U.S. removal of Yemeni President is looking for now: report - Reuters

Is Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh during a rally of supporters in Sana'a, Yemen 1 April 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Khaled Abdullah

WASHINGTON | Sun Apr 3, 2011 10:58 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - the United States has closed, reported Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh required unlikely reforms of opposition demonstrators, will be granted and must be facilitated by Office, the New York Times Sunday, citing United States and Yemeni officials.

He spoke openly the United States its concern that could succeed Saleh, that it contain a Yemen-based wing of the militant group as an ally, which has helped views, al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula.

Saleh, has at the makes for 32 years, said he was ready, finally let in but that stopping abruptly would cause chaos.

About 82 people were killed in anti-Government demonstrations in the Arabian Peninsula State.

President Barack Obama had supported administration Saleh, but began to shift position on the Yemeni leader, told the New York Times last week.

Allies have American officials and some journalists said that they now Saleh's hold on Office as untenable view and they believe that he should leave the newspaper reported.

A Yemeni official was quoted as saying, negotiations with Saleh on the conditions of his departure possible a little more than a week in, after relating the Government killed started armed more than 50 protesters at a rally on 18 March.

"The Americans have for the transfer makes since beginning was push" the negotiations still under way, were the official told the newspaper.

Under an opposition plan would be restructured the army and security forces as temporary President, Vice President of the opposition coalition said on Saturday.

Talks were turns in the last two weeks, sometimes in the presence of the US Ambassador.

Sources said Saleh would like to make sure that he and his family not prosecution of corruption face to do claims, which the opposition has spoken.

(Reporting by JoAnne Allen;) (Editing by Christopher Wilson)

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Minister ya'alon: Israel expected UN fully withdraw Goldstone report - HA' Ha'aretz

Israel expected the United Nations to withdraw of a damning report of his behaviour during the Gaza war 2008 and early 2009, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe in end Ya'alon said on Sunday.

Yaalon's comments came as Israel's Government has been said, a diplomatic and public relations campaign in the next few days, benefit in their favor, start in the article published by Judge Richard Goldstone in the Washington Post on 1 April of the UN investigation, which he in operation cast lead led.

The possibilities when heard in Jerusalem to try and convince Goldstone of United Nations request, that his article has become an official UN document. In the article, Goldstone said that subsequent investigations of Israel more than 400 cases in which soldiers had suspected deliberately targeting Palestinian civilians led him to the conclusion that there no such deliberate attacks on civilians. "If I had then known what I know now," the South African lawyer wrote "The Goldstone report would have been a different document.",

During a briefing said for foreign journalists ya'alon Sunday that Israel are expected that the United Nations to fully withdraw its report on alleged atrocities committed by the Israeli army during the Gaza.

"We hope that Goldstone you will send a letter to the UN Secretary General and the accusations deletes leveled against Israel in his distorted report" Ya'alon said.

For his part, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday, that "Israel force Goldstone before international forums, in particular with the United Nations must appear."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was even more ambitious in demand that the entire report annulled that something, which is very unlikely. Netanyahu assigned to national security adviser Yaakov Amidror, a joint team of employees of the justice, foreign policy and defence ministries with the formulation of political and legal recommendations according to Goldstone's article set up.

While Netanyahu, said the yesterday's Cabinet meeting that "We will try, some of the damage to undo" and it was his goal "cancelled the report see."

But sources said the Foreign Ministry, in the best circumstances, possible for the UN General Assembly to conclude it could be, that a previous resolution passed a year ago, which fully accepted the Goldstone report adopt a new resolution, is no longer valid.

"In the current international realities, in the light of Israel's standing and the deadlock in the peace process, it is difficult to imagine that such a scenario repeating," a source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, commenting on the previous instance in a UN resolution income - 1991, with the withdrawal of the infamous 1975 General Assembly resolution 3379, which equated Zionism with racism.

In the meantime, Goldstone's was criticized article in the Washington Post of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas, declaration one that the change in the attitude does not change the fact that Israel massacred civilians in the Gaza Strip the Goldstone and some 1500 Palestinians killed. And in an interview with the Palestinian daily Al-Ayam said Fatah figure Nabil Sha Shaath, Goldstone probably pressure in writing his play was had. Members of the Hamas leadership made similar remarks.

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Author of the report citing Israel backtracks

Richard Goldstone, under the direction of the UN Commission investigating Israel's war against Hamas forces in 2008 09.Goldstone report was criticism of Israel and Hamas in Gaza FightingIt devoted himself to more accusations of Israeli war, which now says CrimesIts author, that he would come up with different FindingsIsraeli would have more cooperative, he writes in a Washington Post op-ed PieceRead the report of the United Nations fact finding mission to the Gaza conflict (PDF)

(CNN) --der Chairman of the UN Commission whose report against Hamas Israel measures amounting to war crimes accused says that he would have reached different conclusions if the Israeli army had more forthcoming and if he had known the results of subsequent investigations.

