I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

Den of espionage,terror Sultan Qaboos ‘stable’, treatment ongoing sieged Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said is in a “stable condition” and Dozens of protesters broke into the U.S. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes along with oth- continuing a program of medical treatment, state television said embassy compound in Iraqi capital Baghdad er senior Hashd leaders were among the on Tuesday, citing a statement from the sultan’s office. on Tuesday after smashing a main door and protesters. Concern had grown over the sultan’s health after he spent a setting fire to a reception area, prompting Speaking to Reuters, Qais al-Khazali, the week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment this month and tear gas and sounds of gunfire. head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq — another PMU Omani authorities said nothing about his health after his return. Witnesses at the scene reported flames faction — said “Americans are unwanted An ally of the West, Qaboos, 79, has ruled the Gulf Arab state rising from inside the compound and at in Iraq. They are a source of evil and we since leading a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of Britain, least three U.S. soldiers on the roof of the want them to leave.” Oman’s former colonial power. main building inside embassy. Many protesters have set up tents, an- Qaboos has no children and has not publicly named a succes- Iraq’s caretaker prime minister Adel nouncing plans for an indefinite sit-in until sor. A 1996 statute says the ruling family will choose a successor Abdul Mahdi said that crowds should leave the embassy is closed and the ambassador within three days of the throne’s becoming vacant. the compound “immediately.” expelled from the country. If they fail to agree, a council of military and security officials, “We recall that any aggression or har- Earlier in the day, Iraqi lawmakers Supreme Court chiefs and heads of the two assemblies will put assment of foreign embassies will be firmly chanted anti-U.S. slogans during a par- in power the person whose name has been secretly written by prohibited by the security forces,” Abdel liamentary session. the sultan in a sealed letter. Mahdi’s office said several hours after the Sadr says ready to work with In his first comments to the country since returning, the state- attack began. Hashd al-Sha’abi to end U.S. presence ment from the royal court said Qaboos thanked his people for Meanwhile, U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Senior Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr the good wishes they had sent him. has been evacuated after thousands of an- says he is willing to work with the Popular (Source: AFP) gry Iraqi demonstrators gathered outside Mobilization Units (PMU) -- better known the gates of the compound to condemn as Hashd al-Sha’abi -- to end the United Washington’s fatal military aggression States military presence in Iraq through Death toll from tribal clashes that targeted Iraq’s Popular Mobilization to leave Iraq. surveillance cameras around the building. political and legal means. Units (PMU). “Parliament should oust U.S. troops, Outside the mission, Iraqi security forces In comments on Monday, Sadr warned in Sudan’s Darfur rises to 24 Also on Tuesday, Iraqis held a massive or else we will,” one poster read. fired teargas as they tried to prevent the that he will “take other actions” in co- funeral procession in the capital Baghdad Reuters cited two Iraqi Foreign Ministry protesters from making their way into the operation with his rivals to kick out Sporadic tribal clashes between Arabs and non-Arabs contin- for the victims of the U.S. air raids, which sources as saying that the U.S. ambassador diplomatic compound. U.S. troops if political and legal means ued Tuesday in Sudan’s West Darfur province, as the death toll killed at least 25 PMU fighters from the and other staff were evacuated from the Only a small amount of teargas was do not work. climbed to at least two dozen people, some of them burned to Kata’ib Hezbollah faction and injured over embassy out of security concerns as protests used and the PMU members taking part He at the same time called on Iraqis to death, according to a local aid group working in the area. 50 others in Anbar Province. raged outside. in the rallies, using loud speakers, urged the avoid “irresponsible actions” that can be Some of the 24 dead were children, said Adam Regal, a spokes- Caretaker Prime Minister Adel Ab- Only a few embassy protection staff crowd to disperse, a Reuters witness said. used to justify attacks on the Arab country. man for a local organization that helps run refugee camps in the dul-Mahdi has announced three days of were left behind, according to the Reuters. The Iraqi caretaker premier called on Fighters loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr fought area. He said at least 17 others were wounded. public mourning. American