Pro Bowl 2012: London Fletcher Disappointed About Omission

ASHBURN, Va. -- London Fletcher might no longer be the NFL's Susan Lucci, having gone to the Pro Bowl as an alternate the past two years.

Still, there was plenty of head-shaking in the Washington Redskins' locker room Wednesday with the news the league's leading tackler this year, and over his 13 seasons as a starter, was bypassed yet again by Pro Bowl voters.

"Deep down inside, the players and coaches know what London brings to the table, they know what type of player he is, they know he's a Pro Bowl player and he deserves to be there," said outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, like Fletcher a Pro Bowl veteran of 2009 and 2010 and a first alternate this year.

Unlike 2008 when Fletcher blasted his omission from the Pro Bowl, he was relatively calm Wednesday about being the first alternate behind San Francisco's Patrick Willis and Chicago's Brian Urlacher.
"I'm probably disappointed for maybe an hour or two when the results came out, but after that, (I'm) thankful that I'm playing at a high level, that people still consider me worthy of the Pro Bowl," said the 36-year-old Fletcher, who has 163 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and 1 1/2 sacks for the Redskins (5-10). "I've done the stuff that I can do, I control what I can control. I'm not surprised.

"The bottom line is we need to win more games. Teams that win typically have more players in the Pro Bowl. All those personal accolades, at the end of the day, it's all about your team goals and team accomplishments. Not making the Pro Bowl is not going to weigh into my decision making process (about re-signing with the Redskins). The organization, they all know how I feel about (being) here."
Fletcher was at least as concerned about the lack of recognition for Lorenzo Alexander, the captain and top tackler for Washington's kick coverage units – the only ones in the NFC to rank in the top 10 on kickoffs and punts. But Alexander wasn't even the first alternate behind the Bears' Corey Graham, the NFC's coverage player, although Mike Shanahan said he's never "been around a guy that has dominated more on special teams" during his 27 NFL seasons.

"There's only a couple of players in the league that will still go regardless of what their team is doing," said Alexander, whose 20 special teams tackles are nearly twice that of his closest teammate. "It is disappointing, but I'm very happy for Corey. If anybody deserves to go, it's him. I'm still an alternate so who knows what can happen? You just got to continue to work on your craft and become dominant to where it's not even a question as to whether or not you should be there."

Notes: The Redskins signed former Southern Cal running back Stafon Johnson to fill the practice squad vacancy opened by Tuesday's promotion of receiver Aldrick Robinson to take the roster spot of veteran running back Ryan Torain, who was released. The elevation of sixth-rounder Robinson means 10 of Washington's 2011 draft picks are on the team and the other two are on injured reserve. The move also gave the Redskins nine receivers among 53 players. Roy Helu was still limited in Wednesday's practice with the toe and knee injuries that sidelined him for last week's game with Minnesota. That could mean a second straight start for fellow rookie running back Evan Royster in Sunday's season finale at Philadelphia. Shanahan knocked down rumors that John Beck, who went 0-3 at quarterback in Weeks 7-9, could get the nod against the Eagles. The coach said that Beck would only play if starter Rex Grossman were injured.

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12:58 AM | 0 comments

Syrian tanks fire, expected 20 dead as Homs monitors

Demonstrator protest against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad after Friday prayers in Binsh near Adlb December 23, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/handout

By Erika Solomon

BEIRUT (Reuters) - at least 20 people were killed as Syrian forces tank battled opponents of President Bashar al-Assad in Homs on Monday, residents said, ahead of a planned visit by Arab League monitors to verify whether he is ending a violent crack down on unrest.

A day before observers were to have their first look at the city at the heart of a nine-month-old revolt, there was no sign of Assad carrying out a plan agreed with the League to halt an offensive against protests and start talks with the opposition.

Amateur video posted to the internet by activists showed three tanks in the streets next to apartment blocks. One was firing its machinegun and another appeared to be firing mortar rounds. Gruesome video showed mangled bodies lying in pools of blood along a narrow street. Power lines had collapsed and cars were burnt and blasted, as if by mortar rounds.

On armed insurgency is increasingly eclipsing civilian protests. Now many fear Syria is sliding toward a sectarian was that pits the Sunni Muslim majority, the driving force of the protest movement, against minorities that have mostly stayed loyal to the government, particularly the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs. Fighting in Homs has intensified since a double suicide bombing in Damascus on Friday that killed 44 people.

"The Baba AMR (district) (of Homs) is being exposed to fierce shelling from heavy machinegun fire, armored vehicles and mortars," the British-based Syrian Observatory for human right, said in a statement.

"The violence is definitely two-sided," said a Homs resident who named himself only as Mohammed to protect his safety. I "'ve been seeing ambulances filled with wounded soldiers passing by my window in the past days." "They're getting shot somehow."

Parts of Homs are defended by the free Syrian army, made up of defectors from the regular armed forces, who say they have tried to establish no go areas to protect civilians.

The Observatory documented names of those reported killed in Monday's clashes sparked by a new wave of raids and arrests that so hit districts in Syria's second city Aleppo. That business hub had been spared most of the upheaval until recently.

The initial 50 of 150 Arab League monitors were due to arrive in Syria on Monday, and some will go to Homs on Tuesday, a source at the group's headquarters in Cairo told Reuters. Their job will be to assess whether Assad is withdrawing tanks and troops from Syria's third largest city as promised.

"The element of surprise will be present," said monitor Mohamed Salem al-Kaaby from the United Arab Emirates. "We will inform the Syrian side the areas we will visit on the same day so that there will be no room to direct monitors or change realities on the ground by either side."

The mission's objective is to confirm that the Syrian government is executing the Arab League initiative by withdrawing the military from cities, releasing prisoners and allowing Arab and allowing international media to visit.

Syria has barred most foreign journalists since the revolt began, making it hard to verify reports of events on the ground.

Other residents in Homs said they were running low on food as fighting left them trapped in their neighborhoods.

"We are hungry and cold." "There's no food, and we're running out of fuel for heating," said Tamir, at penniless construction worker who of híd with his family in their basement as heavy gunfire rocked the city.

Syrian state television has regularly shown some areas of Homs, a city of one million, looking peaceful. But activist video on the internet shows other areas was looking like a zone of empty streets, crumpled bodies and blasted buildings.

SPLIT IN SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL?

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported clashes further south on Monday. "Civilians and forces to preserve security have been exposed to attacks by armed terrorist groups in the village of al-Lijat in Deraa province," it said.

SANA said "a number" of the group were killed. One soldier died and eight were Médical. The agency also said Syrian forces disabled four improvised explosive devices on main roads close to the flashpoint city's main fuel station.

A source inside the opposition Syrian National Council said a growing number of its members are pushing to openly endorse armed insurrection against the government. But they faced resistance from those dealing diplomatically with Western powers, and calling for United Nations support or foreign intervention in Syria.

The United Nations says at least 5,000 Syrians have been killed the revolt, inspired by other Arab uprisings this year that have toppled three dictators, broke out in March - and an estimated one-third of deaths have occurred in and around Hims.

The Syrian authorities blame the violence on foreign-backed armed Islamists who they say have killed 2,000 members of the security forces. After six weeks of stalling, Damascus signed a protocol this month to get the Arab League monitors.

Assad, 46, succeeded his father in 2000 to carry on a dynasty that has ruled for 41 years. He has responded to popular calls to step down with a mixture of force and promises of reform, announcing on end to a state of emergency and promising a parliamentary election in February.

The first group of about 50 Arab League monitors, led by General Mustafa Dabi Sudanese, will be divided into five 10-man teams going to five locations.

"We're waiting." "Let's see," said Homs resident Mohammed. "We hope they work the way they should." We hope they will be neutral... "If they are neutral, they will be condemning everyone but most especially the (Syrian) areas because they are the ones who should be responsible for protecting people."

Arab League mission chief Dabi reached Damascus on Saturday while the capital what still reeling from suicide bombings the day before that marked on ominous escalation of the violence.

Assad's opponents say they suspect his government carried out the Damascus bombings itself to prove to the world that Syria is facing indiscriminate violence by armed Islamists and to intimidate the work of monitors.

"The Assad regime, through the two suicide attacks in Damascus on Friday, has given the Syrian people and Arab states two choices: either it remains in power or it will confront them with killing and terrorism," said Paris-based Syrian National Council president Burhan Ghalioun.

"The explosion in Damascus carried the signature of the Syrian intelligence forces," he told Asharq Alawsat newspaper. "But these terrorist operations will not discourage people from continuing the revolution to topple this regime no matter the sacrifices." "It is no longer acceptable to blackmail US through terrorism."

(Additional reporting by Ayman Samir in Cairo;) Writing by Douglas Hamilton; (Editing by Mark Heinrich)

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Japan calls for China to North Korea in check to keep

1 of 3. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (L) looks after a meeting with China's national people's Congress Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo (R) in the great Hall of the people in Beijing 26 December 2011.

IMG credit: Reuters / Ed Jones/pool

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

BEIJING (Reuters) - Japan calls China a major role in ensuring North Korea avoids shoulders volatility after the death of its leader, Kim Jong-il on Monday.

The Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda called the Chinese President Hu Jintao has Exchange of information on the developments in North Korea, where the succession of Kim's son Kim Jong-un, speculation about who is really the mysterious a party State and his nuclear program control fanned.

"It is important that we have not the death of the Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim have a negative impact on the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula", noted Noda by a Japanese official as telling Hu during a visit to Beijing.

Many positions include head of the important military Commission Kim Jong-il.

