Eye On U.K

[Rasputin]

Sepideh jan..

Please next time put all the news about U.K in the thread Of Eye On U.K . In this way,the users have a possibility to read all the news about U.K in just one Thread.

Thank you a lot for your colaboration my dear. :=)

[Sepideh_UK]

Sure!!

[Rasputin]

پليس بريتانيا يک ديپلمات سابق ايرانی را به درخواست مقامات آمريکايی به اتهام تلاش برای خريد تجهيزات نظامی ساخت آمريکا و ارسال آن به ايران در يکی از شهر های شمال شرقی انگلستان بازداشت کرده است.
طبق گزارش يکی از هفته نامه های بريتانيايی، ميل آن ساندی (Mail On Sunday) نصرالله تاجيک، سفير سابق ايران در اردن، که در دانشگاه دورهام به کارهای تحقيقاتی مشغول است، در تاريخ 26 اکتبر بازداشت و روز بعد با حضور در دادگاه و سپردن وثيقه آزاد شد. قرار است در جلسه بعدی دادگاه در اوايل ماه دسامبر درباره استرداد او به آمريکا تصميم گرفته شود.

خبرگزاری فرانسه نيز گزارش داده است که پليس بريتانيا خبر بازداشت آقای تاجيک در منزلش در شهر دورهام را به درخواست مقامات آمريکايی تاييد کرد.

محمد علی حسينی، سخنگوی وزارت امور خارجه ايران، نيز ضمن تاييد اين بازداشت گفت با پی گيری های سفارت ايران در بريتانيا اين شخص آزاد شده و پرونده او روال حقوقی خود را طی می کند. او جزئيات بيشتری درباره اين شخص نداد.

هفته نامه "ميل آن ساندی" که اولين بار اين خبر را منتشر کرد نوشت که ماموران مخفی آمريکايی در بريتانيا خود را به عنوان دلالان اسلحه جا زدند و سپس با آقای تاجيک تماس گرفتند تا او را به دام بيندازند.


خبر بازداشت آقای تاجيک موقعی منتشر می شود که يک قاضی آرژانتينی حکم بازداشت جهانی اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی و هشت نفر از مقامات ديگر ايرانی را صادر کرده است.

اين نشريه نوشته است: اکنون اين پرسش مطرح شده که آيا دولت بريتانيا از وقوع چنين اقدامات مخفيانه ای توسط ماموران آمريکايی مطلع است يا خير؟

به گفته اين نشريه استفاده از چنين تکنيک هايی برای به دام انداختن افراد طبق قوانين بريتانيا غير قانونی است.

"ميل آن ساندی" نوشت که ظاهرا ماموران آمريکايی با آقای تاجيک و يا افراد ديگری به عنوان دلال اسلحه تماس می گيرند و سپس با آنان جلسات مخفيانه در هتل ها برگزار می کنند و از اين ملاقات ها به عنوان مدرک فيلم تهيه می کنند.

به گفته اين نشريه مدارکی که از راه های غير قانونی و به اصطلاح از طريق کلک زدن به افراد تهيه شود در دادگاه های بريتانيا مورد قبول نيست و کسی را نمی توان طبق چنين مدارکی مجازات کرد.

طبق گزارش اين هفته نامه ماموران آمريکايی با فريب آقای تاجيک پيشنهاد کرده بودند که حاضرند دوربين های مخصوص استفاده در شب را که فروش آنها به ايران ممنوع است از طريق او به دولت ايران بفروشند.

دولت بريتانيا قبلا تعدادی از اين دوربين ها را برای مبارزه با قاچاقچيان مواد مخدر به جمهوری اسلامی فروخت و از اين رو فروش چنين تجهيزاتی به ايران جرم نيست.

اين نشريه گزارش داد که وکلای مدافع آقای تاجيک در دفاع از او خواهند گفت که او سابقه جنايی يا ارتباط با تروريست ها نداشته و اقدام ماموران آمريکا در به دام انداختن او غير قانونی بوده است.

مدافعان حقوق بشر و آزادی های مدنی در بريتانيا از وزير کشور و وزير امور خارجه اين کشور خواسته اند به اتهامات مطرح شده توسط اين هفته نامه بريتانيايی مبنی بر غيرقانونی بودن اقدامات ماموران مخفی آمريکا در خاک بريتانيا پاسخ دهند.

