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US appears powerless to stop Koran-burning ceremony
09/08 | 00:20 GMT
©AFP/File / Aldo Utama
Indonesian demonstrators rally outside the US embassy in Jakarta on September 4 to protest threats by the US Christian group "Dove World Outreach Center" to burn a Koran to mark the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.
©AFP/File / Aldo Utama
Indonesia protesters rallying against threats by the Dove World Outreach Center church group
GAINESVILLE, Florida (AFP) - The United States appeared powerless to stop a Florida church from burning hundreds of Korans on the anniversary of 9/11 despite fears of global repercussions.
The White House added its voice to growing concern from military leaders that the incendiary move by a group of American evangelicals could trigger outrage around the Islamic world and endanger the lives of US soldiers.
"It puts our troops in harm's way. Any type of activity like that that puts our troops in harm's way would be a concern to this administration," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Tuesday.
©AFP / Patrick Baz
US army soldiers play Risk at a patrol base named Stronghold Lugo on the outskirts of the village of Jellawar
He was reiterating comments by top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, who warned burning the holy book of Islam would provide propaganda for insurgents.
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," Petraeus told The Wall Street Journal in comments echoed later by NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
But a small Florida church has vowed to mark Saturday's ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks by burning Korans as they remember the almost 3,000 people killed by Al-Qaeda hijackers.
Although the fire authorities turned down an application a few weeks ago from pastor Terry Jones to hold the open-air burning ceremony, police cannot intervene until they actually light the 200 Korans.
©AFP / Tim Sloan
Barack Obama (R) meets with Anders Fogh Rasmussen in the Oval Office
Even then, no arrests would be made as contravening local ordinances is only a misdemeanor, and citations -- fines and warnings -- are issued in such cases.
Jones said the Koran torching aimed "to remember those who were brutally murdered on September 11," and to send a warning "to the radical element of Islam."
The move comes against a backdrop of "Islamophobia" driven by plans to build an Islamic cultural center in New York close to Ground Zero, the site where the World Trade Center stood before it was destroyed in the 2001 attacks.
©AFP/File / Aldo Utama
A group of Indonesian demonstrators belonging to an Islamist organization rally outside the US embassy in Jakarta
US Attorney General Eric Holder met religious leaders Tuesday to discuss ways of stemming the anti-Islam tide, with calls from the broad coalition of faiths to make a strong speech condemning hate crimes.
Muslim Advocates executive director Farhana Khera said after the meeting that Holder had described the Koran burning plan as "idiotic and dangerous," but regretted that in itself the ceremony was not a violation of federal law.
Saturday's anniversary is also set to coincide with the festivities for the Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
©AFP/File / Shah Marai
General David Petraeus
US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley insisted freedom of religion was a pillar of American society, adding "the potential act of burning a Koran... is contrary to our values, contrary to how civil society has emerged in the country."
But Jones, who heads the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville Florida, remained defiant, saying his group was taking Petraeus's words seriously, but "we have firmly made up our mind" to go ahead.
"Instead of us being blamed for what other people will do or might do, why don't we send a warning to them? Why don't we send a warning to radical Islam and say, don't do it. If you attack us, if you attack us, we will attack you."
Al-Qaeda militants plowed two hijacked commercial airlines into the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, destroying the twin towers and raining terror on the city.
©AFP/Getty Images / Mark Wilson
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is is among those denouncing the growing intolerance against the Islamic faith
Another plane was flown into the Pentagon outside Washington, while a fourth crashed into a Pennsylvania field after passengers overpowered the hijackers.
Religious bigotry was roundly condemned at a press conference called by the coalition of inter-faith leaders meeting with Holder.
"To those who would exercise derision... bigotry, open rejection of our fellow Americans for their religious faith, I say shame on you," said Richard Cizik, one of the country's most prominent evangelical leaders.
"We are profoundly distressed and deeply saddened by the incidents of violence committed against Muslims in our communities. And by the desecration of Islamic houses of worship," added Rabbi Nancy Kreimer.
There have already been protests in the Afghan capital Kabul and in Indonesia -- the world's largest Muslim-majority country -- against the provocative plans to burn the Koran.
And Iran has warned it could unleash an uncontrolled Muslim response.
The Vatican newspaper, l'Osservatore Romano, in a commentary Tuesday condemned the plans in an article "No one should burn the Koran."
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Rooney scores as England down Swiss
09/07 | 21:23 GMT
©AFP / Fabrice Coffrini
England's striker Wayne Rooney controls the ball during his Euro 2012 group G qualifying football match at St. Jakob Stadium in Basel. Rooney scored as England seized control of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a comfortable 3-1 victory over 10-man Switzerland.
