecido y he despertado en el hospital general de Ciudad Sadr", explicó Najem Ali, un funcionario de 30 años, que ha sufrido heridas en las manos y en un pie.

"El caos reina en el hospital. Hay heridos por todas partes, entre ellas mujeres y más mujeres", ha añadido. El Ministerio del Interior ha confirmado que entre las víctimas del ataque —uno de los peores de Irak este año— hay mujeres y niños.

El atentado se ha producido en Ciudad Sdra, distrito de mayoría chií, un bastión del clérigo chií Muqtada al-Sadr, el líder de las principales milicias anti-ocupación. Durante la primavera de 2008, las fuerzas de EEUU e Irak libraron fieras batallas contra la milicia chií en este barrio.

Nueva ola de violencia

Irak sufre una nueva ola de violencia, que en tres días ha dejado más de un centenar de muertos. El sábado, un atentado en Kirkuk dejó 72 muertos y más de 200 heridos, convirtiéndose en el atentado con más víctimas mortales en año y medio.

El lunes, tres escolares fallecieron en otro atentado en Ciudad Sadr, en uno de la serie de atentados del país que mató a 27 personas ese día.

Los ataques dejan patente la voluntad de los insurgentes de desafiar a las autoridades iraquíes, que deben asegurar la seguridad de las ciudades del país ante la inminente retirada estadounidense de las ciudades: el próximo 30 de junio se retirarán de los centros urbanos iraquíes, conforme a un acuerdo de seguridad firmado entre Bagdad y Washington en noviembre de 2008.

A partir de esa fecha, sólo un número pequeño de efectivos estadounidenses permanecerá en las ciudades iraquíes, según confirmó este mismo miércoles un portavoz del gobierno estadounidense.

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Tornan las amenazas de conflicto entre Armenia y Azerbayan
RIA Novosti - Últimas noticias - Presidente de Azerbaiyán admite empleo de la fuerza para arreglar conflicto con Armenia


Últimas noticias
Presidente de Azerbaiyán admite empleo de la fuerza para arreglar conflicto con Armenia
10:19 | 25/ 06/ 2009

versión para imprimir

Bakú, 25 de junio, RIA Novosti. El presidente de Azerbaiyán, Ilham Alíev, declaró ayer que la guerra con Armenia aún no está concluida y no descartó la liberación de los territorios ocupados por la vía armada.

"Insisto en que vivimos en estado de guerra y la guerra aún no está concluida... Hay que estar preparados para liberar en cualquier momento por la vía armada nuestra tierra del enemigo", dijo Aliev en el encuentro con representantes del Ejército, Cuerpo de Vigilancia de Fronteras y Tropas del Interior que efectuaron ayer un ejercicio conjunto.

Al destacar que una parte del territorio nacional permanece ocupada desde hace mucho tiempo, el presidente hizo constar que "no proporcionaron resultados algunos" las conversaciones sobre el arreglo del conflicto mantenidas durante 15 años desde la firma del alto el fuego.

Según Alíev, Azerbaiyán cuenta con unidades militares capaces de cumplir cualquiera misión, incluida la de restablecer la integridad territorial del país. "También podemos recurrir a la fuerza militar. Es nuestro derecho soberano, avalado por las normas de Derecho Internacional", resaltó el presidente de la república transcaucásica de Asia occidental y prometió "poner término a esa injusticia".

Alíev informó de que este año se destinaron a Defensa unos 2 mil millones de dólares y en el país funcionan 19 empresas militares que fabrican armamento y material de 400 denominaciones.

En 1988, Alto Karabaj, de mayoría poblacional armenia, declaró que se separaba de la entonces República Socialista Soviética de Azerbaiyán. En 1991, se anunció la institución de la República de Alto Karabaj lo que dio pie a las operaciones de combate entre Bakú y Ereván. El 12 de mayo de 1994 se firmó un armisticio. Como resultado del conflicto que dejó un saldo de 15.000 muertos y un millón de refugiados, Azerbaiyán perdió el control sobre Alto Karabaj y siete distritos adyacentes.

