AL-Mustaqilla

Gaza Strip (Palestine) - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Hamas Political Bureau's Chief Khaled Meshaal has rejected any concessions of any inch of the Palestinian state, at a demonstration on Saturday commemorating the 25th anniversary of Hamas.  “Resistance is the right way to recover our rights, as well as all forms of struggle; political, diplomatic, legal and popular, but all are senseless without resistance," said Mishael addressing for the first time thousands of people gathering in Gaza. “Palestine is our land and nation from the [Mediterranean] sea to the [Jordan] river, from north to south, and we cannot cede an inch or any part of it,” he said. “We fight Zionists, not Jews. We fight whoever occupied our land, regardless of religion ... Statehood will be the fruit of resistance, not negotiations,” Meshaal said to cheering fans. He said the resistance movement looked towards the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as a symbol of Palestinian unity and a “r...

Cairo - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - The Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi annulled on Saturday the constitutional declaration he issued last month expanding his powers.  A referendum on a draft constitution would however still go ahead as planned on Dec.15. The two issues, the decree and the referendum, were at the heart of anti-MOrsi protests that have rocked Egypt in the past two weeks.

Western Sahara - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - The government of Western Sahara Republic has asked the French company TOTAL to refrain from any exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Western Sahara without the approval of Saharawi government, in a letter sent Wednesday by the Saharawi Coordinator with the MINURSO Mr. Mhamed Khadad to Total’s Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie. “The illegal occupation of Western Sahara is legitimized by individuals and corporations who deal with Morocco for the natural resources of the territory,” stated the letter. “By the illegal exploration of the natural resources of Western Sahara, the conflict is prolonged, and the Saharawi people denied their economic future,” wrote Mr. Mhamed Khadad. “We remain confident that TOTAL will prove it was not and would not remain involved, in any way, in the exploitation of petroleum resources in the Western Sahara coasts,” he added. The letter coincides with the end of TOTAL’s licence...

Qatar - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Delegates at the UN climate talks underway in Qatar have agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol until 2020, avoiding a major new setback.  The deal, agreed by nearly 200 nations, keeps the protocol alive as the only legally binding plan for combating global warming. However, it only covers developed nations whose share of world greenhouse gas emissions is less than 15%.

Western Sahara – Independent Maghreb Press Agency - World Association of Muslim Preachers and Intellectuals to support the Saharawi People has congratulated the Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas on its 25th anniversary. The Association expressed sincere salutations and congratulations to the heroes of the Palestinian resistance, from all factions, who drew the world’s most sublime images of heroism and sacrifice in order to restore dignity and to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Association, therefore, pointed out to the heroic role played by Hamas in its recent war with the Zionists, expressing hope that Palestinian reconciliation would be restored to strengthen the Palestinians rank and ensure the liberation of all Palestine’s soil. To recall, more than 200,000 people crowded Saturday into a public square in Gaza to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, being held for the first time in the presence of the Head of Political Office of Hamas Mr. Khaled Mishael. The cel...

Mexico City - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - The President of the Republic of Western Sahara and Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, arrived early Friday morning at Benito Juarez’s International Airport in Mexico City, capital of the United States of Mexico, to attend the official inauguration of the new President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto, scheduled for Saturday, 1st December 2012.  The President was received at the Airport by the Advisor Mr. PEDRO GONZALEZ OLVERA, the Director General for Africa and the Middle East at Mexican Foreign Ministry along with the Vice-Director of the Protocol Mr. MIGUEL ÁNGEL PADÍA and Deputy Director for Middle East at Mexican Foreign Ministry. The Saharawi Embassy in Mexico will organize a reception for the President Mohamed Abdelaziz and the delegation accompanying him, in the presence of members of the House of Senates and Representatives, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Mexico, members of the movemen...

New York - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - The United Nations Secretary General’s personal envoy for western Sahara, Christopher Ross on Wednesday has warned that the situation in western Sahara “remains very worrisome and should remain on the radar of international community,” in a statement to press after his briefing the security council on latest developments of Western Sahara conflict. I have just briefed the council on latest developments in the search for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution of the western Sahara conflict which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. “The situation remains very worrisome and should remain on the radar of international community, the conflict over the final status of western Sahara has gone far for too long,” he said adding “this conflict could if left to faster feed growing frustration and spark renewed violence and hostilities that would be tragic for the peoples of the region,” Ro...

