US Forces Capture Key Al-Qaida Leader in Libya
U.S. officials say American forces have captured an al-Qaida leader facing federal charges for the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Officials say the suspect, known as Abu Anas el-Liby, was captured alive Saturday near Tripoli in a joint operation by a U.S. military force and intelligence operatives.
The accounts of U.S. involvement came a short while after relatives of Abu Anas said the 49-year-old suspect had been kidnapped in the Libyan capital.
The Associated Press quoted the suspect's brother as saying Abu Anas was abducted while parking his car outside his house early Saturday after dawn prayers. He said three cars encircled the suspect, smashed his car window and disarmed him before fleeing with him.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation had offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to Abu Anas' capture, after a federal court in New York indicted him in 2000 for planning the embassy attacks.
More than 250 people were killed and thousands wounded in the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam blasts on August 7, 1998.
Separatist Rebels to Return to Mali Peace Talks
Tuareg separatists said on Saturday they were rejoining the peace process in northern Mali, just over a week after they pulled out and accused Bamako of not respecting the terms of a truce signed in June.
The three separatist groups, including the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, or MNLA, rebels, made the announcement after Malian authorities released 23 insurgents last week to comply with the terms of the ceasefire signed in Ouagadougou.
"We announce the end of the suspension of our participation," said the statement, also signed by the High Council for the Unity of Azawad, or HCUA, and the Arab Movement of Azawad, or MAA.
Azawad is the name the separatists give to northern Mali.
The three groups said they would return to participation in a committee monitoring the implementation of the June agreement, including the disarmament and return of combatants to barracks and the release of prisoners.
MNLA Vice President Mahamadou Djeri Maiga, called, however, for the postponement of legislative elections due on Nov. 24 because much of the population of northern Mali was still displaced in the wake of the conflict.
The Tuareg uprising in 2012 led to a military coup in Bamako and the occupation of the northern half of Mali by Islamist militants during the subsequent chaos.
A French-led ground and air offensive drove out the Islamists, allowing the Tuareg separatists to recapture their traditional northern stronghold of Kidal.
The desert region has produced four rebellions since independence from France in 1960. Its light-skinned Tuareg people say successive black African governments in the capital have excluded them from power.
The separatists' suspension of participation in the peace process on Sept. 26 was quickly followed by a grenade attack that wounded two soldiers in Kidal and two days of clashes between the military and MNLA rebels in the town.
June's ceasefire enabled national elections to take place in July and August. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, a former prime minister, was elected by a landslide with a pledge to reunify the country and restore its pride.
The separatist movements, which met on Friday with the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission to Mali, Bert Koenders, welcomed in their statement Keita's recent efforts to ensure implementation of the Ouagadougou accords.
More than 60 Killed in String of Attacks in Iraq
Scores of people have died in a string of attacks across Iraq.
In Baghdad Saturday, a suicide bomber killed nearly 50 Shi'ite pilgrims who were on their way to a prominent Shi'ite shrine.
Earlier in the day, 12 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a cafe in Balad, 80 kilometers north of the capital. An almost identical bombing killed at least 16 people at the same cafe seven weeks ago.
Separately, security sources say unidentified gunmen killed two Iraqi journalists as they were filming in the northern city of Mosul. The journalists worked for the Iraqi television channel al-Sharqiya news.
Militants have stepped up attacks on cafes and other public gathering places, including mosques, funerals and busy market places, in recent months.
Deadly violence has climbed to its highest level since 2008, with analysts repeatedly voicing fears the country is sliding back into Sunni-Shi'ite civil war.
Scores Killed in String of Attacks in Iraq
Scores of people have died in a string of attacks across Iraq.
In Baghdad Saturday, a suicide bomber killed nearly 50 Shi'ite pilgrims who were on their way to a prominent Shi'ite shrine.
Earlier in the day, 12 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a cafe in Balad, 80 kilometers north of the capital. An almost identical bombing killed at least 16 people at the same cafe seven weeks ago.
Separately, security sources say unidentified gunmen killed two Iraqi journalists as they were filming in the northern city of Mosul. The journalists worked for the Iraqi television channel al-Sharqiya news.
Militants have stepped up attacks on cafes and other public gathering places, including mosques, funerals and busy market places, in recent months.
Deadly violence has climbed to its highest level since 2008, with analysts repeatedly voicing fears the country is sliding back into Sunni-Shi'ite civil war.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
Man Sets Himself on Fire on US National Mall
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U.S. fire officials say a man has been taken to a hospital after apparently setting himself on fire on the National Mall in Washington.
