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US confirms Mid-East peace talks.
About this event: African And Arab Regional Conference On Electronic Transaction Security, Digital Signature And PKI
Related to country: Egypt

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US confirms Mid-East peace talks,The US has confirmed it will host a conference on Middle East peace next week aimed at relaunching negotiations to create a Palestinian state.
Invitations have been issued to Israel, the Palestinians, the UN and key Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Syria.

But Washington is still trying to persuade Arab states to send delegates.

The 27 November meeting, at a US naval academy in Annapolis, Maryland, will be the first fully-fledged talks on Middle East peace since 2000.

State department spokesman Sean McCormack said 49 countries and institutions had been invited.

Ahead of the conference, US President George W Bush is to hold bilateral discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Washington on 26 November, it was announced.

The main talks will then be held in Annapolis the following day.

Arab reluctance

Earlier on Tuesday Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a rare meeting to co-ordinate preparations for the Annapolis meeting.

After their meeting, Mr Olmert said he hoped a peace deal could be completed by the end of next year.

However, key Arab neighbours of Israel have been shy about committing to sending high-level representatives to the talks.

Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo on Friday to co-ordinate their positions, although each government is to decide separately whether to send a delegation.

Egyptian officials say they are convinced the US is now committed to launching a serious peace process and its foreign minister is expected to attend.

Only Egypt and Jordan, of Israel's Arab neighbours, have recognised Israel.

Analysts say other Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, believe Israel has not offered enough assurances about its seriousness to reach peace and to make the necessary sacrifices.

Syria has said it will only join the conference if the issue of the Golan Heights, also occupied by Israel in 1967, is on the agenda.

Negotiations on a joint Israeli-Palestinian document to serve as a blueprint for future talks have made little progress, casting a cloud over the conference.

Israel and the Palestinians are divided over the fate of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since 1967, and the Palestinian refugee problem which dates back to the establishment of Israel in 1948.


November 21, 2007 | 3:58 PM Comments  1 comments

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OPEC's lost sway over oil prices.
About this event: Let's Share Our Differences
Related to country: Saudi Arabia


OPEC's lost sway over oil prices,This weekend's summit focused mostly on poor nations, climate change, and the euro vs. the dollar.,Cairo,A rare meeting of the heads of state of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Saudi Arabia this weekend was predictably focused on prices. But the price most often discussed wasn't the cost of oil, but rather the plummeting US dollar.

As oil hovers near $100 a barrel, it's causing global jitters. Some economists worry that price, which depending on whose math you use is either near or above an inflation-adjusted record, could push many world economies into recession.

But the organization that was created in 1960 to stabilize prices, today wields less clout than it once did over the cost of crude. The 13-nation cartel once controlled prices often by just talking about pumping more or less oil. But now its leaders say booming world demand – largely from India and China – and concern over a possible US attack on Iran are driving prices.

"OPEC is still a major force, but it's certainly far less influential that it was in the 70s or 80s," says Mustafa Alani, at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. "What we saw at this conference is that the leaders of OPEC were giving assurances that they'll do all they can to maintain the stability of the oil supply. But can they do it? We don't know."

OPEC's biggest producers – Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors – say they'd like prices to be a little lower but are pumping near capacity now. After all, their currencies are pegged to the dollar, so a weak US economy hurts them, too. Analysts say that while Saudi Arabia and others might be able to squeeze out an extra 1 million barrels a day, that's only 3 percent more than estimated current OPEC production of 31 million barrels a day.

The new reality facing OPEC left the ministers over the weekend discussing once peripheral issues: pricing oil in US dollars, climate change, and developing nations. Political opponents of the US – Iran and Venezuela – have been pushing for the market to be moved from the US dollar into stronger Euros. While analysts say that is unlikely to happen anytime soon, the fact that such issues – not oil prices – got so much attention reflects changing times.

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said earlier this week that he did ask OPEC members to increase supply, though he said that the request seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

Anyone hoping that the OPEC Summit – the first meeting of the leaders of its member states since 2000 – would bring relief from gas prices that have jumped 25 percent this year to above $3 a gallon in the US, is going to be disappointed.

On Friday, crude oil traded in the US rose $1 to over $95 a barrel after Venezuela's Oil Minister Rafael Ramírez said, "OPEC can't do anything about the price ... there is enough oil in the market."

Venezuela – whose leftist President Hugo Chávez appears to revel in tweaking the nose of the US, which he alleges backed a failed coup against him five years ago – has been pushing for higher oil prices in tandem with Iran, as well as a move away from the US dollar.

In this, both countries failed. Saudi Arabia – which accounts for about 30 percent of OPEC production – clearly signaling its opposition to what it views as the politicization of the commodity.

