Iran opposition leader Karroubi's 'car hit by gunfire'

The armoured car of one of Iran's opposition leaders, Mehdi Karroubi, was hit by gunfire in the northern town of Qazvin, his party's website reported on Friday, but only the windows were damaged.
Karroubi was in the town to attend a mourning ceremony for slain opposition protesters organised by a reformist former member of parliament, Sahamnews.org said.
"Around 500 basiji (members of the Basij Islamic militia) and residents of nearby villages surrounded the place where he was and attacked the building with stones, breaking windows," it said.
After four hours, anti-riot police finally intervened to get Karroubi out of the building.
"As his car was pulling away, it was attacked and hit by gunfire. But, as it is an armoured car, only the windows were damaged."
There was no immediate word from the authorities on the incident.
The website quoted Karroubi as saying there had been no return of fire by his guards.
"My bodyguards did not return fire as, unlike the assailants, they would have been brought before the courts and faced prosecution," Karroubi said.
The attackers chanted slogans in support of the Islamic regime and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the website added.
"Our town is not a place for hypocrites," they reportedly chanted using the regime's standard term of abuse for the outlawed rebel People's Mujahedeen.
A reformist former speaker of parliament, Karroubi stood against hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a June election along with moderate former prime minister Mir Hossein Moussavi.
Both men have charged that the vote was marred by massive fraud and have led a series of mass protests over the months since.

Three Palestinians killed in Israeli air strike on Gaza

Crater left by an Israeli strike on what Palestinian describes as a metal workshop

Three people, including a 14-year-old-boy, have been killed in Israeli air strikes overnight in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics say.

The Israeli military said it was responding to mortar and rocket attacks on Thursday on Israel from Gaza.
It said it attacked two tunnels on the border with Egypt, a tunnel to be used by militants for crossing into Israel and a weapons making site.
The strikes hit targets Gaza City, Khan Younis and Rafah.
The militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, said an Israeli jet had also bombed a building in Gaza City.
On Thursday, Israeli planes dropped thousands of leaflets over the Gaza Strip warning residents to steer clear of the border after Palestinian militants fired mortar rounds into Israel.
Gaza militants have fired more than 280 rockets or mortars at Israel since the end of a devastating offensive against the territory on January 18, according to the Israeli military.
Palestinian groups and human right organisations say about about 1,400 Palestinians died during the offensive. Thirteen Israelis were also killed in the fighting.

@'BBC'

Girlz With Gunz # 90

HA!

(Click to enlarge)

Trafigura returns to court in attempt to suppress lawsuit documents

Trafigura is going back before judges to ask for high court records to be sealed. Photograph: Odd Anderson/AFP/Getty Images

Trafigura, the offshore oil trader that became notorious for legal attempts to suppress reporting of parliament, is going back to Britain's judges tomorrow.

The privately owned oil giant wants high court records to be sealed to prevent the public and the media from reading allegations made in a separate lawsuit.

The move marks a new frontier in Trafigura's use of UK media laws to avoid unwelcome publicity. Last year, the firm deployed an array of libel proceedings, confidence injunctions and threats of contempt of court to try to avert criticism over its toxic waste, dumped cheaply in west Africa, where it made thousands ill.

Trafigura's moves led to uproar when it obtained a so-called super-injunction that it claimed banned parliamentary reporting, which was subsequently criticised by the lord chief justice, Lord Judge.

Kieran Looney, an Irish management consultant, is suing Trafigura for £6m in a separate dispute over fees for a consultancy project. Trafigura denies the claim and is defending the case.

Looney's claim, set out in a public document drawn up by Matthew Collings QC and filed at the high court on 17 December, says Trafigura's rapid recent worldwide expansion led to fears the firm was becoming too bureaucratic and inflexible.

The claim says Looney was hired to rectify management problems and mistakes at a fee of £3m a year for three years. It goes on to detail meetings with senior executives in London and Geneva, and internal Trafigura emails.

