US, UK agree terms for Iraq attack: Report

By: Nabil Raza

LONDON: The Guardian reported on Saturday that Britain has agreed to support a US military attack on Iraq if Saddam Hussein refuses to accept the resumption of weapons inspections.

According to the British newspaper a Washington source familiar with the administration had said that US President George W. Bush was considering his options in the belief that British Prime Minister Tony Blair would go along with Washington.

Premier Blair had privately offered in principle to lend full British military and diplomatic backing for an assault that would involve contributing 30,000 troops, an armored division backed up by sea and air support, the daily reported.

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Moscow plans to build 2nd nuclear plant in Iran

By: Special Reporter

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Moscow has confirmed plans to build a second nuclear power plant for Iran, in addition to completing its Bushehr project that had been opposed by the United States, Interfax agency reported.

According to the report Russia intended to build a two-reactor nuclear power plant at Ahvaz in western Iran in addition to completing four reactors at the southern Bushehr site by 2012.

Speaking to a foreign news agency, a spokesman for Russia's atomic energy ministry said that Moscow was ready to build new nuclear power plants, but it had not yet received any new orders for nuclear power plants from Iran.

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46 killed as Ukraine jet crashes during air show

By: Jafariyanews

MOSCOW, Russia: At least 46 people have been killed and around 60 injured when a Russian fighter jet crashed in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, Russia television reported.

The incident occurred on Saturday during an air show in Western Ukraine killing and injuring scores of spectators on the ground.

The reports said the two-man crew was performing difficult air maneuvers when they lost control of the aircraft.

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UNSC holds talks on Mideast

By: Nabil Raza

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council held fresh discussions on the situation in Middle East but adjourned after half an hour without taking action to allow delegates to have consultations with their governments.

The Security Council is to resume talks, requested by Arab nations, on Monday.

The council members discussed a resolution that demands an immediate halt to violence in the region, including military action and terrorism.

The Syrian-proposed resolution also expresses support for peace efforts of the Middle East quartet, comprised of the United States, the UN, Russia and European Union.

According to US envoy John Negroponte Washington would oppose the proposed resolution because it does not advance the case for peace.

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Justice in Palestine Rally in Luton

By: Islamic Human Rights Commission

Various communities in Luton will come together at a rally organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission this Sunday to oppose the atrocities carried out in the name of Israeli security. The demonstration holds special significance in light of the recent tragedy when the Israeli Army commissioned an F-16 (parts of which were made in Britain) to bomb a densely populated area in Gaza. Sixteen innocent people were martyred when three apartment blocks were bombed, including 9 children; over 150 other civilians were also seriously injured.

The British governments response has verged on complete apathy and many humanitarian organisations have voiced their disappointment at the response.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw stated that ‘While Israel is entitled to take steps to protect itself from terrorist attack, such steps should be neither disproportionate nor excessive.’ A spokesperson for IHRC stated that ‘Mr Jack Straw should have emphasised the immediate need to end the illegal occupation of Palestine and the end to war crimes by Israel in order for it to consolidate and continue the illegal occupation. What we need is not a two state solution but the end to the last apartheid regime in the world.’ Neturei Karte (from the orthodox Jewish community) has also issued a statement, which is attached to this press release.

Speakers at the rally will include, Rabbi Grohman from Neturei Karte, George Galloway MP and Massoud Shadjareh chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission. The rally will also be supported by wide sectors of the community including members of the local mosques, churches and other organisations.

The details of the rally are as follows:

Date: Sunday 28 July 2002

Time: 4.00 pm

Venue: The Moor Park, New Bedford Road, Luton

Directions:

From M1 Junction 11 turn towards Luton and stay on Dunstable Road until you see a Sainsbury’s on the left hand side. After Sainsbury’s, turn left at the roundabout onto Telford Way. At the next mini-roundabout turn left onto New Bedford Road. It is immediately on the left.

For more information please contact:

rkazim@ihrc.org

(07960 076 099) or (07985 522 196)

28 Jul. 02

Representatives of Neturei Karta take part in protests, which draw attention to Arab and Muslim suffering, whenever they can. The Neturei Karta would like to express its solidarity with its Muslim brothers and explain the following points:

1) Judaism is completely opposed to the ideology of Zionism. Zionists have usurped the name “Israel” and have made themselves to appear as the representatives and spokespeople of all Jews.

2) Zionism in general and its conduct against the Arabs, Muslims and wider world is against the Torah, Jewish beliefs and the hopes of the Jewish people. Zionism has turned many Jewish believers into atheists and warmongers.

3) The Jewish people have no right to rule in Palestine. The land does not belong to them today. In fact, it is the other way round. The Jews were exiled from the land because of their sins.

4) The Jewish people are in a Divine-decreed exile. Exile means that Jews must be loyal subjects of the countries in which they live and not rule over other people.

5) We want to tell the world, especially our Muslim neighbours, that there is no hatred or animosity between Jew and Muslim. We wish to live together as friends and neighbours.

6) Together we must work so as not to allow the Zionists to fuel the fires of hatred between us. That is what they want and we must not let them succeed.

7) The Zionist oppression, abuse and murder of Arabs is a tragedy for the Jewish people as well.

8) According to the Torah and Jewish faith, the Present Palestinian Arab claim to be the ruling authority in Palestine is right and just. The Zionist claim must inevitably be based on illegal cause of loss of life and deprivation of property.