سايت خبری بازتاب که گفته می شود به محسن رضايی، فرمانده سابق سپاه پاسداران و دبير فعلی مجمع تشخيص مصلحت نظام، نزديک است اقدام پليس بريتانيا را محکوم کرد و گفت دولت اين کشور با گردن نهادن به خواست آمريکا پليس را وارد بازی پيچيده ای کرده است.

ولی اين سايت خبری و يا سخنگوی وزارت امور خارجه ايران اصل خبر ملاقات آقای تاجيک با ماموران مخفی آمريکايی را که خود را به عنوان دلالان اسلحه جا زده بودند تکذيب نمی کنند.

سه سال پيش نيز هادی سليمان پور، سفير سابق ايران در آرژانتين، به درخواست يک قاضی آرژانتينی به اتهام دست داشتن در انفجار يک مرکز يهوديان در آن کشور در خاک بريتانيا بازداشت شد ولی نهايتا به دليل کافی نبودن مدارک خواست استرداد او رد شد.

خبر بازداشت آقای تاجيک موقعی منتشر می شود که يک قاضی ديگر آرژانتينی حکم بازداشت جهانی اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی و هشت نفر از مقامات ديگر ايرانی را به همان اتهام را صادر کرده است. در موقع انفجار اين مرکز در سال 1994 آقای رفسنجانی رييس جمهوری ايران بوده است.

همزمانی اين دو واقعه ممکن است اين تصور را در بين مقامات جمهوری اسلامی ايجاد کند که آمريکا به دليل اختلافاتش با ايران بر سر برنامه های هسته ای کشور از اين راه ها می خواهد به ايران فشار وارد کند.

ولی برای فعالان حقوق بشر در بريتانيا اين نگرانی ممکن است ايجاد شود که دولت تونی بلر، نخست وزير بريتانيا، به دليل نزديکی زياد او با دولت جورج بوش، دست ماموران آمريکايی را باز گذاشته است که در خاک بريتانيا برای به پيش بردن برنامه های خود به هر اقدامی حتی غيرقانونی دست بزنند.

[Rasputin]

Britain's policy towards Iran and Syria has not softened, Downing Street says, despite the prime minister's call for them to help bring stability to Iraq.
In a major foreign policy speech in London on Monday, Tony Blair said a "whole Middle East" policy includes co-operation with the two states.

But his spokesman insisted that did not mean offering new concessions to the governments in Tehran and Damascus.

Mr Blair also said that alliances with the US and EU are "crucial".

His speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet outlined British policy in Iraq, the UK's relationship with the US and its position in Europe.

Syria wants to become part of the solution to the problem

Imad Moustapha
Syria's Ambassador to the US


What Iran and Syria want
Bush cool on Iran role

Mr Blair said sectarian violence in Iraq was pushing the country away from its democratically-elected government towards extremism.

While there was help from the UK in rebuilding Iraq, including plugging any gaps in its armed forces, there were also "forces outside Iraq...trying to create mayhem inside Iraq" which needed to be pinned back.

"A major part of the answer to Iraq lies not in Iraq itself but outside it, in the whole of the region where the same forces are at work, where the roots of ...global terrorism are to be found, where the extremism flourishes."

'Obstacles to peace'

Mr Blair went on to say: "There is a fundamental misunderstanding that this is about changing policy on Syria and Iran."

His speech said that it is necessary to start with "Israel/Palestine" as it is "the core" but that progress is also needed in Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran.

Iran is not only refusing to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme, as demanded by the United Nations, but is also "using pressure points in the region to thwart us", he said.

Our partnership with America and our membership of the EU are precisely suited to Britain

Tony Blair
British Prime Minister


Blair speech in full

Mr Blair said Iran - by helping the "most extreme elements of Hamas in Palestine; Hezbollah in the Lebanon; Shia militia in Iraq" - were putting "obstacles in the path to peace".

The only way to defeat such barriers was to "relieve these pressure points one by one" and offer Iran the choice of abiding by their international obligations or face isolation, Mr Blair said.

Regarding global alliances, Mr Blair said it is right to keep "our partnership with America strong" and Britain should "rejoice" in its leading role in Europe.

As the world changes, particularly the emergence of China and India, "collective strength" would be needed.

"For that reason, our partnership with America and our membership of the EU are precisely suited to Britain.

