THE PRESS, Christchurch Saturday, December 11, 2010 WORLD B3

AFGHANISTAN IN BRIEF Head1

Cops convicted ❯❯ A federal jury has convicted three current or former New Taleban losing its influence, says US Orleans police officers but acquitted two others in the death of a man soon after America’s high-risk troop of the country, but insisted: sition. The general said insur- suspected militants across the Hurricane Katrina. The jury of surge in Afghanistan has ‘‘The bottom line is that over There is no denying that the security climate is improving and that the gents were now only on the south – raids that have seven women and five men exceeded expectations and is the last 12 months we’ve come outskirts of the town, which angered Afghanistan’s Presi- yesterday convicted a former bringing security to large a long way . . . There is no sacrifices of Afghan and coalition troops are achieving greater safety and was flourishing, with bazaars dent Hamid Karzai and officer, David Warren, of areas previously controlled denying that the security security. and schools open. The town reportedly caused tensions in manslaughter in the shooting by the Taleban, the United climate is improving and that ‘ also now had three Afghan his relationship with General death of 31-year-old Henry States Defence Secretary has the sacrifices of Afghan and Robert Gates police stations, with more David Petraeus, the region’s Glover outside a strip mall on said a year into the operation coalition troops are achieving US Defence Secretary than 300 officers on duty. American commander. September 2, 2005. The jury and days before a crucial greater safety and security.’’ ‘‘The battle for Sangin, Mills said his intent was also convicted Officer Gregory strategy review. In keeping with a Nato emphasising the 2014 deadline was in stark contrast to recent last year, and that the Taleban however, continues. It’s the not to ‘‘throttle back’’ during McRae of burning Glover’s In a clear sign that the Pen- consensus reached last for a full withdrawal adopted reports of high morale and controlled far less territory final piece of key terrain that the winter but to press on body in a car. Lieutenant tagon’s strategy review will month, Gates made no new by British Prime Minister steady recruitment by the than they did a year ago. the insurgent can contest.’’ with an aggressive campaign. Travis McCabe was convicted urge President Barack Obama promises about troop with- David Cameron and others. Taleban in northern and Mills told The Times this Mills also said that US The Afghan campaign has of writing a false report on the not to change course despite drawals. When Obama an- Asked about the summer eastern Afghanistan, where it week that the battle for Marja, special forces had ‘‘main- been a low political priority shooting. record casualties, Robert nounced the surge last year, 2011 deadline this week, is feared militants will bide the town in central Helmand tained a ruthless and a deadly for Obama since his decision Gates said after a visit to the he said a drawdown of the Major General Richard Mills, their time while Nato tries to which was a Taleban strong- pressure on the insurgent to back his general and Cat call war zone that he would return 100,000 US troops in the US Marine commander in clear and hold former Taleban hold, was ‘‘essentially over’’. leadership’’, which was now authorise the surge, largely to Washington ‘‘convinced Afghanistan would begin in Helmand, said: ‘‘My job is to territory in the south. The US-led Operation ‘‘bickering . . . over resources because it had Republican ❯❯ Police in Britain responding that our strategy is working’’. 2011. He has repeated the set the conditions for transi- He said he was confident Moshtarak – launched in and authorities’’. His remarks backing from the outset and to an early-hours emergency Gates heard evidence of a pledge frequently since, but tion. I don’t set timetables.’’ the allies would be able to February to clear the area of indirectly confirmed reports casualties were relatively low. call were stunned to discover resurgent Taleban in the east his administration is now Gates’s upbeat assessment achieve the key goals laid out Taleban – met tough oppo- of increased night raids on The Times a slumbering cat at the other end of the line. Ginger never dreamed of the trouble he would dial up when he took to MIDDLE EAST regularly sleeping on top of a telephone. Cheese in space Abbas resolute woman freed, say her supporters ❯❯ The California rocket company that launched a Supporters of a woman spacecraft into orbit and sentenced to death by stoning successfully returned it to on settlements for adultery are still waiting Earth this week has revealed for official confirmation of a its secret payload – cheese. Top Palestinian officials were report that Iranian author- Space Exploration headed to Washington for ities have freed her. Technologies yesterday talks with US Secretary of A German-based campaign released photographs of the State Hillary Clinton yester- group said yesterday that cheese in a containerbolted to day in a bid to break the Sakineh Mohammadi-Asht- the floor of its Dragon capsule deadlock in the peace talks iani had been released, along for Thursday’s test flight from with Israel. with her son and lawyer, after . SpaceX says the flight The latest meetings will photographs of her on home of the round of Le Brouere was come a day after Palestinian leave were released. a tribute to the Monty Python president Mahmoud Abbas But there was no official comedy team’s famous cheese again warned that