Activists: Assad Forces Kill 60 in Syria's Homs, Hospitals Overwhelmed - Voice of America

Activists: Assad Forces Kill 60 in Syria's Homs, Hospitals Overwhelmed | Middle East | English /* Inside VOA|Contact VOA News

February 10, 2012 Activists: Assad Forces Kill 60 in Syria's Homs, Hospitals Overwhelmed Israel Debates Possible Fallout From Attack on Iran Deal Reached in Massive US Foreclosure Case China Shows New Assertiveness as VP Prepares For US Visit US Drone Kills Top Militant in NW Pakistan Select Your LanguageAfan OromoAlbanianAmharicArmenianAzerbaijaniAzeriBanglaBosnianBurmeseCantoneseChineseCreoleCroatianDariEnglish WorldwideFrenchGeorgianGreekHausaIndonesianKhmerKhmer (English)KinyarwandaKirundiKoreanKurdiKurdishLaoLearning EnglishMacedonianMandarinNdebelePashtoPashto - DeewaPersian PortugueseRussian SerbianShonaSomaliSpanishSwahiliThaiTibetanTibetan (English)TigrignaTurkishUkrainian UrduUzbekVietnameseZimbabwe - EnglishNewsProgramsVideoLearning EnglishLive Streams:Latest Newscast|Africa Live|Global Live News USA Africa Americas Asia EuropeMiddle EastIsrael - PalestiniansIranIraqHuman RightsMiddle East In TransitionEconomy and Business Arts and Entertainment EconomyMore TopicsEducationEnvironmentHealthNews AnalysisReligionScience and Technology Web FeaturesSpecial ReportsPhoto GalleriesInteractive YouTubeFacebookTwitter Web ServicesPodcastsRSSMobileNewsletterWebcastsLinks About the USEditorialsRFE/RLRFAPronunciation Guide News|Middle EastMiddle EastRSS Feed  February 09, 2012Activists: Assad Forces Kill 60 in Syria's Homs, Hospitals Overwhelmed Edward Yeranian| Cairo

Photo: Reuters Wounded men are seen in the Sunni Muslim district of Baba Amr in Homs, Syria, February 8, 2012.

Syrian rights activists say government forces have bombarded the rebellious central city of Homs for a sixth day, killing at least 60 people and leaving makeshift hospitals overwhelmed as divided world powers struggled to end the violence.

The activists said Thursday relentless government shelling and rocket strikes on Homs were creating a worsening humanitarian crisis, with rebel-dominated neighborhoods lacking water and electricity and running low on basic supplies. They said the onslaught that began early Saturday has killed hundreds of people, making it the deadliest attack on Homs of the 11-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's autocratic rule.

U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch said those responsible for "horrific attacks" on residential neighborhoods "will have to answer for them."

VOA spoke with a Syrian activist in Homs who goes by the alias Abo Emad to conceal his identity. He said Syrian security forces are not letting up on their assault, adding that even walking one block from the building where he is hiding can be deadly.

“Everyday is worse than the day before," he said of the government assault. "More deaths, more casualties, more injured people, more destroying buildings every day.”

Abo Emad said there is very little access to mobile phones or land lines. He added that hospitals are overflowing with injured people and there are not enough doctors or medical supplies to care for the wounded.

Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London told Alhurra TV that sporadic shelling is affecting parts of Homs, including Khaldiyeh and Bayadah, but that the heaviest onslaught is on the Baba Amr district, where conditions are extremely difficult.

Government forces are focusing on Baba Amr as it has been a center of the opposition.

In an opposition video, Muhammad al Muhammad, a doctor who is treating the wounded in Baba Amr, urged Syrians and the world community to protest the shelling attacks. He pointed to five children who appear to be wounded and called on Syrians to take to the streets to protest.

VOA cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the video's contents.

U.S. President Barack Obama called for an end to "outrageous bloodshed" in Syria in his latest condemnation of Mr. Assad's crackdown on the revolt. He was speaking Thursday after talks with visiting Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.

Mr. Obama has agreed to work with Washington's European and Arab allies to organize a group of nations known as Friends of Syria to explore ways of further isolating and pressuring the Assad government to stop the violence. Western and Arab nations decided to try to form the group after seeing Russia and China block their efforts to pressure Mr. Assad through the U.N. Security Council.

