Thai military denies using toxic gas in the battle of Cambodian border

April 23, 2011, 11: 38 am EDT by Daniel Ten Kate

April 24 (Bloomberg) - Thailand, denied the accusations that his soldiers have used toxic gas against Cambodian troops in the bloodiest fighting along the disputed border since tensions broke out three years ago.

Battles which began April 22 killed five Thai and six Cambodian, according to army officials of, and reports, ending two months of peace since the United Nations Security Council urged a permanent ceasefire on February 14 of press. Used Thai soldiers "guns heavy loading of the toxic gas" fighting yesterday, Ministry of defence of Cambodia said in a statement. "Cambodians are really incredible for a story like that," Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak, Deputy spokesman of the Thai army, said by telephone from Bangkok. "" " They still make stories publish us poorly. "The resumption of the fighting at the time when the Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva is preparing to call an election in early May. The Thailand member is causing clashes raise his popularity in the event where he stages an another coup, the Cambodian Government Phay Siphan said by telephone from Phnom Penh, the capital. "The Thai military to move against us so they can say they are protecting Thai land and earn the credibility of their people,"he says. "We are a small country and we cannot afford to take Thai land." We need peace to build our country. "Southeast Asian neighbors have blamed each other for cause the battles which took place several hundred kilometres west of border clashes in February near the temple of Preah Vihear a world heritage site. Ministry of defence of Cambodia, said Thai troops were aimed to support the temples in dispute, while said Abhisit Thailand would not invade its neighbours and reprisal of the Cambodian attack. "International rules"our movements are consistent with international rules", Abhisit said today in a weekly televised speech. "In our retaliation, we attack military points only.". Our retaliation will be appropriate with Cambodian attacks. "Five Thai soldiers died in the two days of fighting, said Veerachon. Fighting also killed six Cambodian soldiers, Xinhua Chinese news agency reported, citing Suos Sothea, a commander of a unit of artillery on the border.Clashes resume tensions along the border escalated in 2008 after the Thailand opposed efforts in Cambodia to list temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site. Fighting in February was at least 10 dead and 30 000 people travel.The Thailand refused to accept observers from the border of the Indonesia, which holds the rotating Presidency of the 10 Association members of Southeast Asia Nations.International Arena "the shock of the latter is another attempt by Cambodia to raise bilateral dispute on the international scene."said today accused Abhisit.Cambodge Thailand of the use of cluster bombs during the fighting in February, a charge confirmed by established the United Kingdom Cluster Munition Coalition, which grows to an international ban on the weapons these munitions scatter over a large area to the detonation. Cambodia and the Thailand are not among the 108 countries which have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions.In 1962, the International Court of Justice decided in a vote of 9-3 that Cambodia had the sovereignty of Preah Vihear. He did not rule on the lands surrounding the temple, and the two countries have not yet reconciled 10,422 miles square (26,993 square kilometres) waters contested in the Gulf of Thailand which can contain oil and gas reserves.264 Billion in the Thailand economy is more than 26 times the size of Cambodia. The Cambodian army spent $ 191 million in 2009, compared with 4.9 billion for the military in Thailand, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

-With the help of Suttinee Yuvejwattana in Bangkok. Editors: Paul Tighe, Anand Krishnamoorthy

To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Ten Kate in Bangkok to dtenkate@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Tighe at the ptighe@bloomberg.net

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U.S. drones sends to Libya as the battle rages for Misurata - Reuters

 

Medics wheel, a Libyan man who, April, 2011.The United States on Thursday launched was wounded at Misurata from Greek ferry "Ionian spirit" on his arrival in the port of Benghazi 21 armed drones against Muammar Gaddafi's troops, who held Libyan city of Misurata despite Western threats to step up military action against it struck the rebels. "Ionian spirit" on Thursday carried evacuated escape Misratah to Benghazi.

Credit: Reuters/AMR Abdallah DalshBy Michael Georgy

MISRATA, Libya | Fri Apr 22, 2011 3: 46 of the EDT

MISRATA, Libya (Reuters) - fighting a month-old air war since armed drones against Muammar Gaddafi's troops, the rebels close on the streets of Misurata, despite Western threats to United States.

