Senator Ted Kennedy - 1932-2009

Senator Ted Kennedy has died aged 77, losing his battle with brain cancer.

The senator had served in the US senate for almost 47 years and won his 8th term in 2006. He became the Democratic senator for Massachusetts in 1946, replacing his brother, John Kennedy, when he resigned to become president.

In 2006, Teddy, as he was affectionatley known, was named by Time magazine as one of America's ten best Senators, as he had "amassed a titanic record of legislation affecting the lives of virtually every man, woman and child in the country".

Across his near half century in the senate, Ted Kennedy pushed reform in education and healthcare becoming a champion for the working class. He was known for forging cross party alliances, helping George W. Bush with education reforms and working with Senator John McCain on immigration legislation.

Despite this he was well-known as a liberal member of the Democratic party and heavily criticised the Bush administration on Iraq and the abuse of prisoners. He was also involved in the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, after earlier calling for British troops to leave the country.

Kennedy ran against incumbent president Jimmy Carter for the democratic nomination in the 1980 presidential race. However, the death of a young women in his car after he crashed into waters on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts, halted his chances.

President Obama, who Kennedy had declared his support for during the 2008 presidential race, said he was "heartbroken" by the Senator's death. He said the death "An important chapter in our history has come to an end," and "Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States senator of our time."

Harry Reid, Senate majority leader said "The liberal lion's mighty roar may now fall silent, but his dream shall never die".

British Prime Minister said "Even facing illness and death, he never stopped fighting for the causes which were his life's work. I am proud to have counted him as a friend." He added that Senator Kennedy's passing would be "mourned not just in America but in every continent".

A Kennedy family statement said "We've lost the irreplaceable centre of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever."

Ted Kennedy was the only surviving brother of the Kennedy family, being the only one to live past middle age. His eldest brother Joseph died during a plane crash in WWII and his other brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated in 1963 and 1968.

Senator Kennedy remained a member of the Senate until his death and recently suggested a change in the law to allow a quick succession when his seat became vacant. It is thought he worried that a lengthy election would hamper President Obama's healthcare reform by denying a crucial vote.

Brown “repulsed” by reception of Lockerbie bomber

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he was “repulsed” by the hero’s welcome given to the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.

Brown has broken his silence to comment on the release of al-Megrahi and said his thoughts were with the families of the Lockerbie victims.

He also stressed that British government has played “no role” in deciding to release the convicted bomber.

He added that he “could not interfere and had no control over the final outcome.”

He concluded the Downing Street press conference by reaffirming his commitment to fighting international terrorism with the co-operation of nations such as Libya.

He said his “resolve to fight terrorism is absolute” and he was determined “to work with other countries to fight and root out terrorism”.

The Prime Minister had been subject to growing criticism, especially from opposition politicians, over his silence on the compassionate release of Megrahi.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg said “It is absurd and damaging that the British prime minister simply remains silent in the hope that someone else will take the flak .”

Kenny MacAskill defended his decision in the Scottish parliament yesterday. MPs were called in for an emergency meeting during their summer recess to discuss the release.

Mr MacAskill said “It was my decision and my decision alone. I stand by it and I'll live by the consequences.” Opposition politicians were very critical of Megrahi’s release.

Top Iranian opposition figures on trial

Senior figures in Iran’s opposition movement have been put on trial in Tehran.

The defendants include many ministers from President Khatami’s government of 1997-2005.

Those on trial face charges of conspiring with foreign powers to incite unrest. The trials follow mass demonstrations after the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June.

Several thousand people were arrested during the protest, most of whom were released soon afterwards, however, 100 face charges.

Opposition leaders have condemned the court proceedings as “show trials” and described them as “laughable”.

The 20 people in court included former Deputy Interior minister Mostafa Tajzadesh, former Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh and economist Saeed Leylaz

Only Iranian state media have access to the courtrooms.

Karzai ahead in Afghan poll

An initial count of the Afghan presidential votes shows incumbent president Hamid Karzai has a slight lead.

With 10% of the votes counted Karzai has marginally more votes than rival Dr Abdulllah Abdullah. The final result will not be known until mid-September, when all votes have been counted.

Currently Mr Karzai has 212,927 votes and Dr Abdullah 202, 889 but a candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second round run-off.

Afghanistan’s electoral commission says 544,444 valid votes have been counted with Karzai taking 40.6% and Abdullah on 38.7%.

Moments after the prelimary result was announced an explosion hit the Southern city of Kandahar killing 30 people and injuring many more. Reports say that several buildings collapsed in the blast in the city centre.

Earlier in the day, a bomb killed four US soldiers, making 2009 the deadliest year for foreign troops since the Taliban were overthrown.

“ Once again they've killed children, women, innocent Afghans. They are not human. They are animals.
”

The electoral commission said Ramazan Bashardost is currently third with 53,470 and Ashaf Ghani Ahmadzai fourth with 15,143.

Based on the figures released a second round run-off would most likely be between Karzai and Abdullah. However, only 2% of votes in Kandahar have been counted and none in Helmand, provinces where Karzai is expected to do well, so a run-off may not be needed.

Further counting will take place and the electoral commission says they will release more results in coming weeks.

