Ukraine Conflict 'Impossible' To Win Militarily

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has told Sky News the conflict in his country cannot be solved by military means alone.

Speaking in the southern city of Mariupol, close to the frontline between his forces and pro-Russian rebels, he said foreign troops must be withdrawn for peace to be achieved.

"We should understand that it is impossible to win the conflict only by military means," he said.

"The more we increase the pressure, the more Russian troops come into our territory.

"If you ask me the quickest way to make stability and peace here it's very simple: withdraw foreign troops and close the border."

Mr Poroshenko speaks in the port city of Mariupol

The president met activists and civil defence volunteers during a surprise visit to Mariupol, leading workers at the city's vast metal factory in a rendition of the national anthem.

"This city was, is, and will be Ukrainian," Mr Poroshenko told the crowd, from a stage decorated with the blue and yellow colours of his country's flag.

"Mariupol proved that we won't let anybody burn our city to the ground. This workers' Mariupol protected peace and calm in the city."

He called Mariupol a "hero city", evoking the title given to Soviet cities such as Leningrad and Stalingrad after the Second World War.

A ceasefire which came into force on Friday appeared to be largely holding, despite shelling on the eastern outskirts of Mariupol overnight on both Saturday and Sunday.

A Ukrainian serviceman rides on an armoured vehicle in Kramatorsk

Mr Poroshenko denied that the ceasefire deal meant effectively ceding control of large areas in the east of his country.

"In all the documents we signed, it was especially mentioned that the question of territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of my country is not a matter of negotiation," he said.

Colonel Andriy Lysenko, Ukraine's National Security Council spokesman, said rebel forces had stopped using heavy artillery and were only using mortar and rifle fire.

He said no servicemen had been killed in the past 24 hours.

"That's a big achievement," he said.

The Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that 15 Ukrainian soldiers had been released by rebel forces, as part of a prisoner exchange.

Mr Lysenko said the exchange of prisoners was "task number one" for the government during the ceasefire.

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Flight MH17 Downed By 'High-Energy Objects'

Crash investigators say flight MH17 was probably downed by "a large number of high-energy objects".

An initial report by the Dutch Safety Board, which is leading the investigation into the July 17 disaster, found it likely the Malaysia Airlines plane broke up in the air as a result of "structural damage", caused by the items which "penetrated the aircraft from outside".

It said: "There are no indications that the MH17 crash was caused by a technical fault or by actions of the crew."

A memorial in Kuala Lumpur to the victims of both MH17 and MH370

All 298 passengers and crew on board the plane were killed when the aircraft, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over an area in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

The rebels in Ukraine have publicly denied responsibility for shooting down the aircraft.

Tjibbe Joustra, chairman of the Dutch Safety Board, said: "The MH17 crash has shocked the world and raised many questions.

"The Dutch Safety Board wishes to determine the cause of the crash, for the sake of the loved ones of the victims and for society at large.

"The initial results of the investigation point towards an external cause of the MH17 crash.

"More research will be necessary to determine the cause with greater precision.

"The Safety Board believes that additional evidence will become available for investigation in the period ahead."

Newcastle fans Liam Sweeney and John Alder were among the victims

Only 193 of those on board have been positively identified, including Newcastle United fans Liam Sweeney, 28, and John Alder, 63, who were travelling to New Zealand to watch their team play.

Forensic teams are still trying to identify remains found in the wreckage of the aircraft.

Most of those on board were Dutch, but there were also people from Malaysia, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines and the UK.

The crash occurred just months after the still-unexplained disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

More follows...

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obama In Talks With Iraq Over 'Common Enemy'

Barack Obama has held talks with Iraq's new Prime Minister to discuss the country's fledgling new government's fight against Islamic State militants.

In a telephone call on Monday, the US President and Haider al Abadi spoke about the need to address grievances that have triggered violence in Iraq.