"In these circumstances, the role of China, is the Chair country of the six-party talks and has a great influence on North Korea, is extremely important," Noda, said after the official informed the reporter, but it declined to identify.

The so-called six-party talks include the two Koreas, China, Japan, the United States and Russia and are aimed at getting North Korea give up its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

The Japanese Prime Minister is the first regional leader to visit China since Kim Jong-il's death was announced a week ago.

China is in the North of only major ally and the North has long on China for diplomatic and economic support.

Chinese State news agency Xinhua said that Hu Noda said, that it is in the interests of all parties stability on the Korean peninsula.

"China is willing, together with all the parties involved, including Japan, to maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and to achieve lasting peace, security and order in the peninsula and (in) North-East Asia, efforts" Xinhua quoted Hu as talking.

Noda asks China to upcoming about what it learned about the Northern transition.

"I would strong information exchange between Japan and China, and intend to calm the situation and correctly" the Japanese official quote Noda told Hu at the second and last day of his visit.

North Korea has the region with two plutonium-based nuclear test blasts, alerted a number of military conflicts and explanations that it has been developed uranium enrichment, which could open a different path of assembling nuclear weapons.

Restriction of North Korea is especially important for Japan, in the field of missiles is located in the North and wants to help spies decades ago hit them and resolve the problem of the fate of Japanese citizens abducted to North Korea.

But China is careful to disturb, North Korea, in a delicate transition, and his comments of on the public the impact of who has restricted Kim's death beam calls for stability and peace.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in his account of the talks "Both sides agreed the maintenance of peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula serves the interests of all sides," said Wen on Sunday between Noda and Prime Minister Jiabao.

(Additional reporting by Chris Buckley and Ben Blanchard;) (Editing by Robert Birsel)

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Nigeria heads of State and Government knocked churches after Islamists attack

1 of 8. In a view, the scene of a bomb explosion at the Theresa Catholic Church is St. at Madalla, Abuja, outside Nigeria's capital Abuja, December 25 2011. Islamist militant group Boko Haram said that it placed bombs that exploded on Christmas day in churches in Nigeria, one of which killed at least 27 people on the fringes of the capital.

IMG credit: Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde

By Felix Onuah and Camillus Eboh

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria there is no competent leaders and former military ruler, one said heads of Government to address the security issues, on Monday, after Christmas bomb attacks on churches by Islamist fighters, more than two dozen people killed.

Muhammadu Buhari, a northern lights, lost to incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, said in a statement in the Nigerian daily the last presidential election in April, that the Government was only slowly responding and shown indifference to the bombings.

The Boko Haram Islamic sect which aims, Sharia law over Africa's most populous country to impose responsibility for three Church bombs claimed the second Christmas in a row it led massacre on Christian houses of worship.

Security forces blamed the sect for two explosions in the North and fear grows that Boko Haram trying to ignite a sectarian civil war in a country split evenly between Christians and Muslims exist side by side for the most part in peace.

"How on earth would the Vatican and speak the British authorities, before the Nigerian Government to attacks in Nigeria, which have led to the death of our citizens?" Buhari, said in the statement by punch newspaper published.

"This is clearly a mistake of the leadership at a time, which must to ensure Government the people the ability to ensure the safety of life and property," said Buhari.

He said the Government more than had to spend more on security to deal with the problem.

Jonathan, would a Christian from the South, is fighting the threat of Islamic militancy, as the attacks "unhappy", but said Boko Haram "be (roughly) forever." "It will be to stop one day."

Pope Benedict on Monday condemned the attacks as "absurd" gesture and prayed that "the hands of the violent end."

The Pope, speaking from his window overlooking St Peter's square in Rome, said, that violence brought only pain, destruction and death.

COORDINATED ATTACKS

The attacks, which clashes between security forces and Boko Haram came a few days after which killed at least 68 people, evidence of more coordination and strategy of the group, which could be sounding the alarm bell in Nigeria and Western capitals.

St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madala, a satellite town, about 40 km (25 miles) from the Centre of the capital Abuja, was packed, when the first explosion exploded Gates after Christmas mass.

A few hours later, mountain of fire and miracles were reported at the Church in the Central, ethnically and religiously mixed city of Jos and in a church in Gadaka in the Northern State of Yobe State blasts. Residents said many wounded at Gadaka, but there were no immediate further details.

A suicide bomber killed four officials of the State security service in one of the other attacks in northeastern Damaturu was announced by the police. Residents heard two loud explosions and shots in the city.

Reuters reporter at the Church near the city of Abuja saw that the front roof had been destroyed, as several houses nearby had. Five cars were burnt out still smoldering. There were scenes of chaos as shocked disbelief staring people in the rubble.

"" Mass just gone and people were noise from the Church, and suddenly I heard a loud noise: "Gbam!" Cars were on fire and bodies strewn everywhere ", said veneciay minke Reuters."

Father Christopher Bard, Assistant pastor of the Church, said: "the officials counted me said they have collected 27 make so far." Police closed off area around the Church. Thousands of angry youths, you set roadblocks burn on the motorway from Abuja results in predominantly Muslim Northern Nigeria.

Police and military trying to dispel it by burning life shot into the air with tear gas.

"We are so angry!" Kingsley Ukpabi cried vehicles, as a queue of the OWL behind his flaming barrage lined up.

VIOLENCE CREDIT SPREADS

Boko Haram - in the Hausa language in Northern Nigeria speaking means "Western education sin" – is modeled loosely on the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.

The low level insurgency to the limited largely to Nigeria, but there are several parts to the North, Centre and Abuja fell this year.

Last Christmas Eve, a series of bomb blasts to Jos killed 32 people and other people died in attacks on two churches in the North-East.

A wounded man whose Beine were almost crushed into pieces by the explosion of security services on a stretcher in close to an ambulance was loaded at the Church near the city of Abuja.

"I will survive," he said in a quiet voice.

The explosion in Jos, a powder keg of ethnic and religious tensions occurred deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians have a spree shooting of militant, accompanied the fire was exchanged with the local police, Charles Ezeocha, Jos task force spokesman said.

"We have lost a policeman and we have four arrests." I believe that we get further information and work on it can use, "he said." Police found four other explosive devices in Jos, which disabled them, he added.

The White House condemned "This senseless violence and tragic loss of life at Christmas."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the attacks and expressed his condolences "the people of Nigeria and the members of the."

"The Secretary-General once again calls for an end to all acts of sectarian violence in the country and reaffirms its belief that this use of violence can justify not an end,", a statement said published by his Office.

(Additional reporting by Tim cocks in Lagos, Tife Owolabi and Buhari Bello in Jos, Mike Oboh in Kano, correspondent in Maiduguri and Philip Pullella in Vatican City;) Write by Tim cocks and BATE Borisov Felix; (Editing by Mark Heinrich)

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1:21 AM | 0 comments

Ex-speaker Shevchuk wins vote in rebel Transdniestria

Former parliament speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk (C) attends a session of the central electoral committee in Tiraspol in Moldova's self-proclaimed separatist Dnestr region December 26, 2011. Former parliament speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk won the presidential election in Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria region with 73.88 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results announced by the republic's election authority on Monday.
Credit: Reuters/Stringer
By Alexander Tanas

TIRASPOL, Moldova (Reuters) - Former parliament speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk won the presidential election in Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria region, the territory's election authority said on Monday, the second setback for regional power Russia within two months.

"According to preliminary results, he (Shevchuk) received 73.88 percent of votes while his opponent Anatoly Kaminsky received 19.67 percent," Central Election Commission chairman Pyotr Denisenko told reporters.

Shevchuk competed against current speaker Anatoly Kaminsky, who was backed by Russia, in a run-off on Sunday.

Kaminsky's defeat comes after a Kremlin-endorsed candidate lost a presidential election in November in Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia, leading to court battles, public protests and legal chaos.
Kaminsky indicated he would not challenge election results.

"...I recognize Shevchuk's victory," he told Reuters.

President Igor Smirnov, who ran the mainly Russian-speaking territory as an independent fiefdom since it broke from Moldova and fought a brief war against Moldovan forces in 1992, was voted out in the first round on December 11.

Not recognized internationally, Transdniestria relies on Russian financial and political support for its half a million people. Moscow still has about 1,500 troops in a strip of land along Moldova's eastern border with Ukraine.

Transdniestria is the most westerly of the former Soviet Union's "frozen conflicts" - ethnic disputes that flared into wars when the superpower collapsed and remain latent and unresolved two decades later.

SHEVCHUK INSISTS ON INDEPENDENCE

Talks with Moldova have failed to make progress under Smirnov who insisted on sovereignty while Moscow suggested Transdniestria should be part of Moldova with a special status.

Shevchuk, 43, fell out with Smirnov in 2009 after suggesting constitutional reform to limit presidential powers. His campaign in this election focused on fighting corruption and nepotism.

Although he has not spoken in favour of rejoining Moldova, Shevchuk has called for compromise solutions that would make travelling and doing business easier for Transdniestrians.

"The issue of joining Moldova is beyond the president's powers. It is up to the people who clearly showed their preference at a referendum on September 17, 2006," Shevchuk told Reuters after he was declared winner.

In the 2006 referendum, 97 percent of Transdniestrians voted in favour of winning formal independence from Moldova and joining Russia. Moscow, however, has never approved such an idea and Transdniestria has no border with Russia.

At the same time, Shevchuk said he would seek to build "good neighborly relations" with Moldova and Ukraine, continuing talks to resolve the dispute over sovereignty with Moldova.

