APwire ~ Affiliated Press News Agency

Anbat's shiites worry about religious backlash
AP Phezzan

Members Anbat's small community of Shia Muslims are increasingly worried about the possibility of reprisals from Anbat's dominant Christian and Sunni communities as political and sectarian unrest continues in the Shia-dominated Islamic Republic of Wazistan. In Anbat, where Sunni Islam has historically been the dominant sect of Islamic practice, Shia Islam is typically associated with Wazistan and Kediri, two countries that have poor relations with Anbat's Christian-dominated government.

With the pace of clashes between the Wazi government and various opposition groups increasing, numerous incidents of violence have been publicized in the international media, including the recent deaths of hundreds of civilians in Bijan and Al-Zaatar. The latter, an incident which occured in a Christian-majority town and has been described by Anbati President Dawud Zureiq as the "Al-Zaatar massacre", has become a rallying cry for Christian groups protesting against the Wazi government.

Over the recent days, demonstrations have been seen in Anbat outside the Wazi embassy and other representations, and occasionally these have escalated into molotov cocktails and other objects being thrown. The Wazi embassy in Phezzan has been under blockade by a group of demonstrators for several days. Opposition commentators have claimed that the most vocal of these demonstrators originate from government-sponsored groups - including the youth wing of the ruling National Progress Party - or have been paid by the Anbati security services to take part in the demonstrations.

Now the 100000 Shia muslims in Anbat are worried about reprisals against their community, in a country where many associate Shia Islam with the Islamist regimes of Kediri and Wazistan. Already threats have been made against Shia mosques and community centers in Anbat: Last week Sheikh Mukhtar abd-al-Rashid Madari, the clerical leader of Sunni terrorist group Martyrs' Brigade of the Islamic Brotherhood, issued a decree sanctioning attacks against locations affiliated with the Wazi government by "true Islamic believers", and several Christian and Arab nationalist radicals have also made threats to attack Wazi targets.

Wazi embassy in Phezzan ransacked, set alight by demonstrators
AP Phezzan

The emptied Wazi embassy in Phezzan has been ransacked by demonstrators, report Associated Press journalists in the area. According to AP sources, a group of demonstrators forced their way into the embassy buildings this afternoon after the remaining people on the premises had left the building under supervision of the Anbati security forces.

Police sources said that around a hundred people broke into the embassy grounds. Demonstrators inside the embassy compound threw down computers and furniture from the embassy buildings and carried out vandalism in addition to burning several Wazi flags in the embassy grounds. According to the Metropolitan Police, the demonstrators also soaked the interior of the main building with gasoline and set it on fire upon exiting the building, being cheered on by groups of demonstrators gathered outside.

ire and rescue units called to the scene mainly worked to prevent the fire from spreading into the neighboring buildings.

According to the Anbati Ministry of External Affairs, most of the embassy staff had already vacated under police escort and returned to Wazistan, and a few remaining individuals had also left the embassy before it was stormed by the group of demonstrators. No people were wounded during the incident.

Tanzim militants raid Persian community outside Ijad
AP International

Tanzim militants in Wazistan launched early morning raid on a slum Persian residential community outside Ijad Thursday, their closes attack near the capital since fighting broke out last week. According to eyewitnesses and human rights groups, more than 54 males, ranging from the ages of 7 to 78, were killed after gunmen stormed several homes just before dawn. One eyewitness, the wife of one of the victims, say militants dragged many of those killed out into the streets before shooting them execution-style in the back of the head.

Militants then proceed to raze the community, which aid groups say will displaced more than 3,000 people.

Tanzim commander Ahmed Kafisha said the attack was in response to the government's recent offensive against "Arab civilians" in the central Ujaz province. Kafisha, who is said to be the local Tanzim leader in As Sawq, a city just 10 miles east of the capital, told Reuters in a phone conversation he felt "no remorse" over reports that several young boys were killed in this morning's raid and appeared to place the blame for their deaths with the Wazi government for failing to reign in pro-government militias such as the Bahj, which has been accused of committing similar atrocities.

