BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from February 2010

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from February 2010

Pakistan president, PM grieved over deaths in Chile quake - website.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Karachi-based private Pakistani channel Geo TV website on 28 February Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani, expressing grave sorrow over the deaths of over 250 people caused by the...

Iran Speaker returns back from Japan.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 28 February: Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said his trip to Japan was a good opportunity to expound on Iran's viewpoints on regional and international...

Nigerian acting president sends first executive letter to senate.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Nigerian state-owned NTA TV from Abuja on 23 February Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has sent his first executive letter to the senate. Senate President David Mark explained that they include the 2010 draft FCT...

Afghan TV reports Pakistan's arrest of "important" Taleban figure.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 28 February [Presenter] Pakistani security officials report that an important member of the Taleban group has been detained in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistani officials say that the name of the...

Iran foreign minister, secretary general of D8 group discuss ties.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 28 February: Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuchehr Mottaki and Secretary General of D8 Muslim Countries Dipo Alam discussed ways of promoting...

Afghan daily sees vote amendment as Karzai's "revenge" on poll complains body.
February 28, 2010... Excerpt from an article in Pashto: "Karzai takes revenge", published by private Afghan newspaper Arman-e Melli on 25 February The last presidential election in Afghanistan wes accompanied by much hue and cry. Due to systematic and widespread...

US plans new anti-Taleban operation in south after Moshtarak - Afghan TV.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 28 February The US intends to launch an operation against the Taleban in Kandahar Province [in southern Afghanistan] by the end of this year. The NATO forces commander in Afghanistan says...

Tajik foreign minister discusses Afghanistan with UK, French envoys.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by privately-owned Tajik Avesta website on 28 February Dushanbe, 28 February: Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met the British and French ambassadors in Tajikistan, Trevor Charles Moore and Henry Zipper de Fabiani, in...

Sudanese president says elections will not be postponed.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by state-owned Sudanese news agency Suna website Suna, Khartoum, 27 February - Field Marshal Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir has affirmed that there is no any trend for the postponement of the elections, explaining that...

Tajik president, premier cast votes in parliamentary polls.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by state-owned Tajik news agency Khovar website Dushanbe, 28 February: Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has been one of the first to fulfil his civil duty, voting in the parliamentary elections of the country today. The Khovar...

Rwanda, Congo sign energy pact.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Esther Kirabo entitled "Rwanda and Congo sign energy pact" published by Rwandan newspaper The New Times website on 28 February Kigali - The governments of Rwanda and the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) yesterday...

UN envoys hail Rwanda's efforts to restore peace in Sudan's Darfur region.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Irene V. Nambi entitled "Rwanda hailed for keeping peace in Darfur" published by Rwandan newspaper The New Times website on 28 February Kigali - Rwanda's efforts to restore peace in the conflict-torn region of...

EU concerned over Bangladesh hill tracts violence.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Bangladeshi privately-owned English newspaper New Age website on 27 Feb The European Union [EU] on Friday [26 February] expressed deep concern over the recent violence in Chittagong Hill Tracts and called for swift...

Tajik leader highlights fair, democratic parliamentary polls.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Dushanbe, 28 February: Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has pointed out the great importance of holding free and democratic parliamentary elections for the country, describing them as the...

Kenya said seeking to end Annan's mandate in political reforms.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Peter Leftie entitled ''Revealed: Plot to end Annan's mandate'' published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 28 February; subheading inserted editorially A powerful lobby within the government has...

Iran: Roundup of Mazandaran Province Friday prayer sermons 26 Feb 10.
February 28, 2010... Mazandaran Friday prayer Imams of the province mainly focused on rebel leader Abdolmalek Rigi's arrest and praised intelligence operatives for their outstanding actions, accusing the US for backing terrorism in the world and referred to some...

Afghan politicians differ on Karzai's amendments to electoral law.
February 28, 2010... Text of an article in Pashto: "Hamed Karzai's government is very insolent and shameless about the new electoral law - Dr Abdollah," published by private Afghan newspaper Arman-e Melli on 25 February In order to scare his political opponents...

Uganda religious leaders want Electoral Commission reconstituted.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Mercy Nalugo entitled ''Religious leaders want EC disbanded'' published by leading privately-owned Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor website on 27 February Religious leaders have proposed that the current Electoral...