Desde 1992 y hasta el presente se mantienen negociaciones sobre el arreglo en el marco del Grupo de Minsk de la OSCE, cuyos copresidentes son EEUU, Francia y Rusia.

Azerbaiyán insiste en la conservación de su integridad territorial. Armenia defiende los intereses de la república secesionista. La República de Alto Karabaj no participa en las negociaciones.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed into law a $106 billion measure to fulfill his plans to wind down the war in Iraq and ramp up operations in Afghanistan where fighting against militants is intensifying.

The bill contains $79.9 billion to continue funding the two wars through September 30. It was also loaded up with extras like $7.7 billion to address the H1N1 flu pandemic, and $1.4 billion in foreign aid for Pakistan, which is fighting Taliban militants spilling over the border from Afghanistan.

The measure was nearly derailed by Obama's request for money to close the controversial U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as for $108 billion in credit lines to back the International Monetary Fund as it helps countries weather the global economic downturn.

The legislation did not include $80 million Obama wanted for closing Guantanamo and bans releasing any detainees into the United States through September 30. But it allows detainees to be brought to U.S. soil for trial.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers demanded the White House produce a detailed plan before closing the Guantanamo prison camp. Before the legislation passed, the administration rushed to release or transfer more than a dozen detainees.

Despite fierce Republican opposition, Obama ultimately prevailed to include in the legislation provisions to extend a $100 billion credit line to the IMF and expand the U.S. contribution to the multilateral lender by $8 billion.

The legislation also endorses the IMF's plan to sell 400 tons (12.97 million ounces) of its gold reserves.

House Republicans had expressed concern the IMF would use the funds to lend to U.S. foes like Iran and Venezuela and argued that the matter should have been considered separately.

With the bill becoming law, Obama can follow through on a commitment he made with other Group of 20 member nations to add $500 billion to an IMF emergency fund for countries needing financial aid to avoid bankruptcy.

The legislation also will kick off a controversial $1 billion program to boost depressed U.S. car sales. The measure offers vouchers of up to $4,500 to consumers who trade in their less fuel-efficient vehicles for ones that get better mileage.

Obama signs $106 billion bill for Iraq, Afghan wars | Reuters

The Israeli army has deployed its Mirkava tanks and personnel-carriers along the Lebanese border, Lebanon's National News Agency says.

The deployment took place on Thursday along the barb-wired fence which separates the Shebaa Farms from other parts of Lebanese territories.

Israeli tanks were also gathering along a 5-km area, stretching from the Tallat Sobaih army post to Mount Hermon while sporadic gunfire was also heard throughout the day, the agency reported.

The Israeli air force also carried out a number of flights over the Shebaa Farms, al-Arqoub villages, Hasbaya, Marjayoun, western Bekaa and Iqlim al-Tuffah.

Shebaa Farms comprises of a group of 14 farms close to the poorly-defined border of Lebanon and Syria. The farms were captured from Syria during the Six-Day Israeli War in 1967.

Lebanon says that Israel must leave the Shebaa Farms area, which it says lies on Lebanese territory while Israel contests this claim. Israel says that Shebaa is part of Syria's territory and its fate should be discussed in future peace talks with Damascus.

Israel deploys troops along Lebanese border

The North Korean cargo ship Kangnam that is being tracked by a U.S. destroyer due to suspicions that it carries weapons is steaming toward the moment of truth. "The moment is approaching when the North Korea sanctions framework led by the U.S. and North Korean provocations collide," a government official said Thursday. Chances are the moment will come when the ship pulls into port, he added.

The U.S. has been monitoring the 2,080-ton Kangnam with KH-12 reconnaissance satellite and P-3C patrol plane mobilized since it left Nampo Port on June 17. Since June 21, the ship has been tracked by Aegis destroyer USS John S. McCain. It will reach the South China Sea on Friday sailing through the Taiwan Straits. "Washington believes that the ship is headed for Burma via Singapore," said an intelligence officer.