Moscow and Beijing vetoed a Western and Arab-backed Syria resolution on Saturday, the second time they have done so since October. Both powers said they do not want the Council to take sides in a domestic conflict and create a possible pretext for foreign intervention in Syria.

Video footage from Homs

Arab League foreign ministers were preparing to meet in Cairo on Sunday to discuss their next moves in the crisis. Officials said the ministers will discuss whether to recognize the opposition Syrian National Council as the legitimate representative of Syria and whether to send a joint Arab League-United Nations observer mission to the country.

In other developments Thursday, Libya said it ordered Syria's top envoy and embassy staff to leave the country within 72 hours. Germany also said it is expelling four diplomats from the Syrian Embassy in Berlin after authorities arrested two men suspected of spying on Syrian opposition groups.

Rebel Colonel Riyadh al-Asaad, who heads the loosely-knit Free Syrian Army that is fighting government forces, called the Syrian regime a tyranny and asked for help to defeat it.

Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, says the Syrian government is trying to retake Homs in hopes of crushing the popular revolt at a key hub.

"They have been bombarding the city for the past six days," he said. "The bombarding is so heavy that it is clear that it is setting the stage for a ground offensive. The regime has made up its mind on conquering Homs, because they feel that if they conquer Homs, much of the uprising in the country will abate.”

Wire services and VOA reporter JulieAnn McKellogg contributed to this report.

 

Join the conversation on our social journalism site - Middle East Voices. Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter and discuss them on our Facebook page. Related Articles Activists Say Syrian Troops Kill 50 in Homs

They say troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attacked Homs with gunfire, rockets and shells

Turkey Wants International Conference on SyriaUN Chief: Arab League Mission to Return to Syria Comments  (9) Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest Post Your Comment * Required Your Name (Optional)
Your Country (Optional)
Your Message (Limit 500 characters)*
By using this form you agree to the following: All comments will be reviewed before posting. Be aware - not all submissions will be posted. VOA has the right to use your comments worldwide in any VOA produced media. Terms & Conditions window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: '173332546055825', status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true,oauth: true // enable OAuth 2.0}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }()); Watch: Watch JulieAnn McKellogg's Skype Interview With Syrian Activist in Homs
Watch: Video of Assault on Homs
PollShould the veto power of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council be revoked? Yes No Not sureSee how others have voted »Listen to Podcasts and Join Us on

 

 

 

Follow Unrest in Middle East, North Africa

  VOANews:NewsProgramsVideoLearning EnglishArchiveWeb Services:PodcastsRSSMobileNewsletterWebcastsAbout VOANews.com:Terms of Use and Privacy NoticeBroadcasting Board of GovernorsInside VOAFAQsContact VOANewsJob Opportunities

View the original article here

At Least 31 Dead in Indian Train Accident - Voice of America

Mangled passenger cars are seen at the site of a train accident near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh state, July 10, 2011

Rescuers in northern India are sorting through the wreckage of an express train that derailed, killing at least 31 people and injuring 100 more.

Authorities say the Kalka Mail train was travelling from Howrah to New Delhi Sunday when at least 12 coaches jumped the tracks near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh state.

The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear.

Officials say the number of casualties is likely to rise as rescuers make their way through the twisted coaches.

India's railway network is one of the largest in the world. Accidents are common, with most blamed on poor maintenance and human error.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: '173332546055825', status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true, channelUrl : 'http://www.voanews.com/templates/facebookCustomChannel.html'}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en/all.js'; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }());

View the original article here

Young Patriots Threaten Protests and More in Ivory Coast - Voice of America

Nico Colombant 31 December 2010

Young Patriots are threatening a return to the streets where they have won previous victories for incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo. (File Photo)

So-called Young Patriots who support incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast are now threatening street protests against his rival, internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara.  

Friday, the Young Patriots leader who is now the Youth Minister in the disputed Gbagbo government, Charles Ble Goude, reiterated a warning against Mr. Ouattara and the United Nations. He says if after January first U.N. peacekeepers are still protecting Mr. Ouattara at the Golf Hotel in the main southern city Abidjan, Young Patriots will take their responsibilities in their own hands and liberate the compound.

Ble Goude says he is waiting to see if the peacekeepers will force Mr. Ouattara to leave.  If not, he says, Young Patriots will decide how to proceed.

The former student leader has been on a list of U.N. asset freeze and travel sanctions since 2006 for previously inciting mob violence.

