US, UK leaders cite peaceful solution to Iran issue

WASHINGTON: The US president and British prime minister have held wide-ranging talks at the White House on issues facing their two countries.

Barack Obama and David Cameron discussed a range of difficult topics on Tuesday, including the war in Afghanistan, reviving the global economy, BP”s responsibilities over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the controversial release of the Lockerbie bomber.

Two leaders also hinted at peaceful solution of Iran’s nuclear issue though bilateral talks but feared that Iran’s strong stance may lead to mounting fresh curbs on it.

Speaking after their talks, the leaders, who referred to each other by their first names, said that their discussions had gone well, despite transatlantic tensions over BP”s role in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the controversial release of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber.

Cameron said he “completely understands the anger that exists right across America” over BP”s role in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and that it must cap the leak, clean up the mess and pay for victims” losses.

But he insisted that the British energy giant had not played a role in the release of al-Megrahi, despite the company”s admission that it had lobbied for the Lockerbie bomber”s release to improve commercial ties with Libya.

“Let us not confuse the oil spill with the Libyan bomber,” Cameron told reporters as he stood side-by-side with Obama after their discussions.

He said that the release of the al-Megrahi, who was convicted for the murder of 270 people killed when an American plane exploded over Scotland, was a mistake.

“It was the biggest mass murder in British history, and there was no business letting him out of prison,” Cameron said, after Obama told reporters that Americans had been “surprised, disappointed and angry” that al-Megrahi had been released.

Cameron dodged US calls for an inquiry into al-Megrahi”s release. “I don”t need an inquiry to tell me it was a bad decision,” he said, pledging that all the facts would be released to the public.

Earlier, Cameron had met US legislators angry at the decision, which was taken by the Scottish government when Gordon Brown was still prime minister.

He told reporters it was important to both Britain and the US that BP remain a “strong and sound” company so it could pay compensation for the spill and for the sake of both countries” economic interests.

The two leaders presented a united front on the war in Afghanistan, sanctions against Iran and efforts to encourage the faltering global economic recovery.

Despite the difficulties over Lockerbie and the oil spill, both men were keen to emphasise the importance of good ties between the two countries.

A correspondent, reporting from Washington, said that the meeting had been a success.

“I would imagine that advisors for both the prime minister and the president are pleased with the visuals of that start of a new relationship,” she said.

After the talks, Obama gave the US-UK ties a boost when he echoed previous leaders in paying tribute to the importance of the relationship. “We can never say it enough. The United States and the United Kingdom enjoy a truly special relationship,” he said.

US, South Korea to conduct 10 drills this year

SEOUL: The United States and South Korea will stage about 10 naval exercises in coming months including one starting Sunday as a deterrent to North Korea, Seoul”s defence ministry said Wednesday.

On Tuesday the US and South Korean defence chiefs announced a major exercise from July 25-28 off the east coast of the peninsula, following the sinking of a South Korean warship that they blame on a North Korean torpedo.

The two sides said the drill was the first in a series but gave no details.

“Both sides will continue to conduct joint military exercises — approximately 10 times — in waters surrounding the peninsula for the next several months,” a defence ministry spokesman told media.

Turkish FM, Hamas hold talks on Gaza blockade

ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met Hamas supremo Khalid Mishal in Damascus, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday, a move that threatens to fan fresh tensions with Israel.

During Monday’s meeting, the two men discussed efforts to heal the rift between the Islamist Hamas and the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Anatolia said.

The Middle East peace process was also on their agenda, it said.

Meanwhile, Hamas said on its website the talks also covered “ways of breaking the (Israeli) embargo” on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and that Davutoglu pledged Turkey would “pursue its efforts to lift” the blockade.

The meeting took place amid simmering tensions between Turkey and its one-time ally Israel over the killing of nine Turks on May 31 in an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship that was part of a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza.

Davutoglu told Mishal Ankara was still demanding an apology from Israel for the raid, compensation for the families of the victims and an international probe into the attack, the website reported.

Turkish foreign ministry officials contacted by media were unable to immediately confirm the meeting.

Davutoglu visited Damascus on Monday for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad before heading to Afghanistan for an international conference on the future of the war-torn country.

Mike Cameron,John Lackey

TrendPK.com Mike Cameron,John Lackey:Having waved goodbye to Jason Bay, Boston is closing in on a two-year deal for free agent outfielder Mike Cameron, according to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick.
The Cubs were talking to Mike Cameron about a centerfield opening, but Marlon Byrd is also on their radar, and is a favorite of hitting [...]