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Tajikistan To Build Unique Mosque

Tajikistan is planning to build one of the world's largest mosques in the country's capital city of Dushanbe by the year 2014.

A Tajik presidential spokesman said on Monday that the mosque would be constructed in a joint project with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"The mosque is expected to accommodate about 150,000 people," the spokesman said adding that construction would begin in October.

The mosque will span an area of 7.5 hectares in the center of Dushanbe and will feature national Tajik architectural elements.

"The mosque will be decorated with a majestic minaret, seven painted columns, embodying the seven steps of God creating the world and the seven gates to paradise, as well as water reservoirs and fountains, bearing witness to Tajikistan as a country of pure waters," said the spokesman.

The mosque, which is to be built by UAE company Adnan Saffarini, will also include large conference halls, a museum and a library.

An Islamic university is also set to be constructed near the mosque, RIA Novosti reported.

Although Tajikistan is officially a secular state, over 90% of its population are Muslim and some 249 mosques and 18 Islamic educational institutions currently exist in the country.

Iran Navy Launches High-Tech Missile Boat

Iran's Navy has started employing the most advanced home-made missile boat named Sina in a bid to bolster its defense naval capabilities.

The Sina class warship officially set sail in the Caspian Sea in northern Iran in a ceremony attended by Iran's Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi and commander of the Iranian navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

The vessel has been designed and built by experts of Iran's Defense Ministry, in cooperation with Iran's army.

It has more than a hundred radar, artillery, electronic and telecommunication systems and is also equipped with modern navigation systems.

Access to this advanced scientific and research technology carries Iran's message of peace and friendship for regional countries.

Meanwhile, a top Iranian army commander said Tuesday that the country would produce an advanced version of its Sejil missile.

"A new generation of optimized and advanced Sejil missiles will be produced," the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami told state news agency IRNA.

"The solid-fuel long-range Sejil missile has been tested since last year and was delivered to the armed forces and the IRGC air forces in particular," he said.

"The two-stage Sejil has high accuracy and destructive capability and is amongst the most advanced missile systems that the armed forces have.”

Salami stressed that Iran's missile production industry would not stop and said, "Iran's missile industry has been indigenous and is increasing every day."

On Monday, Iran successfully test-fired long-range Shahab-3 and Sejil missiles in the third and last stage of an advanced military drill named The Great Prophet IV, which was carried out by the IRGC.

The optimized Shahab-3 has a range of 1,300 to 2,000 kilometers.

The Sejil is a two-stage missile powered by solid fuel which was tested by the IRGC for the first time in the maneuver.

Both of the projectiles accurately hit their designated targets.

The IRGC successfully test-fired several models of medium-range Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles during the first and second stages of the military drill in central Iran Sunday night.

Salami said the Shahab-2 missiles would hit targets at least 300 kilometers and at the most 700 kilometers away.

The missile tests come as Israel has stepped up its war rhetoric against Iran, repeatedly threatening to bomb the country's nuclear installations.

Iran has vowed a 'firm response' to any military action by Israel, which claims that Tehran is secretly developing nuclear weapons -- a charge denied by both Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog.

Chavez, Gadhafi Seek Alliance To Counter West

Hugo Chavez and Moammar Gadhafi have called on Latin and African nations to come together and form a strong intercontinental alliance against the "empires of the North."

The Venezuelan President, speaking at the opening ceremony of the first two-day summit of African and Latin leaders on Venezuela's Margarita Island on Saturday described the event as "a summit of great importance for the struggles of the South."

"Only united will we be free," Chavez was quoted by AP saying.

On his part, the Libyan leader who is visiting Latin America for the first time, said if the two regions joined forces they would be able to establish an economic and political powerhouse, adding that together "we can transform the world."

Gadhafi also proposed a defense alliance of South American and African countries, calling it the "NATO of the South" - an idea Chavez has put forward in the past.

Gadhafi reiterated the regional nations could assume a better role in this way by making decisions about their development and they would be no longer subordinated to the decision made by the NATO or the UN Security Council.

The purpose of the second regional meeting participated by 20 leaders from Africa and Latin America, is to enhance the cooperation of participating countries in food crisis, finance, economy and environment.

The participants further, seek the expansion of agreements and action plans that began in early 2006 at the first summit held in Abuja, Nigeria.

Iran Urges Global Nuclear Disarmament

With two days ahead of scheduled talks between Iran and the major world powers, Tehran urges nuclear-weapon-states to fulfill their disarmament obligations.

"Iran calls on countries that possess nuclear weapons to remain committed to their undertakings on disarmament in the world," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in a meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt in New York on Monday.

Referring to the upcoming meeting between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Russia, China, Britain, France and the US -- plus Germany (P5+1), Mottaki urged the West to adopt a positive and active approach.