Rebels welcomed the deployment of U.S. unmanned aircraft and said she hoped that the move would protect civilians.

Doctors in the hospital in Misurata, the rebels last great bastion in the West of the country, said that nine insurgents were killed in fighting on Thursday.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told a Washington press conference President Barack Obama had authorized the use of Predator drones and they were already in operation.

General James Cartwright, Vice President of the US Joint Chiefs of staff said the first two predators turn back because of bad weather had to but have been sent to Libya on Thursday.

The United States planned, Cartwright said two patrols of armed robbers of Libya at a certain time to maintain.

The drones have a potent weapon in Pakistan and in other areas where US troops proved no forces on the ground. You can almost without being noticed out of the ground to stay and meet targets with missiles and no risk to crew.

"There is no doubt that civilians to protect, which helps, and we welcome this step by the US Government," said rebel spokesman Abdel Hafiz Ghoga in the Al Jazeera television.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Gaddafi's forces were carrying out "vicious attacks" on Misratah and used cluster bombs against civilians.

PRO-GADDAFI SCHARFSCHüTZEN

Hundreds of people are believed to during the siege in Misratah are died. In the hospital, ambulance drove wounded fighters in implementation. Doctors said that four of the nine rebels have killed a fierce battle of the Tripoli Street thoroughfare died.

Rebel Salman al-M. said was a group under fire when she tried a pro-Gaddafi snipers occupied building to enter.

"We have suddenly found she had surrounded us on all sides and they opened fire." "It seems, many government soldiers were tried in the buildings around the where we have in to get."

Rebel fighters of voiced frustration with an international military operation, the it as to carefully see.

"NATO was inefficient in Misurata." NATO could not completely change things on the ground, "rebel spokesman Abdelsalam said."

Food and medical supplies were scarce, and there were long queues for gasoline. Electricity was cut, so that inhabitants depended on generators. Rescue in the port area was expecting thousands of stranded foreign migrant workers.

"MISSION CREEP"

France said that you up to a dozen officers rebels to improve organization and communication help dispatch would send up to 10 military advisers plans to Libya and the United Kingdom. Is considering sending a small military training team Italy.

Tripoli denounced such moves and warned some commentators about the "Mission creep," according to representations made by Western politicians, that she would not put "Boots on the ground" in Libya.

Russia, said that sending consultants exceeded to protect the mandate of Security Council on civilians.

"We are not happy about the recent events in Libya, which the international community in a conflict on the ground." Can have this unpredictable consequences, "Sergei Lavrov said Russian Foreign Minister."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls Libyan authorities to stop fighting, namely on a visit to Moscow, which was the priority of the United Nations to secure a ceasefire.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has led UN-backed NATO intervention, pledged stronger military action in his first meeting with the leader of the opposition Libyan national Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, on Wednesday.

The French Defense Ministry said Thursday it had the number of its air operations over the past week to 41 by an average 30 since the beginning of the operation increased.

Libya rebels pushed Thursday to the sit to peace talks but said it was arming and training civilians to confront any possible ground attacked by NATO troops.

"Many cities have organized in squads against each possible NATO invasion," said Government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim, adding that authorities passed rifles and pistols.

In Tripoli, Ibrahim told reporters the Government welcomes ships foreign workers come to Misurata pick up. However, it would not accept international humanitarian "with military cover."

(Writing by Andrew Dobbie;) (Editing by Peter Graff)

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Doctors go far lead you to the battle epidemics

"I am afraid that will look at baby's test results," he told a bunch of children who donated milk positive mothers were born healthy despite having after testing. "But now, most of them are negative."

Dr. young, 33, and the nurses here trained convincing to get many pregnant women have tested and take the drug to prevent, that passed the disease to their newborns. It's all part of a non-profit effort, the he 2008 for $ 40,000 per year and the chance for AIDS oppressed, work in this country, which has only a pediatrician in his entire Government health care system.

