Gordon Brown bowed to pressure and expressed his “great regret” last night over a smear campaign planned by his former head of strategy and planning in No 10.
The personal letters from the Prime Minister to David Cameron and other senior Conservatives slurred by Damian McBride stopped short of a full apology.
In trying to contain the fallout from the allegations contained in Mr McBride’s e-mails, the Prime Minister insisted that no other adviser or minister had been involved.
Mr Brown also wrote to Sir Gus O’Donnell, the head of the Civil Service, strengthening the rules for political aides.
The Tories are pressing for an official investigation into the creation of a website, Red Rag, intended to serve as a Labour “attack blog”.
Mr McBride resigned at the weekend after it was revealed that he had sent Derek Draper, the former spin doctor, items for publication on the website, including a series of unfounded allegations against senior Conservatives and their spouses.
Yesterday morning Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, toured broadcasting studios saying that Mr McBride’s unfounded allegations were “disgusting” and had shamed Labour. He said that it was unfair to expect the Prime Minister to apologise for something about which he had no knowledge, but that Mr Brown would want to learn lessons “about his private office and about how things are done in Downing Street” after the incident.
By the afternoon Mr Brown had released a carefully worded letter to Sir Gus. He said that the e-mails were “a matter of great regret” and that “all of us in public life have a responsibility to ensure that those we employ and who are involved in our parties observe the highest standards”.
He wrote: “Mr McBride has apologised and done so unreservedly. But it is also important to make sure such behaviour does not happen again. Any activity such as this that affects the reputation of our politics is a matter of great regret to me and I am ready to take whatever action is necessary to improve our political system.”
A revised code of conduct for special advisers should in future include “a more explicit assurance . . . that not only are the highest standards expected of political advisers but that the preparation or dissemination of inappropriate material or personal attacks have no part to play in the job of being a special adviser.”
He added: “I have also written personally to all those who were subject to these unsubstantiated claims.”
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6088015.ece
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
North Korea threatens to restore nuclear faciliites
North Korea threatened to reopen a nuclear power plant, process more plutonium for nuclear weapons and withdraw permanently from international disarmament negotiations today, after the UN Security Council condemned its firing of a long-range rocket earlier this month.
The furious reaction came a few hours after the Security Council issued a statement, unanimously agreed by its 15 members. Despite falling short of a formal resolution, which was blocked by North Korea’s former communist allies, Russia and China, the “presidential statement” denounces the rocket launch and calls for a blacklist of North Korean companies, as agreed in a resolution three years ago.
A statement from the country’s Foreign Ministry carried on the state-run Korean Central News Agency, “resolutely condemns” the UN move. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will strengthen its nuclear deterrent for its defence by all means,” the statement said.
“We have no choice but to further strengthen our nuclear deterrent to cope with additional military threats by hostile forces. We will take steps to restore disabled nuclear facilities... and reprocess used fuel rods that came from experimental nuclear reactors.”
Since last summer, North Korea has suspended activity at its Yongbyon nuclear power plant, where in the past it has extracted plutonium from spent fuel rods believed to have gone into the manufacture of about half a dozen nuclear warheads.
That breakthrough came after protracted discussions at the Six Party Talks, which brought together the US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea in an effort to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme. In today’s statement the North insisted that those talks were over.
“There is no need for the Six-Party Talks any more,” it said. “We will never again take part in such talks and will not be bound by any agreement reached at the talks.”
The strength of the reaction is in keeping with North Korea’s rhetorical style and it does not necessarily mark the end of the negotiations or the full resumption of the nuclear programme. But it indicates that the process of engagement with the North has taken a step back, after slow and painstaking progress in the last two years of the Bush administration.
The Security Council statement said that the committee monitoring sanctions against North Korea must report within ten days on companies, equipment and technologies that should be blacklisted under the 2006 sanctions resolution, which was never enforced. If the committee fails to act, the council itself will come up with a list by April 30.