Whether the U.S. will board the ship to inspect it remains to be seen. If a ship with the size of the Kangnam is to navigate over 6,660 km from Nampo to Burma, it needs to refuel in Singapore or a Vietnamese port. The Pentagon said Thursday a decision has yet to be made whether to inspect the Kangnam. But government officials here said chances are that the ship will sail into a port sooner or later.

If the ship is searched and illegal weapons are found, "the U.S. will achieve a diplomatic coup and will be able to tighten sanctions against the North. If not, resistance will from China and other countries will grow and international cooperation in punishing Pyongyang will falter," speculated Kim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University. There are fears the ship will dump any weapons into the sea before inspection.

Because the Security Council resolution does not permit forcible searches of North Korean vessels on the high seas, the U.S. military needs consent from Pyongyang, which is out of the question. Even if the Kangnam sails into a particular port, that country has to authorize any search.

A diplomat said, "The effectiveness of North Korea sanctions under U.S. leadership and the prospects for Pyongyang-Washington relations will become clearer depending which port the Kangnam calls on, whether an inspection will take place, and what cargo is carried on the ship."
Given that North Korea has threatened military action against what it calls a "blockade" of its ships, "the Kangnam could act as a detonating fuse," a security ministry official warned.

The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea - N.Korean Cargo Ship 'Approaching Moment of Truth'

while the rest of the world has its attention on Iran, N. Korea, crumbling economic system (and for the sheeple Jon & Kate and Michael Jackson) another storm is brewing. EU monitors are pulling out of the region on June 30th, Russia has taken over border security for S. Otessia and Abkhazia, sporadic armed clashed are becoming more frequent, Russia has recognized the independence of Georgia breakaway provinces S. Otessia and Abkhazia and we are on the eve of some of the largest Russian military exercises in the N. Caucauses involving the 58th Army Group which spearheaded last summer conflict


U.S.-Russia Moscow Summit Presents Last Opportunity to Avoid War in Georgia

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 122
June 25, 2009 01:31 PM Age: 19 hrs
Category: Eurasia Daily Monitor, Home Page, Foreign Policy, Military/Security, Russia, Georgia, Featured
By: Pavel Felgenhauer

There are other outstanding contentious issues. Kremlin-connected Russian political commentators have been stating, "an Obama visit to Moscow can only be successful if he publicly announces a 20-25 year moratorium on Georgia and Ukraine joining NATO" (RIA Novosti, June 20). In exchange for the recognition of Georgia and Ukraine being within Russia's sphere of control, Moscow could offer Obama help in the transit of supplies to troops in Afghanistan. There have been reports that the U.S. might be allowed to continue to use the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan (Kommersant, June 16). Manas has been used by coalition forces to support operations in Afghanistan since 2001, but in February the Kyrgyz government announced its closure after receiving pledges of over $2 billion in aid from Moscow. This week the U.S. and the Kyrgyz authorities announced a deal that the Manas base will stay for at least another year under the name of a "transit center." The Russian foreign ministry is reported to have expressed its outrage over the reversal of the Kyrgyz decision, but some sources in Moscow still believe the Manas reversal could be part of a bigger covert Obama-Medvedev deal (Kommersant, June 24).

While the Obama visit is being prepared, Moscow is continuing military and propaganda preparations for a possible full-scale military invasion to change the present pro-Western regime of President Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia. Senior Russian generals and diplomats have been accusing Georgia of preparing "a new aggression" (EDM, June 19). Last week a Georgian Lieutenant Alik Bzhania, 35, who served in the Georgian coast guard and apparently defected to Russian-controlled Abkhazia, was promoted by the Gazprom-owned liberal Ekho Moskvy radio. He was promptly given asylum and held a high profile press conference in Moscow. Bzhania announced, "Saakashvili is preparing an aggression and I do not want to fight Russia" (Interfax, June 19). A Moscow journalist that interviewed Bzhania, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Jamestown that the orders to publicize the defector came directly from Putin's office. If Russia is planning full-scale military action in Georgia, it clearly needs an excuse that it is in self-defense - countering an alleged "Georgian aggression."

