Russia warns West after Obama's threats to Syria

Beirut(Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday warned the West not to take unilateral action against Syria, a day after the U.S. president, Barack Obama, spoke of "enormous consequences" if the Syrian couple used chemical or biological weapons or even if moved in a threatening manner.The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, speaking after a meeting with a senior Chinese diplomat said Moscow and Beijing were committed to "the need to adhere strictly to the rules of international law and not permit its violation ".

Russia and China have opposed military intervention in Syria in 17 months of revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. Have vetoed three resolutions of the Security Council of the UN-backed Western and Arab countries, which would put more pressure on Damascus to end the violence that has cost 18,000 lives.United States and its allies have shown little interest in military action in Syria, in contrast to the NATO campaign last year that helped topple Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

But Obama gave his speech harder until Monday to warn Assad that does not cross a "red line" of little use weapons conventions in a threatening manner. Obama said he had failed "so far" to order a military intervention in Syria. But when asked at a press conference at the White House about whether deployed forces to any attack with chemical and biological weapons, said his vision could change.

"We've been very clear with the Assad regime, but also with others in the field, a red line for us is (if) we move a lot of chemical weapons, or the use of them. That would change my calculations "Obama said.
Last month the Syrian government first acknowledged that he had chemical and biological weapons and said that he would use if foreign nations involved in its territory.

The threat generated stern warnings from Washington and its allies, though it was unclear how the Syrian armed forces could use such weapons in an urban environment.

"SAFE ZONE"

Obama has been reluctant to involve the U.S. in another war in the Middle East and refuses to provide weapons to the Syrian rebels, partly for fear that some of those who oppose the president, who has backed Iranian Islamists are equally hostile to the West.The rebels have taken over the territory in northern Syria, near Turkey, home to 70,000 Syrian refugees.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu was quoted as saying that the UN should create a "safe zone" in Syria to accommodate those fleeing the conflict, adding that his country could not accommodate more than 100,000 refugees.But creating a safe area would require imposing a no-fly zone, an idea that Secretary of Defense United States, Leon Panetta, said last week that it was not a crucial issue for Washington.

Israel, still formally at war with Syria, also has discussed whether to attack sites unconventional weapons you see as the biggest danger of the conflict in the neighboring country.

MISSION FAILED

The fighting increased in Syria, killing about 200 people on Monday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and a Japanese journalist died of wounds suffered in Aleppo.UN military observers left Damascus after a four-month mission in which they became mere spectators of the conflict. Activists say government forces launched air strikes near the capital that killed two dozen people.

The UN representatives blamed both sides for the collapse of a truce envoy managed by Kofi Annan, who will leave his post later this month."Our mission failed because neither side fulfilled its commitments," said one observer, who declined to be identified, before the UN seven cars left a Damascus hotel with some of the last members of a mission that once had 300 men.

Rebels have complained that foreign powers have provided neither the quantity nor the quality of weapons they need to defeat Assad, as anti-aircraft missiles.Although superseded in weaponry by Assad's forces, the rebels have managed to take control of districts in Damascus and Aleppo last week and several border crossings and northern parts of the country before a counterattack Army in the two main cities Syria.

UN fails to agree landmark arms-trade treaty

Negotiations for a new treaty on the Arms Trade have concluded without agreement, as confirmed on Friday the permanent ambassador of Argentina to the UN, Roberto Garcia Moritán.

The 193 countries that participated in this latest round of negotiations at the UN headquarters in New York, have not agreed on a legal framework to put borders to trade in arms, a fundamental requirement for enactment.

Moritán Garcia has blamed this failure on the "different perspectives" between auditors countries, which, as remarked, driving the Treaty nations already knew. "We knew this was going to be hard to get" even though "a vast majority of those present" supported the draft Treaty, has deepened Moritán Garcia, who chairs the negotiations.

In the absence of "progress" as he predicted the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, the value diplomatic talks resume later - within a maximum period of three weeks - or move to the UN General Assembly together the final decision in a vote to be held later this year and in which the Treaty would be ratified by a majority of two thirds.