settlement word from Tehran. shop sketch. building in the West Bank ‘‘We have got news from and annexed east Jerusalem Iran that they are free,’’ Mina Church attacks had to stop before talks with Ahadi, spokeswoman for the Israel could resume. Anti-Stoning Committee said. ❯❯ A United States fringe Both Palestinian premier Adamant: Mahmoud Abbas wants ‘‘We are waiting for religious group that pickets Salam Fayyad and chief and end to Israelis building another confirmation: appar- military funerals says it will negotiator Saeb Erakat were projects on disputed territory. ently there will be a pro- picket the funeral of Elizabeth due to meet Clinton, as Abbas gramme this evening on Edwards who died this week of said he wanted to know why urgency and a sense of [Iranian] television and then cancer. ‘‘God hates Elizabeth US efforts to get the Israelis to purpose.’’ we will be 100 per cent sure.’’ Edwards! WBC will picket her freeze settlement building had The UN secretary-general But there was no confir- funeral . . . Saturday, December failed. had expressed concern at the mation from the state media, 11 from 11.30 to 1.30pm,’’ the ‘‘We will not accept neg- settlement activity in the and on one channel yesterday, Westboro Baptist Church said otiations as long as settle- West Bank and East a program argued that yesterday in a vitriol-filled ments continue,’’ Abbas told Jerusalem, said a spokesman. Sakineh was guilty. announcement. Elizabeth reporters in Cairo after talks Barak was also due to meet It denounced what it called Edwards, the high-profile wife with Egyptian President Clinton today, sources said. a Western political campaign of former Democratic vice- Hosni Mubarak. Already yesterday, Israel’s attacking Iran over the affair. presidential candidate John ‘‘We have made this clear chief peace negotiator Yitz- Neither the French nor the Edwards, died of cancer at 61 to the Americans: without a hak Molcho held talks with German foreign ministries in her home in North Carolina halt to settlements, no Clinton in Washington, her could confirm the news, both on Wednesday. negotiations.’’ spokesman Philip Crowley saying they were waiting to Whereabouts uncertain: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in Iran, speaks to her son Sajjad Ghaderzadeh A Palestinian diplomat said. Clinton sought to get ‘‘a hear from Iranian authorities. during a visit home from prison. Photo: REUTERS Smoke free said Abbas would meet perspective on the Israeli side Italian Foreign Minister Washington’s Middle East of how to move forward . . .’’, Franco Frattini, however, campaign for her release, said to a 10-year jail term by an viewing her son. The States woman Teresa Lewis. ❯❯ President Barack Obama is envoy George Mitchell on he added. immediately hailed the he was sceptical about the appeals court in 2007. Germans entered Iran on Lewis, a 41-year-old grand- still trying to kick the smoking Tuesday. Molcho also had talks with reported release as ‘‘a great news that she was free. But a second sentence of tourist visas and worked for mother, was executed in habit. White House press Israel’s Defence Minister Mitchell. But asked if the day for human rights’’. ‘‘We are maybe facing an death by stoning on charges of Bild am Sonntag newspaper. September for , des- secretary Robert Gibbs told Ehud Barak, meanwhile, said Israeli and Palestinian teams It was believed that enormous and monstrous adultery levelled over several Iran’s chief prosecutor pite protests that she had reporters yesterday that he yesterday the two sides had to could meet under US aus- pictures secured by Western manipulation,’’ he said. relationships, notably with Gholam Hossein Mohseni diminished mental faculties. has not seen Obama smoke or move beyond the dispute over pices, Crowley replied: ‘‘I’m media apparently showing Sakineh, a 43-year-old the man convicted of her Ejeie said the pair had not Iranian President Mah- seen evidence that the settlement construction to not anticipating that . . .’’ Sakineh at her house on mother of two, was initially husband’s murder, was ‘‘for the moment’’ been moud Ahmadinejad made a president has smoked a find a new ‘‘formula’’ for Palestinian officials have Monday during a brief home given death sentences by two upheld by another appeals charged with espionage. similar point in comments cigarette in about nine peace negotiations. indicated that indirect talks, leave for a television inter- different courts in the north- court the same year. Rejecting the international last month. months. Gibbs says Obama has Speaking after talks with along with Mitchell, are likely view may have sparked western city of Tabriz in Sakineh’s current lawyer, outcry over the Sakineh death ‘‘In the United States there been working ‘‘extremely UN Secretary-General Ban Ki to be the way forward in mistaken reports of a release. separate trials in 2006. Javid Houtan Kian, was sentence, the head of Iran’s are 53 women condemned to hard’’ to quit for good. Gibbs Moon he said the two sides Washington’s stuttering In Paris, French philos- A sentence to hang for her arrested in Tabriz in Sept- High Human Rights Council death. Why is the whole world says he thinks Obama is still had to find ‘‘a way that attempts to secure a peace opher Bernard-Henri Levy involvement in the murder of ember along with two has drawn parallels between not asking them to chewing nicotine gum. contains both a sense of deal by the end of 2011. AFP who has been spearheading a her husband was commuted Germans who were inter- her case and that of United these women?‘‘ AFP Agencies

