Sri Lanka
U.N. Questions Sri Lanka Over Tamil Tiger Killings
The U.N. has requested that the Sri Lanka government respond to allegations of Tamil Tiger rebel leaders being executed while they tried to surrender. The request comes following a statement made by army general Sarath Fonseka, in the Sri Lankan The Sunday Leader newspaper, in which the general says that the country’s defense secretary, Gothabaya Rajapaksa, had instructed a key commander in the North of the country that all Tamil Tiger rebels “must be killed and not allowed to surrender.” After the interview with the newspaper, the general has said that the remarks were misunderstood. Government officials have accused him of betraying the nation. The 37-year war in the country ended after the leaders of the Tamil Tigers were killed in a major offensive in May. The U.N. estimates 7,000 civilians died during the offensive.
United Kingdom
British Minister Criticizes China for Impeding Climate Agreement
British Environment Minister Ed Miliband has criticized China in the Guardian newspaper for impeding a global agreement during the United Nations climate summit. China vetoed “an agreement on 50 percent reductions in global emissions by 2050 and 80 percent by developed countries … despite the support of a coalition of developed and the majority of developing countries.” Another anonymous European diplomat who participated in the negotiations has told Belgium newspaper HLN: “The Chinese will do anything to not become a part of a climate agreement in which they can be effectively controlled. They have made it clear on Friday night that they see themselves as a superpower, and that they will not let anything happen that might curtail their economic growth.”
Afghanistan
Afghan Police Kill Three Militants
Police held a three-hour battle with militants armed with assault rifles and grenades after the militants attacked a police building in the city of Gardez in Southern Afghanistan. Three militants were reported killed. A Taliban provincial commander said five fighters had launched the attack, who were, according to Reuters, wearing suicide vests containing explosives. During the fight, shopkeepers closed their doors and army and police came to the scene, backed by NATO forces, according to an AP article. Three civilians and one police officer were wounded.
United Kingdom
Shell Planning to Sell Nigeria Onshore Oil Fields
Dutch-British owned oil company Shell is planning to sell onshore oil fields in Nigeria for a total value of 5 billion pounds (US$8 billion) according to a Sunday Times report. The sale is believed to be related to the growing violence and increasingly strict policies for foreign oil companies in Nigeria. These policies are expected to be introduced next month to give greater control to domestic firms. Foreign Chinese oil companies Sinopec and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), however, are believed to be the main candidates for buying at the moment. According to the Sunday Times, Shell does not intend to sell their offshore fields, which are also less vulnerable to rebel activity.
Iran
Iran Denies Links to North Korean Arms
Iran has denied that the weapons that were found on an airplane traveling from North Korea last week were linked to the Iranian government. Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, said on Monday that, “The question that we are after such things is completely baseless and we are not at all after such weapons,” according to a Reuters report. Last week a high-ranking Thai government security official said that the weapons were likely destined for Iran. Thai authorities said that the plane contained 40 tons of arms, including firearms and missiles believed to have originated from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.
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