"For that reason, it would be insane - yes, I would put it as strongly as that - for us to give up either relationship," Mr Blair said.

Syria's Ambassador to the US, Imad Moustapha, told BBC Radio 4's World at One that his country was willing to engage.

Price of peace

"In one way or another, Syria wants to become a part of the solution to the problem. We are willing to engage and we can help - I'm not claiming we have the magical wand - we can help play a constructive role," he said.

"We have played a constructive role in the past. Syria has invited Israel time and again to re-engage in a peace process."

He added that, for such assistance, "the price should be very clear - we want a comprehensive, fair and honourable Middle East settlement".

HAVE YOUR SAY
There has to be dialogue with Syria and Iran

Mark Littlewood , Cambridge


Send us your comments

The White House's Iraq Study Group is due to give its recommendations on US strategy in Iraq by the end of the year.

After meeting the group on Monday, US President George W Bush said he rejected dealing with Iran unless it suspends its uranium enrichment activities.

"Our focus of this administration is to convince the Iranians to give up their nuclear weapons ambitions. And that focus is based upon our desire for there to be peace in the Middle East... an Iran with a nuclear weapon would be a destabilising influence," Mr Bush said.

President Bush has previously described the countries as part of an "Axis of Evil".

Mr Blair is due to talk to the group on Tuesday.

[Rasputin]

The so-called opening to Iran and Syria is going to be a difficult enterprise.

A close reading of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech on Monday evening shows that the conditions for engagement would amount to a wholesale change of direction by Iran and its President Ahmadinejad in particular.

And at about the same time at the White House, following a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Bush himself indicated that Syria and Iran would have to change first. In particular, he set the condition that Iran would have to suspend its enrichment of uranium.

Mr Blair's speech (a re-run basically of one he made in Los Angeles on 1 August) described the strategy in this way:

"Offer Iran a clear strategic choice: they help the MEPP [Middle East Peace Process] not hinder it; they stop supporting terrorism in Lebanon or Iraq; and they abide by, not flout, their international obligations. In that case, a new partnership is possible. Or alternatively they face the consequences of not doing so: isolation."

In Los Angeles, he had said: "We need to make clear to Syria and Iran that there is a choice: come in to the international community and play by the same rules as the rest of us; or be confronted."

Bush's comments

As for President Bush, he was even more forthright.


On Syria: "We expect the Syrians to be, one, out of Lebanon so that the Lebanese democracy can exist; two, not harbouring extremists that create - that empower these radicals to stop the advance of democracies; three, to help this young democracy in Iraq succeed. And the Syrian president knows my position."

On Iran: "If the Iranians want to have a dialogue with us, we have shown them a way forward, and that is for them to verify - verifiably suspend their enrichment activities."

There doesn't appear to be much diplomatic room there for engagement over Iraq or anything else. The message is: you have to change, not us. It is an offer Iran and Syria might refuse.

Iraq Study Group

So why is the prospect of bringing Iran and Syria into discussion about Iraq and the Middle East even being raised?

For two reasons. The first is that Iraq has gone badly and President Bush lost the mid-term elections. He is having to search around for any new idea. The concept of bringing in the neighbours for a friendly talk about Iraq appeals to many. He is facing the collapse of his grand project for democracy in the "Greater Middle East".

The second is that the Iraq Study Group, the high-level panel led by James Baker, the former secretary of state for President Bush senior, and Lee Hamilton, a former Democratic congressman, is to report soon. Word from that group is that it might recommend that Iran and Syria be indeed consulted, perhaps as part of a regional conference on Iraq.

Therefore, both the US and UK have to take positions on the possibility of engagement with Iran and Syria.


Stringent conditions

The comments by both Mr Bush and Mr Blair could be seen as an attempt to head off that engagement, unless it is on totally different terms. The conditions set are so high.

And Mr Blair, in his concentration during his final months on what he calls a "whole" Middle East approach, is way out ahead of his White House ally, who does not think that the time is right for any push on the Israel/Palestine front.

In a session by video link with the Iraq Study Group on Tuesday, Mr Blair repeated his view that a solution in one part of the Middle East would be helped by a solution in Israel/Palestine. That may be so, but the Israel/Palestine dispute has been going on in its modern form since the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and is unlikely to be solved soon.

The main concern in Washington is not to "start with Israel/Palestine", as Mr Blair put it. Nor does the administration think that Iran and Syria would be of much use at present.

