Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Afghanistan

U.S. Admits Sending German Terror Suspect To Afghanistan

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice (L) with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (epa)

6 December 2005 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel today said that the United States has admitted mistakenly detaining a Lebanese-born German citizen.

TEXT SIZE - +

December 06, 2005

Merkel made her remarks in Berlin following talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

After her talks in Berlin, Rice flew to the Romanian capital Bucharest to sign an agreement on the opening of U.S. military bases in Romania. From Bucharest, Rice is scheduled to go to Ukraine late on 6 December.

Merkel said that Khaled al-Masri was seized by U.S. operatives in Macedonia in 2003, and was transported to Afghanistan for interrogation on suspicion of being a terrorist. He claims he was shackled, beaten, and injected with drugs during interrogations.

Al-Masri, who now lives in Germany, filed a suit on 6 December against the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency for abduction, imprisonment, and mistreatment.

Earlier, Rice said the United States "does not condone torture." She acknowledged that the United States has flown terrorist suspects abroad for interrogation, but denied they have ever been tortured in U.S. custody or knowingly transferred to other countries to be tortured.

(Agencies)

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Gasoline prices have risen dramatically in Pakistan in recent years

In Pakistan, Cleaner Fuel Powers Supply, Safety Issues

Rising fuel prices have pushed Pakistan to become a global leader in using compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel vehicles. More

Family members of missing Baluchs, mostly political activists, rally in protest on the eve of international Human Rights Day in Quetta, Balochistan, on December 10, 2011.

U.S. Hearing On Balochistan Raises Hackles, Awareness In Pakistan

The U.S. Congressional hearing last week on Balochistan, the largest of Pakistan's four provinces, though it was firmly rejected by Islamabad, is being seen in Pakistan as any eye-opener for the state and its security agencies. More