Six In The Morning

US says it wants access to bin Laden widows

The women could answer questions about how much Pakistan knew

NBC, msnbc.com and news services

The United States wants access to Osama bin Laden’s three widows and any intelligence material its commandos left behind at the al-Qaida leader’s compound, a top American official said in comments broadcast Sunday that could add a fresh sticking point in already frayed ties with Pakistan.

Information from the women, who remained in the house after the commandos killed bin Laden, might answer questions about whether Pakistan harbored the al-Qaida chief as many American officials are speculating. It could also reveal details about the day-to-day life of bin Laden, his actions since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and the inner workings of al-Qaida.

The women, along with several children also picked up from the house, are believed to be in Pakistani army custody. A Pakistani army official declined to comment Sunday on the request, U.S. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.

Japan calls for Hamaoka nuclear plant shutdown

The Hamaoka nuclear plant, which sits near a major fault line in Shizuoka prefecture, is considered Japan’s most vulnerable nuclear facility

Justin McCurry in Osaka

guardian.co.uk, Monday 9 May 2011 06.14 BST

The operator of Japan’s “most dangerous” nuclear plant is to decide whether to comply with a government request to temporarily close the facility and carry out work to improve its ability to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis.

Chubu Electric is considering the request to close the Hamaoka nuclear plant in Shizuoka prefecture, central Japan, which is thought to be the country’s most vulnerable nuclear facility.

The rebel city Gaddafi says is full of recruits for al-Qa’ida

The Libyan leader claims Nato is backing terrorists, but the people of Derna insist that they are fighting for freedom. Daniel Howden reports

Monday, 9 May 2011

The brutal history of Derna is recorded in the portraits recently hung on the walls of its oldest mosque. Many of the faces staring down died in this year’s uprising; some were conscripts in Colonel Gaddafi’s African wars; others the victims of a notorious prison massacre in Tripoli 15 years ago.

A haunting collage freed from the files of internal security when it was ransacked two months ago shows young men who were shot, poisoned, hanged or hacked to death after an uprising against the repressive regime in 1996.

Syrian army ‘surrounds Damascus suburb’

Heavy shooting has been heard in a western suburb of the Syrian capital, Damascus, after the army cordoned off the area, human rights activists say.



Security forces are also continuing their efforts to crush anti-government protests in the central city of Homs, Deraa and the coastal town of Baniyas.

On Sunday, there were reports from Homs of gunfire, arrests and deaths, including that of a 12-year-old boy.

State media also said 10 labourers had been killed in an ambush by gunmen.

Foreign journalists have not been allowed to enter Syria, so the reports are difficult to verify independently.

Nato left 61 African migrants to die of hunger and thirst



May 09 2011 07:04  

 A boat carrying 72 passengers, including several women, young children and political refugees, ran into trouble in late March after leaving Tripoli for the Italian island of Lampedusa. Despite alarms being raised with the Italian coastguard and the boat making contact with a military helicopter and a Nato warship, no rescue effort was attempted.

All but 11 of those on board died from thirst and hunger after their vessel was left to drift in open waters for 16 days. “Every morning we would wake up and find more bodies, which we would leave for 24 hours and then throw overboard,” said Abu Kurke, one of only nine survivors. “By the final days, we didn’t know ourselves … everyone was either praying, or dying.”

Why Singapore’s ruling party suffered historic setback at polls

Voter dissatisfaction is high over rising inequality and the high cost of living. For the first time, opposition candidates contested virtually every seat in parliament.

 

Bangkok, Thailand

Singapore’s ruling party suffered its worst-ever election result since independence in 1965 as youthful opposition parties tapped voter anger over high living costs and rising inequality in the wealthy city-state.

Unofficial results showed the opposition had garnered around 40 percent of 2 million votes cast in Saturday’s election. But the first-past-the-post parliamentary system – modeled on that of Britain, the former colonial power – ensured that the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) retained firm control, with 81 out of 87 seats.