Suspected US airstrike kills 14 in Pakistan

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A suspected US missile strike killed at least 14 people in Pakistan’s troubled north-western region bordering Afghanistan on Saturday, media reports said.

The attacked targeted a Taliban hideout in the Bajaur tribal district, where the Pakistani military claimed victory over the militants early this year after months of fighting.

Private Duniya News television channel said 14 people were killed in the assault. Three foreign militants were among the dead.

Pakistan officially criticizes US drone attacks inside its territory, arguing they violate the country’s sovereignty and spread anti-American sentiments.

In early August, a similar assault in South Waziristan, another tribal district on the Afghan border, killed Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.

Shia cleric Sayed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah to appear on BBC

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Lebanon’s most influential Shia cleric, Sayed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, appears on BBC Arabic television’s flagship interview programme Fil Sameem (To the Point) on Monday 26 October 2009.

Lebanon’s most influential Shia cleric, Sayed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, appears on BBC Arabic television’s flagship interview programme Fil Sameem (To the Point) on Monday 26 October 2009.

In the Programme, the BBC’s Hasan Muawad, queries the imam about the most pertinent issues of Shia-Sunni relations across the Middle East. Hasan Muawad finds out whether there is a common denominator between issues facing Shias in Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen and asks the cleric’s view on the claims of Shia proselytizing in the region.

Fil Sameem also explores Mohamed Hussein Fadlallah’s stance on the system under which Iran is ruled – known as Velayat-e Faqih, or ‘Rule by the Supreme Jurist’ (currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) – as well as the importance of maintaining a dialogue between Shias and Sunnis.

Fil Sameen is a hard-hitting, one-to-one interview news programme, in which the host, Hasan Muawad, talks to the personalities behind the stories that make the news – from international political leaders to entertainers; from corporate decision-makers to ordinary individuals facing life’s challenges.

Senior Shia cleric calls for the ouster of U.S. troops and companies from Iraq

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A senior Iraqi Shia cleric has called for the ouster of U.S. occupation troops and U.S. firms working in Iraq.

A senior Shia cleric has called for the ouster of U.S. occupation troops and U.S. firms working in Iraq.

Moqtada al-Sadr’s remarks came in a statement read by his Baghdad representative, Hazem al-Aaraji, to a large crowd of supporters.

Rallies were held in several Iraqi cities in commemoration of the martyrdom of Sadr’s father 11 years ago.

He was assassinated by agents of the former terrorist regime of Saddam Hussein.

Sadr’s statement said “American troops and American companies must leave” and urged the government and his supporters to force them to do so.

He also called for the immediate release of his movement’s detainees.

ran urges Pakistan to hand over Jundollah leader

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Interior Minister Najjar arrived in neighbouring Pakistan on Friday for talks on efforts to combat the group after the Sunday attack in Iran.

Iran urged Pakistan on Friday to hand over the leader of the Jundollah group after a suicide bombing which killed 42 people, state television quoted a senior official as saying.

Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar arrived in neighbouring Pakistan on Friday for talks on efforts to combat the group after the Sunday attack in Iran.

“We have documents that show (Abdolmalik) Rigi travels readily to Pakistan … we are here to ask Pakistan to hand over Rigi to Iran,” Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state television in Pakistan.

Jundollah, or “Soldiers of God”, claimed responsibility for the attack on Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards in southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province. It killed 15 Guards, including six senior commanders, and 27 others.

Iran claims Jundollah has bases in Pakistan.

“It (sheltering Rigi) is not in the interest of the two countries’ good neighbourly relations,” Najjar said.

Iran accuses the United States and Britain of backing Jundollah and has suggested it has links with Pakistani intelligence. Washington, London and Islamabad have all denied involvement.

Iranian state television said on Tuesday three people had been detained in connection with the bombing, but gave no details.

The Saudi Wahhabis savagely arrest two Shia citizens

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On 20 October 2009 the Saudi General Investigation Directorate (al-Mabaheth al-`Amma) of al-Ahsa arrested the Shia citizens Mohammad al-Hattab , 18 years , student , and Ali Hussain al-Qurainy 27 years , employee from Bani Maan village of Al-Ahsa.

The citizens were arrested on accusations that they participated in the celebration of Imam Al-Mahdi Day of Remembrance which Shi’a celebrated last August .

The Saudi Intelligence Department called the two citizens and upon their presence before the department were immediately put in prison.

They were sentenced a period of one week based on orders from Al-Hasa governor ( Badr bin Muhammad bin Jalawi ).

It is worth to mention that on 5 August 2009 the Saudi security forces were sent to Shi’a areas and removed all sorts of celebration and festival decorations meant for Imam Al-Mahdi Day of Remembrance.

Security authorities had instructed custodians and supervisors in the village of Bani Maan to remove all sorts of fixtures and road decorations meant for Imam Al-Mahdi Day of Remembrance otherwise they will be imprisoned.

Mohammad al-Hattab and Ali Hussain al-Qurainy are in these conditions, deprived of their liberty in an arbitrary manner. Their current detention is contrary to both the Saudi laws and relevant international standards set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.