After Mr. Chávez urged OPEC's leaders to use their oil wealth to become an "active political agent" and warned that oil prices would rise above $200 a barrel if the US takes military action against his ally, Iran, Saudi King Abdullah dismissed his arguments.

"Oil ... should not become a tool for conflict and emotions," he said. "Those who want OPEC to become an organization of monopoly and exploitation ignore the truth."

The joint OPEC statement released at the end of the summit said that the "stability of the oil market is essential," which oil analysts said was a repudiation of Venezuela's and Iran's aims.

Chávez also called on oil producers to sell to poor countries at prices at about one-fifth of the current market price, an idea that gained no traction and appeared designed to bolster his populist credentials. The only support for this idea came from Ecuador's leftist president, Rafael Correa. Even Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who Chávez was scheduled to meet later Sunday in Tehran, failed to back to him on this suggestion.

Mr. Ahmadinejad has portrayed himself as a man of the people and the promise of his 2005 election campaign to spread Iran's oil wealth to every dinner table struck a chord with voters. During a visit to Venezuela last January, Ahmadinejad kept that populist touch, announcing with Chávez the creation of a $2 billion anti-US fund. And on Sunday, after meeting with President Correa, Ahmadinejad promised to use his country's oil wealth to fight "imperialism."

But his promises remain unfulfilled for most Iranians, though Iran has seen its oil revenues surge in the past five years. Despite the cash boom, Iran's economy is struggling under the weight of high unemployment and rising inflation, not to mention US sanctions. He simply isn't in a position to back up his rhetoric, analysts say.

"Iran can't even think about this case [of cut-rate sales to poor countries], because the oil price works in the market economy," says Abbas Maleki, a former deputy foreign minister of Iran, and chair of the International Institute for Caspian Studies.

"The best way for Iran is to establish a fund for development, to support development projects," says Mr. Maleki, who was recently a fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. "OPEC already has a development fund for Africa and Third World countries … Iran wants to spend all oil revenues in Iran."

Indeed, though OPEC made it clear it isn't in a position to lower prices, a silver-lining for the US is that Chávez's efforts to build a populist bloc within OPEC fizzled.

"There are basically two camps, Iran and Venezuela and one led by Saudi Arabia," says Mr. Alani, the oil analyst. "What happened at this conference was that the leaders of OPEC – Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states – made it clear they oppose the use of oil as a weapon, so the radicals within OPEC were isolated.

"What's going to happen now is the leaders will do everything they can to maintain supply. But there's very little they can do if there's an attack on Iran or something of that nature. In that case, prices will double, perhaps go to $300 a barrel."

November 18, 2007 | 5:44 PM Comments  0 comments

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Egypt 'denies minority beliefs'.
About this event: Let's Share Our Differences
Related to country: United States


Egypt 'denies minority beliefs',Rights groups have criticised Egypt for forcing converts from Islam and members of some minority faiths to lie about their true beliefs in official papers.
Egyptians over 16 must carry ID cards showing religious affiliation. Muslim, Christian and Jew are the only choices.

Human Rights Watch says the requirement particularly hits members of the small Bahai community, and Coptic Christians who became Muslims but want to go back.

It says there are about 200 such people who converted for reasons like divorce.

The BBC's Heba Saleh in Cairo says that without the all-important IDs, members of minorities face enormous problems in education and employment.


Ministry of interior officials apparently believe that they have the right to choose someone's religion
Joe Stork, Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch (HRW) also highlights the plight of other Egyptians who complain that they have been designated as Muslims against their will.
These are mostly members of Christian families whose fathers converted to Islam and left them.

When the children get their ID cards they find they have been listed as Muslims whether they like it or not.

'Arbitrary refusal'

The report is jointly issued by HRW and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

"Ministry of interior officials apparently believe that they have the right to choose someone's religion when they don't happen to like the religion that person, him or herself, has chosen," said Human Rights Watch's Joe Stork.

"So we are asking the government today to end this arbitrary refusal to recognise someone's actual religious beliefs," he said.

Egypt is a predominantly Sunni Muslim state. Conversions from Islam are viewed as apostasy, although Muslim scholars differ on the what action should be taken.

Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court is shortly to rule on whether seven Christian-to-Muslim converts who converted back can be recognised as Christians.

A ruling is also expected on whether the government must recognise minority Bahais.


November 14, 2007 | 9:02 PM Comments  0 comments

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HAVE YOUR SAY/ We are calling.
About this event: African And Arab Regional Conference On Electronic Transaction Security, Digital Signature And PKI
Related to country: Pakistan


Bhutto house arrest order lifted,Roadblocks were set up around Ms Bhutto's Islamabad home
Bhutto defiant,Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been released from house arrest in the capital, Islamabad, officials say.The order had blocked Ms Bhutto's bid to lead a rally against the emergency rule declared by President Musharraf.

