Russia, Iran: Foreign Ministers Meeting
February 5, 2010 1408 GMT
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet in Munich with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Feb. 5. Lavrov said he will work to make the P-5+1 (the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany) position about the need for Iran to respond to International Atomic Energy Agency questions as clear as possible. Lavrov said reaching an agreement on the supply of nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor would create the best conditions for resolving the Iranian nuclear controversy by diplomatic means.

France: Instructors To Go To Afghanistan
February 5, 2010 1405 GMT
France will send about 70-80 more military instructors to eastern Afghanistan, said French Defense Minister Herve Morin on Feb. 5, reported AFP. Speaking at a NATO meeting in Istanbul, Morin said the instructors will help a new armored cavalry college in cooperation with the Germans. The instructors will be dispatched in the spring, he said.

Russia: FM Wants Clarification On Missile Defense System Plans
February 5, 2010 1357 GMT
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asked on Feb. 5 for clarification from the United States on plans to deploy missile defense facilities in Romania, Interfax reported. Lavrov was speaking at a news conference in Berlin. "We are proceeding from the agreement reached by (Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama)…that the threats and risks of missile proliferation will be assessed jointly," he said.

Brief: Breakthrough In Northern Ireland
February 5, 2010 1357 GMT
Applying STRATFOR analysis to breaking news.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen unveiled a breakthrough agreement that saves Northern Ireland's unity government, AP reported Feb. 5. The still-confidential accord charts a path for creating a Belfast Justice Department that will take control of the province's police and courts. London hopes to transfer responsibility for the administration of justice to local hands April 12, before a British general election expected in May. The breakthrough should go a long way to reduce tension in the short term. However, the agreement does not address the contentious issue of Unionist parades, which have often incited violence, instead tasking a commission with resolving it down the road. Considering that this was the most contentious issue holding up the devolution of power, the possibility that tensions between nationalists and unionists could flare up again remains.

Brief: Georgian Opposition Group Expands Russian Cooperation
February 5, 2010 1351 GMT
Applying STRATFOR analysis to breaking news.
Georgian opposition group the Movement for Fair Georgia will sign a cooperation agreement Feb. 9 with Russia's ruling party, United Russia, providing for regular consultations and exchanges of information. Movement for Fair Georgia leader and former Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli has not been hiding his pro-Russian stance in the past month in the form of trips to Moscow. His is one of the first outwardly pro-Russian stances by a Georgian political leader since the Rose Revolution. Nogaideli has presented his actions as a bid to work with Russia rather than to be an enemy of Russia. Forming formal ties with Russia's ruling party, however, could cause political blowback against Nogaideli that prevents him from consolidating any more power withing Georgia's opposition. Though many inside the opposition agree with Nogaideli that Georgia should not remain unfriendly to Russia, formal ties with Moscow cross a line for many in the opposition. It will be important to see which opposition groups still associate with Nogaideli and Movement for Fair Georgia in light of his new step.

Sri Lanka: President To Visit Russia
February 5, 2010 1347 GMT
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev will meet with Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Percy Rajapaksa on Feb. 8, Ros Business Consulting reported Feb. 5, citing Medvedev's press office. Rajapaksa will participate in 50th anniversary celebrations of the Peoples' Friendship University.

Cambodia: PM Not Allowed To Thai Site
February 5, 2010 1340 GMT
Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen, begins a visit of four sites on Feb. 6, one of which is under Thai military control, The Nation reported Feb. 5. A spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry said the prime minister may not visit the Tamoen Thom Castle during his trip, which ends Feb. 9. The trip also includes visits to Emerald Triangle, Chong Bok and Preah Vihear Temple.

Nigeria: Governors To Back Jonathan As Acting President
February 5, 2010 1339 GMT
The Governors' Forum, a group representing Nigeria's state governors, will meet with the leadership of the Nigerian parliament to pass a resolution recognizing Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as the acting president of Nigeria, Governor's Forum chairman Bukola Saraki said Feb. 5 after meeting with Jonathan. He added that the meeting would occur the week of Feb. 7 so the parliamentary resolution can come out the same week.

Madagascar: Elections Delayed
February 5, 2010 1332 GMT
Madagascar legislative elections will be delayed until May as the opposition has demanded, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said in a Feb. 4 interview with Radio France Internationale.

