Puntland shuns Somali government

Autonomous region says it is breaking away from the federation until 'legitimate' one is put in place. Last Modified: 18 Jan 2011 10:07 GMT

Fighting between rebels and the federal government has forced people to flee to Puntland [EPA] The autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia has announced that it will break with the federal government based in the embattled capital, Mogadishu. After a special meeting of Abdirahman Mohammed Farole's presidential cabinet on Sunday, the government issued a statement saying that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) "does not represent Puntland in international forums" and that the United Nations Political Office for Somalia should "reconsider its position and support for the TFG at the expense of other Somali stakeholders." Puntland, unlike the breakaway region of Somaliland to the west, does not consider itself an independent country. Until now, it had supported the federal government, which is backed by the international community but has been greatly weakened by an ongoing war against rebels who are seeking its overthrow. The statement, read by Daud Mohamed Omar, the planning and international cooperation minister, criticised the Mogadishu government for its "unwillingness to actively support federalism for Somalia in violation of the TFG charter," according to a report by Radio Garowe, a community radio station based in Garowe, the Puntland capital. Losing Puntland is a blow to the government in Mogadishu, which is led by 45-year-old president Sharif Ahmed and exerts very little control over Somalia, relying on military support from Western governments, such as the United States, to keep rebels from the Al-Shebab movement from overrunning the capital. Al-Shebab has declared that it is fighting to overthrow the federal government and institute sharia, Islamic law. Miffed In its statement on Sunday, the Puntland government complained that Ahmed had left it out of the recent UN-led Djibouti Peace Process, which laid out the terms of cooperation between the federal government and other groups within Somalia. "Puntland shall not cooperate with the TFG until a legitimate and representative federal government is established and agreed upon by the legitimate stakeholders in Somalia," the statement said, adding that Puntland also opposed any extension in the TFG's authority, which is set to expire this year. Puntland is regarded as one of the most stable areas inside Somalia. Many people displaced from the southern parts of the country have moved to Boosaaso, a major port on its north coast. Puntland also recently organised and hosted a national football tournament, the first of its kind in Somalia in 23 years.

Source: Agencies

US senators for tough stand on yuan

Call echoes previous moves to pressure China to stop what they see as currency "manipulation". Last Modified: 18 Jan 2011 09:33 GMT

Beijing has responded to US criticism by saying it as taken steps towards flexible exchange rate policy [AFP] US senators have pressed Congress to get tough on China over what it sees as its continued policy of "manipulating" its currency, ahead of a scheduled visit to Washington by president Hu Jintao. The latest sparring over the yuan (RMB) underlines tensions over trade before Hu arrives in Washington on Tuesday for talks expected to focus on a host of sensitive issues, from rebalancing the global economy to dealing with North Korea. On Monday, a group of senators, held talks over a proposed bill to pressure China on the yuan. They said it was vital for the US to pass legislation to punish China if it fails to allow its currency to rise in value rather than manage the rate, giving it an unfair advantage in global trade. "There's no bigger step we can take to preserve the American dream and promote job creation, particularly in the manufacturing sector ... than to confront China's manipulation of its currency," Charles Schumer, a Democratic senator, said on Monday. The message to Hu is "we are fed up with your government's intransigence on currency manipulation. If you refuse to play by the same rules, we will force you to do so." Any significant progress in Congress on passing a currency bill, however, may prove difficult given the White House preference to negotiate and Republican leaders who have voted against it in the past. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives would have to approve the bill, and Obama sign it, for it to become law. Congressional supporters claim wide support for the measure, but previous efforts to pass currency legislation directed at China have failed over concerns it could trigger retaliation by Beijing, the biggest foreign holder of US government debt. According to analysts, Hu's visit to Washington is the most important by a Chinese leader in 30 years given China's growing military and diplomatic clout and its emergence as the world's second largest economy after the United States. In a written interview with The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, Hu responded to US criticism by saying the country had taken steps toward a more flexible exchange rate policy and appeared to reject arguments that Beijing should let its currency appreciate faster to help rein in domestic inflationary pressure. The yuan has risen nearly 3.5 per cent against the dollar since Beijing ended its peg to the dollar in June, much less than demanded by critics in the United States. US concerns over China's huge trade surplus, a high US unemployment rate and Obama's goal to double exports - which could be fostered by a stronger yuan - indicate anger over the yuan is likely to linger long after Hu's visit.