"If I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone report another document, would", wrote Richard Goldstone, a former South African lawyer, in a Washington Post op-ed column Friday.

Israel already long critical of the conclusions of the UN Human Rights Council on its war against the Hamas in Gaza on Saturday in 2008-09, presented called for the body to cancel the results.

"Everything we said proved true,", said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Civilians, its institutions and bodies are deliberately worthy Israel not intentionally damage while the Hamas fired on innocent civilians and tested everything." "The fact that Goldstone may traced the shelves of this report a for once to lead."

There was no immediate response from Hamas.

Goldstone report, in September 2009, said Israel and Hamas probably war crimes and crimes against humanity committed 18 possible during the conflict between 27 December 2008 and January 2009.

Civilian targets that deliberate is the supposed crimes of Hamas only of course - its missiles were targeted and indiscriminately target.
--Richard Goldstone, published Friday in a Washington Post op-ed

Israeli investigations found cases relating to individual soldiers, but the deliberate targeting of civilians by Israel was not a "question of politics," Goldstone writes now.

Israel began the offensive against Gaza militants in response to continuous firing of rockets against southern Israeli towns.

The UN Human Rights Council, the Goldstone and others associated with the fact-finding mission, approved the controversial report, which focused more on alleged war crimes committed by Israel.

Israel provided to justify the United Nations with a report of his actions later. Israel said it faced "asymmetrical conflicts" and "militant operation from within and behind civilian areas" the blame for the placement of civilians at risk.

In his column, Goldstone cited a subsequent report by a UN Committee of independent experts, which found that Israel examined more than 400 allegations of misconduct during Hamas "no studies on the introduction of rocket and mortar has carried out attacks against Israel."

", That supposedly goes deliberate crimes of Hamas of course scale - its rockets deliberately and indiscriminately at civilian targets addressed," Goldstone wrote Friday.

Goldstone said Israel conducted proceedings in a public forum and during the Panel investigation increased cooperation should have.

"Israel's lack of cooperation with our investigation meant that we could confirm civilians were killed as many residents of the Gaza Strip and how many fighters," wrote in the Washington Post article Goldstone, adding Israeli has completed only a few of his investigations.

Asked whether the Israeli Government should have worked with the Goldstone Commission from the beginning, said Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman on Saturday that the Government did not set a precedent for facilities, which it considers enemy in Government decision making intervention want.

Hamas, Goldstone said, continue to fire and mortar rounds rockets at civilian targets in southern Israel and should be condemned by the Human Rights Council.

The judge wrote that military commanders "difficult battlefield decisions" and that he is convinced Israel examined according to the death of 29 members of a family. "The bombing of the House was apparently the result of the Commander of an Israeli faulty interpretation of an image is drone, and Israeli officer ordered subject of investigation for the attack."

"Although the regret Israeli evidence that since the publication of our report has emerged not negate the tragic loss of civilian life, I, that explain our fact finding mission not evidence the circumstances in which we said that it targeted civilians in the Gaza Strip warenweil our experience with intentionality and war crimes", probably influenced have would "Goldstone wrote."

Goldstone said since 2009, market-friendly new procedures for the protection of civilians, the use of white phosphorus in civilian areas limit report, Israel Defense Forces.

Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for human rights the death toll in World War II in 1,419 and said that those were 1.167 "Civilians." The Israeli military released own data, by he claimed you 1.166 people came, and that 60 percent of those were "Terror activists."

In 2009, when the Goldstone report came out, called Ibrahim Khraishi, the Palestinian Authority Ambassador to the United Nations, professional and impartial.

"This report another report should not be only document and archive", Khraishi said. "Not this Council will forgive my people, if they get away with these criminals."

But the United States, which together with the European Union considers a terrorist organisation Hamas, the report said "was deeply flawed."

Alejandro Wolff, Deputy U.S. of representative to the United Nations, the report and "unbalanced focus on Israel, that it draws negative conclusions about Israel's intentions and actions, which do not adequately with the asymmetric nature of the conflict in Gaza behandelnund their failure" criticized in February 2010, Hamas responsibility for deliberately targeting to civilians and support assign itself and its operations in civilian densely populated urban areas. "

Saturday to Israel's channel 2 said, Israel Liberman, "I would like to congratulate Goldstone's new conclusions, but I am not surprised by them." "We knew the truth, and we had no doubts that it would finally come out."CNN's Kevin contributed flower in Jerusalem to this report

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Report criticizes high numbers at Fannie and Freddie

The company, whose Schicksale are decided, given by the Congress in this year a combined $17 million their bosses in 2009 and 2010, the report found the two full years if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac districts (ku) of the State. The six executives in the company received $35.4 million in the two years. Because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taken over in September 2008, the company have mounting mortgage losses an infusion $153 billion taxpayer required. Total losses to $363 billion until 2013 to reach Government estimates.