However, Argentina's permanent ambassador to the UN has stated that "probably going to have a treaty in 2012." During the summer will be demonstrated the procedure to follow in the coming months.

CONTRARY TO THE TREATY

Obstacles to the adoption of the Treaty have, according to sources activists, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Egypt and Algeria, which in the past have opposed any regulation in the sale of weapons.

These countries have joined Russia, which has urged the international community to continue the negotiations. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow criticizes the many regulatory gaps in the document has been collected by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

The draft does not meet "high standards desired" and for that reason, Russia has refused their support and present "their version", said the director of the Department of Security and Disarmament Affairs, Mikhail Ulyanov.

The U.S. also asked for more time, about six months, to delay the final decision after the presidential elections to take place in November, have pointed out the 'number two' International Security and Nonproliferation U.S., Thomas Countryman. India and Indonesia also have called for postponing the adoption of the Treaty.

Washington, which had originally given a boost to the negotiations, objected that critics of the treaty countries had not finalized the "core" of the amendments because the final draft began circulating with just 24 hours in advance.

San Suu Kyi takes her seat in Myanmar Parliament

The historic opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize, Aung San Suu Kyi, has finally taken her seat in Myanmar Parliament. In an instant as brief as history, the Nobel Peace Prize has become, finally, for the first time in his long political struggle, MP. In a brief ceremony has promised to safeguard the Constitution of Myanmar, which gives sweeping powers to a military as this Southeast Asian country.

"I will be loyal to the Republic of the Union of Burma and its citizens and I have always considered non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty," said Aung San Suu Kyi before President of the Chamber of Deputies, the former General Shwe Mann.

The incorporation of the historic opposition leader 66-year-old brand, definitely a before and after in the political development of this country in Southeast Asia and certifies that the democratic transition process led by President Thein Sein is irreversible.

Acceptance, and that of 42 other parliamentarians in the National League for Democracy (NLD), to participate in the work of the House of Representatives has taken place after the discrepancy was resolved that held on the formula to comply with the Constitution. A gesture that was interpreted as the first serious discrepancy between the government and opposition Thein Sein.

San Suu Kyi and other MPs elected in the partial elections of April 1, decided to go Wednesday that celebrates the full Legislature in Naypyidaw after last week the leaders of parties represented in Parliament to support a letter to the chairman of the House, Shwe Man, amending the oath formula proposed by the opposition.

Last week, opposition leader and the rest of the NLD MPs-elect had refused to take up their seats because they refused to swear the existing formula Burmese Constitution. They demanded to replace the phrase "protect the Constitution" by "respect the Constitution."

Claim responded to the fulfillment of one of its main political commitments, which is to amend the Constitution. San Suu Kyi said during the election campaign that if elected out fight to reform the constitution of his country, he considers undemocratic. And is that the current Constitution, adopted in 2008 through a referendum, was drafted by a commission elected leaders handpicked by the military regime that ruled the country for nearly half a century and the military reserve 25 percent of the seats in Parliament and Senate.

But San Suu Kyi decided to step back and abide by the Constitution for not putting their backs to the wall Thein Sein and his reform project. "We have always believed in flexibility in the political process," said Tuesday by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, whom he had met previously.

"It is our only means to achieve our goals without violence," said the Nobel Peace Prize awarded.

North Korea confirms mystery woman is leader's wife

Sun-ju Ri, wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during a visit to an amusement park in Pyongyang, July 25 2012. The new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, is married, state media said on Wednesday, ending speculation about the relationship with a woman who has been seen by his side in recent events.

 

The new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, is married, state media said on Wednesday, ending speculation about the relationship with a woman who has been seen by his side in recent events. The announcement, which is consistent with a trend jovial Kim has continued to desenmarcarse the severe style of government of his father, Kim Jong-il, came just two weeks after he was seen in a gala performance accompanied by women, Amid rumors about whether it was his wife, lover or sister.

"Kim Jong-one seems to give young people hope for a change, especially young women, a favorable impression of him, though it may bother the conservative old North Koreans," said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute. "Although Kim Jong-un still a dictatorship of a single leader, is expected to have a more open attitude in culture in the era of Kim Jong-il," he added.