Witnesses say the man doused himself with gasoline Friday and set himself on fire a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, not far from where police shot and killed a woman after a high-speed car chase Thursday.
A jogger on the Mall said that several men who were passing by removed their shirts to smother the flames. She said the man thanked the people who helped put out the fire.
Police say the man was conscious when they arrived on the scene. Fire officials say he suffered life-threatening injures and was airlifted to the hospital.
It was not immediately known who the man is or why he set himself ablaze.
Obama Says International Credibility at Stake on Syria
U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday it is the international community's credibility that is at stake if Syria's alleged chemical attacks on its people are not addressed.
Speaking at a news conference in Stockholm with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Mr. Obama says he did not set a "red line" regarding a use of chemical weapons, but that the line was set when world powers approved a treaty against the use of chemical weapons.
Mr. Obama said he and the Swedish prime minister were in agreement that the international community could not be silent in the face of "barbarism" in Syria and that a failure to act would increase the possibility of further attacks.
Mr. Obama is on a one-day visit to Stockholm before flying on to Russia for the G20 summit in St. Petersburg, where Syria is expected to be high on the agenda.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he does not rule out supporting a U.N. authorization of military force against Syria if there is proof government forces used chemical weapons against civilians.
He told the Associated Press and Russian television that the United States should present "convincing" evidence to the U.N., and warned the U.S. against taking military action without U.N. approval.
Mr. Putin also said Russia has suspended the delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missile components to Syria, but would reconsider if steps are taken that "violate international norms."
a key U.S. Senate committee could vote as early as Wednesday on a measure authorizing U.S. military force.
Leaders of the Foreign Relations Committee agreed late Tuesday on details of the plan that would give Mr. Obama authority to order limited strikes against Syrian military targets for 60 days. He could extend the window by another 30 days under certain conditions. The resolution would not authorize the use of ground troops.
The resolution must clear the committee and gain approval in the full Senate and House of Representatives before taking effect.
France also says it has evidence Syrian forces were responsible for the deadly attack near Damascus last month. The country's parliament is debating a possible military response in a session Wednesday, though French President Francois Hollande does not need lawmakers' approval to act.
Syria has denied using chemical weapons, alleging it was the rebels who deployed them.
US Lawmakers Remain Deadlocked on Day 4 of Shutdown
The U.S. political stalemate over a partial government shutdown shows no signs of ending.
President Barack Obama and his Republican opponents in Congress remained deadlocked Friday on the fourth day of the shutdown that has furloughed more than 800,000 government workers, about a third of the federal work force, and halted numerous government services.
Mr. Obama, a Democrat in his fifth year as the American leader, tried to highlight the impact on furloughed workers by visiting a local sandwich shop that was offering discounts to government employees. Before ordering lunch for himself and Vice President Joe Biden, Mr. Obama urged Speaker John Boehner, leader of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, to allow a vote on a bill to reopen the government without conditions.
Until now, Republicans have been unwilling to approve a budget unless it amends or delays Mr. Obama's signature health care law, commonly known in the United States as Obamacare.
"This shutdown could be over today. We know there are the votes for it in the House of Representatives, and as I said yesterday, if Speaker Boehner will simply allow that vote to take place, we can end this shutdown."
Earlier, Boehner and other House Republicans demanded that Democrats negotiate changes in the law, which is now taking full effect.
"This isn't some damn game. The American people don't want their government shut down, and neither do I. All we're asking for is to sit down and have a discussion and to bring fairness, reopen the government, and bring fairness to the American people under Obamacare."
Democrats in the House said they will use a parliamentary maneuver to try to force a vote on a funding bill to end the shutdown, but would need some Republican support to carry out the plan. Such a vote could not occur before October 14, just days before the U.S. must increase its $16.7 trillion borrowing limit or run out of money to pay all its bills.
Mr. Obama said he is happy to negotiate with Republicans and Boehner on "a whole range of issues," but not "with a gun held to the head of the American people."
Republicans in the House Friday approved several bills to fund targeted programs, such as disaster assistance and nutrition programs for the poor.
Congress is also considering legislation that would assure retroactive payment to the estimated 800,000 furloughed federal employees.
The government closed Tuesday after the House and the Democratic-led Senate could not agree on a budget to fund operations. The Republicans' desire to change the health care law has stalled a short-term, normally routine spending bill.
One analyst, University of Michigan business professor Erik Gordon, told VOA he thinks both Mr. Obama and his Republican opponents will have to compromise on their policy goals if a default is to be avoided.
