Palestinians Warn U.S.

Over Embassy Move Daesh Executes Women, Children in Village

SWEIMEH, Jordan (Disptches) -- Moving the American BEIRUT (Dispatches) -- Members of Daesh have execut-
embassy in Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem Al-Quds would ed 19 civilians including two children in a village held by
end the peace process between the occupying regime of anti-extremists in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for
Israel and the Palestinians, a senior Palestinian official said Human Rights said Saturday.
Saturday. ISIS (Daesh) fighters entered Jazrat al-Boushams vil-
We believe that moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem lage Friday evening and executed 19 civilians, including
(Al-Quds) would mean the end of the peace process, Saeb two women and two children, with bullets to the head before
Erekat, second-in-command of the Palestine Liberation Or-
torching the corpses, Rami Abdel Rahman of the Britain-
ganization (PLO), said days ahead of a visit to the region by
based activist group told AFP.
U.S. President Donald Trump.

3 6 8
VOL NO: LV 10326 TEHRAN / Est.1959 Sunday, May 21, 2017, Ordibehsht 31, 1396, Shaban 24, 1438, Price 15000 Rials

2
Viewpoint
Tehran Iranian Climber Iraqi Forces Retake
By Kayhan Intl Staff Writer

The Right to Vote at the to Hold 6th Gheichisaz Joins Control of Key
Heart of Iranian Democracy INOTEX 8,000ers Club Districts in Mosul

President Rouhani Wins Election:

Beleaguered U.S. President in Saudi Arabia
Trump Starts Mideast Trip
With Huge Arms Deal
RIYADH (Dispatches) -- Wash-
ington has agreed arms deals with
Saudi Arabia worth almost $110 bil-
lion, a White House official said on
Saturday, the first day of President
Donald Trumps visit to the tradi-
tional U.S. ally, with options for as
much as $350 billion over 10 years.
This package of defense equip-
ment and services support the
long-term security of Saudi Ara-
bia and the (Persian) Gulf region
in the face of Iranian threats, the
official said.
Trump and Secretary of State
Rex Tillerson will attend a sign-
ing ceremony for the deals, the
official said.
The official described the agree-
ments as a significant expansion
of the over seven-decade-long
security relationship between the
United States and the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.
The official did not provide de-
tails of the agreements with Ri-
yadh, which is one of the worlds
biggest military spenders.
A preliminary deal worth $6 bil-
lion to assemble 150 Lockheed
Martin Blackhawk helicopters in
Saudi Arabia was separately an-
nounced at the Saudi-U.S. CEO
Forum held in Riyadh during
Trumps visit.
U.S. military contractors are ma-
jor suppliers of weapons to Saudi
Arabia, which for more than two
years has led a coalition conduct-
ing airstrikes and other operations
against impoverished Yemen.
The new deals come despite
mounting pressure on Washington
from rights groups to stop arms
sales to Riyadh, which has come
under repeated criticism over very
portedly among those killed in the
aerial assault.
Saudi Arabia on Thursday an-
nounced the creation of a new mil-
itary industries firm as part of the
kingdoms efforts to boost arms
production.
The kingdoms Public Invest-
ment Fund said the new govern-
ment-owned company, Saudi Ara-
bian Military Industries (SAMI),
aims to become one of the
worlds top 25 defense companies
by 2030.
The Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute said in
an April report that Saudi Arabia
last year was the worlds fourth-
largest military spender, spending
$63.7 billion.
Dogged by controversy at home,
Trump opened a nine-day foreign
trip looking to shift attention from
a spiraling political firestorm over
his firing of former FBI director
James Comey last week.
With delicate diplomatic meet-
ings facing him, including three
summits, Trump faces a challenge
of advancing his America First
agenda without alienating key al-
lies during his first trip abroad.
Stepping off Air Force One in
sweltering heat with his wife, Me-
lania, Trump and his entourage re-
ceived a red-carpet welcome from
Saudi King Salman.
The trip has been billed by the
White House as a chance to vis-
it places sacred to three of the
worlds major religions while giv-
ing Trump time to meet with Arab,
Israeli and European leaders.
Uproar in Washington threatened
to cast a long shadow over the
trip. His firing of Comey and the
Time to Rise Up to Expectations
President Rouhani leaves the podium after addressing reporters in Tehran following
his election victory, May 20, 2017.
TEHRAN (Dispatches) Presi-
dent Hassan Rouhani said on Satur-
day Iran has chosen the path of en-
gagement with the world following
his re-election victory.
The Iranian people want to live
in peace and friendship with the rest
of the world, but will not accept any
threat or humiliation, he said on
state television.
He made the remarks after elec-
tion victory with more than 57% of
the vote against main challenger,
Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, who re-
ceived 38%.
Interior Minister Abdolreza Rah-
mani Fazli announced the vote tal-
lies in a televised news conference,
based on a count of more than 99%
of the ballots. He said Rouhani gar-
nered 23.5 million votes out of 41.2
million ballots cast. Iran has 56.4
million eligible voters.
In 2013, Rouhani won the presi-
dential election with nearly 51% of
the vote. Turnout for that vote was
73%.
Our nations message in the elec-
tion was clear: Irans nation chose
the path of interaction with the
world, away from violence and ex-
tremism, Rouhani said. He prom-
ised to serve as president for all
Iranians, not just those who voted
for him.
The president, however, made
defiant references to a central ele-
ment in a sedition which followed
Irans presidential election in 2009,
calling him my dear brother.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
praised Iranians for their big turn-
out after voters queued up for hours
to cast their ballots. The strong turn-
out of around 73% of eligible voters
was massive and epochal, he said.
The winner of the yesterdays
(Friday) elections, is you, the Ira-
nian people, and the Islamic estab-
lishment, which has managed to
win the increasing trust of this big
nation despite the enemies plot and
effort, the Leader said.
The Leader said the massive
and enthusiastic participation of
the Iranian people, who stood in
long lines to reach the ballot boxes
throughout the country, was a clear
indication of the strength of the pil-
lars of the Islamic democracy.
Elsewhere in his message, Ayatol-
lah Khamenei stated that during the
Friday elections, people from all
walks of life and various political
affiliations took part in elections to-
gether and once again voted for the
Islamic establishment.
The Leader urged the Iranian peo-
ple to thank God for their success
in holding elections, saying that af-
ter going through hectic days and
weeks ahead of elections, they must
now think about unity and public
solidarity, which is undoubtedly
an important factor boosting power
and might of the nation.
Ayatollah Khamenei also rec-
ommended the elected president
and all people who will be part of
the next administration to pursue
highly-motivated and thoughtful
and youthful efforts in order to do
away with the countrys problems
and do not neglect this right path
even for a moment.
Another point reminded by the
Leader of the Islamic Revolution
was maintaining national dignity
while observing wisdom in interna-
tional relations and making efforts
to boost the countrys international
might, which the Leader said were
among priorities in revolutionary
and Islamic management of the
countrys affairs.
Ayatollah Khamenei also praised
presidential candidates for creating
necessary fervor for elections, all
officials involved in executive and
supervisory aspects of the Friday
elections, as well as the state-run
television and all forces that played
a role in ensuring security of the
elections.
Among the congratulatory mes-
sages sent to Rouhani by world
leaders, Irans battlefield ally Syr-
ian President Bashar al-Assad
looked forward to cooperating to
strengthen the security and stability
(Continued on Page 7)

Tunisian Troops Fire Shots to Disperse Protesters

high civilian casualties in Yemen.
At least six civilians were killed
when Saudi military aircraft car-
ried out two separate airstrikes on
Yemens western-central province
of Sanaa and the southwestern
province of Taizz on Saturday.
Two people lost their lives and
four others sustained injuries
when Saudi fighter jets bombard-
ed a residential neighborhood in
the village of Bayt Baws, Arabic-
language al-Masirah satellite tele-
vision network reported.
Later in the day, a Saudi combat
drone fired missiles into Al-Barh
market in the Maqbanah district
of Taizz Province, situated 260
kilometers south of the capital,
leaving four civilians dead and
two others dead. A child was re-
appointment of a special counsel
to investigate his campaigns ties
to Russia last year has triggered a
stream of bad headlines.
The New York Times reported
TUNIS (Reuters) -- Tunisian troops fired shots in the air to disperse protest- protect it.
Trump had called Comey a nut
ers who tried to close down a gas pumping in southern Tatatouine province The protests in Tatatouine are challenging Prime Minister Youssef Cha-
job in a private meeting last week
as part of their demands for jobs, a witness and two local radio stations said hed as he seeks to implement austerity reforms. The protests already forced
in the Oval Office with Russian
on Saturday. two foreign energy companies to halt production or remove staff as a pre-
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
There were no immediate reports of any injuries around the gas pumping caution.
and U.S. Ambassador to the Unit-
station near Vana in Tatatouine, where troops have been stationed as part Around 1,000 protesters have been camped out for weeks in the Sahara
ed States Sergei Kislyak.
of plans to protect gas and oil facilities from disruption. in a region where Italys ENI and Austrias OMV have operations. But
The White House did not deny
Mosaique FM radio and a local state radio both reported troops had shot government offers of jobs and development have so far failed to end the
the report, but said the the real
in the air to break up a group of protesters who for weeks have been threat- standoff.
story is that our national security
ening to blockade roads and shut gas production in southern Tunisia. Six years after its uprising ended Zine El-Abidine Ben Alis autocratic
has been undermined by the leak-
The young men were angry and shouting about the need for work and rule, the North African state is still struggling to address the needs for jobs
ing of private and highly classified
the army fired in the air when they arrived at the pumping station. Troops and economic opportunities in marginalized southern regions like Tatat-
conversations.
are refusing to let them in, Jamal Daifallah, a local protester told Reuters ouine.
Trump and King Salman seemed
by telephone. Social unrest is common to demand work and development. In the past
at ease with each other, chatting
A military helicopter was circling overhead. Pictures posted on a Face- protesters have targeted Tunisias strategic phosphate production. But the
through an interpreter. Walking
book account of the Tatatouine movement showed dozens of young men economy is just recovering from the impact of two major militant attacks
(Continued on Page 7)
at a metal fence near the station and a small group of troops lining up to on tourists in 2015.
 2 May 21, 2017 DOMESTIC NEWS

Officials, Clerics Call

For Unity After Polls
And others are made to
await Allahs command,
Kayhan Group of Newspapers whether He chastise them
or whether He turn to
them (mercifully), and Al-
lah is Knowing, Wise.
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Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran
message of pride and freedom to
the world.
Today is a big day for the Iranian
In the Name of the Most High people because they are choosing
not only their president, but they
Viewpoint are marking another phase of their
political development, Zangeneh
added.

