Iraq oil exports dip on weather, sabotage
Iraq's oil exports fell in May as poor weather hits its southern ports and saboteurs blew up a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, the oil ministry said on Sunday.
Iraq exported 76.9 million barrels of oil, equivalent to an average rate of 2.48 million barrels per day (bpd), representing a five percent decline from daily export levels in April.
Average oil prices were $97.23 (€74.10) per barrel, meaning the country took in $7.477 billion from crude sales in May.
"There was a small reduction in exports during the month because of bad weather in the southern ports, and sabotage to the pipeline between Kirkuk and Ceyhan in Turkey," ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said in a statement.
Militants have repeatedly targeted the export pipeline which runs through northern Iraq, sometimes killing members of the oil police and the facilities protection service.
At least two attacks hit the pipeline in May.
Iraq is dependent on oil exports for the lion's share of its government income, and is seeking to dramatically ramp up its sales in the coming years to fund reconstruction of its battered infrastructure.
Officials are aiming to increase production capacity to nine million bpd by 2017. Oil output currently stands at 3.4 million bpd.
Earlier this month, Iraqi officials unveiled an ambitious energy strategy that aims to raise $6 trillion from oil and gas sales by 2030.
Snowden's HK exit shows Chinese anger
Officially, admitted leaker Edward Snowden was
able to leave Hong Kong because US authorities made a mistake in their arrest request, but the
semiautonomous Chinese city also indicated displeasure over Snowden's
revelation that the former British colony had been a target of American
hacking.
Beijing, meanwhile, says it had nothing to do with allowing the former National Security Agency contractor to fly to Russia on Sunday. But analysts believe the move was orchestrated by China to avoid a prolonged diplomatic tussle with the US over his extradition.
Snowden slipped out of Hong Kong on an Aeroflot flight to Moscow and was expected to transit through Cuba and Venezuela en route to possible asylum in Ecuador. His journey illustrates how the United States finds itself with few friends as it tries to apprehend the former CIA technician, who disclosed information on top-secret surveillance programmes.
Snowden, who had been hiding in Hong Kong for several weeks, had also revealed to a local newspaper details about the NSA's hacking of targets in Hong Kong. The revelations ratcheted up tensions between Washington and Beijing, which for months has been trying to counter US accusations that its government and military are behind computer-based attacks against America.
The Hong Kong government said it allowed Snowden to leave because the US request to provisionally arrest Snowden did not comply with legal requirements. At the same time, however, it mentioned that it asked the US for more information on the hacking, suggesting the issue played some role in its decision.
While Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy from the rest of China, experts said Beijing orchestrated Snowden's exit to remove a minor irritant in Sino-US relations.
Heading off a crisis
"The central government had to have intervened since this is an issue of international relations and national security," said Shen Dingli, director of the Centre for American Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University.
Ultimately, Shen said, China compromised by deciding to neither grant Snowden protection nor hand him over as the US requested. That approach has the advantage of heading off a crisis in relations with the US and demonstrating to Washington that Beijing values the overall relationship over any advantage it might gain from keeping Snowden, Shen said. He said handing Snowden over would have been an unpopular move within China.
The Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial that Snowden "has performed a service" by uncovering "the sordid tale of how the US government violates the rights of its citizens and conducts cyber spying throughout the entire world".
China's Foreign Ministry distanced itself from any role in Snowden's departure from Hong Kong, saying the territory had the right to make its own decision.
"We have read reports but got no details. We will continue to follow up on relevant developments," spokesperson Hua Chunying was quoted as saying Sunday by the official Xinhua News Agency.
Hua said Beijing had "always respected" Hong Kong's ability to deal with such matters through its robust legal system.
Beijing might be calling the shots
Writing on the ministry's website, Hua also raised the issue of cybersecurity.
"We are gravely concerned about the recently disclosed cyberattacks by relevant US government agencies against China," she wrote. "It shows once again that China falls victim to cyberattacks. We have made representations with the US."
Hong Kong lawmaker and lawyer Albert Ho said he suspects authorities in Beijing were calling the shots.