"My first task will be to work with our neighbors to ensure free movement of people and goods," Shevchuk said.

(Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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10:10 PM | 0 comments

China beat up dissidents 10 years for "subversive" essays

Chinese dissident Chen XI is in this o.j. handout photo released by his family on the 26 December 2011 seen. A court in China sentenced a dissident, veteran Chen XI on Monday to 10 years in prison for subversion, his wife said, Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo was arrested one of the most severe sentences for political charges since two years ago.
IMG credit: Reuters/handout
By Chris Buckley

BEIJING (Reuters) - a court in China sentenced a dissident, veteran Chen XI on Monday to 10 years in prison for subversion, his wife said, Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo was arrested one of the most severe sentences for political charges since two years ago.

The Court in Guiyang, China, Chen tried quickly declared him for "inciting subversion of State power" and said that he deserves a hard set of ten years in prison, said his wife, Zhang Qunxuan, Reuters by phone.

"The judge was a big crime, which had a malign influence and he has been a repeated offender," said Zhang by telephone.

"The Government wants democracy and progress, you need people who speak their negative view," she said.

"To undermine you - can he?" Has he any army? He has a police force? Has he courts? With a piece of paper and a pen he can to undermine you? "Are you so fragile?"

Chen XI, 57, 36 articles denounced criticism of the ruling Communist Party, which he on overseas Chinese websites, said Zhang. The process took about two and half hours, she added.

Chen said that he would not address, because it would make no sense, said Zhang.
An official in Guiyang intermediate people's Court telephoned by Reuters declined to give any information or give contact details for the scope of the Court, the Chen, tries, also known as Chen Youcai.

"Inciting subversion" is a charge levied, frequently used, dissidents to punish, and China's Party toboggan dishes rarely found in favour of the accused in studies, in particular for political charges.
Chiefs put Communist Party if many years focusing on political challenges should increase defense for a guided tour of the party passed end next year.

"" "Severe punishment the Chinese Government is the clear choice of response to the protests spread from home and in many parts of the world: it is determined,"The monkey kill the chicken to scare"," Renee Xia, the International Director of the Chinese defenders of human rights, an advocacy group said in remarks by e-Mail.

"The chicken to scare the monkeys, killing" is a Chinese proverb hold singling out victims for rough treatment to others of.

"PAY-BACK"

The long sentence comes days after an other dissident-Chen Wei of Sichuan province, Chinas--jailed for nine years similar because of "inciting subversion." Chen is a family name in China, and the two men are not related.

Liu Xiaobo, 2010 was awarded Nobel Peace Prize, was sentenced on 25 December 2009, and imprisoned for 11 years for inciting subversion. In March of this year, fees jailed dissidents Liu Xianbin for 10 years on subversion.

This month, a Beijing sent a China's best known rights lawyers, Gao Zhisheng, back in prison, although he never appears mysterious confinement mainly escaped have provided Court.

Beijing quiet Christmas chose for these studies as it tried to avoid international attention and diplomatic censure, said Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher on China for New York-based human rights watch, an organization.

"It not the character is a confident Government which believes that it has a strong argument against a specific person," he said by telephone. "It's pay-back for decades up to the Government."

Police kept hundreds of dissidents, human rights activists and protest Organizer in a crackdown on dissent this year, when the Communist Party of anti-authoritarian revolts in the Arab world inspired to prevent wanted the protests.

Chen XI, imprisonment was released but arrested only last month after his release from a week-long by his campaign for independent candidates to places in party people's Congress assemblies, win, Zhang said.

Chen is a former soldier and factory workers that prison was for three years for his support of 1989 pro-democracy protests which ended after troops struck down, said demonstrations his wife.
Again, he was imprisoned in 1996, but since his release an organizer of human rights was a civic forum in Guiyang in 2005.

China uses a "firewall" of Internet filters and blocks to prevent that citizens read websites abroad is regarded as politically unacceptable. With the technology to break through obstacles and uncensored Web sites publish but many activist.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Hong Lei a daily briefing that he don't know about Chen XI conviction. China a "country of the rule of law" is added to Hong.

(Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard and Reuters TV;) (Editing by Robert Birsel)

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12:19 PM | 0 comments

Opposition leader Gets the imminent elections in Iran Bill: report

Tehran (Reuters) - an Iranian opposition leader since February under house arrest accused the Islamic establishment plan has to hold the "Yes" parliamentary elections in March his website Sahamnews reported on Monday.

Registration began candidates on Saturday March 2 voices, that the first litmus test for the spiritual leadership public standing since a disputed presidential election 2009, triggered months of unrest.
Mehdi Karoubi was together with his wife, Fatemeh, imprisoned, when he urged to gather supporters for a Tehran rally in support of the riots in the Arab world. His wife was later out allows for medical treatment, but he remains under house arrest.

"Officials vote believe in people and they prepare themselves for a rubber-stamp election," his wife quotes him during their weekly meeting, according to Sahamnews.

Candidate will be an account one last week and then the participants be reviewed elections watchdog for their political and Islamic qualifications through the hard-line Guardian Council.

The Council has completed hundreds of reformist candidates in the past from participating in elections. A grandson of late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the Council for a parliamentary vote 2008 running is prohibited.

"The authorities want to repeat what they did in the presidential election of 2009.... disqualify candidates and fill the ballot boxes with fake votes and an atmosphere of fear in this country" Karoubi of the woman quoted him as talking as his Web site reported.

The election of 2009 was suspended followed by eight months of opposition protests, which, while ultimately suppressed, Iran in its deepest internal crisis since the Islamic revolution pitched, and divisions within the ruling elite.

The 73 year-old Karoubi and former Prime Minister Mirhossein Mousavi, who also under house arrest with his wife, the 2009 vote against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Were figureheads of the protests, according to the elections by many who believed that the vote to back President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been tampered with. Iranian authorities deny the charge and the protests as a bid have foreign-backed the Islamic government system undermines shown.

Thousands of people, including senior reformers, were according to the 2009 stir up unrest vote recorded. Since then, most of them have published was, but more than 80 people have for up to 15 years has been arrested and five to death were convicted.

Analysts say that Ahmadinejad's allies want to win to find the presidential election in 2013 a majority at the next general elections.

Reformist leaders said that no separate list of candidates will present reform-oriented groups, because the basic needs "free and fair" vote not have been observed which.

Authorities fear that a low turnout would be the establishment of legitimacy issue, and so hard-line conservative rulers have urged voters to take part in the March elections.
(Reporting by Mitra Amiri;) (Editing by Mark Heinrich)

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4:46 AM | 0 comments

Exclusive: Afghanistan lays down general rules for the Taliban talks

An Afghan police officer wakes Council Burhanuddin Rabbani in the vicinity of the House of the head of the Afghanistan high peace, after an explosion in Kabul 20 September 2011.
IMG credit: Reuters/Ahmad Masood
Sanjeev Miglani and Hamid Shalizi

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan accepted a Taliban Office in Qatar, to help peace talks, but no foreign power can gather pace in the process without his approval who said Government Peace Council, such efforts, to find a solution to the 10-year war.

Afghanistan high Peace Council, in a note to foreign missions, has laid down principles which involved Kabul worried growing Taliban after that favors the United States and Qatar, to open by Germany, with the Taliban to an Office in the Qatari capital of Doha.

It said that negotiations could only begin with the Taliban after they stopped violence against civilians, cut by al Qaeda and the Afghan Constitution accepts the civil rights and freedoms, guaranteed rights for women.

Council, said Reuters according to a copy of the 11 points note, provided any peace process with the Taliban have the support of Pakistan's as members of the Group of the rebels were it would have to.
The Council said "The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the agreement on the opening of an Office for the armed opposition, but only to the peace process to move forward and negotiations,".

The Government would prefer such an Office in Saudi Arabia or Turkey, both that it is close to, but not averse, Doha, as long as the authority of the Afghan State was not eroded and became the Office only for talks, officials said.

"We say Saudi or Turkey are preferable, we say that there must be only one." "The only condition is that it should be in an Islamic country," an official said.

President Hamid Karzai administration reminds Doha its Ambassador last week, apparently angry that there were kept in the dark on the last round of negotiations with the insurgent group.

Kabul officials said also gravely concerned about reports that the United States military prison is considering transfer a small number of Afghan prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to Doha as a prelude to the talks.

"We are a sovereign country, we have laws." How can you transfer our prisoners from one country to another. A violation in Guantanamo Bay have it ", said the official."

The Afghan Government the prisoners wanted to be returned to her custody, the official said.
This month, Reuters, reported that the United States the transfer of an unspecified number of Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay in custody of the Afghan Government as part of the acceleration, high-stakes diplomacy was considering.

"We have no problem with this." In fact, we have requested this for a while. "The Afghan prisoners are," said officials refused, be identified.

The challenges of finding underlined the tension between the Karzai Government and the United States on the inclusion of the Taliban for a political solution as the West prepared on the most combat troops from the country by 2014 to withdraw.

Efforts to the insurgents group engage have a number of setbacks, the recent assassination of the head of the Peace Council and former President, Burhanuddin Rabbani, in the hands of a suicide bomber in September, the Act is to face a Taliban of Envoy.

VERHÄRTUNG OF THE INVESTMENTS

This led to a hardening of positions with Karzai said Government suicide bombers could speak and that an address for the Taliban, it should that negotiators realize that they are talking about the right representative.

