Erekat: Palestine to join ICC on Wednesday

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 15:50 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 PLO Member Saeb Erekat Ramallah (IINA) – PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Saeb Erekat said “Palestine will be announced in The Hague on Wednesday as an official member of the International Criminal Court (ICC)”, after completion of all the technical and legal preparations. Erekat said that this move will qualify Palestine to join the 523 international organizations and conventions. He added that the commission in charge of preparing the files on Israeli aggression and settlements, which will be formally submitted to the ICC in April, has almost finished its work. AB/IINA

Jordanian King meets with the Iraqi VP Al-Nujaifi

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 15:30 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 Jordanian King Abdullah meets with the Iraqi Vice-President Osama Al-Nujaifi (Image from Petra) Amman, (IINA) - Jordanian King Abdullah, on Monday, received here the Iraqi Vice-President Osama Al-Nujaifi, who is currently visiting the Kingdom, Petra reported. During the meeting, which dealt with bilateral relations and the current situation in the Middle East, King Abdullah stressed Jordan's keenness to strengthen Jordanian-Iraqi relations in various fields to achieve common interests of the two countries and their peoples. The meeting also discussed international and regional efforts to combat terrorism and the threat of terrorist gangs and extremist ideology. For his part, the Iraqi Vice President expressed his country's appreciation for the King's stances in support of Iraq and its people, and his tireless efforts to achieve peace and strengthen security and stability in the region. SM/IINA

Science, technology to drive sustainable development in Mozambique

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 15:19 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 The capital of Mozambique Maputo (Google Image) Maputo (IINA) – Mozambique's Science, Technology and Higher Education Minister Jorge Nhambiu has challenged producers of knowledge to transform scientific research and technological innovation into levers in the search for solutions to sustainable development, media sources reported. "The challenges that we are called upon to face clamor for our intervention through production of knowledge aimed at national and regional needs for the eradication of poverty and sustainable development," Nhambiu said. The minister was speaking here on Monday at the opening of a seminar to launch the regional bloc of the Pan-African Competitiveness Forum (PACF). The meeting also covers the role of women scientists in the region's development. Nhambiu urged researchers and coordinators of innovation aggregates in the region to generate results from their work which would have a social impact. He hoped that such meetings would lead to "solutions to regional challenges, contributing significantly to economic and social improvements in our countries." The seminar was intended to establish a stage for scientific reflection where critical, open and frank debates could take place. Director of Mozambique's National Research Fund (FNI) Victoria Langa told reporters that there were now about 40 "innovation aggregates" or "clusters" in the country. Langa said a cluster program's main objective is to combat poverty at local level through stimulating competitiveness for the empowerment of communities. AB/IINA

Muslims in CAR continue to suffer from persecution

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 12:42 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 Christian Anti-balaka militia destroying mosques in CAR (Google/Image) Bangui (IINA) – The Anti-balaka militia has continued its persecution of Muslims and destruction of mosques in Central African Republic (CAR), despite their attempts to flee their homes. Since September 2013, the Christian militia Anti-balaka has continued to perpetrate heinous crimes against Muslims in CAR, including children, women and elderly – what Amnesty International has described as "ethnic cleansing" and "genocide." According to Amnesty’s reports, the number of displaced people exceeded one million, and the number of refugees living in camps stood at 100,000 people. Some 417 mosques out of CAR’s 436 mosques were destroyed by the militiamen, who were trying to expel Muslims out of the country. It is difficult now to estimate the number of Muslims, who made up 10 percent of the country’s total population in 2013. AB/IINA

Indonesia launches military exercise to guard against security threats

Indonesia

Eastern island of Sulawesi

Indonesian military exercises

Major General Mochamad Fuad Basya

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 12:18 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 Indonesian military (Pic from asianews.it) Jakarta, Indonesia (IINA) – Indonesian army has launched military exercises in the eastern island of Sulawesi as part of broader efforts to crack down on militants with suspected links to ISIS group, officials said on Tuesday. Reuter’s news agency noted that, the television footage showed the military firing rockets in remote, mountainous central Sulawesi as part of the exercises. "ISIS is a potential security threat, so we're preparing our forces to respond to that," said military spokesman Major General Mochamad Fuad Basya. He described the exercises as routine and said similar drills would be held elsewhere in Indonesia. "The target is to make sure our forces are ready for any threat and for a deterrent effect to radicals in that area," he added. SM/IINA

Royal Air Maroc signed long-term contract with Air France for Boeing 787 maintenance

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 11:38 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 Rabat, (IINA) - Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has signed a long-term contract with Air France KLM for the maintenance of five Boeing 787s owned by the Moroccan flag carrier, MWN reported. According to a press release issued by Air France KLM, the contract “will organize component repair and overhaul services for Boeing 787s owned by RAM, with dedicated access to the Air France KLM E&M spares pool at Amsterdam.” The latest contract is an extension to an earlier agreement signed in January 2013, when Royal Air Maroc entrusted support for its fleet of over 30 Boeing 737NG aircraft to Air France KLM E&M. SM/IINA

Libyan PM hails decision to start 'Decisive Storm' against Houthis

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 11:36 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 Libya's Interim PM Abdullah Al-Thani (Google Images) Tripoli (IINA) – Libya's Interim Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thani has praised the decision to start 'Decisive Storm' operations against Houthi rebels to support the legitimacy in Yemen, noting that his country will ask the Arab League for an Arab intervention in Libya to restore legitimacy, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. In a press statement, Al-Thani explained that the decisions adopted by the Arab summit, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, are in favor of the Libyan people. He pointed out that Libya suffers from the same problems plaguing Yemen, citing armed groups that threaten stability in both countries. He said that the chief of staff of the Libyan army will participate in a meeting designed to form a joint Arab force, noting that his country will be supportive of such a force in accordance to the available possibilities. AB/IINA