After Iran presented its new package of proposals to the six major powers, the two sides agreed to hold wide-ranging discussions on global issues as well as Iran's rifts with some Western countries on October 1.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran proved its positive approach to negotiations by presenting its latest package of proposals," Mottaki told Bildt, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency.

"We hope [Iran and the six powers] will hold constructive talks based on mutual respect and collective obligations," he said.

Mottaki reiterated that Iran would never give up its legitimate rights on use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes amid persistent pressure from Western interests and baseless accusations of a military agenda.

Iran enters the Geneva-hosted talks having said that major powers particularly the US, Britain and France have breached international regulations and continue to deceive the world nations by violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty articles in the last 40 years.

Iran has announced the existence of Fordu nuclear plant 12 months earlier than the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations oblige member states to inform the UN nuclear watchdog of new developments. However, this didn't stop the West from crying out 'deception'.

Tehran is at present working out details to invite inspections of the new site.

Iran's foreign minister rejected Western accusations and said, "The West committed its biggest diplomatic and political mistake in recent days based on false information given to them."

Mottaki expressed regret that the terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) and British services gave misinformation to US President Barack Obama who 'swallowed it hook, line, and sinker much like they did with misinformation about Iraq'.

"It is in their own interests to begin constructive and comprehensive talks with Iran under revised policies," Mottaki said after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russia Warns Against Hasty Actions On Iran

Russia's top diplomat at the upcoming Geneva negotiations of the 'P5+1' group with Iran has warned against using Tehran's recent missile tests as a pretext for imposing further sanctions.

Iran successfully tested long range Shahab-3 and Sejilmissiles Monday in the third stage of a defense drill meant to bolster the country's defense capabilities.

The optimized Shahab-3 can hit targets at as far as 1,300 to 2,000 kilometers, while the solid-fuel-poweredSejil has an operational range of 2000 to 2500 kilometers.

"When and whether sanctions against Iran will become inevitable is a completely separate issue, one that we are yet to address,” The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Interfax News Agency.

"It should be investigated,” he said, “And there's no reason to immediately start dealing with the matter at that angle."

Iran and the six major powers -- Russia, China, Britain, France and the US plus Germany, referred to as the P5+1 group -- have agreed on October 1 as the date to hold wide-ranging talks addressing global issues along with Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran faces pressure to halt its nuclear enrichment, as world powers claim its program is aimed at building a nuclear bomb.

Tehran, however, has denied seeking nuclear weapons, arguing that such weapons are against its core religious and national principles as well as practically useless, and has called for the removal of all weapons of mass destruction across the globe.

The Russian diplomat once again called for a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue.

"The substance of the Russian position is that now, at this stretch of time, we should pool our resources together and do everything possible in the interests of a diplomatic, political solution to the Iranian nuclear problem," Ryabkov said.

China has also expressed opposition against any non-diplomatic solution to issues concerning the Iranian nuclear program.

Iran Test-fires Long-range Shahab-3, Sejil Missiles

The Islamic Republic of Iran has successfully tested long range Shahab-3 and Sejil missiles in the third stage of a defense drill in a bid to bolster its defense capabilities, Press TV has learned.

The missiles were launched on Monday as part of an advanced military exercise named The Great Prophet IVwhich was carried out by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

The optimized Shahab-3 has a range of 1,300 to 2,000 kilometers.

The Sejil is a two-stage missile powered by solid fuel which was tested by the IRGC for the first time in the maneuver.

Both of the projectiles accurately hit their designated targets.

The IRGC successfully test-fired several models of medium-range Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles during the first and second stages of military drill in central Iran Sunday night.

A number of missiles including Iranian-made Fateh-110, a short-range ground-to-ground missile and Tondar-69, a short-range naval missile, were also launched consecutively at mock targets across the country in the first stage of the military drill on Sunday morning.

According to the IRGC Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the Shahab-2 missiles would hit targets at least 300 kilometers and at the most 700 kilometers away.

"The Great Prophet IV" maneuver is a sequel to "The Great Prophet III" which was carried out last year by the IRGC naval and ground forces in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz region.

In Guinea, 157 Protesters Killed, Rape Reported

Rights groups have raised the death toll in clashes between Guinea's junta and opposition demonstrators to at least 157 people, with another 1,253 said to have been wounded.

The Guinean Human Rights Organization announced the new figure on Tuesday, a day after troops cracked down on about 50,000 opposition supporters gathering in the capital, Conakry, for a demonstration banned by the ruling junta.

The protesters were opposing a potential candidacy by the leader of last year's coup, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, in the country's 2010 presidential vote.

The opposition Union of Republican Forces had earlier said that 128 corpses were delivered to two Conakry hospitals after Monday's shootings, amid accusations of rape by the troops.

A Red Cross source said military commanders ordered all bodies at the stadium to be taken to the Alpha Yaya Diallo military camp, the junta headquarters, rather than to morgues.

