Erdogan warns EU Turkey will not change anti-terror law

Turkish President says his country will not change its anti-terror law for sake of visa-free travel for Turks to EU.

Middle East Online

"Pardon me but we are going our way and you can go yours" ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the European Union Friday that Ankara will not change its anti-terrorism law, despite it being a condition laid down by Brussels to ensure visa-free travel for Turks. "The EU says: you will change the anti-terror law for visas," Erdogan said in a televised speech in Istanbul. "Pardon me but we are going our way and you can go yours." Erdogan was speaking one day after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who had championed the accord, announced that he was stepping down. Turkey must complete five more benchmarks by the end of next month to complete the EU's list of 72 criteria -- which include changes to anti-terror law as well as protection of personal data. The promise of visa-free travel for Turks is a key pillar of a deal between Brussels and Ankara to reduce the flow of migrants from Turkish territory to the European Union. A Turkish official said this week talks with the EU were under way to meet the five remaining criteria including changes to the anti-terror law. "I don't think it will be a problem," the official said. But Erdogan's comments came a day after Davutoglu announced he would not run in this month's party congress after a series of disputes with the president. Davutoglu was the architect of the migrant deal with the EU and had repeatedly held talks with EU leaders on its implementation, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Why aren't you changing your mindset when you allowed terrorists who put up tents close to the EU Parliament?" Erdogan said in a swipe at Brussels, in apparent reference to tents set up by Kurdish activists near the EU Council building in Brussels in March.

Kenya to stop hosting Somali refugees

Government cites security concerns after scheme to encourage refugees to return home voluntarily fails.

Middle East Online

Kenya frustrated that refugees haven't returned NAIROBI - Refugees from Somalia will no longer be accepted in Kenya, the government said Friday citing security fears. "The Government of the Republic of Kenya, having taken into consideration its national security interests, has decided that hosting of refugees has to come to an end," said a statement signed by interior ministry official Karanja Kibicho. Under the directive, newly-arrived asylum seekers will not automatically receive refugee status, and the government will step up efforts to have those already living in the country removed. Kenya hosts around 550,000 refugees in two camps at Kakuma and Dadaab, the world's largest, many of whom have fled decades of war in neighbouring Somalia. "The message is clear, we are closing the camps and we will not accept more refugees in the country," said Mwenda Njoka, interior ministry spokesman. Njoka added that the new regulations were aimed at refugees from Somalia but those from other countries may also be affected. "The problematic ones are the Somalis. They're the ones we're starting with," he said. In 2013 the governments of Kenya and Somalia together with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) signed a so-called tripartite agreement aimed at encouraging Somali refugees to return home voluntarily. Only a few thousand have taken up the offer, however, leaving Kenya frustrated at the slowness. "Kenya has been forced by circumstances to reconsider the whole issue of hosting refugees and the process of repatriation," Kibicho said, adding that the Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA) responsible for refugee registration and management had been "disbanded". - Refugees fled Shebab - A DRA employee reached by phone at work on Friday afternoon expressed surprise, saying he knew nothing of the directive. Government and security officials regularly assert that Islamic militants from the Shebab group hide, thrive and recruit among Somali refugees, claims denied by independent observers and by refugees themselves who point out many of them have fled Shebab's depredations. Following deadly Shebab assaults on Nairobi's Westgate mall and Garissa university senior officials threatened to close Dadaab and kick out the refugees. In April 2015, days after the Garissa attack, Deputy President William Ruto promised to close Dadaab "in three months", but that deadline -- like previous ones -- passed. Friday's statement again conflated refugees and terrorists emphasising, "the immense security challenges such as threat of the Shebab and other related terror groups that hosting of refugees has continued to pose to Kenya." New arrivals from Somalia will no longer receive 'prima facie' refugee status but will have to argue their cases individually, however the agency tasked with processing those applications, the DRA, is to be shut down.

Hamas says not seeking war, but will resist Israeli incursions

Worst direct violence since 2014 war as Israeli forces seek out Hamas tunnels over Gaza border.