Morocco, South Korea sign bilateral agreement on civil aviation

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Tuesday 31 Mar 2015 - 11:36 Makkah mean time-11-6-1436 Rabat, (IINA) - Morocco and South Korea signed recently a memorandum of understanding (MoU), and a bilateral agreement on air services and civil aviation security, Morocco world news reported. The agreement, which has been signed between the two countries, will give new momentum to trade partnership between as it includes clauses on commercial cooperation. This agreement will enable Moroccan companies, namely Morocco’s carrier RAM, to explore new markets, promote Morocco connectivity with the Asian market and turn the Casablanca hub into a regional center in northern and western Africa, said a statement by the equipment, transportation and logistics ministry. It also, offers the possibility to link several African countries to airports of Asian countries via the Casablanca international Mohammad V airport and ‘Incheon’ airport hub in Seoul in South Korea. SM/IINA

Kazakhstan and China ink deals worth $23 billion

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 15:47 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (right) with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov (left) (Google image) Beijing, (IINA) - Kazakhstan and China on Friday signed 33 cooperation deals worth US $23.6 billion during Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Masimov's visit to China, news agencies reported Monday. The agreements were signed during Masimov's meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang, and cover cooperation in steel, nonferrous metals, sheet glass, oil refining, hydropower plants, and automobile production. Also, the initiatives include the construction of highways, urban railways, wind power plants and other infrastructure. The deal which, was signed last week, is the first of an expected harvest from a preliminary consensus about the export of China’s advanced industrial capacity to oil-dependent Kazakhstan that the two leaders agreed to during Li’s visit to the country in December. “We sowed the seeds in Kazakhstan in winter, and now the seeds have thrived,” Li said during the meeting with Masimov. Masimov also, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who praised the increasingly strong ties between the two countries and called for enhanced cooperation within the Silk Road Economic Belt. Masimov, accompanied by his investment minister, energy minister and corporate leaders, said the initial success signals a bright outlook for future cooperation. SM/IINA

50 young French imams to be trained in Morocco

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 14:47 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 Image: Morocco World News site Rabat (IINA) – Fifty young French imams will be trained annually in Morocco, the Union of Mosques in France (UMF) announced on Friday, Maghreb Arab Press Agency (MAP) reported. The Union obtained in July last year the approval of Moroccan King Mohammed VI to the request of receiving 50 French students yearly for a three-year training in Morocco, said a UMF statement. The first batch, which includes 20 students from the different French regions, is already in the Morocco. An additional 28 students will join them in September, said the UMF, while expressing its gratitude to King Mohammed VI, who took care of such training that offers an invaluable opportunity to Muslims in France. Several mosques have contacted the UMF to employ French imams, prompting the Union to enter into a partnership with the Moroccan Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ministry to help these Frenchmen get a theological training at the Mohammed VI Institute for Imams, Murshidin and Murshidat Training in Rabat, the statement added. AB/IINA

Bahrain reiterates solidarity with Tunisia in anti-terror war

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 13:58 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 Bahrain reiterated its solidarity with Tunisia in its war against terrorism (Google image) Tunis, (IINA) - Bahrain Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa reiterated Bahrain's solidarity with Tunisia in its war against terrorism during a speech on behalf of the King, in an international anti-terrorism rally staged by Tunisia under the slogan "United to Defeat Terrorism", Bahrain news agency (BNA) reported. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi led the march in which leaders of many countries participated. The rally was organized in the aftermath of a terror attack, which targeted Bardo Museum last week leaving dozens of innocent people dead and injured. At a meeting with the Tunisian President at the parliament house where the rally started from, the Bahraini deputy PM conveyed heartfelt condolences of the King, the government and the Bahraini people on the victims of the coward terror act, which targeted innocent people to terrorize them and incite sedition. The deputy PM also pledged Bahrain's full-fledged support to Tunisia in all measures taken to maintain its security and stability. Both leaders underlined the keenness to further bolster bilateral relations, stressing the importance of pan-Arab action to support the anti-terrorism efforts and boost security and stability in the Arab region. SM/IINA

Muslim family imprisoned by Chinese court for practicing religious belief

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 12:53 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 Muslim in China (Google image) Beijing, (IINA) - In another crackdown on religious freedom against Muslims, the Chinese court recently sentenced a Muslim couple from Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uyghur Region of China for practicing their religious beliefs. A 38-year-old Muslim man was sentenced to spend six years in prison for growing his beard, while his wife was given a two-year sentence for wearing a veil, media sources reported. China’s Xinjiang region, which is home to millions of Turkic-speaking Uyghurs, has seen an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012 However, Uyghur exiles and rights groups have criticized Chinese authorities’ heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, and forcing many to flee overseas, often through Southeast Asia. Since the beginning of this year, a certain number of Muslims having beards and wearing the veils and Burqas have been prosecuted and sentenced. Last year in Karamay, Xinjiang, authorities banned residents from sporting beards, Burqas and headscarves on buses. It is noteworthy that this crackdown against the Muslim community in the country was like many other incidents, when China recently has forced the imams of eastern Muslim majority district of Xinjiang to dance in the street, and pledge an oath that they will not teach religion to children besides telling them that prayer is harmful to the soul, Online Islam reported, citing World Bulletin news. SM/IINA