The new deaths comes as both sides have ruled out calls for a ceasefire for now. The Tanzim, responding to the a Security Council resolution being circulated by Franken calling for peace talks, says it cannot accept a ceasefire proposal at this point as it would "legitimize the Persian's hold on power."

In Ijad, an ally to Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Mahmoud Esfandiari said his government would not sit down with the rebels until they disarmed. Speaking on Islamic Radio, Esfandiari's top security aide Muhammad Jassim al-Thani said any talks "while we remain under fire" would never be acceptable to the majority of the Wazi people.

Militia leader: Kurdish militia routs Wazi army in tense region
AP International

A small splinter Kurdish rebel militia has successfully retaken control of a disputed valley region in the southeast of Wazistan only hours after government forces had moved in to the region, the group's leader has told the Associated Press. A defeat for the Islamic Revolutionary Armed Forces in the Tyre Valley in eastern Abril province, a known flash point between Ijad and Kurdish rebels, would mark a setback for the Wazi government as they attempt to combat a growing armed rebellion by ethnic groups across the country.

Aynur Wekil, the commander of the Kurdish Islamic Brigades, told the AP that more than 500 soldiers had surrendered to his forces after a five-hour gun battle near Ranye, the largest town in Tyre, and that his forces were in firm control of the district. Wekil says all those captured would be treated as "prisoners of war" and treated with respect.

However, an army official has disputed Wekil's account and denied the army had lost control of the valley.

With much of the world's attention focus on the upheaval taking placed in the western part of the country, analysts say fighting between government troops and Kurdish reels have only intensified. While mainstream Kurdish groups have hinted of a possible alliance between themselves and the Tanzim and its allies in the west, many say such a deal is unlikely in the immediate future as the Tanzim has ruled out supporting Kurdish demands for a separate state, which is seen as the heart of the Kurdish insurgency.

Opposition demonstrations broken up by police on Republic Day
AP Phezzan

Several demonstrations arranged by opposition parties and other groups were broken up by Anbati security forces during the Republic Day celebrations on last Friday, leading to numerous arrests. According to Anbati opposition sources, political rallies and marches arranged by the ruling National Progress Party and affiliated groups were allowed to proceed, but local authorities neglected to extend the same courtesy to events arranged by the Anbati opposition for the Republic Day.

Opposition demonstrations jointly arranged by the Muslim-dominated Democratic Party and the Social Workers' Party were denied permission in both Phezzan and Ghassan, but assembled nevertheless. In Phezzan, demonstrators attempted to enter the center of the city were official festivities were taking place, but were denied by members of the riot police and counter-demonstrators from the ruling National Progress Party's youth wing. The Ghassan demonstration was stopped at its starting point.

Opposition reporters and bloggers in Phezzan say that both demonstrations were heckled by government-backed counter-demonstrators, and riot policemen only intervened to carry out "over two hundred" arrests of opposition demonstrators. Included were several Assembly members, who however were released within minutes owing to parliamentary immunity.

Security force interventions in Republic Day events of the Anbati opposition sparked a war of words between Minister of Justice Suleyman Khoury and heads of the opposition parties, after Khoury accused the opposition of seeking to undermine public security with illegal demonstrations and threatened to respond with judicial measures. Deputy Maryam Duwayri, head of the Social Workers' Party, responded by accusing the Anbati police of harassing "innocent opposition supporters" and criticized the government for its handling of the opposition demonstrators.

Joint demonstrations by the Anbati opposition related to the upcoming 2010 elections, and opposition leaders have threatened to stage further demonstrations against what they describe as political nepotism and illiberal tendencies of the Zureiq presidency.

Appointment of Zureiq's son into a senior position hints an attempt to make the presidency "hereditary", say Anbati critics
AP Phezzan

Members of the Anbati political opposition have expressed concerns over the state of the country's democracy after Anbati President and chairman of the ruling National Progress Party Dawud Zureiq announced his appointment of his son as the party's new secretary. Amin Zureiq is presently the Anbati delegate to the Council of Nations, and his appointment into the ruling party's second most influential position marks a significant increase in his political influence.