In a statement the White House said: "The President and the Prime Minister agreed on the importance of having the new government quickly take concrete steps to address the aspirations and legitimate grievances of the Iraqi people.

Barack Obama speaks with Haider al Abadi. Pic: White House/Pete Souza

"The Prime Minister expressed his commitment to work with all communities in Iraq as well as regional and international partners to strengthen Iraq's capabilities to fight against this common enemy."

Iraq's parliament officially named Mr al Abadi as the country's Prime Minister and approved most of his proposed candidates for cabinet roles, including members of the country's minority Sunni and Kurdish communities.

The West has been pushing Iraq for a more representative government that will ease anger among Sunnis who felt marginalised by former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki and his administration.

The anger among Sunnis has helped to fuel the seizure of territory by the Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIS and ISIL, across much of north and western Iraq since June.

Haider al Abadi was officially named Iraq's prime minister on Monday

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the formation of a new government in Baghdad was a "major milestone" for Iraq.

He said: "Overcoming the obstacle of ethnic and sectarian divides, the Iraqi parliament approved a new and inclusive government, one that has the potential to unite all of Iraq's diverse communities for a strong Iraq, a united Iraq, and to give those communities the chance to build the future that all Iraqis desire and deserve."

Mr Kerry is set to travel to the region later to discuss the formation of a "coalition of partners around the globe to confront, degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL".

Mr Obama is expected to address the US approach against IS during his speech on Wednesday - the eve of the 13th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

On Monday an IS suicide bomber killed 16 people after he drove a explosive-filled Humvee, stolen from the Iraqi military, into a Sunni tribe meeting in Dhuluiya.

Islamic State militants have seized territory in north and west Iraq

Iraqi security forces retook the town of Barwana, northwest of Baghdad. The US military also carried out five airstrikes on Sunday and Monday, using drones and attack fighters to defend the Haditha dam and Irbil.

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obama Vows To Defeat IS Amid New Airstrikes

President Barack Obama has vowed to defeat the Islamic State hours after the United States launched fresh airstrikes against the militant group in Iraq.

The latest aerial raids were around Haditha Dam, the first time the US has targeted the IS insurgents in that area.

The Sunni movement, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL, is trying to capture the vital dam in the west of the country.

On the ground, Iraqi forces capitalised on the raids, launching an operation to drive the militants out of the Haditha area as they reportedly retook the town of Barwana.

Mr Obama said he will give a speech on Wednesday where he will set out his strategy against the jihadist group, which has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Tribal fighters fire their weapons in the town of Haditha

He said he will not announce US ground troops will be sent and wants Sunni states like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE and Turkey to "step up" and help in the fight.

He also "wants the American people to understand the nature of the threat".

Mr Obama said there was not any immediate intelligence about threats to the US homeland but IS could be a serious threat over time "if allowed to control a significant amount of territory".

He told NBC: "We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities, we're going shrink the territory that they control and ultimately we're going to defeat them."

IS fighters have also tried to take Mosul Dam in the north of the country

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the four new airstrikes had been carried out at the request of the Iraqi government.

He said: "If that dam would fall into ISIL's hands or if that dam would be destroyed, the damage that that would cause would be very significant and it would put a significant, additional and big risk into the mix in Iraq."

Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha, the leader of a pro-Iraqi government paramilitary force, said the strikes were "very accurate".

US airstrikes drove IS fighters from Mosul Dam last month

He said: "There was no collateral damage ... If Islamic State had gained control of the dam, many areas of Iraq would have been seriously threatened, even Baghdad."

It is Washington's first offensive in Anbar province since it started hitting IS forces in the north of the country in August. Since then the US has conducted more than 130 airstrikes.

IS fighters tried to capture Haditha Dam, which has six power generators located alongside the country's second largest reservoir, last month.

A F/A-18E comes in to land after striking targets in Iraq

Iraqi forces supported by Sunni tribes held them off.

IS took control of the Mosul Dam in northern Iraq last month, but US airstrikes helped to dislodge them.