Malaysia: Islamic finance viable complement in global financial system

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 12:53 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 Sultan of Perak Nazirn Shah (Google Image) Kuala Lumpur (IINA) – Sultan of Malaysian Perak State Nazrin Shah has called on policymakers to consider Islamic finance as a viable complement or reinforcement to the still fragile global financial system. He said the principles and values in the Sharia-compliant Islamic finance are universally desirable and should therefore be acceptable. “However, we must also recognize that strong commitment and coordination among the policymakers and other relevant stakeholders are required for this approach to achieve a positive outcome. “I look forward to even more developments in relationship building between parties in the United Kingdom and Malaysia in the coming years,” he said in his latest address at the 6th Securities Commission-Oxford Centre for Islamic finance. Sultan Nazrin Shah, who is also Royal Patron for Malaysia’s Islamic Finance Initiative, welcomed closer collaboration in various areas of Islamic finance between the two countries to create greater business opportunities, strengthen industry skill sets and enhance industry profiling, according to Malaysia news agency BERNAMA. As a global financial center, he said London could create a wider acceptance and adoption of Islamic finance, which would later on contribute significantly towards the vibrancy and reach of Islamic finance, not only in the country but also globally. AB/IINA

French Muslim footballer Anelka decries France’s Islamophobia

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 12:38 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 French Muslim footballer Nicolas Anelka

Bahrain's Commander-in-Chief receives Pakistani military delegation

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 11:00 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 Photo: BNA Manama (IINA) – Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa received here on Sunday the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in Pakistan General Rashad Mahmood and his accompanying delegation, currently on a visit to Bahrain, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported. The Pakistani delegation was briefed on the BDF's stages of establishment, weapons, various military units and development during the prosperous era of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander. The BDF Commander-in-Chief lauded the historic bilateral relations and steadily-growing joint cooperation, which consolidate joint ties in all fields, especially the military work. AB/IINA

Sudan's FM reiterates support for 'Decisive Storm' operation against Houthis

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Monday 30 Mar 2015 - 10:51 Makkah mean time-10-6-1436 Sudanese FM Ali Karti Khartoum (IINA) – Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti has reiterated his country's support for the Saudi-led “Decisive Storm” operation against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. In a press statement, Karti said the Yemeni crisis convinced Arab leaders on the need to establish a joint defense force, citing the approval of the Arab summit, which ended Sunday in Sharm el-Sheikh, of this proposal. He stressed Sudan's readiness to participate in the Arab joint defense force. Karti added that his country's participation in the military operation in Yemen was through air force, which launched several raids on the insurgents’ strongholds in the capital Sana’a. The minister described the recent visit by President Omar Al-Bashir to Saudi Arabia ahead of the opening of the Arab summit, as a success, saying that it was a good opportunity for positive relations with neighboring Arab countries. AB/IINA

Breathing air pollutants during pregnancy can damage child's brain: Study

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 14:25 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 Photo: Brighter Brain website New York (IINA) – U.S. Researchers at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH) and the University of Southern California have found a powerful relationship between prenatal exposure to air pollutants and changes in the child’s brain structure, cognitive and behavioral problems. Air pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), emitted from motor vehicles, oil and coal burning for home heating and power generation, tobacco smoke, and other combustion sources, are responsible for child’s brain damage during preganancy. The study was conducted by following over 600 mothers and children from pregnancy into the children’s adolescent years. For a period during pregnancy, the mothers, all nonsmokers, carried personal backpacks containing filters which provided researchers with a sample of the air that the mothers were breathing. By analyzing the filters for levels of PAH, the researchers concluded that prenatal exposure to airborne PAH during gestation was associated with development delay by age 3, reduced verbal IQ at age 5, and symptoms of anxiety and depression at age 7. According to the researchers, the findings suggested that air pollutants, specifically PAH, affect the developing mind and contribute to more severe behavioral problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and aggression, as well as other behavioral problems, due to the disruptive effects of the pollutants on early brain development. Postnatal PAH exposure (measured at age 5) was found to contribute to additional disturbances in development of white matter in the brain, which is associated with concentration, reasoning, judgment, and problem-solving ability. Results this study appeared in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. AB/IINA

Pakistan sends 747 jumbo jets to evacuate nationals from Yemen

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 14:18 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 Pakistan 747 jumbo plane Islamabad, (IINA) - Pakistan is flying jumbo jets to the Middle Eastern country Yemen in order to evacuate hundreds of nationals, Reuters reported Quoting a defence ministry official as saying on Sunday. From its side, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia evacuated dozens of diplomats from Yemen on Saturday and the United Nations pulled out international staff after a third night of Saudi-led air strikes trying to stem the advance of Houthi fighters. "The Saudi civil aviation authorities had given us clearance to ‎send our passenger planes to Yemen," a Defence Ministry official told Reuters. "In the first step, two jumbo jets will be sent to Yemen Sunday to bring back the Pakistanis." A convoy of 600 Pakistanis was moving towards the Red Sea port of Hodeida, where "arrangements for their brief stay before their return journey to Pakistan have been made", Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry was quoted by media as saying. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in a telephone call with Saudi King Salman on Saturday, offered "all potentials of the Pakistan army", media quoted the Saudi Press Agency as saying. SM/IINA

Cambodia's largest mosque opens in Phnom Penh

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 14:14 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 Cambodia's largest mosque opens in Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia (IINA) - Cambodia’s largest and only Ottoman-style mosque was officially opened by Prime Minister Hun Sen in a ceremony attended by more than 1,000 people in the capital on Friday, Worldbulletin reported. Al-Serkal Grand Mosque in Phnom Penh's Boeng Kak neighbourhood was funded by Eisa Bin Nasser Bin Abdellatif Alserkal, an Emirati businessman, and replaces a mosque that once sat on the same site before it was torn down in 2012. “For the whole country, when they travel to Phnom Penh and from overseas, they come to this mosque to pray, and for tourists who come to Cambodia, they would like to come and pray,” he said. The gleaming $2 million structure was a big draw Friday as hundreds of people milled around outside. The separate men’s and women’s prayer halls were packed. SM/IINA