Source: Agencies

Al-Turabi arrested in Khartoum

Opposition leader arrested by government security forces from his home after calling for a 'popular revolution'. Last Modified: 17 Jan 2011 22:34 GMT

Security forces in Sudan have arrested opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi from his home in Khartoum, al-Turabi's Popular Congress Party spokesman told Al Jazeera. Monday's arrest comes a day after al-Turabi's party called for a "popular revolution" if the Sudanese government did not reverse price increases. "He has been arrested ... with five other members of the group, and we don't know the reasons, because when they come to arrest him they don't give any reason," Bashir Adam Rahma, told Al Jazeera. "Whenever this regime has a crisis ... they will capture Dr Turabi at first. I think they are afraid of him that he might instigate some kind of uprising because ... in Sudan there are no freedoms," Rahma said. "This is a very bad situation economically, and due to the winds of freedom coming from Tunisia, any dictator in the region is looking to see from where the danger will come. "If they arrest people, they think they can stay in power." 'Popular uprising' Earlier, al-Turabi said an uprising in north Sudan, similar to recent developments in Tunisia, was "likely". "This country has known popular uprisings before," Turabi said in an interview to the AFP news agency. "What happened in Tunisia is a reminder. This is likely to happen in Sudan ... If it doesn't, then there will be a lot of bloodshed. The whole country is armed. In the towns, it will be a popular uprising, but in Darfur, and in Kordofan as well, they have weapons." Turabi has been in and out of jail since he left President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's ruling party in 1999/2000.

Source: Agencies

Taiwan missiles 'miss targets'

President disappointmented as several missiles miss their targets in major military exercise. Last Modified: 18 Jan 2011 08:18 GMT

Questions have been raised regarding the readiness of Taiwan's military against regional threats [File: Reuters] Taiwan's military has test fired 19 surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles, but a quarter of them missed their targets, raising questions about Taiwan's readiness to defend itself against a possible Chinese attack. The exercise followed last week's successful test flight of China's next generation J-20 stealth aircraft, a system expected to further widen its growing edge over Taiwan's own equipment-starved air force. Ma Ying-jeou, the president, visited the base in the country's south on Tuesday, to demonstrate his commitment to the maintenance of an effective Taiwanese deterrent, but the poor performance disappointed him. "I'm not satisfied with the results," he told reporters when the test was concluded. "I hope the military will find out the reasons and improve its training." The missile test was the first to be held in full view of the press for almost a decade. According to Ma, it was meant "to bring more transparency into military affairs and allow the public to view the military's readiness". But five of the missiles failed to hit their targets, including one RIM-7M Sparrow, which cascaded into the South China Sea less than 30 seconds after launch. Other missiles tested included the Sky Bow II, which have a range of 200km, MIM-23 Hawks and FIM-92 Stingers. War 'less likely' Following China's well-publicised test of the J-20 last week, the normally pro-government United Daily newspaper questioned Ma's policy of shifting the military's main mission away from national defence and toward disaster relief, commenting that "the more important mission for the military is to defend (Taiwan) against threats". The shift in military priorities, unveiled in the immediate wake of a devastating typhoon in August 2009, reflects Ma's belief that his continuing efforts to lower tensions with China - the main theme of his administration - make war across the 160km wide Taiwan Strait less likely than ever before. The two sides split during civil war in 1949, and since then Beijing has reserved the right to invade the island of 23 million people if it moves to make its de facto independence permanent - a move Ma has said he opposes. Wang Kao-cheng, a defence expert at Tamkang University in Taipei, told the Associated Press news agency that one purpose of Tuesday's missile test may have been to encourage the US to sell Taiwan the 66 relatively advanced F-16 jet fighters that top its military wishlist. Washington says it is considering the request, but continued Chinese opposition to the deal has delayed its implementation for more than two years. "The Taiwan government may be using this exercise to send a message to the US that its air defence is facing mounting pressure as China continues to develop the new generation of fighter jets," Wang said. Taiwanese military analysts also say the main function of the missiles tested on Tuesday is to deter Chinese aircraft from entering the island's self-proclaimed defence zone on the eastern side of the north-south median line dividing the Taiwan Strait.

Source: Agencies

Iraq bomber targets police recruits

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a police station in the town of Tikrit, killing at least 39 others. Last Modified: 18 Jan 2011 08:55 GMT

A suicide bomber has killed at least 39 people and injured at least 72 others in an attack on a police station in Tikrit, around 150 km north of Baghdad, the capital. A man wearing a vest filled with explosives detonated himself next to a crowd of police recruits, Ahmed Abdul-Jabber, the deputy governor of the Salaheddin province, told the Reuters news agency. There were more than 300 men standing in line waiting to apply for police jobs when the bomber struck, a police source told Reuters. Tikrit is the hometown of Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi president, and authorities suspect the province remains home to those sympathetic to Hussein and his Ba'ath party and opposed to the current leadership.