forces deployed inside the the protesters to “immediately” leave the U.S. troops for years following Washington’s The clashes, which erupted over the weekend, pose a challenge Thousands of angry protests managed compound have fired tear gas, flash compound. invasion of Iraq in 2003. to efforts by Sudan’s transitional government to end decades to reach the U.S. diplomatic mission which bangs and stun grenades to disperse “We recall that any aggression or har- Sadr’s comments came after the U.S. long rebellions in areas like Darfur. Rebel groups from Darfur is located in Baghdad’s heavily fortified the crowd. assment of foreign embassies will be firmly forces in Iraq carried out an airstrike on have now suspended their peace talks with the government in Green Zone, chanting ‘Death to America’ The protesters have breached the outer prohibited by the security forces,” Abdel a number of PMU facilities in the western response to the tribal clashes and called for an investigation. and burning U.S. flags. wall of the high-security compound. They Mahdi’s office said. Anbar Province, which led to the killing Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after a popular upris- The protesters further held up signs call- have sprayed the words “Closed in the name ‘U.S. unwanted in Iraq’ of nearly 30 people and injuring of over ing led the military to overthrow longtime autocratic President ing for the U.S. mission to be shut down of the people” on the gates of the American Hashd al-Shabi commander Faleh al- 50 others. Omar al-Bashir in April. A military-civilian government now and for the parliament to order U.S. forces mission, throwing bricks and stones at the Fayyadh and Kata’ib Hezbollah commander (Source: agencies) rules the country. One if its key priorities has been ending the insurgencies in Sudan’s far-flung provinces in order to slash military spending, which takes up much of the national budget. Trump, Putin discussed Russia attack, arms U.S., German, Israeli envoys weigh in Regal shared footage showing burned properties, as well as graphic images of dead bodies and wounded people with blood- control, relations:White House on Russian WWII claims stained clothes. His aid group said looting and destruction of property by militias took place in at least three refugee camps The U.S, German and Israeli ambassadors the U.S. and the international Jewish The U.S, German and Israeli ambassadors “creating discord between Poland and in the town of Genena. in Warsaw weighed in Monday against diaspora.” in Warsaw weighed in Monday against the U.S. and the international Jewish Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council said Monday they would claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin He said Putin is trying to erase Stalin’s claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin diaspora.” deploy “sufficient” troops to the region to help contain the deadly that Poland bears part of the blame for alliance with Hitler from history. that Poland bears part of the blame for He said Putin is trying to erase Stalin’s clashes, which grew out of a skirmish between two people, one the outbreak of World War II. British historian Roger Moorehouse the outbreak of World War II. alliance with Hitler from history. of whom, an Arab, was stabbed to death. “Dear President Putin, Hitler and Stalin tweeted to say that Putin’s words “provoked “Dear President Putin, Hitler and Stalin British historian Roger Moorehouse (Source: AP0) colluded to start WWII. That is a fact. Po- a much better popular understanding of colluded to start WWII. That is a fact. Po- tweeted to say that Putin’s words “provoked land was a victim of this horrible conflict,” the pact’s true nefarious nature and sig- land was a victim of this horrible conflict,” a much better popular understanding of Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher said nificance.” Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher said the pact’s true nefarious nature and sig- on Twitter in English and Polish. On Sunday, Polish Prime Minister on Twitter in English and Polish. nificance.” UN envoy says UK The Russian Embassy countered with Mateusz Morawiecki protested Putin’s The Russian Embassy countered with On Sunday, Polish Prime Minister ‘contributed’ to Assange’s a tweet saying: “Dear Ambassador, do you comments, saying they are deliberate a tweet saying: “Dear Ambassador, do you Mateusz Morawiecki protested Putin’s really think that you know about history “lies” and arguing that Putin is trying to really think that you know about history comments, saying they are deliberate torture, urges British govt. to any more than you do about diplomacy?” deflect attention from recent political any more than you do about diplomacy?” “lies” and arguing that Putin is trying to World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939, failures by Russia. World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939, deflect attention from recent political release him immediately when Nazi German