Jihad Dib, first Muslim Labor MP in Lakemba, Australia

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 14:12 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 Australian MP Jihad Dib New South Wales, (IINA) – Australian Jihad Dib becoming the state’s first Muslim MP after being elected to represent Lakemba, in New South Wales. Dib, who replaces former Lakemba Labor MP Rob Furolo, is now the first Muslim MP to represent the Lakemba seat. The seat has the highest proportion of Muslim residents in NSW with 34.6 per cent. The former director of a school was chosen, to be a candidate for the seat of Lakemba by the Australian Labor Party, which is one of the main strongholds party in the Western Sydney. MP Dib has won a landslide victory over his rivals in that district inhabited by the intensity of the Muslims community, achieving nearly 69 percent of the votes. Dib has become after this victory the first Muslim to represent Lakemba, which has the highest proportion of Islamic residents at 34.6 per cent. Dib who’s parent emigrated from Lebanon in the seventies said at the eve of the announcement of the results “serving Australia is a huge advantage, pointing out that he will be at the service of all Australians and that his election represents a historic step in the state. SM/IINA

Hundreds support Muslim Youth festival in London

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 11:11 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 South Woodford Mosque, Mulberry Way, London London, (IINA) - Hundreds of young British Muslims have attended a festival in London on how to divert people away from extremism, BBC reported Sunday. Muslim Youth Focus Group organized the event to voice concerns about issues such as radicalization. The event was aimed at young British Muslims to help create a platform for them to discuss issues such as Islamophobia, ISIS and the war in Syria. Young people, police, teachers, faith leaders and Muslims from the world of entertainment gathered at the Muslim Youth Festival to explore views on what it means to be a Muslim today. Imam, Dr Mohammed Fahim of South Woodford Mosque said, "Young British Muslims, irrespective of their ethnicities or gender, should feel proud to live in a country like Britain which gives them equal opportunities and permits them to practice their religion without any fear or oppression." SM/IINA

European Imams face extremism with a digital magazine promotes true face of Islam

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 11:04 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 Leading imams and scholars gathered at the launch of the new digital magazine (Getty image) London, (IINA) - Scores of imams from across Europe converged here, to condemn the atrocities falsely committed in the name of Islam, urging Muslims worldwide to retake the "digital space from those who wish to tarnish their faith", media sources reported. Over 120 Imams attended an anti-extremism summit in the British capital and released a digital magazine to promote the true face of Islam. The summit was held as a direct response by British Muslims to counter the threat of radicalization within Britain and Europe. "We are reclaiming the online space, but we need absolutely everyone to get involved in this effort. So this is a call to log on, get informed, and share the magazine with all your friends and family online," said Qari Asim, senior editor of Imamsonline.com and contributor to the magazine. Imams Online is an online resource which offers advice and education about the Islamic faith. Bringing together more than 700 Imams and Mosques from across Britain, Imams Online has become the first port of call for anyone wishing to find out more about the religion. The digital magazine, developed with contribution from Imams and scholars, aims to deliver a clear and positive message for readers with information that they can share easily across their social media network. Aiming to deliver a clear and positive message for readers, the new magazine is developed with contribution from Imams and scholars, offering young Muslims information that can be easily shared across social media. SM/IINA

San Francisco faith ring protects Muslims

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 10:58 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 San Francisco faith ring protects Muslims(Photo from sfgate.com -San Francisco Chronicle ) San Francisco, (IINA) - Showing solidarity with San Francisco Muslims, dozens of residents and religious leaders formed an interfaith ring around a mosque after Friday Prayer to support the religious minority amid soaring Islamophobia, media news reported. Local interfaith groups, including the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, the Interfaith Council of San Ramon Valley and Neighbor to Neighbor, came together to organize Friday’s event. Organized by local interfaith groups, the human chain was attended by more than 200 people who circled San Ramon Valley Islamic Center. After Friday prayer, people gathered inside the mosque to listen to speeches by Muslims, Jews and Christians about religious coexistence by highlighting similarities between faiths. “We’re saying right now we’re standing up against Islamophobia in our community," Rabbi Daniel Goldblatt, founder of the Interfaith Council of San Ramon Valley, told the crowd, San Francisco Chronicle reported on Friday, March 27. "We are all in this human enterprise together.” “We’re recognizing that there is a whole community that lives in fear of violence against them,” said the Rev. Will McGarvey, executive director of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, one of the organizers of the event. The solidarity ring comes a few weeks after the fatal shooting of a three Muslims in Chapel Hill, and other incidents. Since the 9/11 attacks, US Muslims, estimated between 6-8 million, have complained of discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities. SM/IINA

British Museum plans to open two galleries for its Islamic artifacts

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Sunday 29 Mar 2015 - 10:48 Makkah mean time-9-6-1436 British Museum London, (IINA) - Art from the Islamic world will be shown in the heart of the British Museum in London, in two new galleries funded by a Malaysian foundation which hopes to offset the image created by extremist militants, Media sources reported. The museum, which houses one of the world's largest collections of art and artefacts, said it plans to open two new galleries in its south wing devoted to its extensive collection of art from the Islamic world. The two new galleries, which will complement the existing gallery, are being funded for an undisclosed amount by the Albukhary Foundation of Malaysia. Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, the foundation's chairman, said there was an urgent need to make people more aware of the value of art and artefacts from the Islamic world, and the threats to this cultural heritage, especially at a time when historic sites in Iraq are under attack by extremist. "What is happening in the world, demolishing all the Islamic heritage, non-Islamic antiquities, is a bad image," he told Reuters on Thursday. The new project of Islamic artifacts is not the first to shed light on the Islamic heritage by the British Museum. In April 2012, the museum hosted the world's largest exhibition on the Muslim Hajj, with an eye to enhancing understanding of the Islamic spiritual experience. The exhibition displayed archaeological material, manuscripts, textiles historic photographs and contemporary art that document journeys to the holy lands through history. The decision followed what the museum said was the extraordinary success of its 2012 exhibition "Hajj: journey to the heart of Islam" which director Neil MacGregor said had attracted almost 150,000 visitors. "There was clearly a huge hunger in the public in Britain to know more about the cultures of the Islamic world," MacGregor told a news conference. "That started us thinking very hard about the importance about thinking about the Islamic world in this way." Venetia Porter, the lead curator on the project, said that for the first time the museum would be showing the links between its Islamic collection and its core collection from Europe. "The really important thing is to actually put this Islamic collection right in the heart of the museum," she said. The museum also said it would bolster its support for curators from Iraq to develop techniques of what it called "Emergency Heritage Management" to protect artefacts from being looted or damaged, and to restore those that have been vandalized. SM/IINA