The Right to Vote at the He emphasized that the Islam-

ic Republic is experiencing the

Heart of Iranian Democracy

deepest democracy in the region.
Muhammad Nahavandian, the
chief of staff of President Hassan
By: Kayhan Intl Staff Writer People line up to vote at a polling station in Tehran on May 19, 2017. Rouhani, said the Islamic Republic
enjoys exemplary security at a time
On Friday, May 19, over 40 million Iranian Muslims, Christians, Jews, and TEHRAN (Dispatches) Irans of Qom. and the Islamic establishment. that the region is experiencing a
Zoroastrians voted in the 12th presidential election. Elections were simultane-
state officials and other religious per- He added that elections have al- Undoubtedly, the religious de- precarious situation.
ously held for City and Village Councils as well.
Voting hours were extended several times due to a high turnout in the polls, sonalities have called for unity after ways been important in Iran and are mocracy system in the Islamic We must be able to contribute to
and in general, the democratic event went smoothly without any major incident. the end of presidential and city and among the main pillars of religious Republic of Iran, as the most inde- regional security through an active
In the end, President Hassan Rouhani got a majority and secured victory over village council elections. democracy. pendent country in the region, will diplomacy, Nahavandian added.
other candidates. From now on, competition must The top Iranian parliamentarian advance all the objectives of Islam- The Iranian official stressed the
This is not surprising. The right to vote is at the heart of Iranian democracy. turn into friendship, Ayatollah said a high turnout of the nation in ic Iran through the public support, importance of adopting necessary
Election officials extend great efforts and care ensuring the person voters pre- Muhammad Ali Movahedi Kerma- the elections would result in good the official added. measures to safeguard the coun-
fer in the presidential election wins the election. But ensuring the will of the
people and the corresponding victory of the duly elected president is not the ni told worshipers here. achievements for the country and Despite the enemies plots, the trys security.
only consideration in the electoral process, as public confidence in the electoral He also advised the next presi- boost national security. nations massive turnout will result Tehrans Prosecutor Abbas
system and the results it produces is of equal importance as well. In order for dent to firmly follow up on the Larijani further expressed hope in their failure, he said. Velayati Jaafari Dolatabadi said the Iranian
the Iranian democracy to flourish, public confidence in the Islamic establish- guidelines of Leader of the Islamic that after the polls, presidential added that the Iranian people were nations turnout in the elections
ment must remain strong. Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali competition would turn into friend- playing a role in determining their conveys this message to the U.S.
This however didnt stop fakestream media outlets in the West to claim that Khamenei and respect the lofty val- ship with the purpose of achieving a future by turning out in the elec- and all enemies that it is standing
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei had to play a balancing act in by the country and supporting its
ues of the Islamic Revolution. developed and advanced Iran. tions.
his calls for a large election turnout in the May 19 vote.
To support their ridiculous claims, media outlets like the BBC, VOA, CNN, The next president should serve Irans Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Irans Petroleum Minister Bijan objectives.
Fox News and suchlike did broadcast reports about which candidate people the Iranian people, have great man- Sadeq Amoli Larijani said the Ira- Zangeneh said elections are a sym- He added that the Iranians pres-
preferred to vote for! They argued that Ayatollah Khamenei had encouraged agement capabilities, fully abide nian people are definitely the real bol of the Iranian peoples power ence in the election would strength-
even those who didnt accept the Islamic Republic system to show up to the bal- by the Constitution, stand up to the winners of the elections. and convey the Islamic Republics en the Islamic establishment.
lot box because the establishment was in crisis and couldnt afford a no-show. enemies and implement the poli- Speaking to reporters here, Amoli
This is not the first time that fakestream media outlets are attempting to cies of the economy of resistance, Larijani added that the Iranian peo-
interfere in and undermine the democratic process in Iran. In the words of Aya-
tollah Khamenei, The United States and Israel have attempted to discourage
he said. ples participation in the elections
and prevent Iranians from voting since the early days of the 1979 revolution. Irans Parliament Speaker Ali displayed national solidarity and
It indeed is an insult to the intelligence of the Iranian people to tell them Larijani said the high turnout of unity and would reinforce the coun-
which candidates to vote for. They know whats best for them and they need the Iranian people in the elections trys security and power.
no advice from the outsiders. What Ayatollah Khamenei called for on Friday would thwart the enemies plots. It would also thwart plots of the
was democratic competition not support for this or that particular individual
and/or political party. Under the Constitution, no one including the Supreme
In this insecure region, Iran en-
joys good security, and the mas-
enemies in the region and across the
world, he added.
High Turnout
Leader has any right to tell voters which candidate to vote for.
In democracies, election is a competition for an elected office where candi- sive participation of the people in Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior
KAYHAN: People participated en masse in the presidential and city
dates strive and compete against one another to attain a position of power. In the elections will well support the adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei on
council elections on Friday. According to interior ministry, over 40 mil-
the Islamic Republic, however, political competition or rivalry is allowed as maintenance of this security and international affairs, said elections
lion votes were cast far bigger than expected. This led to several hours
long as it is constructive and leads to socio-political contentment and progress. will foil the enemies plots, Lari- would reinforce national unity and
As Ayatollah Khamenei maintains, Political aspirations must never foment of extension in the amount of time the polls were open to accommodate
jani told reporters in the holy city display the power of the country
sedition or discord in the society. everyone. There have been some irregularities as well which are still
Into the argument, Iranian voters have confidence that the system will work being investigated by the officials in charge.
as designed and without major fault. For this reason, electoral change is often
slow and deliberate instead of swift and reactionary. On the other hand, mod-
ern life has recently wholeheartedly embraced technology. The accessibility,
Irans Stability Drives Unprecedented Numbers
relative low cost and seemingly endless capabilities of the Internet has rapidly
expanded the medium beyond our recent imagination.
The conclusion is obvious. Iran is a democracy and the next presidential elec-
From Its People: FM JAVAN: According to international media reports, millions of Iranians
took part in the Friday vote. The vote came after the nuclear deal with
tion might even be in the form of digital voting. There are several advantages the West, which made it more than ever crucial for people to turn out to
to this new way of voting that can all but eliminate the majority of the hassle TEHRAN (Dispatches) Irans morning.
ballot boxes. Voting hours had to be extended in over 63,000 polling sta-
something the electoral officials have always been after. Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Iranians must be respected & are
tions. Iranian media outlets have thanked the nation for the high turnout
Digital voting is convenient, people can vote at any hour of any day and this Zarif on Saturday praised Iranians ready to engage, the top diplomat
translates into a higher response. It is quick, easy and affords a measure of and for this historic victory for Iranians. Some foreign outlets have
for their high turnout in the elections added in his tweet.
security that people want. It gives voters the privacy to speak freely about their reported that this will offer a great advantage to the new administration
held on Friday and said that unlike Zarif praised the peoples massive
thoughts, and it is cost-effective, and offers not chance of double voting. of President Rouhani.
many countries, the Islamic Republic presence in the elections as glori-
Last but not the least, manual counting can result in errors and takes time
away from more important tasks. Digital voting allows for automatic count-
ing of ballots, eliminating these problems. With everything being taken care of
derives stability from its people.
We derive stability not from co-
ous and said they once again guar-
anteed the countrys security and A Blessing in Disguise
digitally, it is all kept in a safe place and there is no chance of the ballots being alitions, but from our people, who power.
lost or destroyed. Security is always a concern among voters and this is one of -unlike many- do vote, Zarif said We are indebted to all Iranian JOMHOURI ESLAMI: The Friday vote ended in calm and tranquil-
the greatest benefits of the system. on his twitter account on Saturday people, who once again guaranteed ity with no major incidents reported. This is laudable and indeed one of
the sovereignty, security, and dig- the greatest blessings of the revolution and the Islamic Republic. We

Turkmenistan Hands Over 27 Iranian Prisoners nity of Iran and Iranians by their
glorious and vigilant presence in
the elections at home and abroad,
TEHRAN (Tasnim) Twenty-seven Iranian prisoners were extradited from Turkmenistan on Saturday as part of
Zarif said.
a treaty between the two countries.
Some 40 million Iranians cast
The convicts were handed over to Iranian judicial authorities via Bajgiran border crossing, Irans Deputy For-
their ballots in the countrys 12th
eign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Expatriates Affairs Hassan Qashqavi announced.
According to the diplomat, the prisoners were the first group of Iranian inmates returning home under an extra-
presidential vote and 5th City and
Village Councils elections on Fri-
dition treaty between Tehran and Ashgabat. day.
The extradition took place following Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarifs meetings with senior More than 56,400,000 people
Turkmen officials and intensive talks handled by a delegation of Iranian Foreign Ministry representatives dis- were eligible to vote. Forty million
patched to the Central Asian country, he added. voters would then translates into a
In March 2015, Iran and Turkmenistan held a high-ranking joint session in Ashgabat, and signed 17 cooperation turnout of around 71%. Iranian ex-
documents in economic, cultural, political, legal, scientific, and technological fields. patriates in 103 countries also voted
The extradition treaty was one of the documents signed in the session, attended by Irans President Hassan simultaneous with the big turnout at
Rouhani and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. home.
must express our gratitude to those who made this achievable, including
the electoral officials and the people. Those who have won the presiden-
tial and city council elections should realize that the main winner is the
Iranian nation. It is because of their high turnout and their much-needed
trust in the establishment that this was possible after all.
History in the Making
DONYAYE EQTESAD: The high turnout in the Friday vote was un-
precedented. Despite the scorching heat, people had to wait in lines for
hours to cast their ballots over 40 million. Over 25 million votes were
cast in major cities alone. All polling stations were packed with voters
even in the middle of the day, including politicians, artists and celebri-
ties. The vote made history, bolstered national unity and resolve, and
reinforced national security and power. No matter who won the majority
of the votes, people are still the only winners of this historic event.
 Art & Culture May 21, 2017 3

