The army moves in Lebanon

Lebanon's army has overturned two key measures in an attempt to defuse the crisis between the pro-western government and Shia group Hezbollah.

The army said the Hezbollah-allied head of security at Beirut airport should remain in his post and the group's phone network be maintained. A row over these two issues sparked this week’s violence in which at least 24 people have died. The army also called on all groups to withdraw gunmen from Beirut's streets.

Hezbollah must back-up fast if they want to keep any dignity to their acts and not become a terrorist group in the minds of the people which is worst than any administration.

Hezbollah in west Beirut

Gunmen from Shia militant group Hezbollah have taken control of most of western Beirut, driving out supporters of the pro-Western government.

The gunmen, loyal to Hezbollah and its Shia opposition allies also forced the closure of pro-government media. The fighting was sparked by a government move on Monday to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network. At least 11 people, mainly civilians, have been killed and dozens injured in the city in three days of clashes.

Media offices owned by Saad Hariri, a leader of the pro-Western governing coalition, were evacuated and shut on Friday after being attacked by militants loyal to Hezbollah. The UN Security Council has urged the rival parties to stop fighting amid fears of civil war breaking out. Lebanon was plunged into civil war between a 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers. Analysts say the key to avoiding such a conflict this time may be the neutrality of the army, and its

How can you have …neutrality of anybody while innocent people are getting killed?

Iraq First Lady survives bomb

Iraq's First Lady has escaped unhurt after a bomb attack on her motorcade in Baghdad, the office of President Jalal Talabani has said.

His wife, Hiro Ibrahim Ahmed, was travelling to a cultural festival at the National Theatre at the time. Four of her bodyguards were injured in the attack, the office said. Earlier, the US military said that a roadside bomb in Iraq's mainly Sunni western province of Anbar had killed four US marines.

The attack on the First Lady's motorcade occurred in the capital's Karrada district but it is unclear whether she was specifically targeted. The president's office said: "One of the vehicles of Ms Hiro Ibrahim's convoy hit an improvised explosive device in the road this morning. She was heading to the National Theatre."

She was probably watching a western play and the Shia madmen or Iran’s ayatollahs didn’t like it!

Hezbollah airport spying

A fierce political row has broken out in Lebanon over claims that the radical Shia movement, Hezbollah, secretly filmed aircraft at Beirut's airport.

Heads of the Western-backed government accused Hezbollah of preparing for some kind of terrorist attack. Hezbollah dismissed the accusations as scare mongering. The exchanges reflect the divisions that have paralysed Lebanon for eight months and left the country without a president for much of that time.

Is the never ending story!

Iraqi cleric threatens war

Radical Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has threatened to wage "open war" on the Baghdad government if it does not halt operations against his supporters.

Moqtada Sadr said he was giving the government a "last warning", and urged it to take "the path of peace". His statement came as Iraqi troops, with US and UK support, clashed with his forces in Baghdad and the south.

In August the cleric's militia declared a ceasefire, pledging not to attack government or foreign soldiers. "I'm giving the last warning and the last word to the Iraqi government," Moqtada Sadr said. "Either it comes to its senses and takes the path of peace... or it will be (seen as) the same as the previous government," he added, referring to former President Saddam Hussein's fallen regime.

"If it does not stop the militias that have infiltrated the government, then we will declare an open war until liberation," he added.

He threatens with open war, and what are they doing now? Playing war? Practicing war?

Iraq update

The top US military and political officials in Iraq are due to deliver a progress report to Congress as Shia unrest in Iraq continues.

Gen David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are making their third report on President George W Bush's "surge" strategy, announced in January 2007. It is taking on added interest because the three top contenders for the US presidential election will be present. It also comes after two weeks of violent clashes in Shia Iraqi areas.

After releasing their report, Gen Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are due to testify before numerous committees. Among those due to hear their testimony are Senator John McCain, the Republican choice for the November election, and Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who are still battling for the Democratic nomination. The issue of Iraq has featured prominently in the Democratic campaign, with Mr Obama contrasting his opposition to the invasion to the support both Mrs Clinton and Mr McCain gave it.

And the report is …Sir we continue screwing up!!!

Iraqi militia defy to disarm

The radical Shia Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr has defied a call by the Iraqi government for his powerful Mehdi Army militia to lay down its weapons.

Arms would only be handed over to an Iraqi government willing to end the US occupation, his senior official in Basra said. Security forces have been trying to wrest control of the southern city and other Shia areas from the Mehdi Army.

Fighting has claimed at least 200 lives across Iraq since Tuesday. US jets have carried out a number of air strikes in Basra, which they say are targeting militant positions.

And now I’m wondering if anybody is surprise from this response!

10 more days to hand over their weapons

Iraq's government has extended by 10 days a deadline for Shia militiamen fighting troops in the southern city of Basra to hand over their weapons.
More than 130 people have been killed and 350 injured since a clampdown on militias began in Basra on Tuesday. US-led forces joined the battle for the first time overnight, bombing Shia positions, the UK military said.

Iraq's parliament is to hold emergency talks on the crisis, which has also brought a three-day curfew in Baghdad. A statement from Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's office read: "All those who have heavy and intermediate weapons are to deliver them to security sites and they will be rewarded financially. This will start from March 28 to April 8."

I think the big question remaining is why these 10 days? Wont they have the time in ten days to do more damage? How many Shia Rambo will take to destroy everything in ten days? This is really sad and in the end it shows that they are going to hand …some weapons but the problem will remain. If they wanted to make the difference they should have said by tomorrow evening, and that’s it!

Emergency session to end fighting between Shia and Iraqi security forces.

Iraq's parliament is due to hold an emergency session to try to end fighting between Shia militias and Iraqi security forces.

It comes a day after a three-day curfew was imposed in Baghdad following attacks on the city's Green Zone, where the government and embassies are based. Iraq's army is continuing its offensive in Basra.

More than 130 people have died in the southern city since a clampdown on Shia militias began there on Tuesday. On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki vowed that he would continue the fight against the militias for as long as was necessary. "We have made up our minds to enter this battle and we will continue until the end. No retreat," Mr. Maliki said in a speech broadcast on Iraqi state television.

The prime minister has personally overseen the operation in Basra, which involves some 30,000 troops and police fighting the Shia Mehdi Army, led by radical cleric Moqtada Sadr. But Mehdi Army fighters remain in control of some densely-populated areas.

And now I might sound stupid, but why haven’t day done it for so many months?