BRITAIN Online war over WikiLeaks intensifies

Skirmishes raged across Navi Pillay also US Attorney General Eric WikiLeaks’ actions have the West has its own cyberspace between expressed surprise at the Holder said the Justice thrown diplomacy into dis- problems with democracy. WikiLeaks supporters and scale of the online attacks Department was looking array, caused countries to Brazilian President Luiz the companies they accuse that have targeted major into cyber attacks on curtail dealings with Inacio Lula da Silva said he of trying to stifle the group, American financial players opponents of WikiLeaks and America and put the lives of was surprised by the lack of with websites on both sides – in some cases denying companies that have stopped informants at risk. outcry against Assange’s taken out of service or access to their websites for doing business with it. While US allies have also arrest. choked off by attacks. hours at a time. WikiLeaks has been criticised WikiLeaks, some Retaliatory attacks – The UN’s top human ‘‘It’s truly what media under intense pressure since world leaders have which WikiLeaks says it rights official raised the would call a cyber-war. It’s it began publishing secret questioned the arrest of does not sanction – have alarm yesterday over just astonishing what is US diplomatic cables, with Assange. been claimed by a loose-knit officials’ and corporations’ happening,’’ Pillay told attacks on its websites and Russian Prime Minister group of ‘‘hacktivists’’ who moves to cut off WikiLeaks’ reporters in Geneva. threats against its founder, Vladimir Putin, questioning gather under the handle funding and starve it of In the Netherlands, a Julian Assange, who is now the reliability of leaked US ‘‘Anonymous.’’ They are server space – something 16-year-old boy suspected of in a British jail fighting cables referring to his nation using a modified version of she described as ‘‘potentially being involved in digital extradition to Sweden on sex as undemocratic and cor- software generally used to violating WikiLeaks’ right to attacks by Wikileaks crime allegations. rupt, said the fact that conduct ‘‘stress testing’’ on freedom of expression.’’ supporters was arrested. US officials say Assange is in custody shows websites. AP

UNITED STATES Door closes on Morrison’s rap for indecent exposure

Florida’s clemency board case, which justifies clem- oving his shirt during the the opportunity for 40 years has pardoned The Doors’ ency, Crist said. concert and calling for ‘‘a for this son of Florida, whose lead singer, Jim Morrison, ‘‘A pardon corrects the little nakedness’’, but denied body of work has endured posthumously for his 1970 fact that Mr Morrison is now flashing the audience. and who has this blight on conviction in Miami for unable to take advantage of The governor’s office his record for something he indecent exposure. the presumption of inno- received ‘‘constant’’ inquir- may or may not have done, Governor Charlie Crist, cence that is the cornerstone ies about the case during the when he was essentially a who leaves office next of the American justice past four years, Crist’s kid.’’ month, brought the case system,’’ Crist, 54, told fellow spokesman, Sterling Ivey, The man who brought the before the state’s clemency members of the board. said. The almost 200 case to Crist’s attention in board, which agreed yester- The Doors released 14 received since November 2007 was Gary Fineout, then day in Tallahassee to clear albums that sold more than showed 120 in support of a a reporter with the Miami the musician. a million copies each. Name cleared: The Doors lead pardon and 77 against, he Herald, Ivey said. Morrison, a Florida Among their most popular singer, Jim Morrison. said. Fineout’s interest was native who would have songs are Love Me Two A full pardon is meant to sparked ‘‘sort of by acci- turned 67 on Thursday, was Times, People Are Strange behaviour in Miami, which restore the rights of a dent’’, the reporter said, accused of revealing his and Light My Fire. Morrison included profane language, convicted person and does after he became aware of a genitals in a 1969 perform- is buried in Pere-Lachaise court records show. The jury not imply that a crime has fan’s effort to have Morrison ance at Dinner Key Audi- Cemetery in Paris. acquitted him of drunken- not been committed. pardoned. He thought he torium in Coconut Grove. The singer was sentenced ness and lewd and lascivious ‘‘It’s not about the guilt or could use the case in an He died in a Paris bathtub in to six months’ hard labour behaviour. innocence of the man,’’ Crist article, he said. 1971 while appealing the for his alleged obscene Morrison admitted rem- told the board. ‘‘We have had Washington Post-Bloomberg