BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from December 2009

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from December 2009

(Corr) Pakistani TV carries detailed report on Waziristan military operation.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Pakistani Dawn News TV [Reissuing with correct date] [Begin recording] [Barack Obama] Along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan those terrorists are still planning to [word indistinct]. [Unidentified...

Pakistan authorities ask Mehsud elders to surrender 378 wanted tribesmen.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Peshawar, 30 December: The government Wednesday [30 December] handed down a list of 378 wanted Mehsud tribesmen to the elders of Mehsud tribe for their unconditional...

US consulate-general in Pakistan launches Facebook page.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Islamabad, 30 December: The US Consulate-General in Karachi has launched its Facebook fan page aimed at providing its members the information about United States and to...

Opposition leader says Kyrgyz journalist's murder is politically motivated.
December 31, 2009... The leader of Kyrgyzstan's leading opposition Ata Meken party says the recent murder of a prominent journalist was politically motivated. In an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda Kyrgyzstan newspaper Omurbek Tekebayev linked Gennadiy...

Pakistan troops reportedly kill 10 militants in Mohmand tribal area.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Ghalanai (Mohmand Agency), 30 December: Ten militants including commander Shahabuddin have been killed and 18 others injured in clash between security forces and...

Islamists to form administrations in southern Somalia.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Somali website Somaaljecel on 30 December After the Islamic Governorate of Jubba regions took total control of all localities and districts of the two regions, leaders of the Islamic Governorate announced that they would set...

Pakistan police arrest suspected mastermind of blast in Lahore.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Lahore, 30 December: Lahore Police claimed to have arrested mastermind of Moon Market bomb blast along with a suicide bomber near Manawan Training School on Wednesday...

World Bank official hails relations with Uzbekistan on New Year message.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by privately-owned business portal, Uzbek UzReport.com website on 30 December On the eve of the New Year, in an interview with an UzReport correspondent, World Bank Country Manager for Uzbekistan Loup Brefort has summed up...

Probe agency says Pakistan continues to ignore India's plea for hijackers arrest.
December 31, 2009... Text of report published by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi: Ten years after the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane, Pakistan is yet to respond to formal requests made by India for extradition of the five hijackers and two of their...

Last batch of South African AU troops leaves Burundi.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 31 December [Presenter] The last batch of South African troops has left Burundi. The troops contributed towards ending the civil war in the country. The...

Pakistani TV show discusses increased funds for Baluchistan Province.
December 31, 2009... Karachi Geo News television in Urdu at 1500 GMT on 29 December carries live regularly scheduled "Capital Talk" program relayed from channel's Islamabad studio. Prominent Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir is host of the popular talk show in...

Uzbekistan gives humanitarian aid to refugees in Afghan north.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by privately-owned Afghan Arzu TV on 29 December [Presenter] Uzbekistan delivered a batch of flour and wheat to 400 refugee families in the small town of Aliabad in [northern Afghan town of] Mazar-e Sharif today [29...

US issues travel alert, India says "nothing to worry" - agency.
December 31, 2009... Text of report published by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi: In the backdrop of US travel advisory on "security concerns" over travel to certain parts of India including the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, Indian External Affairs Minister...

Uganda: Ruling party endorses Museveni for president in 2011 polls.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Henry Mukasa entitled "Museveni endorsed for another term" published by state-owned, mass-circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 31 December The leadership of the ruling NRM [National Resistance Movement] party...

Iran: Rafsanjani's daughter accuses Fars agency of spreading rumours.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Iranian rahesabz.net website on 31 December In an open letter to the acting manager of the pro-government Fars News Agency, Faeze Hashemi, a daughter of the Iran's Expediency Council head, Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani,...

Copenhagen climate accord "partial success" for India - minister.
December 31, 2009... Text of report published by Indian news agency PTI Varanasi: Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday [30 December] said that the accord at the recently held Copenhagen summit on climate change was not a...

Afghan daily concerned about civilian casualties in foreign raid in east.
December 31, 2009... Text of an editorial in Pashto: "How long will killings of common villagers continue?", published by state-owned Afghan newspaper Hewad on 29 December The recent foreign military operation in the Narang area of Konar Province has once again...