He said his firm had been representing Snowden in an effort to clarify his legal situation with the government. Snowden wanted to know what his circumstances would be like in the event he was arrested and whether he would be able to leave the city if he wanted. Ho said an intermediary who claimed to represent the government relayed a message to Snowden saying he was free to leave and should do so.
Ho said he didn't know the identity of the intermediary and wasn't sure whether the person was acting on Hong Kong's or Beijing's behalf.
"The entire decision was probably made in Beijing and Beijing decided to act on its best interests," Ho told reporters. "However, Beijing would not want to be seen on stage because it would affect Sino-US relations. That's why China has somebody acting in the background."
Computer access
Under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the city is allowed a high degree of autonomy from mainland Chinese authorities until 2047, although Beijing is allowed to intervene in cases involving defence and foreign affairs. The city has its own legal and financial system, a holdover from the British colonial rule that ended in 1997.
Ho also revealed a few more details about Snowden's life in hiding in Hong Kong, saying he had been living in a "private place" after he was forced to check out of the hotel where he was staying once he was discovered by journalists.
"Most of the time he did not leave the place where he was living, though once or twice he changed locations," Ho said.
"He only left at night, very carefully. He didn't want anyone to see him. He was very cautious."
Ho said Snowden lived in a "very small place. Fortunately he had a computer. He could contact anyone in the world".
Beijing, meanwhile, says it had nothing to do with allowing the former National Security Agency contractor to fly to Russia on Sunday. But analysts believe the move was orchestrated by China to avoid a prolonged diplomatic tussle with the US over his extradition.
Snowden slipped out of Hong Kong on an Aeroflot flight to Moscow and was expected to transit through Cuba and Venezuela en route to possible asylum in Ecuador. His journey illustrates how the United States finds itself with few friends as it tries to apprehend the former CIA technician, who disclosed information on top-secret surveillance programmes.
Snowden, who had been hiding in Hong Kong for several weeks, had also revealed to a local newspaper details about the NSA's hacking of targets in Hong Kong. The revelations ratcheted up tensions between Washington and Beijing, which for months has been trying to counter US accusations that its government and military are behind computer-based attacks against America.
The Hong Kong government said it allowed Snowden to leave because the US request to provisionally arrest Snowden did not comply with legal requirements. At the same time, however, it mentioned that it asked the US for more information on the hacking, suggesting the issue played some role in its decision.
While Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy from the rest of China, experts said Beijing orchestrated Snowden's exit to remove a minor irritant in Sino-US relations.
Heading off a crisis
"The central government had to have intervened since this is an issue of international relations and national security," said Shen Dingli, director of the Centre for American Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University.
Ultimately, Shen said, China compromised by deciding to neither grant Snowden protection nor hand him over as the US requested. That approach has the advantage of heading off a crisis in relations with the US and demonstrating to Washington that Beijing values the overall relationship over any advantage it might gain from keeping Snowden, Shen said. He said handing Snowden over would have been an unpopular move within China.
The Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial that Snowden "has performed a service" by uncovering "the sordid tale of how the US government violates the rights of its citizens and conducts cyber spying throughout the entire world".
China's Foreign Ministry distanced itself from any role in Snowden's departure from Hong Kong, saying the territory had the right to make its own decision.
"We have read reports but got no details. We will continue to follow up on relevant developments," spokesperson Hua Chunying was quoted as saying Sunday by the official Xinhua News Agency.
Hua said Beijing had "always respected" Hong Kong's ability to deal with such matters through its robust legal system.
Beijing might be calling the shots
Writing on the ministry's website, Hua also raised the issue of cybersecurity.
"We are gravely concerned about the recently disclosed cyberattacks by relevant US government agencies against China," she wrote. "It shows once again that China falls victim to cyberattacks. We have made representations with the US."
Hong Kong lawmaker and lawyer Albert Ho said he suspects authorities in Beijing were calling the shots.
He said his firm had been representing Snowden in an effort to clarify his legal situation with the government. Snowden wanted to know what his circumstances would be like in the event he was arrested and whether he would be able to leave the city if he wanted. Ho said an intermediary who claimed to represent the government relayed a message to Snowden saying he was free to leave and should do so.