ECOWAS ministers meet in Senegal ti discuss ways to fight drug trafficking.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Gabon-based pan-African radio broadcaster Africa No 1 on 16 February The ECOWAS [Economic Commission of West African States] is meeting in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, at the level of interior ministers. In partnership...

Commander of UN mission in Sudan's Darfur region appeals for more helicopters.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by our reporter entitled "UNAMID needs more helicopters -Nyamvumba" published by Rwandan newspaper The New Times website on 28 February UNAMID's (the United Nations -African Union Mission in Darfur) Force Commander,...

Parties backing Kenyan president form new political movement.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Macharia Mwangi entitled ''PNU affiliates form movement'' published by Kenyan privately-owned newspaper Daily Nation website on 28 February; subheadings as published The Party of National Unity [PNU] coalition of parties...

Pakistan paper says Mumbai attacks attempt to cover up Indian terror group.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Afshain Afzal "Mumbai attacks: Undeniable facts" published by Pakistani newspaper The Frontier Post website on 27 February The moment Indian authorities came to know through media that Mumbai has been attacked at different...

Bangladesh criticizes EU statement on hill tracts incidents.
February 28, 2010... Text of announcer-read report by Bangladeshi privately-owned satellite channel NTV at 0600 gmt on 28 Feb [Bangladesh] government, in strong language, has criticized European Union's [EU's] statement on recent incidents in Chittagong Hill...

Regional bloc EAC reviews monetary union road map.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Edwin Musoni entitled "EAC reviews monetary union roadmap" published by Rwandan newspaper The New Times website on 28 February Kigali - The minister for east African Affairs, Monique Mukaruriza, has said that the...

Taleban attack foreign forces in Afghan east.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 28 February A clash took place among coalition, Afghan and Taleban [forces] in Laghman Province [in eastern Afghanistan] this morning. The Laghman Province police commander says that the...

Ugandan president's son to lead new military unit.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Risdel Kasasira entitled ''Muhoozi eats big in PGB shake-up'' published by leading privately-owned Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor website on 28 February; subheading inserted editorially An expanded and more robust elite...

Tajikistan reports turnout of 32.1 per cent in first four hours of voting.
February 28, 2010... Four hours into voting in Tajik parliamentary elections on 28 February, overall, more than 1.1 million voters or 32.1 per cent have cast their votes, a Tajik election official has told Tajik TV First Channel. "The following information we...

Zimbabwe weekly media update 15-21 Feb10.
February 28, 2010... Contents 1. Comment 2. The week's top stories 3. Human rights violations 4. The most quoted voices 1. Comment Mahoso's ghost resurfaces MMPZ welcomes the official appointment of commissioners to the Zimbabwe Media Commission...

Iran Speaker blames USA for support of rebel leader.
February 28, 2010... Excerpt from report by Iranian official government news agency IRNA Tehran, 28 February: The speaker of the Islamic Consultative Majlis [of Iran] has said that the United States and its president should react to confessions of [Jondollah...

No serious violations reported at Tajik polls so far - election body.
February 28, 2010... International observers have so far monitored no serious violations during the ongoing parliamentary elections on 28 February, a Tajik election official has said. "International and local observers are present almost in all polling stations....

PM expresses "outrage" over killing of six Indians in Kabul blasts.
February 28, 2010... Text of unattributed report headlined "Manmohan urges Karzai to protect Indians" published by Indian newspaper The Hindu website on 28 February New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed "outrage" over the killing of at least six...

Pakistan Taleban commander arrested, 30 kg explosives seized - paper.
February 28, 2010... Text of unattributed report headlined "Commander Abdul Aziz of banned Tehreek-e-Taleban arrested from Karachi" published by Pakistani newspaper Khabrain on 26 February Karachi -- Tehreek-e-Taleban Commander Abdul Aziz was arrested from Suhrab...

Afghan article says new law to improve electoral matters.
February 28, 2010... Text of an article in Pashto entitled: "Amending electoral law for the better", published by state-owned Afghan newspaper Hewad on 25 February Many experts had been suggesting that the Afghan electoral law be amended because of a number of...

Iran commerce minister hails potential of D8 group.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 28 February: Commerce Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said Sunday [28 February] that the group of eight developing countries (D8) has the capacity to turn...