Iran MP urges for "tough measures" against recent rioters.
December 31, 2009... Text of unattributed report by political desk headlined "Borujerdi: People will act if the authorities do not take appropriate measures against the leaders of the sedition" published by Iranian newspaper Resalat on 29 December Head of Majlis...

Pakistani TV show discusses leadership "crisis" in country.
December 31, 2009... Dawn News TV in English at 1400 GMT on 25 December carries live regularly scheduled "In Focus" program. The program mirrors the questions and the debates raging in the country. Host Kamran Yousaf asks tough questions of the leaders who are...

Afghan paper pessimistic about new cabinet.
December 31, 2009... Text of an article by Hari in Pashto: "New cabinet, criticisms", published by independent Afghan newspaper Cheragh website on 29 December As expected, the nominees for Afghanistan's cabinet again drew some criticisms and revealed ethnic...

Terrorists kill four security personnel in Indian Kashmir.
December 31, 2009... Text of report published by Indian news agency PTI Srinagar: Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel fell victims to terrorists in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, in the northernmost Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir,...

Pakistani TV show discusses progress in Bhutto assassination probe.
December 31, 2009... Karachi Geo News television in Urdu at 1500 GMT on 26 December carries live regularly scheduled "Capital Talk" program relayed from channel's Islamabad studio. Prominent Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir is the hosts of the popular talk show in...

Afghan army officer carried out suicide attack on US base - Taleban.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Khost, 31 December: Salahoddin Ayubi: "A national army officer has carried out a suicide attack on an American centre." A spokesman for [Taleban commander] Mawlawi...

Sudan denies report of meeting between Al-Bashir, Chadian leader.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by state-owned Sudanese news agency Suna website The Presidency of the republic pointed out that the current visit of President Umar Al-Bashir to Saudi Arabia is aimed to holding talks on the bilateral relations and...

India illegally selling nuclear material to other countries - Pakistani article.
December 31, 2009... Text of article by Raja Majid Javed Ali Bhatti headlined "Arrest of Indian uranium thieves and unsafe nuclear assets" published by Pakistani newspaper Ausaf on 28 December The [Indian] Navy Mumbai Crime Branch [as published] has arrested...

China supports Ghanaian government projects with over 14m dollars.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by Ghanaian privately-owned TV station TV3 on 30 December [Presenter] Government has signed two technical cooperation agreement with the Chinese government, a 60m yuan [approximately over 8m dollars] grant and an interest...

Sudan's Al-Bashir, Saudi king hold talks in Riyadh.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by state-owned Sudanese news agency Suna website President of the Republic FM Umar Al-Bashir has affirmed Sudan's support to Saudi Arabia in securing its borders and defending the integrity of its territories. In...

Guinea social movement issues ultimatum to junta.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 31 December [Presenter] It is a question that has been posed ceaselessly for a month in Guinea. How is [junta leader] Moussa Dadis Camara? There has been...

Sudan parliament adopts Abyei referendum law amid Misiriyah protest.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Paris-based Sudanese newspaper Sudan Tribune website on 31 December The Sudan's National Assembly has endorsed the long awaited Abyei referendum law one day after the passing of a similar law on Southern Sudan...

Sudan parliament ends it session, goes into recess.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by state-owned Sudanese news agency Suna website The Parliament Wednesday [30 December] ended its session and decided to be on call till the holding of the elections and formation of the elected parliament. ...

Ugandans vote President Obama "man of the year".
December 31, 2009... Text of unattributed report entitled "New Vision names 2009 best and worst" published by state-owned, mass-circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 31 December Ugandans have voted US President Barack Obama as the man of the year,...

Boycott of Iranian banks creates serious losses for importers - paper.
December 31, 2009... Text of short news report headlined "Following foreign banks' boycott; Iranian traders paid 6bn dollars as extra costs" published by Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami on 29 December The costs of opening letters of credit [LC] for Iranian...