Ho said he didn't know the identity of the intermediary and wasn't sure whether the person was acting on Hong Kong's or Beijing's behalf.
"The entire decision was probably made in Beijing and Beijing decided to act on its best interests," Ho told reporters. "However, Beijing would not want to be seen on stage because it would affect Sino-US relations. That's why China has somebody acting in the background."
Computer access
Under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the city is allowed a high degree of autonomy from mainland Chinese authorities until 2047, although Beijing is allowed to intervene in cases involving defence and foreign affairs. The city has its own legal and financial system, a holdover from the British colonial rule that ended in 1997.
Ho also revealed a few more details about Snowden's life in hiding in Hong Kong, saying he had been living in a "private place" after he was forced to check out of the hotel where he was staying once he was discovered by journalists.
"Most of the time he did not leave the place where he was living, though once or twice he changed locations," Ho said.
"He only left at night, very carefully. He didn't want anyone to see him. He was very cautious."
Ho said Snowden lived in a "very small place. Fortunately he had a computer. He could contact anyone in the world".
Obama: US will apprehend Snowden legally
President Barack Obama said on Monday the United States was using all appropriate legal channels to apprehend fugitive
intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who fled Hong Kong and landed in Moscow.
"What we know is that we are following all the appropriate legal
channels and working with various other countries to make sure that the rule of
law is observed," Obama told reporters at the White House.The president then deferred to the US justice department, as American authorities seek to persuade Russia to expel Snowden, and not let him flee elsewhere, likely to asylum in Ecuador.
Earlier the White House warned that the decision to let Snowden leave Hong Kong has damaged efforts to rebuild trust in US-China relations, and said it expected Russia to hand him over.
Nuke terror - more talk, less action
More than 100 states meeting next week will warn of the threat of nuclear terrorism but without deciding on any concrete new steps to counter the danger, a draft ministerial statement showed on Monday.
The document, which member states of the UN nuclear agency have been negotiating since March, looked unlikely to satisfy those who advocate stronger international action to ensure that potential nuclear bomb material does not fall into the wrong hands.
Still, Vienna-based diplomats said it would form a basis for future measures to improve global nuclear security, and stressed that the responsibility was mainly national.
To get all countries on board, "you are not going to have a document as ambitious" as some may have wanted, one envoy said.
Analysts say radical groups could theoretically build a crude but deadly nuclear device if they have the money, technical know-how and the amount of fissile material needed.
They say groups such as al-Qaeda have been trying to get the components for such a nuclear bomb. Obtaining weapons-grade fissile material - highly enriched uranium or plutonium - poses their biggest challenge, so keeping it secure is vital, both at civilian and military facilities, experts and officials say.
Experts describe the threat of a crude fissile nuclear bomb technically difficult to manufacture and requiring hard-to-obtain bomb-grade uranium or plutonium, as a "low probability, high consequence act" that is, with the potential to cause massive harm to life and property.
On the other hand, a "dirty bomb", where conventional explosives are used to disperse radiation from a radioactive source, is a "high probability, low consequence act" with more potential to terrorise than cause large loss of life.
Diplomats say many countries regard nuclear security as a sensitive political issue that should be handled primarily by national authorities, and this was clearly reflected in the language of the ministerial statement.
Radiological terrorism
The statement, to be formally adopted at a 1 - 5 July conference hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said substantial progress has been made in the past few years to strengthen nuclear security, but that more is needed.
Ministers "remain concerned about the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism and other malicious acts or sabotage related to facilities and activities involving nuclear and other radioactive material", said the document, obtained by Reuters.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano told Reuters last week that he saw "persistent risks" of nuclear terrorism. The information the UN watchdog receives about illicit nuclear-related trafficking may be the "tip of the iceberg", he said.
The international nuclear security regime "is not sufficiently robust" to protect against this kind of threat, an expert group said in a report this year.
An apple-sized amount of plutonium fashioned into a nuclear bomb and detonated in a highly populated urban area could instantly kill or injure hundreds of thousands of people, the Nuclear Security Governance Experts Group said.