After one of his previous actions several years ago forced international peace mediators to back down on requests they were making, Ble Goude had this to say to VOA. "Now this is a victory. Therefore I asked all the Young Patriots in discipline to leave the streets and to go home. The day I will see or I will feel the danger coming I will ask them to come back in the street again," he said.

Core members of the group include former and current student activists as well as unemployed young men from southern and western ethnic groups.

Stephen Smith, a U.S-based anthropologist who previously worked as a journalist in Ivory Coast says the Young Patriots could give the already worrisome Ivorian crisis a new dimension. "It is the struggle over the streets, it is the struggle of what Ivorians sometimes refer to as being the Ministry of the Street, which means who controls the public space, and if they can bring together the people maybe sometimes by paying but also obviously there are followers. (Mr.) Gbagbo got 45, 46 percent of the vote, so they are people who really stand behind him and if they all come together there can be 100,000, 200,000 people gathering in Abidjan, that intimidates, that makes other people feel that there is no way they will ever get (Mr.) Gbagbo to relinquish power," he said.

The Ivorian constitutional council threw out votes of the November, 28 election, from northern Ivory Coast, which remains under the control of former rebels, giving victory to Mr. Gbagbo.

But the United Nations which helped organize the vote said Mr. Ouattara, who is extremely popular in the north, had won the vote by a wide margin. International bodies are now threatening the use of force against Mr. Gbagbo if he does not leave power.

Daniel Chirot, a U.S.-based sociologist who saw Young Patriots up close during recent research he did in Ivory Coast, says a lot is at stake for their members. "You could see them, their leaders going around in nice cars, with guns, with pretty girls, and benefiting from the situation and they are not going to lie down. For them, if (Mr.) Gbagbo loses power, it is a disaster, because they lose their sources of revenue, their livelihood, and they are armed so it is not just a popular movement," he said.

The Young Patriots deny they are armed.  They say they are fighting for Africa's second independence from outside interference.  Their Ivorian political opponents say they are thugs who ally themselves with militias and mercenaries to create chaos whenever Mr. Gbagbo's power is under threat.  

Mr. Gbagbo's initial election victory in Ivory Coast in 2000 against a former military ruler was also marred by violence and confusion over ballot counting.  Two years later, the northern rebellion began, as did the Young Patriots southern-based movement.

* Required By using this form you agree to the following: All comments will be reviewed before posting. Be aware - not all submissions will be posted. VOA has the right to use your comments worldwide in any VOA produced media. Terms & Conditions

View the original article here

US Observes Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack - Voice of America

VOA News 07 December 2010

With the USS Arizona memorial in the background, Pearl Harbor survivor Richard Laubert, of Phoenix, Oregon, attends the 69th anniversary ceremony marking the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 2010, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Americans across the United States are holding ceremonies Tuesday to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Hundreds of people are estimated to be gathered at Pearl Harbor, where a new visitor's center is to open at the scene of the attack, near the site where the battleship Arizona sank.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft attacked the base just before 8 a.m., Hawaii time. The attack killed more than 2,400 Americans, sank five battleships and drew the United States into World War II.

More than 1,100 sailors died on the Arizona, which still lies at the bottom of the harbor. It is a memorial to what then-U.S. president Franklin Roosevelt described as "a date which will live in infamy."

At the same time as the Hawaii ceremony, the National Park Service in Washington held a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

07-12-2010

What's happening at Pearl harbor right now?

07-12-2010

Japanese attack on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii is makeup by the American.

07-12-2010 Deborah Leigh (USA)

Too bad your article didn't list the other ships and their memorials in the harbor. God bless the Arizona and her crew, but the Utah is still resting on the bottom. Tell the whole story. God bless everyone who was at the Harbor that day!

07-12-2010 (United States of America)

REST IN PEACE. THANKS FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY. MY FAMILY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE. REST IN PEACE. grateful (free) American

07-12-2010 Anthony Seminara (USA)

GOD BLESS ALL OUR FIGHTING MEN PAST AND PRESENT AND MAY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON REST IN PEACE

07-12-2010 Jack Straw (US of A)

A day worth remembering, one the government could have easily avoided by alerting the base of the incoming Japanese fleet. But then again we wouldn't have gotten involved in World War II if Roosevelt hadn't allowed so many men to die without warning

07-12-2010

Don't you wonder if Iraq will have heir own Pearl Harbor like day when the imperialist U. S. invaded their country?

