Morning News Roundup

Israeli warplanes roar over Lebanon

By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer

Israeli warplanes roared over Lebanon's northern Mediterranean coast and along its border with Syria on Monday, after the Lebanese defense minister warned rogue Palestinian rocket teams against attacking Israel and provoking retaliation that could unravel an already shaky cease-fire.

Israeli PM rules out talks with Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled out resuming peace talks with Syria as long as Damascus continues to support terrorism. AFP


Police clash with suspects in western Saudi Arabia


Saudi police exchanged gunfire with several suspects in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah Monday, said a statement from the Ministry of Interior. Police in the western city pursued a group of suspects to an apartment building where they were met with heavy gunfire, said the statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency. It was not immediately apparent how many were in the group or whether they were wanted on terror charges. Police immediately evacuated building residents and secured the area. AP via JP

Olmert: All Terror Organizations Backed By Syria
13:44 Aug 21, '06 / 27 Av 5766

(IsraelNN.com) During a tour of the north Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded to Minister Avi Dichter’s statements regarding negotiations with Syria. “All of the terror organizations are sitting in Damascus and are benefiting from Syrian backing,” Olmert said. “Gilad Shalit’s abductors receive orders from Damascus, as do the other terrorists.”

He added that, “when Syria stops supplying arms and missiles to those who want to use them against Israeli citizens, we will be very pleased to negotiate with them, but we will not get dragged into any venture with terror alongside.”


MK Ran Cohen Calls on Gov’t to Assess Negotiations with Syria
12:15 Aug 21, '06 / 27 Av 5766

(IsraelNN.com) MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) has stated that, “the government will assess the idea of conducting negotiations with Syria and Lebanon regarding the peace agreements.” Cohen was responding to statements by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter that, “in exchange for true peace with Syria, Israel can go down from the Golan Heights.” According to Cohen, “it is forbidden to sit and wait for the next war. The agreement in exchange for returning the Golan Heights will cut Syria off from Iran and will disband the Hizbullah.”


MK Eitam: The Gov’t Refuses to Learn Its Lesson From Withdrawals
11:43 Aug 21, '06 / 27 Av 5766

(IsraelNN.com) MK Effie Eitam, a resident of the Golan Heights, has reacted to Avi Dichter’s statements regarding the possibility of exchanging the area for promises of peace. “Our dispute with Syria is no longer territorial, and a withdrawal from the Golan Heights will only endanger Israel’s security. As Syria has allied itself with the wicked axis of Hizbullah and Iran, whose objective is to destroy Israel, it cannot be a partner in negotiations. The government refuses to learn the lessons of the withdrawal [sic] from Lebanon and Gaza, which only heightens the danger to Israel’s security,” Eitam said.

Khamenei says Iran to continue atomic plan

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, said on Monday the Islamic Republic had decided to press ahead with its pursuit of nuclear energy, suggesting Iran will not heed a UN demand to stop enriching uranium. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has made its decision and, in the issue of nuclear energy, will continue its path powerfully ... And it will receive the sweet fruits of its efforts," Khamenei was quoted as saying on state television. (Reuters)

Saddam refuses plea on Kurdish genocide charge

Saddam Hussein refused to enter a plea on the first day of his trial on Monday for genocide against Kurds in the 1980s, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea on the former Iraqi president's behalf. The 69-year-old ousted leader, repeating his position at the start of an earlier trial for crimes against humanity, dismissed the US-sponsored Baghdad tribunal as a "Court of occupation" and refused to state his name. (Reuters)

At least 7 killed in Moscow market blast


Russia's Emergencies Ministry said at least seven people were killed in an explosion at a Moscow market on Monday. "Seven people including three children were killed," a ministry spokeswoman said. Interfax news agency, quoting city police, said nine people were killed and another 25 were hurt. There were conflicting reports on the cause of the blast. (Reuters)


Tehran official: Many weapons waiting for Hizbullah

Weapons supply channel to Nasrallah remains open, according to Iranian Revolutionary Guard senior member. Hizbullah, Iran, and Syria are working feverishly to rearm Hizbullah ahead of the next round. A senior officer of the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran said that huge quantities of weapons – including weapons of various sources – reached Damascus during the last three weeks, and are waiting to be transferred to Lebanon. Roee Nahmias (Ynet)

Iran test-fires 10 short-range missiles

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran test-fired 10 surface-to-surface short-range missiles on Sunday, a day after it launched a series of large-scale military exercises throughout the country, state-run television reported. The Saegheh missile had a range of between 50 and 150 miles, the report said. It did not specify whether the missile was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, but it was not believed to be.

Senior Iranian figure: We'll end nuclear monitoring if sanctions are placed on us


The head of Iran's national security council and foreign policy in the Iranian parliament, Ala al-Din Barojradi said that "if sanctions are placed on Iran, we'll remove the monitoring on the nuclear site," the IRNA agency reported. He denied Iran's involvement in the Lebanon war, and said that "despite the wide scale aid of the United States and the West, Israel lost the war in Lebanon." (Dudi Cohen) (Ynet)

Mideast truce "very fragile," Merkel warns


German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the situation in Lebanon as "very fragile" on Monday as a truce between Israel and Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas entered its second week. Speaking in Berlin, Merkel said it was vital to get United Nations peacekeeping troops to the area quickly to prevent a rekindling of the conflict, in which nearly 1,200 people in Lebanon and 157 Israelis died. (Reuters)

Pakistan denies arrest of Al-Qaeda militant

Mon Aug 21, 4:46 AM ET

Pakistan rejected reports that wanted Al-Qaeda militant Matiur Rehman had been arrested and denied that he was linked to an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners. (AFP)