Camara says he has no knowledge of the rapes but rights groups have reported several cases, adding that clashes continued in the capital, with soldiers shooting dead a youth on Tuesday.

Mamadi Kaba, head of the Guinean branch of the African Encounter for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO), told AFP that the rapes of women has started from the stadium in Conakry, where the protesters had gathered, and had continued into the army barracks.

The United Nations, African Union and European Union have all expressed concern over the killings.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced "excessive use of force" and said he was "shocked by the loss of life, the high number of people injured and the destruction of property."

Ahmadinejad: Why Focus On Holocaust?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on the US media to shift their focus away from the Holocaust into other massacres that have taken place in the world.

“There are many historical events, similar historical events. Why is this one in particular so important to you?... During World War II, 60 million people were killed. Why are we just focusing on this special group alone?” Ahmadinejad asked in an interview with CBS.

When the CBS reporter answered that all the attention that is being paid to the matter is because he was 'denying it', Ahmadinejad responded by saying that he was 'sorry for all the 60 million people that lost their lives, equally'.

“All of them were human beings. And it doesn't matter whether they were Christians or Jews or Buddhists or Muslims. They were killed. So, we're sorry for everyone,” said Ahmadinejad.

In another interview with American paper the Washington Post, Ahmadinejad asked whether from the point of view of US media the Holocaust was an isolated issue, or one that still affected world affairs.

“You do agree that it is an important topic. Do you believe that the Holocaust still carries through to this day in terms of its effects today? Could you explain to me how it affects issues today?” he said.

“What I am saying is extremely clear. It is an academic approach to a crucial subject and also one based on humanitarian considerations. We have several specific questions with regard to the events of World War II,” Ahmadinejad added later on.

The president continued that he did not believe the answers to those questions could be 'found through the propaganda that is promoted by the media'.

“In the end, the questions need convincing answers. The first question that I have to try and understand is why in the midst of all that happened in World War II, the Holocaust is emphasized more than any other [event]?” he asked.

“The second question is, why do Western politicians focus on this issue so much? The third question is how does that event connect with issues that we see around us in the world today?

“We should ask ourselves whether the event did take place; if so, where did it happen, who were the perpetrators, and, what was the role of the Palestinian people? What crime have they committed to deserve what they have received as a result?”

Ahmadinejad said since the beginning of the Israeli occupation, over 5 million Palestinians have become refugees.

“Why is the Holocaust used as a pretext to usurp the land of other people? Why should the Palestinian people give their lives up for it? Who is the occupier here? The United Nations resolutions condemn which occupying regime?” he asked.

“What fair-minded person can accept that an event that happened in Europe [results] in having his or her land occupied elsewhere in the world?

“Unfortunately Western politicians refuse to answer these questions and egress into other areas… We see the Holocaust as a pretext to commit genocide against the Palestinian people.”

Israel established itself in 1948 after forcing out millions of native Palestinians out of their land, because of their Arab race and Islamic religion, although they too were Semites.

According to the United Nations regulations, Palestinian refugees have an undeniable 'Right to Return' to their homeland, like all other indigenous people of a country who have been displaced by force.

Israel, Lebanon's Worst Enemy: Poll

Results of a recent survey show that the Lebanese people deem Qatar as their country's closest ally while Israel is considered as their foremost enemy.

An opinion poll conducted on August 11-15 among people from different religious communities in Lebanon shows more than 86 percent of Lebanese favor Qatar.

Syria and Iran rank as Lebanon's second and third friend nations with 72 and 68 percent respectively, with Tehran enjoying the most votes among the country's Shia community.

This is while a sweeping 92 percent majority considers Israel as their leading enemy with Washington following with 64 percent as Tel Aviv's closest ally.

The results from the survey mark an 11 percent fall in the US popularity with the Lebanese from 37 percent in a June 2008 poll.

Egypt, one of the few Arab states that have normalized ties with Israel, has climbed down as much as 17 percent from 63 percent last year while Saudi Arabia ended up seven percent higher than its 53 percent in 2008.

The survey also found a low popularity for the United Nations in Lebanon as almost half of the 995 people who participated in the poll said they did not consider the international body as their friend.

On the most serious threats, 48 percent of the Lebanese expressed their deepest concerns over the prospects of another Israeli attack, while 12 percent said they remained concerned with the issue of Palestinian refugees. Economic recession and sectarian violence were to follow with almost 10 percent each.

While Israel and its Western allies are increasingly uncomfortable with Hezbollah's armed resistance, the Islamic group does not seem to provoke much fear at home as a meager 5 percent said they disliked an armed Hezbollah.

The vote sought views about Lebanon's 'friends and foes' among a mix of Shia and Sunni Muslims, Druze and Maronite communities as well as other religious minorities.

The poll was conducted with an error margin of 3.1 percent.

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