"We are determined, the process of reconciliation, the experience of the last ten years shows that no military solution is possible." "In conversation with the armed opposition of the key in this context is", said presidential spokesman Aimal McGuinness.

The Peace Council, laying down the marker for engagement with the Taliban, celebrities said both the Taliban and the Government was involved in the talks.

It said that "before negotiations can take place, violence against Afghans must cease, and that the armed opposition must to the al Qaeda and other terrorist groups connections."

He also said that the Taliban the Constitution by a majority were adopted and in the last 10 years made honor the profits, since she ousted from power conditions, that the Taliban, no trace of accept must have shown.

The Taliban accept no Constitution and have sworn, fighting continue until all foreign forces have left the country.

The Peace Council said Pakistani support for talks take place, a further condition which complicates the task due to the tense relations between the United States and Pakistan which fears it will shut down of the process and is required.

Open is a Taliban Office in a third country as a way to distance from Pakistan has create long-standing relationships of the insurgent group.

But the Government official said that he does not believe the Peace Council such harsh conditions had set, that the talks would fail, even before it started.

"We do not believe that it is a deal breaker." We are quite optimistic ", he said."
(Editing by Robert Birsel)

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6:20 PM | 0 comments

Suicide bomber kills 7 outside Iraq Ministry

By Kareem Raheem


Baghdad (Reuters) - at least seven people were killed when a suicide bomber Iraqi Interior Ministry hit as a car Monday in the latest attack, crisis between the Shi Shi'ite-led Government and Sunni leaders broke out a week ago.

Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sought the arrest of the Sunni Vice President on Monday and the Parliament on fire called back his own Sunni deputies, triggering turbulence that threatened immediately retreated new religious conflicts after the last US troops.

The explosion occurred as the bomber his vehicle in a security cordon outside the Ministry in central Baghdad drove, detonating an explosion, the links of dead and wounded on the ground and set on fire near remote vehicles, police said.

A senior police source said authorities believed that insurgent charged the Ministry of the Interior due to the announcement of the arrest warrant for Sunni Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi, with running death squads were alignment.

Taped confessions from suspected that said Ministry Hashemi were the bodyguard were on Monday in the State Iraqiya television and other broadcast local media and Vice President in connection with murders and attacks on the Iraqi Government and security officials.

"This is a direct message to us, because we are arrested those, Tareq al-Hashemi network and we are the ones who should maintain security in the country", said Ali al-Quraishi, a Police Lieutenant, the checkpoints to Baghdad monitored.

The attack in the al-Sharji Street Bab followed a wave of explosions on Thursday, including a suicide car bomb and several bombs on the side of the road, first and foremost Shi Shi'ite areas in the capital, in the at least 72 people came.

Seven people, including five policemen were killed and 34 others, including seven police officers wounded in the attack on the Ministry of the Interior, police and hospital said.

"When I outside went I found colleagues, some of them were killed, others were on the ground, many cars were burned, the policeman on the Tower looked like he was killed when he was hit in the head" Zaid Raheem, police guard, said.

The Ministry said in a statement that a car suicide bombers attacked the entrance to the headquarters and 3 people killed and 33 wounded.

Hashemi left Baghdad for semi-autonomous region Kurdistan, where it is unlikely that Central immediately passed Government officials.

The turmoil threatens an uneasy power-sharing Government life, the Shi Shi'ite shares the contributions of National Alliance coalition, the mostly Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc and the Kurdish political movement.

KABINETTSSITZUNG

One expected of the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, as the crisis developed, and tensions could rise further, when Ministers from Iraqiya Government decide to boycott the meeting is a key test of.
Their involvement in the Parliament, Iraqiya legislators have already being set in recess, if a statement from the Party on Sunday, that it said ready to participate in talks to try to solve the crisis.

Maliki has warned Hashemi Iraqiya bloc, that they exclude the power suspended when they walk out on his governing coalition.

The Sunni minority felt the Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein have plunged excluded since the rise of the Shi Shi'ite after the US-led invasion in 2003, majority, and many Sunni Muslims feel that the political deal has pushed them aside.

Turbulence in the Iraq would have, however, more extensive follow in a region where a crisis in neighbouring Syria takes on a more sectarian sound and Shi Shi'ite Iran, Turkey, and Sunni Arab Gulf countries are jockeying for influence.

US officials, diplomats and Iraqi politicians were to stop, threatening to reduce Iraq in the kind of sectarian violence, which took a few years ago the OPEC member to the brink of civil war in the talks to the dispute.

Vice President Joe Biden spoke Sunday with Maliki and Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud Barzani of the spat, press to start dialogue with the heads of State and Government and condolences about violence in Baghdad.

Biden played a diplomatic role while the US military travel departure from the Iraq in the country and discuss signs of rising sectarian tension with Iraqi leaders.

US troops went completely out the Iraq after almost nine years on the 18.
(Additional reporting by Suadad al-Salhy and Ahmed Rasheed;) Writing by Serena Chaudhry. (Editing by Tim Pearce)

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9:30 AM | 0 comments

Former South Korean first lady heads North for condolence

Former first lady Lee Hee-ho (L), which accompanied widow of late South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung and Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jung-Eun of officials, left for Pyongyang, for the honour of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died in the CIQ (immigration, customs and quarantine) Office, South of the demilitarisierten zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, in Paju, North of Seoul, 26 December 2011.
IMG credit: Reuters/Kim Kyung-hoon
By ju-min Park

PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) - the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, the author of a political commitment now overboard thrown with North Korea, crossed the fortified land border between the two sides on Monday of their honor late dictator Kim Jong-il.

Relations between North and South have frozen Myung-bak Lee since the election of conservative South Korean President in 2008, to force the aid in a bid to give up a nuclear program in the North and to bring to the negotiating table.

A 13-member delegation headed by Lee Hee-ho, the widow of former President Kim Dae-Jung, who masterminded the border crossed the so-called "sunshine policy" of engagement with the North by car and pay their respects at the bier of Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang.

"I hope, my visit to North Korea helps to improve South-North Korea relations" Yoon-chul-Koo, an adviser to Lee, quoted them at an Immigration Office on the southern edge of the de-militarized zone.
Lee, who met Kim Jong-il in Pyongynag in the year 2000 in the first inter-Korean Summit since the end of 1953 the Korea war, remain for two days and not the December 28 funeral will take part.

The most South Koreans are banned, from the North under the current policy of the Government and the Republic of Korea, which is technically at war with the North, no official delegation to Kim, is to complain about, who died earlier this month to send.

Was asked by reporters at the crossroads of whether North Korea's delegation wants to comply with new leader Kim Jong-un, Yoon, said the visit for "pure condolence."

Kim Jong-un, who is in his late 20s, is the third of his line to rule impoverished in the North, although he makes likely parts with a clique is.

A second group of grieving from South Korea led by the widow of a South Korea's largest conglomerates, investment in the North in Pyongyang launched.

Hyun Jeong-Eun, the wife of the Hyundai business group, late former Chairman Chung Mong-Hun, led a delegation of five people.

Hyun father-in-law was Hyundai founder Chung Ju-Yung, who in 1999 founded as one of the largest investors in the North Korea's Kumgang mountain tourist resort Busness Hyundai Asan Corp.

The business was exposed to a South Korean tourist resort since the fatal shooting in 2008.
Hyundai Asan project is Kaesong industrial park in the North, some sources of foreign currency in an impoverished North.

(Reporting by ju-min Park;) (Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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1:52 AM | 0 comments

Gandhi Clan die Schuld für das halten Indien in Armut

Chief of India's ruling that Congress Party Sonia Gandhi speaks all India Congress Committee (AICC) during the session dedicated to martyrs and people of generators in New Delhi 2. November 2010 is the freedom fighters.

IMG credit: Reuters/B Mathur
By Frank Jack Daniel

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - the Gandhi dynasty, India has decided that for most of the 64 years since independence in poverty, leaders of a protest movement the world largest democracy held on Monday said, as she provide renewed demonstrations, the aim of the Government of corruption.
A three-day fast under the direction of 74 years activist Anna Hazare and a plan for thousands of people on the home page of Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi on new years eve picket is a test of strength for the anti-corruption movement, a Government forced u-turn in the summer.

"India was not intended, a poor country, India was intended, be a developed country but corruption has it bad,", said Kiran Bedi, Member of the inner circle Hazare.

"Exercise, the corruption?" "The ruling party and the party in power for most of the years been the Congress Party and the Congress party, the Gandhi family."

India's fast growing economy is Asia's largest but a large part of the country's 1.2 billion people suffer from food inadequate and have no electricity.

Hazare is planning to begin his hunger strike in Mumbai on Tuesday. Nearly 100,000 people have signed up online support for one of three days, "fill the jails" protest picket politician houses and advertises to arrest.

Tens of thousands of people on the street brought a fast under the direction of Hazare in August. After first arresting him and sacked him as an anarchist given to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Government in his demand, quickly a harder version of the anti-legislation graft first proposed decades ago passed.
The protests also triggering an ongoing debate about the nature of Indian democracy.

Hazare proponents say that the elections vote must be supplemented by direct pressure on politicians, while traditional parties say that the protests risk "Mobocracy."

"If hundreds of thousands of people on the road can get their Government, their voices be heard, it seriously is introduced with the nature and the way our democracy" close aide Arvind Kejriwal of told of Reuters Hazare.

Corruption scandals have Singh's second term, with a multi-billion dollar Telecom amounted to a former Minister and other senior officials in the prison land under load.

The focus is on the Gandhi family drew criticism from the ruling Congress Party, who accused the protesters as a front for the opposition.