Violence raises some concerns over ceasefire GAZA CITY - Hamas's leader in Gaza said Friday his Islamist movement did not seek war with Israel but would resist incursions into the Palestinian enclave, following the worst cross-border violence since the 2014 war. Three days of mortar and tank fire between Israel and Palestinian militants, as well as Israeli air strikes, have raised concerns of a new conflict in the Hamas-run territory. Ismail Haniyeh accused Israeli forces of intruding nearly 200 metres (yards) into Gazan territory. "We are not calling for a new war, but we will not under any circumstances accept these incursions," he said in a Friday prayer sermon in the Gaza Strip. Earlier in the day Israeli aircraft carried out their fourth air raid on the Palestinian enclave since Wednesday, attacking sites at Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza and near Khan Yunis in the south of the territory, witnesses said. There were no reports of any casualties. The Israeli army confirmed only one strike, saying it was a reaction to cross-border mortar fire. "In response to the ongoing attacks against Israeli forces, Israel Air Force aircraft targeted a Hamas terror infrastructure," an army statement said. Since Wednesday, Hamas and other militant groups have fired at least 12 mortar rounds across the frontier, while Israeli tanks stationed on the border have fired repeatedly at what the army said were Hamas targets. The Palestinian fire targeted Israeli forces searching along the border, and short distances inside Gaza, for infiltration tunnels leading into southern Israel -- among the most feared weapons of Hamas fighters during the 2014 conflict. On Thursday, Zeina Al-Amour, a 54-year-old Palestinian woman, became the first fatality of the flare-up after Israeli tank fire hit her home, medics said. The violence has raised concerns for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist rulers of Gaza, that has held since the 50-day war in 2014 left 2,251 Palestinians and 73 Israelis dead. - Living in fear - On both sides of the border, residents said they were living in fear of a wider conflict. "In the night there is the sound of mortars, bombs, planes," said Jehan Berman, a resident of kibbutz Kerem Shalom which is only 40 metres (yards) from the border with Gaza. "We're tired. We're still recovering from the last war and the next one is already at our door," he told AFP. Kerem Shalom is close to where the army has uncovered two Hamas tunnels, allegedly stretching into Israeli territory, in recent weeks, the most recent discovery coming on Thursday. Destruction of the tunnels became one of Israel's primary goals during the 2014 war, with more than 30 eliminated, according to the army. Since the conflict, Hamas has continued to build what it calls "resistance tunnels." Citing Hamas activities, Israel maintains a tight blockade on Gaza which human rights groups say is collective punishment against its more than 1.8 million residents. Ali al-Moghrabi, 40, a tailor from Gaza City's Al-Hanan Zeitun neighbourhood which was bombed on Thursday, said he still had not recovered from the last conflict. "We do not want war, but the occupier (Israel) never stops," he said. "People are already suffering from the blockade, unemployment and poverty." Hanane Akkaoui, a 53-year-old mother, said she was scared for her children. "Bombs don't differentiate between civilians and resistance (fighters)," she said. Hamas has accused Israeli soldiers of incursions into Gazan territory in recent days, saying this constitutes a violation of the 2014 truce. The Israeli army admits it has operated inside Palestinian territory but said it was within 100 metres of the border, where it says it has operated since the 2014 war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet on Friday to discuss the latest developments, public radio reported. A spokesman for Netanyahu's office said only that "an update was provided by security officals on IDF (Israel Defence Forces) activities of the past few days and the exposure of the tunnel." Army spokesman Peter Lerner said on Thursday that Israel had "no interest whatsoever" in a military escalation but added that it would continue to act against Hamas as "it continues to breach Israeli sovereignty and build tunnels." Israeli media reported on Friday that a pending report on the conduct of the 2014 war is set to be highly critical of Netanyahu, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon and others. Yediot Aharonot newspaper said the report by the state comptroller, a national watchdog, would conclude that during the conflict "the security establishment did not have a comprehensive plan for dealing with Hamas's offensive tunnels."

