BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from September 2009

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from September 2009

Joint Tajik-French parachute jumping exercise held in south Tajikistan.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by privately-owned Tajik Avesta website on 29 September Dushanbe, 29 September: French servicemen held an annual parachute jumping exercise at the Fakhrobod training centre in southern Tajikistan between 22 and 27...

Tajik leader's daughter appointed deputy foreign minister.
September 30, 2009... Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's daughter, Ozoda Rahmonova, who has hitherto held the post of head of the Consular Department of the Tajik Foreign Ministry, has been appointed Tajik deputy foreign minister, the Asia-Plus news agency reported on...

Pakistani TV show discusses US aid bill for country.
September 30, 2009... Karachi Geo News television in Urdu at 1700 GMT on 26 September carries live regularly scheduled program "Meray Mutabiq [according to me]." Very-popular current affairs television show is based on the expert analysis of Pakistan's pressing...

Niger president kicks off campaign for 20 October legislative polls.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Niger TV on 28 September Let us now talk about the opening of the campaigning for the 20 October legislative election. The campaign kicked off yesterday at midnight. On that occasion, the president of the republic,...

UK defence think-tank says politicized army "threat" to Zimbabwe's stability.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by South Africa-based ZimOnline website on 30 September [Report by Cuthbert Nzou: "Politicised Military Threaten Zim Stability: RUSI"] HARARE -Zimbabwe's politicised security forces remain a threat to efforts to stabilise...

Indian top court rules against building of worship places on public spaces.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi, 29 September: In an order of far reaching importance, the Supreme Court Tuesday [29 September] directed there will be no fresh construction of places of worship on public roads and left it...

India, Russian forum discusses trade ties.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI Moscow, 29 September: India and Russia, two of the famous four 'BRIC' [Brazil, Russia, India and China] economies, Tuesday vowed to add muscle to their bilateral relations by forging partnership in...

Pakistan does not need US aid - Islamist.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt on 28 September Islamabad: Mian Aslam, vice chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab and former member of National Assembly, has said that the statement of President Obama that the United States was...

Indian national airline pilots continue strike despite government warning.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi, 30 September: Air India Wednesday [30 September] cancelled over 30 flights across India as the agitating executive pilots refused to return to work despite a warning by Indian government...

Iran's envoy to Afghanistan calls for more aid to fight drugs.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Afghan Ariana TV on 29 September [Presenter] Iranian embassy and Afghan Interior Ministry urge the international community to provide more assistance to counter-narcotics campaign in Afghanistan. Iranian...

Moroccan youths reported sent to fight in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Radhouane Hafiani; "The secret service is investigating the fate of three Moroccan combatants in Somalia. Reports that a recruitment network has succeeded in sending youths from Tetouan, Tangiers and Taza to Taliban camps"...

Iran's envoy reacts to British archbishop's MKO remarks.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website London, 30 September: Iran's ambassador to Britain by sending a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury Church in the UK reacted to his recent statement on...

Ugandan president, Buganda king to hold talks 30 September.
September 30, 2009... Text of unattributed report entitled "Museveni, Kabaka set to meet today" published by leading privately-owned Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor website on 30 September President Museveni and Kabaka Ronald Mutebi are expected to meet today...

India swine flu toll rises to 308.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi, 29 September: Five more persons succumbed to swine flu while 178 fresh cases of the disease were reported from across the country Tuesday [29 September]. With Tuesday's cases, the total...

Two Indian troops killed by militants in Kashmir.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI Srinagar, 29 September: In a daylight gun attack, militants killed three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and wounded a woman bystander at a busy bus terminal in Sopore town in Baramulla...

Ugandan premier says kingdoms to stay.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Cyprian Musoke and Madiina Tebajjukira entitled "Kingdoms to stay - Nsibambi" published by state-owned, mass-circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 30 September Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi has said the...

Zimbabwean soldiers reportedly threaten to shoot white farmer.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by South Africa-based ZimOnline website on 29 September [Report by Charles Tembo: "Soldiers Threaten To Shoot Farmer"] HARARE -Zimbabwe soldiers at the weekend threatened to shoot the white owner of a farm they have seized...