IS has overrun large areas of northern Iraq and declared a cross-border Islamic caliphate (state), including territory it controls in neighbouring Syria.

Iraq's government has meanwhile welcomed Mr Obama's plan for an international coalition against the jihadists, calling it a "strong message of support".

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fresh Fighting Threatens Ukraine Ceasefire

Residents Fearful Amid Fragile Ukraine Truce

Updated: 12:15pm UK, Sunday 07 September 2014

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent, in Mariupol

On the outskirts of Mariupol you could see the remains of Ukrainian artillery still smouldering.

We saw them recovering another piece that had been abandoned in a field.

In the middle of the main road, east outside the city, there is a Ukrainian army tank.

It has ended up disabled in what were meant to be its own side's defences - a tank trap incongruously painted with anti-war slogans and doves of peace.

The force of the impact had flung the barrel right round and destroyed part of a huge concrete block.

On one side of the tank the crew had written "Glory" and "Death to the enemies!" On the other it said "To Moscow!"

Further up the road we found the new rebel front line - they've advanced about 15 kilometres west in three days.

They turned us around and told us to leave.

We saw a T-80 battle tank dug in to the corner of the field behind them.

The pro-Russian rebels are now just a few hundred metres outside the village of Shyrokyne.

We found Ukrainian positions above the village unmanned, the hills leading up to them pockmarked with the impact of artillery fire.

One shell had landed just outside a church - its windows were shattered by shrapnel.

Another had hit a house nearby.

Tamara Spitsa, a retired music teacher, told Sky News she had never imagined this could happen in her village.

"We were hiding in the bathroom with my husband when they started shooting, very loud explosions, shrapnel like this hit my house and broke the roof."

Another man, who gave his name as Andrei, said there was no electricity in the village now.

"Scared is not the right word," he said of his feelings during the shelling.

"[President] Poroshenko should sit right here in the cellar with Litsenko [the Ukrainian Security Council spokesman] - they should be right here and then ask them if they're scared or not?

"Everyone was hiding in their cellars."

In the next village a mortar landed in front of the school, showering the canteen with fragments.

The force sliced branches off trees in the playground.

A woman was killed nearby by a mortar outside her house. She had worked selling vegetables in the market.

Her neighbour, Viktor, blamed the Ukrainian side for firing from outside their village.

"Two Grad rockets came this way," he said, "They started shooting on the rebels' positions on the outskirts.

"As a result they started answering and here is the result - we have people who are dead and injured."

We saw them digging fresh graves in the village cemetery - they want to lay the dead to rest while the ceasefire lasts.

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Has Prostate Surgery

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is recovering in hospital after having prostate surgery, state media has said.

The country's official news agency, IRNA, described the operation which took place this morning as "routine" and said it was successful.

The 75-year-old leader was admitted to a government hospital in the capital Tehran, IRNA reported.

Mr Khamenei has the final say on all state matters in Iran.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been Iran's top leader since 1989

Media reports on the state of his health are extremely rare.

The Ayatollah has been the country's top leader since the death in 1989 of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the Iranian revolution.

Iranian state television said that, before he went in for the surgery, Mr Khamenei told the station that there was "no room for concern".

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Residents Fearful Amid Fragile Ukraine Truce

Deep Divisions Amid Fragile Ukraine Peace

Updated: 12:27pm UK, Saturday 06 September 2014

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent in Mariupol

Ceasefire is a temporary state. It's not the same as lasting peace.

What has been agreed so far is a halt in the bloodshed - the reasons people took up arms in the first place have so far not been addressed.

The Ukrainian President sounds optimistic - a prisoner exchange could begin as soon as this weekend, a second Russian aid convoy could be allowed in.

The self-proclaimed prime minister of the separatist Luhansk People's Republic is less encouraging.

He said the status of the people's republics had not been discussed, and the ceasefire should not be taken to mean they had abandoned their plans to separate from Ukraine.