Libya, Tunisia pledge cooperation against terrorism

Tunisia increasingly wary as IS use Libyan stronghold in Sirte to push closer to border.

'Time and cooperation' to conquer terrorism TRIPOLI - Neighbours Libya and Tunisia, which have been hit by a string of jihadist attacks, pledged on Friday to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. "We will conquer terrorism but it will take time and cooperation," Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid told a joint news conference in Tripoli hours after his arrival in the Libyan capital. The head of Libya's new unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, agreed on the need to bolster bilateral cooperation against jihadists active in both countries. "We spoke about security coordination for the battle against terrorism," Sarraj told reporters. "What happened yesterday in the Abu Grein area... was very close," he added. On Thursday jihadists from the Islamic State group advanced on the town of Abu Grein east of Tripoli and overran a key crossroads in an assault during which a suicide bomber killed two policemen. The crossroads spills onto the coastal highway that stretches further east to the border with Tunisia. IS launched the assault from their stronghold in Sirte, which they captured last June and where they have set up a training camp for Libyan and foreign militants. The Libyan news agency LANA said Tunisia and Libya are expected to set up a joint committee tasked with controlling the main Ras Jedir border crossing between the two. Last year a string of deadly attacks claimed by IS killed dozens of holidaymakers in Tunisia and dealt a devastating blow to its tourism industry. Officials have said the attacks were planned in Libya. Tunisia has built a 200-kilometre (125-mile) barrier stretching about half the length of its border with Libya in an attempt to prevent militants from infiltrating. In March, Tunisia closed two border crossings with Libya for two weeks in response to a deadly jihadist attack on a town near the frontier. Thousands of Tunisians are believed to have gone abroad to join jihadist groups, many to Libya which plunged into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi. IS has exploited this chaos and established a stronghold in Libya, where it has claimed bombings and executions.

Syria regime fails to end mutiny at Hama prison

Activists say most of prisoners at Hama jail are political detainees linked to Syrian opposition.

Tensions remained high BEIRUT - A raid by Syrian security forces on a riot-hit prison in the central city of Hama has failed to end a mutiny involving around 800 inmates, a monitor said Saturday. Ten guards were taken hostage after the violence broke out on Monday following an attempt to transfer detainees to another prison near Damascus where numerous executions of inmates have been reported. Activists say most of the prisoners at the Hama jail are political detainees linked to the opposition. Inmates "continued their mutiny on Saturday after the assault failed," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor. "Tensions remained high," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, "and security forces remained inside the prison but outside the cells". Security forces had stormed the prison on Friday firing bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas, according to the Observatory. They also arrested relatives of prisoners gathered outside the building concerned about their fate, it said. The raid led to injuries among several inmates and "cases of fainting and choking" from the tear gas, the monitor reported. Video footage posted on social networks showed a corridor filled with flames and smoke as a voice is heard giving the date as May 6 and the location as the central prison in Hama. The sound of bursting tear gas grenades can be heard as inmates chant "Allahu Akbar!" (God is greatest) while others are heard coughing. It was not possible to verify the authenticity of the footage. Syrian activist group the Local Coordination Committees has said inmates are protesting against death sentences handed to dozens of prisoners and also against conditions inside the jail. Water and power supplies remained cut off inside the jail on Saturday, according to the Observatory, which said the authorities had released 46 prisoners since the protest began. Syria's main opposition group involved in peace talks on Friday called on international organisations "to intervene to prevent an imminent massacre" of prisoners. The High Negotiations Committee urged the international community to "shoulder its responsibilities" and stop the regime from carrying out "reprisals against the detainees". France warned of the risk of "deadly reprisals by the regime" and urged Damascus's allies to exert pressure "to avoid another massacre in Syria". More than 200,000 people have spent time in regime prisons since 2011, according to the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria for its information. Tens of thousands of political detainees are reported to have died of torture, of which the Observatory says it has verified 14,000 cases. More than 270,000 people have died since the Syrian conflict started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

More than ‘50 mass graves’ found in ex-ISIS territory in Iraq

UN envoy says evidence of ‘heinous crimes’ committed by jihadists in Iraq are being uncovered as territory is retaken from ISIS.