Their fire on Sonia Gandhi and her son have Hazare and his staff to water down the family of amassing too much power and a Bill in Parliament for a powerful Ombudsman against graft Rahul before the five elections made accuse in the next two months.

The protesters are under pressure to bring Parliament, the Federal Police under the remit of the Ombudsman, together with other demands.

The Parliament is the Bill as a result of the debate on Tuesday.

"There is one or two people in the ruling party, lead the Government and the Parliament," this is not a democracy, said Kejriwal.

Three of India's are Prime Minister since the end of colonial rule in 1947 from the family.
Sonia Gandhi is widely as at least as powerful as Singh in the current Government, and her son is to lead the country in the future will be maintained.

The enjoy Gandhi's almost Royal status, and direct criticism of them is rare outside of political campaigns.

Rahul Gandhi runs campaign before the election in Uttar Pradesh, the country of the most populous state, now the party in February.

Hazare threatens campaign against Congress in Uttar Pradesh and four others held elections in the next two months serving as a barometer of the Government support half way through his term.

"The entire movement India's democracy, raised very serious and fundamental questions about", said Kejriwal.

"Is it the party high command for the high command of the Party really of the people, the people for the people, or by the high command of the party?"

(Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel;) Additional reporting by Annie Banerji; (Editing by Ted Kerr)

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4:55 PM | 0 comments

J.R. Martinez and Diana Gonzalez-Jones are Going to Be Parents

He, J.R. Martinez, nabbed a mirror ball trophy on Dancing With the Stars last month, but the biggest and best prize is yet to come. J.R. Martinez tells PEOPLE exclusively that he and girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones are expecting their first child next spring.

"We found out just last week it's a girl and we are over the moon," Martinez, 28, says. "Diana has a little baby bump now and it's the cutest thing ever. With the holidays coming up, this is the biggest and best gift we could get."

The Iraq war vet and Gonzalez-Jones met when he landed a role on All My Children in 2008. At the time, she was working as an assistant to the soap's executive producer. The two became close friends, but it wasn't until last year that the pair decided to take their friendship to the next level.

"We were so good as friends that romantically, we just clicked right away. There was no adjustment period," Gonzalez-Jones told PEOPLE earlier this year.

Impending fatherhood "is sinking in" Martinez says, admitting that he can't believe all of the good things that have happened in the past year.

"2011 has been full of a lot of surprises and opportunities and ultimately, a lot of blessings," says Martinez. "Diana and I were just asking ourselves, 'How is 2012 going to top 2011?' Well, we have our answer!"

J.R. Martinez can add a new title to his growing resume - dad!

The Dancing with the Stars champ and his girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones have revealed they're expecting their first child.

"We found out just last week it's a girl and we are over the moon," Martinez told People. "Diana has a little baby bump now and it's the cutest thing ever. With the holidays coming up, this is the biggest and best gift we could get."

PHOTOS: Celebs On The Red Carpet At ‘Heroes’ Event

The Iraq war vet, actor and motivational speaker has been on a whirlwind since winning the mirror ball trophy.

He's been invited to visit the Pentagon where he'll speak with top military leaders, and he'll start 2012 as Grand Marshall of the famed Rose Parade.

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2:36 AM | 0 comments

South Carolina has first human rabies case in 50 years

By Harriet McLeod

CHARLESTON (South Carolina) (Reuters) - a woman of middle age in South Carolina in more than 50 years that the State of human rabies has suffered first case, health officials said Friday.

"There are only about one to three cases of human rabies every year in this country," said Dr. Eric writer, epidemiologist with the State Department of health and environmental control Bureau of disease control.

"Tragically, rabies almost always ends in death," he said in a statement.

Burner, said that health officials believe that the woman, who was probably bitten by a bat that her home a few months ago entered.

Slowly by the body of travel until it reaches the brain and central nervous system and difficulty swallowing, seizures, anxiety, agitation and confusion, produces severe symptoms such as headaches, he said "Rabies". "Most patients die within a few weeks after onset of symptoms."

To prevent that the Department through said the patients or their State of health and environmental control spokesman Jim Beasley the release of more information about Federal medical privacy laws.

The woman lives in Sumter County, in the middle of the State, officials said.

Bites of rabies infected bats are one who most commonly used, as people are exposed, said art writer,. Raccoons, foxes, skunks, and other wild animals, and are Unvaccinated dogs and cats can transfer rabies through their saliva in a bite wound.

South Carolina law requires all dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies.

The Agency said that it is examined to determine whether anyone else could have exposed the virus. By hand transfer not, documented by rabies with the exception of special circumstances in medical settings, Brenner said.

The last cases of human rabies in South Carolina were Beasley of told of Reuters in December 1959, when an elderly man Florence County was bitten by a dog, and in March 1958 as an older woman Clarendon County was bitten by a Fox.

(Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Greg McCune)

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11:06 PM | 0 comments

France hands of Carlos the Jackal another life in prison

Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, better known as "Carlos the Jackal solves cm, his fist as he is on trial in Paris appears with a trial in Frankfurt am Main from his former German accomplice Hans-Joachim Klein, 28 November 2000.IMG credit: Reuters/RTV/Thierry Chiarello

Alexandria Sage

PARIS | Thu 15 December 2011 7: 03 pm EST

PARIS (Reuters) - a French Court of sentenced extravagant Marxist militant Carlos the Jackal to another life sentence on Thursday for the bomb attacks, 11 people nearly three decades ago killed.

The Venezuelan defendant, 62, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, is for almost 20 years in the service one life sentence in a separate case for the murder of two policemen and an informant in Paris was closed in 1975 in France.

Conviction Ramirez, an additional life term Pariser Hof, special terrorism consists of seven judges said he should serve at least 18 years in prison.

The ruling could back to push the date on which it can be used for the conditional release, set for 2012.

Defense lawyers called the decision a scandal and said that a complaint would take their customers.

Ramirez masterminding slain accused four separate attacks in France on two trains, a train station and a Parisian Street, the 11 people and wounded almost 200.

Prosecutors, said that the bombings were seizure of two of his gang, including his mistress, his response to the police and had argued that he remained a danger to the public.

Earlier on Thursday Ramirez treated the Court in one - according to one important wanted international criminal - five hour monologue, alternately walking, vitriolic and poignant, called himself "living martyrs" to defend his innocence.

Ramirez, a self-dubbed "elite Schütze," appeared in resignation to a guilty verdict. Death in prison, he said once, "Is the role of a revolutionary."

"I am in prison... sentenced in pre-decided case," he told the Court his voice in volume increases.

SHADES OF CHE GUEVARA

Ramirez, a colorful figure can be seen at the height of his fame from his Che Guevara-style beret, sunglasses and Havana cigars, sealed his fame in a bloody hostage-taking of OPEC oil Ministers in 1975.

During the cold war was previously caught support by Eastern bloc and the Middle East, staging attacks across Europe for more than two decades in the Sudan in 1994.

During the six-week trial Ramirez appeared more like a master of ceremonies as a defendant, speaking through loudspeakers, suspend judges, lawyers to correct and occasionally wrapping well out of his cage respondent.

He denied any specific involvement in four bombings in 1982 and 1983 at a Parisian Street, two trains and a Marseille train station that injured nearly 200 people and 11 dead links. Prosecutors say the bombings Ramirez were the answer to the police seizure of two of his gang, including his beloved.

"There is nothing... me connect with these four attacks," he told the Court, a 0 (zero) characters with his thumb and forefinger.

Wove Ramirez the history smile after history, often as a modern Scheherazade and grow nostalgic over former comrades and sometimes turn fiery to rail on the system.

His relentless discourse touches on a variety of topics, from prison life Zionist strategy, Soviet passports, the French State, hashish, and even the death penalty.

Ramirez broke his powerful voice range when at the end of his speech, he read what he said was the last will of fallen Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi.

"I continue the fight," he read from the text before the crash, to overcome with emotions. A group of about a dozen young people in the courtroom audience raised their fists in the air, screamed encouragement for Ramirez.

"Salam alaikum" or "Peace be with you," said Ramirez, to Islam in prison, before a final fist in the air on the amount converted.

MAN OF KAMPFES

Accused of being a gun for hire by his opponents and a cold-blooded killer of former cohort witnessed against him, put Ramirez on the first day of the procedure as "Revolutionary occupation."

Why no one ever was arrested in France for the attacks he questions cast itself as a convenient scapegoat. He and his lawyers said that the evidence for unreliable witnesses and photocopies of documents from Eastern European secret service archives was based.

Clearly, enjoy a fondness for betting stories in the spotlight, Ramirez indicated, different citing a cast of historical and modern State by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Soviet leader Stalin of to former French President Jacques Chirac, and mentioned in its guilty verdict given in the same courthouse earlier in the day.

He said the Court considers the right way, a 9-millimeter pistol, correction of the public prosecutor know how many balls to load as a weapon.

"You not really a man of struggle," he said.

Prosecutors had argued, Ramirez remains a public danger and demanded he be sentenced to an additional gets life term and serve at least 18 years old.

(Additional reporting Thierry Leveque and Vicky Buffery;) (Editing by Mark Heinrich)

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8:39 PM | 0 comments

Syrian rebels kill 27 soldiers in the South

 1 of 9. demonstrators protest against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the vicinity of Qamishli, 14 December 2011.IMG credit: Reuters/handout

Dominic Evans

BEIRUT | Thu 15 December 2011 5: 30 pm EST

BEIRUT (Reuters) - army deserters 27 soldiers killed in the southern Syria on Thursday, said an active group in some of the deadliest attacks on forces President Bashar al-Assad since the start of an uprising loyal nine months ago.