Charles E. Haldeman Jr., a former head of State of Putnam Investments, the huge fund management concern, since 2009 Freddie Mac as its Managing Director. He made $7.8 million for 2009 and 2010. Fannie Mae's Chief is Michael j. Williams, who has worked since 1991 in the company. He received $ 9.3 million for the two years. Company officials refused to comment.

With hundreds of billions in required government support, to keep the company running arise questions about the nature of the pay packages and how performance goals are determined. The reward was approved agency, which preserve the assets of Fannie and Freddie for taxpayers is responsible of the housing management.

"F.H.F.A. has a responsibility to effectively, consistently and reliably ensure Congress and taxpayers that paid, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's executives reasonable," ", said Steve A. Linick, the newly appointed Chief of staff of the Agency, in a statement.? "This applies especially when you realize that the US Treasury near $154 billion to stabilize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has invested" and they "spend tens of millions of dollars on executive compensation."

The report cited a "lack of standardized evaluation criteria, documentation of administrative procedures and internal controls" in the supervision agency, missing steps, which may have led to overpayments.

The Chief of staff, for example, said that taxpayers can have simplified to support the performance benchmarks for managers meet. In 2009 issued Fannie Mae 47 per cent of new mortgage-backed securities, far above the target of 37.5 percent. But, as the report found this hurdle was almost certainly deleted because the Federal almost reserve all 2009 bought the mortgage issued securities of Fannie and Freddie.

In response to the report, the housing agency, said that it would"a formal and systematic approach" review of the performance benchmarks and the assessment of whether they have been met executives of the company. Said a spokeswoman for the Agency officials refused to comment.

Rich executive pay that does not track a company's performance led to anger among shareholders in the last few years. As the Government, some joined the largest compensation was questionable for the taxpayer to support financial institutions in the nation in 2008. For example, executive pay was received at universities assistance under the troubled asset relief program, subject to approval by a supervisor, the special master for tarp. Fannie and Freddie were not required to send this process because their support is not from TARP.

As the primary regulator and curator of both companies, the Agency has housing draw wide powers of the company activities; There are Executive Board members and officers, such as replaced. And it can companies, golden parachute payments to executives cash. It is special master on executive pay at Fannie and Freddie with the TARP, after they were rescued by the Government.

Nevertheless, figures the Agency delegates decisions to the company boards accept their recommendations "unless there is an observed reason to do otherwise" according to the Inspector General report. The F.H.F.A. receives employed consulting consultant as well as the work of those of Fannie and Freddie own compensation.

The Inspector General report found that the executives at Fannie and Freddie get far more than their counterparts in other federal housing agencies. The top executive at Ginnie Mae, received, for example, an annual salary of less than $200,000. The Chief of staff proposed that the Agency verify the discrepancy and it is for the taxpayer.

Agency officials say the salaries and deferred compensation paid to executives at Fannie and Freddie are necessary, it to attract and keep talent needed to effectively perform these operations. You say that the current numbers of Fannie and Freddie is about 40 percent less than before the bailout and claim that the compensation plans based ability on the financial and performance, such as provision of liquidity and affordability to the mortgage market targets on the companies.

Agency, be predicated to the Congress on Thursday of proposals, Fannie and Freddie to overtake Edward j. DeMarco, Director of the federal housing finance. "I am concerned that great risk for the conservatorships is legislation, the compensation levels and programs in place today with the use of a federal pay system to overtake State employees and thus the taxpayers," he said.

Mr. DeMarco testified last year that the remuneration of managers plans for Fannie and Freddie are designed to meet the objectives of the guardianship "to minimize executive decision making with the long-term financial Outlook which align business and costs for the taxpayer."

As shares of Fannie and Freddie have little value, long-term incentive pay, remuneration of executives of outgoing payments in base salary and deferred salary consists of the companies.

But Brian Foley, compensation consultants in White Plains questioned the characterization of which is company incentive pay in the long term, given the fact that it paid completely within two years. "Two year performance one hundred percent of the compensation to be paid without regard to performance, and a fair share," he said. "I understand the stock is worthless, but this does not mean, you may have cash on the table for a long time." "If someone must have good long-term performance, is not Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?"

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