The Guardian understands that back-office functions studied by Looney included a "special project" to open 200 petrol stations in Angola in a joint deal with the state oil company, Sonangol, and global tax schemes organised from the Netherlands, where Trafigura registers its holding company.

The question of whether it pays its fair share of tax is a particularly sensitive issue for an offshore multinational such as Trafigura. Separate internal Trafigura documents seen by the Guardian say that the company normally succeeds in paying a total of less than 15% tax on its worldwide profits. This is half the official headline rate of corporation tax in the UK and US, and much less than the 25% Dutch rate.

Trafigura's global profits were $478m in its last year of published accounts. The firm runs many worldwide operations from a London headquarters in Oxford Street, but says it generates only a fraction – about 8% – of its profits in the UK, on which it paid UK tax of less than $12m (£7.5m) last year.

Trafigura's parent company Farringford NV is based in the Caribbean tax haven of Curaçao. Many operations are registered in low-tax cantons of Switzerland. Trafigura documents detail the firm's discussions about whether to "migrate" to Switzerland for tax purposes its interests in a Peruvian mine currently held by Iberian, a Canadian company. Internal estimates show this could save $3m tax in a single year.

A high court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in the Looney case before a preliminary judge, Master Moncaster. An application is expected to seal the court papers, although they have previously been publicly available. Current UK law allows a judge to order suppression without giving reasons.

Trafigura did not wish to comment today.

@'The Guardian'

Girlz With Gunz # 89

Deeming Sri Lanka execution video authentic, UN expert calls for war crimes probe

Sri Lanka execution video authentic - UN envoy

Iran State TV Suggests Neda's Iconic Death Was 'Faked'

Iranian state television has made a documentary about the death of Neda Agha Soltan, a young Iranian woman who was shot dead during the June postelection protests in Tehran, suggesting she was an agent of the United States and Britain who staged her own death.

Neda's last moments were filmed on a cell phone and watched by millions of people around the world, becoming a symbol of democratic resistance to the regime.

The state-television documentary suggests the video of Neda's dying moments merely depicted her pouring blood on her own face from a special bottle she was carrying. Later, the documentary alleges that 27-year-old Neda was shot dead in the car that was taking her to a hospital.

The conspiracy theory alleged in the documentary is in line with comments by Iranian officials, who have repeatedly described Neda's death as "suspicious" and a "premeditated scenario" to defame Iran.

The state reaction was prompted by the immense impact of a grainy amateur video shot as Neda participated in a June 20 protest in Tehran.

Neda and tens of thousands of fellow opposition supporters had gathered in downtown Tehran in defiance of an official ban on the mass protests that followed the country's June 12 presidential election, which was handed to incumbent Mahmud Ahmadinejad by a landslide.

At least 10 people were reported killed and more than 100 were wounded that day after security forces cracked down on the protesters, but it was the unforgettable image of Neda's death that struck a chord both at home and abroad.

The video, which was posted on youTube, was watched by millions of people around the world. Within hours, Neda became an icon of a protest movement that has plunged the Islamic republic into its worse-ever crisis.

The name "Neda" has become universally recognized, as have the pictures of her that are now displayed proudly during rallies of the opposition Green Movement, whose members have vowed to keep her memory alive.

Neda's death has also proven to be a very sensitive issue for the Islamic establishment.

The state television documentary was featured in a January 5 report broadcast by PressTV, Iran television's international English-language news network.

Neda is portrayed in the documentary as a foreign agent who became the victim of a plot orchestrated by foreigners and opposition supporters.

Doctor Accused Of Conspiracy

The documentary alleges that Arash Hejazi, the writer and physician who treated Neda as she lay bleeding on a Tehran street, as well as her music teacher who was with her at the protest, were members of a team that carried out the plot.

"While Neda is [pretending] she is injured and is lying on the back seat of the car on their lap, they bring out a handgun from their pockets," the documentary's narrator says.

"A handgun that they obtained from their Western and Iranian friends to water the tree of reforms and kill people and create divisions within society. Neda, for a moment, realizes their wicked plan and struggles to escape, but they quickly shoot her from behind."