07-12-2010 Tilomai Tui (Hawaii)

I thank you to those who risk there lives, and may they rest in peace with the Love of God.

07-12-2010 Debbie Barr (Tacoma,wa)

My great-uncle George Scott was at pearlharborthat morning. He was able to fire on the Japanese planes. He was from Bremerton,WA.

* Required By using this form you agree to the following: All comments will be reviewed before posting. Be aware - not all submissions will be posted. VOA has the right to use your comments worldwide in any VOA produced media. Terms & Conditions

View the original article here

Opposition Mounts to US Plan for Israeli Settlement Freeze - Voice of America

Robert Berger | Jerusalem 21 November 2010

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairing the weekly meeting of his Cabinet (file photo)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Cabinet to try to shore up support for a 90-day moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank that is aimed at reviving Middle East peace talks.

Israel ended a 10-month moratorium in late September, prompting the Palestinians to suspend negotiations.

The United States has offered to sell Israel 20 advanced stealth fighter jets and to block anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations Security Council in exchange for the settlement freeze.

But Mr. Netanyahu is having trouble winning support from his right-wing coalition partners.

Cabinet Minister Eli Yishai said his ultra-Orthodox Shas party opposes the freeze. But he said the party might reconsider, if the U.S. guarantees that it will not demand any further restrictions on settlement construction when the 90-day period expires.

The dovish Labor Party, on the other hand, supports the freeze.

Labor Cabinet Minister Avishai Braverman urged the prime minister to move quickly to get the peace talks back on track.

Outside of the Cabinet meeting, some 2,000 Jewish settlers held a noisy protest against the moratorium.

"We will never allow the Land of Israel to be divided!" said settlement leader Dani Dayan.

Speaking in Cairo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also rejected the freeze because it only applies to the West Bank.

He said he would not return to peace talks, unless Israel also stops settlement construction in disputed East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as the capital of a future state. Israel says Jerusalem is not a settlement, and it reserves the right to build anywhere in the city.

NEW: Follow our Middle East stories on Twitter
and discuss them on our Facebook page. * Required By using this form you agree to the following: All comments will be reviewed before posting. Be aware - not all submissions will be posted. VOA has the right to use your comments worldwide in any VOA produced media. Terms & Conditions

View the original article here

Pope: Condoms Sometimes 'Justified' in Disease Protection - Voice of America

Sabina Castelfranco | Rome 21 November 2010

Pope Benedict XVI (file photo)

Pope Benedict has opened the door on the previously taboo subject of the use of condoms in certain limited cases. In a significant departure from what the Catholic Church has always maintained, the pope now says that, in some cases, using condoms may not always be wrong.

Male prostitutes, for example, could be justified in using them to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Just last year, Pope Benedict angered many around the world when, on a trip to Africa, he said the AIDS problem there could not be resolved by distributing condoms. At that time, he said their use exacerbates the problem.

AIDS prevention advocates welcomed the pope's stance on the issue.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe called it a "significant and positive step forward."

Rebecca Hodes, deputy director of the AIDS and society research unit in South Africa, says this change of heart could save many lives.

"It will give people more space to protect themselves and to protect their partners, if they are able to use condoms without feeling morally fraught."

The Pope's comments are part of a series of interviews to a German journalist to be published in a new book this Tuesday.

But because he maintains the church's ban on the use of artificial contraception is not in question, Catholic reform groups and AIDS activists want the pope to clarify his comments, and elaborate on exactly which 'exceptional circumstances' would make it okay to use condoms.

On Sunday, Pope Benedict celebrated mass for the new cardinals that have joined the elite group that one day will name his successor.

During the ceremony the pope presented each of the 24 new cardinals from Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the U.S. with their rings.

In his homily, the pope told the cardinals their ministry is a difficult one, and that their service is one of faith that transforms one's whole life.

Cardinals are the pope's closest advisers. It is an elite all-male body with members from every continent in the world. The College of Cardinals now numbers 203, with 121 under the age of 80 and with the right to vote for a future pope.

21-11-2010 subramanian (india)

Every decision taken should be in accordance with the Biblical way of life and the moral lessons inculcated and imbued in us by persons who uphold the Bible and the tenets therein.

21-11-2010 subramanian (india)

Every decision taken should be in accordance with the Biblical way of life and the moral lessons inculcated and imbued in us by persons who uphold the Bible and the tenets therein.

