DTN News: Middle East TODAY September 20, 2009 ~ Leader Hails Massive Anti-Zionism Rallies

DTN News: Middle East TODAY September 20, 2009 ~ Leader Hails Massive Anti-Zionism Rallies *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) TEHRAN, Iran - September 20, 2009: The Leader of the Islamic Revolution expresses gratitude to the people of Iran for their high turnout in the Qods Day rallies despite world powers' efforts to undermine the symbolic day.

Escorted by his bodyguards, reformist former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, center, is attacked by hard-liners as he attends a Quds Day rally, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. At one of the opposition rallies, a group of hard-liners came up and attacked reformist former president, Mohammad Khatami, pushing him to the ground, according to a reformist Web site. Thousands of opposition supporters held protests in competition with government-sponsored mass rallies to mark an annual anti-Israel commemoration, the Quds Day that reflects the Persian nation's sympathy with the Palestinians.

Delivering a sermon on the Muslims' Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei described the day as 'a loud and clear shout against the cancer of Zionism'. The leader referred to the 'conspiracies of the arrogant powers' to weaken the Qods Day among Muslims in recent years saying that the massive rallies were indicative of the fact that those efforts were futile. Ayatollah Khamenei said the Qods day rallies proved once again that the Islamic Umma does not accept tyranny. Regarding the latest political developments in the county, the Leader warned against accusing certain figures of committing unlawful acts while they are absent and not capable of defending themselves.

Lebanese Hezbollah members parade during a rally marking Quds (Jerusalem) Day in Beirut on September 18, 2009. Quds Day, held each year on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, is the brainchild of Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as a display of solidarity with the Palestinians.

"It should be noted that what was aired on state television from recent court sessions in which defendants accused others who were not present of wrongdoings…this is not reliable…whatever the suspect says about himself in the court session can be reliable…but if it is about someone else it is not dependable," explained Ayatollah Khamenei.

Referring to the Western approach in dealing with the post-vote developments, the leader accused Western media of having hidden political agendas with regards to Iran, explaining that foreigners have never had any "sympathy" for the Iranian society.

Palestinian men hold fake rockets as they take part in a rally marking Quds (Jerusalem) Day at the Yarmuk refugee camp near the Syrian capital Damascus on September 18, 2009. Quds Day, held each year on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, is the brainchild of Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as a display of solidarity with the Palestinians.

"When have they [foreigners] sought to clarify facts about us that they do in the recent chain of events?" The Leader also warned domestic media to apply vigilance in dealing with foreign-led efforts to spread destabilizing rumors.

"The media should refrain from publicizing allegations leveled by foreign media against certain individuals in the country accusing them of betrayal and other wrongdoings... This would not be acceptable," said the Leader.

DTN News: Russia, China Conduct Anti-Piracy Exercises In Gulf of Aden

DTN News: Russia, China Conduct Anti-Piracy Exercises In Gulf of Aden *Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - September 20, 2009: Russian and Chinese warships have begun live firing drills in the Gulf of Aden as part of anti-piracy exercises, a Pacific Fleet official said on Friday. The three-day exercises will include Russia's Admiral Tributs destroyer and two Chinese warships, the Zhoushan and Xuzhou, along with a number of support vessels, and will focus on seek and detain operations. "A new element in these exercises will be the search, location and detention of a dummy pirate vessel," the official told RIA Novosti. After the exercises end on September 20, the Russian warship will resume its work to escort commercial vessels through waters off the Somali coast. The third Russian task force from the Pacific Fleet, led by the Admiral Tributs with two helicopters on board, arrived in the Gulf of Aden on July 30. The previous two task forces from the Pacific Fleet were led by the Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Panteleyev destroyers. The fleet's warships have escorted over 100 Russian and foreign commercial ships and thwarted several attacks by pirates since January 2009. The Pacific Fleet will send a fourth task force, comprising a missile destroyer, two support ships and a naval infantry unit, to the Gulf of Aden after Admiral Tributs finishes its current anti-piracy mission in the region at the end of October. Around 35 warships from the navies of 16 countries are currently deployed off Somalia's coast to counter frequent pirate attacks on key trade routes. Pirate attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and off the east coast of Somalia have amounted to 148 since the beginning of the year, with over 40 ships captured and at least 270 taken hostage.