The narrator adds that this is how "deceived and deceitful" Neda was killed.

Hejazi, who has been accused by Iranian hardliners of being Neda's murderer, has denied being in the car that took her body to a Tehran hospital.

In a telephone interview with RFE/RL from Britain, where he lives, Hejazi describes the documentary as a shameful and worthless attempt to cover up the truth and place the blame for Neda's death on others.

"A young innocent woman was shot dead while protesting. Since her killing, until today, the Iranian government has been doing all it can to distance itself from it and throw the responsibility on others, instead of acting responsibly and dealing with those who are guilty," Hejazi says.

Basiji Link

Hejazi has said he believes that Neda was shot in the chest by a member of the Basiji militia who was among the crowd of protesters.

Hejazi has claimed that the Basiji member was detained by the crowd, who took away his ID card. The identification card of the alleged shooter, with his name and picture, was posted on opposition websites.

Although Hejazi has publically identified the man as the one who was caught by the crowd and disarmed, Iranian judiciary officials have reportedly failed to launch legal action against him.

Since Neda's death some six months ago, authorities have come up with different theories about the circumstances of her death.

On January 6, Iran's ambassador to Bahrain, Hossein Amir Abdullahyan, told "The Nation" that groups from Britain and the United States infiltrated the opposition movement and carried out assassinations among its ranks.

Abdullahyan went on to allege that the groups were behind the killing of Neda -- and he didn't stop there. He also said they were responsible for the death of Ali Musavi -- the 35-year-old nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi who was killed during rallies on December 27 in which eight protesters died.

Hejazi says Tehran's stories about the circumstances of Neda's death keep changing.

"Their first reaction was that she was alive. Then they said the footage was fake. One day they said a BBC reporter killed her. Then they said it was the CIA. Then they said the [Mujahedin] Khalq Organization [MKO] was behind it. The latest is this documentary," Hejazi says.

Iranian state media have said the documentary presents "another side" of Neda's death, and challenges claims made by "Western media."

It says its findings are based on "forensic evidence and statements by security officials" that shows that Neda was not killed, as "shown by Western media."

Hejazi says Neda's death has become a thorn in the side of Iranian authorities due to the international attention it received, helping to mobilize global public opinion against the crackdown in Iran.

Neda's fiance, Caspian Makan, who was detained for a while before leaving Iran, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda this week that her image carved into her tombstone had been vandalized.

Makan accused those who arrest, torture, and kill innocent protesters of damaging her grave, concluding: "What the regime of the Islamic republic did to Neda's tombstone is like shooting her again."

@'Radio Free Europe'

Bet you all thought that I wld caption this 'cool for cats' well you are wrong...doh!

Two former Blackwater guards charged with Afghan murder

Two US men have been charged over the murder of two Afghans after a traffic accident in Kabul last May.

Justin Cannon, 27, and Chris Drotleff, 29, worked for a subsidiary of security firm Xe, formerly known as Blackwater.

The men were sacked after the incident for failing to comply with the terms of their contract.

The charges came on the same day that Xe reached a settlement in a number of separate civil lawsuits over the killings of Iraqi civilians.

The Justice Department said Mr Cannon and Mr Drotleff faced murder charges and could face the death penalty if found guilty.

According to the indictment, two people were killed and one injured as a result of the shooting at an intersection in Kabul.

Compensation sought

The accused told the AP news agency in a recent interview that they had been justified in opening fire when a car caused an accident ahead of them, turned and sped towards them.

"I feel comfortable firing my weapon any time I feel my life is in danger. That night, my life was 100% in danger," AP quotes Chris Drotleff as saying.

Earlier on Thursday, Xe welcomed a settlement - for an undisclosed amount - of a number of lawsuits over the killings of Iraqi civilians.

The civil suits accused Blackwater's founder, Erik Prince, of cultivating a climate of recklessness.

The lawsuits sought compensation for deaths and injuries incurred in incidents including the killing of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad's Nisoor Square, in 2007.

Last week a judge dismissed all criminal charges against five Blackwater employees over that incident.

