Fears about the supply of crude oil continue to drive prices higher as political unrest sweeps across the Middle East and North Africa. Prices of brent crude oil was trading at US$107.08 a barrel this morning, after hitting two-and-a-half year highs yesterday. Brent crude has risen around 12.5pc so far this year. At least three companies - Repsol, Eni and BASF's Wintershall – have halted operations in Libya as violence escalates in the Gulf kingdom. There are also reports that oil workers in Libya are striking. Saudi Arabia has said it will pump more oil, but only when needed. International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Nobuo Tanaka said that oil prices above $100 per barrel for the rest of the year could tip the global economy back into a repeat of the 2008 economic crisis. Airlines have also weighed in on the issue, stating that the surges in oil prices will create very challenging conditions for them. "Oil is a big problem because it could change completely the picture,” said Giovanni Bisignani, head of the International Air Transport Association, an organisation that represents some 230 airlines. Libya's unrest has also affected natural gas supplies, with supplies to Italy on the Greenstream pipeline suspended.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Middle East politics pushes oil prices up
Monday, February 21, 2011
Pakistani forensics 'prove US murder'
PAKISTANI police claimed yesterday to have forensic proof a US official shot two motorcyclists in "cold-blooded murder", not self-defence. The incident has created an escalating standoff between Washington and Islamabad Raymond Davis, 36, was remanded in custody for another 14 days by the Lahore High Court yesterday while a higher court decides whether he is a US diplomat entitled to immunity from prosecution, as Washington insists. Mr Davis, 36, has reportedly told police he shot the two armed motorcyclists in self-defence, believing they were planning to rob or kidnap him, after they approached his car at an intersection in Lahore on January 27. But Lahore police chief Aslam Tareen rejected the self-defence claims at an extraordinary press conference yesterday. "The police investigation and forensic report show it was not self-defence," Mr Tareen said. "He gave no chance to them to survive. It was cold-blooded murder. Eyewitnesses have told police he directly shot at them, and he kept shooting even when one was running away." No fingerprints were on the triggers of the pistols found on the men's bodies, he said, and tests showed the bullets remained in the magazine of their guns, and not the chamber. The US embassy and State Department have accused Pakistan of breaching conventions by remanding in custody an official with diplomatic status. The embassy has demanded Mr Davis's release and refused to hand over to Pakistani authorities a second American, who rushed to help his colleague and in the process ran over and killed a third Pakistani. Mr Tareen said he had sent the US consulate in Lahore five letters demanding access to the consular vehicle believed to be involved in the hit-and-run. Washington has warned that the standoff risks derailing the nations' bilateral relationship and could force the cancellation of a crucial summit between Pakistani, US and Afghan leaders scheduled for later this month. US congressional officials have threatened to block instalments of Washington's promised $US7.5 billion ($7.45bn) assistance package to Pakistan if Mr Davis is not released. But Pakistani officials questioned the claim of diplomatic status, citing confused statements from the Lahore consulate, and reports that Mr Davis is a private security contractor to the consulate with limited immunity. The issue has fanned the strong anti-US sentiment across Pakistan at a sensitive time for the government, which is besieged by economic and security problems. The suicide on Sunday of the widow of one of the men shot by Mr Davis has fuelled the public anger and the government is under intense pressure not to bow to US demands. Mr Davis appeared briefly in court yesterday accompanied by a US-appointed lawyer who submitted applications demanding immunity from prosecution and for all further court proceedings to be held in camera.
