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Vladimir Putin (23 December) Vladimir Putin's remarks were the first since big protests at the weekend against the election results
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has dismissed calls for a review of disputed parliamentary election results and has accused protesters of lacking clear aims.
He was speaking to his supporters in the All Russia People's Front.
His comments follow the latest mass protests on Saturday over the 4 December poll, which his opponents say was rigged.
Mr Putin is the front runner in presidential elections due in March.
He said he needed "no tricks" and would win support fairly, adding that his opponents were using the parliamentary vote to try to create instability.
"The elections are over. The parliament has started its work and a speaker has been elected," Mr Putin said.
"There can be no talk of any review.
"There is only one way prescribed by law - an appeal to court," he said.
'No single programme' The outcome of the disputed vote has galvanised opposition to the Russian leadership and has prompted a series of street protests attended by tens of thousands of people in several Russian cities.
The demonstrations have been the biggest challenge yet to Mr Putin's authority, and that of President Dmitry Medvedev.
However, Mr Putin dismissed the protest movement.
Protesters in Moscow (24 December) Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Moscow on Saturday despite sub-zero temperatures
"The problem is that they have no single programme," he said.
"They have many individual programmes, but no unified one and no clear way to reach their goals, which are also not clear."
Official results from the parliamentary vote gave Mr Putin's party just under 50% of the vote, down sharply from 64% at the previous election in 2007.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the polls were slanted in favour of the pro-Kremlin party United Russia.
They reported apparent manipulations such as the stuffing of ballot boxes and said the election administration "lacked independence".
The Russian authorities were also criticised for banning several opposition parties.
The protesters have called for a re-run of the vote, a demand rejected by the Kremlin.
President Medvedev announced political reforms last week, but many demonstrators said they did not go far enough.
Mr Medvedev is not standing for another term as president and will make way for Mr Putin who previously held the post between 2000 and 2008.
Mr Putin remains popular with many Russians and until recently a presidential victory had appeared all but certain.
However, correspondents say the protests have made him look more vulnerable.

 
WASHINGTON: The head of the US Central Command is urging Pakistan to share a map of its facilities and installations near the Afghan border to help avert episodes like the one that killed 24 Pakistani forces last month.

US Marine Corps General James Mattis, the commander, said in a statement on Monday that the strike's chief lesson was that "we must improve border coordination and this requires a foundational level of trust on both sides of the border."

Mattis told the allied commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen, to take steps to prevent "friendly fire" incidents and share them with Pakistan's military "if possible," an apparent reference to continuing strains.

Mattis directed Allen, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, to seek full disclosure of all facilities and installations on both sides of the frontier as soon as possible.

This should include "systematic updates based on a common data base and map, and incorporating periodic reciprocal coordination visits," he said. (Reuters)

 



ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, while hearing the memo scandal case, in his remarks said, “Pakistanis are a living nation, they do not tolerate the matters written in the memo, federation considers it only a piece of paper, then why was such a key-meeting held in the prime minister house, why was the resignation taken from Haqqani and why did the prime minister order an investigations?”

The nine-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the Memogate scandal case.

Submitting the replies on behalf of the federation, Attorney General said that a meeting relating to the memo issue was held on November 22 at the prime minister house where Haqqani gave his resignation, which was approved the very next day and thereby a notification was issued. Haqqani had offered to resign earlier also, he said.

Attorney General further said that the prime minister had ordered for an investigation into the memo scandal on November 22.

Chief Justice asked when the federation calls the memo a mere piece of paper, but on this piece of paper a meeting of the president, prime minister and army chief was held and the prime minister ordered an investigation.

Why was the resignation taken from Haqqani, chief justice enquired.

Chief Justice said both the accuser and those falling within the purview of this accusation want investigations.

Mansoor Ijaz is still firm on his stance and he has provided Black Berry’s photographs in his reply.

The entire nation stands united on making no compromise relating to the country’s security, integrity, sovereignty and independence.

GARHI KHUDA BAKSH: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said there existed no possibility of a clash among state institutions provided they all worked within the ambit of the Constitution.

In a brief interaction with media persons after offering fateha at the mausoleum of Benazir Bhutto, Gilani said the Parliament was supreme and would take decisions on all issues of national importance. He said the supremacy of the Parliament would be ensured.

To a question whether any conspiracy was being hatched against the government, the prime minister said Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was not an ordinary party and was strong enough to confront any conspiracy.

He said certain elements from time to time had been trying to create differences between judiciary and the government and also between the President and the Prime Minister, but all in vain.

Gilani said he had already dispelled the notion of de-notifying General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and DG ISI General Shuja Pasha.

He said the government's attention was diverted many a times from serving the masses, however it remain committed.

Gilani termed Benazir Bhutto's death not only a national but an international tragedy.

On question about investigation into Benazir Bhutto's murder, the premier said he was not in a position to remark on it as the matter was subjudice.

Gilani termed those as "weak-hearted" who had left the PPP, and said it was good as such people could damage the party at the time of election.

He termed those who were joining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as "a bunch of opportunists".

He said the workers of PPP were committed and brave-hearted, while the weaker ones had left it.

Gilani said the government was pursuing the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and said the 80 per cent work on the Charter of Democracy had been completed. (APP)

APP

GARHI KHUDA BAKSH: President Asif Ali Zardari while addressing the gathering on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said that all institutions were under parliament and they (PPP) would not let the Federation break.

The president added that his party believed in democracy and listened to the parliament.

President Zardari further said that they would continue to fight undemocratic forces but would do so following democratic norms.

“We will fight for democracy, not seats” said President Zardari.

Speaking on the legacy of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari said that Asifa will keep her legacy alive.

"We want to make history, not headlines" the president added.

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