@'BBC'

Cool

Meanwhile on the other side of the world

(Thanx North Country Bhoy & Fifi!) 

Here we go again...

He died with a plectrum in his pocket

About 500 mourners gathered in St Kilda yesterday to hear friends and lovers celebrate the life of "a charming, dignified, regal man", guitarist Rowland S. Howard, who died last week, aged 50, from liver cancer.

It resembled a scene from cult 1980s film Dogs in Space as a who's who of Melbourne's punk rock scene — including Dogs in Space director Richard Lowenstein and playwright Sam Sejavka, upon whose life the film was based — joined music fans at St Kilda's Sacred Heart church for a public service.

Howard, a guitarist in Nick Cave's punk bands the Boys Next Door and the Birthday Party before forming his own bands Crime and the City Solution, and These Immortal Souls, is best remembered for his unique, influential guitar style and for writing Shivers, one of the Boys Next Door's biggest hits.

Among those paying respects were Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski, producer Tony Cohen, Mick Harvey, former member of Nick Cave's band the Bad Seeds, Dave Graney, Hugo Race and many other stalwarts of the Melbourne scene.

Howard's white coffin was covered in red roses, his beloved Fender Jaguar guitar propped against it.

Former long-term girlfriend and bandmate Genevieve McGuckin delivered a moving eulogy, describing Howard as a "ridiculous, singular, charismatic individual" with "a wicked talent . . . and as dapper as the devil".

Howard's brother Harry — a bandmate in Crime and the City Solution and These Immortal Souls — also spoke, praising the guitarist's "quest to banish banality in music" with his "gorgeously terrifying sound".

Mick Harvey remembered Howard's "great wit" and their enduring friendship.

Nick Cave, who lives in the UK, did not attend, but sent a message.

"Every now and then comes along a person whose style informs your own style and for me, Rowland was that person.The first time I saw him play, it was clear he was a phenomenal talent," Cave's eulogy read.

"We went our separate ways, but I have always loved Rowland — his talent, his great humour and his generous heart. He was a good friend and it was a privilege to have worked with him and to have been in his sphere of influence. I will miss him very much."

Another absent friend was film director Andrew Dominik, of Chopper fame, who revealed that it was Howard who talked him into writing the screenplay for the 2007 hit film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

In a manner befitting a rock star, Sacred Heart reverberated with the feedback-drenched sound of Howard's song Autoluminescent, from his first solo album, a refrain of which was also played as his coffin was carried out.

Fans of Howard's distinctive guitar style will be pleased to know that he died with a plectrum in his pocket.

@'The Age'

Autoluminescent

This is serious...UPDATESome Scottish smack seems to be contaminated with anthrax

Contaminated heroin may have caused an anthrax outbreak among drug addicts in Scotland, killing six people and infecting 12 in total, health officials said Thursday.

All of the people stricken with the bacterial disease were believed to be heroin users, said a spokesman at Scotland's Health Protection Agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. The agency said other cases were under investigation, but would not specify how many.

Experts say contaminated heroin or another powder-like substance used to dilute the drug may have spread the disease. Scottish officials warned that further cases might be detected beyond Glasgow, where 4 deaths have occurred. Another 2 people died near Dundee and Forth Valley.

Anthrax is an animal disease and regularly infects people in Africa and Asia, as well as parts of southern Europe. It can be treated with antibiotics if caught early, and does not usually spread from person to person. Left untreated, anthrax can be fatal.

"Heroin users all across Scotland need to be aware of the risks of a potentially contaminated supply," said Colin Ramsay, a consultant epidemiologist at Health Protection Scotland in a statement.

Only a handful of anthrax cases have been reported in the United Kingdom in the past decade. The disease mostly affects people exposed to contaminated animal hides and other animal products.

"It is highly probable that the contamination of heroin by anthrax is accidental," said Gordon Meldrum, director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, in a statement. "Production processes (of heroin) can be basic and often be conducted in areas where there is contamination from animal carcasses or feces."

HERE

I am not trying to stop yr buzz I am just saying PLEASE be careful!