Valentinas Mite

Also by Valentinas Mite

• May 16, 2005

  Uzbekistan: Regional, Western Reaction To Crackdown Varies From Support To Condemnation

  Uzbek President Islam Karimov (file photo) World reaction to the weekend's bloody events in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijon has varied widely. Uzbek President Islam Karimov has accused a faction of Hizb ut-Tahrir -- a banned movement seeking to create an Islamic state in Central Asia -- of orchestrating the uprising. As many as 500 people may have been killed in the ensuing crackdown. Russia, Tashkent's closest ally, has sided with Karimov, while Western reaction has been somewhat muted. [For more on these events, see RFE/RL's dedicated webpage: Unrest in Uzbekistan --> /specials/uzbek_unrest/ ]

• May 12, 2005

  Iraq: Suicide Bombers Sow Death And Fear

  Can suicide bombers be stopped? Suicide bombers set off a wave of blasts in Iraq yesterday, killing at least 71 people and injuring more than 100. The blasts highlight a growing trend in which such attacks are becoming commonplace at Iraqi Army sites, police-recruitment centers, marketplaces, and crowded city streets. Most of those killed in the suicide bombings are innocent civilians, who live in constant fear of their lives and who increasingly distrust the new authorities' ability to cope with the situation.

• May 10, 2005

  Russia/Ukraine: Moscow, Kyiv Set Up Commission To Examine Relations

  The presidents of Russia and Ukraine have set up a joint commission to examine sensitive issues between the two countries. The new Russia-Ukraine commission will look at security, economic cooperation, international relations, and humanitarian issues. Relations between Moscow and Kyiv have soured over last year's bitterly contested presidential election in Ukraine, in which President Viktor Yushchenko defeated a Kremlin-backed candidate.

• May 04, 2005

  Iraq: Sunni Representation Bedevils New Government

  The absence yesterday of outgoing President Ghazi Ajil Al-Yawir was seen as a sign of Sunni discontent. Iraq has sworn in a new government, but many influential Sunni leaders remain outside it. They include outgoing President Ghazi Ajil al-Yawir, who stayed away from yesterday's swearing-in ceremony. Analysts say that without credible Sunnis in the government it will be difficult to reach out to this disaffected group. More importantly, without Sunni participation it could be very difficult to undercut the insurgency.

• May 03, 2005

  Ukraine's Yushchenko Marks 100 Days In Office

  Yushchenko's trip to the United States last month was seen as a great success Prague, 3 May 2005 (RFE/RL) --Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko marks his first 100 days in office today. During that time, he has won success on the international stage and boosted his popularity at home. However, serious economic problems continue to plague the economy.

• April 28, 2005

  Iraqi Parliament Approves Partial Cabinet

  Prime Minister-designate al-Ja'fari announcing the formation of his cabinet yesterday 28 April 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Iraq's parliament approved a partial cabinet today under the leadership of Prime Minister-designate Ibrahim al-Ja'fari, all but finalizing Iraq's first democratically elected government in more than 50 years and ending three months of political deadlock.

• April 27, 2005

  Romania: Militants Threaten To Kill Hostages If Romania Keeps Troops In Iraq

  Romanians participating in a rally in Bucharest today hold a placard reading 'Out of Iraq' Prague, 27 April 2005 (RFE/RL) – Hostage takers are again demanding a member of the international coalition withdraw its troops from Iraq. This time it is Romania that faces the pressure as three of its journalists – plus their interpreter – face death threats.

• April 26, 2005

  Ukraine/Belarus: Commemorating The Chornobyl Disaster 19 Years On

  A woman mourns near a gravestone today at a ceremony in Kyiv People in Ukraine, Belarus and other countries are today commemorating the 19th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. In the early hours of 26 April 1986, a massive chemical explosion blew the 1,000-ton cover off the top of Chornobyl's Unit Four reactor, spewing radiation over Ukraine, Belarus, and northern Europe. Millions of people were affected by the disaster north of Kyiv.

• April 25, 2005

  Iraq: New Cabinet Expected As Attacks Mount

  Prague, 25 April 2005 (RFE/RL) – As Iraqi politicians continue to wrangle over the makeup of a cabinet nearly three months after historic national voting, violence is on the rise again following the relative lull that followed the parliamentary elections.

• April 22, 2005

  Belarus: Will Rice's Words of Support Help or Hurt Opposition?