Haram imams laud King Salman’s firm, wise stance

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Saturday 28 Mar 2015 - 21:23 Makkah mean time-8-6-1436 Makkah (IINA) - The Imams of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah lauded the decision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to help the legitimate Yemeni government and Yemeni people by launching Operation Decisive Storm. The support for the King’s decision came in their Friday sermons. In the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque Sheikh Osamah Khayyat said Allah granted success to King Salman to take this firm and wise Islamic stance to respond to the appeal of the legitimate president of Yemen, help the Muslim Yemeni people and protect the country from the aggression and oppression of the Houthis, who rebelled against legitimacy, which is recognized locally, in the Arab world and internationally. The aim was also to stop their spread that is threatening Yemen as well as the security and peace of the whole region. Therefore, the stance was successful and wise because it is founded on the bases of the Shariah and is governed by the principles of religion. It strives to protect the Ummah and global peace and security. It is not strange that it has received wide support from all Muslims and wise people all over the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported. He thanked Allah for granting the rulers success in supporting the right, dispelling falsehood and deterring the aggressors. He prayed for the success and victory of the sons and brothers — the military personnel in all their sectors. He prayed to Allah to grant them support and protect them. He prayed for protection of the country’s security. Khayyat also warned against tendentious rumors and placing personal interests before the interests of the religion, nation and Ummah. Meanwhile, the Imams and Khateebs of the two holy mosques praised the brave and wise decision and speedy initiative taken by King Salman to support the Yemeni brethren whose country has been subjected to destruction by Houthi militias supported by foreign quarters. They said that this initiative would ward off evil before it aggravates. It will stop aggressors before they carry out sabotage. It will purify the region from the cells of corruption, evil and crime. In a statement issued on their behalf by the Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque and President of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, they said that these timely and brave stances derive their greatness from the status of the Kingdom, which is the source of belief, the fortress of Islam, the shield of monotheism and the haven for oppressed people. HA/IINA

Najib arrives in China to attend Boao Forum for Asia 2015

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Saturday 28 Mar 2015 - 02:25 Makkah mean time-8-6-1436 PM Najib Razak (Photo: BERNAMA website) Haikou (IINA) – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived Friday in Haikou, the capital city of the Chinese Hainan province, to attend the Boao Forum for Asia 2015 (BFA), BERNAMA reported. Najib and his accompanying delegation will depart Haikou to Boao, about 72 km away, to participate in the four-day event which hosts high-level leaders from governments, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing regional and international issues. Najib, who is also the finance minister of Malaysia, is scheduled to deliver a speech during the Opening Plenary Session of BFA on Saturday. The session would be officiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping. This year's BFA, being held under the theme “Asia's New Future: Towards a Community of Common Destiny”, will discuss topics related to macro-economy, industrial transformation, regional development and technological innovation, in addition to political and security issues. Najib's visit augurs well for Malaysian-Chinese relations as it will provide the opportunity to strengthen the bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries. It will also serve as a platform to highlight ASEAN's future direction and agenda, as well as Malaysia's priorities for the regional grouping as the chairman of ASEAN 2015. This is Najib's fifth visit to China as the prime minister but his first appearance at the forum, which is modelled after the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. AB/IINA

Jordan to take part in the Inter Parliamentary union conference from Saturday

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Saturday 28 Mar 2015 - 01:50 Makkah mean time-8-6-1436 Jordan takes part in the Inter Parliamentary union conference on Saturday (Pic from petra.gov.jo) Amman, (IINA) - Jordan will participate in the 132nd meeting of the General Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union, scheduled to be held from Saturday until April 1 in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, Petra reported. Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, who will be heading Jordan's delegation, will address the conference on topics of terrorism, tolerance of Islam, the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis and its impact on the Kingdom's political, economic, social and security domains. The conference, which comprises a thousand parliamentary figures representing Arab, Islamic and international parliament, will discuss a range of topics related to parliamentary affairs as well as political, economic, security and social issues. SM/IINA

OIC backs steps supporting legitimacy in Yemen

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Friday 27 Mar 2015 - 20:48 Makkah mean time-7-6-1436 Jeddah (IINA) – Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani stated that the organization was following closely and with great concern the latest developments in Yemen. Madani expressed his backing for the step taken by the states supporting the constitutional legitimacy in Yemen, which responded to the request of the Yemeni leadership to save the country and the entire region from the repercussions of the chaos and violence unleashed by the Houthi group. He stressed the need to address the situation in a way that will preserve legitimacy and constitutional institutions in the country. The Secretary General indicated that the OIC had previously cautioned against the consequences of the Houthis persistent in their exploits and excesses through plunging the country into civil war. He added that the organization had also warned against the consequences of imposing a fait accompli policy on factions in the Yemeni crisis by the Houthis, who sought help from external forces to undermine the constitutional and legitimate institutions. Madani said the Houthis have also scuttled the outcome of the National Dialogue Conference and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement, and truncated the Gulf initiative for peaceful transfer of power, which was sponsored by the United Nations and supported by the OIC and all international and regional organizations, and had the participation of all Yemeni factions in order to preserve the unity of the Yemeni territory and people. The Secretary General reiterated the OIC’s rejection of any interference in Yemeni affairs that could undermine the internationally recognized legitimacy as stipulated in the OIC Charter. The Secretary General renewed the OIC’s constant position in support of the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Yemen. He also hoped that normalcy would return to Yemen as soon as possible such that the legitimate leadership there could discharge its constitutional functions, which would meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people to stability, prosperity and restoration of Yemen’s leading role in the Islamic Ummah. AB/IINA

Palestine rockets also caused killing of Gaza civilians: Amnesty

London (IINA) - In a damning report released Thursday, Amnesty International said Palestinian rocket fire during the 2014 summer war in Gaza had killed more civilians inside the Gaza Strip than inside Israel.