21-11-2010

Do I understand that the pope recoginzes prostitution as a profession ?

21-11-2010 Mr Pradip Swarnakar (India)

For the welfare of the mankind, use of condoms is definitly a safe and hygenic way in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases mostly HIV. It's quite obvious that not only prostitution regards but condoms play a vital role in prevention of AIDS among married couples who secretly enjoy sex with other partners. So, Pope Benedict should religiously and morally legalise using condoms to protect the mankind from STDs!

21-11-2010 Mr Pradip Swarnakar (India)

For the welfare of the mankind, use of condoms is definitly a safe and hygenic way in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases mostly HIV. It's quite obvious that not only prostitution regards but condoms play a vital role in prevention of AIDS among married couples who secretly enjoy sex with other partners. So, Pope Benedict should religiously and morally legalise using condoms to protect the mankind from STDs!

21-11-2010 alan (usa)

the pope should stretch a condom over his head

21-11-2010 melts

Saves alot of lives not souls.

21-11-2010

Papa Benedict has made an important decision in the hard reality of The scourge of HIV.The basic position of the Church of abstainence is in reality although unacceptable by many is the only way out of the world's spiral towards disaster

21-11-2010 ToBeOne (USA)

To understand AIDS and condoms one should look at AIDS in condom nations: http://theologyofthebody.blogspot.com/2009/03/will-condoms-really-stop-aids-in-africa.html

21-11-2010 John Frum (Vanuatu)

So the pope is ok with the use of condoms for prostitution, but not for birth control?

* Required By using this form you agree to the following: All comments will be reviewed before posting. Be aware - not all submissions will be posted. VOA has the right to use your comments worldwide in any VOA produced media. Terms & Conditions

View the original article here

Google Voice finally debuts in the App Store - Digitaltrends.com

Apple has approved the Google Voice app for its App Store, and the free VoIP is better than ever for its official release.

Sure, iTunes now has the Beatles Anthology available for download, but Apple‘s got bigger news: the Google Voice app is here. It may not have warranted a full-page notice, but there are plenty of iPhone users out there celebrating Google Voice‘s long-coming availability in the App Store.

Prior to today, users were limited to using Google Voice on the Web only, but to fantastic results. It’s been wildly popular, allowing users to make international calls for pennies and send free unlimited texts – and all with Apple’s stiff disapproval. Apple claimed concerns over the app duplicating its own primary function and has allegedly been reviewing it since. This invited some attention from the FCC and FTC, and a year and half of subversive use later, here we are.

The app allows users to bundle multiple phone lines under one number, as well as transcribe voice mails. The dirt cheap international calling and free SMS service remains, and Google is even going to bolster the app with optional push notifications and quicker call connection.

And it is definitely more powerful than its Web-based counterpart, for anyone out there wondering if the app is worth installing (for free, mind you). While we can’t imagine anyone is really wondering that (again, emphasis on free app), the so-far glowing reviews (including this one from SlashGear) say it definitely is.

What’s also encouraging about the addition of the Google Voice app is what it means for the App Store. Apple’s approval process has had its fair share of critics, and it recently implemented some policy changes as a response to user and developer frustrations. Apple claimed it would be relaxing its restrictions for app guidelines, and adding Google Voice is a significant step in that direction.

Trackback URL: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-voice-finally-debuts-in-the-app-store/trackback/

View the original article here

Aung San Suu Kyi Release Sparks Celebration, Caution - Voice of America

VOA | Aung San Suu Kyi Release Sparks Celebration, Caution | News | English/* Voice of America ®

A Trusted Source of News & Information since 1942

About VOA|Contact VOA News

Saturday, 13 November 2010 Latest News: Select Your LanguageAfan OromoAlbanianAmharicArmenianAzerbaijaniAzeriBanglaBosnianBurmeseCantoneseChineseCreoleCroatianDariEnglish WorldwideFrenchGeorgianGreekHausaIndonesianKhmerKhmer (English)KinyarwandaKirundiKoreanKurdiKurdishLaoLearning EnglishMacedonianMandarinNdebelePashtoPashto - DeewaPersian PortugueseRussian SerbianShonaSomaliSpanishSwahiliThaiTibetanTibetan (English)TigrignaTurkishUkrainian UrduUzbekVietnameseZimbabwe - EnglishNewsProgramsVideoLearning EnglishAbout UsLive Streams:Latest Newscast|Africa Live|Global LiveNews USA Africa Americas Asia Europe Middle East Arts and Entertainment EconomyMore TopicsEducationEnvironmentHealthNews AnalysisReligionScience and TechnologySports Web FeaturesSpecial ReportsDigital FrontiersSlide ShowsGoing Green Money In MotionNow You KnowOff the Beaten PathThe LinkInteractive YouTubeFacebookTwitter Web ServicesPodcastsRSSMobileNewsletterWebcastsLinks About the USEditorialsRFE/RLRFAPronunciation Guide NewsNewsRSS FeedAung San Suu Kyi Release Sparks Celebration, Caution Nico Colombant13 November 2010