Opposition activists believe that by appointing his son into a position where he will effectively control most of the National Progressive party hierarchy and exercise influence over the party's Assembly Deputies, President Zureiq is paving the way for Amin Zureiq's eventual appointment into Presidency. "In democratic societies leaders don't prepare their own sons as their eventual successors. Dawud Zureiq already has a record of staying in power by dubious methods and it is obvious that when he dies or retires, those same methods will be used to raise Amin Zureiq into power", comments Josef al-Izrah who heads the small opposition-aligned Independent Radio Center.

It is also likely that the appointment marks a shift in internal power dynamics of Anbat's ruling elite. Over the course of NPP rule in Anbat, these dynamics have been marked by a division between Phezzanite and Southern Anbati political cliques within the party. Dawud Zureiq's move to replace Southern Anbati Malik al-Fares with his own son will therefore move a member of the Phezzanite power clique into a position of major influence within the party and serve to promote its position against the Southern Anbati National Progressives.

War still exists between Carentania and the Talemantine Empire
AP International

It has been slightly over 80 years of peace, though tense at times, between the Talemantine Empire and the Worker's Republic of Carentania since the war was ended following a Levantine brokered peace between the two enemies. The result of this treaty was that Carentania was to cede the territory of Vrbas Kraj (Seleucia in the Talemantine Empire). However, since then Carentanian leadership has maintained that the Vrbas Kraj has been under a Talemantine occupation, yet the government nor any of its officers have ever stated that they did not recognize the treaty between the Empire and the Republic. That was until today.

In the chambers of the General Assembly of the Council of Nations in Augsburg, Wiese during debate on an Austurlander resolution Carentanian Ambassador Zoran Lah became the highest ranking member of the Republic's government to state what many felt was known.

"Yes, we do not recognize this treaty." - Zoran Lah, Carentanian Ambassador

Many have rumored and understood that Carentania did not recognize the situation between the Talemantine Empire and the Republic, but Rijeka has never said so and many believed they would not upset the unsatisfied peace either way. But Ambassador Lah's comments have made it clear that Rijeka officially does not recognize the peace that has existed since the 1920s.

"If Carentania does not recognize the treaty they signed so many years ago, then they do not recognize the end to the war. This means that the Talemantine Empire and the Worker's Republic are still at war. For over eight decades the empire has operated under the impression that Rijeka adhered to the treaty and we have acted accordingly to its terms and the preservation of peace. Now their intentions are known and we will protect our sovereign right over our territory." stated Talemantine Secretary of War, General Ezio Laconi. Laconi also announce that the military forces in the Province of Seleucia were being raised to a state of readiness. The level of alert has been set to expect imminent attack by Carentanian forces.

Currently it is unknown what the present path will lead or if the senior leadership will correct Ambassador Lah's statement? Will Carentania recognize the treaty? or will these two archenemies once again march to war?

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

There is no scandal and no news. Carentania has always maintained it does not consider treaties made at gunpoint to be valid. The Talemantine Empire may make of that whatever it desires.

Batavian Economy to Open for Business in Weeks; Workers Seek Guarantees
AP, Vlaanderen

With the new government comes new economic reform in this former reclusive and staunch communist state. In mere weeks the planned economy will be open to foreign corporations and businesses for investment and expansion. While many here are excited for this turn of events and the chance to have access to modern consumer goods, this country of working class citizens and farmers are fearing for their job security.

Under the former communist regime, every man and woman of working age was guaranteed a job for their entire life and then a working pension upon the government-set retirement age. This guarantee, which cost the state untold sums of money every year, will be no more in just a short time. Industrial workers, particularly those from the many factories in the South of the country, are calling for the new Social Democrat government to provide job security guarantees.

While the new administration has remained silent on the issue, some analysts do expect some sort of promise when the budget is announced in April. The extent of that promise in unknown and economists in Danzig, Wiese, Franken and other economic powerhouses expect unemployment to sky-rocket to nearly 20 per cent within months of the planned economy coming to an end.