©AFP / Fabrice Coffrini
England's striker Wayne Rooney controls the ball
BASEL, Switzerland (AFP) - Scandal-hit Wayne Rooney scored as England seized control of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a comfortable 3-1 victory over 10-man Switzerland here Tuesday.
Rooney, whose preparation for the match had been engulfed by lurid tabloid allegations about his private life, found the net after 10 minutes to help put Fabio Capello's men on top of Group G with two wins out of two.
Substitutes Adam Johnson and Darren Bent also scored for the visitors in what will be regarded as a hugely encouraging result for England following such a miserable World Cup, in which they lost 4-1 to Germany in the last 16.
The result was marred by injuries to Theo Walcott and Jermain Defoe, both carried off on a stretcher, but it leaves England on six points from two games, and gives Rooney accused of cheating on his wife with a prostitute, with some kind of personal satisfaction at the end of a hugely trying week.
The result -- and Rooney's role in it -- left Capello delighted.
©AFP / Sebastien Feval
England Darren Bent (R) shoots to score the third goal
"I think we played fantastic football in the first half," Capello said.
Asked how he rated Rooney's performance, Capello replied: "You saw the game, no? I think he played well. He was at the centre of the play, the centre of the movement. I think the pressure was strong for him but he played well."
England captain Steven Gerrard praised a "spot on" performance which had seen the Swiss "torn apart."
"I think the first-half performance was perfect," Gerrard told Sky Sports. "Everything the manager asked of us, we got the game plan spot on.
"I think we got a little bit lazy in the second half, they came into the game, but it was never in doubt," he said. "People were talking about how good Switzerland are defensively, but we just tore them apart."
©AFP / Sebastien Feval
England's Adam Johnson (L) scores in front of the Switzerland's goalkeeper Diego Benaglio
As for Switzerland, they scored possibly the goal of the game through substitute Xherdan Shaqiri despite having Stephan Lichtsteiner controversially sent off after 65 minutes and left the field frustrated with the refereeing of official Nicola Rizzoli.
But it will be Rooney who earns the headlines, as he has been used to doing so many times during his fledgling career.
After the seemingly endless revelations about his private life, those who know Rooney best insisted he was a certainty to score and play well in Basel - and they were proved right.
The Manchester United striker, playing in a deep role behind Defoe, took only 10 minutes to get on the scoresheet as he side-footed home from six yards following excellent work down the right wing by full-back Glen Johnson.
It was Rooney’s first goal in open play since March and, remarkably given his reputation and talent, his first for England since September 2009; a barren period which of course included a dismal World Cup campaign.
©AFP / Fabrice Coffrini
Switzerland's Marco Streller (C) falls next to England's Phil Jagielka (L) and Steven Gerrard
Rooney’s celebrations were under-stated but England’s fans, who cheered his every touch despite booing him at Wembley recently, roared their delight.
England suffered a set-back when Arsenal winger Walcott, who had started the move for Rooney’s goal, was injured in the process and subsequently rushed to hospital for X-Rays on an ankle injury.
But his replacement Adam Johnson of Manchester City continued his good work down the right flank and if anything improved on it.
Defoe wasted one excellent chance from a James Milner cross to put England further ahead and also forced Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio into a fine save as the visitors enjoyed the more constructive possession early on.
Switzerland's task was made harder in the second half when Lichtsteiner was sent off for his second yellow card, a late challenge on Milner when the ball was already going out for a corner in the 65th minute.
England made it 2-0 when, with Defoe lying injured, play continued and winger Johnson raced onto a perfect through-ball from Gerrard to expertly round keeper Benaglio.
A stunning goal from Shaqiri, curling home from 25 yards seconds later, made it a frantic finale but England, and Rooney, ended the night with a sense of satisfaction - especially when Bent, a replacement for the injured Defoe, side-footed home a third two minutes from time.
Sports
Rooney scores as England down ...World's smallest man tours Big Apple
09/07 | 19:49 GMT
©AFPTV
Nepalese teen Khagendra Thapa Magar is just 22 inches (56 centimetres) tall, and he's coming to New York City to see how he measures up to the world's tallest man. Along with a visit to Times Square, 17-year-old Magar will visit the life-size statue of Robert Wadlow, an American man who topped out at 8'11" (2.72 metres). Duration: 00:51
©AFPTV
Nepalese teen Khagendra Thapa Magar is just 22 inches (56 centimetres) tall, and he's coming to New York City to see how he measures up to the world's tallest man. Along with a visit to Times Square, 17-year-old Magar will visit the life-size statue of Robert Wadlow, an American man who topped out at 8'11" (2.72 metres). Magar's trip celebrates his inclusion in the lastest Ripley's Believe It or Not! book.