USA grants 18-month extension of protected status for Sudanese nationals.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Paris-based Sudanese newspaper Sudan Tribune website on 31 December The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will publish a notice on Thursday [31 December] announcing the extension of a...

Investigators say foreign forces killed eight school pupils in Afghan east.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by state-owned National Afghanistan TV on 30 December Hamed Karzai has talked over the telephone to the families of martyrs killed in the latest incident in [eastern] Konar Province. Hamed Karzai, the president of the...

Pakistani TV show discusses "confrontation" between army, president.
December 31, 2009... Karachi Geo News television in Urdu at 1800 GMT on 26 December carries live regularly scheduled program "Meray Mutabiq." Very popular current affairs television show is based on the expert analysis of Pakistan's pressing issues by Dr Shahid...

Ugandan deputy vice-president denies sidelining claims.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Gerald Bareebe and Yasiin Mugerwa entitled "State House has not disowned me - Bukenya" published by leading privately-owned Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor website on 31 December The vice-president [VP], Prof Gilbert...

Fourteen Ugandan women rescued from "exploitation" in Iraq.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Raymond Baguma entitled "14 Ugandan women rescued from Iraq" published by state-owned, mass-circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 31 December A group of Ugandan women who travelled to Iraq in the hope of...

Uganda: Minister denies ruling party losing popularity over radio's closure.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Michael J. Ssali entitled "Minister says CBS' closure cant cost ruling party next polls" published by leading privately-owned Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor website on 31 December A cabinet minister has dispelled fears...

Two killed in land clashes in southwestern Kenya.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Samuel Otieno entitled "Two killed in border flare-up between Luos and Maasais" published by privately-owned Kenyan daily newspaper The Star on 31 December At least two people have been killed and several injured in tribal...

Iran state radio says Western media fail to cover pro-government rallies.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by state-run Iranian radio on 31 December Western media outlets have censored news about the large turnout of the Iranian nation in rallies staged to condemn the insulation of the Ashura day. The British media, BBC in...

Southern Sudanese military to try soldier for killing three Kenyans.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Lucas Barasa entitled "Kiir orders military trial over killings of Kenyans" published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 31 December Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir has ordered a soldier...

Taleban say Afghan army officer killed 20 CIA officials, warn of more attacks.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Afghan Taleban Shahamat website on 31 December [Taleban spokesman] Zabihollah Mojahed: According to a report from Khost Province, 20 American CIA officials were killed and 25 others seriously wounded when a self-sacrificing...

Nine killed in northeastern Uganda cattle raid.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by David Mafabi entitled "Seven warriors, two UPDF soldiers die in battle" published by leading privately-owned Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor website on 31 December At least nine people were killed on Tuesday [29...

Burundi: Slowness of probe into murder of French aid worker criticized.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 31 December To Burundi where two years ago to the day a French aid worker was murdered on 31 December 2007. Agnes Dury, was killed and another French...

Chinas Xinhua launches TV news network.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) - China Xinhua News Network Corporation (CNC), a TV news network owned by Xinhua News Agency, will broadcast in the...

Kenya: State to resume evictions from key forest "next month".
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Kipchumba Kemei entitled "Phase two of Mau evictions to begin" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 31 December; subheading as published The government will next month embark on the...

Iran's supreme Leader dismisses comments by foreigners on recent unrest.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 30 December: Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamene'i on Wednesday [30 December] dismissed comments made by foreigners...

Afghan, ISAF spokesmen differ on Konar operation - TV.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by state-owned National Afghanistan TV on 30 December Spokesmen for the ISAF forces and the National Defence Ministry have differed about coordination or a lack of it during the latest operation in [eastern] Konar Province, in...

Gabon opposition forms coalition ahead of 2010 legislative elections.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 31 December [Presenter] Gabon opposition has restructured, four months after losing the presidential elections. The defeated candidates announced the...

Kenya: State extends resettlement of displaced people to "next month".
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Philip Ruto entitled "State stretches plan to resettle IDPs to next year" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 31 December; subheading as published The government has pushed its...

Nine civilians reportedly killed in Afghan south air raid.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Lashkargah, 31 December: Nine farmers have died and another wounded in an air raid [in the southern province of Helmand]. According to details, warplanes of foreign...