With this reform will come natural hardships for some, but in general a better life for most. The government has invited independent and CN-led economic advisory panels to tour the country and provide honest and constructive advice and plans. Batavië lacks in many modern areas of other countries, yet the country still has a large working population and a relatively well educated one as well.

'Jobs will eventually be found,' said one analyst who recently moved his offices from Arendaal back to his native Batavië, 'but the transition is going to be painful. That's just what is necessary for this country.'

This weekend a renaming ceremony for the country is scheduled. A new flag and name for the country will be formally adopted and presented and a government-sponsored advert campaign will be launched to promote the new image of the country abroad to both individuals, governments and corporations. Private advert space, on billboards, in newspapers, on the internet and so on have been purchased in over a dozen countries.

Bahj spiritual leader backs Esfandiari as Kurdish rebel seize Sine
AP Gaza

The spiritual leader of the pro-government Bahj militia called on his supporters to unite behind Ayatollah Mahmoud Esfandiari's leadership Friday, a strong show of support for the besieged cleric as the country's rebels continue to barnstorm across the country. In a fiery Friday prayer sermon at Ijad University, Ayatollah Ali Mahdhavi Kashani rejected media reports that have suggested a split between him and the supreme leader and hailed Esfandiari for his "wisdom and guidance" in the face of what he described as a "Hajri-sponsored" campaign to bring down Wazistan's Islamic system.

The support from Kashani, a hardline cleric who has often clashed with other conservative figures within the establishment, is seen as crucial to the Wazi government's campaign against the rebels.

The show of support comes as Kurdish militants say they have captured the city of Sine, the largest city in predominantly Kurdish southeast Wazistan. In a statement, Osman Zamani, the deputy leader of the Kurdish Social Party, told an opposition website that the Kurdish Liberation Army, the KSP's military wing, seized control of the city on Tuesday after a three-day offensive and that 234 soldiers have been arrested as "prisoners of war."

Much of Sine province and the southeast had reportedly already been under the KLA's control and the city had been considered the last remaining territory held by the government in the region.

The lost of Sine would mark a new setback for the the government as it deals with attempts to crush an uprising by ethnic militias in other parts of the country. The most powerful of these groups, the Arab Tanzim militia, is believed to control large swaths of territory in the south, including the city of Ramadi.

On Thursday, government troops launched a new offensive in Minya province, where the Tanzim has reportedly main inroads in recent days. Maintaining control of Minya, a mountainous province that borders Ujaz province, long considered a rebel-stronghold, is seen as to prevent a rebel assault on Ijad.

State Department cautiously backs establishment of European nuclear watchdog
AP, Telor City

State Department officials have confirmed tentative Teloran support for a European-wide nuclear watchdog, though they have said that a 'deep and meaningful discussion' is vital on the issue. The officials were commenting on an ongoing debate in the Council of Nations General Assembly on the possibility of a resolution which would formally establish a body to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons in Europe. An earlier Frescanian resolution backing such a body was withdrawn to allow for more time to deliberate.

The State Department has said that the Telorans back "any attempt to ensure a carefully regulated Europe-wide system, which ensures that nations can still use peaceful nuclear power responsibly", and have suggested they would back a new resolution using language proposed by the Hajrian delegation. The Teloran government is also understood to be pressing for any body to have a role in inspecting civilian nuclear installations in ratifying countries, though the State Department has stressed that any such inspections would be "purely voluntary, and purely at the discretion of the states involved."

Telora itself has a constitutional prohibition against developing nuclear weaponry, though it retains three nuclear power stations and a handful of research reactors. The President was elected on a platform that included new nuclear power stations, and the Mansion has previously indicated that they would be open to international inspectors having wide access to verify their commitment not to develop nuclear weaponry.

President of Sinhai Union Ends Speech with High Speed Pursuit, 11 Reported Dead
AP International

President of the Sinhai Union, Marjhan Visariya, age 35, announced today that traitors within the government made an attempt on her life late Sunday night, and that she intends to root out this problem. The President, however, warned against general panic, and discouraged the populace from accusing their neighbors.

