World News

World News
Dutch Premier quits Dutch government tumbled on Saturday after coalition parties fail to agree on NATO request to extend the Netherlands' military mission in Afghanistan. Later today, I will offer to her majesty the Queen the resignations of the ministers and deputy ministers of the (Labour Party) PvdA," premier Jan Peter
Balkenende told journalists in The Hague.He said he would also "make available" the portfolios of the remaining cabinet ministers of his own Christian Democratic Appeal, the majority coalition partner, as well as the smaller Christian Union.
Balkenende made the announcement after more than 16 hours of crunch talks failed to save the centre-left coalition he has led since February 2007.

Prss release:Group of Rio 24

Group of Rio meet that begins Saturday to Tuesday in
Playa del Carmen,a resort city on Mexico's Caribbean coast, looks set
to focus on aid to crisis in Rio nations, specially Caribbean nation
Haiti, struck by an tremblor on Jan. 12 that measured 7.3 on the
Richter scale and killed more than 200,000 residents. The summit to
add Caribbean island nations to the existing Group of Rio 24 - nation membership with Six of Caricom's 15 members are also Rio members on an individual basis. Foreign Ministers from 31 nations began a meeting that included all the members of Group of Rio and the Caribbean Community, apart from St. Vincent, in Playa del Carmen on Saturday.

Press release: Yanukovich, on a legitimate victory.

Tymoshenko,the present Prime Minister withdrew her election case and the Supreme court has closed the case. But she has not conceded.She said once again that Viktor Yanukovich will never be considered Ukraine's legitimately elected president.In contrast to her fellow Orange Revolutionary - incumbent Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Saturday congratulated his long-time rival, Mr Yanukovich, on a legitimate victory.

UN and EU concerned on Fonseka's arrest

European Union (EU) has said that it is "closely" following the situation in Sri Lanka after the arrest of Fonseka.The EU, in a statement from Brussels, called for concrete efforts to overcome the divisions of the past and moves towards genuine reconciliation."We call on the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that the rule of law and the safety and security of candidates and campaign workers are ensured," Spokesperson of the High Representative/Vice President of the EU Catherine Ashton said in a statement on Wednesday."We urge the Government and all communities in Sri Lanka to make concrete efforts to overcome the divisions of the past and to move on to genuine reconciliation, without which there can be no return to long-term security or prosperity," the statement added. UN chief also announced plans to dispatch his top political official to the island nation for dialogue, the UN News Centre said in New York.Ban said he would send Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs B Lynn Pascoe to Colombo for talks soon. Voicing concern over the arrest of ex-army commander Sarath Fonseka, UN chief Ban Ki-moon has asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to respect due process of law in the case of the General and announced plans to send one of his top envoys to Sri Lanka for talks with the government. Ban conveyed his concerns to President Rajapaksa during a telephonic conversation on Wednesday night.According to a spokesperson of the UN Secretary General, Ban urged the President to respect due process of law regarding the case of the former army chief and "runner-up" in 26th January presidential elections. He called on the Sri Lankan government to guarantee personal safety of Fonseka, who was arrested on Monday for alleged "military offences."

Fonseka's behind bar protest in Sri Lanka Prez dissolves Parliament

Tensions mounted over the arrest of Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka with violent clashes erupting in the capital as his wife approached the country's highest court for his release, citing that she feared for his safety.Six people were arrested and 12 vehicles were damaged when Sri Lankan police dispersed a protest rally on Wednesday near the Sri Lankan Supreme Court Complex in Colombo. Opposition parties in the country also closed ranks behind the jailed defeated presidential candidate, demanding his release and saying that the authorities were framing him. Turmoil preavls in Sri Lanka as the former army commander Sarath Fonseka was arrested on Monday by military police on charges of engaging in politics against his president while still in uniform. Secretary-General,UNITED NATIONS, Ban Ki-moon "expressed his concern (to Rajapaksa) about recent developments in Sri Lanka," brought up Fonseka's arrest and "urged the government to respect the due process of law and guarantee (Fonseka's) personal safety." President Mahinda Rajapaksa is dissolving parliament, clearing the way for early elections, officials say. "The president dissolves the parliament with effect from midnight today," a senior official was quoted. As protests against the arrest spilled onto the streets, riot police used tear gas, water cannons and canes to break up thousands of clashing pro-Fonseka supporters and ruling party activists as the government said claimed that the arrest of the country's former four star general was not an act of vengeance. " As jailed Fonseka's fate remains uncertain, the authorities last night allowed his wife to meet him", a top military official said today. "Anoma Fonseka spent three hours at the place where Fonseka is and brought food from home for him last night," Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe told the news agency.The Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena charged that the opposition was trying to gain political advantages from the arrest of the general.He said Fonseka had been arrested under military act 57(1)for divulging secrets while in service and it did not amount of political vengeance. Abeywardena said that a possible court martial would flow from the summary of evidence being collected by the military

Obama to meet Dalai Lama

United Front Work Department, the Chinese Communist Party's an official deals with ethnic policy, Du Qinglin, told issues concerning China's territory and sovereignty were non-negotiable and no concessions would be made on them, Xinhua reported Dalai Lama's secretary announced, the spiritual leader would arrive in the United States February 17-18. United States and China have recently not seen eye to eye on a number of international issues, including the Iranian nuclear issue, the $6.3-billion weapons sales to Taiwan, as well as the Dalai Lama's status. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs announced during a press briefing on Thursday,that Barack Obama will be meeting Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama as he is an internationally respected religious and cultural leader. Beijing to never make concessions on independence for Tibet, a senior Chinese official said at a meeting with envoys of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.Envoys of the Dalai Lama, arrived in Beijing Tuesday for the ninth set of negotiations which have beared no results.Dalai Lama has repeatedly said he seeks real autonomy for Tibet rather than independence from China. China is resolutely opposing this meeting saying it would further hurt the Sino-US relations. Dalai Lama is going to undertake a Washington visit later this month.Dalai Lama received an honourary doctorate from the University of Calgary thus university has been removed from the Chinese government's list of accredited universities. Chinese Consulate in Calgary says the University of Calgary degrees will continue to be recognized in China for those 575 students belonging to Chinese nationals.