troops invaded Poland. Poland did not invite Putin to inter- when Nazi German troops invaded Poland. failures by Russia. Two weeks later, the Soviet Red Army also national ceremonies Sept.1 in Warsaw Two weeks later, the Soviet Red Army also Poland did not invite Putin to inter- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer has published attacked embattled Poland from the east, marking the 80th anniversary of the war’s attacked embattled Poland from the east, national ceremonies Sept.1 in Warsaw a letter to the UK government, asking it to end the detention in what Poles still refer to as a “stab in the outbreak. He is also not to attend Jan. in what Poles still refer to as a “stab in the marking the 80th anniversary of the war’s of Julian Assange, warning that his health may soon reach a back.” Days earlier, Germany and Russia 27 observances of the liberation of the back.” Days earlier, Germany and Russia outbreak. He is also not to attend Jan. “critical” stage, including risk of death. had signed a pact with a secret protocol Auschwitz-Birkenaudeath camp that Nazi had signed a pact with a secret protocol 27 observances of the liberation of the The scathing letter, which was penned by Melzer on Octo- to carve up Poland and the Baltic states Germany operated in occupied Poland. to carve up Poland and the Baltic states Auschwitz-Birkenaudeath camp that Nazi ber 29, urged the British authorities to review the WikiLeaks between themselves. Some six million Poles Relations between Russia and Po- between themselves. Some six million Germany operated in occupied Poland. founder’s prison conditions or release him immediately. How- lost their lives during the whole of WWII. land have been tense since Poland threw Poles lost their lives during the whole Relations between Russia and Poland ever, having received no response from London in the last 60 Recently, Putin has argued that collu- off Moscow-controlled communist rule of WWII. have been tense since Poland threw off days, Melzer decided to go public and publish the document sion between Western powers and Adolf 30 years ago and began moving closer Recently, Putin has argued that collu- Moscow-controlled communist rule 30 in full on Tuesday. Hitler paved the way for World War II. to the West. Poland has since joined sion between Western powers and Adolf years ago and began moving closer to the In the letter, the UN special rapporteur described the detention He also cast Poland as an anti-Semitic NATO and the European Union, and Hitler paved the way for World War II. West. Poland has since joined NATO and regime that Assange has to endure in the clandestine top-securi- country that welcomed Hitler’s plans to has cultivated a close alliance with He also cast Poland as an anti-Semitic the European Union, and has cultivated ty Belmarsh Prison as “unnecessary, disproportionate, and dis- destroy Europe’s Jews. the United States. country that welcomed Hitler’s plans to a close alliance with the United States. criminatory.” He said it was designed to “perpetuate [Assange’s] German Ambassador Rolf Nikel and Poland has also been making efforts to destroy Europe’s Jews. Poland has also been making efforts to exposure to psychological torture or other cruel, inhuman or Israeli Ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi reduce its dependence on Russian gas and German Ambassador Rolf Nikel and reduce its dependence on Russian gas and degrading treatment or punishment.” took a stand Monday to blame the war’s oil and has vocally opposed Nord Stream Israeli Ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi oil and has vocally opposed Nord Stream Melzer proceeded to admonish the British government for outbreak on the August 1939 Nazi-So- 2, a major Russian-German gas pipeline took a stand Monday to blame the war’s 2, a major Russian-German gas pipeline taking four months to respond to his previous letter of May 27, viet pact. under construction that will transport Rus- outbreak on the August 1939 Nazi-So- under construction that will transport which was penned after Melzer visited Assange in the high-se- Polish historian Mariusz Wolos told sian gas to Western Europe, bypassing viet pact. Russian gas to Western Europe, bypassing curity facility on May 9. the Onet portal that Putin is aiming at Poland and Ukraine. Polish historian Mariusz Wolos told Poland and Ukraine. Melzer wrote that a “thorough forensic and psychiatric exam- “creating discord between Poland and (Source: daily Star) the Onet portal that Putin is aiming at (Source: AP0 ination” performed during his visit showed “a clear pattern of symptoms typical for persons having been exposed to psychological torture for a prolonged period of time.” But instead of heeding his recommendations, the UK turned a blind eye to the findings, Thousands trapped on Australian beaches by dangerous bushfires preferring not to do anything to alleviate the journalist’s suffering. (Source: RT) Thousands swarmed to beaches on Australia’s east coast three-year