Photo: APSupporters of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi celebrate outside her home after her release from house arrest in Rangoon, 13 Nov 2010.

Share ThisDiggFacebookStumbleUponYahoo! Buzzdel.icio.usRelated ArticlesRangoon Diary: Burmese Reunite with Beloved Democracy LeaderActivists, Asia Pacific Governments Welcome Aung San Suu Kyi's ReleaseWorld Leaders Laud Aung San Suu Kyi's FreedomObama: Suu Kyi Source of InspirationBurma's Aung San Suu Kyi Released from House Arrest

Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest in Burma, also known as Myanmar, has sparked worldwide celebrations among supporters of the long-time pro-democracy activist.  But her supporters are also cautious in noting the daughter of Burma's assassinated independence leader, Aung San, has been previously released before being detained again.

Members of the Burmese community in France as well as supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi immediately took to the streets to display their relief.

Aung San Suu Kyi Greets Her Supporters in Rangoon

Mireille Boisson was among the protesters in Paris. "As you can guess, it can only be joy right now. It can only be joy for all of us who have been fighting for so long, for her, for the Burmese population who support her, we are really full of joy. But at the same time we are very cautious. I mean, we rejoice now in the moment and we want her to be safe and we ask the Burmese authorities to guarantee her safety," she said.

In Washington, a lawyer who tries to assist some of the hundreds of pro-democracy Burmese activists who are in jail, Jared Gensler also expressed caution about Aung San Suu Kyi's release. "She has been out three times before and nothing has changed in the country. In fact, in recent years, there has not been any indication from the military regime that it intends to compromise in any way whatsoever by engaging in any sort of dialogue with her," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement saying she joined billions of people around the world who are welcoming the release of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

The statement also called on Burma's military leaders to make her release unconditional so she can travel and take part in politics without restriction.

The 65-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi, who led the National League for Democracy to the most votes in 1990 elections which were then ignored, has been under house arrest for most of the past 20 years.

Her release Saturday from her home in Rangoon comes after November elections in which the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won in a landslide, but opposition parties who decided to compete were able to gain some seats in parliament and in local legislative assemblies.

 

Watch  Email  Print  Comments Comments (0)Post Your Comment* RequiredYour Name(Optional)
Your Country(Optional)
Your Message(Limit 500 characters)*
By using this form you agree to the following: All comments will be reviewed before posting. Be aware - not all submissions will be posted. VOA has the right to use your comments worldwide in any VOA produced media.Terms & ConditionsWatch: Aung San Suu Kyi Greets Supporters in Rangoon
Windows MediaEmail This Article Print This Article Comment on This Article Obama Travels to Asia

10-day trip features stops in 4 countries

Read More Video Features

Now You Know
Terror and the Yemen/Somalia link

More Webcasts Going Green Money In Motion The Link
    Long March: October 1934-1936

Historic retreat and rise of the Red Army

Digital Frontiers

Is censoring Korea's Internet a good idea?

Share your thoughts » Most-Viewed ArticlesActivists, Asia Pacific Governments Welcome Aung San Suu Kyi's ReleaseRussian Double Agent Betrayed Spy Ring in USBurma May Soon Release Democracy Advocate Aung San Suu KyiObama Presses US Trade Agenda at APECBurma's Aung San Suu Kyi Released from House Arrest Most E-mailed ArticlesClinton Announces Aid to Palestinian Authority, Meets with Egyptian CounterpartActivists, Asia Pacific Governments Welcome Aung San Suu Kyi's ReleaseWorld Halal Travel Industry GrowsBurma May Soon Release Democracy Advocate Aung San Suu KyiIraqi Parliament Holds Conciliatory MeetingVOANews:NewsProgramsVideoLearning EnglishAbout UsWeb Services:PodcastsRSSMobileNewsletterWebcastsAbout VOANews.com:Terms of Use and Privacy NoticeBroadcasting Board of GovernorsLink to UsFAQsContact VOANewsJob Opportunities

