From Washington this is VOA News. Thirty are dead after fierce clashes between military forces and militants in southern Yemen. And President Obama is moving ahead with sanctions against Iran. I’m Joe Paulker reporting from Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues her visit to Saudi Arabia Saturday with a meeting of regional Arab Gulf diplomats to discuss (bringing an end to) Syria’s year-long crackdown on dissent. The meeting is a prelude to the “Friends of the Syria” meeting Sunday in Istanbul. Secretary Clinton, as well as other diplomats from Arab and Western nations who support Syrian (rebel groups), are scheduled to attend the meeting in Turkey. Here’s Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
“We will express our solidarity with the people of Syria. What they demand is the demand of all human beings everywhere in the world, free and fair election, transparency, rule of law, freedom of freedom and free press etc. All these demands are the demands of people all around the world.”
Fresh clashes between demonstrators and (security forces) broke out across Syria Friday. Rights groups say at least 11 people were killed. For more on the story visit our website at voanews.com.
President Obama is moving ahead with sanctions against Iran’s (vital oil exports), deciding there is enough crude on the world market so that U.S. allies won’t be hurt if they curtail their purchase of Tehran’s oil. Mr. Obama’s decision Friday will allow the U.S., starting in late June, to impose sanctions against foreign banks that make oil-related (financial transactions) with Iran’s central bank. The U.S. action, in concert with a planned European embargo of Iranian oil purchases, is aimed at pressuring Iran to abandon its disputed nuclear weapons program. Tehran maintains its nuclear work is for (civilian purposes).
U.S. President Obama says it is time the wealthiest Americans pay what he called their fair share in taxes. During his weekly address Saturday, Mr. Obama urged Congress to vote in favor of the so-called “Buffet Rule” in a few weeks. The plan, named for billionaire investor Warren Buffet, would increase taxes on people earning at least $1 million. Buffet has said it is not fair that he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.
“Over the last decade, we’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars on what was supposed to be a temporary tax cut for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. Now we’re scheduled to spend almost $1 trillion more. Today, the wealthiest Americans are paying taxes at one of the lowest rates in 50 years.”
In the Republican address, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner complained that Obama administration is not doing enough to increase oil and gas production on (federal lands).
“About the only thing the president has pushed the Senate to do is to prevent construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, a job-creating project that the American people strongly support. He personally lobbied Senate Democrats before the vote, and that may have made the difference."
Speaker Boehner called for a freeze in new regulations on (refineries).
Witnesses tell VOA that separatist rebels in Mali have entered the strategic northern town of Gao, one day after they overtook the provincial capital of Kidal. A VOA reporter on the scene says there are (eyewitness) accounts of Tuareg rebels in vehicles entering Gao, carrying the Azawad flags of their planned homeland. Heavy gunfire could be heard, and witnesses say army troops have launched a response using helicopters.
(Fierce clashes) have erupted between military forces and suspected al-Qaeda-linked militants in southern Yemen, leaving at least 30 people dead. Yemeni officials say the fighting broke out early Saturday when militants attacked an army post in the town of Mallah. The area is near Abyan province, an al-Qaeda stronghold.
From the VOA News Center in Washington, this is Joe Paulker.