The Los Angeles Times reports the U.S. and the U.N. accused the militant group of Hezbollah, as well as Iran and Syria, of attempting to endanger Lebanon's stability and undermine its independence. The article says that Iran, whose ties to Hezbollah date back nearly 30 years, funds the militant group to the tune of millions of dollars a year and is believed to supply much of its arsenal. Meanwhile, the United States urges all neighbors of Lebanon to play a constructive role in supporting the Lebanese government.
At the same time the leader of Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria, called Thursday on all Lebanese to boycott the U.N. tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of a former prime minister, saying all information gathered by the team was being sent to Israel, The Los Angeles Times reported.
On Friday, in its turn, the U.N. called Hezbollah's boycott an "attempt to obstruct justice", Reuters reported. An article Hezbollah calls for boycott of UN tribunal following attacks on investigators in Beirut' says the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will continue to rely on the full cooperation of the Lebanese government.
However, not only the U.S. accuse Iran in armament trade. An article Israeli military officials say weapons seized in Nigeria came from Iran, heading to Gaza Strip' was reported in The Los Angeles Times. It says Agents with Nigeria's secretive State Security Service discovered the weapons Tuesday hidden inside of 13 shipping containers dropped off at Lagos' busy Apapa Port. Ismail Radwan, a Hamas leader in Gaza, denied the weapons were headed to Gaza.
The Los Angeles Times reports a bus carrying French tourists in Turkey slammed into a car on Thursday, killing rather than 6 and injuring at least 18 passengers. The author notes thousands of people are killed in traffic accidents on Turkey's roads each year because of careless driving or poor road conditions.
China has informally asked its energy companies to slow work on energy projects in Iran as its ties grow with the U.S. energy sector, says Reuters agency. Trade between China and Iran has grown quickly, dominated by Iran's energy exports. China's top energy group, CNPC, this year clinched a deal to develop phase 11 of Iran's South Pars gas project and expand its operations in Iran. However, the U.S. tries to squeeze Iran's energy imports.
Meanwhile, China has sought Iran's assistance for the making of navigational satellites, Press TV agency reported. Iran joined the club of countries with satellite launching know-how in 2009. Iran now eyes deep space explorations and made a reference to the Iranian Space Agency's efforts to increase the participation of private sector in order to boost Iran's space plans.
Kazakh opposition party leader pelted with eggs'. The Hurriyet news agency reported that Vladimir Kozlov, leader of Kazakhstan's unregistered Algha opposition party, was attacked by a group of young men on the premises of the National Press Club, where they gathered to discuss the current political situation in Kazakhstan, as Kozlov stated it is time for 70-year-old incumbent Nursultan Nazarbayev to be replaced. However, it seems Nazarbayev will run for a further presidential term in 2012.
A video apparently showing the U.S. vice president telling an Armenian-American activist that the Armenian president asked the United States to hold off recognizing the 1915 killings of Armenians as "genocide" has stirred anger in Yerevan, Hurriyet reported. An Armenian presidential spokesperson on Wednesday denied that such a conversation took place between President Serge Sarkisian and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, urging the U.S. administration to release the recording of the phone conversation. The press secretary for the ruling Republican Party, meanwhile, said they did not take the video seriously, called it "pure nonsense."
Today the 87th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic is. An article Turkish Republic to mark its 87th year' published by Hurriyet agency tells about various activities scheduled. Bad weather conditions have forced Istanbul to postpone until Sunday a parade. A number of Turkish naval warships will be open to the public. The Istanbul horizon will be the backdrop for a massive night-time fireworks show on the Bosphorus. Some activities planned to celebrate the birth of the Turkish nation include parachute shows performed by the Turkish Air Force.