The final result will not be released until the Electoral Complaints Commission has investigated the 800 complaints of electoral irregularities and fraud. 54 of these 800 are considered to be serious allegations and among the complainants is Dr Abdullah, who claims rigging in favour of Karzai.

Mirwais Yasini, another prominent presidential candidate, has also made claims 800 votes for him were discarded.

Iranian minister "wanted" by Interpol

Iranian Defence Minister-Designate, Ahmad Vahidi, is on Interpol's "wanted" list for the bombing of a Jewish centre in Argentina.

Interpol has issued a "red notice" for Mr Vahidi over the bombing Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people. A "red notice" is issued by Interpol to inform it's 187 member nations that an arrest warrant has been issued by a member's judiciary authority. Interpol was keen to stress that the notice was not an international arrest warrant.

Mr Vahidi has been on Interpol's wanted list since November 2007 along with five others who Argentine authorities believe were behind the bombing. The attack was the worst against Jews since World War II and is Argentina's worst terrorist atrocity.

Ahmad Vahidi has been nominated for defence minister in President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's new cabinet after serving as deputy defence minister during Ahmadinejad's first term. Tehran has been quick to dismiss the criticisms and claimed it was part of a "zionist plot".

A spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign ministry said "This is yet another of Ahmadinejad's actions that prove he is a person you cannot deal with,"

Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman commented that "Iran has always protected terrorists, giving them government posts, but I think never one as high as this one,"

Speaking about the case, Prosecutor Nisman said "It has been demonstrated that Vahidi participated in and approved of the decision to attack AMIA during the meeting in Iraq on 14 August 1993"

Anger over "hero's welcome"

The welcome given to freed Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has sparked anger from both sides of the Atlantic.

The 57 year old was met with scenes of celebration and jubilation on arrival in Libya's capital, Tripoli. Crowds had gathered to meet Mr Meghrai as he left the plane and waved both Libyan and Scottish flag from the airport's tarmac.

Britan's Foreign secretary, David Milliband, commented that "Obviously the sight of a mass murderer getting a hero's welcome in Tripoli is deeply upsetting, deeply distressing." He added "that how the Libyan government handles itself in the next few days will be very significant in the way the world views Libya's re-entry into the civilised community of nations,"

White House spokesperson, Bill Burton, said "It is disturbing to see images suggesting that Megrahi was accorded a hero's welcome instead of being treated as a convicted murderer," He also said that the US government had made it clear to Libyan authorities that "such a welcome sends the wrong message and is deeply offensive to the families of the hundreds of people who lost their lives in the Lockerbie bombing".

Downing Street also said that the British Prime Minister had contacted the Libyan government about al-Megrahi's reception and had asked them to "act with sensitivity".

Families of the victims of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland have begun to discuss ways to protest at Megrahi's release. 270 people were killed when the plane was bombed in December 1988 including 11 who were killed when debris rained upon the Scottish town.

Afghans defy "bombs and intimidations" to vote

President Hamid Karzai has praised the Afghan people for braving Taliban "rockets, bombs and intimidations," and described the election as a success.

Speaking to reporters after the polls closed, following a one hour extension, Mr Karzai said "We'll see what the turnout was. But they came out to vote. That's great."

His praise has been echoed by Nato and the US, White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs said "Lots of people have defied threats of violence and terror to express their thoughts about the next government for the people of Afghanistan."

Afghanistan's interior ministry has reported that 73 attacks have taken place today across 15 provinces.

In Baghlan, Northern Afghanistan, eight died when police clashed with Taliban militia who were storming the town to prevent polling stations from opening. Also in Baghlan province a police chief was shot dead when a police post was attacked.

In Ghazni province, Taliban militants set-alight a bus on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, allegedly as punishment for breaking a Taliban imposed ban on using the road.

In Khost and Kandahar provinces two women and several children were killed when rockets hit their homes. More than 20 rockets hit Lashkar Gar, Helmand province's capital, an area known as a Taliban stronghold.

Overall it is thought around 26 people were killed in election day violence despite the presence of 300,000 Afghan and Nato troops, who were on patrol across Afghanistan to prevent attacks on polling stations.

Kai Eide, the head of the UN mission in Kabul said that overall the levels of violence had been "better than we feared" and that the security situation had been such that it "allowed people to take part in the elections".

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen praised the success of today's poll as "a testimony to the determination of the Afghan people to build democracy".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement congratulating the people of Afghanistan on the presidential and provincial ballots.

The poll was the second presidential election in the country's history and was the first to be organised primarily by Afghans. he director of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, Azizullah Loudin said that voter turnout had been "high" when speaking on state-tv.

Voter numbers were believed to be very low in Southern and Eastern areas of Afghanistan, where the Taliban are dominant. Where as in Northern areas, such as Herat, experienced a higher turnout. In Kabul, some polling stations saw Afghans queue outside for the polls to open where as in others few votes were cast.

Some rural areas have reported that no votes were cast in some areas but officials hope that overall turnout will be around 50%.

Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Brian Katulis, said that in a women's voting centre he visited in Kabul "there were long lines,[the] mood was festive". However, he said "Checkpoints and restrictions on traffic made Kabul like a ghost town."