A round-up of other world news in brief...
Punish protest leaders, says Ahmadinejad
TEHRAN – Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday called for the prosecution and punishment of the leaders of unrest that erupted after his disputed June re-election.
The poll and its aftermath have plunged Iran into its biggest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Dozens of senior moderates are being tried on charges of inciting unrest to overthrow the clerical establishment.
Rights groups say hundreds of people, including senior pro-reform politicians, journalists and activists, have been detained since the election. Many still remain in jail.
Leading hardliners and commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guards have also called for the arrest of defeated presidential candidates Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, as well as former president Mohammad Khatami for leading the unrest.
“The leaders and the main elements behind the unrest should be dealt with most firmly,” Mr Ahmadinejad said yesterday. – (Reuters)
Zuma urges end to Zimbabwe strife
HARARE – South African president Jacob Zuma, on his first state visit to Zimbabwe, urged its rival parties to solve their differences to win vital foreign aid for its battered economy but also called on Western powers to repeal sanctions on the country.
Mr Zuma said Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe and prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai should fully implement their February unity agreement.
“The inclusive government has the responsibility to fully implement the global political agreement and thus create confidence in the process,” he said. – (Reuters)
Court backs nuclear scientist
A PAKISTANI judge ruled yesterday that nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan should be allowed freedom of movement more than five years after being put under house arrest for his role in a nuclear proliferation scandal.
Dr Khan had lodged an appeal with the Lahore High Court as the authorities had confined him to his home, despite a court order lifting his house arrest last February.
“Justice Ijaz Chaudhry, after hearing the argument, directed the government that it will not restrain Dr AQ Khan in any manner,” Dr Khan’s lawyer, Ali Zafar, said in a statement. – (Reuters)
Koreas reach deal on family reunions
SEOUL – The rival Koreas reached a deal yesterday to resume from September reunions of families torn apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, as the isolated North reaches out to its foes after being hit by UN sanctions.
In another gesture that could defrost frigid ties, North Korea will release on Saturday four South Korean fisherman it has held after their boat drifted into the North’s waters several weeks ago, an official said.
The North contacted officials in the South to say it would release the fishermen in a move that eases another area of tension between two states technically still at war.
Analysts said the conciliatory moves made by the North this month may be aimed at bolstering its coffers after UN sanctions imposed for its nuclear test in May made it more difficult to trade arms, cutting into a key source of cash. – (Reuters)
Berlusconi to sue media outlets
ROME – Silvio Berlusconi is launching a campaign of legal action against media in Italy and abroad, including Britain, France and Spain, for libel in their coverage of his private life, his lawyer said yesterday.
The prime ministers lawyer Niccolo Ghedini said he had already filed lawsuits against publications in Italy, France and Spain and had instructed lawyers in Britain to study possible cases of libel there. – (Reuters)