Such deadly attacks on civilians were against international law and constituted “a war crime,” it said. It urged Palestinian armed groups to end all direct attacks on Israeli civilians and ensure everything was done to also protect Palestinian civilians inside Gaza from the effects of those attacks. The 50-day war claimed the lives of some 2,200 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, and 73 on the Israeli side, most of them soldiers.

The report said rocket attacks had killed six civilians inside Israel, including a child, but that other rockets aimed at the Jewish state had fallen short inside Gaza, killing at least 13 civilians, 11 of them children. It referred to one particular incident on July 28 in which 13 people were killed in deadly blast inside the beachside Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. At the time, Palestinian witnesses blamed the attack on an Israeli F-16 warplane, but the army denied firing on the camp, accusing militants of misfiring their own rockets. “In the deadliest incident believed to have been caused by a Palestinian armed group during the conflict, 13 Palestinian civilians - 11 of them children - were killed when a projectile exploded next to a supermarket in the crowded al-Shati refugee camp,” the report said.

Contrary to Palestinian claims that Israel was responsible, “an independent munitions expert who examined the available evidence on behalf of Amnesty International concluded that the projectile used in the attack was a Palestinian rocket,” it said. Figures released by the Israeli army just days after the war ended on August 26 showed that Gaza militants fired 4,591 projectiles at Israel. Of that number, 3,659 struck Israeli territory and 735 were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system, leaving another 197 which fell short and landed inside the coastal enclave.

Militant groups used unguided projectiles which were “inherently indiscriminate,” it said: “Using such weapons is prohibited under international law and their use constitutes a war crime.” “In launching these attacks, they displayed a flagrant disregard for international humanitarian law and for the consequences of their violations on civilians in both Israel and the Gaza Strip,” said Philip Luther, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Amnesty International.

He said Palestinian armed groups “must end all direct attacks on civilians” and take all feasible precautions “to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip from the effects of such attacks” including storing weapons or letting militants operate “within or near densely populated areas.”

HA/IINA

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Nigeria's main presidential candidates sign peace deal

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Thursday 26 Mar 2015 - 21:02 Makkah mean time-6-6-1436 Abuja (IINA) - Nigeria's two main presidential candidates have signed an agreement to prevent violence in tightly contested elections due on Saturday. Ex-military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar brokered the deal in talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari. The two promised to respect the outcome of a credible poll and urged their supporters to refrain from violence. Some 800 people were killed after the 2011 contest between the two rivals. Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from Gen Buhari, with some analysts predicting a photo-finish. Thursday is the final day of campaigning and the government has closed its land and sea borders to ensure a peaceful election. The meeting between the two candidates came after Nigeria's National Peace Committee, chaired by Gen Abubakar, warned on Monday that campaigning had been marred by hate speech that could trigger a crisis in the oil-rich state. HA/IINA

Yemeni forces retake Aden airport

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Thursday 26 Mar 2015 - 11:36 Makkah mean time-6-6-1436 Yemeni forces retake Aden airport (Google image) Aden, (IINA) - Yemeni forces and loyalists to President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi regained control of Aden airport from Houthi militias on Thursday, as a Saudi-led military operation continued to target the rebels, Al Arabiya news channel reported citing sources. Troops of the 39th Armored Brigade, who are allied to the Houthis militia, which controls the capital Sanaa, pulled out of the airport just a day after seizing it, a security official said, The Economic times reported. Saudi Arabia, along with 10 other countries, launched a military operation against the Houthi militia late Wednesday, called “Al-Hazm Storm”. The Saudi-led operation Decisive Storm saw a series of airstrikes on Houthi-held targets which reportedly killed a number of the militia’s military commanders. SM/IINA

Yemen’s Hadi 'in high spirits' after airstrikes, says aide to president

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Thursday 26 Mar 2015 - 10:45 Makkah mean time-6-6-1436 Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Hadi Aden (IINA) – Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi remains in his base in Aden and is in high spirits after ally Saudi Arabia and other countries began attacking the Houthi group opposed to his rule, said an aide to the president. "This operation has restored people's determination" to fight the Houthis, Mohammed Marem, director of President Hadi's office,” told Reuters. "The president is in high spirits and thanks Gulf countries, Egypt, Jordan and Sudan and all countries in the region," he said, adding that the operation was directed mainly against Houthi air defenses in the north of Yemen. AB/IINA

Saudi deploys 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers for anti-Houthi campaign

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Thursday 26 Mar 2015 - 10:41 Makkah mean time-6-6-1436 Saudi deploys 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers for anti-Houthi campaign (Pic from defence.pk) Riyadh, (IINA) - Saudi Arabia deployed 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and other navy units on Thursday, after it launched its operation against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Al Arabiya News Channel reported. The Saudi aerial deployment enabled the Royal Saudi Air Force to take control of Yemen’s airspace early Thursday. Reports also emerged that top Houthi leadership Abdulkhaliq al-Houthi, Yousef al-Madani, and Yousef al-Fishi were killed, and head of the Revolutionary Committee for the Houthis, Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, was wounded. Saudi allies including its Gulf counterparts, except Oman, also showcased their military power to curb Houthi rebels from reaching Aden to dislodge Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi former President of Yemen who remained in the southern city. The UAE contributed 30 fighter jets, Bahrain 15, Kuwaiti 15, Qatar 10 and Jordan 6 in the operation. On Thursday, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan and Sudan also expressed their readiness to participate on the ground in Yemen. The Syrian National Coalition opposition group said it backed the Saudi operation and voiced its support to Hadi as Yemen’s “legitimate” leader. The campaign has also received the backing of the U.S.. The White House on Wednesday said Washington is coordinating closely with Saudi Arabia and regional allies in the campaign, providing intelligence and logistical support. SM/IINA

