August 2007
Sunni Block Withdraws from Iraqi Cabinet (Aug. 1): The Iraqi Consensus Front, the largest Sunni faction in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's cabinet, resigns, citing the Shiite-led government's failure to stem violence by militias, follow through with reforms, and involve Sunnis in decisions on security.
Independence Hero Named Prime Minister of East Timor (Aug. 6): President Ramos-Horta names independence activist Xanana Gusmão as prime minister. Violent protests led by supporters of the Fretilin party, the former governing party, follow. Fretilin won the most seats in elections, but Gusmão formed a majority coalition, called the Alliance of the Parliamentary Majority (AMP).
UN Passes Resolution on Iraq (Aug. 10): Security Council resolution, passed unanimously, expands the UN's role in Iraq to help promote reconciliation, safety of citizens and workers, and civil rights.
Taliban Releases Two Hostages (Aug. 13): Two female hostages are released to the Red Cross following days of talks between the Taliban and South Korean negotiators. The women were members of a group of 23 church volunteers abducted from a bus on July 19. Two male hostages have been shot, and the Taliban has threatened to kill more if their demands for a prisoner exchange are not met. Fourteen women and five men are still being held.
Coalition Forces Launch Operation Phantom Strike (Aug. 13): US-led forces attack insurgent hide-outs, weapons caches, and bomb-building sites in a series of simultaneous raids. The operation follows the deployment of nearly 30,000 more US troops into Iraq.
Quadruple Bombing Leaves at Least 500 Dead in Iraqi Villages (Aug. 14): Two pairs of truck bombs explode about five miles apart in the remote, north-western Iraqi towns of Qahtaniya and Jazeera. At least 500 members of the minority Yazidi community are reported killed and hundreds more are wounded, making it the single deadliest insurgent attack of the war.
Thailand Votes in Favor of New Constitution (Aug. 20): In the country's first referendum, voters approve a new constitution that was drafted by a panel selected by the military government. Elections are expected to be held in December, ending a year of military rule that followed the ouster of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
U.S. Ambassador Criticizes Iraqi Leadership (Aug. 22): As sectarian violence continues unabated in Iraq, Ryan Crocker, the ambassador to Iraq, says political progress in Iraq has been "extremely disappointing."
Iraqi Government to Allow Former Baathists to Resume Jobs (Aug. 26): In an attempt at national reconciliation, a group of Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Vice President Tarqi al-Hashemi, and President Jalal Talabani, announce that former Baathists, members of the party loyal to Saddam Hussein, could regain their government jobs that were lost in 2003's de-Baathification process. Hashemi, however, says the move is not enough to have Sunnis leaders resume their cabinet positions, which they quit in early August.
Former Islamist Elected President of Turkey (Aug. 28): Abdullah Gul, of the Justice and Development Party, is elected president in the third round of voting by the country's parliament. He is the first Islamist president in the country's modern history. The military, which is highly protective of a secular state, opposed Gul's candidacy.
Deadly Violence Breaks Out Among Rival Shiite Groups (Aug. 28): More than 50 people are killed and hundreds are wounded when members of the Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, and the Badr Organization, a group of fighters that supports Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki battle in the streets of Karbala during a pilgrimage celebrating the birth of Muhammad al-Mahdi. (Aug. 29): Moktada al-Sadr announces that he has ordered the Mahdi Army to suspend its military operations for six months.
Pakistani Leader to Surrender Role as Military Chief (Aug. 29): According to exiled former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, President Pervez Musharraf has agreed to step down as army chief and run for reelection as president. In addition, Bhutto will be allowed to return to Pakistan and run for prime minister.
Nation
Musharraf close to power sharing deal with opposition leader IRNA 29 Aug 2007 -- President Pervez Musharraf is set to strike a power sharing deal with exiled opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, a cabinet minister said on Wednesday.