Source: Al Jazeera and Agencies

Ministers quit new Tunisian govt

Troops battle protesters on the the streets as country's new government faces early challenges. Last Modified: 18 Jan 2011 11:50 GMT

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse groups of protesters who gathered in the capital Tunis [Hadeel Al-Shalchi] Tunisia's junior minister for transportation has said that he and two other ministers with ties to a top labour union have resigned from the newly formed government. Anouar Ben Gueddour said on Tuesday that he has resigned along with Houssine Dimassi, the labour minister, and Abdeljelil Bedoui, a minister without portfolio. They are all members of a general national labour union. Their walkout comes a day after Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Tunisian prime minister, announced a new 'unity government'. The announcement was met with anger by some Tunisians, who said too many members of ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's party remain in power. Ghannouchi was one of eight ministers staying on from the previous government of Ben Ali, who resigned and fled on Friday in the Arab world's first such popular revolt. Ghannouchi said that the ministers remaining, including the defence and interior ministers, had acted "to preserve the national interest." "They kept their posts because we need them at this time," Ghannouchi said on French radio. "All of them have clean hands." Widespread protests Tunisians not happy with the new cabinet gathered on Tuesday to protest in the capital and several major cities. Tunisia's main trade union, which played a key role in protests against the North African state's ousted president, refused to recognise the new government. The union has decided "not to recognise the new government," Ifa Nasr, union spokesman, said on Tuesday. The General Union of Tunisian Workers, better known under its French acronym UGTT, took the decision at an extraordinary meeting near Tunis. In Tunis, riot police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters during a rally against the new government in the centre of the capital. Al Jazeera's Nabeel Rihani, reporting from Tunis, said that security forces tried to prevent protesters from regrouping. "There is news about similar protests in several major cities ... they are protesting the participation of the ruling party." "Who did the revolt? It's the people, those trade union leaders ... they need to find their aspirations in the government. This government does not answer those aspirations," Masoud Ramadani, a workers union activist, told Al Jazeera. Members of the interim government have defended its composition, however, saying that the members of the incumbent party who have been retained are not politicians. "Members of the ruling party that are in the government are technocratic, they are not political. And we demanded that people who are dirty in corruption and crimes should be evacuated from this government," Ahmed Bouazzi, a member of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), said. Exiled leader returns Moncef Marzouki, an exiled opposition leader and presidential hopeful, on Monday branded his country's new government a "masquerade" still dominated by supporters of ousted strongman Ben Ali. "Tunisia deserved much more," the secular leftist declared. "Ninety dead, four weeks of real revolution, only for it to come to this? A unity government in name only because, in reality, it is made up of members of the party of dictatorship, the CRD," Marzouki said. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported that Marzouki, a 65-year-old medical doctor and human rights activist, was met by a crowd on his supporters at Tunis airport on Tuesday. Marzouki told them that he would ask Saudi Arabia to hand over Ben Ali to be prosecuted in Tunisia for "crimes committed against the ppl of Tunisisa". Al Jazeera's special coverage direct from #Tunisia Join the conversation In 2001 he founded the secular centre-left opposition party Congress for the Republic. A year later it was banned and he fled into exile in France from where he now returns to Tunisia. Ahelbarra identified the lack of a coherent opposition as "one of the biggest problems that Tunisia faces for the time being". He said there were no "charismatic leaders" who could "channel the energy" from the uprising towards the formation of a new government. In part, this is because "Ben Ali tailored the whole state around his persona. The police, the parliament, everything was linked to him", our correspondent said. Furthermore, the opposition has been clamped down on for nearly three decades, with most of its leadership either "driven out of the country, or [spending] many years in jail". "This is the big question. Who is going to take over, who is going to lead Tunisia into the future?" Revised death toll According to Ahmed Friaa, Tunisia's interior minister, 78 people have been killed in the country during the recent turmoil, almost quadrupling the official death toll. He also estimated that the unrest had cost the country's economy $2.2bn as a result of disruption of economic activity and lost export revenues. Rachid al-Ghannouchi (no relation to Mohamed Ghannouchi), the exiled leader of the Nahdha Movement party, told London-based Asharq Alawsat newspaper that leaders of his party had not been invited to participate in the negotiations in forming the new unity government. He expressed anger at the exclusion, but said his party would consider joining the government if asked to do so. Ghannouchi, the prime minister, has said that Rached Ghannouchi would only be able to return to the North African state from Britain once an amnesty law had been approved. Rached Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison by the old government for plotting against the state. Meanwhile Ban Ki-Moon, UN secretary general, called for the establishment of rule of law in Tunisia, while the Arab League said Arab states should consider what lessons could be learnt from the crisis.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Tunisians sceptical of new cabinet

