Earthquake Injures 700 In Southern Iran

Earthquake Injures 700 In Southern Iran: TEHRAN: Iran’s state news agency says an earthquake has injured at least 700 people in the country’s south. Local news agency reported Wednesday that 100 of the injured had been hospitalized while the rest were minor cases.

Earthquake Injures 700 In Southern Iran:TEHRAN: Iran’s state news agency says an earthquake has injured at least 700 people in the country’s south.

Local news agency reported Wednesday that 100 of the injured had been hospitalized while the rest were minor cases. The 4.9-magnitude quake struck the southern port city of Bandar Abbas at 2:56 a.m. local time, cutting power and telephone lines and sending residents streaming into the streets.

The broadcast said there were no reports of deaths in the quake, which hit 850 miles (1,367 kilometers) south of the capital. Bandar Abbas is one of Iran’s key ports and home to a large oil refinery that primarily serves the domestic market.

Afghan Future Depends On Karzai Anti-Graft Fight

Afghan Future Depends On Karzai Anti-Graft Fight: In a country where corruption affects almost every aspect of daily life, a pledge by Afghanistan’s reinstated President Hamid Karzai to clean up graft is being met with widespread scepticism.

Afghan Future Depends On Karzai Anti-Graft Fight:In a country where corruption affects almost every aspect of daily life, a pledge by Afghanistan’s reinstated President Hamid Karzai to clean up graft is being met with widespread scepticism.

Since being named president on Monday by an election commission staffed by his appointees, Karzai has come under pressure from Western allies to eradicate what he called the “stain of corruption” from his government.

As US President Barack Obama considers requests from military commanders to deploy tens of thousands more troops to fight the Taliban insurgency, he urged Karzai to back his words with deeds.

Congratulations have poured in from world leaders, though many have attached warnings that Karzai must make substantial, rapid progress on eradicating corruption.

The top US military officer Wednesday demanded decisive action from Karzai against what he called “endemic” corruption, saying tainted officials had to be prosecuted.

“That means that you have to rid yourself of those who are corrupt, you have to actually arrest and prosecute them. You have to show those visible signs,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen told reporters in Washington. Related article: Iraq surge for Afghanistan?

Closer to home, Afghan analysts and activists warn a lack of action could further undermine what is widely perceived as an illegitimate government.

“The government will have a very short life if they don’t take very serious action on corruption,” said independent activist Orzala Ashraf. more yahoo news