The Syrian Observatory for human rights, Deraa, said the clashes flared that where first broke protests against Assad in March, and at a checkpoint East of the city, where all 15 people crew there were killed.

Coordinated strikes by the army, rebels escalated attacks recently have suggested to the high losses among security forces increase the specter of civil war breaks out.

The United Nations says that in Assad's crackdown on protests uprisings elsewhere in the Arab world inspired killed 5,000 people. Assad denied all orders were issued to kill protesters and says that armed 1,100 of his troops have killed.

A report by human rights watch which often explicit statements published on Thursday, is based on interviews with dozens of defectors army said commanders ordered troops to use "all necessary means" to stop protests, to to open fire.

A special forces soldier said that his team was told "use as many balls as you want" on demonstrators in Deraa in April.

A sniper in the city of Hims, that ordered his commanders said, in that a certain percentage of protesters should die. "Such as the goal for 5,000 demonstrators, would be 15 to 20 people," he said human rights watch (HRW).

HRW identified 74 commanders had ordered, authorized or condoned murder, torture and unlawful arrests during the anti-Government protests. "Represent these abuses crimes against humanity,", it said to call on the Security Council of the United Nations, Syria at the International Criminal Court.

Assad, 46, whose family from the minority Alawite Sunni Muslim Syria sect, the energy within majority has been for four decades, is the most serious challenge of his 11-year rule.

Army rebels have their campaign against security forces in the last month, increasingly ambushing military convoys, fire on an Intelligence Center on the outskirts of Damascus, and killing six pilots on an air base open.

PROMPTED FOREIGNERS

Turkey lost its first citizens Syrian riots on Thursday, according to its state news agency. Munir dural shot said Turkish media, it dead in the vicinity of the town of Idlib caught in the crossfire was stolen after his car.

Canada called to leave his Syria of concern for the deteriorating security situation. "Our best advice is immediately, Syria left, by all available means and opportunities exist," said his Foreign Ministry in a statement.

He cited provide the new Arab League sanctions against Syria to leave the country quickly can make difficult.

The UN Security to cope with the increasing number who claimed lives have the United States and France, to blame the Assad's forces for the violence. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, "that can go on," told reporters in New York. "In the name of humanity, it is to be time for the international community."

Syria's foreign donor Russia and China, that condemnation of Damascus blocked Western efforts to Council.

But Russia offered Thursday, said they were willing to negotiate about it for the first time a new, strengthening motion for a resolution to the Council and Western countries. [ID: nN1E7BE0G9]

Although Western envoys said, the Russian text was too weak, offered their willingness to work on it a chance for the Security Council to overcome its deadlock and issue of the 15-nation Panel first resolution of Syria's crackdown against the opposition protesters.

The design of Russia into circulation brought unexpectedly expands and hardens Moscow's previous text to add a new reference to "disproportionate use of force by the Syrian authorities."

The draft, which calls by Reuters, "the Syrian Government to suppress the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, freedom of Assembly and Association put an end."

FEARS OF WAR

The bloodshed prompted the head of the main Syrian opposition group call, on the rebel forces free Syrian army operations against Assad's military limit to defend you on protests. "We want to avoid civil war at all costs," said Burhan Ghalioun of Syrian Reuters last week.

But its impact on the insurgency seems limited.

A free Syrian officer, speech to Thursday clashes, said that rebels in the alignment of Assad's forces were justified and said Ghalioun comments reveal "a lack of knowledge about the military base of this regime".

"Who bears arms against the civilian population, army, security or Shabbiha (Pro-Assad militia), and kills civilians - we respond and what harm we can," major Maher Ismail al-Naimi said.

A former Ambassador turned dissident announced in Istanbul the formation of an opposition group called the National Alliance of revolutionary forces in Syria.

Mohammad Bassam Imadi, Syria's former commissioned Sweden resigned his post two years ago and left Syria earlier this month, said that the Group of the Syrian National Council in a bid to overthrow of the Government would work together.

"We make up the majority of the revolutionary and political groups in Syria." After a long time and much effort, all these groups bring together under one roof is managed, "Imadi told a press conference."

Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Imadi was released and had his assets frozen last year after he was investigated for fraud and "His authority use for material gain".

Activists said that Assad's forces on Thursday, the streets of Damascus suburbs hunt for defector combed and try, the opposition would"strike".

In the city of Hama said 24 hours earlier stormed through the army the army took over a children's Hospital and snipers be viewed above on government buildings.

The official news agency SANA, said a member of "terrorist group" was killed and three others wounded, when they placed bombs in a Villa, which province had robbed them in Damascus.

(Additional reporting by Daren Butler in Istanbul;) (Editing by Diana Abdallah)

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1:35 PM | 0 comments

Analysis: Aquino's anti-graft drive risks Philippine instability

Philippinischer Präsident Benigno Aquino spricht in einer gemeinsamen Nachrichten-Anweisung die Malacanang Palace in Manila 21. November 2011.
Img Credit: Reuters/Cheryl Ravelo
Von Manny Mogato

MANILA (Reuters) - philippinischen Präsidenten Benigno Aquino gesperrt Hörner mit eine Obstruktion Justiz verpflichtet zu sein Vorgänger, aber seine Anti-Korruptions Eifer Risiken des Landes in die Instabilität stürzen nennt er.

Obersten Gerichtshofes Renato Corona, beschuldigt, zum Schutz vor Untersuchung, ehemalige Präsidentin Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wurde durch das Unterhaus des Kongresses, dominiert von Aquino Alliierten, am Montag angeklagt.

Corona hat geschworen, gegen die erste Anklage gegen einen Chief Justice von Aquino, eine Konfrontation auf politische Lähmung weiter stark unterstützt.

Wenn Corona erfolgreich angeklagt ist, stehen Aquino vorgeworfen kauernd der Justiz zu unterwerfen. Wenn Corona freigesprochen wird, dauert Aquino öffentliche Unterstützung einen Hit.
"Aquino navigiert gefährliches Fahrwasser," sagte Earl Parreno, ein Analyst am Institut für politische und Wahlreformen. "Es besteht Gefahr, die seine politischen Lager erheblich ausgehöhlt wird, wenn Corona in die Absetzung Prozeß entgeht. Die die Justiz Feindseligkeit erhöhen könnte."

Unsicherheiten vor Ablauf der Anklage könnte schalten Sie Investoren, Dämpfung Wirtschaftswachstum des Internationalen Währungsfonds trotzdem erwartet wird, um von der diesjährigen schwache Ergebnis aufgrund der schleppenden Exporte zu verlangsamen.

Benjamin Diokno, ehemaliger Budget Sekretär und Ökonomie-Professor an der Universität der Philippinen, sagte der Anklage Staats-und Regierungschefs aus tief verwurzelte Probleme der Arbeitslosigkeit, langsames Wachstum und Inflation ablenken könnte.
"SCHLEICHENDE DIKTATUR"

Arroyo, Präsident von 2001-2010 und jetzt ein Mitglied des Kongresses, statt eine Armee Krankenhaus nach ihrer Verhaftung letzten Monat unter dem Vorwurf der Takelage der Senat Umfragen im Jahr 2007.
Es gab Spekulationen, die Corona vor seinem Prozess zurücktreten würde früher in diesem Jahr den Kopf der anti-graft Agentur, ein weiteres Arroyo Verbündeter, wie wenn sie Gebühren blockieren Korruptionsfällen gegen den ehemaligen Leiter und seine Verbündeten konfrontiert.

Aber Corona, einmal Arroyo Chef des Stabes, hat seine position klar, was bedeutet, dass er Rechtsmittel gegen die Rechtmäßigkeit der Arroyo Verhaftung hören wird.

Er hat beschuldigt Aquino des Aufbaus einer "schleichenden Diktatur," eine stechen Anklage gegen den Präsidenten, dessen Vater 1983 während der späten Diktator Ferdinand Marcos Herrschaft ermordet wurde.
Aber es gab keine Anzeichen, dass das Militär, die nicht vertraut mit dem Entfernen von Präsidenten, beteiligen würde. Aquino Popularität und wahrgenommenen Integrität haben erheblich senkte das Risiko von Sturz.

Am Montag, Aquino installiert ein Armeegeneral und langjährigen Freund der Familie als Leiter der Streitkräfte 130.000-Mitglied, werden eine Versicherung Soldaten in Linie fallen.
Corazon Aquino Mutter gegenüber mehr als einem halben Dutzend Staatsstreich Versuche zwischen 1986, wenn Marcos wurde gestürzt, und 1992 als Demokratie wurde restauriert, erschrecken potenzielle Investoren und Wachstum verlangsamen.