Pakistan Minister Says Musharraf-Bhutto Alliance Nearly Complete VOA 29 Aug 2007 -- Pakistani officials say the country's embattled president, General Pervez Musharraf, has nearly completed a power-sharing agreement with rival Benazir Bhutto
Pakistan test-fires new cruise missile IRNA 25 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan said on Saturday it has successfully test fired a new cruise missile with the range of 350 kilometers.
Musharraf says ex-PM Sharif can return to Pakistan IRNA 24 Aug 2007 -- President General Pervez Musharraf has said that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif can return home.
Pakistan President Faces Political Uncertainty VOA 24 Aug 2007 -- Pakistani political experts say the country's president, General Pervez Musharraf, faces a decidedly uncertain future a day after the Supreme Court ended his chief rival's seven-year exile
Pakistan Supreme Court Ends Former Prime Minister's Exile VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan's supreme court has ruled exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif can return to Pakistan and resume his political career
Pakistan Releases Al-Qaida Operative VOA 20 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan has released an alleged al-Qaida operative without charge three years after his arrest
Pakistan, Turkey to hold joint exercises IRNA 20 Aug 2007 -- A contingent comprising troops of Pakistan Army and Navy left here today for Turkey to participate in Pakistan Turkey Joint Special Services Group Exercise Jinnah-V, the army said.
Pakistan frees alleged al-Qaeda operative: Supreme Court told IRNA 20 Aug 2007 -- Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, an alleged al-Qaeda operative and computer expert has been freed, the Supreme Court was told on Monday.
Russia blocks deliveries of Chinese fighters to Pakistan - paper RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2007 -- Russia is not allowing China to re-export its RD-93 engines for Chinese-made fighters to Pakistan, an Indian newspaper said Monday on its website.
Afghan, Pakistan Talks End with Calls to Fight Terrorism VOA 13 Aug 2007 -- Four days of talks involving government and tribal leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan ended Sunday with calls to confront militancy and improve security along the countries' border.
Pakistan's Musharraf Calls for Cooperation to Fight Extremism VOA 12 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has called for improved ties with neighbor Afghanistan, and says both countries have to cooperate to defeat the rise of religious extremism and militancy
Musharraf Calls for Better Ties with Afghanistan to Defeat Extremism VOA 12 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has called for improved ties with neighbor Afghanistan, and says both countries have to cooperate to defeat the rise of religious extremism and militancy
Musharraf Rethink Ushers In Day Three Of Peace Jirga RFE/RL 11 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf looks set to attend a "peace jirga" in the Afghan capital aimed at combating Taliban and Al-Qaeda violence in the two neighboring countries, after originally bowing out.
Bush Confident Pakistan Will Target Al-Qaida VOA 09 Aug 2007 -- U.S. President George Bush says he is confident that Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf has both the desire and the ability to hunt down al-Qaida terrorists along the border with Afghanistan
Afghan, Pakistani Leaders Urge Stepped Up Fight Against Extremism VOA 09 Aug 2007 -- Pakistani and Afghan leaders issued renewed calls for greater cooperation in the fight against religious extremism
Afghan, Pakistani Tribal Leaders Launch 'Peace Jirga' RFE/RL 09 Aug 2007 -- Some 650 tribal leaders and other representatives from Afghanistan and Pakistan today opened an assembly in Kabul to boost security and seek an end to militancy undermining both governments.
Musharraf Makes No Moves On State Of Emergency RFE/RL 09 Aug 2007 -- A spokesman for Pakistan's government has told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that Islamabad will not declare a state of emergency today.
Despite Rumors, Pakistan's President Does Not Impose Emergency Rule VOA 09 Aug 2007 -- Senior officials in Pakistan have dismissed reports as mere "rumors and speculations" that President Pervez Musharraf is planning to impose emergency rule in the country. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.
Schaffer: Pakistan Facing Question on How to Handle Extremists cfr.org 08 Aug 2007
Pakistan tribesmen decline to attend jirga IRNA 08 Aug 2007 -- Parliamentarians and tribal elders from Pakistan's troubled Waziristan region Wednesday insisted that they can not attend the jirga or council in Kabul when their own house is burning.