"I think at the last minute there will be some compromise because neither side can afford to be seen by the public as being intransigent. So the Republicans will have to give up and say, OK, we'll settle for fewer tax cuts than we asked for and the president is going to have to say, I'm going to make some bigger reductions than I said I would make, because neither side can afford to have the blame pinned on them. They will move together and learn to live with each other one more time."
Federal workers classified as essential employees, such as air traffic controllers, Border Patrol agents and many food inspectors, continue to work, as do many in the U.S. broadcasting services, including VOA.
But the partial shutdown is taking a toll.
On Friday, the Obama administration said it was postponing the latest round of negotiations for a free trade deal between the European Union and the United States. It said U.S. officials could not travel to Brussels next week for the talks because of the shutdown.
On Thursday, the White House announced that Mr. Obama is canceling an upcoming visit to Indonesia and Brunei in the face of the shutdown. He had originally scheduled a four-nation, week-long trip to Asia, but canceled visits to Malaysia and the Philippines earlier this week.
The White House says Secretary of State John Kerry will lead U.S. delegations to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. Kerry will attend the APEC summit in Bali in place of the president.
TURKS AND CAICOS TO LEAD UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES HEADS OF PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING SESSION
Turks and Caicos Islands Acting Governor the Hon Anya Williams will lead a ‘best practice’ workshop when she joins all heads of public service from every UK Overseas Territory in London next week, 7-8 October 2013
The most senior civil servants from each Territory will gather together in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Whitehall to discuss how they can better work together to improve public services.
Mrs Williams will lead a workshop on ‘Efficient Government and Investment Policy’, with her opposite number, Ernesto Gomez, from Gibraltar, with additional inputs from UK government department, Business Innovation and Skills.
“This is one of the most important UK Overeat Territories events of the year,” said Anya Williams. “It is an opportunity to learn from fellow professional people who understand the challenges that are faced in small, and sometimes remote communities.
“We can learn from each other and establish important contacts across the world who can help us achieve what we need to do here,” she said. “It is also an honour to receive international recognition by way of sharing our story here in the Turks and Caicos about where we are in our ongoing journey toward improving efficiency.”
All the heads will be welcomed by Peter Hayes who heads the FCO Overseas Territories Directorate. The other session on the agenda over the two days includes:
· Public Communications: how to ensure that the work of government is communicated effectively to the public led, by British Virgin Islands and the FCO press office.
· Public Service Reform: a report on progress of Civil Service reform programmes led by personnel from the Cayman Islands, with participation from the Isle of Man and UK Cabinet Office.
· Adoption of international governance standards: a discussion on progress and practicalities of extension of conventions, obstacles and priorities, led by Anguilla with support from FCO legal advisers, the Ministry of Justice and Business Industry and Skills
· Public finances: looking at how to ensure transparency and sustainability of public finances in the Territories, jointly led by Anguilla and the Falkland Islands as well as participation from officials in Guernsey and the UK National Audit Office
· Ensuring integrity in public life: a discussion on processes for ensuring the integrity of all those in elected and non-elected public office. Particular emphasis on introducing and implementing codes of conduct. This will be led by officials from Gibraltar and the British Virgin Islands, as well as the Isle of Man and UK Cabinet Office.
· Professional development: how to get the best out of all staff, with a particular emphasis on performance management, led by Bermuda, Montserrat and staff from the UK Cabinet Office.
· Using e-government for service delivery: how innovation can be used to improve public services through e-government platforms, led by Montserrat, with the UK’s Government Digital Service and the Commonwealth Telecoms Organization
· Procurement: how efficient procurement procedures can ensure value for public money, in the context of a challenging economic climate and small communities led by Ascension and Cayman.
· Secondments: a discussion on the effectiveness of Jubilee Programme secondments and exchanges so far.
· There will also be an opportunity for all participants to network with representatives from other UK Ministries and government departments.
Attorney General Huw Shepherd will be sworn in as Acting Governor for the period 4-9 October, until Governor designate Peter Beckingham officially takes the Oath of Allegiance.
· Secondments: a discussion on the effectiveness of Jubilee Programme secondments and exchanges so far.
· There will also be an opportunity for all participants to network with representatives from other UK Ministries and government departments.
Attorney General Huw Shepherd will be sworn in as Acting Governor for the period 4-9 October, until Governor designate Peter Beckingham officially takes the Oath of Allegiance.
The Facts regarding the AG
This response relates to the press statement issued yesterday by the Acting Governor Anya Williams concerning the Attorney General Huw Shepeard.