The commander of one of the pro-Ukrainian battalions outside Mariupol said they would use the time to regroup and retrain.

The divisions run deep, and not just among the militia.

Plenty of people in the east did not support the winter revolution - from their perspective what they saw was their democratically elected president overthrown, and a government now in Kiev they believe seized power in a coup d'etat.

Some want more regional autonomy, others want their region to secede and join Russia.

On the other side are the pro-Ukrainians who fought for the future of their country on the Maidan, some of whom have now joined volunteer battalions in the east.

They have already seen part of their country annexed by President Vladimir Putin, and believe the Russian army is fighting on the side of the rebels, intervening in their sovereign state.

They want their country to be united, to be allowed to move towards the European Union, and they want their land back.

Militarily we're back to relative stalemate - that in itself is quite a reversal of fortunes.

A couple of weeks ago it seemed the Ukrainian army was in the ascendant - the rebels seemed to be on the backfoot, retreating and largely restricted to the centres of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Over the course of the last fortnight, the rebels have had a sudden and mysterious resurgence - opening a new front in the south threatening the strategic port city of Mariupol, and simultaneously taking villages and towns to the east of the regional capital Donetsk.

Now it's the Ukrainian army losing ground, and the overall balance is roughly back to where it was.

Kiev says that's because Russia is sending troops and equipment across the border - not in sufficient quantities to look like an overt invasion and force the west to act, but enough to stop the rebels from being defeated.

The Kremlin insists any Russian soldiers in Ukraine are either on holiday or lost.

A return to stalemate would quite suit President Putin.

He doesn't necessarily need the rebels to win, and he doesn't seem to want to occupy, and have to defend, eastern Ukraine.

A frozen conflict, that could be thawed as and when necessary, could be just fine.

In terms of domestic Russian politics, President Putin doesn't want the Maidan revolution to be followed by success - his administration has long feared a colour revolution, in the manner of Ukraine or Georgia, fomenting outside the Kremlin walls in Moscow.

Much better that that revolution is synonymous in Russian minds with violence and chaos.

Russian state TV is pushing that narrative heavily at home.

In terms of broader geopolitics, the Kremlin doesn't want a united Ukraine leaving its sphere of influence to join the EU, and maybe one day Nato.

They don't want to find Nato bases on their western border in five years' time.

Keeping a level of control of the east, and an insurgency that has not been defeated, could give Moscow just the leverage it needs.

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ukraine Ceasefire Threatened By New Fighting

Shelling has been heard near Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire, witnesses report.

Plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the area on Sunday morning, threatening the fragile truce.

Explosions have also been heard on the edge of the port city of Mariupol, to the south of Donetsk.

The city had already seen a serious violation of the ceasefire overnight when government forces came under artillery fire.

The Russian-backed ceasefire had largely been holding since it came into force on Friday at 4pm UK time, although there have been sporadic reports of skirmishes from both sides.

Many on the ground had expressed scepticism regarding the durability of the ceasefire, and both sides blamed each other for any violations.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he had spoken to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by phone earlier on Saturday to discuss ways to make the ceasefire agreement more durable.

The West and Kiev accuse Moscow of supporting the rebels by sending tanks and troops over the border, although the Kremlin has consistently denied the allegations.

Russia issued a separate statement on Saturday warning European leaders of an unspecified "reaction" if the European Union followed through with its decision to impose further sanctions.

The additional measures were agreed as world leaders met for a two-day Nato summit in Wales.

Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated they could be suspended if Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine and the ceasefire is observed.

The ceasefire includes an agreement on the release of prisoners on both sides, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of heavy weapons.

Mr Poroshenko said Kiev was also ready to grant a significant decentralisation of power and economic freedom to the restive eastern region.

Reuters reported that the sound of shelling in Donetsk came from territory which has been in the hands of Ukraine government forces.

Sky's Katie Stallard, in Mariupol, said on Sunday morning: "A short while ago ... we heard a series of explosions coming from the east of the city and everyone had to move back a relatively safe distance.