The main Bush concern is Iraq and a demand by senior Democrats that the US commit itself to a phased withdrawal of US troops starting in four to six months. This is also something the Iraq Study Group might address.

Mr Bush is still hinting that his room for manoeuvre is small. "I believe it is very important, though, for people making suggestions to recognise that the best military options depend upon the conditions on the ground," he said.


There is also deep scepticism in the Bush administration that either Iran or Syria would do much to ease the plight of US and UK troops in Iraq.

Middle East watchers are also doubtful that this will lead very far. Rosemary Hollis of Chatham House in London said: "It is totally logical to think that you cannot solve Iraq without involving its neighbours. But my fear is that this will fall down in the execution. The US and UK have no idea that the shoe is on the other foot. It is they who are weak. Yet they still expect Iran to make all the concessions."

The Iraq Study Group is expected to report in December.

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

LONDON (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent out a fresh appeal to Syria and Iran, urging them to become partners in the search for peace in the Middle East or face isolation on the world stage.

Speaking to Al-Jazeera's new English-language channel, Blair rejected as "completely absurd" suggestions that his readiness to work with Tehran and Damascus amounted to appeasement of two of the stated enemies of the United States.

But he said the "door was open" for both to play a constructive role in the push for peace in the wider region by giving up their support for terrorism and, in Iran's case, abiding by international obligations on nuclear proliferation.

"If you are prepared to be part of the solution there is a partnership available to you," Blair said, speaking to veteran broadcaster Sir David Frost in an interview recorded at the prime minister's official London residence.

"But at the moment -- and this is particularly so in respect of what Iran is doing in supporting terrorism through the Middle East and acting in breach of its nuclear weapons obligations -- you are behaving in such a way that makes such a partnership impossible."

Blair's appearance on Al-Jazeera is a major coup for the Qatar-based channel, which has been accused of anti-Western bias by the United States, particularly over the war in Iraq.

But it also comes at a time when the US-led coalition is examining its strategy in Iraq amid mounting violence there.

Blair's remarks restated those he made to the US Iraq Study Group Tuesday, in a keynote address in London Monday, and on previous occasions when asked about Iran's nuclear ambitions or Syria's support for Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Another indication of his intentions came earlier this month when he sent his most senior foreign policy advisor to Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad and other senior figures.

Blair told Al-Jazeera that, other than supporting democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, progress on the Israel-Palestinian peace process would be the "most important thing" he can do in his remaining time in office.

"Nothing would have a greater symbolic importance" for Israelis and Palestinians and the whole world, said Blair, who visited Israel, the West Bank and Lebanon in September and intends to visit the region again by the year-end.

"It would send a signal to the whole of the world that this was not a battle between Westerners or Christians and Muslims but it was a battle between all those who believe in tolerance, in living together in harmony, in a non-sectarian future against those who want to divide us."

Elsewhere, Blair returned to a number of familiar themes in his foreign policy, including the need to empower the forces of moderate Islam against extremists who have a "warped and perverted" view of the religion.

But he came close to admitting that the US-led invasion of Iraq, that Britain backed amid widespread criticism, had been what Frost said had "so far been pretty much of a disaster."

"It has," Blair said, before adding quickly: "But you see what I say to people is why is it difficult in Iraq? It's not difficult because of some accident in planning.

"It's difficult because there's a deliberate strategy -- Al-Qaeda with Sunni insurgents on one hand, Iranian-backed elements with Shia militias on the other -- to create a situation in which the will of the majority for peace is displaced by the will of the minority for war."

[Rasputin]

Tony Blair has publicly agreed with the opinion that the violence in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has been a disaster.
The UK prime minister was responding to a question by Sir David Frost in an interview on the new al-Jazeera English-language Arabic TV channel.

The Liberal Democrats said Mr Blair had finally accepted the enormity of his decision to go to war in Iraq.

But Downing Street insisted his views had been misrepresented and that he had not made "some kind of admission".

'Not accident in planning'

A spokesman said the prime minister often agreed with interviewers when he responded to their questions.

Mr Blair was challenged by Sir David over the violence in Iraq, saying it had "so far been pretty much of a disaster".

He was simply acknowledging the question in a polite way before going on to explain his view

Downing Street spokesman


Brown in first visit to Iraq
Nick Robinson on Blair

The prime minister replied: "It has, but you see what I say to people is why is it difficult in Iraq?