He said "If this the last thing I did was that, if this was the only job I had in life, I my purpose would have served,".

Dr. young is the increasing interest of young Americans in the fight against the deadly disease ravaging poorest countries in the world, partly by the billions of dollars, which the US Government, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other organisations have in recent years in international health cast fueled.

In sub-Saharan Africa, a major barrier to combat the disease remains an extreme shortage of health workers. The region is a quarter of the global burden of disease, but has only 3 percent of its health care workers, according to the World Health Organization.

Public health experts say that efforts such as the one with Dr. young especially useful on a continent proved, that urgently needed to train paediatricians, surgeons and other specialists of African doctors and nurses in the field.

And demand for such opportunities. More than 70 universities in the United States and Canada offer now formal academic programs in global health, most of them developed in just the last five years, according to the consortium of universities for global health.

"Today's students really want to make a difference in the world", Michael H. Merson said, Director of the Duke University's Global Health Institute. "they have a passion for sacrifice and service." "It reminds me of the 1960s."

The children of the powerful politicians are part of this new generation of global health enthusiasts. Vanessa Kerry, 34, Harvard-trained doctor and the daughter of Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, is a federal program peace corps like support, the American doctors and nurses to work and train would send shortage of health workers in developing countries.

And Barbara Bush, 29, a daughter of former President George W. Bush, co-founder of the non-profit global health Corps, which this year 36 college graduates from eight countries are working with non-profit groups, in particular in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Malawi sent. More than 1,000 people for the one-year fellowships applied.

The Pediatric AIDS Corps, the Dr. young here largely financed from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and the Baylor College of medicine, sent advertised never for applicants, after the first class of physicians in 2005 has been set. Word of mouth produced far more highly qualified doctors from universities everywhere ever could rent in the United States as the project.

In addition to the content, the program, you pay as much as $40,000 of the doctors makes educational debt for each year of the Management Board - it possible young join for Dr., however he had $170,000 after his undergraduate and medical studies. His mother was an assembly line worker, and in difficult times, the family relied on Medicaid. Dr. young itself never had a steady pediatrician as a child.

With a laugh he said that his friends at home asked him whether he had running water or a branch in Africa. He tells them "We not here by no means are roughing,". He drives a 10-year-old Opel Corsa, but lives in a nice town house in the sleepy capital Maseru, with wireless Internet and a housemaid who comes twice a week. He has gone skiing for the first time in his life - in Lesotho breathtaking mountains.

But it is the work which gives the work of its meaning, the doctors say. Lineo Thahane studied at Princeton University and received her medical degree at Washington University in St. Louis. It was rotation in Lesotho's main public hospital a 2003 during their stay - if children were still die of AIDS because mangelnder antiretroviral therapy-, she made to Africa to return. Her parents were both from Lesotho, but she was born and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Dr. Thahane, 35, joined the first harvest of the Pediatric AIDS Corps doctors in Lesotho and now helps her mother, Dr. Edith Mohapi, 64, who for 20 years managed pediatric emergency service at the Arlington hospital in Virginia, Baylor's Pediatric donated milk programmes in Lesotho run.

"I felt like, 'This is where there is need,'" said Dr. Thahane.

In the last five years, the Corps of 50 to 60 has doctors working in Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi and Botswana. The hospitals and clinics they monitor now care for more than 50,000 donated milk-positive children estimated Baylor.

Effects of the project should also beyond its financing, ending last June. 128 Doctors, in the last five years in the Corps served trained about 3,000 African experts, which to be perform. And in July, Baylor starts another project with 32 pediatricians, to work on a wider range of diseases.

Dr. Grace Phiri, a revised Malawi, the only pediatrician in Lesotho Government for most of the past, increased the arrival of 10 AIDS said doctors Corps in 2006 - as well as AIDS drugs for children were increasingly available - dramatically 17 years, the chances of survival of the donated milk-positive children.

Until 2005, was not a single child with AIDS on publicly funded antiretroviral treatment in Lesotho.