This Day in History

(May 21)
Today is Sunday; 31st of the Iranian month of Ordibehesht 1396 solar
Tehran to Hold 6th INOTEX
hijri; corresponding to 24th of the Islamic month of Shaban 1438 lunar Park and co-organized by the
hijri; and May 21, 2017, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar. Vice presidency for Science
2444 solar years ago, on this day in 427 BC, the prominent Greek and Technology (ISTI) and the
philosopher, Plato, was born in Athens. His works include the Republic, Presidential Center for Innovation
Laws, and the dialogues Critias and Timaeus. He was the student and Technology Cooperation
of the famous philsoper Socrates and was influenced by Pythagoras as (CITC).
well. The 6th edition of the event will
1139 solar years ago, on this day in 878 AD, the ancient city of take place on 23-26 May 2017, at
Tehran international fairground.
Syracuse, on the island of Sicily, off the southern coast of Italy, was
Participation of technological
captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. The first Muslims to land in
enterprises from more than 25
Sicily were forces of the Aghlabid dynasty of Ifriqiyya or what is now
countries, including the U.S.,
western Libya, Tunis and Algeria, in 827 AD, when the island was part Austria, Germany and Australia,
of Byzantine or the Eastern Roman Empire. is planned for INOTEX2017.
614 solar years ago, on this day in 1403 AD, Henry III of the region NOTEX2015 attracted over 48
of Castile in Spain, as part of the Christian policy to split the ranks technology enterprises from 15
of Muslims, who were advancing into southwestern Europe and still countries including Russia, India,
controlled southern Spain, sent Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo as ambassador South Korea, Germany, UK,
to Samarqand to the court of Amir Timur to discuss the possibility of an China, France, Italy, Kazakhstan,
alliance against the Ottoman Empire. Pakistan, Sweden, Japan, Greece,
520 solar years ago, on this day in 1497 AD, the Sunni Muslim jurist, Azerbaijan and Iran.
Mohammad ibn Mohammad at-Tarabulsi al-Hattab ar-Ruyani, was born On the sideline of the exhibition,
in Mecca in a family of scholars of the Maliki school of jurisprudents an International Innovation
from Tripoli, present day Libya, which was of Andalusian or Spanish Networking Forum, technology
Muslim origin. presentations, and workshops are
378 solar years ago, on this day in 1639 AD, Italian philosopher, slated to be held. The exhibition
theologian, astrologer, and poet, Tommaso Campanella died at the age aims at introducing domestic
of 71. EHRAN (MNA) The in Tehran on Tuesday with INOTEX is the premier regional companies to foreign firms,
329 solar years ago, on this day in 1688 AD, English poet, Alexander 6th International Innovation participation of Iranian startups event for professionals engaged therefore a number of MoUs are
Pope, was born in London. He is best known for his satirical verse and and Technology Exhibition and over 40 foreign technology in technology and Innovation, expected to be signed between the
for his translation of the works of the ancient Greek scholar Homer. He (INOTEX2017) will kick off firms. hosted by Pardis Technology sides.