9) The Arabs as well as the Jews are descendants of Shem therefore to hate Arabs is also anti-semitic. Opposition to Zionism and its crimes does not mean a hatred for Jews. On the contrary Zionism and its deeds are the biggest threat to Judaism.

We pray for an end to the suffering of our Palestinian brethren and all innocent people worldwide. We are waiting for the annulment of Zionism and the dismantling of the Zionist regime, and would welcome the opportunity to dwell in peace in the holy land under Palestinian ruler-ship.

Jews are not Zionists - Zionists are not Jews

NETUREI KARTA - LONDON U.K.

www.netureikarta.org

E-Mail: info@netureikarta.org

Islamic Human Rights Commission

Tel: +44-20-8902-0888

Fax: +44-20-8902-0889

email: info@ihrc.org

web: www.ihrc.org

END

Britain to send FM to Libya for talks on terrorism

By: Special Reporter

LONDON, England: British Foreign Office reportedly said on Saturday that Prime Minister Tony Blair will dispatch a government minister to Libya for the first time since 1983, in a bid to secure Col. Moammar Gadhafi's help in the US-led war on terror.

The two countries’ diplomatic ties were severed after a policewoman was gunned down in 1984 by shots apparently coming from inside Libya's London embassy. The relations were restored in 1999.

It was not immediately clear when Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien would make the trip, which the ministry said was part of the campaign against terrorism and will focus on Libya's cooperation with the international community.

Speaking on customary condition of anonymity, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “O'Brien's mission follows a hardheaded assessment that Libya is turning away from international terrorism.”

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IHRC flays Mosque sanctity violation by UK police

By: IHRC

New Tactics Used by Immigration Services for Unwanted Asylum Seekers & Model Letter

Historically religious places of worship have always been treated as sanctuaries where the weak or oppressed or those in danger seek refuge. Even War Criminals like Sharon respected this fact earlier this year in Bethlehem when alleged terrorists sought protection in the church of nativity. On Thursday morning however, police officers raided a Mosque in the West Midlands to remove an Afghan couple and their children who had taken refuge there earlier this month.

Rather than negotiate with the mosque committee, the Immigration services had chosen the extreme use of force. Twelve police officers, some of whom were dressed in riot gear sealed the Mosque just as Fajr prayers were coming to an end and used a metal battering ram to break in. The door was left broken.

Had the family sought refuge in a church it seems unlikely that such drastic action would have been taken at all. A spokesperson for IHRC commented that ‘It is clear from the decision to use force that the immigration services apply rules of sensitivity only when it suits them, it also shows that the values and ways of life of Muslims are not placed on an equal footing with those of other faiths’.

The family, fleeing from the Taliban, were illegally smuggled into the UK from Germany and have been living here for the past year.

The were denied the right to stay in the UK on compassionate grounds and were told by the Home Office that they would be deported to Germany on Friday. Campaigners for the family have argued that the family were in danger in Afghanistan and that they had also suffered racial abuse in Germany and would therefore not be safe there either.

IHRC have encouraged its members to voice their concerns with the Home Secretary and their local MPs.

For more information, please contact the Press Office:

Tel: (+44) 020 8902 0888

Fax: (+44) 020 8902 0889

END

Bashir-Garang talks end

By: Jafariyanews

KAMPALA: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)’s leader John Garang have ended their first ever face-to-face meeting in Kampala, reports said on Saturday.

Following their meeting, which lasted for two hours and was chaired by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the two sides held a news conference.

The talks follow significant progress announced last week after dialogue in Kenya aimed at ending the civil war in Sudan.

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CAIR-NET: Agent admits writing anti-Muslim graffiti

By: Mohsin Hemani

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AGENT ADMITS WRITING ANTI-MUSLIM GRAFFITI

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/25/02) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today applauded the Justice Department's swift action against a Secret Service agent who acknowledged responsibility for anti-Muslim graffiti found scrawled in the home of a Dearborn, Mich., terror suspect.

Relatives of the Jordanian-American man arrested last week while allegedly carrying counterfeit checks told the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group they found the words "Islam is Evil" and "Christ is King" written on a Muslim prayer calendar attached to the man's refrigerator following a search by the Secret Service and the FBI. On

Monday, CAIR wrote a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft asking him to investigate the incident.

"We are pleased that authorities took such swift action in both investigating this incident and in dealing with the agent involved," said CAIR Communications Coordinator Hodan Hassan. "We hope this sends a signal to the law enforcement community that such bigoted behavior will not be tolerated," said Hassan. She added that this incident highlights the needs for religious sensitivity training for agents involved in working with the American Muslim and Arab-American communities. Jeffrey Collins, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan told the Associated Press: "This unprofessional conduct by a single agent is a gross aberration and a great embarrassment...This act does not represent the professional and courageous efforts and the overwhelming ability of federal agents and local law enforcement officers who continue in challenging times to do a superb job."

Collins did not identify the agent. After acknowledging his responsibility, the agent was flown to Washington to be interviewed by Justice Department officials. The agent is on administrative leave while the incident is reviewed.

END

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-MAIL: cair@cair-net.org; Ms. Hodan Hassan, 202-488-8787 or 703-861-7294,

E-MAIL: hhassan@cair-net.org

----

CAIR

Council on American-Islamic Relations

453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.

Washington, D.C. 20003

Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726

Fax: 202-488-0833

E-mail: cair@cair-net.org

URL: http://www.cair-net.org

END