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Nepal’s Constituent Assembly term extended for 3 months 

Kathmandu, May 29, 2011-Nepal’s major political parties amended the interim constitution and extended the term of the Constituent Assembly by three months early on Sunday morning. A five-point agreement between the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) was the basis for the consensus.

The deal includes a commitment to complete the fundamentals of the peace process, and prepare a first draft of the new constitution within three months. It states that Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal would resign to make way for a national unity government. In accordance with past agreements with Madhesi parties, the Nepal Army would be given an ‘inclusive’ character.

The agreement was concluded after almost 15 hours of intra and inter-party meetings, with NC, Maoists, UML and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) engaged in hectic negotiations through Saturday. NC and Maoists initially discussed the details of the peace process, including numbers to be integrated, modality of integration, and end of dual security provided to Maoist leaders. NC also proposed a limited term extension to finish the tasks related to the peace process and another extension, if necessary, to complete the constitution. While the final agreement did not go into specifics of the peace process, NC’s proposal for limited extension prevailed.

In negotiations with the Maoists, the UDMF asked for group recruitment of 10,000 Madhesis into the Nepal Army, and the government’s immediate resignation as precondition for supporting term extension. But the Maoists said that they could, at best, put in a commitment of the Prime Minister to resign for national consensus after extension. UDMF however stuck to its original stance, and was not part to the agreement. As mark of protest, it did not participate in the house session.

But just as the house got extended, differing interpretations began emerging on the deal. NC general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said his party’s understanding was that the Prime Minister would resign very soon, while PM Khanal said that he would resign only when there is an alternative national unity framework in place. The parties will also struggle to arrive at a common view on the details of integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants.

Keywords: Nepal political crisis, Constituent Assembly, Jhalanath Khanal

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Syrian tanks attack two central towns

BEIRUT, May 29, 2011 - Syrian activists say government troops backed by tanks are attacking two central towns that have seen intense protests against President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The activists say the attack on Rastan and Talbiseh in the central province of Homs started early on Sunday.

The activists say all roads leading to the two towns have been closed off by security forces and soldiers. The activist spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing government reprisals.

Human rights groups say more than 1,000 people have been killed since the revolt erupted in Syria in mid-March, a toll that has both enraged and motivated the protesters.

The 10-week-old protests have evolved from a disparate movement demanding reforms to a resilient uprising that is now seeking Mr. Assad’s ouster.

Keywords: Syria unrest, Bashar Assad
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NATO airstrike kills 14 civilians in southern Afghanistan

Kandahar, Afghanistan, May 29, 2011-A NATO airstrike in southern Afghan province of Helmand killed 14 civilians including women and children, a government spokesman said Sunday.

The raid in Nawzad district was initiated after U.S. Marines came under Taliban fire, a spokesman for the provincial governor said.

“The foreign forces called for air support and NATO aircraft bombed two civilian homes,” Daud Ahmadi said.

“Five girls, seven boys and two women were martyred and three children, a woman and two men were injured in the bombardment,” Mr. Ahmadi said.

Tim James, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the alliance “is aware of alleged civilian casualties” and the southern regional command was investigating.

Civilian casualties at the hands of international forces have been the most delicate issue between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO military officials.

On Saturday, Mr. Karzai ordered the Defence Ministry to prevent foreign troops from uncoordinated operations and to take control of all night raids.

The directive is likely to create tension between his government and NATO, as alliance commander U.S. General David Petraeus has hailed such operations.

NATO said dozens of insurgents are killed and detained each month in night raids, which have often resulted in civilian deaths.

Keywords: NATO airstrike, Afghanistan
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Yemen president, tribal chief agree to end clashes

SANAA, Yemen, May 29, 2011-Yemen’s embattled president and the country’s most powerful tribal leader have agreed to end five days of gunbattles that killed 124 people and pushed the country’s political crisis closer to civil war.

The fighting between forces loyal to both men made the past week the deadliest since mass street protests for an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule broke out three months ago. Although it could prevent bloodshed, Saturday’s agreement will do little to solve the wider crisis, with Mr. Saleh rejecting efforts to negotiate his exit.

The week’s battles began when Mr. Saleh’s security forces attacked the home of Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the powerful Hashid tribal confederation and an uneasy ally who abandoned the president and joined his opponents. Tribal fighters came to al-Ahmar’s defense and seized a number of government buildings in the Hassaba neighborhood of the capital, Sanaa, during intense clashes.

Fighting then spread outside the capital when tribal fighters seized two army posts north of the city on Friday.

A member the committee of tribal leaders who brokered Saturday’s deal said the sides had agreed to withdraw their forces from the neighbourhood starting Sunday morning.

The mediation committee will take control of the government buildings seized by tribal fighters so civilians can return to the area, the mediator said.

An aide to Mr. al-Ahmar confirmed the agreement’s details.

“The committee reached an agreement, and we will abide by it,” he said.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The agreement late Saturday followed steps by both sides to undermine the other, with Mr. al-Ahmar calling on security forces to desert the president and Yemeni authorities issuing an arrest warrant for the tribal leader.

In a letter to security forces, Mr. al-Ahmar called on the Republican Guard and other security forces to help “get rid of this regime and be among the makers of the change that the people are calling for.”

Experts say the uprising’s future will be determined by the number of tribes and security forces that turn against Mr. Saleh. Many already have, including the Hashid confederation, to which Mr. Saleh’s tribe belongs. Some army units have also left Mr. Saleh to back the protesters, though they did not join the fight against his forces.

The wave of defections picked up after Mr. Saleh intensified a crackdown on the protesters that has killed more than 150 demonstrators.

Mr. Al-Ahmar’s letter, published online and read aloud and distributed at meetings with tribal leaders, called on others to leave Mr. Saleh.

“The enemy of all these people is Saleh, who has weighed heavily upon our people for all these years and confiscated the simplest of Yemeni citizens’ rights to serve the interests of Saleh, his sons and his family,” he wrote.

He called on soldiers not to “sacrifice themselves for one individual or family” and to stand with the people in choosing “change and the dream of a better future.”

It remains unclear if Mr. al-Ahmar’s letter will have any effect. Much of Mr. Saleh’s power base is made up of childhood friends and family members he placed in high-level security posts, decreasing the chances of defection. Yemen’s powerful Republican Guard, which Mr. al-Ahmar called on specifically, is commanded by one of Mr. Saleh’s sons and has remained loyal to the president as other military units have defected.

The week’s clashes followed a breakdown in efforts by Yemen’s Gulf Arab neighbours to negotiate an end to the crisis. The deal would have required Mr. Saleh to step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution, but he balked at signing.

The Hashid turned against Mr. Saleh two months ago, throwing its weight behind the protesters. But before this week, it had kept its well-armed fighters on the sidelines.

The United States, which once considered Mr. Saleh a necessary ally in fighting an active al-Qaeda branch in Yemen, has turned away from the Yemeni ruler, calling on him to peacefully transfer power.

Keywords: Yemen unreast, Yemen ceasefire