Amanda Hodge
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A PAKISTANI intelligence official says an American in custody for killing two men is an undercover CIA contractor, in remarks likely to inflame a crisis with the United States. Washington insists Raymond Davis, who says he acted in self-defence, is a member of its Islamabad embassy's "administrative and technical staff" who has diplomatic immunity and should be released immediately. But the unpopular government in Pakistan is under huge pressure from the political opposition not to cave in to US demands, with analysts even warning that the case could bring down the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP). "It is beyond any shadow of a doubt that he was working for CIA," an official from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency told Agence Ffrance Presse on condition of anonymity. "He's on contract. He's not a regular CIA guy, but he's working for CIA. That's confirmed," the Pakistani official said. Pakistan's powerful intelligence services and military have been angered by accusations that they support Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked networks fighting US troops in Afghanistan, and need to do more to eliminate Islamist militants. Few in Pakistan believe Davis, who reportedly worked for a security contractor and had a background in US Special Forces, is a regular diplomat. Police told AFP they recovered a Glock pistol, four loaded magazines, a GPS navigation system and a small telescope from his car, after the shooting on a busy street in the eastern city of Lahore on January 27. A third Pakistani was struck down and killed by a US diplomatic vehicle that came to Davis's assistance. US officials denied Pakistan access to the vehicle and the occupants are widely believed to have left the country. Washington has postponed a round of talks with Afghanistan and Pakistan, but Islamabad has said the matter is before the courts, although one compromise would be for the families to pardon Davis, in keeping with Islamic law. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the lower house on Monday he was confident "that both the Pakistani and the US governments will not allow the Davis case to come in the way of mutually beneficial partnership". He said Pakistan was mindful of its international obligations under the Vienna Convention and other agreements. But he added: "I want to assure this house and the nation that my government will not compromise on Pakistan's sovereignty and dignity. We are a responsible government and conscious of the sentiments of our people." On Monday, a judge at Lahore's top court ordered the government to appear on March 14 to respond to private petitions related to Davis' incarceration, the law on diplomatic privileges. The court last week deferred any judgement on whether Davis has diplomatic immunity and gave the foreign ministry until March 14 to determine his status. US Senator John Kerry visited Pakistan last week to express regret and say Davis would face a criminal investigation at home, but hopes for a swift resolution now appear unlikely. Local analysts suggested Pakistani intelligence had deliberately decided to complicate the case to put pressure on the government and the United States, with whom relations have been troubled over the war in Afghanistan. "This would be seen as a kind of deliberate attempt to make the situation more difficult and complex to handle, and this provides additional material to the Islamic groups to adopt a hardline stance," said analyst Hasan Askari. "These (intelligence) groups are not happy with the way America was building pressure on Pakistan on the war on terrorism. "If it goes to the street and massive agitation, all political parties will find it a good opportunity to knock the PPP out of power," he said. So sensitive is the case that Fauzia Wahab, spokeswoman for the ruling party, was forced to resign after saying diplomats have immunity and Davis had an "official" visa. The PPP has also ditched former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a recent cabinet reshuffle. Qureshi, who was still in his post at the time of the shootings, said last week in his view Davis did not have full diplomatic immunity. The Pakistani intelligence official said the Davis case had soured relations with the Central Intelligence Agency. "Our relations with the CIA are now sort of pretty dicey. It has affected our relationship," the official told AFP. AAP
Libya: leaders say 'to fight to death'
Although government restrictions have complicated the task of compiling a tally, Human Rights Watch said 233 had been killed since last Thursday while the International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) put the toll at 300-400. IFHR head Souhayr Belhassen said several eastern cities, including the second city of Benghazi and Sirte, had fallen to demonstrators after army units formerly loyal to Kadhafi had defected. Libya's al-Jamahiriya Two television and al-Shababia radio were both forced to halt broadcasts after their offices were ransacked, witnesses said. Although they did manage to resume broadcasts, a number of witnesses said protesters had torched other public buildings in the capital overnight, including police stations and offices of the governing People's Committees. While his 68-year-old father has yet to address the nation since the unrest erupted last week, his son Saif al-Islam took to the airwaves on Monday to condemn the uprising as a foreign plot that would be crushed. "Libya is at a crossroads. If we do not agree today on reforms ... rivers of blood will run through Libya," he said in a fiery but rambling speech. "We will take up arms ... we will fight to the last bullet. We will destroy seditious elements. If everybody is armed, it is civil war, we will kill each other... Libya is not Egypt, it is not Tunisia." But his insistence the regime would not share the fate of its two north African neighbours and crumble in the face of a popular revolt did not convince those in Tripoli. "We can hear gunfire outside. It hasn't stopped all day," a resident of a suburb east of Tripoli said by telephone. "When we heard the unrest was approaching, we stocked up on flour and tomatoes. It's definitely the end of the regime. This has never happened in Libya before. We are praying that it ends quickly." Witnesses arriving at the western border into Tunisia said that police had abandoned the city of al-Zawiya which had sunk into chaos. "Libyans are burning everything in sight and they are attacking public buildings," said one witness at the border. AN assault on Moamer Kadhafi's 41-year rule of Libya spread to Tripoli as protesters torched police stations. Barely a week after his neighbour Hosni Mubarak was forced from office, the Middle East's longest-ruling leader sent out a warning that he was ready for a fight to the death, despite growing signs that his grip on power was loosening. The president of Yemen, another ruler who has chalked up more than three decades in power, also defiantly insisted he would only exit if defeated at the ballot box but faced growing calls to quit. And a top exiled opposition figure said he planned to return to Bahrain, fuelling pressure on the ruling royal family for reform.
While there was fresh violence in several Arab cities, the most dramatic events were in Tripoli where the sound of heavy gunfire broke out in downtown areas for the first time since the uprising began in eastern Libya.
"It's hard to tell who is firing: plainclothes police, supporters or opponents of Kadhafi," said another, who added that he had seen three bodies.
A Libyan newspaper reported that the justice minister had resigned in protest at "the excessive use of force" while several ambassadors, including the envoy to the Arab League, also quit.
Portugal sent a military plane to Tripoli to evacuate its nationals and those of other EU countries while several other European governments warned against all but essential travel.
Norwegian energy giant Statoil said it had begun evacuating non-Libyan staff working in Libya while British energy group BP said it too was making preparations to evacuate some of its staff.
Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh, the region's second longest-ruling leader, also struck a note of defiance against a growing clamour for his departure.
"If they want me to quit, I will only leave through the ballot box," Saleh told reporters as protesters, including opposition MPs, gathered outside Sanaa University.
In the country's south, police shot dead a protester in Aden, where protests have raged killing 12 people and wounding dozens since February 16. And tens of thousands of Huthi rebels rallied in northern Saada to demand Saleh's ouster.
While Yemen is the poorest Arab country, wealthy states have also been caught up in the wave of unrest.
In Bahrain, where a mainly Shiite population has long chafed against being ruled by a Sunni royal family, protesters geared up for a rally they hoped would bring tens of thousands to the central Pearl Square on Tuesday.
"We will stay here for as long as it takes," said student Qassem Hassan, as he passed out fruit and water to protesters.
Hassan Mashaima, leader of Bahrain's opposition Haq movement, said he would return to Manama on Tuesday, despite the threat of terrorism charges.
The unrest has also spread to Morocco where five burned bodies were found in a bank set ablaze during protests on Sunday in the northern town of Al-Hoceima demanding limits on the powers of King Mohammed VI.
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Friday, February 18, 2011
Libya, Jordan And Yemen Hit By Renewed Unrest
Libyan authorities have deployed troops in the city of Benghazi following night time rallies over the killings of more than 20 protesters.
A major demonstration is taking place in the northern city of Tobruk and in Tripoli three people have reportedly been killed in an attempted jail break, according to security officials.
In Yemen, at least two people have reportedly been killed and dozens injured in protests in the southern city of Aden.
In the city of Taiz two activists have been killed and seven people have been injured after a hand grenade thrown from a car exploded, according to witnesses.
Yemeni security forces and pro-government supporters have clashed with protesters demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule.
It is the eighth consecutive day of protests in the country.
Anti-government protesters attend prayers in Taiz, Yemen
Witnesses said one protester was shot and four were wounded as police tried to disperse crowds in Aden.
Thousands of campaigners have taken part in rallies in various parts of Aden, which have been sparked by the killings of six people earlier this week.
At least 10,000 people also took to the streets of Taiz but state television put the number at one million.
Meanwhile in Jordan there's been a seventh day of demonstrations in the capital Amman.
Eight people were reported to have been injured in clashes between government supporters and people calling for more freedoms and lower food prices.
Elsewhere in Iran thousands of government supporters called for the execution of opposition leaders in the Iranian capital of Tehran, following last week's anti-government demonstrations.
Injured protestor stretchered into a Benghazi hospital
Libya has issued no casualty or injury figures after two days of protests.
But Human Rights Watch, quoting sources in the country, said at least 24 people have been killed by Libyan security forces.
Libya exerts strict controls on media and communications, making independent verification of claims about the unrest difficult to obtain.
Reports on social network sites say up to 50 people have been killed in protests in several Libyan cities.
A privately-owned Benghazi newspaper quoted a security source saying seven protestors were killed in the city overnight by live fire.
Tripoli rally in support of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi
Libya's state news agency, JANA, has made no mention of any violence. However, it has reported that "popular rallies" have taken place in "various Libyan cities to express support for the leader".
A later report from the agency said Muammar Gaddafi had toured the capital, Tripoli, to rally support for his rule of more than 40 years.
Political analysts say Libya's oil wealth will probably enable it resist demands for change, unlike neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt.
Tunisia's former President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali is said to be in a grave condition in hospital in Saudi Arabia. His 23-year rule was ended by a popular revolt on January 14.
Egyptians meanwhile have held a nationwide "Victory March" to celebrate the overthrow a week ago of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.
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Thursday, February 17, 2011
Bahrain army controls capital; Crackdown on protesters by Police in Pearl Square; 5 dead
Without warning, hundreds of heavily armed riot police officers rushed into Pearl Square Manama early on Thursday, firing shotguns, tear gas and concussion grenades at the thousands of demonstrators who were sleeping there as part of a widening protest against the nation's absolute monarchy.
At least five people died, some of them reportedly killed in their sleep with scores of shotgun pellets to the face and chest, according to a witness and three doctors who received the dead and at least 200 wounded at a hospital here. The witness and the physicians spoke in return for anonymity for fear of official reprisals.The abrupt crackdown on what had been a carnival-like protest injected a new anger into demonstrations calling on King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa to enact reforms. "Death to Khalifa, death to Khalifa," hundreds of protesters chanted on Thursday outside a hospital as women ran screaming through wards and corridors seeking lost children."They made the people feel safe," said a nurse, Fatima Ali, referring to what had initially seemed to be official tolerance of the huge protest in Pearl Square, emulating an uprising in Cairo's Tahrir Square that brought down President Hosni Mubarak. "Then they killed them." http://upcomingongoing.blogspot.com/ http://tech-biz-buzz.blogspot.com/