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Ivory Coast battle approaches are crucial stage in key city

After steadfastly refuses, the Presidential Palace despite losing an election four months ago leave - a refusal, the hundreds of dead, international condemnation and sanctions, the financial collapse of what was West of Africa's economic star and a leap back into a civil war - Mr Gbagbo faced the greatest threat to his rule.

Insurgents attacked Mr Gbagbo residence in Abidjan early on Friday, but there were conflicting claims about, was the control of State television.

With enemy troops gave the man of the United Nations, top officials of Alassane Ouattara, the African Union and other international organizations as the winner of the election in November last year recognised abandon him a tight deadline. The head of the African Union, Jean Ping said in a statement on Friday that he regretted Mr Gbagbo rejected the settlement proposals and "hand over power", Mr Outtara urged him immediately.

Apollinaire Yapi, a spokesman for Mr Ouattara, said that fighting between Mr Ouattara troops and Mr Gbagbo held was soldiers to the Presidential Palace, Mr Gbagbo residence and the headquarters of the paramilitary gendarmerie, which has been responsible for many of the attacks on civilians.

"The fighting is sustainable," said Mr Yap, "with all types of weapons," including mortars. He said, it was the whole night on went.

Is "now the question, where is he?" If his residence is defended, can be accepted, he is in, "added Mr Yap."

He said, Mr Ouattara supporters were not surprised that Mr Gbagbo had made not yet, despite the apparent collapse of his forces across the country. "With him which must knife to his throat." He is more afraid of prison as a cause of death. He someone who likes the good life ", said Mr Yap.

Details about the fighting remained uncertain, but urged the Human Rights Office of the United Nations in Geneva, Mr Ouattara restrain his troops for what were described as "unconfirmed reports of very serious human rights violations" by his troops. He also said it had sporadic reports of Pro-Gbagbo forces killed civilians.

French troops in Abidjan, said that it about 500 foreigners, including 150 of their own nationals, a military camp in Ivory Coast, after they were threatened by looters in the main city Abidjan, Reuters reported from Paris. "It is a security vacuum and opened the way for Raider, through the streets," said Thierry Burkhard, a spokesman for the armed forces.

The victims a 30-year-old Swedish woman working for the United Nations was killed by a stray bullet in her home in Abidjan on Thursday night, the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm said Friday.

In the cities in the country, Mr Gbagbo feared security services and soldiers, since four months that violent scourge of civilians in Ouattara supporting neighborhoods were, appeared to surrender with hardly a shot on Thursday, leaving the path wide open for rapid progress all week by forces loyal to Mr Ouattara.

"Today on the outskirts of Abidjan", forces said Mr Ouattara in a televised speech Thursday, attractive for Mr Gbagbo to move pages. "Put you to provide your country", and "again your legal status," he urged, speak in the formal, measured language for which Mr Ouattara, a former Prime Minister and official, is known in the International Monetary Fund.

Mr Ouattara, hotel of Mr Gbagbo blocked for four months in an Abidjan soldiers, due to the rapid change may - Mr Gbagbo increasing vulnerability and his own unexpected rise - the heterogeneous band soldiers referred to he the Republican forces, a mixture of former rebels in an uprising of 2002, which the country split into two leave, and defectors from Mr Gbagbo page.

"they have decided, the restoration of democracy", said Mr Ouattara. "In all the cities that you go through those were young people."

In a few days was critical cities, including the administrative capital of the nation, port of San Pedro, on Mr Ouattara with little battle Yamoussoukro and the most important cocoa-exporting. Resistance said before officials of his Government everything from rented Liberian mercenaries come was.

Already fled Abidjan, who said the United Nations, more than a million people, and on Thursday, residents described the city as tense, quiet and deserted, with periodic bursts of gunshots, explosions and sightings of full of Mr Gbagbo armed militias in circulation downtown pickup trucks. Firing was reported to the State broadcaster, and in the morning, that the the city prison was attacked, and some free 5,000 prisoners.

Mr Gbagbo teen armed supporters, the young patriots, a well-deserved reputation for violence, operated roadblocks and roamed Abidjan.

Alan Cowell contributed reporting from Paris.

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