The furious reaction came a few hours after the Security Council issued a statement, unanimously agreed by its 15 members. Despite falling short of a formal resolution, which was blocked by North Korea’s former communist allies, Russia and China, the “presidential statement” denounces the rocket launch and calls for a blacklist of North Korean companies, as agreed in a resolution three years ago.
A statement from the country’s Foreign Ministry carried on the state-run Korean Central News Agency, “resolutely condemns” the UN move. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will strengthen its nuclear deterrent for its defence by all means,” the statement said.
“We have no choice but to further strengthen our nuclear deterrent to cope with additional military threats by hostile forces. We will take steps to restore disabled nuclear facilities... and reprocess used fuel rods that came from experimental nuclear reactors.”
Since last summer, North Korea has suspended activity at its Yongbyon nuclear power plant, where in the past it has extracted plutonium from spent fuel rods believed to have gone into the manufacture of about half a dozen nuclear warheads.
That breakthrough came after protracted discussions at the Six Party Talks, which brought together the US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea in an effort to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme. In today’s statement the North insisted that those talks were over.
“There is no need for the Six-Party Talks any more,” it said. “We will never again take part in such talks and will not be bound by any agreement reached at the talks.”
The strength of the reaction is in keeping with North Korea’s rhetorical style and it does not necessarily mark the end of the negotiations or the full resumption of the nuclear programme. But it indicates that the process of engagement with the North has taken a step back, after slow and painstaking progress in the last two years of the Bush administration.
The Security Council statement said that the committee monitoring sanctions against North Korea must report within ten days on companies, equipment and technologies that should be blacklisted under the 2006 sanctions resolution, which was never enforced. If the committee fails to act, the council itself will come up with a list by April 30.
End to travel and money ban as Barack Obama opens up to Cuba
President Obama yesterday loosened the American embargo against Cuba by lifting curbs on family travel and money transfers, as well as allowing US telecommunications companies to operate on the island for the first time in almost half a century.
The announcement, made only days before Mr Obama travels to Trinidad for a Summit of the Americas, represents a significant crack in the hardline policy adopted by Washington since the Communist revolution in Cuba in 1959.
Although the US trade embargo has been left largely intact, the White House indicated that it would consider further measures including the introduction of direct commercial flights if Havana responded by expanding democratic rights.
“President Obama has directed that a series of steps be taken to reach out to the Cuban people to support their desire to enjoy basic human rights and to freely determine their country’s future,” Robert Gibbs, a spokesman for the White House said.
Mr Obama indicated that he was willing to engage with the Communist regime but knows this needs to be handled sensitively with Cuban exiles who wield huge influence in the key electoral state of Florida.
Perhaps significantly, he did not make the announcement. Instead Dan Restrepo, a special assistant for Latin America, told a White House briefing that “US policy towards Cuba is not frozen in time”.
The policy means that US telecommunications companies and satellite radio and television service providers can seek licences to operate in Cuba. Aides said that this will foster the growth of freedom of speech and expression in the one-party state.
“The President would like to see greater freedom for the Cuban people,” Mr Gibbs said. “There are actions that he can and has taken today to open up the flow of information to provide some important steps to help that. But he’s not the only person in this equation . . . in many ways that depends on the actions of the Cuban Government.”
The easing of restrictions on money transfers is designed to make Cubans less dependent on the Castro Government by allowing an estimated 1.5 million Americans with relatives on the island to help them out of often impoverished circumstances.
Travel restrictions imposed by the Bush Administration had limited trips by family members to two weeks every three years. Francisco Hernandez, the head of the exile group the Cuban American National Foundation, was once a staunch supporter of travel restrictions, but supported the announcement. He said that it would make Cubans more independent of the state “not only in economic terms but in terms of information, and contacts with the outside world”.
Republican Congressmen from Florida, however, condemned the decision as a serious mistake.
The announcement, made only days before Mr Obama travels to Trinidad for a Summit of the Americas, represents a significant crack in the hardline policy adopted by Washington since the Communist revolution in Cuba in 1959.