The Presidential speech was short and cut off when several unknown men stormed the stage, with Sri Raman Police escorting the President out of the building and to an armored vehicle. The President was then pursued by several vehicles to Route 18, the main thoroughfare of Sri Rama, where the high speed pursuit reportedly saw exchanges of gunfire between the two parties.

Sri Raman Police have claimed that citizens intervened in the pursuit, putting an end to the chase and allowing the President to survive. Furthermore Sri Raman Police have stated they would no longer be subordinate to Unity Party directives, and were now directly subordinate to the President herself.

Unity Party officials have refused to make a statement on the high speed chase, with some officials calling the President's speech a "total surprise" while senior members called allegations of involvement "ludicrous and totally unfounded". The SDF has yet to make a comment on the issue, though it is reported that several units are being recalled from Northern Sinhai to reinforce the southern provinces. The Presidium of Sinhai has called this situation "Treason of the worst kind, an unacceptable action by the President and the Sri Raman Police Department, this is a greater blow to Democracy than any Socialist enemy" and has stated that "Actions will be taken if the President does not stop this foolishness".

The high speed pursuit is reported to have claimed the lives of 11 people, including 3 Sri Raman police officers, 2 Sinese citizens, and 6 others whose identities have not been released by officials. The whereabouts of the Sinese President remain unknown.

Revolutionary Army Increases Presence On Talemantine Border
AP Rijeka

With tensions between the Workers' Republic of Carentania and the Talemantine Empire running high, the Revolutionary Army has begun to move additional forces to the nations southern border, increasing the amount of troops in the region to the highest since the end of the war in 1927. With the deployment of the entire Fourth Army, Carentania has almost doubled its military strength along the Vrbas River, raising concerns of political leaders throughout Himyar.

The Carentanian government has defended the move as "necessary evil" to ensure the safety of its population, while vowing to attempt a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Carentanias Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Dusan Mejic, has announced he is willing to attend talks with his Talemantine counterpart on neutral ground. Hajr had offered to organize such a meeting and may now do so if similiar signals come from the Talemantine government.

While many fear that war between the historic enemies is now closer than ever, many Carentanian citizens seem to remain calm. Tensions around the region called Vrbas Kraj by Carentania and Seleucia by Talemantines flare up every few years. While rhetorics tend to be heated, neither of the states seems willing to initiate aggressions to back up its respective claims. Even the Carentanian reinforcements seem to fit into this pattern: the Revolutionary Army organizes its forces into divisions equipped for defensive or offensive operations. The Fourth Army, which reinforced the troops along the Vrbas, consists mainly of defensive forces.

Sinhai Market Closes, Sri Rama in Chaos
AP International

Following the dramatic exit of the Sinese President from a press conference earlier this week, the Sinese market closed early Thursday morning as Sinese Unity Party officials fears were confirmed; with the market quickly contracting in the first fifteen minutes it was opened.

Sinese Party officials commented on the move as necessary to preserve stock value in anticipation of a brief conflict between the Party and rogue President Marjhan Visariya. However, Unity Party officials acknowledged fears that this conflict would grind the countries largest city and commercial center to a halt. Sri Rama represents 1/4 of the nations population and 1/3 of the nations GDP, and with Sri Raman Police closing bridge access to the island part of the city and the military expected to move into mainland Sri Rama, it is unlikely business will continue to be conducted. With a lack of services and production, it is likely that prices will surge and inflation will affect the nations currency, the Baht, which was floated seven years ago to encourage foreign investment.

Sri Rama Police announced that no traffic would be allowed to move to or from Sri Rama Island, and are enforcing this restriction with a full barricade of all bridges and tunnels and the closing of all ferries. Police are continuing their duties on mainland Sri Rama, but experts have pointed to SDF units positioning themselves outside Sri Rama as grounds for a possible enforcement of martial law.

Neither President Marjhan Visariya nor Sinhai Defense Forces Overlord Ahremen Arkah have made comments regarding the situation.