On June 29, Russian troops begin massive military exercises on Georgia's borders as well as in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia - Kavkaz 2009 (EDM, June 19). The exercises are planned to end on July 6, when Obama lands in Moscow. The troops will be deployed and fully ready to go into action for at least several weeks after July 6, which apparently makes July the most dangerous month in the troubled South Caucasus. Obama's visit to Moscow may be the last slim hope to avoid a war: if the U.S. president understands the threat and decides to put Georgia at the center of his negotiations instead of START -which is deadlocked anyway by the BMD linkage. It may be still possible to pull off a diplomatic miracle by pressing or persuading Putin to stand back.

Russia's Defense Modernization Without a Doctrine - The Jamestown Foundation[tt_news]=35174&tx_ttnews[backPid]=407&no_cache=1

By Haaretz Service
Last update - 19:16 27/06/2009

Syrian officials threatened on Saturday to take back the Golan Heights by force if a peace agreement involving the return of the strategic plateau is not reached with Israel, Army Radio reported.

A group calling itself the Syrian Committee for the Freedom of the Golan said it would take steps to regain control of the territory, adding that Israel has not shown willingness to achieve peace or to return what they called "Syrian land."

The comments were made at the inauguration ceremony, attended by Syrian President Bashar Assad, for a new communications center in Quneitra.

"The communications center will report on the troubles of Syrian residents residing in the occupied Golan under barbaric and racist Israeli rule," Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal was quoted as saying at the ceremony, in a reference to Druze in the Golan who wish to live under Syrian sovereignty.

Last Sunday, Assad rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offer to resume peace talks between the two countries from "point zero."

Assad said the negotiations should resume from the point at which they stopped under former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, when the two sides had planned to formulate mutual commitments that would enable the talks to move to a direct negotiations stage.

The indirect negotiations stopped some six months ago, following Operation Cast Lead, and the announcement of early elections in Israel.

Israel gained control of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War. Syria insists that the basis for peace talks with Israel is a full withdrawal from the territory.


Syria threatens to take back Golan by force - Haaretz - Israel News
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Los servicios secretos pakistaníes detrás del atentado contra los ingenieros franceses...

Did Pakistani Spies Kill 11 French Naval Engineers? - TIME

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Moscú, 29 de junio, RIA Novosti. Las Fuerzas Armadas de Rusia comienzan hoy el ejercicio estratégico "Cáucaso 2009" en el que también participarán las brigadas estacionadas en Abjasia y Osetia del Sur, informó el Comandante del Ejército de Tierra, general de Ejército Vladímir Boldirev.

El Ministerio de Defensa informó anteriormente de que en las maniobras que se efectuarán hasta el 6 de julio al mando del Jefe del Estado Mayor de las Fuerzas Armadas, general de Ejército Nikolai Makarov, participarán 8.500 soldados y oficiales, unos 200 carros de combate, 450 transportes blindados y hasta 250 piezas de artillería de diverso calibre.

El ejercicio estratégico tendrá por escenario varias provincias al sur de Rusia y las repúblicas norcaucásicas de Osetia del Norte, Ingushetia, Daguestán, Karachaevo-Circasia y Chechenia.

En el marco del ejercicio "Cáucaso 2009", se prevé realizar una serie de maniobras tácticas antiterroristas.

RIA Novosti - Últimas noticias - Ejército ruso comienza un ejercicio estratégico en la parte sur del país

American forces have attempted to take over an Iranian oil field near the country's western border with Iraq, a security official says.

“US forces backed by tanks entered the Mousian area of the Dehloran County, laying around 100 meters of pipeline in Iranian territory," the source, talking on condition of anonymity, said Monday.

The source added that the pipes, marked with Iraqi flags, were blocked after Iranian forces pushed the “intruders” back across the border.

Iraqi officials have been notified of Iran's objection to American movements along the common border, according to the source.

'US forces attempt to hijack Iranian oil field'