Washington Post, By Ayad Allawi: Millions of Iraqis risked their lives in March to exercise their fundamental democratic right to vote. Iraqis are eager to put violence and strife behind them. Yet three months later, Iraq has no functional or stable government. This uncertainty threatens not just Iraqi society and democracy but also the region.
How Iraq can fortify its fragile democracy
How Iraq can fortify its fragile democracy
Washington Post, By Ayad Allawi: Millions of Iraqis risked their lives in March to exercise their fundamental democratic right to vote. Iraqis are eager to put violence and strife behind them. Yet three months later, Iraq has no functional or stable government. This uncertainty threatens not just Iraqi society and democracy but also the region.
U.N. approves new sanctions to deter Iran
New York Times: The United Nations Security Council leveled its fourth round of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program on Wednesday, but the measures did little to overcome widespread doubts that they — or even the additional steps pledged by American and European officials — would accomplish the Council’s longstanding goal: halting Iran’s production of nuclear fuel.
Iran plans to review relations with IAEA
AP: Iran’s state TV says the country’s parliament plans to revise relations with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency in response to the latest round of U.N. sanctions.
Iran’s foreign minister heckled in Dublin; 3 held
AP: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki narrowly avoided being pelted with eggs during a Dublin appearance overshadowed by angry clashes with several Iranian dissidents.
Ahmadinejad due in China after sanctions slap
AFP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was due in China on Thursday after the UN Security Council slapped Tehran with fresh sanctions over its nuclear programme — a move backed by Beijing.
Iran halts production of ‘Neda’ figures
New York Times: A factory in Iran has been closed down after trying to mass produce statuettes of people who were killed in the protests that followed last year’s disputed presidential election, among them, Neda Agha-Soltan, the 26-year-old who became an icon of the opposition when a video of her shooting was broadcast around the world.
New UN sanctions on Iran for nuclear program
AP: A resolution approved Wednesday by the U.N. Security Council by a vote of 12-2 with one abstention imposes a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program. Here are the key points in the 18-page text:
Reactions to new UN sanctions on Iran
Iran Focus: London, Jun. 09 – The following are some reactions to the vote by the UN Security Council on Wednesday to tighten sanctions on Iran over its refusal to suspend suspected nuclear weapons activities:
Canine protest
Iran Focus: Isfahan, Jun. 09 – Political activists in the central city of Homayoun-Shahr hung pictures of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei around the necks of three dogs which were running around in the city centre on Monday.