Iran to Host Intl Stem Cell Conference

is the second-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary
of Quotations after William Shakespeare. His Essay on Criticism
contains the line: A little learning is a dangerous thing...
217 lunar years ago, on this day in 1221 AH, the Ottoman state issued KARAJ (IRNA) The Secretary 2017). Noting that 300 articles have so Germany, China, England, and
a decree confirming the Albanian general, Mohammed Ali Pasha, as General of the stem cell festival Saying about 1,500 people have far been sent to the conference South Korea, he said.
governor of Egypt, a few years after his successful ending of the political Dr. Amir Ali Hamidiyeh said registered to take part in the 2nd secretariat, Hamidiyeh said the The Secretary General of the
and administrative crisis in the Land of the Nile. that preparations were made for National Festival and International articles are being refereed. festival said that 30 speeches have
153 solar years ago, on this day 1864 AD, Russia declared an end holding the international stem cells Congress on Stem Cell and The registrations were from Iraq, been planned to be delivered in the
to its Circassian War in the Caucasus by forcing into exile almost the conference in Tehran (13-15 July, Regenerative Medicine. India, Pakistan, Jordan, Russia, 3-day festival.
entire population of the Muslim Cherkes. The day is designated as the
Circassian Day of Mourning. More than 1.5 million Circassian Muslims
were expelled 90% of the total population at the time.
146 solar years ago, on this day in 1871 AD, French troops invaded Burning Bone Fat a Key to Better Bone Health
the Paris Commune and engaged its residents in street fighting. By the
close of what is known as Bloody Week in the history of France, some WASHINGTON (Dispatches)- I see a lot of patients with
20,000 communards were killed and 38,000 arrested. Researchers say that exercising poor bone health, and I always
126 lunar years ago, on this day in 1312 AH, the Source of Emulation, burns the fat found within bone talk to them about what a
Grand Ayatolllah Mirza Mohammad Hassan Shirazi, passed away at the
marrow and offers evidence dramatic effect exercise can
age of 82 in Samarra, Iraq.
that this process improves bone have on bones, regardless of
96 solar years ago, on this day in 1921 AD, the prominent Russian
physicist and nuclear scientist, Andrei Sakharov, was born. He played a quality and the amount of bone in what the cause of their bone
major role in the development of hydrogen bomb by the Soviet Union. a matter of weeks. condition is, said Styner. With
35 solar years ago, on this day in 1982 AD, the US imposed economic For the first time, in a research by obesity, it seems that you get
sanctions on Iran, as part of its futile efforts to ruin the Islamic Republics the University of North Carolina even more bone formation from
economy, and if possible overthrow the Islamic system of government, Health Care, it is suggested that exercise. Our studies of bone
following the failure at the warfronts of American stooge Saddam of obese individuals -- who often biomechanics show that the
the repressive Bath minority regime of Baghdad. The Father of the have worse bone quality -- may quality and the strength of the
Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God bless him), brushed aside derive even greater bone health bone is significantly increased
the US sanctions and called it a blessing in disguise for Iran to become benefits from exercising than with exercise and even more so
independent of big powers in various economic and industrial fields. their lean counterparts. in the obese exercisers
26 solar years ago, on this day in 1991 AD, former Indian prime
One of the main clinical
minister, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a female suicide bomber
implications of this research is
near Madras. The son of late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and
maternal grandson of Indias first premier, Jawaharlal Nehru, he was a that exercise is not just good, but
pilot by profession before entering politics, and being propelled to the amazing for bone health, said
countrys top executive post on the assassination of his mother by Sikh lead author Maya Styner, MD, a
extremists, believed to be backed by the US. Rajiv, who was again the physician and assistant professor
top contender for the prime ministers post, was killed on the eve of of endocrinology and metabolism
the general elections by a Tamil terrorist from Sri Lanka, believed to be at the University of North
backed by the US. Carolina at Chapel Hill. In just a
23 solar years ago, on this day in 1994 AD, Zionist commandos very short period of time, we saw
infiltrated Lebanons eastern mountains and kidnapped Mustafa Dirani, that running was building bone
the local Shia Muslim leader of the Believers Resistance. In 2000 significantly in mice.
Dirani sued Israel with charges of torture and immoral acts, Dirani was
Although research in mice is not
released in Jan 2004, as part of a complex prisoner exchange between the
directly translatable to the human
illegal Zionist entity and Lebanons legendry anti-terrorism movement,
the Hezbollah. condition, the kinds of stem cells
19 solar years ago, on this day in 1998 AD, General Mohammad that produce bone and fat in mice
Suharto, after ruling Indonesia with an iron fist for 33 years, was forced are the same kind that produce
to resign. bone and fat in humans.
15 solar years ago, on this day since 2002, UNESCO has been marking In addition to its implications
the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and for obesity and bone health,
Development. The day provides an opportunity to deepen understanding Styner said the research also
of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better. could help illuminate some of the
11 solar years ago, on this day in 2006 AD, following a referendum, factors behind bone degradation
Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia. associated with conditions like
8 solar years ago, on this day in 2009 AD, the Islamic Republic of Iran
diabetes, arthritis, anorexia, and
test-fired a new advanced solid-fuel Sejjil-2 surface-to-surface missile
the use of steroid medications.
with a range of around 2,000 kilometers, as part of its legitimate efforts
to upgrade its defensive capabilities against any would-be aggressors. In her patients, Styner is all too
7 solar years ago, on this day in 2010 AD, takfiri terrorists backed familiar with the chronic toll of
by Saudi Arabia and the US blew up a car bomb at an open-air market osteoporosis and fractures. This
in Khalis, a Shia Muslim town northeast of Baghdad, leaving over 30 new evidence shows its possible
The Tous Museum is located 29 kilometers northwest of the holy city of Mashhad, northeast of Iran, on Mashhad-Ghochan Road. It
people martyred. to use exercise to reverse some of features the historic mausoleum of Iranian great poet, Ferdowsi.
(Courtesy: IRIB English Radio http://parstoday.com/en) the effects on bones. Credit: Tasnim News Agency
 4 May 21, 2017
Iran Ramps Up
Power Flow to Iraq
Despite Debt
Iran is currently exporting 1,350 megawatts per day of electricity to Iraq.
TEHRAN (Press TV) - Iran has stepped
up electricity exports to neighboring Iraq
even as the Arab country owes the Islamic
Republic $800 million in outstanding debts
over power purchases.
Baghdad has just cleared another $50
million of its $1.2 billion debt which has
accumulated over years to Iran, Deputy
Energy Minister Houshang Falahatian
said.
The balance from the outstanding dues
now stands at $800 million, taking into
account the first installment of the debt
worth $350 million which Iraq had
already paid to Iran, he added.
Irans electricity exports to Iraq have
steeply risen this year, hitting 1,350
megawatts recently, according to
Falahatian.
The Islamic Republic sells electricity
to a number of countries, with Falahatian
saying the exports have risen three-fold
over the past two months against the
Chinas Second-Quarter GDP Growth Seen
At Around 6.8 Percent: Study
SHANGHAI (Reuters) Chinas
economy will likely expand around
6.8 percent in the second quarter
of 2017, the State Information
Center said in an article published
in the state-owned China Securities
Journal on Saturday.
The State Information Center
is an official think tank affiliated
with the National Development
and Reform Commission, the
countrys top economic planning
agency. It forecast consumer
inflation in the worlds second
largest economy of around 1.4
percent and expected an increase
of about 6.5 percent in producer
price inflation in the second
same period a year before.
Iran was reportedly exporting some
1,500 MW of electricity to Iraq as of
November 2016, when the country
defaulted on its payments. Plans were
to increase exports to 2,000 MW. At
the time, Falahatian said that Iraq owed
Tehran money for over a year of power
supplies, adding that ways of addressing
the problem were being discussed.
While the discussions lasted, Iran cut
off the power supply to its neighbor
over the first two months of 2017, but
in March started ramping up deliveries
again.
The two countries are also discussing
shipment of Iranian gas to Iraq through
two pipelines.
Irans Minister of Petroleum Bijan
Zangeneh traveled to Baghdad in
February at the head of a delegation to
review energy agreements between the
two neighbors.
quarter from the same period a
year earlier.
Overall, Chinas economy will
remain stable but with a slightly
slowing trend, the think tank said
in the paper. Chinas economy
grew 6.9 percent in the first
quarter from a year earlier, slightly
faster than expected, supported
by a government infrastructure
spending spree and a housing
market that has shown signs
of overheating. The think tank
said it had seen contradictions
between government policies to
fend off financial risks and reduce
corporate finance costs.
Strengthening financial
Gold Books Best Trading Stretch in 5 Weeks
ECONOMIC NEWS
The oil-producing neighbors signed
an agreement in 2013 under which Iran
would start exporting gas to Iraq to
feed three power plants in Baghdad and
Diyala but exports have not begun yet.
Iran is about to send 25 million cubic
meters (mcm) a day of gas to Sadr,
Baghdad and al-Mansuriya power plants
through a 270-kilometer pipeline, with
the volume rising to 35 mcm/d during
the summer.
The Islamic Republic has another plan
to ship 50 million cubic meters of gas per
day through a separate pipeline to Basra
for electricity generation.
In July 2015, Iran said it was building a
natural gas combined cycle power plant
in the southern Iraqi city.
The project implemented by Irans
MAPNA Group aimed to add 3,000
megawatts to Iraqs national grid which
is saddled with acute shortfalls at its
current 8,500-megawatt capacity.
regulations has weakened the
effect of monetary policy to a
certain extent, it said, suggesting
that a prudent and neutral
monetary policy may actually
manifest itself as a tightening bias
when implemented.
The State Information Center
also said that steady growth of
the economy may be inhibited
due to worsening labor and debt
conditions amid deepening cuts in
excess industrial capacity.
China is aiming to expand its
economy by around 6.5 percent
this year, Premier Li Keqiang
said during the annual meeting of
parliament in March.
NEW YORK (Market Watch) -
Gold prices have edged higher to post
their largest weekly gain since mid-
April, as overall declines in the U.S.
dollar and equities from a week ago
fed haven demand for bullion.
The precious metal scored a
roughly 2.1% advance for a week,
marked by rising volatility and
political unrest in the White House.
That was the largest such gain since
the week ended April 13.
June gold tacked on 80 cents,
or less than 0.1%, at $1,253.60 an
ounce.
The dollar and stocks diverged
Friday, with a major index tracking
Tehran Ditches Plan to Buy
Mitsubishi Planes
A Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Mitsubishi MRJ90. Iran had planned
to buy over two dozen planes from the Japanese industrial giant.
TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Deputy
Transport Minister Asghar Fakhrieh
Kashan says Iran has forgone plans
to buy passenger planes from Japans
Mitsubishi.
The official first confirmed back
in July 2016 that Iran sought to buy
over two dozen planes from the
Japanese industrial giant.
Fakhrieh Kashan, however, said
on Friday that there is no chance
of reaching an agreement with this
company (Mitsubishi) at present
and the purchase of aircraft from it
is out of question.
Mitsubishi Aircraft the aviation
arm of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- began market surveys into Iran
Russia Expects Economy
Growth to Be Above World
Average in 2019-2020
BOCHAROV RUCHEI (TASS) -
The Russian governments action plan
until 2025 assumes that the Russian
economy will reach the growth rates
which are above the world average
in the period 2019-2020, Prime
Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said
at a meeting with President Vladimir
Putin.
In accordance with your
instructions, the government has
prepared a comprehensive plan -
these are general approaches to how
our economy and social sector can
develop in the period from 2017 to
2025, Medvedev said.
Namely, somewhere in the period
2019-2020 the growth rate of our
economy will be at the level of
the world average and above the
world average. This will enable
our economy to develop faster and
solve major social issues, the prime
minister added.
Putin noted that the governments
proposals will be discussed in detail,
and when the relevant proposals of
experts are received, they will also
be carefully considered.
We will also study everything
carefully and draw conclusions
about what is the most promising,
the greenback trading in the red.
The ICE U.S. Dollar Index fell
0.8% as its drop this week wiped
out the postelection climb. For the
week, the index traded about 2.1%
lower. U.S. stocks, meanwhile,
traded firmly higher, paring what
was setting up to be a sharp weekly
drop.
Still, the weeks action signal a
reemergence of volatility.
The stock market is starting to
feel the heat, as Trump is receiving
increased opposition left and right,
which puts a drag on the prospects
of his many plans, said a team of
analysts from Secular Investor.
in September 2015, four months
before sanctions were lifted on
the Islamic Republic, according to
Japans Nikkei newspaper.
The paper said at the time that
flag carrier Iran Air was weighing
to purchase 80 70-seat Mitsubishi
Regional Jets and using them for
domestic routes.
Last week, Iran received four ATR
72-600s as part of a deal with the
French manufacturer to buy 20
passenger planes.
Iran Air finalized the deal with
ATR last month for 20 twin-
propeller aircraft worth $536
million at list prices, with an option
to buy 20 more.
interesting and most feasible in
terms of application in order to
achieve maximum effect, the
president added.
Russia should have a clear plan
for the development of the economy
and the social sector, regardless of
the political agenda, Putin said at a
meeting with Medvedev.
I asked the government to prepare
a plan for the development of the
economy, to determine prospective
areas of development, means to
This worsened outlook has
analysts adjusting their future
earnings projections, which were
lofty, they said. Lower earning
forecasts translates into lower
stock prices, plain and simple. Less
money for stocks, provides room for
alternative assets to shine.
Meanwhile, Carsten Fritsch
and the commodities team at
Commerzbank, pointed out in a
research note that it is not only the
stock markets and bond yields that
have fallen further amid the latest
political events in the U.S.
The VIX index which serves
as a barometer of fluctuations of
The country has also signed
billion-dollar deals with Boeing and
Airbus to replace and upgrade its
commercial fleet.
Airbus delivered three of the 100
airliners ordered by Iran earlier
this year, including two long-haul
A330s and a smaller A321, but
Boeings deliveries will not begin
before 2018.
Fakhrieh Kashan said Iranian
airlines continue their efforts to buy
commercial jets from international
manufacturers.
Ministry of Transportation
is trying to cooperate with the
companies which are open to
providing finance possibilities and
pave the way for reaching final
agreements, he said.
Negotiations with other
manufacturers for purchase of
planes were also continuing, and
there were great hopes that the
talks would produce a final deal,
Fakhrieh Kashan said, without
specifying those companies.
Brazils Embraer, the worlds third
largest maker of commercial, is said
to be aiming to sell at least 20 of its
E-195 jets to the Islamic Republic
under a deal estimated to be over $1
billion.
Embraer said last November that it
was awaiting a U.S. license for the
sale to Iran of sensitive jet engine
technology in its planes.
achieve these goals for the period
2017-2025. I mean not only our
domestic political agenda, but also
that our rudiments of plan for 2020.
We had to adjust them accordingly,
and 2020 is already around the
corner, Putin said.
Regardless of any personalities,
even regardless of internal political
agenda, the country must have a
clear and understandable plan for
the development of economy and
social sector, he said.
the S&P 500 index, has surged
over the past two days, which
reflects the uncertainty among
market participants. A good week
ago, the VIX index was still at its
lowest level since the end of 1993,
Commerzbank strategist said.
In addition, the market now
only rates the probability of the
U.S. Fed raising interest rates at its
next meeting in mid-June as being
roughly 70%, the analysts said.
Thats down from nearly 100% odds
priced in earlier this month. Higher
rates tend to make gold, which
doesnt bear a yield, less appealing
relative to other investments.
 WORLD NEWS May 21, 2017 5

President Wanted to Get Rid of Real Nut Job:

Macron Govt to Press
Probe Into Trumps Firing Ahead With Military Plans ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) -- The
82 Nigerian schoolgirls recently

of FBI Chief Widens

efforts to stifle the FBI investigation,
as the single greatest witch hunt of a
politician in American history.
The presidents administration has been
dogged by claims of being too close
to the Russian government since their
alleged interference in the 2016 election.
It has been claimed that Trump himself
revealed highly confidential intelligence
to Russian officials in the Oval Office.
Confirming Comeys appearance, the
committee chairman, Senator Richard
Burr, said: The committee looks forward
to receiving testimony from the former
President Donald Trump shakes hands with James Comey, former director on his role in the development of
director of the FBI, during an Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers the intelligence community assessment
and First Responders Reception. on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S.
WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- The significant person of interest by the elections and I am hopeful that he will
former FBI director James Comey is law enforcement investigation into links clarify for the American people recent
reportedly to testify in public during between Russia and the Trump election events that have been broadly reported in
the U.S. inquiry into alleged Russian campaign. the media.
interference as a series of damaging The New York Times, quoting a U.S. Senator Mark Warner, the vice-
revelations pile further pressure on the official, reported that Trump told Russian chairman, said he hoped the testimony
embattled president Donald Trump. officials in the Oval Office this month will help answer some of the questions
Comey, who was sacked by Trump on that firing Comey had relieved great that have arisen since director Comey was
May 9 in the midst of an investigation into pressure on him, as he labeled the former so suddenly dismissed by the president.
the presidents alleged links to Russia, is FBI chief a real nut job. The presidents On Wednesday, the New York Times decision by President Emmanuel integration, Macron backs a
to give evidence in an open hearing of the spokesman did not deny the report, but reported that Trump had urged Comey
Senate intelligence committee at some said Comey had made it harder for the to drop his investigation into former
point after U.S. Memorial Day on May U.S. to engage with Russia. national security adviser Michael Flynn.
29, the committee announced on Friday. Trump, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on The report also revealed the fact that
The announcement came as the Saturday for an official visit, has called Comey had written memos describing
Washington Post reported that a White media coverage of his alleged links to his interactions with Trump, which he
House official had been identified as a Russia, and his apparent subsequent believed were inappropriate.
Sectarian Fighting Kills Dozens in Central Africa
released after more than three
years in Boko Haram captivity
reunited with their families for
the first time Saturday, as anxious
parents looked for signs of how
deeply the extremists had changed
their daughters lives.
Images from the scene showed
brightly dressed families rushing
through the crowd and embracing
outdoors. One small group sank to
their knees, with a woman raising
her hands as if praising in church.
Others were in tears. The families
were reunited in the capital, Abuja,
where the girls were taken by
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, flanked by Defense Nigerian authorities after their
Minister Sylvie Goulard, left, and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian release early this month.
delivers a speech to the troops of Operation Barkhane, Frances largest
overseas military operation, in Gao, northern Mali, May 19, 2017.
****
PARIS (Dispatches) -- Frances our security in these times of
new Armed Forces Minister Sylvie interdependence. To achieve this
BERLIN (AP) -- Thunderstorms
Goulard has vowed to press ahead effort, work with Germany will be have created havoc across Germany
with European military projects and decisive. leading to the derailment of a train
with seven people injured, flight
work more closely with Germany, Goulard also said she wanted to
cancellations at Hamburgs airport
a move she said was vital to deter ensure that Franco-British security
and a mudslide on a highway in the
countries tempted to look inwards. and military cooperation did not
eastern part of the country.
Goulard, a European expert, took suffer from Londons decision to
The German news agency dpa
the control of the renamed defense leave the European Union. reported Saturday that a regional
ministry last week, a surprise An advocate of closer EU train derailed near Stadtroda
in eastern Germany after the
Macron that further emphasized his multi-speed Europe, an idea tracks were covered by a mudslide
European push and desire to work that has earned growing support in late Friday. Seven people were
towards greater military integration. Germany and other EU countries slightly injured and the tracks
remained closed Saturday. Some
I am attached to making since Britain voted to leave the
140 passengers had to spend
European defense projects move bloc. the night on cots after 29 flights
forward, she said in a her first In the past, France has tended to were canceled at Hamburg due to
message to military and civilian be seen by allies as an intransigent, thunderstorms and lightning.
personnel released Saturday. go-it-alone power because of its
Some elements already exist, but military interventions in arenas
others still need to be conceived like Libya, the Middle East and the
****

BEIJING (AFP) -- China has

ABIDJAN (Reuters) -- Fighting
this week between rival Christian and
Muslim militias in the Central African
Republic town of Bria killed at least 22
The fighting between armed groups
in Bria and elsewhere in eastern CAR
must stop, Diane Corner, the deputy
head of the peacekeeping mission,
Friday and looting forced humanitarian
workers to seek refuge inside the
MINUSCA base there.
In addition to the dead, some 36
and developed to better ensure Sahel.
denied U.S. allegations that
two Chinese fighter jets acted
Germany, Ukraine to Get unprofessionally in intercepting
an American military plane earlier

Back to Minsk Talks

people, including 17 civilians, and forced MINUSCA, said in a statement. people were injured in the clashes, the this week, saying that its aircraft
some 10,000 others to flee, the countrys These appalling acts of violence UN mission said. were acting in accordance with the
United Nations mission said Saturday. committed by armed groups over UN soldiers have also reinforced their law.
Related remarks from the U.S.
The clashes come amid a week of the last week have killed scores of positions in the towns of Bangassou
side are inconsistent with fact,
intense violence between mainly innocent Central African men, women and Alindao, which have been hit by the Chinese Ministry of Defense
Muslim fighters from the former and children, deprived families of violence this week as well. said in a statement posted to its
Seleka rebel coalition that overthrew their homes and citizens of their Red Cross workers said Wednesday website late Friday. On May 17,
President Francois Bozize in 2013 livelihoods, she said. they recovered 115 bodies in a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft
and anti-balaka Christian militias who The rival factions fought over the Bangassou, a diamond mining hub, was carrying out an operation in
oppose them. northeastern town of Brias airstrip after several days of fighting there. airspace over the Chinese Yellow
Sea (the northern part of the East
Duterte Under Pressure to Stand Up to China China Sea), and Chinese aircraft
acted to identify and investigate
protecting Philippine EEZ. in accordance with the law, the
The Philippines, he said, should statement said, calling the action
strengthen alliances, particularly with professional and safe.
defense treaty partner the United
States. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Ukrainian President Petro ***
He also criticized Duterte for dealing Poroshenko address a press conference in Berlin, August 24, 2015.
with China bilaterally and his habit UNITED NATIONS (Dispatches)
of presenting a picture of hopelessness BERLIN (Reuters) -- German Merkel and former French -- North Korea will rapidly
so people would agree to his own Chancellor Angela Merkel President Francois Hollande had strengthen its nuclear strike
solutions like the full embrace of and Ukrainian President Petro worked hard to find a political capability as long as the United
China. Poroshenko agreed Saturday to try solution to the conflict and were States maintains its hostile policy
Duterte has orchestrated a staggering to improve the security situation in regular contact with Poroshenko toward the country, the countrys
reversal of Philippine foreign policy in eastern Ukraine and return to and Russian President Vladimir deputy UN ambassador said.
implementing the Minsk ceasefire Putin in a four-way group called Kim In-ryong told a news
towards China, choosing not to
This handout photograph released on May 19, 2017, shows Philippine conference that if the Trump
confront Beijing over the South deal after an upsurge in violence the Normandy format.
administration wants peace on
President Rodrigo Duterte delivering a speech in Davao City on the China Sea, but to tap it for billions of there. A ceasefire agreement signed Merkel said that new French the Korean Peninsula, it should
southern island of Mindanao. dollars of loans and investments for in February 2015 in Minsk that aims President Emmanuel Macron replace the Armistice Agreement
MANILA (Reuters) -- A Philippines He was referring to the 2016 ruling infrastructure, the backbone of his to end the conflict between Ukrainian had made clear during talks this that ended the 1950-53 Korean
Supreme Court judge called Saturday by an arbitral tribunal in The Hague economic agenda. government forces and pro-Russian week that he was committed to War with a peace accord and halt
for Manila to file an international granting the Philippines sovereign Duterte disclosed Xis alleged threat separatists has failed to end artillery continuing that process. its anti-North Korea policy, the
arbitration case and a complaint with rights to access offshore oil and gas in a speech Friday as he hit back at fighting. Each side accuses the other We will continue with the Minsk root cause of all problems. Kim
the United Nations over what the fields in its Exclusive Economic Zone domestic critics, Carpio among them, of violating the truce. process and the Normandy format also dismissed allegations that the
countrys leader said was a threat of war (EEZ), including the Reed Bank, in who said he has gone soft on Beijing Before holding two-way talks will exist. We will very quickly Democratic Peoples Republic of
made by Chinese President Xi Jinping. the South China Sea. by refusing to push it to comply with outside Berlin, Merkel said that look for possibilities for the four Korea - the countrys official name
Supreme Court Associate Justice Carpio, who was part of the after a lull over Easter, an increase presidents, or three presidents and - was behind the recent wave of
The Hague ruling. He discussed it with
global cyberattacks as ridiculous.
Antonio Carpio, a staunch critic of Philippine legal team that made the Xi when they met in Beijing Monday. in breaches of the ceasefire was one chancellor, to be in contact
Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes case in The Hague, said Xis threat Presidential Spokesman Ernesto unfortunately evident. with each other, said Merkel. ****
business-focused rapprochement with was a gross violation of the United Abella said Saturday a frank Today our main theme will Fighting between pro-Russian
China, said the use or threat of force Nations Charter, the United Nations discussion had taken place with be how to improve the security rebels and government forces
to settle disputes between states is Convention on the Law of the Sea China on possible oil explorations in situation. The security situation first broke out in April 2014 after JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- A
outlawed under the UN Charter and (UNCLOS), and the Treaty of Amity the South China Sea and both parties ... is the main precondition for a pro-European uprising in Kiev search for survivors of a ferry that
if the president did nothing to protest and Cooperation in Southeast Asia to agreed to pursue a more peaceful making further political progress, ousted Ukraines Moscow-backed caught fire in the Java Sea, killing
that, he was selling us out. which China and the Philippines are resolution to the matter that satisfies she said. president. About 10,000 people five people, has been suspended for
Duterte Friday said his Chinese parties. both our sovereign and economic Poroshenko also expressed have been killed in the three-year the night, an Indonesian search
counterpart had warned him there The Philippines recourse is to support for the process. conflict. and rescue official said Saturday.
rights.
The national search and rescue
would be war if Manila tried to enforce bring Chinas threat of war to another Abella defended Duterte and said We must act decisively to return The European Union imposed
agencys operations director, Ivan
an arbitration ruling and drill for oil in UNCLOS arbitral tribunal, he said. his two-track approach to dealing with the Minsk process to a constructive sanctions on Russia after Moscow Ahmad Riski, said 193 people
a disputed part of the South China Sea. The president cannot simply do China focused on economic growth course and we do not see an annexed Crimea from Ukraine in have been rescued. The number of
China has not responded to Dutertes nothing, or worse acquiesce to Chinas without compromising Philippine alternative to the Minsk process, 2014 and then backed separatist missing was unclear.
latest comment. action, for inaction is the opposite of sovereignty. he said. rebels in the east.
 6 May 21, 2017

