Use of torture confirmed by Bahrain commission
November 27th, 20110 WASHINGTON/Manama — The use of torture and the systematic mistreatment of detainees by the authorities have been confirmed by an independent commission set up by the government of Bahrain to look into the violence surrounding the rise and suppression of the Arab Spring movement in the Gulf state earlier this year.Mahmoud Cherif...
Romney Middle East advisor tied to brutal Lebanese militia
November 26th, 20110 Recently-announced Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Middle East advisory group co-chair has raised concerns after details about his role in Lebanon's brutal 15-year civil war have surfaced. Walid Phares is a college professor, author, and prides himself as a counter-terrorism expert, but hidden beyond the pages of his...Poll: Gingrich takes lead in GOP field, Romney drops to third
Both Romney & Gingrich in dead heat with ObamaUTICA, NY — Newt Gingrich has surged into the lead of the Republican field for President among primary voters with 32%, followed by Herman Cain at 26%, Mitt Romney at 14% and Ron Paul at 8%. In theoretical match-ups with Barack Obama among all voters, both Romney and Gingrich are...Lebanon of two minds: Syria conflict deepens rift between political rivals
BEIRUT (MEO) — Lebanon's decision to stand by Syria's embattled Bashar al-Assad has deepened the rift between the Hizbullah-dominated government and the opposition. People wave Syrian flags and carry a poster depicting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanon's Hizbullah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during a rally to show...Palestinian president to pledge swift action on unity government
RAMALLAH — Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was to pledge on Wednesday swift efforts with Hamas to form an interim government, in a speech marking seven years since Yasser Arafat's death.The public address, details of which were explained by a Palestinian official, was timed to coincide with the 23rd anniversary of the Palestinian...
Arab League decision deepens Syrian divide, escalates tension
November 18th, 20110 WASHINGTON — Actions by the Arab League this week have given a regional seal of approval to Syrian opposition forces and could mark the beginning of the end of the Assad family which has ruled Syria for more than 40 years. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani (L) and Arab League Secretary-General...
Kuwaiti Emir orders firm security response to political turmoil
November 18th, 20110 Kuwait City — Kuwait's emir on Thursday ordered authorities to take all necessary measures to maintain security after angry protesters stormed parliament, but the opposition remained defiant. Protesters force open the door of the National Assembly Debate hall during a demonstration in Kuwait City November 16, 2011. Kuwait's emir...
Militia warning as Libyan PM forms government
November 18th, 20110 TRIPOLI — A commander of Libyan former rebels has warned that his men could overthrow the incoming government if it fails to meet their demands for representation. Tripoli's revolutionary fighters take part in a military parade in Tripoli November 17, 2011. REUTERS/Mohammed SalemThe credibility of the threat, made by Tripoli...
Ron Paul talks economics, foreign policy before debate
November 11th, 20110 Paul: “I'm trying to protect America so I don't think we should be in the weapons business, the foreign aid business, and I don't think we should have our foreign policy dictated by any single country." The Texas Congressman spoke with TAAN prior to Wednesday’s debate in his hotel room near Oakland University. PHOTO: Nafeh...
Dearborn Decides: Guido, McDonald win school board seats, proposals 1, 2 pass
November 11th, 20110 Student volunteers and officers from the Arab American Political Action Committee celebrate with newly-elected Dearborn School Board member Roxanne McDonald on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at Habib’s Cuisine in Dearborn. ...
Abdel-Hak falls short in Dearborn Heights; millage passes
November 11th, 20110 Haidous re-elected Wayne Mayor for another term, Algazali fails to recapture Hamtramck council seat Kareem Naimi was found voting at the school with his wife and children voting at William Ford Elementary School on Nov. 8. PHOTO: Natasha Dado/TAAN DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After falling short of current Dearborn Heights City Councilman...Precincts slow in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights
The number of people who came out to vote on Nov. 8 was less than anticipated according to election volunteers from different precincts. William Ford Elementary School in Dearborn had about 2,000 registered voters, but at 3 p.m. on election day less than 100 had voted. According to an Arab American Political Action Committee volunteer,...More killed as Syria begins laying mines along border with Lebanon
DAMASCUS — Syrian security forces killed three people, including a teenager, in two flashpoint provinces on Thursday, amid reports that the army had laid mines along the border with Lebanon."A 15-year-old minor was killed and three people were wounded by security forces during raids" in Dael, a protest hub near the southern city of...Obama confirms full withdrawal from Iraq by Christmas
WASHINGTON — In a decision promptly denounced by Republicans, President Barack Obama announced here Friday that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the Christmas holidays in late December."Today I can say that our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays," Obama told reporters at the White House. "…After...