Video Gallery
World's smallest man tours Big ...Angelina Jolie in Pakistan to meet flood victims
09/07 | 11:24 GMT
©AFP/UNHCR
United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie during her humanitarian relief appeal for flood victims in Pakistan. Jolie Tuesday visited Pakistan to draw world attention towards the plight of 21 million people affected by the country's worst-ever floods, the UN refugee agency said.
©AFP/UNHCR
Angelina Jolie has visited Pakistan to draw world attention towards the plight of 21 million people affected by floods
NOWSHERA, Pakistan (AFP) - Hollywood star Angelina Jolie Tuesday visited Pakistan's northwest to draw the world's attention towards the plight of 21 million people affected by the country's worst-ever floods.
Jolie, the 34-year-old actress and roving envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, spent time talking to long-term Afghan refugees, Pakistani communities and aid workers in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunwa province.
It was Jolie's fourth visit to Pakistan since she became a UNHCR goodwill ambassador in 2001.
"From what I understand the situation is on a scale that we have not really seen the likes of. It's on a huge scale," Jolie told reporters at a camp for the displaced.
"It is extraordinarily complex situation, it's not just the floods," said Jolie, referring to the 1.7 million Afghan refugees already living in temporary camps in the northwest.
Wearing a red-lined black cloak that covered her head, Jolie said she was upset to see the people's plight and called for donations through various channels, including the United Nation's official appeal.
Last week, Jolie released a video message appealing for greater public support for Pakistan's relief efforts, and she has herself donated 100,000 dollars to the flood appeal.
The UNHCR is providing relief aid including shelter materials to those displaced by the disaster, which has killed 1,760 people by the official toll.
People
Angelina Jolie in Pakistan to meet flood ...UN chief in Rwanda amidst war crimes report row
09/07 | 19:58 GMT
©AFP/File / Marc Hoffer
A soldier from the Indian Batallion of the MONUSCO mans a post on September 4 in the village of Luvungi in northeastern Democratic Republic Congo. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday for surprise talks with President Paul Kagame, who has threatened to pull his country's troops out of international peacekeeping missions.
©AFP/File / Marc Hoffer
A soldier from the Indian Batallion of the MONUSCO mans a post on September 4 in the village of Luvungi
KIGALI (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday in the midst of a major dispute over a leaked UN report on war crimes allegedly committed by Rwanda in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda has been infuriated by the report, which accused Rwandan troops and their allies of staging genocide style massacres of civilians in DR Congo in 1996-97.
Kigali has threatened to pull its troops out of international peacekeeping missions.
A spokesman at the United Nations headquarters said Ban had arrived in the Rwandan capital for the unannounced visit and would hold talks with Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo.
"Tomorrow morning he will meet President Paul Kagame," the spokesman said.
"The secretary general decided to visit Kigali to speak directly with the Rwandan President and other government officials about their concern regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo Human Rights mapping report compiled by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights."
Radio Rwanda, a state broadcaster, on Tuesday evening confirmed the visit.
Ban was accompanied by Roger Meece, the UN special representative for DR Congo; Alain Le Roy, an under secretary general for peacekeeping operations; and Ivan Simonovic, assistant secretary general for human rights.
The United Nations last week delayed publication of its DR Congo report until October 1 to give Rwanda and other nations more time to comment on the contents.
A draft of the UN report, seen by AFP, said Rwandan Tutsi commanders and their rebel allies carried out systematic attacks on Hutus in DR Congo that resembled the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Following the leaking of the draft, Rwanda threatened to pull its peacekeepers out of international missions. The move would have a particular impact on the UN force in Sudan if the threat was carried out.
©AFP/File / Marc Hoffer
A soldiers from the Indian Batallion of the MONUSCO hold a drill
"You cannot accuse our army... and want the same army to be a disciplined moral army to protect civilians around the world," Rwanda's Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said of the report.
During his swearing in ceremony on Monday for his second presidential term, Kagame criticised foreign "lies" about his country, but he did not make a specific reference to the UN report.
The United Nations has not publicly commented on the Rwandan threat, apart from saying that Rwanda's contribution is much valued.
According to UN figures, there were 3,485 Rwandan troops in the peacekeeping mission the troubled Darfur region of western Sudan at the end of July, and a further 143 in other missions.
The UN probe documented more than 600 incidents in DR Congo between 1993 and 2003 in which tens of thousands of people, mainly civilians, were slaughtered.
The UN leader will return to New York on Thursday, his spokesman said.