In Ramadi, three graves were found in football field UNITED NATIONS - More than 50 mass graves have been discovered in territory formerly controlled by Islamic State group fighters in Iraq, including three burial pits in a football field, the UN envoy said Friday. Jan Kubis told the Security Council that evidence of the "heinous crimes" committed by the jihadists in Iraq were being uncovered as territory is retaken from ISIS. "More than 50 mass graves have been discovered so far in several areas of Iraq," he said. Iraqi forces, with backing from the US-led coalition that carries out daily air strikes against ISIS, have retaken significant ground from the jihadists in recent months. In the city of Ramadi, three graves containing a total of up to 40 sets of remains were found in a football field on April 19, said Kubis. Ramadi was declared liberated when Iraqi forces seized the main government compound back from the ISIS late last year, but the city was completely retaken only in February. The envoy said the humanitarian crisis was worsening in Iraq, with nearly a third of the population, or over 10 million people, now requiring urgent aid -- double the number from last year. He projected that a further two million people could be displaced by the end of the year by new military campaigns aimed at driving out the Islamic State group. Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched an offensive in March in the province of Nineveh, of which ISIS-controlled Mosul is the capital. The jihadists have held Mosul since June 2014. Kubis urged Iraqi leaders to resolve differences that have led to street protests in Baghdad, saying that the turmoil will only help ISIS maintain its foothold. "They are the ones who stand to benefit from political instability and lack of reforms," said Kubis. Last week, protesters in Baghdad stormed parliament after MPs again failed to approve nominees for a cabinet of technocrats to replace the government of party-affiliated ministers.

For first time, US admits troops on ground in Yemen

Pentagon acknowledges it has deployed US troops to Yemen in push to bolster Arab and local government forces battling Qaeda.

Davis: Troops are helping Emiratis with ‘intelligence support’ WASHINGTON - The Pentagon acknowledged for the first time Friday it has deployed US troops to Yemen since the country's collapse last year, in a push to bolster Arab and local government forces battling Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the US military has also stepped up air strikes against AQAP fighters in the war-torn country. A "very small number" of American military personnel has been working from a "fixed location" with Yemeni and Arab coalition forces -- especially the Emiratis -- in recent weeks around Mukalla, a port city seized by AQAP a year ago, Davis said. "This is of great interest to us. It does not serve our interests to have a terrorist organization in charge of a port city, and so we are assisting in that," the spokesman added. He said the troops were helping the Emiratis with "intelligence support," but declined to say if they are special operations forces. AQAP fighters have now fled Mukalla and other coastal areas, due to the government offensive. While the number of US personnel on the ground is limited, the United States is also offering an array of assistance to partners in Yemen, including air-to-air refueling capabilities, surveillance, planning, maritime security and medical help. The Pentagon previously had more than 100 special operations forces advising the army in Yemen, but pulled them out early last year as the country collapsed. The US Navy also has several ships nearby, including an amphibious assault ship called the USS Boxer and two destroyers. AQAP took advantage of the chaos of fighting between pro-government forces and Iran-backed rebels to expand its control in southern Yemen, including the seizure of Mukalla. The Pentagon announced it has carried out a recent string of strikes on AQAP in recent weeks, outside of Mukalla. "We have conducted four counterterrorism strikes against AQAP since April 23, killing 10 Al-Qaeda operatives and injuring another," Davis said. The United States periodically targets AQAP in Yemen, including a strike in March on a training camp that killed more than 70 fighters. AQAP, which has long been entrenched in Yemen, is regarded by Washington as the network's most dangerous branch. The group claimed responsibility for last year's deadly attack in Paris on the staff of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, and has been linked to more than one attempt to blow up aircraft bound for the United States. The Yemen conflict has killed more than 6,400 people and displaced 2.8 million since March last year.