Iranian Climber Gheichisaz Nasiri Bags Irans 70th

Medal at Baku 2017
Joins 8,000ers Club
TEHRAN (Press TV) - Iranian
mountain climber Azim Gheichisaz has
joined one of the worlds most elite groups
of mountaineers known as the 8,000ers
after climbing all 14 of the worlds highest
peaks.
The 36-year-old member of Iran
mens national mountaineering team
reached Lhotse, which is the fourth
highest mountain in the world at 8,516
meters (27,940 feet), in Tibet on Friday,
fulfilling his lifetime dream to climb the
worlds most extreme peaks.
Gheichisaz also became the 37th
climber to complete all 14 peaks above
8,000 meters without oxygen support. Iranian freestyle wrestler Meysam Nasiri claimed a gold medal in the
Lhotse means South Peak in Islamic Solidarity Games on Friday.
Tibetan. The mountain comprises the
smaller peaks Lhotse Middle (East) at TEHRAN (Dispatches) first and second positions in the
8,414 meters (27,605 feet), and Lhotse Iranian freestyler Meysam Nasiri overall ranking.
Shar at 8,383 meters (27,503 feet).
has clinched gold to increase Irans The 4th Islamic Solidarity
The summit is on the border between
Chinas province-level autonomous tally to 70 at Islamic Solidarity Games started in Baku,
Iranian mountain climber Azim Gheichisaz region of Tibet and the Khumbu region Games underway in Baku. Azerbaijan, on May 12 under
of Nepal. Competing at 65kg weight the motto Solidarity is Our
group, Nasiri overcame Strength. The tournament will
Magomed Muslimov of the host wrap up on May 22, 2017.
Under-20 World Cup: country to stand on top of the Athletes from 54 Muslim

England Beat Argentina 3-0 in Opening Match podium bringing home Irans
19th gold and 70th medal overall.
countries around the world are
representing their nations over
SEOUL (Dispatches) - England teams was that we were outstanding Mabali Mabunde Cumba of 10 days of competition across
began their Under-20 World Cup in both 18-yard boxes, he said. Guinea-Bissau and Kazakhstan 20 different sports, which
campaign in South Korea with Its not just about possession; Ilyas Zhumay jointly won bronze include 23 disciplines including
a 3-0 victory over an Argentina its about taking your chances and medals in the same freestyle athletics and para-athletics,
side reduced to 10 men after the doing the other side of it as well. category. diving, swimming, aquatics,
intervention of a video assistant Video reviews are being trialled So far, the Iranian caravan at water polo, basketball 33,
referee. at this competition, and may be
the international sportive event football, gymnastics, wushu,
Lautaro Martinez was sent off introduced in some competitions in
after the video assistant spotted England next season. has collected 19 gold, 22 silver table tennis, handball, judo and
him elbowing Fikayo Tomori and They have previously been used and 29 bronze trophies and blind judo, wrestling, shooting,
alerted the referee. to correct two wrong decisions stand third in the medal table. tennis, volleyball, boxing,
Evertons Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Spain beat France in a friendly Irans sportsmen and women zurkhaneh, karate, taekwondo
headed the opener, Newcastles in Paris in March, as well as in are following Azeri and Turkish and weightlifting in 16 world-
Adam Armstrong added a second domestic leagues. athletes who have occupied class sporting venues.
and Chelseas Dominic Solanke Last September, Willems Anouar

Nadal Knocked Out of

scored a late penalty. Englands victory on Saturday ended a 17-match winless streak Kali was the first player to be
It was a first finals win since shown a red card on the advice
1997. Guinea on Tuesday before a game Friday. of a video referee in a Dutch Cup
Paul Simpsons side now face against hosts South Korea next The difference between the two contest against Ajax.
Italian Open
Real Madrid Go to Malaga Looking for
Decisive Point to Seal Title
MADRID (Dispatches) - Real the first time since 2012 and to tee nobody could have envisaged four Madrid have not taken their
Madrid travel to Malaga on Sunday up a Liga and Champions League years ago. foot off the gas since their home
knowing that a point will make double, ahead of the Champions The fact that Malaga coach defeat to Barcelona in April and
them Liga Santander Champions League final on June 3rd. Michel Gonzalez is also a former have won their last five matches,
for the 2016-17, giving the club its Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal Madrid player and has spoken of scoring four against Granada,
first league title in five years. are both out injured still, meaning his affection for the club has also Sevilla and Celta into the bargain.
Wednesdays midweek win over that Isco will once again play a been highlighted in Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo looks to have
Celta Vigo put Real Madrid three key role against the side which although with the eyes of the found his best form at the right
points clear of FC Barcelona sold him to Madrid in 2913. world on them and players such time and the most likely thing
going into the last weekend of It has been pointed out in the as former Barca striker Sandro is for Madrid to try and take Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal is out of the Italian Open
the campaign, although Barcas Catalan press that part of the deal Ramirez and former Atletico Sundays game by the scruff of
superior head-to-head goal that took Isco to Madrid included Madrid midfielder, Diego the neck and get an early goal, ROME (Dispatches) - Seven-time German saw off Canadas Milos
difference would be the deciding several incentive clauses - one of Camacho in their ranks, it would which would not only destroy champion Rafael Nadal is out of Raonic 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.
factor if the two sides end Sunday which states Madrid would have be a huge shock if Malaga gave Malagas confidence, but also
the Italian Open after a straight-set After triumphs in Monte Carlo,
level on points. to pay Malaga an extra million anything less than 100 percent. send a message to Barcelona that
As such a draw in the La euros for the Spain international if With Real Madrid in their whatever they do against Eibar in defeat by Dominic Thiem of Austria Barcelona and Madrid, 30-year-old
Rosaleda Stadium is enough for he helped them win a league title, current form that 100 percent will the Camp Nou, it is not going to in the quarter-finals in Rome. Nadal was looking to win his fourth
Madrid to start the celebrations for hinting at a conflict of interest probably not be good enough. be good enough. The Spanish world number four straight title on clay this year before
had won all 17 of his matches on the French Open, which starts on 28
Cavs Dominate Celtics by 44 Points in Game Two clay this year, including against
Thiem in the Barcelona Open and
May.
However, Thiem could now prove
WASHINGTON (Dispatches) coach Tyronn Lue said. Were Madrid Open finals. to be a major obstacle as Nadal aims
- LeBron James scored 30 points, going back home, were not going But Thiem, ranked seventh, to win a 10th title at Roland Garros.
Kevin Love had 21 points and 12 to get comfortable. We understand dominated on Friday, frequently The 23-year-old Austrian raced
rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers that this is a good team. Theyre not forcing Nadal behind the baseline into a 5-1 lead with a double break
beat the Boston Celtics 130-86 on No. 1 in the East for no reason. to set up a 6-4 6-3 win. and held his nerve to serve out the
Friday, breezing to a 2-0 lead in the Thomas, who scored only two He will face world number two first set after Nadal had broken
Eastern Conference finals. points, missed all six shots from Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the back to make it 5-4.
Cleveland led by a record 41 the field. Rookie Jaylen Brown semi-finals. He continued to thrive by playing
points at the break and by 46 scored 19 for the Celtics, Avery Djokovic beat Argentinas Juan closer to the baseline than in recent
after three quarters as James and Bradley had 13 and Al Horford Martin del Potro 6-1 6-4 after their defeats by Nadal, breaking in the
the rest of the starters sit out the had 11 points and five rebounds. rain-affected match was completed seventh game of the second set.
fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving had 23 It is embarrassing, Celtics on Saturday. Thiem then saved break points to
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, muscles his way to points for the Cavaliers. Richard guard Avery Bradley said. As American John Isner beat Croatias hold, before breaking Nadal again
the basket as Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley, right, tries to defend Jefferson added 10. a man, as a basketball team, it Marin Cilic 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 7-6 (7-2) to claim only his second win in six
during first half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference Its one game. I dont care if you will say a lot about us how we and will meet Alexander Zverev in meetings with the 14-time Grand
finals, Friday, May 19, 2017. win by 200 points, Cavaliers head respond. the last four, after the 20-year-old Slam champion.
 MIDDLE EAST May 21, 2017 7

Time...