drought. About 4,000 people in the town of Mallacoota in Vic- on Tuesday to escape fierce wildfires bearing down on Fueled by searing temperatures and high winds, more toria headed to the waterfront after the main road was several seaside towns, as the government readied naval than 200 fires are now burning across the southeastern cut off. Those who could not make it there scrambled for vessels and military helicopters to aid firefighting and states of New South Wales and Victoria, threatening several shelter in a gymnasium and other public buildings, as Kim calls for ‘military evacuations. Government officials called for Australian towns and snapping their power, mobile and internet links. emergency sirens wailed. military support and assistance from U.S. and Canadian “This is absolutely one of the worst fire seasons Some of those trapped in the town posted images of countermeasures’ fire crews as authorities confirmed two people had died we’ve seen,” Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of blood-red, smoke-filled skies on social media. One beachfront overnight, taking to 11 the total deaths in wildfires since the NSW Rural Fire Service, told a briefing in Sydney. photograph showed people lying shoulder-to-shoulder North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for active “diplo- the beginning of October. “It’s going to be a very long, difficult dangerous night on the sand, some wearing gas masks. matic and military countermeasures” to preserve the country’s The huge bushfires have destroyed more than 4 still ahead. It’s going to be another difficult day again to- It looked “a lot like Armageddon,” said David Jeffrey, security in a lengthy speech at a key political conference possibly million hectares (10 million acres), with new blazes morrow.” Authorities said the main firefront was moving the owner of the Wave Oasis guesthouse, adding, “It’s meant to legitimize important changes to his nuclear diplomacy sparked into life almost daily by extremely hot and up the coast and warned those in its path to seek shelter terrifying.” with the United States. windy conditions in bushland left tinder dry after a close to the beach. (Source: reuters) Kim spoke during the ruling Workers’ Party meeting, which is expected to continue for the fourth day on Tuesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency. During his seven-hour speech on Monday, Kim issued national Israeli top court hears case on Netanyahu’s future goals for rebuilding North Korea’s economy and preparing active and “offensive political, diplomatic and military countermeasures Israel’s Supreme Court has convened to hear an immediate ruling and may ask for a full he emerges victorious. languish under the current parliament. for firmly preserving the sovereignty and security of the country,” a petition on whether an indicted member panel of the court to convene on the matter. Given the shaky legal ground, the court Normally, a request for immunity the state media said on Tuesday. of parliament can form a new government, Either way, it was wading into uncharted could deem the scenario hypothetical and would need to be approved by a parlia- On Wednesday, Kim is expected to use his annual New Year’s a key test case for Prime Minister Benja- territory. delay the case until that happens. mentary committee and then submitted address to announce significant changes to his economic and min Netanyahu to see if he can prolong his Israeli law requires Cabinet ministers The hearing comes as Netanyahu ap- to a full vote. But the committee charged security policies. political career after elections in March. and mayors to resign if indicted, but does pears poised to seek immunity from the with handling such matters does not exist Some experts believe Kim could use the speech to declare he is If the court decides Netanyahu is inel- not specify so for a sitting prime minister. corruption charges against him, delaying because a government was never formed suspending his nuclear negotiations with Washington, which are igible, it could precipitate a constitutional There are no restrictions on Netanyahu to the prospect of a trial until the elections after September’s election. in a deadlock over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief crisis in Israel, and exacerbate the already run in the March 2 election - the third polls when he hopes to have a parliamentary The attorney general cannot file the in- and disarmament, and he could possibly revive confrontation tenuous ties between the Israeli government in less than a year - but good governance majority coalition that will shield him from dictment until the question of immunity by lifting a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range and judiciary. groups are appealing whether he could be prosecution. is settled, delaying any court proceedings. missile tests. The court is not expected to hand down tasked with forming a new government if The request for immunity is likely to (Source: al Jazeera) (Source: al Jazeera)