Sunday, August 23, 2009 WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has issued a special Ramadan message to the Muslim World, expressing hope for a more peaceful and secure world. In a video message to Muslims, Obama said the US was committed to keeping its pledge to build a safer world, end the Iraq war and isolate violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "All of these efforts are part of America's commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect," Obama said in the message posted on the White House website. "And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world." "We are also committed to keeping our responsibility to build a world that is more peaceful and secure," he said. Obama also mentioned the common Muslim-Christian principals and rituals, saying that people of the both faiths are in search of "advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings." He said that the US would help recognize the rights of Israelis and Palestinians for them to live in peace and security. Since taking his oath of office in January, Obama has tried to reconcile US relations with the Muslim World, which were soured after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 20003. The US President visited Turkey and Egypt, telling both Muslim audiences that "America is not - and never will be - at war with Islam." Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, is a time for Muslims to fast from dawn to sunset and focus on their faith, self-accountability and self-restraint. Muslims believe it was in this month that the first verse of the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH).
BEIRUT: Thousands of people converged Saturday on central Beirut to mark the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese former premier Rafiq Hariri.Waving Lebanese flags and carrying pictures of the slain leader, men, women and children gathered under sunny skies in Martyr's Square where members of the parliamentary majority were to address the crowd. The rally comes as final preparations are underway in The Hague for the launch of the international tribunal set up to bring Hariri's killers to justice. It also comes as the country prepares for legislative elections in June that will pit Western-backed political parties against a Hezbollah-led alliance backed by Syria and Iran.Hariri died in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005 that also killed 22 others. The assassination was widely blamed on then Lebanese power-broker Syria, which has denied any involvement. The attack on the Beirut seafront was one of the worst acts of political violence to rock Lebanon since t...
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