Ahmadinejad, near Israel border, says "Zionists mortal"

BINT JBEIL: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking on Thursday close to Israel’s northern border, praised what he called Lebanon’s resistance against Israel and declared that “Zionists are mortal”.

Addressing thousands of cheering Hezbollah supporters in Bint Jbeil, scene of fierce fighting between the militant Iranian-backed group and Israeli soldiers in 2006, Ahmadinejad said the town was a symbol of resistance to Israel.

“The world should know the Zionists are mortal … today the Lebanese nation is alive and is a role model for the regional nations,” the Iranian president said.

Ahmadinejad, who has called for the Israeli state to be wiped from the map, told Lebanon’s government on Wednesday that Iran would support it in confronting what he said was Israeli hostility.

Bint Jbeil is just 4 km (2.5 miles) from the border and Israel’s Channel

Ahmadinejad gets hero’s welcome in Lebanon

BEIRUT: Thousands of Lebanese gave Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a tumultuous welcome on Wednesday at the start of a visit which has highlighted Western fears about Tehran’s growing influence in Lebanon.

Throwing rice and flowers at the smiling Iranian leader, who waved from the open roof of his car, they lined the main road from Beirut airport to the presidential palace where Ahmadinejad was due to meet Lebanon’s President Michel Suleiman.

Iranian flags, banners, balloons and posters of Ahmadinejad were draped along the route as well as pictures of Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the founder of Iran’s Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Ahmadinejad’s visit has raised concerns in Washington, which wants to isolate Iran over its nuclear programme and says Iran’s support for Hezbollah undermines Lebanese

28 Afghan civilians killed in US airstrike

KABUL: Dozens of civilians have been killed and several others injured in Afghanistan after US warplanes bombarded the country”s east, according to witnesses.

The American forces launched two airstrikes in Nangarhar province on Thursday morning, witnesses said.

One of the attacks left at least 30 people dead and injured. The other strike, which hit a funeral procession in a separate area, killed 28 civilians including two children.

Thursday”s incident came after another US airstrike killed at least 52 civilians, including several women and children, in the city of Sangin in southern Helmand province last month.

US-led forces in Afghanistan regularly launch attacks on alleged militant hideouts, but the strikes usually result in civilian casualties.

Despite a promise by the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan to reduce civilian casualties, the civilian fatalities are on the rise.

In a new statement, General David Petraeus emphasized on Wednesday that protecting the Afghan people was the top priority in the nine-year war.

“We must continue — indeed, redouble — our efforts to reduce the loss of innocent civilian life to an absolute minimum,” said Petraeus.

Afghan president heads to Iran

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai left on Thursday for neighbouring Iran to attend a regional conference, his office said.

Karzai will deliver a speech to the meeting, the fourth to be held between the tripartite group of Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan, which share a language and Persian culture.

The Western-backed Karzai will hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aiming to building stronger ties between the countries, Karzai”s office said in a statement.

India ready to discuss all issues with Pak: Krishna

NEW DELHI: India is willing to discuss everything with Pakistan in a “step-by-step” approach to resolve differences with the neighbouring country, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said Thursday.

“We have nothing to be afraid of let the nation understand India is willing to discuss everything,” he said in the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.

He said that India favours a graduated and step-by-step approach in resolving differences with Pakistan, but cross-border hostilities will have to cease.

Israel wary over ”Hezbollisation” of Lebanon army

JERUSALEM: An Israeli official on Thursday warned of the danger of Hezbollah gaining influence over Lebanon”s army just days after a deadly exchange of fire along the border left four people dead.

“There is a danger of the Hezbollisation of the Lebanese army, if the army begins to behave like Hezbollah,” Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told public radio referring to the Lebanese Shiite militia group.

“If Hezbollah manages to take control of the army, we will have to treat (the army) in a completely different manner,” he said.

Top Israeli officials have said that Hezbollah was not involved in Tuesday”s deadly exchange of fire with the Lebanese army, and have for the most part sought to play down the confrontation as an isolated incident.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the clashes, which killed two Lebanese soldiers and a journalist as well as a senior Israeli officer, were “a very grave provocation” but hastened to add that it was not planned by the Lebanese army.

Israel warns Lebanon but also seeks calm along border

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a public warning to Lebanon on Wednesday, saying it would face a “vigorous” Israeli response in the event of more unrest on their shared border.

But at the same time as Netanyahu”s office published his comments, which put the Lebanese government in the same category as the militant Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Israeli, UN and Lebanese military officers were working behind the scenes to douse the flames.

“I want to make it clear to Hamas, and also to the government of Lebanon which we see as responsible for the violent provocation against our soldiers; do not test our resolve to defend Israel”s civilians and soldiers,” Netanyahu said.

Israel”s key ally, the United States, backed Israel”s contention that its troops were carrying out routine work on their own side of the frontier on Tuesday when they were subjected to an unprovoked attack by Lebanese soldiers.

“The firing of the Lebanese armed forces was wholly unjustified and unwarranted,” State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley said.

Netanyahu”s comments were made in a Hebrew-language statement distributed to media in writing and on video.

Tuesday”s firefight, the deadliest confrontation on Israel”s northern border in four years, took the lives of an Israeli colonel, two Lebanese soldiers and a Lebanese journalist.

Israel cuts down trees that caused Labanon clashes

ADAYSSEH: Israeli troops on Wednesday uprooted trees along the border with Lebanon, completing an operation interrupted by a deadly gunbattle with Lebanese soldiers, an AFP correspondent witnessed.

See more here: 
Israel cuts down trees that caused Labanon clashes

Five killed in Israel-Lebanon border clash

BEIRUT: Three Lebanese soldiers and an Israeli officer have been killed in the first serious border clash since Israel”s 2006 conflict with Lebanon”s Hezbollah.

The Lebanese army says Israeli soldiers crossed the border to uproot a tree which was blocking their view near the Lebanese village of Adaysseh.

A Lebanese army spokesman said troops had fired warning shots and Israel had responded with fire from artillery positions and helicopters.

Teen hearthrob Justin Bieber to write memoir

NEW YORK: He has made fans swoon when they listen to his music.

Go here to read the rest: 
Teen hearthrob Justin Bieber to write memoir

Next Page »