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Assad: Will take a year to destroy chemical weapons
Obama’s ‘positive’ letter draws praise from Iran Prez
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Death penalty for false blasphemy charge in Pak
Nigerian army kills 150 insurgents
No decision yet on meeting of PMs: Pakistan
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Assad: Will take a year to destroy chemical weapons Damascus, September 19 In a confident interview with US network Fox News, Assad insisted Syria was not gripped by civil war, but was the victim of infiltration by foreign-backed Al-Qaida fighters. His latest appearance came as UN envoys debated a draft resolution that would enshrine a joint US-Russian plan to secure and neutralise his banned weapons in international law. The plan is to be discussed at a meeting in The Hague on Friday by the world's chemical weapons watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Assad insisted in the interview that his forces had not been behind an August 21 gas attack on the Damascus suburbs that killed hundreds of civilians, but vowed nevertheless to hand over his deadly arsenal. It was his second interview this month with a US news agency, and one of a series of meetings with Western journalists to counter mounting political pressure from Western capitals. After last month’s barrage of sarin-loaded rockets, which the West says was clearly launched by the regime, US President Barack Obama called for US-led punitive military strikes. But with US lawmakers and the Western public not sold on the virtues of another Middle East military adventure, Assad’s ally Russia seized the opportunity to propose a diplomatic solution. Pushed by President Vladimir Putin, the White House agreed to hold fire while Russia and the international community — with Assad's agreement — draws up a disarmament plan. Assad reiterated his pledge to cooperate, but insisted he had not been forced to do so by US threats. I think it’s a very complicated operation, technically. And it needs a lot of money, about a billion," he told Fox.
— AFP No date to Study ‘plan’ Hague: The world’s chemical weapons watchdog said on Thursday no date had yet been set to study a plan to destroy Syria’s arsenal as a draft text was still being discussed. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had said its Executive Council would meet on Friday on the Russian-US plan that was agreed last week. But spokesman Michael Luhan later said, “ A definitive date and time has not yet been fixed.”
— AP
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Obama’s ‘positive’ letter draws praise from Iran Prez
Rouhani, a moderate cleric known as 'Diplomatic Shiekh' for his constructive approach, vowed that Iran will never seek nuclear weapons under any circumstances. The Iranian President said he received the letter in which Obama congratulated him on his election and touched on certain issues. He said he responded to the letter and elaborated on Iran’s stances on the issues put forward by the American president as well as other subjects. During an interview with American TV channel NBC News ahead of his maiden UN visit since he was elected to office in June, the 64-year-old leader said the tone of Obama's letter was "positive and constructive". "This could be tiny steps toward a very important future.I believe that the leaders in all countries should think about their national interests and they should not be swayed by extremist pressure groups. I hope we will witness such an atmosphere in the future," he said. Rouhani will travel to the US to attend the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly later this month.
— PTI
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Japan PM orders scrapping of two Fukushima N-reactors
Tokyo, September 19 He said he stood by his commitments to the International Olympic Committee of insuring a safe 2020 Summer Games. "I will work hard to counter rumours questioning the safety of the Fukushima plant," he said. Abe, speaking to reporters after a tour of the plant, today said he told Tokyo Electric Power Co to set a time frame for dealing with leaking contaminated water. "In order for them to concentrate on this, I have directed them to decommission the No. 5 and No. 6 reactors that are now halted," Abe said. Recently, authorities have been struggling to contain leaks of radioactive groundwater.
— Reuters
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Death penalty for false blasphemy charge in Pak
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has recommended death penalty for anyone convicted of making false accusations of blasphemy in an apprentice bid to check the indiscriminate use of the law, particularly against non-Muslim.
The recommendation will mean that anyone convicted of making false blasphemy charges will be liable to the same punishment as a blasphemy convict. CII member Allama Tahir Ashrafi said most members of the council agreed to the proposed move at a meeting on Wednesday. “If made part of the law, this provision will discourage people from using blasphemy laws for settling personal scores,” he said. He said the recommendation had been a long-standing demand of civil society activists, who had been lobbying for relevant legal measures to discourage false accusations of blasphemy. The CII is a constitutional body set up under the 1973 Constitution to advise Parliament on bringing existing law to conform to the teachings of the holy book and Sunnah.
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Nigerian army kills 150 insurgents
Damaturu, September 19 Violence in northeast Nigeria has intensified over the past two months, as the Islamists fight back against a military operation that President Goodluck Jonathan ordered in May to try to crush their four-year rebellion. “Based on intelligence reports, the army launched an attack. Over 150 insurgents were killed and the formation lost an officer and 15 soldiers,” the Army spokesman said.
— Reuters
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No decision yet on meeting of PMs: Pakistan Islamabad, September 19 Pakistani diplomatic sources said they were yet to hear from the Indian side but insisted that Islamabad was very keen to have a meeting between the leaders on the sidelines of the UN session in New York later this month. — PTI
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Two dead as Jamaat strike enters second day in B’desh Clashes as Egyptian forces target militants Musharraf attack case: Accused acquitted Rapper’s murder: Neo-Nazi party warned Defiant Bo says ready to endure jail Tony Blair’s daughter held at gunpoint Jhumpa Lahiri shortlisted for award 
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Washington, September 19