Buganda premier says abolition of kingdoms will not solve Uganda's problems.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Josephine Maseruka entitled "Mengo reacts to MPs' proposal to abolish kingdoms" published by state-owned, mass-circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 30 September The Katikkiro [Buganda prime minister], Eng John...

Iran, Pakistan foreign ministers discuss bilateral relations.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website United Nations, New York, 30 September: Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki discussed issues of mutual interest with his Pakistani counterpart here on Tuesday...

School inspectors help to reduce crime at Kazakh schools.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by state-owned Kazakh Khabar TV on 29 September [Presenter] There are plans to employ school inspectors for the majority of the country's schools, Kazakh Internal Affairs Minister Serik Baymagambetov told deputies during a...

India fails to send officers for military exercise with US troops - daily.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by special correspondent headlined "India-US defence drill off" published by Indian newspaper The Telegraph website on 30 September New Delhi, 29 September: A dozen officers of the armed forces preparing to go for a joint drill...

Zimbabwe: Multinational food company defends buying milk from Mugabe dairy farm.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by South African newspaper Business Report website on 28 September [Report by Peta Thornycroft, Independent Foreign Service in Harare: "Nestle Defends Buying Milk from Grace Mugabe's Dairy" -"Workers Living on Pittance Despite...

Uganda: Opposition, MPs criticize security forces handling of Kampala riots.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Joyce Namutebi and Cyprian Musoke entitled "Buganda riots split parliament" published by state-owned, mass-circulation Ugandan daily The New Vision website on 30 September There was a heated discussion in parliament...

Locals hold protest rally against militants in east Indian state.
September 30, 2009... Text of unattributed report headlined "Villagers protest threat - hundreds take to the streets in Chandel against militant outfit" published by Indian newspaper The Telegraph website on 30 September Imphal [Manipur], 29 September: Hundreds of...

Suicide attack targets foreign convoy in Afghan east - agency.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Khost, 30 September: A suicide attack has been carried out against foreign forces. According to reports, a foreign forces' military convoy came under a suicide attack...

Twenty-one "terrorists" reportedly surrender in northwest Pakistan.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 30 September Swat [North-West Frontier Province]: Search and clearance operation continues in Swat and number of check-posts is being reduced as law and order...

Kazakh probe in orphanage uncovers rights violations.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by state-owned Kazakh TV on 28 September [Presenter] A total of 16 young people of boarding school for orphans No 1 in Kyzylorda [administrative centre of southwestern Kyzylorda Region] have received their documents....

Editorial urges Bangladesh pressurise Burma to deport Rohingyas.
September 30, 2009... Text of editorial by Bangladeshi privately-owned newspaper Prothom Alo on 19 Sep There is no end to the concern over the influx of Rohingyas from Burma to different areas of Cox's Bazar and Bandarban district. Problem of the Rohingya refugees...

Ukrainian TV highlights 29 Sep 09.
September 30, 2009... The cancelled results of the auction sale of the large chemical Odessa Port Plant and a new coalition in the Crimean parliament were the top news on Ukrainian TV channels on 29 September. The following are summaries of the bulletins broadcast by...

Kenya: Interpreter in piracy trial rejected.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Kenyan newspaper The Standard on 30 September A Mombasa court has dismissed a Spanish interpreter in a trial in which seven Somalis are facing piracy charges. Senior resident magistrate Rosemary Makungu ordered the...

Kenyan police arrest Eritrean diplomat over alleged terror activities.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Cyrus Ombati entitled "Diplomat held over illegal return to city" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 30 September; subheading as published Police in Nairobi arrested a top Eritrean...

AU urges Guinean junta leader to respect pledges.
September 30, 2009... The chairman of the African Union commission, Jean Ping, has strongly condemned the 28 September violence against demonstrators in Guinea and accused the junta leader, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara, of being the source of trouble, Radio France...

