Abbas was apparently intimidated by the head of the Shin Bet security service into his controversial decision to request deferral of a UN vote on the Goldstone report:
“When they first came to us, they said they wanted to bring a true Islamic system, and they caused no trouble… After some time, they began bothering our female teachers and objecting to the ladies who did vaccinations. Then they started kidnappings and other crimes, and some of our boys went with them. They destroyed our peaceful environment.”
- Pakistani Village Fights Taliban Grip on its Youth (Washington Post)
Parliaments decision to recess for several weeks leaves may compromise Karzai’s attempts to draw more support for international aid:
A sign that sectarianism and potiential violence will continue to plague Iraqi democracy for years to come?
Yet another death sentence for al-Majid, this time a hanging for involvement in the fatal gassing 182,000 Kurds:
- ‘Chemical Ali’ Sentenced to Death (Al Jazeera)