Dissatisfaction over inclusion of ruling party members in new 'national unity' government. Last Modified: 18 Jan 2011 10:33 GMT

The new 'national unity' government includes several members of the incumbent party [Reuters] The announcement of a new 'unity government' by Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Tunisian prime minister, has been met with anger by some protesters, who say too many members of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's party remain in power. The PM announced that the former defence, foreign, interior and finance ministers will keep their key posts in the new government formed after the public uprising led to the flight of President Ben Ali. Up to 1,000 protesters gathered mainly near Tunis' Habib Bourguiba Avenue to demonstrate against the announcement. Tanks and troops were deployed, and water cannons and tear gas fired against activists who demanded that members of Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (CDR) be excluded from the new government. "Who did the revolt? It's the people, those trade union leaders ... they need to find their aspirations in the government. This government does not answer those aspirations," Masoud Ramadani, a workers union activist, told Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera's correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin said protesters were "rejecting the possibility that any incoming or caretaker or national unity government could possibly have figures or leaders from the previous regime". "They want the CDR party completely abolished, completely removed from any form of government". Members of the interim government have defended its composition, however, saying that the members of the incumbent party who have been retained are not politicians. "Members of the ruling party that are in the government are technocratic, they are not political. And we demanded that people who are dirty in corruption and crimes should be evacuated from this government," Ahmed Bouazzi, a member of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), said. Al Jazeera's special coverage direct from #Tunisia Join the conversation Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra identified the lack of a coherent opposition as "one of the biggest problems that Tunisia faces for the time being". He said there were no "charismatic leaders" who could "channel the energy" from the uprising towards the formation of a new government. In part, this is because "Ben Ali tailored the whole state around his persona. The police, the parliament, everything was linked to him", our correspondent said. Furthermore, the opposition has been clamped down on for nearly three decades, with most of its leadership either "driven out of the country, or [spending] many years in jail". "This is the big question. Who is going to take over, who is going to lead Tunisia into the future?" Interim government Ghannouchi announced the country's new interim government on Monday, adding that a number of opposition members will be assigned to ministerial posts. The prime minister named Najib Chebbi, founder of the PDP, which opposed Ben Ali, as minister for regional development. Ahmed Ibrahim, leader of the Ettajdid party, was named minister of higher education and Mustafa Ben Jaafar, head of the Union of Freedom and Labour, got the health portfolio. Significantly, there will be a separation of the state from political parties, meaning that under the coalition government, the collection of parties will not fall under the control of a ruling party. Opposition's limited role One of Tunisia's best known opposition figures, Moncef Marzouki, on Monday branded his country's new government a "masquerade" still dominated by supporters of ousted strongman Ben Ali. "Tunisia deserved much more," the secular leftist declared. "Ninety dead, four weeks of real revolution, only for it to come to this? A unity government in name only because, in reality, it is made up of members of the party of dictatorship, the CRD,"said Marzouki on France's I-Tele. According to Ahmed Friaa, Tunisia's interior minister, 78 people have been killed in the country during the recent turmoil, almost quadrupling the official death toll. He also estimated that the unrest had cost the country's economy $2.2 bn as a result of disruption of economic activity and lost export revenues. Rachid al-Ghannouchi (no relation to Mohamed Ghannouchi), the exiled leader of the Nahdha Movement party, told London-based Asharq Alawsat newspaper that leaders of his party had not been invited to participate in the negotiations in forming the new unity government. He expressed anger at the exclusion, but said his party would consider joining the government if asked to do so. Meanwhile Ban Ki-Moon, UN secretary general, called for the establishment of the rule of law in Tunisia, while the Arab League said Arab states should consider what lessons could be learnt from the crisis. Reforms announced Ghannouchi also announced on Monday that the Tunisian government will investigate anyone suspected of corruption or of having amassed huge wealth under the country's deposed leader. "Anyone who accumulated enormous wealth or is suspected of corruption will be put before a committee of investigators," said Ghannouchi. He also said that there will be "total freedom" for the media in the country, which experienced especially tough crackdowns during the recent weeks of unrest. Additionally, the prime minister said that a ban on the activities of human rights groups in Tunisia will be lifted and that all political prisoners would be freed. "We have decided to free all the people imprisoned for their ideas, their beliefs or for having expressed dissenting opinions," said Ghannouchi.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies