Minaret of Freedom Weblog

“They wanted a vote in the name of Islam,” says a voter in the Northwest provinces, “but it was not for Islam, it was for Islamabad …”

• Islamic Stronghold in Pakistan Goes Secular (Christian Science Monitor)

… while back in the U.S. the administration ponders dealing with the new realities by, what else, throwing more money at the Pakistanis:

• Pakistan’s Political Coalition Means New Challenges for U.S. (Washington Post)

Abbas calls for an investigation into torture allegations against his forces…

• Hamas Says Leader Killed to Extract “Sham Confession” (Reuters)

… while the British role in CIA renditions comes into the light:

• CIA Rendition Flights Landed in British Territories (Christian Science Monitor)

“[N]orthern Serbs are aiming to undermine the Kosovo institutions that the UN mission has tried to build since 1999:”

• Kosovo’s Independence Weathers Its First Week (Christian Science Monitor)

“US Defense Secretary Robert Gates – who will visit Ankara this week – said Sunday that Turkey’s campaign would not solve its problems with the rebels:”

• Turkish Raid Strains U.S.-Kurd Ties (Christian Science Monitor)

… but it does compicate America’s alliances …

• Kurdish Soldiers in Iraq Caught Between Competing Allegiances (Washington Post)

… and the violence escalates as a suicide bomber kills 40 pilgrims:

• Shiite Pilgrims Targeted in Attacks (Washington Post)