"It's not difficult because of some accident in planning.

"It's difficult because there's a deliberate strategy - al-Qaeda with Sunni insurgents on one hand, Iranian-backed elements with Shia militias on the other - to create a situation in which the will of the majority for peace is displaced by the will of the minority for war."

The interview comes as Chancellor Gordon Brown met UK troops on his first visit to Iraq, and promised an extra £100m ($188m) over three years to help rebuild the country's economy.

Commenting on the al-Jazeera broadcast, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "At long last the enormity of the decision to take military action against Iraq is being accepted by the prime minister.

"It could hardly be otherwise, as the failure of strategy becomes so clear."

'Completely disingenuous'

Downing Street insisted it was not Mr Blair's view that the violence in Iraq had been a disaster.

A spokeswoman said: "He was simply acknowledging the question in a polite way before going on to explain his view.

"To portray it as some kind of admission is completely disingenuous."

We have said that we will stay as long as the Iraqi government needs us to do so

Tony Blair


Blair targets Mid-East

But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair's agreement indicated he knew there was "simply no point any more arguing with interviewers".

"Tony Blair knows that's an argument that has already been lost," he added.

"He wishes instead to focus on the argument about who's to blame for the disaster - insurgents he insists - and what should be done now - staying there until 'the job is done', he will continue to argue."

In the interview, Mr Blair stressed the importance of progress in the Middle East peace process in winning the "war on terror".

He said it would cut support for Muslim extremism and added the issue was the "most important" thing for him before he leaves office.

Syria and Iran could play a "constructive" role in the Middle East, Mr Blair added, and it was absurd to suggest that talking to the countries amounted to "appeasement".

When asked about UK troops in Iraq, he said: "We have said that we will stay as long as the Iraqi government needs us to do so."

[Khorsheed]

Britain may start pulling out of Iraq

LONDON - Britain said Monday it expects to withdraw thousands of its 7,000 military personnel from Iraq by the end of next year, while Poland and Italy announced the impending withdrawal of their remaining troops.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski said his country, a U.S. ally in Iraq and Afghanistan, would pull its remaining 900 soldiers out of Iraq by the end of 2007. And Italian Premier Romano Prodi said the last of Italy's soldiers in Iraq - some 60-70 troops - will return home this week, ending the Italian contingent's presence in the south of the country after more than three years.

British Defense Secretary Des Browne was the second senior official in recent days to talk of reducing the number of British troops in Iraq. In a speech to the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Browne also warned Iran that it faces increasing isolation if it does not use its influence in Iraq constructively.

Last week, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Britain may be able to hand over security responsibility in the southern port city of Basra by the spring of 2007. Britain also hopes to hand security control over to the Iraqis in the province of Maysan on the Iranian border in January.

"We have said that we and the Iraqis hope they will be ready to take over Maysan in January," Browne said. "We have said - and the foreign secretary reiterated last week - that we hope they will be ready to take over Basra in the spring.

"If both of these go to plan, we will be able to start drawing down our forces."

Browne said that handing over security would not mean a complete British withdrawal.

"I do not believe it is right to give precise numbers, nor to assume what the next 12 months will hold.

"But I can tell you that by the end of next year I expect numbers of British forces in Iraq to be significantly lower - by a matter of thousands. The planning for this has been going on for some months."

Any troop pullback, he said, would be "driven not by arbitrary deadlines but by reality on the ground."

"We will stay as long as we are making a positive difference, and as long as the Iraqi government need our support," Browne said.

Sectarian divisions in Iraq will not be resolved quickly, Browne said, but he argued against dividing the country into Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish sections, warning that doing so would destabilize the region further.

The defense secretary also called on Iraq's neighbors to support efforts to calm the violence.

"Even Syria, whose motives the international community has often had cause to question, has shown signs of constructive engagement," Browne said.

Syria's foreign minister has indicated his country is willing to help stabilize Iraq, and on a visit to Baghdad last week he announced the full restoration of diplomatic relations.

Iran's behavior, Browne said, remained troubling. The U.S., Britain and others have accused Iran of providing support to Shiite militias blamed for much of the sectarian killing in Iraq. Iran has denied the claims.

Iran "has influence inside Iraq, the power to turn up or turn down the heat, to turn on or turn off the dialogue. It is not using that influence well," Browne said.