Kabul attack on pattern of Mumbai terror incident - Indian agency.
February 28, 2010... Text of report published by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi: The terror attack in Kabul was on the pattern of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, with six to eight terrorists targeting two hotels and hunting for victims during the strike in which six...

Sudan's SPLM-DC party launches its election campaign.
February 28, 2010... Excerpt from report by state-owned Sudanese news agency Suna website Malakal, 27 February: The chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-Democratic Change [SPLM-DC], Lam Akol Ajawin, launched his election campaign for President of...

Two police officers attacked, one killed in Russia's Far East.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti Vladivostok, 28 February: Unidentified persons have shot down from a pistol two traffic policemen who wanted to check papers of a man driving a car in Vladivostok on Saturday [27...

Rival Somali Islamists agree not to engage in armed conflict.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government website on 27 February Officials of Hisb Al-Islam and Al-Shabab who have been holding talks in Mogadishu yesterday afternoon agreed on a number of steps that are to resolve the conflict between...

Chinese envoy for peace in Sudan expected in Khartoum 28 February.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by state-owned Sudanese radio on 28 February The Chinese envoy for peace in Sudan is expected to arrive in the country today. During his visit he will meet a number of government officials. The Chinese ambassador to Sudan,...

"Islamic Ummah realizes US president's hollow remarks on Palestine"-Iran Speaker.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 28 February: Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the US administration and its president should answer for the actions of the terrorist Abdolmalek...

Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon fail to agree on delimitation of maritime borders.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 28 February Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon have failed to reach an agreement on the delimitation of their maritime borders. Representatives from the...

Pakistan: Indian TV says foreign secretary used "harsh tone" in recent talks.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Khalid Mehmud Khalid headlined "Salman Bashir's hard line beyond comprehension: Indian Foreign Ministry" published by Pakistani newspaper Jang on 26 February Lahore -- Sources close to the Indian Foreign Ministry have said...

Azeri expert urges government to deepen ties with Israeli despite Iran's protest.
February 28, 2010... A prominent Azeri political expert has hailed Israel's conspicuous presence in the country amid negative and nervous reaction coming from Iran. Writing for pro-government Russian language Day.az news agency, political expert Rasim Musabayov says...

Israeli forces "storm" Al-Aqsa; Palestinians urge confrontation.
February 28, 2010... At 0626 gmt on 28 February, the Gaza-based, Hamas-run Al-Aqsa Satellite Channel Television carried the following "urgent" screen caption: "Zionist special forces are attempting to storm into the Al-Aqsa Mosque amid intense firing of tear gas...

Military expert weighs Finland's position between Russia, NATO.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Finish popular conservative newspaper Helsingin Sanomat website, on 27 February [Guest commentary by Jarno Limnell: "Finland Must Try to Have Input in NATO's New Strategy"] Finland's viewpoints must now be brought out...

Thai King leaves hospital, returns to palace.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 27 February [Unattributed report: "King leaves hospital for palace"] His Majesty the King left Siriraj Hospital on Saturday evening and returned to Chitrlada Palace. ...

Philippines issues tsunami alert after Chile quake.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Philippine newspaper The Philippine Star website on 28 February [Report by Pia Lee Brago: "RP under tsunami alert as quake rocks Chile"] Manila, Philippines -The government yesterday warned coastal communities...

Vietnamese assembly chairman hails India as "strategic partner".
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by state-run Vietnamese news agency VNA website [Unattributed article from the "General" page: "Vietnam Regards India Strategic Partner, Says NA Leader"] New Delhi (VNA) -Vietnam always considers India a strategic...

Vietnamese assembly chairman calls for closer IT cooperation with India.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by state-run Vietnamese news agency VNA website [Unattributed article from the "General" page: "Vietnam Enhances Cooperation With India's Karnataka State"] Karnataka (VNA) -Vietnam desires to enhance cooperation...

Tajik poll body declares parliamentary elections valid.
February 28, 2010... The turnout in the Tajik parliamentary elections has so far been 51.4 per cent and the polls are regarded as valid, a Tajik election official said on 28 February. "In all, 51.4 per cent of voters participated [in the polls] across the...

Australian foreign minister to discuss security issues in India 2-4 March.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website on 28 February [Media release from the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith] I will leave Australia tomorrow to visit India from Tuesday 2 March to...