Young Saharawis are fed up with the United Nations-led peace process between the leaders of the Western Saharan liberation movement, Polisario, and the Moroccans who have colonized most of their country since 1975. The peace process has lasted for over 20 years, but has yet to produce any significant breakthroughs for the Saharawis, who simply demand the referendum that is to determine the status of Western Sahara that they have been promised by the United Nations. “But the United Nations has not been able to assume its responsibilities. The current negotiations are worthless, since they have been used by Morocco to prolong the suffering of our people in the refugee camps and the occupied territories,” says 24 year old Saharawi journalist, Salama Mohamed. Salama Mohamed is a member of the Saharawi student union, UESARIO’s, office for human rights. He presently uses his degree in English literature as a translator journalist at the Sahara Press Service. As is the case with many other Sa...

London – Independent Maghreb Press Agency – Britain, USA and France discussed Yesterday, ways of supporting Syrian opposition, according to the office of the British Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron The same source, mentioned in a statement that Mr. Cameron and the American President Mr. Obama in a phone call, dealt that using or threatening to use chemical weapons from Syria is “unacceptable at all” and will force them to review their ways of dealing with the issue    The office has indicated that Mr. Cameron discussed with the two presidents, Mr. Francois Hollande and Mr. Obama, ways of ending violation in Syria and realizing stability    From his side, The White House said that ” a phone call between Mr. Cameron and Mr. Obama, discussed a set of international issues such as the Syrian conflict and the necessity of increasing other countries to help the Syrian opposition      The White House added that Mr. Obama has expressed his fears from the embar...

Algeria - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - The Veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi is expected to be appointed as the new UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, according to some media sources. He would succeed the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who resigned last week saying he could no longer carry out the role. A six-point peace plan proposed by Mr Annan failed to come into effect, and violence has escalated. Rebels lost control of a key area of Aleppo after weeks of fighting. Mr Brahimi's served as an Algerian foreign minister between 1991-3. Later, he was appointed as the UN's  envoy for Afghanistan, Iraq,Haiti, South Africa and Zaire.

Cairo - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - At least16 border guards were killed and 7 injured on Sunday in Egypt during an attack against a checkpoint in Sinai, near the border between Egypt and Gaza strip, local security and medical sources said.  The official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that “an unknown group of gunmen” attacked a checkpoint in the region of Al-Mansoura, in Sinai, in addition to an exchange of fire between them and the security forces.  “Gunmen in Bedouin attire from Sinaï drove up in two vehicles and opened fire on a checkpoint,” a security official said.  After this attack, attributed to “Jihadists,” Egypt closed its Rafah crossing with the Gaza strip, according to official media. “Closing the Rafah crossing border (…) indefinitely,” public television said in a banner, information confirmed by the official MENA news agency

Western Sahara refugee camps (south western Algeria) - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - A group of 20 Spanish aid workers have set foot early this day in the camps of Western Sahara refugees in the Algerian Province of Tindouf, some sources informed IMPA. “The visit comes as a response to the serious decision of the Spanish government last Saturday and the climate of fear that may be resulted from the decision to repatriate the Spanish aid workers from the Saharawi refugee camps,” underlined the President of the Coordination of Spanish Associations of solidarity with the Saharawi people (CEAS-Sahara), José Taboada.   He added that the goal through the visit is to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Saharawis as to confirm the commitment of the associations supporting the people of Western Sahara to cooperation and assistance. President of CEAS-Sahara considered Spain Government’s decision “guiltless”, recalling to the security measures have been taken by the Saharawi an...

Syria - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Syria's prime minister Mr. Rias Hijab defected and fled to neighboring Jordan, a Jordanian official and a rebel spokesperson said Monday.  Ahmad Kassim, a senior official with the Free Syrian Army, said Prime Minister Hijab defected to Jordan along with three other ministers.  A Jordanian government official confirmed Hijab defected with his family but did not comment on the three other ministers.  The Jordanian government official spoke on condition of anonymity, saying he was not allowed to make any public statements on the defection.  Syria's TV, however, said Hijab had been fired less than two months after taking up his post.   Hijab is the highest-level government official to defect since the uprising against Assad's authoritarian rule began 17 months ago. The other ministers' identities were not immediately known.