Nayef named Saudi crown prince
October 30th, 20110 DUBAI — Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has appointed Interior Minister Prince Nayef as the new crown prince, the Royal Court said in a statement issued Friday, signaling an orderly process of future succession in the world's largest oil exporter. Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister Prince Nayef attends a news conference in Mecca in this......
Tunisian Islamist election win marred by clashes
October 29th, 20110 TUNIS — The Islamist Ennahda party was officially declared the winner of Tunisia's election, setting it up to form the first Islamist-led government in the wake of the "Arab Spring" uprisings. Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist Ennahda movement, gestures to supporters after the announcement of the country's election results...
New Libyan leaders vow to prosecute Gaddafi killers
October 29th, 20110 TRIPOLI - Libya's new leaders vowed on Thursday to bring the killers of Muammar Gaddafi to justice as NATO mulled a possible new role in the North African nation. Gaddafi killers: Yesterday’s heroes, today’s ‘criminals.’ "With regards to Gaddafi, we do not wait for anybody to tell us," said Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice chairman of the......
THE ‘KING OF KINGS’ MEETS HIS END
October 22nd, 20110 SIRTE - Muammar Gaddafi has been killed after National Transitional Council fighters overran loyalist defenses in Sirte, the toppled Libyan leader's hometown and final stronghold. A man purported to be Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is seen in this still image taken from video footage October 20, 2011."We have been waiting for this moment...
A long and winding road to the end for Gaddafi
October 22nd, 20110 SAN SEBASTIAN - I came across an anti-Gaddafi demonstration for the first time in February 2011 in Baghdad’s Tahrir square.Zine El Abidine Ben Ali – Tunisia’s former ruler - had left the country a few weeks earlier, and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak would be ousted just a few days later. In the context of the "Arab spring",...
Palestinian prisoners swap: Freedom is a move to a larger prison
October 21st, 20110 SHEIKH JARRAH, Occupied East Jerusalem (IPS) - Rawda Odeh had mixed feelings when she heard the news that her son, 33- year-old Loai Mohammad Ahmed Odeh, was going to be released from prison as a result of the recently brokered prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas. Former Palestinian prisoners, who have arrived from...Hamas and Israel confirm prisoner swap
DOHA — Scenes of celebration in the Gaza Strip and in Jerusalem have greeted the announcement of a landmark Palestinian-Israeli prisoner-swap deal. Adlah, mother of Palestinian female prisoner Fotnah Abo Aleish, sits next to a photo of her at the family home as she reacts to the prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel, at the Askar......
AAPAC announces endorsements for Nov. 8 elections
October 16th, 20110 DEARBORN – After a marathon discussion session of about three hours and back-and-forth debates among members on Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Arab American Political Action Committee reached decisions on key endorsements and proposals for upcoming ballots in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area. Abdel-Hak The committee opted to endorse...
Syrians rally in Damascus in support of Assad
October 16th, 20110 DAMASCUS - Syrian pro-government protesters put on a show of strength Wednesday as hundreds of thousands rallied in the Syrian capital in support of President Bashar Assad’s rule, in apparent response to growing international support for the recently formed opposition council.The demonstration followed a call on the Facebook page “My......
Egypt: ‘Invisible hand’ playing with sectarian fire
October 16th, 20110 CAIRO — Violent clashes in Cairo that left at least 25 Egyptians dead and over 300 injured on Sunday have deepened suspicions that unseen forces are manipulating the country's sectarian divisions for political gain.The clashes broke out after about 2,000 protesters, mostly minority Coptic Christians, attempted to stage a sit-in outside...
Dearborn decides: Ballot proposals loom large for Nov. 8 election
October 16th, 20110 DEARBORN — On Nov. 8 of this year, Dearborn voters will take part in an election that could have a huge impact on how the city operates going forward, with a vote on the city's operating millage taking center stage. In addition, votes on a library millage and the possible elimination of the city's civil service system are also......