Russia’s opposition demonstrates in Moscow. Afghan President Hamid Karzai says NATO airstrikes are not allowed. I’m David Deforest reporting from Washington.
Tens of thousands of Russians march in an opposition rally in Moscow today to protest the return of Vladimir Putin to the Russian Presidency. Today’s rally was the first to be called by the oppositions since Mr. Putin took office on May 7th. A VOA correspondent estimated that tens of thousands of people marched along a Moscow boulevard. Correspondent said the rally, which was held on the Russia Day national holiday, was (peaceful) and included a diverse group of participants.
Yemeni officials say government troops have recaptured two al-Qaeda (strongholds) in the country’s south after a month-long offensive against the militant group. Officials say Yemen troops and their tribal chiefs, tribal allies took control of Abyan’s provincial capital, Zinjibar, and the town of Jaar to the north. They said the government forces also reopened a major highway linking Abyan with the southern port of Aden.
Syrian forces continue to attack rebel strongholds today with activists groups saying mortar shells and anti-government protesters in the town of Deir al-Zour, killing ten people. In the western town of al-Haffeh, activists say hundreds of rebels are facing a tank and helicopter (assault). The helicopter attacks confirmed by the U.N. on Monday are regarded as a significant escalation by government forces. A United States spokeswoman says U.N. monitors found the area near al-Haffeh too dangerous to enter.
Pakistan is downplaying a breakdown in U.S.-Pakistan negotiations on the reopening of supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan. Sharon Behn reports.
Sharon Behn: “Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rbbani said Tuesday that the two countries had concluded intensive work on technical issues regarding the supply routes before the U.S. team left Islamabad. She (emphasized) that the two sides were still working on resolving their differences.
Hina Rbbani: “We are moving, we are interacting, we are consulting, we are engaged in dialogue with them.”
Sharon Behn: “The Pakistani minister repeated her country’s calls for the United States to apologize for a November U.S. missile strike that mistakenly killed (24) Pakistani soldiers and an end to U.S. strikes on Pakistan territory. Sharon Behn, VOA news, Islamabad.”
Pakistan Supreme Court says the country’s former ambassador to the United States unquestionably authored a (memo) last year seeking U.S. help in reining in the Pakistani military. In its ruling today, the court said Husain Haqqani wanted to make himself indispensable to the Americans and committed acts of disloyalty to Pakistan. Haqqani denies the finding.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the use of NATO airstrikes in civilian areas is absolutely banned even when coalition forces are under attack. His comments come a day after NATO officials announced an agreement to restrict the use of airstrikes in residential areas. That following an (airstrike) last week that left 18 people died. Marine General John Allen is the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
John Allen: “One of my NO.1 priorities is the command here is reducing civilian casualties to the zero because our campaign is about protecting the Afghan people. And as long as there are civilian (casualties) that are inflicted by ISAF forces then we are not accomplishing the mission that we will like to accomplish.”
The deputy commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan says troops still has the option of calling an airstrikes if there are no other options.
China indicates that it has no plans to change its position on oil purchases from Iran as we hear from Stephanie Ho.
Stephanie ho: “Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin Tuesday rejected a question about whether China will reduce its oil imports from Iran and said these purchases are necessary. He says China needs to import crude oil from Iran because its economic development and that this is, in his words, a completely legal matter. He added that the purchase channel are normal, open and transparent and do not violate United Nations resolutions or harm the (interests) of any other party. Stephanie Ho, VOA news, Beijing.”
Take a brief look at market activities: on Wall Street, U.S. stock indexes are (mixed). European markets are down. Asia-Pacific markets were mostly lower at the close of trade today. I’m David Deforest, more news at voanews.com.