"I can hear a tank moving very close to us. There was heavy bombardment here overnight. I've spoken to one woman who said residents were just running, trying to find shelter.

"They are just packing up their belongings and preparing to leave the city. All of this comes in what was supposed to be a ceasefire."

More follows...

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iraq: US Launches Airstrikes Around Vital Dam

The US has launched airstrikes around Haditha Dam, targeting Islamic State (IS) militants in the area for the first time.

IS, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL, is trying to capture the vital dam in the west of the country.

US officials say that while Anbar Province remains in control of the Iraqis, the offensive is an effort to push back fighters who have been trying to take over dams across the country.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said: "At the request of the Government of Iraq, the U.S. military today conducted coordinated air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists in the vicinity of the Haditha Dam in Anbar province.

IS fighters have also tried to take Mosul Dam in the north of the country

"We conducted these strikes to prevent terrorists from further threatening the security of the dam, which remains under control of Iraqi Security Forces, with support from Sunni tribes."

The four airstrikes mark Washington's first offensive in Anbar province since it started hitting IS forces in the north of the country in August.

Since then the US has conducted more than 130 airstrikes.

IS fighters tried to capture Haditha Dam, which has six power generators located alongside the country's second largest reservoir, last month.

US airstrikes drove IS fighters from Mosul Dam last month

Iraqi forces supported by Sunni tribes managed to hold them off.

IS took control of the Mosul Dam in northern Iraq last month, but US airstrikes dislodged them.

The group has overrun large areas of northern Iraq and declared a cross border Islamic caliphate, including territory it controls on neighbouring Syria.

Iraq's government has welcomed US President Barack Obama's plan for an international coalition against the jihadists, calling it a "strong message of support".

Mr Obama outlined the plan at this week's Nato summit, amid growing international concern about IS.

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

US Seeks 'Core Coalition' To Combat IS Threat

The US is forming a "core coalition" to battle Islamic State militants in Iraq, senior American officials have said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called for support as they held talks with officials from 10 nations on the sidelines of a Nato summit on a strategy to defeat IS.

"We need to attack them in ways that prevent them from taking over territory, to bolster the Iraqi security forces and others in the region who are prepared to take them on, without committing troops of our own," Mr Kerry said.

"Obviously I think that's a red line for everybody here: no boots on the ground," he added.

Mr Kerry said he was aware that many nations would not want to do military strikes, but he said they could provide intelligence, equipment or weapons.

The talks were held with defence and foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Denmark. 

"This group here this morning is the core coalition," Mr Hagel told them.

IS controls large areas of northern Iraq and Syria

"It is the core group that will form the larger and extended coalition that's going to be required to deal with this challenge."

Speaking after the meeting, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The clear message coming out of here is that we have to have a comprehensive response to the ISIL challenge. 

"It's not just about whether or not we should get involved in airstrikes. Everyone has a role to play and we should look at all elements, though it is clear we need regional support with a new and inclusive government of Iraq leading the efforts."

He reiterated that the UK had not made a decision on whether or not to take part in airstrikes.

The US has launched airstrikes in Iraq against the Sunni militants but is looking to expand its campaign after two videos showed the beheading of two American journalists held captive by the group, James Foley and Steven Sotloff.

The coaltion was announced as an Iraqi airstrike reportedly killed a senior aide of IS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

IS - which is also known as ISIS and ISIL - has gained control over vast swathes of Iraq and Syria. It controls the territory with a strict interpretation of Islamic law and has gone after religious minorities.

The US stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to the crisis in talks on Friday and acknowledged that action against IS in Iraq would have implications in Syria as well.

"We're convinced in the days ahead we have the ability to destroy ISIL. It may take a year, it may take two years, it may take three years," Mr Kerry said.

"But we're determined."

Washington is looking to have solid plans in place by the time the United Nations General Assembly meets in two weeks.

16.15 | 0 komentar | Read More