Joaquin Bernas, ein Jesuit und einer der Verfasser der Verfassung, wie Aquino Kuba Fidel Castro die Judikative und Legislative steuern wollen.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, vor kurzem gewählt, den internationalen Strafgerichtshof, sagte, dass die Bewegung eine abschreckende Wirkung auf andere Richter des Obersten Gerichtshofs haben würde.
"sie jetzt Angst von ihrem Latein zu schreiben, was sie wirklich fühlen die richtige Entscheidung gemäß dem Gesetz und die Feststellungen werden sollte", sagte Santiago, die in der Anklage Studie als Richter sitzen werden.
(Bearbeiten von Rosemarie Francisco und Nick Macfie)

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5:00 PM | 0 comments

Witness: Picturing the demise of the Soviet Union

1 of 8. Russian President Boris Yeltsin (C) looks back, as he file's photo in this 21 December 1991 at the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth of independent States (CIS) in Almaty.IMG credit: Reuters/Shamil Zhumatov


The following story reminds the experiences of Reuters photographer Shamil Zhumatov, when the leaders of the new independent post-Soviet republics in his native city of Alma-Ata 1991 collected. Zhumatov is for the last 17 years of Reuters photographer in formerly Soviet Central Asia and has also wars in Afghanistan and the Iraq fall. He lived the first twenty years of his life in the Soviet Union and the second 20 years as a citizen of Kazakhstan.

By Shamil Zhumatov

ALMATY (Reuters) - we had the Soviet Union, was always intended, certainly too big to fail.
We had seen all the bare shelves in stores. We knew that many constituent republics had declared their independence. But that was still my almighty Soviet Union, the only country the this 20-year-old a-old photojournalist from Kazakhstan ever known had.

So why had 10 national leaders crashed in my capital, Alma-Ata, on 21 December 1991? Who were these hordes of journalists and photographers jostling for position and called questions?

It was one of my first assignments for the Kazakh Telegraph Agency. The night before, I was sitting in the Agency darkroom splicing 300 M rolls of film, and with great care in cartridges, add 36 exposure at a time.
We work with factory-made film roles; This was the Soviet Union. Careful preparation was part of the work, especially before any major event.

And that was certainly great. Only a few opportunities to photograph national leaders had even experienced colleagues. Party congresses, parades, even new year's Eve: this happened in Moscow, events that we saw on television.

Less than two weeks earlier, the leaders had the Russia, the Ukraine and divine-the Slavic core of Sowjetunion--the agreement dissolved with the country and created the Commonwealth of independent States (CIS).

Although the Alliance with other republics closed was not when we heard in Central Asia of which we feel cast out and betrayed. Are not also a say in the fate of our country should be? The excitement and the freedom of independence would come later; right now, we were shocked children clinging to the coat tails of our parent company.
What if?
Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of the independent Kazakhstan, mobilized quickly to ensure that our country and a host of other new independent republics in the fold have been brought.
He met a leader after the other on the snow-covered airport as they came, that sign Declaration that would bring the number of countries in the grouping to 11.

It seemed that everyone who arrived, was in a hurry. Even now, when I edit my images, I see the worry on the faces of Kazakh statesmen of the time etched. Offers what if someone were suddenly to change their minds, crack had removed security Moscow always?

Two lonely demonstrators stand on the snow outside the Hall where the signing posters loudly would take place at the end of the Soviet Union. "Shame on the destroyers of the USSR", said one. "Down with the CIS countries!"

Our common Soviet heritage was all that what we are connected. The name of the new Alliance sound strange. We can learn to appreciate the idea of "independent States". But a "Commonwealth"? Between a number of ethnically different countries two outrun - Armenia and Aserbaidschan--were already involved in a brutal conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh?

Inside the grandiose ceremony had begun. Never before I had seen, collected as many KGB officers in one place. 9. Department which was responsible for guarding dignitaries had to respect a lot of people.
And so many journalists! Some photographers brought climbing ladders over the mass-a device that I would use in the next few years numerous times, but something that I had never seen before that day.
The Russian President Boris Yeltsin was the most charismatic all leaders present. Its Worte-- and he said perhaps - have been accompanied by animated gestures. People shouted questions at him on the move. A photographer, he was a great theme.

In a good sense of Yeltsin's individual style with that of the rank officials around him. Even the trilby, he carried was in contrast to the thick fur hats of other heads of State and Government.
After the signing of the contract was the heads of State and Government for a group photo. A journalist to Yeltsin shouted: "How you feel?"

He grinned and gave the thumbs up. With a single click, I realized my mechanical Nikon F2 was that a new time on us. I was recording the history.

STRANGE MOVIE

Before writing this article, I was my old black and white negative in a photo shop in Almaty, scanning, such as Alma-Ata now called. The other customers were photographed out on their cell phone print.
"What a strange film!" "I the perforations can see picture number along", said the curious cashiers, too young to roles, reminiscent of the 300 m I once worked.

At 40, I've now spent half of my life in the Soviet Union and half in independent Kazakhstan. The second two decades have brought unimaginable changes during the first.

The Soviet Union has given me much to be grateful: education, which today could not be reached, and the well built blocks of flats that call my parents always still home.

But gone are the fear and Unsicherheit--my own and Kasachstan--I remember this day in December 1991. They were replaced by a maturity and independence that comes from before and to overcome your challenges.

We have both grown up.
(Writing by Robin Paxton;) (Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

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10:24 AM | 0 comments

Russia's Putin offers small change demonstrators

1 out of 6. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin monitored during a question and answer session transmitted on TV in Moscow 15 December 2011.
IMG credit: Reuters/Alexsey Druginyn/RIA Novosti/pool
By Timothy heritage and Steve Gutterman
MOSCOW | Thu 15 December 2011 5: 48 pm EST
Moscow (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin offered something its close facilitate political control of Russian policy in token concessions to demonstrators, beating of the largest demonstrations turn out to be, as he does that 12 years ago took over paid.
In a 4-1/2 hour call - in question and answer show that was live broadcast in Russia and to rebuild support as he prepares, the Presidency, which has long-standing Prime Minister is trying, as a sensible, balanced national leader to present free, can that his people should.
But many Russians in the social network Twitter suggested that his efforts failed say the 59-year-old former spy three months before the presidential elections was, that he hopes to win.
10 Putin break its silence on rallies of tens of thousands of people on December praise with proposals, some of the protesters complaints of electoral fraud and demanding a new election were paid to show up mixed.
"I hit people on the TV screens... saw young people, actively and with positions, which they clearly expressing", Putin said. "This makes me happy, and if that is the result of the Putin regime, which well - there is nothing bad about it."
"they make at least some money," he said, of course, that he thought had the paymaster. Putin has proposed in the past, the ridicule of the opponents, protests had stirred the United States and it had funded foreign States.
Putin, 59, said that first he thought the white bands of demonstrators as a sign of dissent held were part of an AIDS campaign, and he had them incorrectly for condoms.
A manipulated photo was the round on the Internet, with Putin wearing a condom on his chest instead of a medal soon do.
Dressed in a suit and tie at the large desk as he took questions by phone or by a studio audience, and sometimes via video links with cities of the huge country it less well than in previous years.
Putin, Behauend the possibility of changes in a tightly controlled political system suggested that legislation could be amended, can be registered to small opposition parties.
One of the most important acts of Putin's after the takeover in 1999 was elected governors in regions of Russia and its own representatives, remove restore strong Kremlin control send. This said he drove from danger, break up the largest country in the world.
Putin suggested reintroduction of direct elections, but only after the President approved candidates proposed by party-an idea not likely to win support from critics.
"We can move in this direction," he said.
Putin has no indication that he met the protesters demands such as dismissal of Central Election Commission Chief and rerunning the election of Putin's Party United Russia returned would respond with a reduced majority.
He seems intent instead on horseback, the protests and hope that they fade, although another day is scheduled on the 24th December protests of the opposition.
"This is it." It's the end. Putin is completely out of touch. And this is increasingly obvious to everyone. "You had to think hard to insult people like this," a person who identifies as Oleg Kozyrev wrote.
A 21-year-old lawyer, who gave his name only as Yevgeny in the city of Ekaterinburg said: "he doesn't even show interest to what people were saying..." "Aliens have nothing to do with earthlings."
PUTIN THOUGHT THAT DEMONSTRANTEN HAD CONDOMS
Many of the people to the collections of alleged electoral fraud are young professionals in major cities that have answered online calls to protest and the political system opens up a liberal opposition reflect their views to contain.
Some of their claims were supported by international vote monitors, who said that the December 4 election was slanted in favor of Putin's Party United Russia, although it only one almost gained majority in the House of Commons of the Parliament.
A message from Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev saw many Russians on 24 September, which they planned jobs as a sign swap, the everything was cooked between them with no respect for democracy. Putin confirmed on Thursday that he wanted to Medvedev leading after the March election.
Putin tries, democratic and unconcerned about the protests by saying that they were "absolutely normal.", as long as everyone in the framework of the law is
"In my view, the outcome of the election undoubtedly reflects public opinion in the country," he said, a clear there would be no election rerun.
But at another point, he turned the journalist hosts the call-in and said: "I had enough of these questions about the election."
IMAGE PROBLEMS
Russia-based economist, said Putin had considerably harder than in previous years continue to operate its credibility and doubted that he had gained no new support in his performance.
"It is not fresh voices win." "He did not say anything, what the voices of the other set (the opponent) to win - he could have used this great event to promote its assessment", Alexey Bachurin said the Renaissance Capital Investment Bank,.
Putin has used the annual call-in he the last kept decade his image as to Polish up a strong leader with a detailed knowledge of the country and of the entire population. Thursday at the show was the longest yet, beating last year by five minutes.
As always there were such as health, pensions and housing, and Putin many questions on social issues suggested that he the individual leaders to unite and maintaining stability in the world largest energy producer was.
So often in the past he had strong words for the West and in particular former cold war foe the United States.
"The United States needs no ally, it needs vassals," he said.
He defended his economic record, say that some 2008 / 09 was "remarkable and useful" achievements such as poverty, despite the global economic crisis.
He hinted that former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, the foreign investors and many young professionals is held high after falling out with the Kremlin Government could return in September.
"Such people had to and need for Governments in the past and future", he said the Kudrin, has recently spoken form a political party and suggested that he could join protests.
(Reporting by Timothy heritage;) (Editing by Douglas Busvine)

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3:49 AM | 0 comments

You create to affected nuclear power plant in cold shutdown Japan declare

 Release of evaporative condensation apparatus is within the desalination facility seen in the tsunami crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture, in this handout recording 4. December 2011.IMG credit: Reuters/Tokyo Electric Power Co./handout
By Shinichi Saoshiro

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is located on Friday to explain that his tsunami-stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant cold shutdown has reached an important milestone in efforts under control passed world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl 25 years ago.