Tajik leader stresses importance of free elections on polling day.
February 28, 2010... Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has stressed the importance of holding free and democratic elections for the country. He was speaking to journalists at a polling station in Dushanbe after casting his vote in the parliamentary elections today. ...

Six Palestinians injured in Jerusalem protest - Al-Jazeera TV.
February 28, 2010... Al-Jazeera reported on 0911 in a breaking-news screen caption that six Palestinians were injured in clashes with the Israeli police in the old city of Jerusalem. Al-Arabiya TV's correspondent reported at 0906 in a live two-way that three...

Foreign soldier killed in Afghan south - NATO.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 28 February One NATO soldier has been killed in southern Afghanistan. A NATO statement says that the soldier was killed in a clash with the opponents of the government yesterday afternoon. ...

South Korean official: North "likely to return to six-party talks soon".
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [Yonhap headline: "Yonhap: N. Korea Likely to Soon Return to 6-way Talks: S. Korean Official"] By Hwang Doo-hyong Washington, Feb. 27 (Yonhap) - North Korea will likely come...

Koreas to hold talks on joint industrial park 2 March.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) - Officials from South and North Korea will meet early next week for discussions on issues related to the passage of people and goods to their joint...

South Korea pledges aid to quake-hit Chile.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) - South Korea said Sunday it was ready to offer relief aid to Chile after the South American country was struck by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake a day earlier,...

Japanese experts warn three-metre tsunami could hit northern areas.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Feb. 28 Kyodo - The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the first "major tsunami" warning in more than 15 years Sunday following a massive earthquake that struck Chile on...

Japanese sources: North Korea provided raw uranium to Syria in 2007.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo [By Tomotaro Inoue] Tokyo, Feb. 28 Kyodo - North Korea provided about 45 tons of "yellowcake" uranium to Syria in September 2007 for production of fuel for an undeclared...

Fire breaks out in Tajik aluminium plant.
February 28, 2010... Excerpt from report by state-owned Tajik news agency Khovar website Dushanbe, 28 February: A large-scale fire broke out in the Talco [Tajik aluminium company] unitary enterprise today, 28 February. A source at the Tajik Interior Ministry's...

Northwest Pakistan clashes toll rises to six - website.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Karachi-based private Pakistani channel Geo TV website on 28 February Dera Ismail Khan: The death toll in Dera Ismail Khan clashes between two belligerent groups mounted to six, as the injured in the clashes succumbed to...

Afghan TV says attacks on Kabul business centres will affect investment.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 27 February [Presenter] The latest attack close to businessmen centres in Kabul city will have negative impact on investment and commercial activities in Afghanistan. The private sector voices...

Guinean poll body moves to allow citizens abroad to vote in presidential poll.
February 28, 2010... Excerpt from report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 28 February The head of Guinea's military junta will today end his visit to Mali. During the four days he spent in Bamako Alexis he raised the issue...

Iran police seize 420 kg drugs southeastern province.
February 28, 2010... Iranian police have busted a gang of eight armed men and seized 420 kg of drugs in southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province, the provincial TV reported on 27 February. The report quotes the provincial police chief as saying that eight gunmen...

Pakistan: Terrorist wanted by US killed in drone attack in North Waziristan.
February 28, 2010... Text of report headlined "Qari Zafar also killed in drone attack; bounty for his capture was 5m dollar" published by Pakistani newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt on 26 February North Waziristan - Three persons have been identified of those who were killed...

SAfrica-based mining firm concerned over Zimbabwe's indigenization law.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by privately-owned Zimbabwean weekly newspaper The Standard website on 27 February [Report by Nkululeko Sibanda: "Empowerment Law Threatens Major SA Investment"] Plans by South Africa's diversified mining group African...

Sri Lanka says Eritrea not cooperating in efforts against Tamil Tigers.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by private Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror website on 28 February [By Dianne Silva] Sunday, 28 February: The Sri Lankan government's attempt to establish diplomatic ties with the state of Eritrea have diminished due to...

Zimbabwe's MDC wants action against pro-Mugabe youths for threatening premier.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by privately-owned Zimbabwean weekly newspaper The Standard website on 27 February [Report by Caiphas Chimhete: "GNU Cracks Widen"] The MDC-T [Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai] is demanding drastic action against...