Harare - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - The National Secretary of League Youth of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patrioric Front (ZANU - PF), Mr. Absolom Sikhosana, condemned Morocco’s position and described it contrary to international will, affirming strong and unconditional support to the struggle and right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and build an independent state, during a meeting held Saturday in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, with Western Sahara's Ambassador in Zimbabwe Mr. Deich Mohamed Saleh.  National Secretary of ZANU PF called on international community and organizations of human rights to pressurize Morocco to put an end to suffering of the people of the Saharawi Republic occupied by Morocco and apply resolutions of the United Nations.  During the meeting, Ambassador of Western Sahara gave a detailed presentation on the latest developments concerning the Saharawi cause, especially the violations of human rights and racism persua...

Atar (Mauritania) - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ruled out Monday sending troops to Mali, where the embattled government has lost control of the north to Al-Qaeda-linked militias.  "There will be no Mauritanian military intervention in Mali," he said overnight at a local forum in the northern town of Atar marking the third anniversary of his rise to power.  "The problem there is very complex and we don't have the solution," he said, adding that his country, which borders Mali, would take part in the international community's efforts to restore peace.  The entire northern half of Mali has been occupied since late March by rebels with links to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which has also carried out attacks in Mauritania.  Abdel Aziz warned against "the terrorist risk which will grow and can be a catastrophe for the entire world." He said the first step will be for Mali to have a strong and repr...

New York –independent Maghreb press agency – The Secretary General of UN Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has appointed the Moroccan Mr. Djamel Ben Omar in the position of secretary general’s assistant of this International Organization, herewith Mr. Djamel who was a politician prisoner in Morocco, is considered the first Moroccan to accede the highest political office until now . The spokesman of UN Mr. Martin Nesirky has announced Wednesday Evening that Secretary General of UN has appointed Mr. Djamel Ben Omar as the secretary general’s assistant, because of his success in his mission in Yemen during the transitional period in the country .         Mr. Ben Omar, an ethnic Amazigh, from Tetouan city, works for the UN since 1994, and he took charge of many offices in the development program “articles”, Human Rights, and the social affairs. Also worked in Afghanistan, Iraq, and almost 30 other countries to anchorage Human Rights and conflict resolution . He was political prisoner in...

Cairo - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has appointed Water Minister, Hisham Qandil, as prime minister and asked him to form a new government.  There has been much speculation over how Mursi will allot cabinet posts.  The army officially transferred power to President Mursi on June 30, but retains some significant prerogatives.  On July 10, the Supreme Constitutional Court suspended a decision by Mursi to reinstate the Islamist-dominated lower house of parliament.   Its decision last month to nullify parliamentary elections held earlier this year because of flaws in the law setting it up had led to political deadlock.  Qandil was a member of the outgoing caretaker government of Kamal al-Ganzouri, who was appointed prime minister by the military last year.  “This appointment of a patriotic and independent figure comes after much study and discussion to choose a person able to manage the current scenario,” Mursi’s sp...

Baghdad - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq has claimed responsibility for scores of attacks across the country targeting mostly Shi'ite Muslim targets this week which killed and wounded hundreds of people.  The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) said in a statement posted on radical Islamist websites on Tuesday that it was behind the recent attacks, which it called ``Destroying the Walls'' campaign and said it was the start of a ``new stage of jihad''.  At least 116 people were killed and about 300 wounded in bomb and gun attacks on Monday, by far the bloodiest day of violence since U.S. troops withdrew in December.  A day earlier, 20 were killed in bombings as part of a co-ordinated surge of violence.

Algiers - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Ninety-four people were killed and 1234 others injured in 657 road traffic accidents from 17 to 23 July across Algeria, Algerian National Gendarmerie reported Wednesday.  The number of accidents fell by 79 compared with last week, while that of the killed dropped by 13 and the number of the injured by 306, according to National Gendarmerie’s weekly report.  The province of Setif is topping the list of accidents with 37, ahead of Batna (29 accidents), Tlemcen (27), Blida and Oran (25 accidents), the source said.  The accidents were mainly caused by speeding (150 accidents), dangerous overtaking (104), pedestrians’ carelessness (95), tailgating (75) and driving on the left side of the road (63), according to the report.