Truck Bomb Kills 103 on Hajri Island of Qirwan
AP Al A'raf

The detonation of a truck bomb cost the lives of at least 103 people and injured more than 400 in the Hajri city of Al Sawari today. Militants drove a truck loaded with explosives into a bazaar in the waning hours of the afternoon, just as merchants were closing up shop and large crowds of people were exiting the market complex.

The attack, carried out in the capital and largest city of the island, is the deadliest act of terrorism carried out in the Arab nation in 2010, and the deadliest since the suicide attack on the city of 'Ayn al-Arab in September 2009, which killed 152 people.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Army of the Lambs of Christ (ALC), a radical splinter group of the Qirwan National Resistance Front (QNRF), the biggest separatist rebel group on the island. In a statement released on several Qirwani nationalist websites, the ALC cited the "unholy occupation" of the island of Qirwan by "Mohammedan infidels" as the reasons for the attack, and vowed further attacks "until our enemies, the Lord willing, have been driven into the sea."

The bombing comes after the massacre of 24 indigenous Qirwanis in the village of Keng En, carried out by a militia from a nearby Arab settlement last Tuesday. Arab settlement on Qirwan is one of the main reasons separatists on the islands cite to explain the conflict.

The Governor-General of Qirwan, Sheikh Malik ibn Ahmad al-Doraydi, has declared the state of emergency in the city of Al Sawari, and stated that "these beasts will be brought to justice for their crimes." The commander of the Hajri military on the island, General Murad al-Tufi, promised that "the terrorists will be rooted out with all the force available to us. They will not escape."

Qirwan has been the site of a violent insurgency since the early 1970s, when an uprising began amongst the indigenous population in the north of the island that rapidly spread across the island. The rebels cited the increasing amount of Hajri immigrants coming from the mainland , oppression by the government in Al A'raf and economic exploitation of the island by the Arab majority in Hajr as the reasons behind their revolt. More than 100,000 people have died in the conflict since the Qirwani insurgency began, according to the estimates of human rights groups.

Since the accession to the throne of Sultan Huseyn, who promised to act against the separatists, Hajri military and security forces have managed to largely limit the insurgency to the countryside and the areas populated by indigenous Qirwanis, away from the cities of the southern coast, which is overwhelmingly populated by Arabs. The attack on Al Sawari therefore is a deliberate sign to the Hajri government that the insurgents have not been driven off, and presents a serious challenge to the government's legitimacy.

Fernando Guzman Elected AGE's SecGen Pro Temp
AP Françoisville

With the announcement that the Archduchy of Austurland is to leave the Alliance of Greater Europe, the position of Secretary General of AGE has been vacant by Alvar Ortendhal. Due to the short notice of the Austurlandian withdraw, Frescania's ambassador to the Alliance, Fernando Guzman, has been elected Secretary General Pro Temp until elections can be held.

Mr. Guzman has been serving as ambassador to Frescania since this January. Mr. Guzman has stated that he will work with the remaining members states and seek “a new foundation for the alliance.” He also stated that he will be calling for elections within 6 months or even earlier if possible.

Many have signaled the withdraw of Austurland as the last straw for the Alliance, stating that AGE has “failed to lead the democratic world and many don't believe that it will recover” said IR Professor Juan Vista. But the Frescanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated this hype over the withdraw is not true, stating that the Alliance “is well and continues to be one of Europe's greatest alliance. AGE will continue to lead the democratic world.”

What exactly will happen to the Alliance is not certain, but many believe the Secretary General Pro Temp will try his face to reshape it. “What exactly AGE will become we don't know” said Dr. Vista, “but it is certain that Guzman and the Martinez Government back in Fortaleza Real will do their out most to seek out to the Levant States and find a solution.”

Gunmen kill four imams after a priest is gunned down on Good Friday
AP Phezzan

Masked gunmen have shot dead four imams of a local mosque outside the city of Aziz, in an apparent retaliatory killing that follows the murder of a local Evangelic Lutheran priest, Reverend Josef al-Douran, outside of his church in Aziz on Good Friday. The incident occured on a road leading from the nearby hamlet of al-Dahran into Aziz as the imams were returning from a meeting with local community leaders.