Some observers in South Korea speculated that the woman was the singer, Hyon Song-wol, with which Kim Jong-un out for years before his father put an end to the relationship, but now had returned to the scene. However, North Korean state media said the woman called Ri Sun-ju, without elaborating. Now it is not clear when they married.

Recent television footage showed the two laughing, touching a child's hair and clapping as they watched a presentation series with Western melodies and Mickey Mouse.

Kim, just under 30 years, took over the family dynasty in December last year after the death of his father, whose regime plunged deep into North Korea in isolation, extreme poverty and political repression on a large scale.

Syria: Chemical weapons only if attacked abroad

Foreign Affairs Ministry of Syria said Monday that the country has chemical or biological weapons, but never would use against its citizens, only against foreign invaders."Any existence (WMD) or any unconventional weapons that the Syrian Arab Republic has never used against civilians or against the Syrian people during this crisis, in any circumstance, no matter how the crisis will develop," told reporters the ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi.

"All these stocks that the Syrian Arab Republic has controlled and policed ​​by the Syrian army. These weapons are intended to be used only and strictly in the case of external aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic," the official said Monday. The remarks came after months of international discussions on whether foreign countries should intervene militarily to help stop the bloodshed in Syria.

Meanwhile, the Arab League offered Syrian President Bashar Assad "safe exit" should quickly resign and leave the country, said a senior Arab League official. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani discussed not an exit plan when he spoke to reporters after the meeting this Sunday, but confirmed that "there is no agreement on the need for sudden resignation" al Assad. "We call on the opposition and the Syrian Army Freedom to form a national unity government," said Sheikh Hamad.

Despite the Arab League proposal, the brutal violence has not ceased. At least 30 people were killed Monday, according to Local Coordination Committees (LCC, for its acronym in English) a Syrian opposition group.

The Arab League would not be the first to offer an outlet for Assad. Tunisia, where Arab uprisings began last year, offered asylum to the president of Syria in February in an attempt to stop the fighting.

If Assad is gone, would read a series of rulers in the region who have succumbed to popular revolts since last year, including former President Hosni Mubarak, Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi,  Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen,, who left office under a transfer of power. The Syrian government has long maintained that "armed terrorist groups" cause violence in the country.

This Monday was no record of violence in several Syrian cities, according to opposition activists. At day's end, 111 people died nationwide, including 56 people in and around Damascus and Aleppo three, according to opponents.

Gunman kills 12 people in cinema in the U.S.

Police officers outside the cinema in Denver where a masked man opened fire on those attending the premiere of Batman

A masked gunman shot dead 12 people at an exhibition of the new Batman movie at a theater in a suburb of the U.S. city of Denver, sparking pandemonium when fired tear gas into the auditorium and opened fire on the spectators. Another 50, including children, were injured in the attack during the midnight feature film "The Dark Knight Rises" in a mall in the town of Aurora, some of whom were treated for the effects of tear gas, said hospital sources.

"This is a scary fact," said Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates, in a press conference, adding that the suspect was arrested in a parking lot behind the cinema. Police said the gunman appeared in front of the screen during the movie and fired tear gas that caused screams in the film before shooting begins.

Dozens of police were dispatched to the scene of the crime, which was evacuated while they checked whether there were explosives. Authorities said there was no evidence of another gunman. Wendy Post, who was waiting to be reunited with his daughter at a local high school after the shooting, said he was told that the shooting began shortly after starting the film."He saw the door open and something was thrown in front of the screen and then the shooting started," said Post, 9News television, NBC's local partner.

President Barack Obama, who was notified of the incident on Friday morning by his homeland security adviser John Brennan, urged Americans to "stick together" with the people of Aurora in the coming hours and days. "Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrible and tragic shootings in Colorado. Local and federal agents are still responding and my administration will do everything possible to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time," Obama said in a statement .

"As we face times of darkness and challenge, we must be together as one American family," he added. Colorado has suffered mass killings in the past. In 1999, two students opened fire at Columbine High School in suburban Littleton, near Denver, killing 12 students and a teacher.