Scores Killed, Wounded

(Continued From Page One)

of both countries, the region and the world.

in Afghan Bank Attack

KABUL (Dispatches) Gunmen
have stormed a bank in southeastern
Afghanistan, killing three people and
wounding over 30 more, officials say,
as the country struggles with a rise in
violent attacks.
Five attackers, armed with suicide
vests and guns, forced their way in-
side after one of them blew them-
selves up at the entrance of New
Kabul Bank in Gardez, the capital
of Paktia province, Abdullah Has-
rat, the provincial spokesman, told
AFP.
People were queuing to receive
their monthly salaries from the bank
when they were attacked, he said.
Abdul Wali, the deputy provincial
governor, said most of people in the
bank were members of the security
forces.
After around two hours of stand-
off, all the attackers were killed.
Unfortunately, two police and a ci-
vilian also lost their lives, he said,
adding that 31 other people were
wounded.
No group immediately claimed
responsibility for the attack, but
militants such as Taliban and Daesh
have previously carried out similar
attacks, including on banks where
Afghan security forces regularly
collect their pay.
In 2014, an attack on Kabul Bank
killed at least ten people, including
five police, in Lashkar Gah, the cap-
ital of volatile Helmand province in
southern Afghanistan.
The attack came after a suspected
roadside bomb explosion in Af-
ghanistan has killed as many as 11
family members headed to a wed-
ding as other attacks have left ten
policemen dead.
Five women, five children and a
man in a vehicle were killed in Log-
ar province.
All were members of one fam-
ily, Mohammad Halim Fedayee,
the provincial governor said, add-
ing, They were going to attend a
wedding ceremony.
One woman and two men were
also wounded in the blast.
Also on Friday, in Kapisa prov-
ince, five Afghan policemen were
killed in fighting with the Taliban
militants.
The Taliban attacked a police
In this April 18, 2015 photo, members of Afghan security forces inspect the site
of an attack near a new Kabul Bank in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan.
checkpoint in the early morning
hours, according to Qais Qaderi, the
spokesman for the provincial gover-
nor, who added that the attack was
launched in Tagab district.
He said ten of the Taliban militants
taking part in the attack were killed
by Afghan forces.
Two Taliban commanders were
among those killed by Afghan forc-
es.
In Nangarhar province, in a so-
called green-on-blue insider attack,
a policeman turned his rifle on his
sleeping colleagues at an outpost
during the night, killing five of them
in the district of Ghanikhil.
After the shooting, the attacker
gathered all the victims firearms
and fled the scene, said the district
governor, Abdul Wahab Momand.
Elsewhere in Parwan province, an-
other roadside bomb targeted a U.S.
militarily convoy. The blast dis-
abled an armored vehicle but caused
no injuries.
Russia, which fights alongside Iran in support of President
Assad, was among the first to congratulate Rouhani.
President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram confirming his
readiness to continue active joint work... in line with maintain-
ing stability and security in the Middle East and the world as a
whole, the Kremlin said.
The new president faces a stark challenge from U.S. Presi-
dent Donald Trump, who has threatened to tear up the nuclear
deal and reimpose sanctions.
Rouhani made an apparent dig at rival Saudi Arabia, which
is currently hosting Trump, saying: Our people have declared
to neighboring countries and the whole region that the path to
ensuring security is the reinforcement of democracy and not
relying on foreign powers.
But European and Asian officials have also welcomed Rou-
hanis re-election as they pursue lucrative investments in the
wake of the nuclear deal, that lifted sanctions in exchange for
curbs to Irans nuclear program.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini tweeted her vow
to work for greater engagement, regional peace... (and the)
expectations of people in Iran.
Although Rouhani brought inflation down from around 40%
when he took office in 2013, prices are still rising at nine per-
cent a year.
Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect
in January last year, but growth in the rest of the economy has
been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5% overall, and at

Yemenis Fire Ballistic Missile at Riyadh

almost 30% among young people.

meni army said. and outside Yemen.

The report, however, gave no fur- The Friday launch came just hours
ther detail, including the exact im-
pact location, the possible casualty
before Trumps arrival in Riyadh
for a two-day visit to the Arab king-
Trump...
toll and the extent of potential dam- dom, his first foreign trip since he (Continued From Page One)
age inflicted. became president.
Meanwhile, the Saudi military an- Yemenis are particularly angry at with a cane, the king greeted Trump on the tarmac. A mili-
nounced that it had intercepted and Washington for being complicit in
destroyed a projectile some 200 ki- the Saudi crimes against the Yemeni tary brass band played, cannons boomed and seven Saudi jets
lometers west of Riyadh, without nation by providing the Al Saud re- flew over in V-formation, trailing red, white and blue smoke.
giving more details. gime with conventional and banned The two leaders sat side by side at the VIP section of the
Back in March 18, the Yemeni weapons.
army announced that another Bor- Since March 2015, Saudi war- airport terminal and drank cups of Arabic coffee. Do you
kan-2 missile accurately hit King planes have been heavily bom- spend a lot of time in New York? Trump was overheard ask-
Salman Air Base, located in the vi- barding Yemen in an attempt to ing the king.
A Yemeni school girl stands outside a school damaged in an airstrike in cinity of Riyadh, in retaliation for crush the popular Houthi Ansarul-
the southern Yemeni city of Taizz, March 16, 2017. On the drive to the Ritz hotel where Trump is staying, King
the deadly Saudi war on Yemen. lah movement and reinstate the re-
SANAA (Dispatches) Yemens cano-2) ballistic missile, a domesti- On September 2, 2016, Yemeni signed president, Abd Rabbuh Man- Salman rode with the president in the heavily armored presi-
Houthi Ansarullah fighters and their cally modified rocket, aimed at the forces also fired a similar missile sur Hadi. dential limousine nicknamed the Beast.
allies in the army have reportedly Saudi capital on Friday evening, against a stationary target in the Latest tallies show that the im- Trump was expected to give a speech on Islam and the need
fired a long-range ballistic missile according to a report by Yemens Saudi city of Taif, located more posed war has so far killed over
at the Saudi capital Riyadh, a few Arabic-language al-Masirah televi- than 700 kilometers southeast of the 12,000 Yemenis and wounded thou- to tackle radical ideology on Sunday.
hours ahead of U.S. President Donald sion network. Saudi capital. sands more. The Saudi aggression National Security Advisor HR McMaster said in a press
Trumps visit to the kingdom. The missile strike conveyed a The Yemeni army says so far more has also taken a heavy toll on the briefing that Trump will deliver an inspiring yet direct
The Yemeni forces, backed by clear and important message that than 100 ballistic missiles of vari- countrys facilities and infrastruc-
allied fighters from Popular Com- we are all ready to respond to the ous types have been fired at posi- ture, destroying many hospitals, speech on the need to confront radical ideology and that he
mittees, launched a Borkan-2 (Vol- aggression, a statement by the Ye- tions held by Saudi invaders inside schools, and factories. would share his hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam. He
also presented a detailed itinerary of the historic trip.
Palestinians Clash With Zionist Troops in Gaza Strip, West Bank Shortly after taking office, Trump had sought to block peo-
GAZA STRIP (Dispatches) The Zionist regimes troops have reportedly receive medical treatment. ple from several Muslim-majority nations from entering the
shot and wounded several Palestinians, including a woman, in the occupied Four Palestinian civilians were also wounded after Zionist troops fired United States, but the travel ban has been blocked by federal
West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip. live bullets at them near the Nahal Oz border crossing. They were trans- courts.
Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said dozens of people ferred to Shifa Hospital in western Gaza City.
The 70-year-old presidents travel to Saudi Arabia, Occu-
had converged east of the city of Beit Lahia to express solidarity with hun- Two others were wounded east of Jabalia refugee camp.
dreds of Palestinians, who have gone on hunger strike in the regimes jails Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, Zionist troops pied Palestine, Italy and Belgium will be Trumps longest
in protest at the Tel Aviv regimes administrative detention policy and harsh disguised as Palestinian protesters kidnapped six young Palestinian men time away from the White House since he took office four
prison conditions. after infiltrating a crowd of protesters.
months ago.
A 21-year-old demonstrator sustained grave injuries to his leg after Zion- Zionist troops fired teargas canisters and sound bombs at Palestinian
ist troops hurled an explosive device at the crowd. marchers, causing many to suffer from severe teargas inhalation. Even his hand gestures were likely to draw scrutiny in the
Zionist troops, stationed at watchtowers and tanks positioned in the vi- At least seven Palestinians were struck with live and rubber-coated steel Middle East, where the thumbs-up sign, a signature move of
cinity of Kissufim military base, also fired shots at Palestinian protesters, bullets during clashes in the villages of Nilin and Abud, as well as Qa- Trumps, is considered taboo.
leaving one injured, who was taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to landiya military checkpoint.
The uproar over Comeys firing looked unlikely to go away.