Damascus - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today “some Syrian diplomatists work for the Ministry have left their work for some cash they received in return from some Arab countries The Ministry confirmed in a statement that some Ambassadors and embassy  employees dissenters have left their work for money, and traveled towards some Arab Capitals to encourage  dissent, referring to such behavior is not hidden anymore. And explained that it has taken the legal procedures against the dissenters, and without mentioning the names of the Arab countries funded for the dissenters . Ministry statement has refuted its relationship with some figures which have recently announced their dissent from the Syrian government, referring that Mr. Abdu Elative Dabbag, the Syrian Ambassador to UAE under review at the request of the Ministry to consult in Damascus, and not in his place work in Abudabi since the 4th of the last June . The ministry added “Ms....

Cairo - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Arab nations have called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to swiftly give up power as his troops launched a fresh assault on rebels in Damascus and the second city Aleppo. Fighting raged on Sunday despite claims by the rebel Free Syrian Army that Assad's regime was "collapsing".   In a joint statement issued early on Monday after their meeting in Doha, Arab League foreign ministers called on Assad to "renounce power", promising that he and his family would be offered "a safe exit". "There is agreement on the need for the rapid resignation of President Bashar al-Assad," Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani told journalists after the Arab League meeting wound up in the small hours on Monday. The Arab League called on the Free Syrian Army rebels and the opposition to form a transitional government of national unity along with the "de facto national authority", with...

Molina De Segur (Spain) - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - “Behind the kidnapping of the aid workers, two Spanish and an Italian national, from the Saharawi refugee camps has political goals not financial, the kidnappers seek through it to isolate the Saharawi people and subjected them to hunger and misery,” confirmed POLISARIO Representative to Spain, Mr. Bashraya Bayun. The Representative indicated, in an interview published Saturday by the Spanish Press Agency (EFE), that the abductors wanted to “harm the Saharawi people and give an impression that the camps are not safe, in order to prevent the visit of families and volunteers.” Mr. Basharay Bayun expressed “satisfaction and happiness” for the release of the hostages, the Spanish Ainhoa Fernández de Rincón and Enric Gonyalons and Italian Rosella Urru. The POlISARIO Representative to Madrid appealed to the international community to cooperate for reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict of Western Sahara, calling on the Gov...

Bamako - Independent Maghreb Press Agency - Six Malian self-defence movements united Saturday and started preparing to oust the militant Islamists controlling the north of Mali.  The groups announced they had created a joint fighting force of several thousand men with the aim of pushing out the Islamists. "To liberate the north of Mali, to unite the resistance forces, we have decided the creation of the Patriotic Forces of Resistance (FPR)," said a document signed by representatives of the six groups. "Our six movements have together gathered thousands of men. Some are now undergoing training at our bases in Sevare," a central Mali town, one of the FPR leaders, Harouna Toure, told AFP. Other sources confirmed that several hundred young volunteers were now being trained to fight the Islamists, whose grip on northern Mali has stoked regional fears of a new sanctuary for religious extremists in Africa. Austere Islamist rule Muslim hardliners who fought alongside eth...

Budapest, April 23, 2012 (MAP) - The Central and Eastern European Alliance for Solidarity with the Saharawi People (CEE Alliance) called Monday on the Security Council to address the question of Western Sahara on the basis of the implementation of UN resolutions and international legality, when reviewing tomorrow the mandate of MINURSO, in a letter sent to UN chief Ban Ki-moon. The letter asserted that since long CEE Alliance has been concerned about the adverse political developments in Western Sahara and expressed its opinion on several international forums, adding that it kept informed the EU Council, the European Parliament, the Hungarian government and leaders of the parliamentary factions about the worsening of the situation. The letter noted that events took place in parts of the Middle East and North Africa “have demonstrated clearly that any political solution in Western Sahara must reflect the will of its people if it is to be credible, sustainable, and foster peace, security...

Asunción (Paraguay), April 23, 2012 (SPS) - The Saharawi Youth Union (known as UESARIO) elected Sunday as to a seat in presidency of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY), at the IUSY World Congress held from 20-23 April 2012 in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. In a statement issued Sunday, the ANC Youth League, former IUSY vice-president, indicated that UESARIO’s occupation of the IUSY Presidium seat will provide a “necessary platform to make the world aware of the plight of the last colony in the world.” IUSY was found in 1907 as an international youth non-governmental organization with United Nations Economic and Social Council consultative status. It is the biggest political youth organization in the world represents about 150 member organizations from more than 100 countries. It works for democracy, human rights, youth policy from the perspective of freedom, solidarity and equality.