"Iran's interest is in a stable and non-aggressive Iraq," he added.

"So the message to Iran is simple. Be a constructive partner, help yourself as well as the wider region - or face increasing isolation."

[Rasputin]

حمله هانس بليکس به برنامه بلر برای توسعه نيروگاه هسته ای: سياست بلر جلوگيری از دست يابی ايران به تکنولوژی هسته ای را دشوار ميکند


روشنگری. بنا بر گزارش روزنامه انگليسی اينديپندنت، هانس بليکس رئيس سابق هيات بازرسی سازمان ملل به تصميم تونی بلر برای توسعه نيروگاه هسته ای حمله کرد. او در انتقاد خود به سياست بلر گفت مدرنيزه کردن تريدنت Trident ، سيستم هسته ای بريتانيا، برقرارداد ان پی تی فشار می آورد و در راه تلاش ها برای جلوگيری از دست يابی ايرن به سلاح های اتمی دشواری ايجاد ميکند.

[Rasputin]

Former Russian acting Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar is being treated in a Moscow hospital amid rumours about the cause of his mystery illness.
Mr Gaidar became violently ill during a visit to Ireland last week, and his daughter Maria told the BBC that doctors believe he was poisoned.

Irish police are investigating the claims, as he recovers in Moscow.

Mr Gaidar, 50, fell ill a day after Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko died of radiation poisoning in London.

Mr Gaidar briefly served as prime minister in 1992 under Russian President Vladimir Putin's predecessor, Boris Yeltsin.

He now heads a Moscow-based think-tank which has criticised President Putin's economic policies, but he is a marginal political figure who is not regarded as a prominent political opponent of the Russian leader.

'Pale and thin'

Mr Gaidar suffered from a nose bleed and vomiting before fainting in Dublin last Friday, during a visit to promote his book The Death of Empire: Lessons for Contemporary Russia.

YEGOR GAIDAR
June-Dec 1992: Russian acting prime minister
Implemented economic "shock therapy"
Director of Institute for the Economy in Transition
Ms Gaidar was quoted as saying her father had eaten a "simple breakfast of fruit salad and a cup of tea".

Ms Gaidar, an anti-Kremlin activist, told the BBC doctors in Moscow had been unable to find any other cause except poisoning.

"The doctors think that they don't find any other reason of his condition that he was poisoned with some strange poison they cannot identify," she said. "But to have an official conclusion they're still waiting for the information of the doctors of Dublin."

She said that if her father had been deliberately poisoned "it could be a political poisoning because there are no personal or business reasons why someone would want to do that".

She told Reuters news agency her father was speaking, but looked pale and thin.

Mr Gaidar was treated in intensive care in Dublin after he collapsed, before being flown to Moscow.

The Irish government has said it had no reason to believe there was anything untoward about Mr Gaidar's illness.

However, the police force said it was investigating Mr Gaidar's movements during his trip.

"Enquiries to date have been conducted with hospital and medical staff and through the diplomatic corps," a police statement said.

"Public health and safety is of paramount importance and there is nothing known which indicates that any member of the public is at risk."

As acting prime minister, Mr Gaidar was responsible for introducing sweeping economic reforms following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

His programme of economic "shock therapy" under which price controls were lifted and large-scale privatisations were launched angered many Russians who saw their savings devalued.

[Rasputin]

Experts probing the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko have found traces of radioactivity at 12 locations, the home secretary has said.
Among them are two British Airways (BA) planes. A third one is awaiting checks.

Home Secretary John Reid told Parliament that two Russian aircraft, one of which is currently at Heathrow airport, were also of interest.

The Health Protection Agency said 24 people had been referred to a specialist clinic for tests.

BA is contacting 33,000 passengers from 221 flights. But Mr Reid stressed the public health risk was low.

Mr Litvinenko, an ex-KGB officer and a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died last week of radiation poisoning.

HAVE YOUR SAY
I work in the one of the office buildings where polonium-210 has been detected, and we have had no assistance at all from the authorities

Gate, London


Send us your experiences

Traces of radioactive polonium-210 were discovered in his body, and more traces of the substance have been found at venues he visited in the capital on 1 November.

Earlier, an inquest into the death of Mr Litvinenko was opened and adjourned at a London court.