"Preventing one of the world's major threats deserves bold action and new thinking," they added.
One of them, former Danish ambassador to the IAEA John Bernhard, said on Monday he believed the UN agency should have both more powers and resources to help enhance nuclear security.
US President Barack Obama last week said he would host a summit in 2016 on securing such materials and preventing nuclear terrorism. He put on such a summit in 2010, a second was held in Seoul in 2012 and a third will be in The Hague next year.
Unlike those meetings, attended by leaders from around 50 countries, next week's conference in Vienna is open to all members of the 159-nation IAEA, which says it expects officials from some 112 countries as well as 20 organisations.
Pakistan to try Musharraf for treason
Pakistan's new government said on Monday it would put former military ruler
Pervez Musharraf on trial for treason, charges punishable by death or life
imprisonment.
The retired general, who returned from four years of self-imposed exile in March, has been under house arrest at his villa on the edge of Islamabad since 19 April.
Any trial could put the civilian government at loggerheads with the powerful army, which vehemently opposes the prospect of its former chief facing the courts in Pakistan.
It also threatens to sabotage the chances of a quiet deal that Musharraf's legal team had hoped would allow the 69-year-old to win bail and quietly leave the country.
Once the most powerful man in the country, Musharraf faces a slew of charges relating to his 1999-2008 rule after seizing office from then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who won landmark elections in May.
"Musharraf's actions came under the purview of high treason," Sharif told parliament.
"He should face trial... and will have to answer for his guilt before the court," he added.
‘Unwarranted’ charges
Attorney General Munir Malik delivered the same statement on behalf of the government in the Supreme Court. A treason trial can be initiated only by the state.
"Those who aided or abetted holding the constitution in abeyance will also be brought to justice," Malik said.
Pakistan's highest court has for months been hearing a petition from lawyers demanding that Musharraf be tried for subverting the constitution by imposing emergency rule and sacking judges in 2007.
Judge Jawad Khwaja ordered the attorney general to inform the court on Thursday about the precise steps required to bring those guilty of treason to justice.
Musharraf's office accused the Sharif government of "demonstrating recklessness" in pursuing "unwarranted" treason charges, which it warned could destabilise the country.
"The former president has served Pakistan with selfless devotion and perseverance. The people of Pakistan will not tolerate this circus, which is primarily meant to create a diversion," it said.
‘Pandora’s box’
On Saturday, Islamist gunmen dressed as police killed 10 foreign tourists and a Pakistani at a remote base camp in the Himalayas, an unprecedented attack on mountaineers and the worst attack on foreigners in around a decade.
Musharraf's defence lawyer told reporters that putting Musharraf on trial would open "Pandora's box" in the country, which sits on the frontline of al-Qaeda and Taliban violence.
"Those who were collaborators are equally responsible, they should also be put on trial," Ahmed Raza Kasuri told reporters outside the Supreme Court.
"Whatever he did was in the interest of the state. I am confident, God willing, he will be exonerated," he said.
Pakistan's 11 May elections marked the first time that a democratically elected civilian government has served out a full five years in office and handed over at the ballot box.
It was an astonishing comeback for Sharif, who was deeply unpopular as prime minister in 1999 and whose replacement by Musharraf was widely welcomed.
Constitution violations
In April, a caretaker government guiding Pakistan through the elections refused to initiate the trial against Musharraf, saying it was beyond its mandate and up to the new government.
Sharif did not mince his words.
"Musharraf violated the constitution twice. He overthrew an elected government in 1999 and put everything into jeopardy. He sacked judges and imprisoned them," said Sharif.
"We will follow the process of law and all political forces will be taken into confidence," he added.
The two main opposition parties, Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by politician Imran Khan welcomed Sharif's remarks.
"This house should have another resolution against all dictators so that no one can cast an evil eye on this house," said Syed Khurshid Shah, PPP opposition leader in the national assembly.
House arrest
PTI's Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his party would support the prime minister on "every move towards supremacy of the constitution and law".
Musharraf faces three other cases dating back to his rule.
He has won bail for sacking judges and over the 2007 murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, but remains under house arrest over the 2006 killing of a Baluch rebel leader.
