The National Security Office (NSO) of Afghanistan has disclosed that it has arrested three Taliban militants who had recently joined the Afghan National Army in order to carry out terrorist acts, according to an Afghan daily...
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Cartoonist: 'Imad Hajjaj
Source: Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, April 30, 2009
Cartoonist: Naser Al-J'afari
Source: Al-Arab Al-Yawm, Jordan, April 29, 2009
Sudanese political presidential advisor Nafi' Ali 'Nafi said that the government has rejected a proposal by France to stop International Criminal Court proceedings against Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir in exchange for his not running in the upcoming elections.
Source: Al-Hayat, London, April 29, 2009
Above: The four freed Lebanese officers (see Reactions In Lebanon To Release Of Officers Suspected In Al-Hariri Assassination)
Below, right to left: Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, March 14 Forces leaders Samir Geagea and Sa'd Al-Hariri, Lebanese PM Fuad Al-Siniora
Cartoonist: Fares Qarabet
Source: Al-Watan, Syria, April 30, 2009
At an April 28 session of the Lebanese National Dialogue, Muhammad Ra'd, chairman of the Hizbullah faction in the Lebanese parliament, submitted a document stating that Lebanon could not sit idly by in light of the military maneuvers that Israel was planning for June, and that it must plan for the worst-case scenario and consolidate a mechanism for deterring it.
The document called for planning for the possibility of a surprise Israeli attack on several levels, and demanded increased awareness and preparedness by the country's civil institutions, including hospitals, the blood bank, and civil defense.
It also called for integrating the fighting and defense capabilities of Hizbullah and the military, and for the launch of an extensive political campaign.
Source: Elaph.com, April 29, 2009
In response to the release by the international court for investigating the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri of four Lebanese officers arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assassination, Lebanese Al-Mustaqbal faction chairman Sa'd Al-Hariri said that he accepted the court's decision, which he claimed reinforces the court's reliability and refutes claims that it has been politicized.
Similar statements were made by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.
Hizbullah welcomed the release of the officers from what it called the "oppressive detention" imposed by the March 14 Forces regime, and called for settling accounts with those responsible for the arrests. Several senior Hizbullah officials said that this was the "announcement of resignation" for the Lebanese judicial system.
The Lebanese daily Al-Safir, which is close to the Lebanese opposition, stated that the court's decision harms the credibility of the country's judicial system.
The Syrian daily Al-Watan stated that the court's decision was a victory for the resistance, and that it was expected that the political forces that are challenging the resistance would pay a heavy prince in Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary elections.
One of the freed officers, Mustafa Hamdan, thanked Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah for his support of the officers.
Sources: Hizbollah.tv, April 29, 2009; Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir, Lebanon; Al-Watan, Syria; Al-Hayat, London, April 30, 2009
Prominent salafi jihadi cleric Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi has posted a call to salafi jihadis in Palestine to unite under one banner.
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Following U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Beirut on April 26, the Syrian daily Al-Watan, which is close to the regime, wrote on April 27 that Clinton had deviated from the neutral policy towards Lebanon set out by President Obama, and had shown clear bias in favor of the March 14 Forces.
However, a day later, the paper retracted its criticism of Clinton, saying that the "age of American pampering" of the March 14 Forces was over, and that a new era of clear "American bias" in favor of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman had dawned.
Source: Al-Watan, Syria, April 27-28, 2009
A senior Sudanese official has said that the new Sudan-U.S. closeness is due to the new U.S. administration's changed policy.
He said that there were areas of cooperation between the countries that are hidden from the media, particularly in the security area, which both countries consider more important than political and diplomatic issues.
Source: Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, April 30, 2009
