From Washington, this is VOA News.
Lebanese prime minister will stay. And the blockade of Gaza by Israel, a Swedish boat in the standoff. I’m Marti Johnson reporting from Washington.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati says he offered to (resign) in the wake of a massive car bombing on Friday that killed the police intelligence chief, but the country’s president asked him to stay. Prime Minister Mikati said Saturday that President Michel Suleiman asked him to stay for a brief period of time in the national interest. On Friday, opposition Future Movement secretary general Ahmad Hariri (urged) the prime minister and the government to resign immediately after the car bombing that killed the police chief intelligence the police chief of intelligence Wissam al-Hassan and seven others. The Lebanese Cabinet today held an emergency session. And Demonstrators have closed roads around the country, and protest the bombing. Dory Chamoun, who heads Lebanon’s National Liberal Party and whose home is located in Achrafiyeh, called the explosion a political message.
“There is no doubt that the longer the situation lasts in Syria, the more we’re going to have some spillovers into Lebanon, but we just hope that things will go faster in Syria and will normalize faster in Syria and things will be better for everyone concerned.”
In addition to the eight dead, and another 80 people were injured.
International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met with Syria’s foreign minister in Damascus today to discuss the possibility of a temporary (cease-fire) in the conflict between Syrian forces and rebel groups. No details of the meeting have been released. The U.N.-Arab League envoy is also scheduled to meet with President al-Assad and opposition leaders during his visit to Syria. Brahimi is pushing for Syrian officials to support a cease-fire during the four-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha that begins October 26.
Palestinians are voting in elections Saturday across parts of the West Bank, the first time they have gone to the polls in six years. The (territory) has over a half million registered voters. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, is boycotting the election. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement hope to win support in the elections in over 90 West Bank communities, in the absence of Hamas candidates.
Israel says its navy has boarded a ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists attempting to blockade, Israel’s blockade of Ga.. break up rather Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The Israeli military said Saturday the operation was a peaceful and the passengers offered no (resistance). Robert Berger reports from the VOA Bureau in Jerusalem on a Swedish ship bent on breaking the (blockade).
A Swedish ship carrying 17 pro-Palestinian activists from eight countries is sailing to Gaza and plans to attempt a run against Israel’s naval blockade as early as this weekend. Israel says the ship’s voyage is a (provocation). Government spokesman Mark Regev.
“These people call themselves human rights activists, but they’ve got absolutely nothing whatsoever to say about the ongoing attacks on Israeli civilians by terrorists. They’ve got also, not surprisingly, nothing to say about Hamas’ brutal regime in Gaza.”
Israel says the blockade is a legal measure to thwart terrorism, and if the ship sails to Gaza it will be intercepted. Robert Berger for VOA News, Jerusalem.
Again, that ship pass now have been intercepted.
British doctors treating a Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban say she has been able to stand with help for first time and is able to write. But the medical director of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where Malala Yousafzai is being treated said Friday she is not yet out of danger. There are still possible (infections) in a bullet wound in her head.
Burma may be invited to observe the largest multilateral military exercises in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time. As Danielle Bernstein reports from Bangkok , the invitation is an indication of very response in the region to the government’s political reforms of recent years.
The Pentagon says it supports Thailand’s plan to invite Burma to observe the Cobra Gold joint military exercises, the largest in the region. John Blaxland is a senior fellow at the Strategic and Defense Studies Centre Australian National University.
“The authorities in Myanmar clearly want to diversify their strategic security relationships. India has made overtures, they’re part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the ASEAN, so the opening up of the opportunity to participating in Cobra Gold is actually a very significant step.”
The U.S. has recently lifted economic (sanctions) and made other steps to engage with Burma, including visits this week of military and human rights delegations. Burma’s government, for two decades considered one of the most repressive in the world, began a series of political reforms two years ago. Danielle Bernstein for VOA News, Bangkok.
And I’m Marti Johnson, VOA News in Washington. There is more news on our website at voanews.com.