On Monday, courts in south-western province Baluchistan adjourned until 10 July a petition seeking to move the Baluch trial to Islamabad for security reasons and the hearing on the killing to 15 July, lawyers said.
Musharraf is serving his house arrest at his luxury villa in the upmarket suburb of Chak Shahzad on the edge of Islamabad. He is currently barred from leaving the country.
The retired general, who returned from four years of self-imposed exile in March, has been under house arrest at his villa on the edge of Islamabad since 19 April.
Any trial could put the civilian government at loggerheads with the powerful army, which vehemently opposes the prospect of its former chief facing the courts in Pakistan.
It also threatens to sabotage the chances of a quiet deal that Musharraf's legal team had hoped would allow the 69-year-old to win bail and quietly leave the country.
Once the most powerful man in the country, Musharraf faces a slew of charges relating to his 1999-2008 rule after seizing office from then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who won landmark elections in May.
"Musharraf's actions came under the purview of high treason," Sharif told parliament.
"He should face trial... and will have to answer for his guilt before the court," he added.
‘Unwarranted’ charges
Attorney General Munir Malik delivered the same statement on behalf of the government in the Supreme Court. A treason trial can be initiated only by the state.
"Those who aided or abetted holding the constitution in abeyance will also be brought to justice," Malik said.
Pakistan's highest court has for months been hearing a petition from lawyers demanding that Musharraf be tried for subverting the constitution by imposing emergency rule and sacking judges in 2007.
Judge Jawad Khwaja ordered the attorney general to inform the court on Thursday about the precise steps required to bring those guilty of treason to justice.
Musharraf's office accused the Sharif government of "demonstrating recklessness" in pursuing "unwarranted" treason charges, which it warned could destabilise the country.
"The former president has served Pakistan with selfless devotion and perseverance. The people of Pakistan will not tolerate this circus, which is primarily meant to create a diversion," it said.
‘Pandora’s box’
On Saturday, Islamist gunmen dressed as police killed 10 foreign tourists and a Pakistani at a remote base camp in the Himalayas, an unprecedented attack on mountaineers and the worst attack on foreigners in around a decade.
Musharraf's defence lawyer told reporters that putting Musharraf on trial would open "Pandora's box" in the country, which sits on the frontline of al-Qaeda and Taliban violence.
"Those who were collaborators are equally responsible, they should also be put on trial," Ahmed Raza Kasuri told reporters outside the Supreme Court.
"Whatever he did was in the interest of the state. I am confident, God willing, he will be exonerated," he said.
Pakistan's 11 May elections marked the first time that a democratically elected civilian government has served out a full five years in office and handed over at the ballot box.
It was an astonishing comeback for Sharif, who was deeply unpopular as prime minister in 1999 and whose replacement by Musharraf was widely welcomed.
Constitution violations
In April, a caretaker government guiding Pakistan through the elections refused to initiate the trial against Musharraf, saying it was beyond its mandate and up to the new government.
Sharif did not mince his words.
"Musharraf violated the constitution twice. He overthrew an elected government in 1999 and put everything into jeopardy. He sacked judges and imprisoned them," said Sharif.
"We will follow the process of law and all political forces will be taken into confidence," he added.
The two main opposition parties, Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by politician Imran Khan welcomed Sharif's remarks.
"This house should have another resolution against all dictators so that no one can cast an evil eye on this house," said Syed Khurshid Shah, PPP opposition leader in the national assembly.
House arrest
PTI's Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his party would support the prime minister on "every move towards supremacy of the constitution and law".
Musharraf faces three other cases dating back to his rule.
He has won bail for sacking judges and over the 2007 murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, but remains under house arrest over the 2006 killing of a Baluch rebel leader.
On Monday, courts in south-western province Baluchistan adjourned until 10 July a petition seeking to move the Baluch trial to Islamabad for security reasons and the hearing on the killing to 15 July, lawyers said.
Musharraf is serving his house arrest at his luxury villa in the upmarket suburb of Chak Shahzad on the edge of Islamabad. He is currently barred from leaving the country.
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