Coroner Dr Andrew Reid said the level of polonium-210 in Mr Litvinenko's system indicated it had come from a source "other than a natural one". A post-mortem will be carried out on Friday.

'Five planes'

The home secretary said that more locations could be screened for radiation.

"To date, around 24 venues have or are being monitored and experts have confirmed traces of contamination at around 12 of these venues," he said.

LITVINENKO'S MOVEMENTS

1 November 2006
1: Meeting at Millennium Hotel
2: Meeting at Itsu Sushi bar
3: Home in Muswell Hill
4: Admitted to Barnet hospital
17 November
5: Transferred to University College Hospital where dies on 23 November
Other sites where radioactive material has been found:

7 Down Street
25, 58 Grosvenor Street
Sheraton Hotel
Two planes at Heathrow Airport
Car in north London


Passengers 'not getting help'
Investigations so far have focused on Mr Litvinenko's movements, including his meetings at a West End sushi restaurant and a hotel on 1 November, the day he fell ill.

Experts have suggested that polonium-210 could be present in locations, including the planes, either because it leaked from a container or because it was present in people's bodily fluids.

Of those members of the public who were concerned about potential exposure to radiation, 139 had been referred to the Health Protection Agency as a precaution, of which 24 were referred to a specialist clinic.

The HPA said some 53 healthcare staff and a further 140 people who passed through contaminated areas have been asked to provide urine samples.

Plane checks

British Airways said on Thursday evening that one of its two aircraft which had shown contamination had been given the all clear. The HPA said it did not believe passengers on this plane - registration G-BZHA - had been at risk.

Checks are continuing on a second plane at Heathrow, while a third has been ordered to return to the UK from Moscow to be screened.

Officials were also interested in a fourth plane - a Boeing 737 leased to a Russian private carrier, Transaero, which landed at Heathrow airport on Thursday morning. A spokeswoman for the airliner said that no toxic substance had been found on board.

A fifth Russian plane was also said to be of interest, but no further details were given.

"There may be other aeroplanes of which we don't at this stage know, but those are the five that we know of," the home secretary said.

'Low risk'

A quarter of the 221 flights made by the three British Airways short-haul 767 aircraft between 25 October and 29 November were between London and Moscow.

EXPOSURE RISK
Contact with carrier's sweat or urine could lead to exposure
But polonium-210 must be ingested to cause damage
Radiation has very short range and cannot pass through skin
Washing eliminates traces

British Airways said it had contacted 5,500 customers and made information about affected flights available on its website.

"The advice we have been given so far is that the health risk to anyone who has travelled on any of the three aircraft at the centre of the issue around radiation exposure is deemed to be low," it said in a statement.

BA said it was not its role to give medical advice, but referred passengers to medical service NHS Direct.

By midnight on Wednesday, NHS Direct had received 1,707 calls from concerned members of the public.

NHS Direct spokesman Simone Lester said that only passengers who felt unwell should call.

"We will not be in a position to give them more specific advice until the Health Protection Agency has finished its assessment of the potential risk on those flights," she said.


British Airways has set up a special helpline for customers in the UK on 0845 6040171 or +44 191 211 3690 for international calls.

Passengers who travelled on those flights and want further advice are advised to telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

[donsaeid]

[donsaeid]

[Rasputin]

گزارش شده که وزارت خارجه بريتانيا به اعضای کابينه اين کشور ابلاغ کرده است که از اين پس، از به کار بردن عبارت "مبارزه با تروريسم" خودداری کنند.
وزارت خارجه بريتانيا گفته است که به کارگيری عبارت "مبارزه با تروريسم"، می تواند مسلمانان بريتانيا را خشمگين کند.

يک تن از سخنگويان وزارت خارجه بريتانيا به هفته نامه آبزرور گفته است که دولت اين کشور می خواهد از به کار گيری زبانی که ممکن است سوء تعبير شود خودداری کند.

به گفته اين سخنگو، کاربرد چنين زباني، می تواند به تلاشها برای مبارزه با تروريسم آسيب برساند.

از ديپلماتهای بريتانيايی و سخنگويان دولت اين کشور در سراسر جهان نيز خواسته شده که اين پس، عبارت "مبارزه با تروريسم" را به کار نبرند.

عبارت "مبارزه با تروريسم" از طرف دولتمردان آمريکايي، پس از حملات يازده سپتامير مورد استفاده های مکرر قرار گرفت.