Although the US trade embargo has been left largely intact, the White House indicated that it would consider further measures including the introduction of direct commercial flights if Havana responded by expanding democratic rights.
“President Obama has directed that a series of steps be taken to reach out to the Cuban people to support their desire to enjoy basic human rights and to freely determine their country’s future,” Robert Gibbs, a spokesman for the White House said.
Mr Obama indicated that he was willing to engage with the Communist regime but knows this needs to be handled sensitively with Cuban exiles who wield huge influence in the key electoral state of Florida.
Perhaps significantly, he did not make the announcement. Instead Dan Restrepo, a special assistant for Latin America, told a White House briefing that “US policy towards Cuba is not frozen in time”.
The policy means that US telecommunications companies and satellite radio and television service providers can seek licences to operate in Cuba. Aides said that this will foster the growth of freedom of speech and expression in the one-party state.
“The President would like to see greater freedom for the Cuban people,” Mr Gibbs said. “There are actions that he can and has taken today to open up the flow of information to provide some important steps to help that. But he’s not the only person in this equation . . . in many ways that depends on the actions of the Cuban Government.”
The easing of restrictions on money transfers is designed to make Cubans less dependent on the Castro Government by allowing an estimated 1.5 million Americans with relatives on the island to help them out of often impoverished circumstances.
Travel restrictions imposed by the Bush Administration had limited trips by family members to two weeks every three years. Francisco Hernandez, the head of the exile group the Cuban American National Foundation, was once a staunch supporter of travel restrictions, but supported the announcement. He said that it would make Cubans more independent of the state “not only in economic terms but in terms of information, and contacts with the outside world”.
Republican Congressmen from Florida, however, condemned the decision as a serious mistake.
Swat Taliban welcome signing of Nizam-e-Adl
PESHAWAR: Welcoming the signing of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, Maulana Fazlullah-led Taliban on Monday hinted at laying down arms while members of the Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) said they would go to Buner district to end militancy.
Talking to The News, spokesman for the Swat militants Muslim Khan said the lawmakers proved that they were brave and Islam-friendly people. “We saw the proof today that our country, the sole nuclear power in the Islamic world with a strong Army, is an independent country,” Muslim said and added that Pakistan would prosper if the rulers started taking decisions independently.
To a question about laying down arms after the signing of the regulation, he said: “We don’t have tanks or other heavy weapons but guns. And from now on our guns will not fire bullets for this end — enforcement of Shariah.” “The purpose for which we are struggling has been achieved, so now it is of no use to pick up arms,” he said. However, when asked to give a clear answer in ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ he claimed they had halted their activities on February 15 but would say ‘yes’ to laying down arms.
Veteran leader of the Awami National Party and former federal minister, Afzal Khan, was still unclear as to who would have writ in Swat — the Taliban or the government. “Two of a trade seldom agree,” he said. “The Taliban have no legal right to take action against anyone, even criminals, as it is the job of the government and it is to be seen whether they abandon that or continue.”
“Those who have held talks with the Taliban are in a better position to say whether they will lay down arms and remain peaceful,” he said, when asked about the Taliban promise to lay down arms after enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl.
Asked if he welcomed the signing of the Nizam-e-Adl, he said the people of Swat valley were interested in peace and if it brought clam, he would welcome it. “When it is ensured that people are not killed, their homes not looted and they are not harassed, I will say it brought peace and will then welcome it. However, it is yet to be seen whether such activities are stopped,” Afzal Khan, who bravely faced militants and did not leave his home due to their attacks, said. He said that even after the peace deal, the militants looted people’s houses.
TNSM spokesman Amir Izzat Khan welcomed the decision of the president to sign the law but he linked peace with the implementation of the law and installation of Qazis, who will have the power to take up all cases. “This historic decision will be remembered for a long time,” he appreciated.