Fukushima Daiichi plant, 240 km (150 miles) northeast of Tokyo, was on 11 March a major earthquake and tsunami 10-meter high (33-ft high), the cooling system, triggering meltdowns and radiation leaks knocked destroyed.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is expected, that the achievement of one of the top goals of the Government at a press conference at 0900 GMT, known, but he can also warn that it decades, Fukushima that is completely shattered last six reactors.

Shut down too cold is cool under its boiling point, prevents that of fuel remains reheating, when water used nuclear fuel rods. One of the top goals of the investment manager, Tokyo electric power (Tepco), was too cold to bring the reactor closure until the end of the year.

After months of efforts, the temperature of water in all three of the affected reactors below boiling point from September, but Tepco was careful to declare a cold shutdown that say that see it, if temperatures and the amount of radiation from the plant has remained stable.

Declaring a cold shutdown have effects far beyond the plant: it's Government precondition before it approximately 80,000 residents evacuated within a radius of 20 km (12 miles) of the plant home can return.

NO GRAVE

TEPCO said earlier in the crisis that it do not want the damaged Daiichi reactors in concrete, which in the Ukraine, where reactors Chernobyl caught fire and burned dig days selected option. Instead it preferred the phasing out of nuclear fuel for storage elsewhere.

The Government and the Tepco you want to remove the undamaged nuclear rods of the Daiichi of spent fuel pools so early next year begin. With the complete dismantling of the plant expected to be up to 40 years, reported on Thursday start retrieving of fuel, which in their reactors melted up to but not for another decade, domestic media.

The enormous cost of the cleanup and compensation of the victims of the disaster has drained financial Tepco. Sources that can inject Government over $13 billion in the company already next summer in a de-facto nationalization told Reuters last week.

A massive cleanup task outside of the plant is Japan, if people are to go home. The Environment Ministry says about 2,400 km2 (930 miles) of land around the plant need to be decontaminated, an area about the size of Luxembourg.

Shocked the public believe the crisis in the nuclear energy and Japan checks its earlier plan to increase the share of electricity from nuclear energy to 50 per cent by the year 2030 by 30 percent in 2010 now.
Japan can not immediately walk away from nuclear energy, but few doubt that nuclear power in the future would play a lesser role.

Living in fear of radiation is part of life for the residents nearby and far from the plant. Cases of excessive radiation in the vegetables, tea, milk, fish and water have stoked fear despite assurances from public officials, that the levels detected not are dangerous.

Chernobyl experience has shown that fear will probably continue for many years, with local residents in the vicinity of the former Soviet factory to produce still regularly verified local for radiation before they consume 25 years after the disaster.

The announcement may not drastically Noda of support improve reviews by its unwavering commitment to a VAT hike to deal with a public debt twice the size of Japan's economy heavily eroded. Noda is also a huge list of other tasks, how such as help a stagnating economy address rise to historic highs against the yen.
(Editing by Tomasz Janowski and mark Bendeich)

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12:33 AM | 0 comments

Thousands of Russians protest Putin

1 of 17. Policemen detain an activist during a rally to protest against violations at the parliamentary elections in St. Petersburg December 10, 2011. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Russia on Saturday to demand an end to Vladimir Putin's rule and a rerun of a parliamentary election in the biggest opposition protests since he rose to power more than a decade ago.

Credit: Reuters/Alexander Demianchuk

By Steve Gutterman and Amie Ferris-Rotman

MOSCOW | Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:09pm EST

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people in Moscow and thousands more in cities across Russia demanded an end to Vladimir Putin's rule and a rerun of a parliamentary election on Saturday in the biggest opposition protests since he rose to power 12 years ago.

Potesters waved banners such as "The rats should go!" and "Swindlers and thieves - give us our elections back!" in cities from the Pacific port of Vladivostok in the east to Kaliningrad in the west, nearly 7,400 km (4,600 miles) away.

But the biggest protest by far was in Moscow, where riot police were out in force but just watched as protesters waving flags and shouting "Putin is a thief!" staged the opposition's biggest protest rally since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

The protests showed a groundswell of anger over the December 4 election, which the opposition says was rigged to favor Putin's United Russia, and discontent with the prime minister three months before he tries to reclaim the presidency at the polls.

"Today 60,000, maybe 100,000 people, have come to this rally," former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov said in a speech to a huge crowd packed into Bolotnaya Square across the Moscow River from the Kremlin.

"This means today is the beginning of the end for these thieving authorities," said Kasyanov, who now leads an opposition movement which was barred from the election.

People of all ages gathered in Moscow, many carrying white carnations as the symbol of their protest and some waving pictures of Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev declaring: "Guys, it's time to go." Helicopters at times buzzed overhead.

Vladimir Ryzhkov, an opposition leader, read out a list of demands including annulling the election and holding a new one, registering opposition parties, dismissing the election commission head and freeing people the protesters consider political prisoners.

"Russia has changed today -- the future has changed," he said, urging demonstrators to come out for new protests on December 24. The crowd chanted, "We'll be back!"

But Konstantin Kosachyov, a United Russia lawmaker authorized to speak on behalf of the Kremlin, ruled out negotiations on the organizers' demands and said: "With all respect for the people who came out to protest, they are not a political party."

The rallies, many of them held in freezing snow, were a test of the opposition's ability to turn public anger into a mass protest movement on the scale of the Arab Spring rebellions that brought down rulers in the Middle East and North Africa.

Most Russian political experts say the former KGB spy who has dominated the world's largest energy producer for 12 years is in little immediate danger of being toppled and that protests are hard to keep going across such a vast country.

But they say Putin's authority has been damaged and may gradually wane when he returns as president after the March election, unless he answers demands ranging from holding fair elections to tackling rampant corruption and reducing the huge gap between rich and poor.

"The time has come to throw off the chains," one of the main opposition figures, blogger Alexei Navalny, said in a message sent from jail following his arrest in a protest in Monday.

"We are not cattle or slaves. We have a voice and we have the strength to defend it," he said in the message, which drew cheers when it was read out from the stage by Oleg Kashin, an opposition journalist.

Such large protests were unthinkable before last Sunday's election, in which United Russia won only a slim majority in the State Duma lower house -- police warned protesters to get off a Moscow bridge at one point for fear it would collapse.

But in a sign that the Kremlin has started to sense the change of mood, most of Saturday's rallies were approved by city authorities hoping to avoid violence and state television showed footage of the protests - but no direct criticism of Putin.

PROTEST FROM EAST TO WEST OF RUSSIA

Invited by messages sent on social media, people protested in dozens of cities such as Vladivostok, Novosibirsk in Siberia, Arkhangelsk in the Arctic north, in Kaliningrad in the west, and in the Karelia region near Finland. Witnesses said 10,000 took part in a protest in St Petersburg, Russia's second city.

Police broke up an unapproved protest by about 400 people in Kurgan, on Russia's border with Kazakhstan, and at least 20 were detained in Khabarovsk near Russia's border with China, Russian news agencies said. Ten were held in St Petersburg, police said, and 35 were detained in Syktyvkar near the Arctic Circle.

"This is history in the making for Russia. The people are coming out to demand justice for the first time in two decades, justice in the elections," Anton, 41, a financial services sector employee who gave only his first name, said in Moscow.

"I want new elections, not a revolution," said Ernst Kryavitsky, 75, a retired electrician dressed in a long brown coat and hat against the falling snow in Moscow.

At least 100 trucks of riot police were parked near the Kremlin and columns of police trucks drove around the capital. Police put the number of protesters at around 25,000, and organizers said it was up to 150,000.

Medvedev has denied the allegations of fraud in the election. Putin, who became prime minister in 1999 and was elected president in 2000, has accused the United States of encouraging and financing the protesters.

FALLING POPULARITY

The protesters were mainly angered by the election, in which they say only cheating prevented United Russia's result being worse. International monitors also said the ruling party had an unfair advantage and that they had evidence of ballot-stuffing.

Putin, 59, remains Russia's most popular leader in opinion polls, and has dominated the country under a political system in which power revolves around him. Far from all Russians wanted to take to the streets to protest.

"We think all these rallies, they're not right, because you need to work for justice in legal ways," said Lyudmila Mashenko, owner of a small business walking with her grandson in Moscow.

Some protesters want new elections but still back Putin.

"I came here today mainly to say that I don't agree with the result of election," the manager of an IT company in St Petersburg who gave her name only as Dasha.

But Putin has seen his support - won by restoring order after the chaos of the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union - slip in opinion polls.

Many Russians felt disenfranchised in September when he and Medvedev announced plans to swap jobs after the presidential election and said they had taken the decision years ago.

(Additional reporting by Andrei Ostroukh, Thomas Grove and Guy Faulconbridge, Writing by Timothy Heritage, Editing by Steve Gutterman)

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11:51 AM | 0 comments