Stop Fundamentalism – Some 20 million French stayed home to watch a debate between incumbent President, Nicolas Sarkozy and his rival socialist hopeful, Francois Hollande last night just three days before the second round of elections takes place on Sunday. Current polls show Hollande to be at least 7 points ahead of Sarkozy. That will make Sarkozy the second president to lose re-elections in the history of France.
Stop Fundamentalism – An Iranian political prisoner, following two years of detention in various solitary prisons, has received a death sentence from a criminal court in Tehran for having watched and contacted an Iranian dissident television program, Simay-e Azadi, says HRDIA.net which is a Persian language website with a focus on human rights situation in Iran.
Stop Fundamentalism – Sources in Baghdad told Kuwaiti Al-Siyasa, that the Iranian regime has asked Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, during his two day visit to Tehran last Sunday to extradite about 166 members of the exiled Iranian opposition, Mujahedin-e Khalq or MEK who are currently being relocated from a Camp northeast of Baghdad known as Camp Ashraf to the former US occupied Camp Liberty near Baghdad airport.
Stop Fundamentalism – Iraq’s Prime Minister’s two day visit to Tehran this Sunday and Monday took place at a time when rising tensions between Nouri al-Maliki and his political adversaries has put him and his premiership in a very difficult position. Political observers consider his trip to be an attempt on his part to gain Iran’s support in facing Iraq’s growing political challenges. Maliki’s is alleged by his opponents of trying to start a new dictatorship in Iraq.
Stop Fundamentalism – Following Istanbul P5+1 negotiation with Iranian authorities on the country’s nuclear program, Iranian officials continue to call on the west to call off the international sanctions on its oil and banking system. The sanctions were devised to force Iran to abandon its clandestine nuclear development which many believe has military aims.
Stop Fundamentalism – Just when everyone thought things are settling down with the Camp Ashraf crisis as the residents, 1600 of them, made the move to go to Camp Liberty, an Armored military unit makes its way into Camp Liberty which is supposed to be an unarmed refugee ‘temporary transit camp’ under United Nations supervision.
Stop Fundamentalism – Bashar Assad forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators during United Nations monitoring team’s visit near Damascus, Wednesday, say dissident sources. Eight civilians are reported injured. The Plainclothes security forces opened fire on demonstrators near vehicles carrying the UN observing team.
Stop Fundamentalism – Republic of Azerbaijan says that a number of people arrested recently on the charges of terrorism in relation to the Al-Qaida network were trained in Iran.
Stop Fundamentalism – Eight Iranian companies and three individuals were sanctioned by the Swiss authorities Tuesday, reports the Swiss News Agency, SDA. Financial assets and other belongings of these entities will be blocked in accordance with the new measure. Swiss companies and individuals are forbidden to have any financial dealings with these individuals.
Stop Fundamentalism – The German engineering giant, Siemens, has communicated in writings to a number of Iranian officials that it is no longer capable of provisioning and servicing Iran’s South Pars Gas project. The company has been the main provider of gas turbines and compressors to Iran’s oil projects during the past two decades.