Bangladesh: 23 die in "encounter" with law enforcers in Sep 09.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Bangladeshi privately-owned newspaper The Daily Star on 30 Sep Twenty-three outlaws have been killed in "crossfire" [or "encounter"] in 10 south-western districts during the month-long special combing operation that ends...

Sudanese president nominated as candidate for 2010 polls.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by state-owned Sudanese news agency Suna website Khartoum, 29 September. (SUNA) -- The president of the republic, and President of the National Congress Party [NCP], FM Umar al Bashir, has affirmed that the party...

Bangladesh opposes third party role to resolve Burmese refugee issue.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Bangladeshi privately-owned newspaper New Age website Bangladesh opposes third party role to resolve Burmese refugee issue Text of report by staff correspondent headlined "Dhaka for permanent solution to Rohingya issue:...

Sri Lanka government using Israel to "soften American pressure" - writer.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Upul Joseph Fernando published by Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror website on 30 September The report on Sri Lanka's (SL) war that was to be forwarded to the US Congress has been postponed indefinitely. According to sources...

Polish president says "price" of US agenda must not be "abandonment" of values.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Polish weekly Newsweek Polska on 26 September [Lecture given by Polish President Lech Kaczynski in New York on 24 September, at the Louise Blouin Foundation as part of the Global Leadership Summit: "Let Us Build a New...

Foreign minister says Iran never to give up its nuclear programme - agency.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website United Nations, New York, 30 September: Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, who is in New York to attend [UN] General Assembly meetings, met with the UN...

Kyrgyz president's representatives to hold talks with opposition today.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by privately-owned Kyrgyz news agency 24.kg website The parliamentary faction of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, which strongly criticizes the authorities, secretly asked for talks with the country's president,...

Ukrainian president asks prosecutors to look into chemical plant auction.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Ukrainian private One Plus One TV on 30 September Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has asked the Prosecutor-General [Oleksandr Medvedko] to look into the privatization of the Odessa Port Plant. [The State Property...

US soldier killed in suicide attack in Afghan east - agency.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Khost, 30 September: One US soldier has been killed and three more sustained injuries in a suicide attack. According to reports, a suicide attack was carried out...

New Zealand air force joins tsunami relief effort.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from news release carried by New Zealand government website on 30 September An air force P3 Orion is en route to Samoa and before dark [local time gmt minus 11] may be able to join the coastal search for survivors of this morning's...

British Defence Secretary to visit Algiers about arms deal - ambassador.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Algerian newspaper El-Khabar website on 29 September Algerian ambassador in London Mohamed Salah Dembri said that the British Home and defence Secretaries are expected to visit Algiers before the end of the...

Situation in Afghan north not worsened as being reported - ministry.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Afghan Ariana TV on 29 September [Presenter] Afghan government accused some leaders in Afghan north of damaging national unity and disrupting security in the country. Referring to recent remarks by...

Algerian, Malian forces reportedly attack terrorist strongholds in Sahara.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Algerian newspaper El-Khabar website on 29 September Algerian and Malian forces have launched a mortar and air attack, the most violent of its kind, against specific sites in the region of Adghagh Afogars...

Commonwealth MPs to meet in Tanzanian town of Arusha 30 September.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Peter Opiyo and David Ochami entitled "Marende, MPs head to Arusha" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 30 September The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meets today in Arusha,...

Morocco: Newspaper sued, suspended over royal cartoon.
September 30, 2009... Al-Jazeera TV reports on 28 September, quoting official sources, that prince Ismail, the cousin of the King of Morocco, is taking legal action against the newspaper Akhbar El Youm for publishing a cartoon about the royal family celebrating the...

Four defecting Ethiopian soldiers arrive in Eritrea.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report in English by Eritrean Ministry of Information's Shabait website on 29 September Four defecting Ethiopian soldiers who arrived in Eritrea recently opposing the TPLF [Tigray People's Liberation Front, referring to the...

Paper mocks Hungarian army, Slovak nationalist leader's fear of invasion.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Hungarian privately-owned conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet, on 29 September [Commentary by Miklos Ugro: "War Council"] Jan Slota, Slovak party chairman and pro-government politician, respects us, Hungarians, more than...

