Iranian President Urges Arab leaders to endorse the reform (AFP)

TEHRAN (AFP)-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Arab Governments to heed popular demands of the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reform at a meeting with the President's website said on Tuesday.

"Today, the area of the equal rights of citizens is essential, voting, security and human dignity, the right to, and none of the Government may deprive them of freedom and justice to the demands of the peoples they refused," Ahmadinejad played as saying.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that all the regional Governments of the countries of their peoples, their integration requirements and to enable the reforms," he added Monday evening discussions.

Ahmadinejad did not expressly mention of Iran's closest Arab ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has faced unprecedented protests against the iron fisted rule since his March to the mid-point.

But the Iranian media reported was to remain in the conflict between security forces and by Syria, the rapporteurs on the top of the agenda of the meeting.

A joint press conference with Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Davutoglu Sunday, Salehi said that Syrian problems can be solved, "family."

"Iran, Syria and Turkey are in the family and, if any, are facing a problem in the family as a whole should resolve it," Salehi said.

"The Negotiations among the members of the family, the path should lead to the people entitled" requests and prevent the disturbance of inappropriate "," he added.

Ahmadinejad accused Washington, even the confessional in the territory of the rivalries, including the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria and Assad, is part of the minority Alawite community, stirring occasionally.

"The countries of the region should play to American hands on the" presidential network quoted him as saying.

"They are looking for is through the creation of unfair fight Shiites and Sunnis,, and Alawites and Turkish Alawites, and to have access to their primary objective, which will save the Zionist regime among the Kurds."

Iran, 2009 presidential election, which saw Ahmadinejad, because another massive fraud alleged in the period down to the financial problems. protests

 

Palestinian leaders end four years ended up (AFP)

CAIRO (AFP)-Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Ray buried hatchet at a Cairo reconciliation ceremony on Wednesday, ending a nearly four-year feud, but has angered Israel.

The Palestinians gathered in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip to celebrate the long-awaited agreement to put an end to rival administrations in the West Bank and Gaza, and restore the shattered unity by deadly battles in June 2007.

But in London, isrælske prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in the first stage of the tour is aimed convincing European leaders that agreement between Abbass secular Fatah faction and the Islamic Hamas as the Jewish State is boycotting as a terrorist organisation will be disastrous for the Middle East peace.

Abbas said the Palestinians had decided to "turn black since division forever," as he joined Ray and leaders of other Palestinian factions in completing the long-awaited agreement pressed on Tuesday.

"We are certain of success as long as we are United ... Reconciliation clears the way not only to put the Palestinian house in order, but also to a fair peace, "he added.

The Palestinian President said the isrælske prime minister must now "choose between (building) settlements and peace," and accused Israel of opposing Palestinian reconciliation accord as "a pretext to avoid peace negotiations."

He VAT collection Netanyahu's insistence that his Palestinian Authority must choose between unity with Hamas, which does not recognise Israel and peace with the Jewish State.

Abbas has refused to resume peace talks with Israel until it restores a moratorium on all settlement construction in the occupied territory, which the Palestinians want for their promised State.

Reconciliation agreement contains provisions on the formation of an interim Government of Nations to lay the foundations for the presidential elections and parliamentary elections within a year.

Negotiations on the new Government line-up was due to start immediately after the Wednesday ceremony.

The surprise deal, which was announced last week, comes after 18 months of fruitless negotiations.

In Gaza City gathered around 300 people waving Palestinian flags in a festive atmosphere to celebrate the deal, dancing and hiring from four crackers.

"The Palestinians want to end the Division," said a banner held aloft the crowd.

Many participants waved green Hamas flags, and have also raised the flag yellow Fatah movement which has been banned in Gaza since the Islamists ousted Abbas loyalists from the area four years ago.

"This is the day we have all been waiting for," shouted an announcer to klakører crowd.

Support rallies were also planned in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where Abbas has his headquarters.

But Israel reacted angrily, threatening to withhold the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues until it could be sure that no money would go to Hamas.