Saudi defense minister supervises airstrike against Houthis’ strongholds

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Thursday 26 Mar 2015 - 10:14 Makkah mean time-6-6-1436 Briefing on military plans (SPA/image) Riyadh (IINA) – Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman supervised the first airstrike against the strongholds of Houthi rebels in Yemen, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The state-run agency said the defense minister arrived Wednesday at the Air Force Operations Center to command the “Al-Hazm (Firm) Storm” operation, which launched its airstrike against the Houthis at 12 o'clock midnight, upon the order of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Supreme Commander of all Military Forces. The airstrike resulted in the complete destruction of all Houthi air defenses, al-Dailami base, SAM missile batteries and four warplanes, without any losses in the Saudi Air Force. The defense minister received, at the operations command center, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Naif, and briefed him on the details of the military plans and operations before the start of the airstrike. In a related development, the White House announced earlier Thursday morning that President Obama has approved logistical and intelligence support for the Saudi military operation in Yemen. Obama stressed that the United States strongly condemns the Houthi actions against the legitimate Yemeni government, which triggered wide-scale chaos and instability that seriously threaten the safety and welfare of all Yemenis. US National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan stated that “the United States has been in close contact with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the regional partners”. She added that “in response to the deteriorating security situation, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and their allies have undertaken a military action to defend Saudi Arabia’s borders and to protect the Yemen’s legitimate government. According to the GCC member states, the military action against the Houthi group, is being carried out in response to a request of the internationally recognized President Abed Rabbo Hadi. AB/IINA

Egypt Supports Saudi Step, announces its intention to participate in the military operation against Houthis

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Thursday 26 Mar 2015 - 10:09 Makkah mean time-6-6-1436 Riyadh (IINA) - Egypt announced, last night, its political and military support for the step taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a coalition of more than ten countries in support of the legitimate government in Yemen, Saudi Press Agency. In a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, noted that the Egyptian government is currently conducting coordination with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, on participation's arrangements by Egyptian air and naval force, and even a ground force, if necessary, in the framework of the alliance. The statement explained that this was in order to defend the security and stability of Yemen, preserve its territorial integrity and the maintenance of security of Arab countries. The statement also noted that Egypt followed up with great concern over the last weeks the severe deterioration in the political and security situation in the brotherly Yemen, and what has been witnessed of attack on the legitimate institutions and the spread of violence and terrorism, a matter which Egypt announced its full rejection of it and called for the full implementation of the outputs of the national dialogue and respect legitimacy. The statement pointed out that Egypt's support for this move, comes in response to its request, emanating from its historical responsibilities towards the Arab national security and the security of the Arab Gulf region. SM/IINA

Arab League will discuss military action in Yemen

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 22:08 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Cairo (IINA) - Arab Foreign ministers will discuss on Friday a Yemeni request for military intervention against the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels, Ahmed Ben Heli, the Arab League’s deputy secretary general said. Ben Heli said Yemeni Foreign Minister Riad Yassin had asked the Arab League to intervene militarily to stop the Houthi advance and the organization will discuss the matter on Friday. Depicting the Houthis as a proxy of Shiite Iran, a rival to Sunni Gulf countries, Yassin warned of Iranian “takeover” of Yemen. The Houthis deny they are backed by Iran. Yassin denied reports that President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi had left Aden as Houthi rebels advanced on the city, where the president was taking refuge after fleeing the capital Sanaa. A warplane on Wednesday targeted a district in Aden housing the presidential compound, a presidential security official told AFP. The aircraft “fired three missiles at the presidential complex, which were met by the air defense” systems, official said. Witnesses said that plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the area around Hadi's complex in the southern port city. Yemen's state television broadcaster, controlled by Houthis, made an offer of nearly $100,000 for Hadi's capture. Officials meanwhile said that the country's Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Mahmoud al-Subaihi and his top aide were arrested in the southern city of Lahj, where fighting with Houthi forces was ongoing, before they were transferred to Sana’a. HA/IINA

Russian plane lands safely after engine failes

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 15:56 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Russian plane lands safely after one of its engines failed (Google image) Saint Petersburg, (IINA) - A Russian Boeing plane 737 carrying around 78 passengers has made a successful emergency landing at Saint Petersburg after one of its engines failed, media news reported. "The plane made a safe landing and no passengers were injured," Russian airline UTair, which operated the flight, said in a statement. The plane made the emergency landing "after the transmitter went off, signaling the right engine’s failure,” a source told RIA Novosti news agency. The jet landed at about 12:35 pm Moscow time (9:35 am GMT). Russian media also reported that the UTair flight UT369 made an emergency landing at the Pulkovo airport and that no passengers were hurt. SM/IINA

Jordan to host an international summit conference on energy in May

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 14:13 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Ibrahim Saif Amman, (IINA) - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will hold the Jordan International Energy Summit conference (JIES) during 19-20 May, a ministry statement said on Tuesday, Petra reported Wednesday. A range of international companies will gather at the conference to ponder over major energy projects in the Kingdom. The JIES will provide a unique official platform to exchange ideas on developing investments where Summit leaders from both public and private sectors will adopt a special program to promote the conference as a regional leading event. The JIES will allow the government and state companies to engage with international and local investors, ensuring all participants have key opportunities to share knowledge, explore current challenges and examine the most prominent investment opportunities throughout Jordan. SM/IINA