Saudi Armored Vehicle Explodes in Shia Town
RIYADH (Dispatches) An ar-
mored vehicle belonging to the Saudi
military has reportedly exploded in
the besieged Shia town of Awamiyah,
which has been under attack by re-
gime forces over the past days.
According to Taqreed al-Ahrar
news website, all those on board the
military vehicle were killed after it
exploded in Awamiyah, located in
the Qatif region of Eastern Prov-
ince.
The exact reason for the explosion
is unknown, but reports by other
news outlets indicated that it was
caused after two armored vehicles
collided and one was engulfed in
flames.
Sources have also reported wide-
spread mutiny among Saudi mili-
tary forces in the besieged town,
with a large number of troops
refraining from field operations
against people.
The incident occurred just a day af-
ter the regime forces, equipped with
heavy weapons, launched a fresh wave
of shelling attacks against Awamiyah,
as a fierce crackdown on protesters
there enters its second week.
The Saudi military fired a full
array of weapons, including rock-
et-propelled grenades (RPGs), at
different residential areas in the
flashpoint town.
Saudi regime forces have been at-
tacking Awamiyah since May 10,
after putting the town under a siege,
in the wake of fierce clashes with
local residents protesting the de-
molition of the historic al-Mosara
neighborhood for a planned devel-
opment project.
Pictures and videos of bulldozers,
escorted by heavily armored mili-
tary vehicles and heading toward
the site, have gone viral.
Since February 2011, Saudi Ara-
bia has stepped up security mea-
sures in the Shia-dominated Eastern
Province, which has been rocked by
anti-regime demonstrations.
The protesters demand free
speech, the release of political pris-
oners and an end to economic and
religious discrimination.
Its almost always true that when a president goes on a big
foreign trip, especially one that has some important summits
... that that dominates the news and knocks most other stuff
out, said Republican strategist Charlie Black.
Trump, who has expressed a desire for friendlier relations
with Moscow, drew a storm of criticism this week when it
emerged that he had shared sensitive national security infor-
mation with Russias foreign minister during a meeting last
week in the White House.
His fellow Republicans in Congress have expressed frustra-
tion that Trumps pro-business economic agenda, featuring a
plan to cut corporate and individual taxes, has been pushed to
the backburner by the turmoil.
 Turkey Steps Up Training Terrorists in Syria Thought for Today
ANKARA (Dispatches) Turkey has reportedly resumed an extensive
campaign aimed at training the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) mili-
tants in northern Syria, purportedly to fight Kurdish forces and Daesh ter- If you want to pray to Allah for better means of
rorists. Turkish special forces are training more FSA troops in using mor-
tars, rocket launchers and machine guns, Anadolu news agency reported. subsistence, then first give something in charity.
It is no longer the old FSA in the field but a new FSA being born. These
FSA members in training will show their difference in possible future op-
erations, the report quoted an unidentified military official as saying. Amir al-Momeneen Ali (AS)

VOL NO: LV 10326 TEHRAN / Est.1959 Sunday, May 21, 2017, Ordibehsht 31, 1396, Shaban 24, 1438

Iraqi Forces Retake Control of Terrorists Begin Evacuating

Key Districts in Mosul
Iraqi forces deploy in western Mosuls 17th Tammuz neighborhood as they continue their military offensive to
retake the northern city from Daesh terrorists on May 19, 2017.
BAGHDAD (Dispatches)
Iraqi government forces have
wrested full control over two stra-
tegic neighborhoods in the west-
ern side of Mosul as they press
ahead with operations to drive
Daesh terrorists out of the coun-
trys second largest city.
Commander of Federal Police
Forces Lieutenant General Raed
Shaker Jawdat said on Saturday
that his forces had fully recap-
tured 17th July and Eqtesadieen
neighborhoods of Mosul, and set
up barricades and barriers in the
liberated areas, Arabic-language
al-Sumaria television network
reported.
He added that 66 Daesh ter-
rorists had been killed while 13
explosive-laden cars and nine
motorcycle bombs had been de-
stroyed during the operations.
The high-ranking Iraqi official
noted that federal police forces
had regained control over 80 ar-
eas, killed 172 snipers, and de-
stroyed 373 car bombs as well
as 321 motorcycle bombs ever
since the military campaign to
liberate western Mosul from the
clutches of Daesh extremists be-
gan in mid-February.
Jawdat highlighted that Iraqi
police forces had also helped the
evacuation of 40,000 families
from conflict zones, returned
10,000 displaced families to
their hometowns and distributed
foodstuff and basic commodities
among some 55,000 families.
The development comes as a
fresh wave of terror bombings
has hit Iraqs southern city of
Basra and the capital of Bagh-
dad, killing at least 35 and injur-
ing nearly 45 others.
According to security officials,
at least 11 people lost their lives
and over 30 others were wound-
ed after two bombers blew up
their explosives-laden vehicles
on Friday at checkpoints near a
military base as well as a high-
way near the areas oilfields.
Seven of the injured are report-
edly in critical condition.
The first blast occurred outside
the Ar-Rumeila military base,
where eight people were killed,
including the head of the local
intelligence establishment as
well as a number of intelligence
forces, according to the sources
cited in local reports.
Confirming the first bombing,
Basra operational commander,
Jameel al-Shemri, further an-
nounced in a news briefing that a
second bomber also blew up his
explosives-packed vehicle near
the al-Sadra checkpoint on a
highway leading to the regions
oilfields.
The attacker then detonated his
explosive vest after he was sur-
rounded by security force, kill-
ing three people.
This is while the southern prov-
ince of Basra, where the bulk of
the nations oil is produced, re-
mains one of the most stable and
secure regions of Iraq, in which
bomb attacks are quite rare.
Town in Syrias Homs
Terrorists and their families arrive at a checkpoint manned by Syrian
government forces ahead of their evacuation from Waer district in the
city of Homs, May 20, 2017.
DAMASCUS (Dispatches) In line
with the final phase of implementing a
deal between the Syrian government
and groups operating against Damascus,
foreign-backed terrorists have begun
evacuating a district in Homs province.
On Saturday, at least one bus trans-
porting terrorists and their families
left Waer, a town now under the
control of the Syrian army. About
2,500 more people were expected to
leave the district within the coming
hours.
Thousands of people have left the
district in several stages since the
deal, which is backed by Russia,
came into force in March.
According to the UK-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights, up
to 20,000 people will have left the
district by the time it is fully imple-
mented.
Syrian media reports said many
of the terrorists were headed for the
northwestern province of Idlib as
well as the town of Jarablus along
the countrys northern border with
Turkey.
Some will reportedly stay in Waer
and hand over their weapons as the
military moves in.
The development came after Syr-
ias Ambassador to the UN Bashar
al-Jaafari announced the end of the
latest round of Syrian talks, while
stressing that state terrorism is
still being carried out against his
country.
We have just concluded the last
session with the UN special envoy
to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, within
the framework of the current Ge-
neva round, which we agreed to call
it the 6th round of Geneva, Jaafari
said in the Swiss city on Friday.
We would like to remind the at-
tendees that state terrorism is being
practiced against our country, he
added in reference to a U.S. airstrike
that targeted anti-Daesh forces in
Syria.
The important thing is that our
political ambition is higher because
we want to focus on fighting terror-
ism represented by armed groups
and the state and government terror-
ism happening against our country.
This includes the American aggres-
sion, French aggression and British
aggression, whether on civilian or
military targets, he added.
According to a Syrian govern-
ment military source, the U.S. strike
killed several people and caused
material damage.
The source said the attack ham-
pered efforts by the Syrian army and
its allies to fight Daesh terrorists
who have been wreaking havoc in
Iraq and Syria for years.

Turkey Targets Opposition Daily Crew
A person walks past a newspaper stand showing the front pages of
Turkish newspapers on display, in Istanbul, March 13, 2017.
ANKARA (Dispatches) Turkish
authorities have issued arrest warrants
for the chief executive and several staff
members of an opposition daily in Is-
tanbul, as a crackdown continues in
the wake of an abortive military coup
last year.
Istanbul prosecutors had issued de-
tention warrants for Burak Akbay, the
owner of the critical daily Sozcu, as
well as three other members, includ-
ing a correspondent, who were ac-
cused of links to U.S.-based opposi-
tion figure Fethullah Gulen, the CNN
Turk broadcaster said on Friday.
The Turkish government accuses
Gulen of having been behind the July
2016 coup attempt, a charge he has
denied.
[The operation] is about the ex-
ecutives of daily Sozcu. He [Akbay]
is already a fugitive and there is an
arrest warrant for him. There are de-
tentions and the investigation is on-
going, Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan
Fidan said in an interview with the
Turkish Dogan News Agency, with-
out giving details.
Proceedings are only being con-
ducted against its manager and some
staff members, he added.
Akbay, who the CNN Turk said
was in London, later announced in a
statement that he was being targeted
because I produce right and honest
journalism.
According to state-run Anadolu
Agency, the four individuals were
accused of being a member of ter-
ror organization and committing
crime on behalf of the organization,
assault against the president, and
armed insurgency against the Turk-
ish government.
The Turkish government says Gu-
lens supporters, some of them em-
bedded in government institutions,
run a clandestine movement that
Ankara describes as a terror organi-
zation.
Bahrainis Protest in Support of Shia Cleric
Sheikh Qassim
MANAMA (Dispatches) People in Bahrain
have poured onto the streets of the northern vil-
lage of Abu Saiba to express their solidarity with
prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim ahead of
his trial by the regime.
Demonstrators carried posters bearing the pic-
tures of Sheikh Qassim during the march, urging
the Manama regime to end its persecution of the
clergyman and other pro-democracy activists in
the country.
Qassim, the spiritual leader of Bahrains dis-
solved opposition bloc the al-Wefaq National Is-
lamic Society, was stripped of his nationality last
June over accusations that he used his position to
serve foreign interests and promote sectarianism
and violence.
The cleric, who is in his mid-70s, has denied
the allegations. He faces up to 15 years imprison-
ment if convicted, however. His trial will begin
on Sunday.
The village of Diraz, where Qassims home is
situated, has witnessed numerous sit-ins in soli-
darity with him.
In a relevant development on Friday, Bahraini
scholars called on citizens to gather in mosques
across on the country on the eve of Qassims trial.
Be prepared, for any moment, a religious ap-
peal is issued in the event of any unjust judgment
[against Sheikh Qassim], the scholars said in a
statement.
They further voiced hope that all the mosques
of Bahrain in all areas [would] be filled with men
and women on the eve of Qassims trial.
Bahrains tyranny and its insistence on Qas-
sims trial had strengthened the peoples resolve
to oppose the regime, they added.
Bahrain has been the scene of anti-regime pro-
tests on an almost daily basis ever since a popular
uprising began in the country in February 2011.
People have been demanding that the Al Khali-
fah dynasty relinquish power and let a just sys-
tem representing all Bahrainis be established.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds
of others wounded or detained amid Manamas
crackdown on dissent and widespread discrimi-
nation against Bahrains Shia majority.