The United States had criticised the house arrest, saying that she had to be "permitted freedom of movement".

Ms Bhutto has vowed to wage a campaign aimed at forcing Gen Musharraf to stand down as head of the army.

Democratic credentials

A three-day detention order was served on the former prime minister after she tried to cross the heavy police cordon set up outside her home on Friday.

Police had surrounded the house early in the morning with roadblocks and coils of barbed wire to prevent her from addressing a rally in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi.


Under emergency rule announced last week, such public gatherings have been banned.

Senior officials were later quoted as saying the detention order had been withdrawn. A spokeswoman for Ms Bhutto's party said she had no information about the move.

Officials said that it was a temporary measure because of a fear of suicide bombers attacking the planned rally, and that it would be lifted by Saturday.

Last month a suicide bomber killed nearly 140 people at a mass gathering as Ms Bhutto returned home from exile.

On Friday Ms Bhutto made several attempts to leave her home but was turned back. She finally emerged to address the media through a megaphone from behind the barricades.

She repeated opposition demands that Gen Musharraf should lift the state of emergency, resign as army chief and hold elections by mid-January.

"We are calling for the revival of our constitution and respect for our judiciary," she said.


HAVE YOUR SAY
The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine
Omer Salim Khan, Lahore
"We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff on 15 November."

The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says it has been a good day for Ms Bhutto, bolstering her democratic credentials at a time when other opposition parties still believe she plans to do a deal with Gen Musharraf.

Our correspondent says she is putting him under pressure at home while his Western allies are putting him under pressure abroad.

White House concern

Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said 5,000 of its activists had been arrested since the weekend, and that police detained about 100 people outside her residence on Friday.

The United States, which has been the principal backer of Gen Musharraf in his fight against pro-Taleban militants, was quick to criticise the restrictions on Ms Bhutto.


"Former Prime Minister Bhutto and other political party members must be permitted freedom of movement and all protesters released," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistan's authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms."

On Thursday Gen Musharraf pledged to hold parliamentary elections by 15 February - a month later than they were due.

He also renewed a promise to quit as head of the army, if and when the Supreme Court validated his recent re-election as president.

However, Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague" and "generalised".

Gen Musharraf announced his decision to hold elections after coming under pressure from US President George W Bush.

The general imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary.

A media blackout is still in force. International channels like the BBC and CNN were allowed back on air on Thursday but have since been blocked.



November 9, 2007 | 4:42 PM Comments  0 comments

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Torture 'endemic'.
About this event: African And Arab Regional Conference On Electronic Transaction Security, Digital Signature And PKI
Related to country: United Kingdom


Egypt police jailed for torture, Two Egyptian policemen have been jailed for three years each for torturing a bus driver during police custody.,The police officers filmed the sexual assault of Emad al-Kebir, 22, on a mobile phone. The footage eventually emerged on the internet.

The case is one of several notorious incidents of abuse by the security forces to be uncovered in Egypt, mostly driven by activist bloggers.

Mr Kebir, who was in court to hear the verdicts, welcomed the ruling.

"God is great! Thank God!" he said. "I regained my rights. I don't want anything more than that."

The police officers, Capt Islam Nabih and non-commissioned officer Reda Fathi, sexually assaulted Mr Kebir with a stick and hit him with shoes, a whip and a gun, the court heard.

Court officials said both men will appeal against the verdict.

Nation shocked

In January 2006, Mr Kebir was detained for attempting to stop an argument between his cousin and a policeman and suffered the assault.


He was released without charge, but later arrested and jailed for three months after a judge found him guilty of resisting arrest.

This followed his attempts to complain to the authorities about his treatment.

In November 2006, several Egyptian bloggers posted a video of his assault and it also appeared on the video-sharing site YouTube.

The video, in which Mr Kebir is shown screaming on the floor while being abused with a stick, shocked the country, reports the BBC's Heba Saleh in Cairo.

Mr Kebir's release had already been ordered by a prosecutor when the assault took place.

The policemen, who filmed the ordeal themselves, circulated the footage in an attempt to intimidate others, our correspondent reports.

Torture 'endemic'

Human rights groups say the court decision to jail the policemen is a message to victims of torture, telling them they should break their silence and seek justice.

They agree with lawyers who assert that torture is endemic in Egypt because suspects are held incommunicado for long periods of time and police interrogations take place without counsel.

The Egyptian authorities reject this and have cited the arrest and trial of Mr Kebir's torturers as proof that they do not tolerate abuse.


November 5, 2007 | 8:25 PM Comments  0 comments

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