Indonesia raises status of Noordin Top's father-in-law to terror suspect.
December 31, 2009... Indonesian police headquarters have elevated the status of the late Noordin M Top's father-in-law Baridin to that of a terrorist suspect. "He is now a suspect", said the head of Indonesian police headquarter's crime unit, General Ito Sumardi,...

Kenya: Report details penetration of mobile telephony in Africa.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Macharia Kamau entitled "Kenya home to seven per cent of region's mobile phone subscribers" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 31 December; subheading as published Kenya's mobile...

DRCongo: Troops criticize poor living conditions, wage arrears.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 31 December Simmering discontent continues to brew among various national army units in eastern DRCongo. Various divisions complain that they have...

Vietnam's foreign ministry seeks to boost ties with Saudi Arabia, UAE.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by state-run Vietnamese news agency VNA website Abu Dhabi (VNA) -A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Doan Xuan Hung are on working visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates...

Iran bank debts double over last year - MP.
December 31, 2009... Text of report headlined "Outstanding debts to banks have increased eight-fold in ninth government" published by Iranian newspaper Aftab-e Yazd on 24 December The outstanding debts to banks until the end of Shahrivar 1384 [September 2005]...

Somali government forces claim capturing insurgents' positions.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by privately-owned Somali Shabeelle Media Network website on 31 December The Somali paramilitary forces said that they have captured bases belonging to insurgent groups in Mogadishu's Hodan District. The deputy...

South Korea to increase number of peacekeeping troops.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) - South Korea will accelerate its "Global Korea" drive in the coming year, while stepping up efforts for substantial progress in a push for the...

South Korea to step up direct government purchases of arms.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) - South Korea will increase government-to-government purchases of weapons next year to cut down on commissions paid out to corporate agents, an official said...

President says South Korea paving ground for better future ties with North.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak [Ri Myo'ng-pak] said Thursday [ 31 December] that the relationship between his country and North Korea did not improve...

Kenyan report notes of "confusion" in Somalia over media order by Islamists.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Abdulkadir Khalif entitled "Al-Shabab orders on radio and beard cause confusion" published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 31 December In Kismaayo town, 500 km south of Mogadishu, the authority of...

Militants plan attacks in Moscow, other Russian cities - tabloid.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Gazprom-owned, editorially independent Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy on 31 December [Presenter] Terrorists are preparing a series of blasts in Moscow and in other major Russian cities during New Year holidays. This...

Former Central African Republic leader loses bid to control party.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 31 December A snub for former President Patasse in Central African Republic. The court has authorized the opposition party MLPC [Movement for the...

Malawi: State mulling over changes to management of country's airports.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Henry Machazime entitled "ADL to take over airports" published by widely-read, privately-owned Malawian daily newspaper The Nation website on 30 December Ministry of Transport and Public Works is scrutinizing proposals from...

Russia: Ingush police say terrorist act is planned during festivities.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Russian website Ingushetia.org on 30 December The Ingush law enforcement bodies have information about terrorist acts being prepared by rebels to be carried out during the festive days [of the New Year]. The republican...

Press watchdog: 2009 "one of the highest recorded" years for killings of journalists.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists on 31 December The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today [31 December] called for more action from governments and the United Nations to protect...

Russian presidential envoy receives New Year greetings from NKorean leader.
December 31, 2009... Russian presidential envoy in the Far Eastern Federal District Viktor Ishayev has received New Year greetings from Kim Yong-il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, Interfax Far East news agency reported on 31 December,...

Iraqi Al-Anbar police chief resigns after 30 Dec blasts.
December 31, 2009... Dubai Al-Arabiya Television in Arabic at 0609 gmt on 31 December carries the following "urgent news" as a screen caption: "Al-Arabiya Correspondent: Al-Anbar police chief resigns from office against the background of yesterday's blasts." ...

Trade Ministry to review SAfrica's industrial development policy.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 31 December [Report by Linda Ensor: "Review To Kick-Start Industrial Zones"] CAPE TOWN - The Department of Trade and Industry is conducting a review...

