Pakistan blasts Israel ahead of OIC emergency session on Mideast, Iraq

[54anickel]

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=2570

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tuesday denounced the killing of Hamas leaders by Israel and demanded the liberation of occupied Arab lands as its foreign minister headed to an emergency session of Islamic foreign ministers.

Malaysia as current chair of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference has ordered an extraordinary session in Kuala Lumpur beginning Thursday to discuss "recent developments in Palestine and Iraq," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmoud Kasuri will lead Pakistan at the conference, which will express "the collective concern of the Islamic ummah (world) over the deteriorating security situation," it said. "Pakistan condemns the unlawful assassination of the Hamas leaders and feels that these unwarranted and extra-judicial acts have aggravated the situation in Palestine."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said Monday the Kuala Lumpur conference would look at "ways and means to put the Middle East "road map" for peace back on track." It would also "make recommendations for restoring peace and stability, in Iraq."

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Related articles -

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_20-4-2004_pg7_36

US request for protecting UN mission in Iraq being considered, says FO

* Masood says response to be in accordance with aspirations of people of Pakistan and Iraq

ISLAMABAD Pakistan is considering a request from the United States to send troops to protect the United Nations mission in Iraq, Masood Khan, spokesman of the Foreign Office, told journalists at his weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Monday.

Mr Khan said the Pakistani response would be in-line with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan and Iraq. He said Pakistan will ensure that when Pakistani troops go to Iraq, they are not resisted or resented and can contribute to the establishment of law and order, peace and good governance there. He said Pakistan was a responsible state and a member of the United Nations Security Council. He said Pakistan feels an affinity with the people of Iraq and will carefully read any resolution concerning that country.

The spokesman categorically stated that if any troops were contributed by Pakistan, they would be under the UN mandate and serve under the UN’s command.

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http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-04/20/article08.shtml
Pakistanis Condemn Rantissi’s Assassination

ISLAMABAD, April 20 (IslamOnline.net) – The Pakistani Foreign Ministry and political parties joined hands in blasting Israel over its cold blooded murder of Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Abdelaziz Rantissi.

The 56-year-old Rantissi was assassinated late Saturday, April 17, in an Israeli air strike that also killed at least two other Palestinians.

The seven party alliance Mutahidda Majles e Amal (MMA) condemned the extra-judicial execution and urged the Muslim world to rise to the responsibility and take the Israeli regime to task.

"If the OIC cannot condemn and take effective action to check this Israeli and Anglo-American terrorism against the people of Palestine at such a crucial time as the present one, I do not know when their conscience would awaken and when they would show loyalty to Muslims and their aspirations," Professor Khurshid Ahmed, leader of MMA, said in a statement issued Monday, April 19.

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http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2004%20News%20archives/April/15n/Fear%20of%20Attacks%20Is%20Far%20Greater%20After%20Iraq%20War%20Mahathir.htm

Fear of Attacks Is Far Greater After Iraq War: Mahathir

Reuters, Arab News

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 April 2004 — Iraq’s plunge into violence since Saddam Hussein’s fall has stirred enmities that will kill more Iraqis than ever perished under his reign, Malaysian former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.

“They have disturbed a hornet’s nest. I know Saddam is not the nicest person in the world but by the time this thing ends, more Iraqis are going to be killed than Saddam ever did,” Mahathir told Reuters.

“The Iraqis are being made to suffer in order to save them and I don’t believe in that,” he said. Mahathir handed power to Abdullah Badawi in October, since when Malaysia has been far quieter on foreign affairs issues including Iraq, despite being chair of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference.

He spoke as US forces tightened their grip around the Iraqi city of Najaf, vowing to kill or capture a rebel Shiite cleric. A revolt by the religious leader’s fighters and battles involving the smaller Sunni community have killed hundreds of Iraqis and scores of foreign troops this month, the deadliest for the US military since Saddam fell a year ago.

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[aquart]

1. So they are NOT willing to help apprehend Osama?

Because I guarantee we would kill him in cold blood (on account of the trial would be a big nuisance).

Maybe Pakistan can share nuclear secrets with the Palestinians. Or don't they have enough cash?