View the original article here

Republicans, Democrats Make Final Push For Votes - Voice of America

  01 November 2010

Former President Bill Clinton holds up four-month old Natalie Fontana of Washingtonville, N.Y. while making a campaign stop for Rep. John Hall in Harriman, N.Y. (far left) 30 Oct 2010

Republicans and Democrats are making a final push for votes, on the eve of U.S. elections that experts say could give the minority Republicans control of at least one chamber of Congress.   

A new poll indicates that Republicans have a more commanding lead than either party has had in decades before a midterm vote.  The USA Today/Gallup survey says 55 percent of the 1,500 people asked say they plan to support Republicans in the elections, the widest margin since 1974.

Analysts are expecting Republicans to make enough gains to take control of the House of Representatives, but to fall short of winning a majority in the Senate.  Democrats currently control both houses of Congress.

The economy remains the main source of trouble for Democrats this year.  Republican leaders say the political energy and momentum is on their side this year, just as it was with the Democrats in 2006 and 2008.

At stake Tuesday are all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the Senate.  A number of states also are holding votes for governorships, local officials and ballot measures.

President Barack Obama recently wound up a four-state campaign tour in which he sought to rally fellow Democrats, to limit the expected opposition gains.

During an appearance in Cleveland, Ohio Sunday, Mr. Obama blamed the current economic sluggishness and high unemployment rate on mistakes made by the previous Republican administration.  But Republicans have been blaming Mr. Obama.

Republican gains likely would make it more difficult for the president to win approval for his legislative initiatives.

View the original article here

NATO Says It's Ready to Help in Taliban Talks - Voice of America

VOA News 14 October 2010

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance is ready to help in the Afghan government's efforts to pursue peace talks with the Taliban.

At a NATO meeting in Brussels Thursday, Rasmussen said the NATO-led force in Afghanistan is willing to provide "practical assistance" for reconciliation efforts.  He did not elaborate but noted the alliance will keep up military pressure on the Taliban.

His comments came a day after a NATO official said the alliance has helped secure passage of Taliban commanders to Kabul, and that such trips would be very difficult without NATO's consent.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attended the meeting, said they support Afghan reconciliation efforts.  But they cautioned the process may not be successful.

In Kabul, a top adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for NATO forces to cease military operations in areas where militants are willing to begin talks.

Also in Kabul, the head of Afghanistan's new peace council -- Burhanuddin Rabbani -- said the Taliban is willing to take part in negotiations to end the country's nine-year war.

Rabbani, the former Afghan president, said the insurgent group has never rejected talks completely and instead has set tough conditions for peace.

Earlier this week, President Karzai acknowledged his government has held informal discussions with the Taliban but the group has denied his claim.  The militants have demanded all international troops leave Afghanistan before peace negotiations can begin.

U.S. officials have called for Taliban fighters to lay down their arms, cut ties to al-Qaida and support the Afghan constitution.

* Required By using this form you agree to the following: All comments will be reviewed before posting. Be aware - not all submissions will be posted. VOA has the right to use your comments worldwide in any VOA produced media. Terms & Conditions

View the original article here

Indian Court Orders Holy Site Divided Between Hindus, Muslims - Voice of America

Indian Court Orders Holy Site Divided Between Hindus, Muslims | Asia | English/* Voice of America ®

A Trusted Source of News & Information since 1942

About VOA|Contact VOA News

Thursday, 30 September 2010 Latest News: Select Your LanguageAfan OromoAlbanianAmharicArmenianAzerbaijaniAzeriBanglaBosnianBurmeseCantoneseChineseCreoleCroatianDariEnglish WorldwideFrenchGeorgianGreekHausaIndonesianKhmerKhmer (English)KinyarwandaKirundiKoreanKurdiKurdishLaoLearning EnglishMacedonianMandarinNdebelePashtoPashto - DeewaPersian PortugueseRussian SerbianShonaSomaliSpanishSwahiliThaiTibetanTibetan (English)TigrignaTurkishUkrainian UrduUzbekVietnameseZimbabwe - EnglishNewsProgramsVideoLearning EnglishAbout UsLive Streams:Latest Newscast|Africa Live|Global LiveNews USA Africa Americas Asia Europe Middle East American Life Arts and EntertainmentMore TopicsEconomyEducationEnvironmentHealthLifestylesNews AnalysisReligionScience and TechnologySports Web FeaturesSpecial ReportsDigital FrontiersSlide ShowsPhoto GalleriesGoing Green Money In MotionNow You KnowOff the Beaten PathThe LinkInteractive My VOA CommunityYouTubeFacebookTwitter Web ServicesPodcastsRSSMobileNewsletterWebcastsLinks About the USEditorialsRFE/RLRFAPronunciation Guide News|AsiaAsiaRSS FeedIndian Court Orders Holy Site Divided Between Hindus, Muslims Kurt Achin|New Delhi30 September 2010