He said that now there would be no violence in the Malakand region and even across the NWFP. “Today (Tuesday) Maulana Sufi Muhammad is arriving here (Batkhela) and we will leave for Buner to evict militants,” Khan said. Kanjur Amn Jirga chief Inamur Rahman also lauded the president for giving approval to the law.
Source: http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=21504
Talking to The News, spokesman for the Swat militants Muslim Khan said the lawmakers proved that they were brave and Islam-friendly people. “We saw the proof today that our country, the sole nuclear power in the Islamic world with a strong Army, is an independent country,” Muslim said and added that Pakistan would prosper if the rulers started taking decisions independently.
To a question about laying down arms after the signing of the regulation, he said: “We don’t have tanks or other heavy weapons but guns. And from now on our guns will not fire bullets for this end — enforcement of Shariah.” “The purpose for which we are struggling has been achieved, so now it is of no use to pick up arms,” he said. However, when asked to give a clear answer in ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ he claimed they had halted their activities on February 15 but would say ‘yes’ to laying down arms.
Veteran leader of the Awami National Party and former federal minister, Afzal Khan, was still unclear as to who would have writ in Swat — the Taliban or the government. “Two of a trade seldom agree,” he said. “The Taliban have no legal right to take action against anyone, even criminals, as it is the job of the government and it is to be seen whether they abandon that or continue.”
“Those who have held talks with the Taliban are in a better position to say whether they will lay down arms and remain peaceful,” he said, when asked about the Taliban promise to lay down arms after enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl.
Asked if he welcomed the signing of the Nizam-e-Adl, he said the people of Swat valley were interested in peace and if it brought clam, he would welcome it. “When it is ensured that people are not killed, their homes not looted and they are not harassed, I will say it brought peace and will then welcome it. However, it is yet to be seen whether such activities are stopped,” Afzal Khan, who bravely faced militants and did not leave his home due to their attacks, said. He said that even after the peace deal, the militants looted people’s houses.
TNSM spokesman Amir Izzat Khan welcomed the decision of the president to sign the law but he linked peace with the implementation of the law and installation of Qazis, who will have the power to take up all cases. “This historic decision will be remembered for a long time,” he appreciated.
He said that now there would be no violence in the Malakand region and even across the NWFP. “Today (Tuesday) Maulana Sufi Muhammad is arriving here (Batkhela) and we will leave for Buner to evict militants,” Khan said. Kanjur Amn Jirga chief Inamur Rahman also lauded the president for giving approval to the law.
Source: http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=21504
15 drown as boat capsizes in Indus River
MIANWALI: Fifteen people have been drowned when a boat capsized in Indus River on Tuesday.
According to sources, a boat carrying 15 people including two women and three children has capsized in Indus River at Kandian near Mianwali. They were on their way to Katcha area for reaping wheat.
The officials of Sargodha administration have reached the scene and swimmers have recovered the bodies of six men and two children so far while search operation for remaining bodies is underway.
According to sources, a boat carrying 15 people including two women and three children has capsized in Indus River at Kandian near Mianwali. They were on their way to Katcha area for reaping wheat.
The officials of Sargodha administration have reached the scene and swimmers have recovered the bodies of six men and two children so far while search operation for remaining bodies is underway.
Advancing clocks to help utilize maximum daylight
ISLAMABAD: Advancing clocks by an hour from April 15 (Tuesday night) all over the country would help utilize maximum daylight and conserve energy.
The daylight saving would be adopted by advancing the clocks by an hour with effect from April 15, according to a notification issued by Ministry of Interior.
The daylight saving would be adopted by advancing the clocks by an hour with effect from April 15, according to a notification issued by Ministry of Interior.
Advancing clocks to help utilize maximum daylight
ISLAMABAD: Advancing clocks by an hour from April 15 (Tuesday night) all over the country would help utilize maximum daylight and conserve energy.
The daylight saving would be adopted by advancing the clocks by an hour with effect from April 15, according to a notification issued by Ministry of Interior.
The daylight saving would be adopted by advancing the clocks by an hour with effect from April 15, according to a notification issued by Ministry of Interior.
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