Chavez Slams U.S. Terror Report on Venezuela

2 May 09 | PTV and HRW

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has strongly reacted to a US report in which Washington accused Caracas of having ‘sympathy’ with terrorists.

Pakistan Rejects Plea to Halt Buner Operation

1/2 May 09 | AWC News, NYT, PTV, and Raw Story

The Pakistani government has failed to reach an agreement with the Tehreek-e Nifaz-e Shariat-e Muhammadi (TNSM) regarding the peace deal in Malakand, and rejected calls by TNSM chief Sufi Muhammad to halt the ongoing military operation in the Buner district. Few other details were available about the secretive talks, but additional rounds are expected to be held as soon as tomorrow.

Commission Names 13 Countries as Religious Freedom Violators

1 May 09 | VOA News

The latest annual report by the independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom names 13 countries as serious violators of religious freedom. The commission expresses concern about increasing extremism in many countries, including sharp criticism for Pakistan, saying extremism poses a particular threat to religious freedom.

Hezbollah Slams ‘Dishonest’ U.N. Investigation of Hariri Killing

30 Apr/1 May  09 | AJE and Ha’aretz

This week, the four men arrested in connection with the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, have been released, after four years without charge. Inside Story asks: Is it justice simply playing out, or the signs of a faltering tribunal that – four years after the event – has not produced anything? (24:09):

The Lebanese-Shi’ite militia Hezbollah on Friday attacked an international investigation into the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, describing its work as politicized and dishonest.