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY September 20, 2009 ~ US Embassy Security Firm Raided

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY September 20, 2009 ~ US Embassy Security Firm Raided *Source: DTN News / BBC

(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - September 20, 2009: Police in Pakistan say they have raided the offices of a private security firm hired by the US embassy in Islamabad. The offices of the Inter-Risk company were entered and around 70 weapons were seized and two personnel arrested. Officials in Pakistan allege that the haul of 61 assault riffles, nine pistols and ammunition were unlicensed. (Image: Police allege that no licences were produced for the seized weapons) It follows allegations that the US is using the security firm once known as Blackwater. The US embassy in Islamabad denies it has any contract with them. The media in Pakistan have reported that the US embassy in Islamabad was involved in hiring the firm Xe services, formerly known as Blackwater, a company which was embroiled in allegations of civilian killings while hired to protect US diplomats in Iraq. A spokesman for the US embassy, Rick Snelsire, has confirmed a contract with Inter-Risk exists and said that "It is our understanding they [Inter-Risk] obtained licenses [for] whatever they brought into the country to meet their contractual needs." The US has denied it uses Xe services in Pakistan. A senior police official, Rana Akram, said that two Inter-Risk employees were detained and are being questioned. They were now seeking the company's owner, a retired Pakistani army captain, the official added. Police have denied any connection between the raid on Inter-Risk and the US embassy, but said they were working to protect foreigners living in the Islamabad and increasing vigilance ahead of the Muslim feast which marks the end of Ramadan.

DTN News: First Squadron Of Iranian Saeqeh Fighters To Fly Over Tehran On Tuesday

DTN News: First Squadron Of Iranian Saeqeh Fighters To Fly Over Tehran On Tuesday

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) TEHRAN, Iran - September 20, 2009: Iran will display its military might during an aerial maneuver, in which the first-ever squadron of Iran's domestically-made Saegheh (Thunderbolt) aircraft will partake.

The Saeqheh is the most advanced F-5 modification project known, intended to learn about the effects of twin tail on the aircraft's performance. It was developed by MATSA Air Force Technology and Electronic Center and the Shahid Sattari Air Force University of Tehran, starting in 1998, first flight occurring on 30 May 2004. In July 2004 Iran showed a video and pictures of the latest prototype fighter jet, called Saeqeh, or Saeqeh-80 (after the Islamic year 1380). The aircraft resembled an F-5E Tiger II with a pair of canted vertical stabilizers, resembling those of the American F/A-18. The similarities were reinforced by the announcement that this new aicraft was a follow on to the Azarakhsh (Thunder) aircraft, which also bore significant similarities to the F-5E.

The Islamic Republic Air Force (IRAF) had earlier unveiled its advanced Saegheh (Thunderbolt) aircraft; however IRAF commander Brigadier General Hassan Shah-Safi said on Saturday that the country has now manufactured enough units of the aircraft to form a squadron.

"The maneuver was initially scheduled for April 18, however it was rescheduled for September 22, due to weather conditions," Brigadier General Shah-Safi was quoted by Fars News as saying. The Air Force commander added that other domestically-built aircraft such as Azarakhsh (Lightning) and Iran-140 will also participate in the aerial maneuver.

Brigadier General Shah-Safi referred to manufacturing of a squadron of Saegheh (Thunderbolt) aircraft in the country as an "important move," which helped "transcend Iran's status in the world's aerial arena."

"The Air Force and the Defense Ministry proved that with proper planning and management, Iran can also be successful in an important field such as aircraft manufacturing," he said.