  Demonstrators with photos of disappeared (file photo) Belarusian officials have lashed out at what they say is an attempt by the United States to oust the administration of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on the sidelines of this week's informal NATO summit in Lithuania, yesterday called Belarus the "last true dictatorship in the center of Europe." She also met with members of the Belarusian opposition and pledged Washington's help in aiding the country's democratic process. But it remains uncertain whether Rice's strong rhetoric will help the Belarusian opposition or hurt it.

• April 21, 2005

  Iraq: Tens Of Bodies Discovered In Tigris As Violence Continues

  The bodies of more than 50 people have been reported found in the Tigris River south of Baghdad. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, announcing the discovery, said the victims are believed to be Shi'ite Muslim hostages executed by Sunni militants in the city of Madain. Reports earlier this week (16-17 April) said the militants had taken tens of Shi'ite civilians hostage and had threatened to kill them unless all of Madain's Shi'ite residents left the city. But Sunni authorities denied the claim, and the Iraqi Army failed to find any hostages after entering Madain.

• April 21, 2005

  Iraq: Doubts Raised About Militias' Ability To Restore Law And Order

  Kurdish peshmerga fighters Iraqi President Jalal Talabani recently told the BBC that "popular forces" such as Kurdish and Shi'ite militias should be used to fight Iraqi insurgents. However, the U.S. military opposes the idea of using forces such as the Kurdish Peshmergas or the Shi'ite Badr Brigade to suppress the insurgency. Analysts say that allowing the militias free rein could lead to bitter civil warfare.

• April 20, 2005

  Iraq: Leaders Split Over Saddam's Future

  Prague, 20 April 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The largest political bloc in the new Iraqi parliament is demanding the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Most Iraqis seem to support this demand.

• April 18, 2005

  Iraq: Army Finds No Sign Of Hostages As Rumors Rule The Country

  After reports on 16 and 17 April that Sunni militants were holding Shi'ite residents of Madain hostage, the Iraqi Army moved in. The military operation in the small town south of Baghdad involved more than 1,000 soldiers. But the alarm proved to be false. Many say the incident shows how Iraqi society is still consumed by rumors and conspiracy theories.

• April 15, 2005

  Iraq: Muqtada Al-Sadr Returns To Political Scene

  Muqtada al-Sadr (file photo) Radical Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is back, riding on a wave of Iraqi discontent with foreign troops and the lack of law and order in the country. In a demonstration organized by al-Sadr last week, tens of thousands flocked to Baghdad demanding that U.S. troops leave. The demonstration was the largest since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Even though al-Sadr officially boycotted recent parliamentary elections, his movement is a strong force outside the elected body. Many also believe that al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi Army did not disarm last October after several months of bloody fighting with U.S. troops.

• April 14, 2005

  Iraq: Election Of Talabani Marks Victory For Middle East's Kurds

  The appointment of Jalal Talabani, a prominent Kurdish politician, as Iraqi president last week was widely celebrated by millions of Kurds scattered across the Middle East. The move could have two divergent effects: it might encourage Kurds to integrate better in the countries they live in, but it might also raise their aspirations for a Kurdish state.

• April 12, 2005

  Ukraine: Politician’s Arrest Galvanizes Opposition

  Supporters of Viktor Yanukovych (above) are taking to the streets to defend Borys Kolesnykov Ukraine today formally charged Donetsk regional legislature head Borys Kolesnykov with racketeering. The arrest has sharpened the conflict between Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and the opposition. Former presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych has threatened mass protests and is rallying supporters against the new Ukrainian authorities. However, many observers believe the protests are likely to have little effect.

• April 11, 2005

  Iraq: New Iraqi President Urges U.S. To Stay Amid Protests

  Amid anti-American protests in Baghdad, new Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has stated he wants U.S. troops to stay in the country as violence continues and insurgents reject an offer of amnesty. But the protests have nonetheless put the issue of possible withdrawal of U.S. troops on the new Iraqi government's agenda.

• April 07, 2005

  Iraq: New Prime Minister Could Unite Country

  Ibrahim al-Ja'fari (file photo) Iraqi political leaders expect Islamist Shi’ite politician Ibrahim al-Ja’fari to be named prime minister today. Al-Ja’fari is the official spokesman of the Islamic Dawah Party, the oldest political faction among Iraq's Shi’ite majority. His party advocates Islamic reform and modernizing religious institutions. But, in many ways, al-Ja’fari is a hard man to pin down.

• April 06, 2005

  Iraqi Assembly Elects Talabani President

  6 April 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Weeks of deadlock gave way to political compromise today as Iraq's new parliament approved Kurd Jalal Talabani as the country's president, with Sunni and Shi'ite choices to fill two vice-presidential posts.

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