A 16-minute matter: ‘Mr Musharraf, take your seat’

ISLAMABAD: 

On the day that transpired as General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s maiden appearance in the special court, media personnel deployed outside the special court anxiously looked on for any signs of the accused. As the waiting period drew into its first hour, gossip surrounding the possibilities of what could ensue was at its zenith.

Some said his convoy may be diverted to the Benazir Bhutto International Airport; others speculated that he would be transported to his luxurious farmhouse in Chak Shahzad rather than to court.

Inside the courtroom, the usually vacant witness box to the left of the bench had a lone chair for the accused. A security sweep was meticulously conducted. The bomb disposal squad made thorough inspections all around; special jammers were placed on the left and right side of the bench and the judges’ seats were also checked and cleared by the squad. Spectators waited with bated breath as news of retired general Pervez Musharraf’s arrival outside the courtroom was declared.

Syria rockets hit Golan shortly after Israel PM visityphau Golan s'abattent nattentans'abbente

Jerusalem (AFP) - Two rockets fired from war-torn Syria struck the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Tuesday shortly after a secret visit to the area by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the army said.

The incident occurred shortly after Netanyahu toured the area with Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon and army chief Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, visiting a field hospital close to the ceasefire line where injured Syrians are being treated."Two rockets fire from Syria struck the central Golan without causing injuries or damage," a spokeswoman told AFP.

France wants faster UN deployment in C.Africa

Paris (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande Thursday called on the United Nations to fast-track the deployment of peacekeepers in the Central African Republic to help quell a bloody sectarian conflict.

"The UN Security Council set a clear mandate (for peacekeepers) which must be quickly and firmly implemented. It's a question mainly of speeding up the preparation for a peacekeeping operation, in close partnership with the African Union," said a statement from the French presidency.In a telephone call to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Hollande said UN troops were needed to help restore peace and prop up the administration of new interim president Catherine Samba Panza.

Kenya lashes out at US over demonstrations

Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya on Thursday accused the US development agency USAID of trying to "destabilise" the country by financing anti-government demonstrations.

"The consistent plans to destabilise the current government will not be tolerated... especially where activists are bribed to tarnish the country's and leaders' reputation regionally and internationally," he said in a statement.The chairman of National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC), Francis Kimemia, accused USAID of financing "clandestinely planned" demonstrations held to "pour vitriol" on the nation's parliament.