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UNAMI Head Calls for Dialogue amid Iraq’s Political Upheaval

Stop Fundamentalism – UNAMI invited Iraqi political parties to use dialogue as the means to resolve the current political crisis in the country. Meeting with Iraq’s parliament speaker, Osama Al-Nojaifi, Martin Kobler, called on all sides to “find common ground in the spirit of partnership” based on Iraq’s constitution. 

In a statement released following the meeting on Monday by United Nations Assistant Mission in Iraq, the Head of the mission, Martin Kobler, who also serves as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Iraq, supported the idea of a national conference to resolve the situation.

Iraqia Bloc Rejected Conciliation While Maliki is in Power

Stop Fundamentalism – A spokesman for the Iraqi bloc told Asharq Alawsat that while Nouri al-Maliki is still the Prime Minister, no national agreement can be reached.

“Any congress meeting to achieve a national unity will not be realized while Maliki is still the Prime Minister,” said Haidar Al-mulla, Iraqi bloc spokesman, in a phone interview with Asharq Alawsat Tuesday.

Quake shakes Iran’s Northern Province of Mazandaran and Golestan

Stop Fundamentalism – A moderately strong earth quake of 4.8 magnitude on the Richter scale rattled Iran’s two Northern Provinces of Mazandaran and Golestan this evening.  The shaker happened at about 8:40 pm local time Wednesday night.

The earthquake caused fear and concerns among residents of center and eastern part of Mazandaran.

Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Facility Official Dies in Bomb Blast

Stop Fundamentalism – Iranian news agencies reported this morning that a key Iranian nuclear expert and a deputy director of Natanz uranium enrichment facilities, Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, 32, died today in Tehran following a bomb blast.

Iraq – At Least 60 Feared Dead After Baghdad Bomb Raid

Stop Fundamentalism – A series of bomb attacks on Thursday may have claimed the lives of at least 60 innocent civilians in Iraq following a raid this morning. 

The explosions that have occurred in mostly Shiite populated areas in Baghdad would certainly help further the sectarian divide in the country.

Only a week past America’s official depart from Iraq, this war torn country stays ravaged by bomb attacks and governmental power struggles.

Falling Iranian Currency “Rial” Worries Parliament

Stop Fundamentalism –Iranian Parliamentarians expressed concern about the falling value of Rial, Iran’s Currency, yesterday and blamed the crisis on Ahmadinejad’s government.  The members also criticized the Iranian parliament for inaction about the situation.

The Members of the Iranian Parliament called for a special session to discuss the matter urgently.

Iranian Rial for the past few weeks has taken a sharp nosedive and stays as low as half its value from two months ago.  Observers consider the crisis as a result of international sanction against Iran’s effort to acquire nuclear weapons.

Iraqi PM Will Meet US Delegation on Conditions; Crisis Continue

Stop Fundamentalism – Iraqi authorities told the news media yesterday that a Delegation from United State including a number of Members of US Congress arrived in Baghdad to discuss the current political crisis in the country.

At the same time Adnan Al-Saraj, a government official close to Nouri al-Maliki told Asharq Alawsat Newspaper that the Prime Minister will only meet the delegation on the condition that it will not discuss the current crisis over Mr. Tariq Al-Hashimi, Iraq’s Vice-President.

Maliki also is asking the US not to make another visit to Iraq without advance notice and official agreement.

France Says Iran is Pursuing Nuclear Arms; Wants Sanctions

Stop Fundamentalism – France is taking a strong stance against Iranian government and is calling for tougher measures against the country as an answer to its ignorance of the international community’s demands to come clean about its nuclear development program.

Alain Juppe, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that he is certain that “Iran is pursuing the development of nuclear arms.”  He said that last IAEA report was “quite explicit on this point.” 

Head of Parliament – Iraq’s Human Rights Violated

Stop Fundamentalism – Osama Al-Nujaifi, a leader of the Iraqia bloc and the Head of Parliament in Iraq expressed concerns in a statement yesterday that “human rights is violated widely in Iraq,” reported Aljazeera TV.

Iraqia bloc that has gone on a head-to-head crash path with the Nouri al-Maliki government since the American Troops pullout, has boycotted the government alleging Maliki to be trying to bring back dictatorial rule to Iraq by isolating dissident voices.

Iran Sets Cyber Crime Policy ahead of New Elections

Stop Fundamentalism – An official of Iran’s Judiciary announced new limitations on using cyber space and content publishing on the internet ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“Publishing criminal content is a crime,” said Abdol-Samad Khoramabadi to news reporters Sunday, referring to using the internet to expose the undemocratic nature of elections in Iran where only certain people approved by authorities get to participate.

Just last week a number of top officials speaking at Friday sermons held across the country said clearly that only those completely dedicated to the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, should be allowed to enter Majlis (Parliament).