Lebanese Interior Minister discuss with U.S. officials in Washington Lebanon’s security problems and Syrian refugees

Lebanon

US

Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk

Antoine Chedid, Lebanon's ambassador to the United States

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 14:03 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk (Google image) Washington, (IINA) - Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk discussed Lebanon’s security problems with the director of the FBI and other American officials on Monday in a bid to secure U.S. support for Lebanese security forces, media sources reported. In a statement released on Tuesday, Machnouk said he met with James Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other American officials. The U.S. is willing to offer Lebanon "technical assistance needed by the security forces in the fight against terrorism,” Comey reportedly told Machnouk, according to the statement. Machnouk later met with Congressman Darrell Issa, a Republican from California of Lebanese origin. He also met with a group of lobbyists of Lebanese origin who say they push for pro-Lebanese policies in Congress, according to the statement. That meeting, which was attended by Antoine Chedid, Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, focused on the Interior Ministry’s counterterrorism efforts and plans to address the presence of Syrian refugees. The delegation responded by vowing to coordinate with American officials over the delivery of aid and technical assistance to Lebanon’s security forces. U.S. is ready to provide Lebanese security services with equipment and training to help them fight terrorism, Machnouk said after holding talks with CIA director John O. Brennan. Also on the second day of his visit to Washington, Machnouk held talks at the State Department with Anne C. Richard, the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration. For their part, the U.S. officials expressed their support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence. SM/IINA

Somalia condemns Swedish FM's statements against Saudi Arabia

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 13:06 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Mogadishu (IINA) – Somalia has strongly condemned the recent statements by Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom against Saudi Arabia’s judicial system. "The government and people of Somalia condemn the Swedish blatant interference in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia, which hosts citizens of different nationalities from across the world, who enjoy complete freedom,” the Somali Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday. The ministry described the Swedish minister's anti-Saudi remarks as "unethical and contrary to the spirit of international law", stressing that Sweden should apologize to Saudi Arabia, which fights for human rights, and provides the necessary assistance in this respect. AB/IINA

Lebanese army arrests two terrorists accused of beheading soldiers

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 12:33 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Lebanese army forces Beirut, (IINA) - Lebanese Army forces said on Tuesday that its forces arrested two “terrorists,” including an ISIS suspect accused of beheading two soldiers last year, Lebanese Daily Star reported. A statement said cousins Omar and Bilal Mikati, both from the northern city of Tripoli, belonged to a terrorist organization and were involved in attacks against the Lebanese Army and other terrorist operations. Omar Mikati, known by his nom du guerre Abu Hureira, is believed to have been behind the beheading of Lebanese soldiers Ali al-Sayyed and Abbas Medlej during their captivity by ISIS militants on the outskirts of Arsal in August last year. Sayyed was the first of four captives to be killed by ISIS and the Nusra Front, while Medlej was the second. Twenty-five servicemen are still being held hostage by the extremist groups on the border with Syria. SM/IINA

Suicide attack kills 7 soldiers in Libya's Benghazi

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 12:08 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Benghazi attack (Google Image) Benghazi (IINA) – Seven Libyan soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded Tuesday in a suicide attack on an army checkpoint in the eastern city of Benghazi, Xinhua reported, citing military sources. Fadl Al-Hassi, investigation officer of the army's Special Forces, conformed the casualties, saying the suicide bomber used an armored vehicle. Meanwhile, Libyan army spokesman said the attack occurred in Allaithi area on the road leading to Benghazi airport. Several Libyan Islamic State (IS)-affiliated Twitter accounts claimed the attack, saying "a soldier of the Caliphate attacked the walls of the army". The incident came a day after prominent militia leader Mohamed Al-Arebi was killed in battle Benghazi, the birthplace of the 2011 protests that toppled Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been a focal point for the clashes between the army and militias, and plagued by suicide attacks, assassinations and kidnappings. AB/IINA

Sudan's al-Bashir to arrive in Riyadh today

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 11:45 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Riyadh (IINA) – Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir will arrive here on Wednesday on a visit to Saudi Arabia to meet Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, AlRiyadh newspaper reported. During the meeting, they will discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in various fields, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. AB/IINA

OIC chief delivers statement at 22nd Fiqh Academy session in Kuwait

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Wednesday 25 Mar 2015 - 11:37 Makkah mean time-5-6-1436 Kuwait City (IINA) – Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani delivered a statement during at the opening ceremony of the 22nd session of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), current being held in the capital city of Kuwait. In his statement, Madani extended gratitude and appreciation to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah for graciously approving Kuwait’s hosting the current session of the IIFA council. He said: "You are all aware of the difficulties, dangers and challenges facing our Ummah at the internal level, like blind ideological extremism, bigotry and sectarianism, which if not halted, will lead – God forbid – to the destruction of the nation's unity and identity. The other problem driven externally by hatred that seeks to erode the identity of the Muslim nation, and by greed which seeks to control and dominate the capabilities of the Ummah, as well as to plunder its resources and halt its progress”. The Secretary General said that Jerusalem faces a heinous attack from the Zionist entity, whose objective is to obliterate the landmarks of the city and strip it of its Arab and Islamic identity. Recalling his visit to Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Madani reiterated that such a visit and engagement with the Jerusalemites, would confirm to the occupying power and the entire world the eternal right of Muslims to the holy city. The current session of the Fiqh Academy is discussing several issues pertaining to the rights and obligations of non-Muslims in Islamic countries. Other issues being discussed include empowerment of women, general jurisdiction, visiting Jerusalem, excommunication and Jihad, as well as other economic issues relating to halal food products and medications, besides the rights of people with disabilities. AB/IINA