The facts as it relates to the Attorney General are as follows:
Prior to the September 30, 2013 expiry of the Attorney General’s contract, on February 10, 2013, I wrote to the Secretary of State requesting the immediate recall of the previous CFO, the Governor and the Attorney General, and cited my reasons for making such request.
On September 1, 2013 I wrote to the then Governor, Ric Todd, asking him to rescind his decision to reappoint Huw Shepherd as Attorney General, as I continued to strongly oppose the renewal of the Attorney General’s contract and I requested that this be done in the Cabinet meeting of September 4th. At that Cabinet meeting on September 4, at which the Attorney General was absent, the Governor, in response to my further request for the removal of the Attorney General, requested that the Attorney General be afforded an opportunity to defend himself at the next Cabinet meeting by answering the questions posed by us, in an effort to clarify any misunderstandings, and to this I agreed.
On September 9, 2013, upon my instructions, the Minister of Finance wrote to the Acting Attorney General and submitted a list of questions for the Attorney General to answer in an effort to ensure that the Government has a full picture of the financial and legal activities of the Attorney General’s Chambers. The Acting Attorney General acknowledged receipt of the correspondence and committed to having the requested information to us within 3 weeks. We are still awaiting receipt of this information.
On September 11, 2013, in response to the Minister’s communication and questions sent prior to the Attorney General, the Governor wrote asking me to state specifically, the legal cases that I have concerns with. I remain confused by this request from the Governor, as undoubtedly we have communicated specific questions for the answers we seek, to the Attorney General and to date, he has failed to provide satisfactory responses to those questions.
The questions that remain unanswered, concern no specific legal case and therefore we see the Governor’s letter as a red herring, designed to distract us from the fact that questions remain regarding the decisions and performance of the Attorney General and those questions remain unanswered. In light of the Attorney General’s obvious reluctance to provide clarity, it gives me cause for grave concern and suggests more and more that the truth is perhaps worse than initially suspected.
On September 30, 2013, I wrote to the Attorney General reminding him of the questions that had been submitted to him three weeks prior and informed him that I expected him to provide those answers at the Cabinet meeting of October 2, 2013, to which he responded with his commitment to having the information available.
At the Cabinet meeting of October 2, 2013 the Attorney General whether intentionally or otherwise, failed to furnish the information to the questions asked by both the Minister of Finance and me. He was also asked several questions, in addition to those that had been previously submitted in writing and to which, contrary to the view of the Acting Governor, his responses were totally unsatisfactory.
Those are the facts as it relates to the course of events concerning the Attorney General and leading up to the outcomes of the 21st Meeting of Cabinet and the 10th Sitting of the House of Assembly, held on October 2nd and 3rd 2013, respectively.
My Government’s main concern relates to Good Governance and transparency which is also echoed by members of the UK Government, especially those who have made representation on the floor of Parliament concerning the Civil Recovery Team and its expenditure.
We, as a Government are being asked to cut expenditure and finding it difficult to provide funding for scholarships for our children, to provide adequate space in our schools and to create jobs for our people, whilst expenditure in the areas of the Attorney General’s responsibility goes unchecked.
We are not satisfied with the performance of the Attorney General and we are convinced that he does not hold important, what is in the best interest of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Attorney General should be made to provide the information to Government and the People that is requested of him and we will continue our efforts to obtain the necessary information from the Attorney General, both in Cabinet and in the House of Assembly, to ensure that we continue to operate the affairs of the Turks & Caicos Islands in fairness and transparency, and holding all accountable.
THE OPPOSITION ON THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HELD THURSDAY
The Opposition traveled to Grand Turk as usual to attend a House of Assembly Meeting adjourned since September 19, 2013 to October 3, 2013. The Opposition was informed and came prepared to meet for a two day Session.
The Premier met with myself and the Deputy Leader, Hon Sean Astwood and advised us of his intention to adjourn the House’s Meeting and invited the Opposition to meet to discuss his and his Government’s concerns regarding the Hon Attorney General along with other national issues of concern. The Opposition agreed to attend the Meeting to hear the Government’s position as it was lacking information in this regard.
The Opposition is pleased that the Government is prepared to move forward on the Motion passed on May 15th, 2013 which moved by the Hon Goldray Ewing calling for a National Symposium to discuss major issues of national concerns and to agree a way forward.
We remain committed to working together in the best interest of our people and to ensure where we can that we utilize all resources, be it human and otherwise, efficiently and effectively to advance these Islands.