The police spokesman Frank Fania said it was believed that the suspect was about 20 years. He had a knife, a rifle and a pistol when he was arrested and then recovered another weapon of cinema. The man wore a bulletproof vest.

"He did not resist, did not fight," he added.

Police said the building where the suspect lived was evacuated and they were looking for explosives there after the man said he had these devices at home. A witness told CNN: "We heard from 10 to 20 shots and small explosions. Shortly after that we heard people screaming. Then spoke on the PA system and said that we should all get out."

"As soon as we had people running and screaming," said the witness, adding that his friends had said the gunman wore a gas mask. A man said to the string associated with NBC that was in an adjoining room watching another function of the Batman movie when he heard shots and the theater was filled with smoke. He said he saw bullet holes in the wall and some people were injured in their room.

Fania said police received the first call alerting the shooting at 00.39 local time (0639 GMT) and answering "one or two minutes." Local hospitals were warned of a "massive casualty incident." Media reports said 10 people died at the scene and two later died at the clinic.

A spokeswoman for Swedish Medical Center in Denver said three people were admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds and were in critical condition.

Syria says UN`s Annan wrong about Tremseh killings

Tremseh in Syria

 

Damascus: Syria denied on Sunday accusations of international mediator Kofi Annan, who said Damascus forces used heavy weapons and helicopters in clashes in the town of Tremseh this week, saying his comments about the fighting was "hasty." Makdissi Jihad, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Syria, said at least 37 soldiers and two civilians were killed in clashes during a campaign against security forces in the region city of Hama, where the rebels were launching attacks other areas, according to the Syrian government.

Estimates of the death toll activists vary between 100 and 220 fatalities, many of them entire families of the town of Tremseh, where UN observers say there was heavy fighting on Thursday.

"Government forces did not use planes or helicopters, or tanks or artillery. The heavier weapon used was an RPG (grenade launcher)," said Makdissi told reporters at a press conference in Damascus. "What happened was not a slaughter (...) what happened was a military operation. There was fighting between security forces, whose duty is to defend civilians and heavily armed forces who believe in a political solution", said.

Syria has been mired in a bloody revolt against President Bashar al-Assad that lasted 17 months. Some foreign leaders now say the uprising that began with street protests has become a civil war. So far, the video posted by activists, which they said was filmed in the small town, showed images of gore and charred bodies of young men who might have been fighting rebels.

Makdissi also responded to reports of the defection of General Tlas Manaf, a member of Assad's inner circle, saying that "he left without permission." It was the first official recognition of his disappearance, but did not address reports that Tlas had deserted. The defection of Tlas, academia partner and personal friend of Assad, was one of the first symptoms in the early months of the existence of cracks in the ruling elite who until then seemed nontransferable.

While the United States and its European and Arab allies are reluctant to rebel forces in Syria, which has been seen that are divided, they hope that eventually an erosion of support for Assad to allow the elite political transition without him.

Annan, who is leading efforts to implement a peace plan in Syria, said Friday that Damascus had not fulfilled its commitments to the peace plan that supports the UN. "I am shocked and dismayed by the news coming out of the village of Tremseh, near Hama, intense combat, involving victims, and the confirmation of the use of heavy weapons such as artillery, tanks and helicopters," he said in a statement.

"This is a violation of the Government's commitment to cease using heavy weapons in population centers and its commitment to the six-point plan," he said.

Makdissi Annan rejected accusations that were repeated in a letter to Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem "The least we can say about this letter about what happened in Tremseh is not based on facts. In the way more diplomatic as possible, we say that this letter was too hasty, "said the spokesman.

Makdissi said the remarks on Saturday a group of UN observers confirmed Tremseh sent to the Syrian version of events. The group said it seemed that violence was intended against the rebels and opposition activists. However, the report also said that he used artillery and mortars, and the head of the observer mission said one day before observers in the province had reported the use of helicopters and indiscriminate fire.

Makdissi said the allegations of a fierce attack was unlikely, given the small size of the village.