Obama administration urges Supreme Court to reject Arar’s appeal

The U.S. government is urging the Supreme Court to reject an appeal from Canada’s Maher Arar, who wants to sue Washington for sending him to Syria where he was tortured.

The Ottawa engineer was the victim of what’s known as “extraordinary rendition” _ a much-maligned American policy of knowingly sending terrorism suspects to other countries that practise torture. (more…)

Iran praises France for releasing Iranian wanted by U.S.

Iran on Saturday welcomed France’s refusal to extradite a detained Iranian to the United States where he is accused of buying electronic parts and exporting them illegally, news agencies reported.

“His innocence was evident, (but) we still appreciate the French judiciary move in granting his freedom,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said as engineer Majid Kakavand arrived back home.

“We consider it a positive point in Franco-Iranian relations,” he was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying. (more…)

Geagea: Lebanon is not Cuba or North Korea

Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea criticized Hezbollah’s uproar about the visit by the US delegation to the Masnaa border area and asked : “Is it in Lebanon’s interest to maintain a good relation with the U.S. or not?” He reminded them that “Lebanon is not Cuba or North Korea.”

Geagea made the statement during an interview with Qatari al-Watan newspaper to be published Monday.

Today The Lebanese Forces issued a statement in which Geagea, said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is not expected to be informed on the details of all events taking place, referring to the Wednesday visit of the US security delegation to the Masnaa border area. (more…)

US embassy: The Lebanese government approved the Masnaa visit

The visit by a US security delegation to the Masnaa, on the Lebanese Syrian border area last Wednesday created a lot of confusion in Lebanon specially since this visit took place after the reports of Scud missiles being shipped from Syria to Hezbollah. (more…)

U.S. concerned over Syrian shipmenst of Scuds to Hezbollah

The White House said Wednesday it was increasingly concerned about possible Syrian Scud missile sales to Hezbollah, a day after Israel raised the alarm.

Israeli President Shimon Peres Tuesday accused Syria of supplying the Scuds but a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that it was unclear if the transfers had yet taken place. (more…)

U.S.:In Event of WMD Attack, ‘All Bets Are Off’

The Obama administration’s nuclear posture review may have removed some of the intentional ambiguity from U.S. nuclear policy, but it does not leave the country any less safe, President Obama’s top national security advisers said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

In fact, they said, it gives a clear warning to other state actors that the U.S. will not ignore any growing threats. (more…)

Qatari diplomat won’t face charges over mid-air bomb scare

The Qatari diplomat who caused a mid-air security scare won’t face charges after claiming he was trying to light his shoes on fire when it appears he was simply smoking in the bathroom.

Federal officials said Mohammed al Modadi was on official business when he boarded United Airlines Flight 663 from Washington to Denver, giving him diplomatic immunity. A law firm spokesman told The Associated Press that al Modadi has been released and was headed back to Washington. (more…)

U.S.: Six killed in West Virginia mine blast

Six miners were killed Monday in an explosion in an underground mine in West Virginia, an official said.

Twenty-one other miners were unaccounted for and 21 others were hurt in the blast, which occurred in Raleigh County, according to Boone County dispatcher Michael Mayhorn.

Raleigh County officials called his office and those of nearby Logan and Kanawha counties to assist in responding to a mine collapse, he said. At least 20 ambulances and three helicopters were dispatched, and the state medical examiner was en route, Mayhorn said.

The explosion happened at about 4:30 p.m. at Massey Energy’s Performance Coal Co. mine in Whitesville, 30 miles south of Charleston, CNN affiliate WCSH reported. (more…)

US Upgrades Air Travel Security for 14 Nations

Starting this month visitors from 14 countries that are linked to terrorism will not automatically receive extra security when landing at U.S. airports like originally planned. (more…)

Al-Maliki, Allawi vie for right to form next Iraqi government

Iraq’s main political groupings, feuding over the results of the country’s elections, sought to broker alliances in a bid to form the biggest bloc of seats in parliament and earn the right to name the next prime minister.

Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, whose secular alliance won a small majority in parliamentary elections on March 7, said he initiated talks yesterday to form a coalition and vowed to reach out to political allies and foes alike. His rival, Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, was also engaged in talks after declaring that his second-placed Shiite Muslim group won’t accept the results and might even challenge them in court. (more…)