Musharraf not to attend jirga in Kabul: spokesperson IRNA 08 Aug 2007 -- President General Pervez Musharraf will not attend the 3-day joint Afghanistan-Pakistan jirga or council of elders which begins in Kabul on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said.
Pakistani President Withdraws From Peace Conference in Afghanistan VOA 08 Aug 2007 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has pulled out of a peace assembly in Afghanistan designed to unite local leaders in the fight against Taleban militants.
Musharraf Pullout From Afghan-Pakistan Tribal Conference Puzzles Analysts VOA 08 Aug 2007 -- Tribal leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to meet in Kabul Thursday to discuss the growing problem of extremist violence in both countries
Pakistan Opposition Leader Says Musharraf Must Give Up Military Position VOA 07 Aug 2007 -- Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto says President Pervez Musharraf will have to relinquish his role as military chief if he wants to reach a political accommodation with the opposition
Anti-Government Forces Intensify Attacks in Pakistan's Northwest VOA 04 Aug 2007 -- A series of deadly attacks rocked Pakistan's volatile tribal region Saturday.
Pakistan says US-India Nuclear deal to have implications on strategic stability IRNA 03 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan said on Thursday that the US-India Nuclear Agreement would have implications on strategic stability as it would enable India to produce significant quantities of fissile material and nuclear weapons from un-safeguarded nuclear reactors.
Pakistan: 'Economic Development' Needed To Fight Taliban RFE/RL 03 Aug 2007 -- Philip H. Gordon is a senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy with the Washington-based Brookings Institution who has authored numerous books or articles on counterterrorism and security in the broader Middle East.
Pakistan Supreme Court Frees Jailed Opposition Leader, Increases Pressure on Musharraf VOA 03 Aug 2007 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the release of a leading opposition politician, who was jailed four years ago after criticizing the country's powerful military
Business/Science/Society
Bridge Collapses into the Mississippi River (Aug. 1): An eight-lane interstate bridge packed with cars breaks into sections and falls into the river, killing at least four people and injuring at least 60. The bridge was in the midst of repairs when it buckled and broke apart.
Coal Miners Are Trapped Inside Shaft (Aug. 6): Six miners are trapped 1,500 feet below ground after a shaft collapses at the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah.(Aug. 23): The owner of the mine says that finding survivors is "virtually, totally unlikely."
Educator Lifts Off to the Space Station (Aug. 8): Barbara Morgan, a former teacher from Idaho, is part of a mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station, where additional trusses will be added and supplies delivered. Morgan was the backup to Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who died in 1986 when the shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after takeoff. (Aug. 8): Following the discovery of a small gash on the underside of the Endeavour, NASA considers whether to direct the crew to attempt a repair, or to allow them to fly home as is. The gash is believed to have occurred when a piece of foam fell off the fuel tank and struck the underside of the shuttle. (Aug. 21): Endeavour lands safely after a 12 day, 17 hour mission.
Federal Reserve Pumps Billions into Financial System (Aug. 10): Fed puts $72 billion into the U.S. financial system over two days to steady the volatile markets that plummeted in response to losses in the American mortgage market.
NBA Referee Pleads Guilty in Betting Scandal (Aug. 14): Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleads guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting waging information through interstate commerce. Donaghy, once known as one of the NBA's best referees, sold inside information pertaining to NBA games to bettors before being investigated by the FBI and resigning on July 9. Donaghy, who faces up to 25 years in prison, must pay a $500,000 fine and at least $30,000 in restitution.
Quake Near Lima, Peru, Kills Hundreds (Aug. 15): A 8.0-magnitude earthquake occurs 90 miles southeast of Lima, Peru, killing at least 500 people dead and injuring hundreds more. The cities of Pisco, Chincha, and Ica are among those reporting the most damage.
Hurricane Dean Slams the Caribbean (Aug. 21): Dean makes landfall in Mexico as a Category 5 hurricane, the third most intense Atlantic hurricane since the 1850s. The storm killed more than 20 people.