A hired driver for the four, left alive by the gunmen, said that the car had been followed from al-Dahran and forced off-road by masked gunmen armed with "automatic weapons". The imams had then been executed one by one. A spokesman for the Aziz division of the Republican Police confirmed that they had been shot in the head "execution-style". The incident is being investigated by the Republican Police in collaboration with the Governorate Police Force of Aziz.

A spokesman for the Muslim-dominated Democratic Party blamed government-backed Christian paramilitaries, members of the so-called Civil Defense Groups active in conflict-troubled regions of Aziz and Subay, for the killings and hinted that they might have been retaliation for the earlier killing of a Christian priest in the city of Aziz. Police sources have refused to validate a theory of a retaliatory motive, but categorically denied the possibility of involvement on behalf of Civil Defense Group members or other legalized security forces.

From Phezzan, Minister of Justice Suleyman Khoury released a statement condemning both attacks, and saying that the persons responsible would be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Security forces in the Governorates of Aziz and Subay increased their state of alert in the aftermath of the killings.

No group has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks, but the killing of Reverend al-Douran is thought to be the work of either the Islamic Formation of Northern Anbat or the Martyrs Brigade of the Islamic Brotherhood, the two main militant groups in the region.

Diwan of Foreign Affairs

The Sultanate condemns the killings in the strongest of terms and hopes the perpetrators will be brought to the harshest justice possible.

Labor Union ban and restrictions extended
AP Talemaniki

For decades the Talemantine Empire has had some of the most restrictive regulations on Labor Unions than any other country. This has made the Talemantine Empire competitive in the international labor market. Currently the empire maintains bans on labor unions in industries deemed "critical" to national integrity. These are industries such as energy (coal,oil), transportation (airlines), and the education sector. Unions are allowed in most other industries, but they are heavily regulated, with any union needing permission from the Commerce Secretariat to hold a strike. Also the government holds the nation to a "right to work" state where no person shall be forced to join a union to work in any facility. These regulations have lead the Talemantine Empire to have an average worker's wage a bit lower than most developed nations, but it yields a lower unemployment rate. A commission within the Labor Secretariat investigates worker abuse to prevent companies from taking advantage of their employees.

Historically these restrictions were put in place after the war with Carentania during the red scare of the late 20s and early 30s. It was believed that socialist insurgents used labor unions to bring down the imperial government. This view was supported by the tendency of the Unions to support the political left in elections. The original ban was reported to last 10 years but it has been extended every few years since the 30s. Today marks another extension in these restrictions.

Chiaro Petrasch, Director of the Talemantine Worker's Organization (TWO), the nation's largest labor union, gave harsh words after the announcement of the restriction's extension. "The government continues to oppress the workers of this nation by hammering them. Our people need our unions to protect them where only those who are in the government's pockets are protected."

Director Petrasch recently endorsed Ruberto Morbidelli for mayor of Talemaniki, saying at a rally, "Ruberto Morbidelli will cut the emperor with the sickle and beat him down with the hammer!", holding up a hammer and a sickle the traditional symbols of socialism.

Government on verge of collapse as Tanzim seize key road
AP International

Wazistan's clerical-dominant government appeared on the verge of collapse Thursday after rebel forces captured a key road leading into the capital. Speaking at a press conference in Ramadi, senior Tanzim leaders announced their forces had successfully captured Victory Road, a 60-mile highway that connects southern city to Ijad that analysts say was crucial to the government's attempts to hold the city. With victory in reach, the announcement sparked celebration in the predominantly Arab south and Kurdish southeast.

In Gaza, a coastal city that fell to the rebels last month, opposition leader Fatima Badawai called on the government to step down and permit the rebels to take Ijad "peacefully."

In the capital, the situation is reportedly tense as many residents stayed off the streets and uncertainty over the situation while security has been stepped up around the offices of Wazistan's supreme leader Ayatollah Mahmoud Esfandiari, who hasr reportedly rejected calls to leave the city, and other government buildings. A source close to the ruling Revolutionary Democratic Party has told the AP that despite the fall of Victory Road, the government had no plans on backing down.