US sanctions Iran's Central Bank

Repots have emerged that US President Barack Obama has put in place tigther sanctions on Iran's government and the country's Central Bank. Obama has reportedly frozen the Islamic Republic's asses held or traded in the US.

On Sunday 5th February, Obama said US and Israel were “in lockstep” as regards their policy towards Iran.

Both countries, as well as many other Western nations, are worried that Iran is in the process of developing nuclear weapons. Tehran, however, maintains that the country's nuclear programme is designed for civilian use only.

The new sanctions include a block on the Central Bank of Iran; imposed "in light of the deceptive practices" it reportedly keeps in order to conceal business transactions already banned by previous sanctions.

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.

Prime Minister al-Maliki calls on US businesses to invest in Iraq

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called on US businesses to invest in the country to help it recover from the war. The message comes as US troops prepare to withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year.

Speaking during a visit to Washington, al-Maliki said that the country's security situation has improved; and that Iraq was now being led by a civil as oppose to a military government. At present, the US is the leading foreign investor in the country.

Al-Maliki is on an official visit to Washington with 40 Iraqi delegates in a bid to sign trade co-operation agreements. Speaking to the US Chamber of Commerce, he said that Iraq was keep to sign oil co-operation deals and also others in healthcare, telecommunications, construction and financial services. He added that business possibilities for US companies were “limitless” and that they were best suited to help boost the country's economy.

He said: "It is not now the generals but the businessmen and the corporations that are at the forefront…All sectors of the economy are there, open for business for American business."

US President Barack Obama met al-Maliki on Monday 13th December. Speaking after the meeting he said he believed the Iraqi economy would grow at an even faster rate than India or China.

He also confirmed that all US troops would withdraw from Iraq at the end of the year, but added that the two countries would maintain a close relationahip.

He said: "We've got an enormous investment of blood and treasure in Iraq…And we want to make sure that even as we bring the last troops out, that it's well understood, both in Iraq and here in the United States, that our commitment to Iraq's success is going to be enduring."

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, WSJ

For more news and expert analysis about Iraq, please see Iraq Focus.

AU finally recognises NTC as Libya's official government

US President Barack Obama met with Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) Chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil. The two men agreed that the US embassy in Libya shall resume business as usual forthwith.

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has finally recognised NTC as Libya's official interim government. The AU, a pan-African organisation consisting of neighbouring states, said it was willing to help the NTC in its endeavours to rebuild the country's infrastructure after months of civil war.

The news comes shortly after Colonel Mu'ammar Qadhafi's warning to his opponents that NATO support will not last indefinitely.

Speaking about AU's decision Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who holds the bloc's rotating chair, said: "The African Union stands ready to support the Libyan people as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya."

Nguema made the announcement after consulting with the remainder of the bloc, before the UN General Assembly in New York.

Shortly after his meeting with Obama at the international gathering, Jalil expressed thanks to the UN and other world leaders for their help with the Libyan crisis but noted that there was many an arduous task ahead.

He said: “Qadhafi is still in Libya and still possesses some resources that pose a threat not only to Libyans but to the international community as a whole…The road before us is still long and there are many challenges at many levels. Our needs are many, we have lost 25,000 martyrs and there are double the number of wounded."

Speaking at a high profile UN meeting, before the General Assembly, Obama praised the international community for having "the courage and the collective will to act" in Libya. He also said that the US ambassador was already on his way to Tripoli, adding: "This week, the American flag that was lowered before our embassy was attacked will be raised again, over a re-opened American embassy."

Obama reassured the Libyan nation that it can count on international support for the immediate future. He added: "Just as the world stood by you in your struggle to be free, we will stand with you in your struggle to realise the peace and prosperity that freedom can bring."

The message of hope and support came amid a defiant message from Qadhafi who said: "Do not rejoice and don't believe that one regime has been overthrown and another imposed with the help of air and maritime strikes…The bombs of NATO planes will not last."

Sources: BBC News, AFP, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

More deadly clashes in Sana'a

Yemeni officials have confirmed that as many as 40 people have been killed in deadly clashes in Sana'a. Fighting broke out between Yemeni security forces and tribal fighters, loyal to tribe leader Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar, breaching the ceasefire.

Yemen's Defence Ministry accused the tribal fighters of seizing the headquarters of the ruling General People's Congress in the capital, however, sources close to Sheikh Ahmar say government troops attacked his complex in the north of the city.

On Tuesday 30th May, 12 protesters were shot dead in the southern city of Taiz following a move by security forces to remove a protest camp from the city centre. There was more violence in the town of Zinjibar, between government forces and alleged Al-Qai'da militants.

On Wednesday 25th May, US President Barack Obama said President Ali Abdullah Saleh should "move immediately on his commitment to transfer power". UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon added that he was "deeply troubled" by the violence and called on all sides to find a peaceful solution. But the situation in Yemen seems to be deteriorating rather than improving with Saleh refusing to help ease the crisis; many fear the prospect of a civil war.

Sources: BBC News, The Associated Press, AFP, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Yemen, please see Yemen Focus.

Algeria lifts 19 year long state of emergency

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has signed an order lifting the 19 year long state of emergency as a concession to the opposition, and a means to prevent the demonstrations spiralling further out of control.

Experts say that the government's decision might prevent the protests from gaining momentum, and eventually leading to Bouteflika's resignation. Ending the emergency powers was one of the demands made by opposition groups responsible for staging weekly protests in Algiers.

Originally, the state of emergency was imposed in order to help authorities' combat Islamist militants but, in the past few years, since militant activity has subsided, the Algerian government has been using the measure to suppress democratic freedoms.

US President Barack Obama has commended the Algerian government for lifting the measure, saying it was a positive sign that the government was taking heed of people's demands. He added that the US was hoping Algeria would also take other steps to allow the people greater freedoms.

Sources: Reuters, Voice of America, The Washington Post

For more news and expert analysis about Algeria, please see Algeria Focus and Algeria Politics & Security .

Protests in Egypt in danger of losing momentum

Two weeks into protesting, the demonstrators occupying Tahrir Square have once again called for an immediate removal of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of Egyptians gathered in the square have been guarded by the army, on site to maintain order. The talks between the government and the opposition seem to have achieved little as Mubarak is unlikely to resign.

Speaking about the dialogue, US President Barack Obama said: “Egypt has to negotiate a path, and I think they're making progress." The opposition, however, insists that the talks are heading nowhere, and that most people still live in fear of harassment and wrongful arrest. In a bid to appease the demonstrators, the government announced concessions, including a 15 per cent pay rise for six million public sector workers.

Discussions between the opposition and Egypt's newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman have stagnated as the government hasn't met the protesters' key demands, namely the resignation of President Mubarak.

Presently, the occupation of Tahrir Square is being tolerated, while the rest of Egypt goes back to normalcy. It is feared that the anti-government movement might lose momentum, and the participants might get rounded up and face prosecution by the establishment.

Sparked by the uprising in Tunisia, the protesters sought to oust Mubarak after three decades in power. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) research, nearly 300 people have been killed in the unrest which began on 25th January. HRW said it has estimated around 297 victims in the days of violence, which saw fierce clashes with police, and battles between protesters and Mubarak supporters.

The numbers of those in Tahrir Square drop overnight, and after days of protests, those camping on the square are beginning to feel the strain.

Sources: BBC News, New York Times, Voice of America, AP

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.