Bangladesh agrees with India to erect pillars at border.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Bangladeshi privately-owned newspaper The Daily Star on 30 Sep The parliamentary standing committee on defence ministry yesterday said Bangladesh and India had agreed to erect as many as 320 pillars on their border. It...

Iran may consider withdrawing from NPT - senior MP.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 29 September A senior Iranian lawmaker says Iran may consider withdrawing from the NPT if the Western powers continue to pressure the Islamic Republic to relinquish its...

US envoy said to meet again with Kenyan foreign minister 1 October.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Martin Mutua, Beautah Omanga, Lucianne Limo, Maseme Machuka, Anne Kanina, Anderson Ojwang' and Renson Mnyamwezi entitled "Spat with US draws mixed reactions" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard...

Eritrea calls for "reform, change" at UN.
September 30, 2009... Text of statement in English made by the Eritrean foreign minister at the UN General Assembly in New York, republished by Eritrean Ministry of Information's Shabait website on 29 September Mr President, Mr Secretary-General, excellencies,...

Bangladeshi ATN Bangla TV discusses communal harmony, religion, politics.
September 30, 2009... [ATN Bangla TV telecast its regular talk show programme "Hello Bangladesh" from Dhaka studio at 0330 gmt on 28 September. Words within double slant lines are spoken in English.] Programme: Hello Bangladesh Duration: 30mns Broadcast...

(CORR) Three Indian troops killed by militants in Kashmir.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI [Correcting headline] Srinagar, 29 September: In a daylight gun attack, militants killed three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and wounded a woman bystander at a busy bus terminal in...

Hungarian paper says election showed Germans want "unambiguous circumstances".
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Hungarian privately-owned newspaper Nepszabadsag website, on 29 September [Editorial by Andras Desi: "German Retro"] Being in opposition is crap, SPD [Social Democratic Party] Chairman Franz Muentefering often says....

Kazakhstan: rainwater washes away 30 homes in west.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by state-owned Kazakh TV on 28 September [Presenter] Heavy rain in Fort-Shevchenko in [western] Mangistau Region has washed away 30 houses. Six of them are two-storey buildings. Now, two families, consisting of 12 people, have...

Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission boss said to resign 30 September.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Standard Team entitled "Ringera finally 'to give up job'" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 30 September The wall of confidence Justice Aaron Ringera built around himself as his...

Somali president endorses agreement with northern regional authority of Puntland.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Somali pro-Puntland government Garoweonline website on 29 September Somalia's interim president has endorsed an agreement with the Horn of Africa country's Puntland State government for the first time since the...

Foreign minister warns Europe against "prejudgement" on Iran nuclear issue.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website United Nations, 30 September: Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York, discussed issues of mutual...

Spokesman says war helped Afghan government boost its military capacity.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 28 September [Presenter] Pentagon terms strategic mistake any timeline for the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. The US secretary of defence warns that a failure in...

India's state airline pilots call off strike.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi, 30 September: The agitating executive pilots of Air India [state airline] Wednesday [30 September] called off their four-day-old strike, a day after the Indian government gave an assurance...

Medvedev stresses Belarusian-Russian military drill's peaceful nature.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Baranavichy, 29 September: The joint Belarus-Russia military exercise West-2009 has stressed an allied nature of relations between the two countries, Russian President Dmitriy...

UN team probing Bhutto assassination meets opposition party chief.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 29 September Islamabad: United Nations Investigation Commission members held a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and...

Hungarian daily warns of "dramatic" consequences for EU without Lisbon treaty.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Hungarian privately-owned newspaper Nepszabadsag website, on 26 September [Editorial by Miklos Blaho: "Who Gets the Last Laugh?"] The European Union - with a population of half a billion in 27 member states, which...

Pakistani, Afghan, US military commanders discuss regional situation.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 29 September Rawalpindi: The Tripartite Commission composed of senior military representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Coalition Forces in Afghanistan was...

Kyrgyz MP rejects opposition leader's remarks on lack of democracy in country.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency website Bishkek, 30 September: "I cannot agree with a statement of the leader of the parliamentary faction of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, Bakytbek Beshimov, saying...