Central African Republic opposition slams year-end fast initiative.
December 31, 2009... Excerpt from report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 31 December [Presenter] To Bangui, Central African Republic, where to mark the end of the year, President Bozize has launched a somewhat original...

Canadian soldiers and journalist killed in Afghanistan blast.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Sonia Verma published by Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail website on 31 December A massive roadside bomb has killed four Canadian soldiers and a Canadian journalist in a dramatic signal of an upsurge of violence in the...

Ukrainian TV highlights 30 Dec 09.
December 31, 2009... The presentation of the first Ukrainian production regional jet An-148 and Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko's news conference at which he summed up Ukraine's foreign policy in 2009 were the top news on pre-festive Ukrainian TV channels on 30...

Pakistan article urges parliament, judiciary, army to follow constitution.
December 31, 2009... Text of article by Malik Najibur Rahman Al-Rashid headlined "Before History Passes Verdict..." published by Pakistan newspaper Ausaf on 28 December The NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] is a story of gone days. The prevailing state of...

Somali leader says formation of regional states can lead to violence.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Somali independent Radio Gaalkacyo on 30 December The president of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad, has said that the formation of regional administrations in the country can cause...

SAfrica, Japan commemorate 100 years of trade, investment relations.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by influential, privately-owned South African daily Business Day website on 31 December [Report by Hopewell Radebe: "Japan And SA Celebrate A Century Of Trade Ties"] SA HAS celebrated 100 years of trade relations with Japan,...

Cameroon: National broadcaster's board adopts new budget.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by state-owned Cameroon CRTV television on 29 December [George Ewane] And now we talk about ourselves. The budget of the Cameroon Radio and Television Corporation [CRTV] for 2010 will be FCFA17 billion, 264 million,...

Pakistan Ashura blast not necessarily suicide attack - investigators.
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Dawn website on 31 December Karachi: Although the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed on Wednesday [30 December] the responsibility for the Muharram procession bombing that killed some 44 people, the...

Bosnian mujahidin village "under increased surveillance".
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Bosnian Croat Mostar-based daily Dnevni list, on 22 December [Report by D. Stesevic: "Gornja Maoca Under Increased Surveillance of Security Agencies"] Gornja Maoca - The Ministry of Security of Bosnia-Hercegovina has...

Iraqi Speaker discusses voting procedures with Jordanian PM; update.
December 31, 2009... Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic, in its 1700 gmt newscast on 30 December, reports on Parliament Speaker Iyad al-Samarra'i discussing with Jordanian Prime Minister Samir al-Rifa'i the voting procedures for the Iraqi community in Jordan...

Sudan: Rebel leader downplays self-determination for Darfur.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Paris-based Sudanese newspaper Sudan Tribune website on 31 December Abd-al Wahid Al-Nur, the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) has downplayed calls for self-determination saying efforts should be focused...

Two NATO tanker drivers shot dead in Pakistan's Baluchistan - police.
December 31, 2009... Text of unattributed report headlined "Two Nato tanker drivers, nazim killed in Balochistan" published by Pakistan newspaper Dawn website on 31 December Quetta: Two drivers of tankers returning after delivering oil to Nato forces in...

Croatian presidential candidate calls for Croat entity in Bosnia.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Croatian state news agency HINA Zagreb, Dec 31 (Hina) -Presidential candidates Ivo Josipovic and Milan Bandic took part in a TV debate on Wednesday evening. The debate was broadcast by Croatian National Television...

Mozambique: Health authorities say cholera outbreak under control.
December 31, 2009... Text of report in English by Mozambican news agency Agencia Informacao Mocambique website Maputo, 30 Dec (AIM) -The Mozambican health authorities say that the cholera outbreak that began in August in parts of northern and central Mozambique...

Guinean website foresees clash between junta strongmen in "next few weeks".
December 31, 2009... Text of report by Guineenews website, based in Canada but with editorial team in Guinea, on 30 December In the race for control of power in Guinea, an unexpected thing is going to happen in Conakry in the next few weeks if however Dadis is...