8 theSun | FRIDAY JUNE 5 2009

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Obama seeks new beginning in ties with Muslims

CAIRO: President Barack Obama sought
a “new beginning” in relations between
the United States and the Muslim world
yesterday, addressing grievances over
the Arab-Israeli conflict, two US-led
wars and tensions over Iran.
Addressing the world’s more than
one billion Muslims, Obama pledged
to pursue Palestinian statehood and
made an unusually blunt call by a new
US president for both sides to declare in
public Middle East realities he said they
accept in private.
Some Muslims welcomed Obama’s
fresh tone in Cairo after George W.
Bush’s departure even as others
expressed frustration that he failed to
outline specific changes to US policy,
reflecting scepticism in the region
Obama must still overcome.
In his keynote speech, occasionally
interrupted by shouts of “we love you”,
Obama also said he did not want US
troops to stay in Iraq or Afghanistan
forever and offered mutual respect in
dealings with long-time foe, Tehran.
“We meet at a time of tension
between the US and Muslims around
the world – tension rooted in historical
forces that go beyond any current policy
debate,” Obama said in the address that
included quotes from the Quran.
“I have come here to seek a new be-
ginning between the United States and
Muslims around the world, one based
upon mutual interest and mutual respect.
America and Islam are not exclusive, and
need not be in competition. This cycle of
suspicion and discord must end.”
The supreme leader of Washington’s
regional arch foe, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, said before Obama spoke that
America was “deeply hated” and only ac-
tion, not “slogans,” could change that.
The choice of Cairo for the speech
underscored Obama’s focus on the
Middle East, where he faces big foreign
policy challenges, from trying to restart
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks to curb-
ing Iran’s nuclear plans that Washington
says is to build atomic bombs. Tehran
denies any such aims.
“This speech was very inspiring and I
think many people will welcome it,” Egyp-
tian analyst Khalil al-Anani said. – Reuters

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is facing a major crisis after the unprecedented
resignation of four of his senior ministers on the eve of crunch European and local
elections. A dozen Labour MPs have now resigned or been barred from standing for
re-election since the Westminster expenses scandal erupted

Hazel Blears Jacqui Smith Tom Watson Beverley Hughes Michael Martin
Communities Home Secretary Cabinet Office Children’s minister Commons Speaker
Secretary Faces criticism over Minister To step down as MP To step down on
Allegedly avoided second home claims Close Brown ally at next election. June 21. His officials
paying capital gains and humiliation for has been battered Denies any link failed to prevent
tax on property charging taxpayer for by succession of between decision and abuse of MPs’ claims
funded by taxpayer husband’s porn films controversies expenses scandal system

Shahid Malik Ben Chapman

Justice minister To quit at next
Stepped down over election following
allegations that he allegation that he
broke ministerial claimed interest
code of conduct over charges on mortgage
second home that he had already
allowances paid off

Elliot Morley
Suspended from
Parliamentary Party
over allegation that
he claimed interest
payments for non-
existent mortgage
Picture: Getty Images
Margaret Moran David Chaytor Ian Gibson Patricia Hewitt
Barred from standing Suspended from Barred by so-called Ex-Health Secretary
for party at next Parliamentary Party star chamber from To step down as MP
election following over allegation that standing for party at at next election.
high-profile battle with he claimed interest next general election, Denies any link
her constituents over payments for non- following questions between decision and
expenses claims existent mortgage about his expenses expenses scandal
© GRAPHIC NEWS

Rebels plot against Brown

as Britons go to polls
LONDON: Rebels in Gordon on Brown to go although none had
Brown’s ruling Labour Party plot- been identified yet.
ted the prime minister’s departure “We are writing now because
yesterday, saying he should go if we believe that in the current po-
European and local elections went litical situation you can best serve
as badly as they feared. the Labour Party and the country
A rumour that Brown was by stepping down,” said the letter,
resigning, dismissed by his office reported to be circulating among
as “absolute nonsense”, sent the Labour rebels and published in
pound three cents lower against newspapers.
the dollar in minutes – a taste A poll for the Daily Telegraph
of how markets may react to a yesterday forecast Labour would
leadership coup during the worst come third in the European poll
recession in decades. with just 16% support, behind the
Brown’s authority, weakened anti-EU UK Independence Party on
by poor poll ratings during his 18%. It put Conservative support at
two-year tenure as leader and 26% of the vote.
more recently a scandal over the Labour also faces a rout at local
expenses of MPs, has been further level, where 18 million eligible voters
undermined by the resignation this will decide who runs 34 English local
week of two cabinet ministers. councils. Results of those elections
Reports said up to 75 Labour will dribble in today, but the Euro-
MPs – around a fifth of the total pean results will not be released
– were ready to sign a letter calling until Sunday night. – Reuters

‘Kung Fu’ actor Carradine

found dead in Thai hotel: Police
BANGKOK: US actor rope in the room’s closet,”
David Carradine (pix) Lt-Col Pirom Jantrapirom of
was found dead, naked the Lumpini police station
and hanging from a rope in Bangkok told Reuters.
in the closet of his luxury He said Carradine’s
Bangkok hotel room yes- body was naked when
terday, Thai police said. it was found and there
Police said they were were no signs of any other
alerted to the death of the actor people in the room. The body has
– who starred as the wandering been transferred to a hospital for
monk in the long-running Kung an autopsy.
Fu US television series – early Carradine had more recently
yesterday. starred in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill
“He was found hanging by a Bill films as Bill. – Reuters