Photo: AFPIndian security personnel stand guard as an elderly man walks past on September 29, 2010 in Ayodhya, on the eve of a court ruling that divided a long-contested holy site in the city between Hindus and Muslims (AFP).

Share ThisDiggFacebookStumbleUponYahoo! Buzzdel.icio.usRelated ArticlesIndia Braces For Verdict In Charged Religious Property Dispute

Indian judges have ruled Hindus and Muslims will divide the site at the heart of a religious property dispute.  Their verdict has been awaited for decades and is seen as a symbolic watershed in India's broader history of Hindu-Muslim tension.

Indian leaders are calling for peace and unity after a high court in the state of Uttar Pradesh issued what some are calling a victory for both Hindus and Muslims.

The court ruled a long-disputed holy site in the city of Ayodhya is to be divided between the two faith groups, with two thirds of the property to be administered by Hindus, and one third to be in the possession of Muslims.

Hindu groups successfully convinced judges about the importance of the site to members of their faith, who believe the area is the birthplace of the Hindu god Lord Rama, one of their most revered deities.  An Islamic mosque stood on the spot for hundreds of years before a Hindu mob destroyed it in 1992.  That sparked violence around the country that killed more than 2,000 people, mainly Muslims.

A lawyer representing Muslim plaintiffs in the case, Zafaryab Jilanni, says the verdict is a step towards unity.  He said the judgment indicates that Muslims and Hindus must coexist in India.

A lawyer for Hindu litigants, Ravi Shankar Prasad, called for Muslims and Hindus to view the verdict positively. "I would appeal to them in all humility, please accept this verdict ... it will lead to new amity, new brotherhood and a resurgent India," he said.

Hindu-Muslim resentment historically has been one of the greatest strains on India's social fabric.  As the verdict approached, the government dispatched nearly 200,000 security personnel to prevent renewed violence.  Major Indian media outlets agreed to a range of mandatory and voluntary restraints on coverage to avoid inciting emotion.  The mass distribution of mobile text messages also was curtailed.

Several parties on both sides of the dispute have said they will appeal the decision to the Indian Supreme Court.  That is expected to further delay the Ayodhya case, which has been in the court system for 60 years.

Listen  Email  Print Listen: Achin report
MP3Email This Article Print This Article Flooding in Pakistan

How to help victims of Pakistan's devastating floods

Full report »North Korea: Looking Inside

North Korea: Looking Inside

An audio and pictorial look inside the Communist countryDigital Frontiers

Online Freedom vs. National Security: a LIVE webcast October 5

Explore to participate » Most-Viewed ArticlesNorth Korea Releases Photo of Apparent Successor Europe Hit by Widespread Strikes Commando-Style Terror Plot Targeted Europe Indian Court Orders Holy Site Divided Between Hindus, MuslimsUS Envoy Makes Last-Ditch Effort to Rescue Mideast Talks Going Green

Watch: Rebecca Ward's report on extreme weather

More » Off the Beaten Path

Unscripted stories from different perspectives, with VOA's Nico Colombant

More » Most E-mailed ArticlesNorth Korea Releases Photo of Apparent Successor New Test is 90 Percent Accurate in Detecting Prostate CancerEurope Hit by Widespread Strikes Protests Erupt in Ecuador; Soldiers Seize Main AirportContemporary Tibetan Art on Display in BeijingVOANews:NewsProgramsVideoLearning EnglishAbout UsWeb Services:PodcastsRSSMobileNewsletterWebcastsAbout VOANews.com:Terms of Use and Privacy NoticeBroadcasting Board of GovernorsLink to UsFAQsContact VOANewsJob Opportunities

View the original article here