Czech president meets Obama, US security adviser, censures UN climate summit.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Czech privately-owned independent centre-left newspaper Pravo website, on 25 September [Report by CTK, CNN, and "ros": "Klaus: Obama Reminisced About Prague; Czech President Sharply Critical of New York Climate Summit"] ...

Pakistan police arrest "key associate" of Taleban chief Hakimullah Mehsud.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 30 September Hungo: A key associate of Taleban commander Hakimullah Mehsud among two extremists has been arrested in the Du-aaba area of Hungo Wednesday [30...

Iran's Tehran Judiciary delivers verdict on 20 post-election detainees - radio.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by state-run Iranian radio on 30 September A verdict on 20 participants in the post-election unrest has been delivered, the director-general of the Tehran Province Justice department [Agha'i] has said. He added that indeed, it...

Pakistan drone strike reportedly kills Taleban chief's brother.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 30 September Khar: Political Administration of Bajaur Agency has ordered the Afghan refugees to leave the area besides setting a six-day deadline for extremists to lay...

Iran vice-president for planning and strategic supervision appointed.
September 30, 2009... Ebrahim Azizi has been appointed as the vice-president for planning and strategic development, Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) reported on 29 September. According to ILNA, President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad appointed Azizi as his vice-president...

Afghan article criticizes police for allegedly handing over weapons to Taleban.
September 30, 2009... Text of article by Qodratollah Jawed headlined "Handing police weapons over to Taleban, call into question government prestige" published by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 28 September Earlier, there were...

South Korea, EU to initial free trade deal Oct 09.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [Yonhap headline: "S Korea, EU To Initial Free Trade Deal Next Month"] SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) - South Korea and the European Union (EU) will initial their free trade deal next...

President says South Korea to put forth voice on North, global economic crisis.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) - President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday said his country will assume greater leadership in resolving global issues, including on North Korea and the ongoing...

Steinberg says US, South Korea in sync on approach to North nuclear issue.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [Yonhap headline: "(LEAD) Seoul, Washington in Sync on 'Grand Bargain' Approach to NK Nuke: Steinberg" by Lee Ji-dong and Tony Jang] SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) - US Deputy...

Pakistan police arrest private security firm owner in capital.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 29 September Islamabad: Kohsar police have arrested the owner of a security company by the name "Inter Risk", currently associated with US embassy here in Islamabad,...

Japan PM, South Korea officials agree in Tokyo to coordinate on North issue.
September 30, 2009... Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Sept. 30 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung Hwan agreed Wednesday to closely coordinate on issues...

At least 41 foreign terror suspects in Pakistani jails - minister.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by private Pakistani television channel Geo News website on 29 September Islamabad: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Tuesday [29 September] said there are at least 41 foreigners including 11 Germans, seven Turks jailed in...

Kyrgyz MP resigns due to state of health.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by privately-owned Kyrgyz news agency 24.kg website The Kyrgyz MP, Sovetbek Sakebayev, has relinquished his MP mandate ahead of time. Sovetbek Sakebayev said this to journalists today. He said that the decision had been made...

Afghan MPs express concern over insecurity in western province.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV on 28 September [Presenter] Following the remarks by energy and water minister with regard to the growing insecurity in Herat, a number of MPs from this province warn about growing insecurity in...

Pakistan minister demands international probe into Indian Kashmir deaths.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Dawn website on 30 September New York, 29 September: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is demanding an international inquiry to investigate the recent killings of Kashmiris by Indian security forces....

Kenyan poll violence suspects may now have to face The Hague.
September 30, 2009... Text of report by Martin Mutua entitled "Poll violence suspects may now have to face Ocampo" published by Kenyan privately-owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 30 September; subheadings as published Leaders behind last year's...

Most Pacific tsunami dead children, elderly - impact roundup.
September 30, 2009... Excerpt from report by public broadcaster Radio New Zealand International on 30 September [Newsreader] The Disaster Management Office in Samoa says children and the elderly make up most of the death toll following the 8.0 earthquake and...