Palestinian president receives US Senator Kerry.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Palestinian presidency-controlled news agency Wafa website ["Abbas Receives Senator John Kerry" - WAFA headline] Amman, 27 February: President Mahmud Abbas received, today, at the residence of the Palestinian ambassador...

South Sudan's Kiir backs SPLM Speaker in political campaign.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Sudanese newspaper The Citizen on 28 February Speaker of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly James Wani Igga Maring kicked off his campaign yesterday, but was surprisingly joined by [Government of Southern Sudan]...

Russian agencies report latest incidents in Ingushetia, Chechnya.
February 28, 2010... Police in Nazran have found and seized three assault rifles, three grenades, several hundreds of cartridges and six mobile telephones in the house of a 72-year old woman on 26 February, RIA Novosti reported on 27 February quoting a source in...

Conditions "ripe" for Saudi-India energy partnership - PM.
February 28, 2010... Text of report published by Indian news agency PTI Riyadh: Opening India's doors to Saudi entrepreneurs, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said the "conditions are ripe" for moving beyond a traditional buyer- seller relationship...

Islamic body calls on US to remove Nigeria from terror watch list.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust website on 27 February [Report by Muideen Olaniyi: "Adegbite Wants US To Delist Nigeria From Terror Watch List"] Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)...

Sudanese opposition forces to charter TV channel for campaigns.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Sudanese newspaper The Citizen on 28 February The opposition forces are about to charter a TV channel for telecasting their electoral programs in a step that was interpreted as protest of the NCP [National...

Three senior Afghan policemen tender resignation over Kabul attacks.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 28 February [Presenter] We bring to your attention a report we have just received. Following the attacks on Indian hotels in Kabul city [on 26 February], three senior police officials have...

Pakistanis arrested in Nepal capital with 5.5 kg "brown sugar" heroin.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by privately-owned Nepalnews.com website on 28 February Sunday, 28 February: Two Pakistani nationals have been arrested from a guest house in tourist hub Thamel in the capital in possession of 5.5 kg of brown sugar. The...

Liberia: Religious violence claims four lives in Lofa County.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Liberian non-state station Star Radio website on 27 February [Report by Vivian Gartyn: "In Lofa Violence4 Dead, 21 WoundedERU Restores Calm"] Latest report from Lofa County says four people were killed in Friday's...

Tunisian rights activist harassed by police Al-Jazeera TV.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Qatari government-funded, pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 27 February In Tunisia, human rights activist Mohamed Ibou says he was subject to a thorough search and his personal documents and books were seized...

Analyst condemns BBC for not covering Rigi's arrest - Iran paper.
February 28, 2010... Text of commentary by Sina Tekavar headlined: "Vertigos of the BBC", published by Iranian newspaper Javan on 25 February. While the news headlines of most foreign media dealt with the arrest of Abdolmalek Rigi, the evil man of the eastern...

Some post-election suspects to be released before Iranian new year - prosecutor.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 28 February: Tehran's Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor Abbas Ja'fari-Dowlatabadi said Sunday [28 February] that a group of suspects arrested in...

Fatah official discusses Abbas-Mubarak summit in Egypt 2 March.
February 28, 2010... Text of report in English by independent, non-governmental Palestinian Ma'an News Agency website ["Fatah Official: Abbas to Meet With Egyptian Leaders Tuesday" - Ma'an headline] Bethlehem: President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with Egyptian...

Iran Majlis to investigate BBC film on university dormitory clampdown.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) website Tehran, 28 February: Recently the BBC network [BBC Persian TV] broadcast an 18-minute-long film on the attack against the [Tehran] University Dormitory which the [Majlis] National...

Tibetans caught entering Nepal brought to capital, five more held.
February 28, 2010... Text of report by privately-owned Nepalese newspaper The Himalayan Times website on 27 February Kathmandu: Seventeen Tibetans, including seven women, who were arrested for allegedly attempting to cross over the border to Nepal were today...

Palestinian Hamas, other leaders address Tehran solidarity conference.
February 28, 2010... At 1800 gmt on 27 February, the Palestinian Information Centre reported a speech given by Khalid Mish'al, chief of the Hamas Political Bureau, at a conference of "National and Islamic Solidarity for the Future of Palestine" held Saturday in...