Next his London talks, Netanyahu told Britain's former premier Tony Blair, now the Middle East peace envoy for the great diplomatic players that Abbas must "completely cancel" reconciliation deal, which he said had a "hard blow to the peace process."

Isræls home front defense minister, Matan Vilnai, told public radio Wednesday, Abbas had "made a mistake in agreeing to this agreement, when Hamas is in a situation of vulnerability, which explains why it made moves towards reconciliation."

The Minister said Abbas should have insisted on a "clear statement from Hamas recognises Israel and condemn the terrorism before the signing."

But the Palestinian President made clear Tuesday that Hamas would not have to amend its charter to recognise Israel under reconciliation deal.

"It is not required by Hamas to recognise Israel. We want to form a Government of technocrats, and we will not ask Hamas to recognise Israel, "he said.

Palestinian officials have said the new Government's role will be to manage Affairs in the Palestinian territories, while the Palestine Liberation Organization, as Hamas is not a member, will remain responsible for peace negotiations with Israel.

Among the first tasks to be solved, is the creation of a higher Security Council with the task to examine ways to integrate Hamas and Fatah rival security forces and create a "professional" security service.

The agreement also calls for the establishment of an Electoral Commission Court and for the release of a number of prisoners held by the rival movements in prisons in the West Bank and in Gaza.

Reconciliation fix marks a diplomatic coup for Egypt's new Government, 11 weeks after President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising.

Cairo had tried for more than a year to mediate between Fatah and Hamas, but the effort fell flat.

 

Palestinian leaders in Cairo too much face hitch (Reuters)

CAIRO (Reuters) – the Palestinian President who heads Fatah and the leader of the Islamic group Hamas was in Cairo on Wednesday to endorse a deal to end four years of Division, but last-minute hitch cast doubt on the durability of the agreement.

The Egyptian-brokered deal, denounced by Israel, calls for forming an interim Government to run the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip and prepare for a general election within a year.

The Palestinians see this vote as crucial for their drive to establish an independent State in the areas captured by Israel in the 1967 war.

But the ceremony was delayed by a disagreement over the protocol shortly before it began over whether Hamas leader Khaled Ray should sit on the podium with President Mahmoud Abbas or down among other Palestinian delegates in the Hall.

"There is a dispute in the Protocol of seating of the leaders," said a Palestinian source, who declined to be named.

"The difference is on how Ray would sit, whether he should be on the scene or among the leaders of the factions."

Officials from all the Palestinian factions had previously signed it to Ray and Abbas were expected to join the ceremony. It was not immediately clear why they would not put their own signatures.

"The signing is done, all signed. Today is the coronation of this result, ' said senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath, speaking shortly before the ceremony.

ISRAEL ANGRY, WASHINGTON COOL

A spokesman for Abbas, Nabil Abu Rdainah, said the deal was signed on behalf of Fatah of Azzam al-Ahmad and of Hamas by Mousa Abu Marzouk. Palestinian officials said on Wednesday the ceremony was a "feast".

Isrælske prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the deal and stopped transfers Palestinian tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, said Fatah must choose between Israel and the Islamic Group, which he says is an enemy of peace.

United States has reacted coolly reconciliation agreement. State Department spokesman said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke Monday with Netanyahu and Palestinian Prime minister Salam Fayyad on trade.

Mark Toner told a news briefing in Washington, as the United States would look at the formation of a new Palestinian Government before step on future assistance.

"If a new Palestinian Government is announced, we will assess, based on its composition," Toner said. "Hamas needs to comply with the principles of the Quartet to play a role in the political process".

Egypt has set up a Committee to monitor the implementation of the agreement, which calls for the creation of an intermediate unit Government for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip instead of the administrations led by Fatah and Hamas, which currently running each area.

(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Ali Sawaftah in Ramallah; Writing by Sami Aboudi and Edmund Blair; Editing of Crispian Balmer)

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