Afghanistan: Bomb Explodes At Dog Fight
February 5, 2010 1326 GMT
Three people died Feb. 5 and 31 were wounded when a bomb planted on a motorcycle exploded at a dog fight in southern Afghanistan, AFP reported, citing officials. The bomb, placed near the dog-fighting pit, was detonated remotely, police said.

Brief: Suicide Bombings Strike Karachi, Pakistan
February 5, 2010 1315 GMT
Applying STRATFOR analysis to breaking news.
A pair of suicide bombings struck the southern port city of Karachi, Pakistan, Feb 5 within a short span of a few hours, killing at least 22 and wounding 55. The first explosion occurred when a explosives-laden motorcycle hit a minibus on a major thoroughfare. Another took place when a second motorbike went off in the parking lot of the hospital's emergency ward where wounded from the first blast were being brought for treatment. The first blast was likely trying to target a Shiite procession on the occasion of Chehlum (the last major day of the Muharram-related mourning period). Pakistan’s main Islamist militant rebel grouping, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which has been focusing on expanding the insurgency to Karachi in the past several weeks, is likely behind this attack. The attack comes at a time when the country’s largest city is already in the grip of intense ethno-political tensions, in which some three dozen people have been shot dead. The Pakistani Taliban rebels are trying to make use of both ethnic and sectarian tensions to create havoc in the country’s economic hub. Further attacks can be expected in the coming days.

Pakistan: Shiite Mourners Bus Targeted
February 5, 2010 1306 GMT
A Feb. 5 blast on Shahrah-i-Faisal, a main road in Karachi, Pakistan, was targeting a Shiite mourners bus, KUNA reported. Most of the mourners were women and children.

Russia: FM Warns Iran
February 5, 2010 1251 GMT
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Feb. 5 that Iran's nuclear program may be discussed at the U.N. Security Council if Tehran does not respond to compromise offers, RIA Novosti reported. Lavrov spoke following talks in Berlin with German counterpart Guido Westerwelle.

Pakistan: 8 Dead In Hospital Blast
February 5, 2010 1244 GMT
A bombing at Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, has killed eight and injured 15, SAMAA News reported Feb. 5. An eyewitness said the bomb was planted in a TV and placed on a motorcycle. A suspect reportedly ran and hid inside a washroom. The blast may have been triggered by remote control.

Pakistan: Bomb Goes Off At Karachi Hospital
February 5, 2010 1238 GMT
A bomb went off at Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, where victims of the Shahra-e-Faisal blast were being treated, Reuters reported Feb. 5. No deaths were reported, although there had been reports of severe injuries. KUNA reported that the blast took place in front of the emergency ward at the motorcycle parking lot.

Brief: Chinese Anti-Dumping Duties A Response To U.S. Tire Tariffs
February 5, 2010 1223 GMT
Applying STRATFOR analysis to breaking news.
China will impose preliminary anti-dumping duties of up to 105.4 percent on the importation of American broiler chicken products, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced on Feb. 5. The ministry published the information of the investigation on its website, showing that U.S. importers had caused "material damage" to local producers by selling at below-market prices. The duties will be imposed beginning on Feb 13; imports by Pilgrim Pride Corp. will face an 80.5 percent preliminary duty and Tyson Foods Inc. will see a 43.1 percent duty. The investigation into these duties began after the United States slapped a tariff on tire imports from China under Section 421. After the United States imposed the tire tariff, China threatened to retaliate by investigating U.S. chicken and car exports, but has only now decided on the response as relations between the two countries get heated over arm sales to Taiwan. STRATFOR sources in the industry expected the retaliation and felt they were targeted because they had a trade surplus with China (Chicken companies are said to export a lot of chicken feet to China -- a waste product in the United States -- leading to the surplus).

U.S.: China To Levy Anti-Dumping Duties On Chicken Products
February 5, 2010 1205 GMT
Beginning Feb. 13, China will levy initial anti-dumping duties between 43.1 and 105.4 percent on U.S. chicken products, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce reported on its website on Feb. 5. Companies that appealed the ruling will get duties of 43.1 percent to 80.5 percent on their products; Tyson Foods, which invests and lobbies in China, will receive the lowest rate. Companies that did not appeal the finding will see duties of 105.4 percent.

Russia: Lavrov To Visit Germany
February 5, 2010 1135 GMT
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Germany for talks with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and participation in a security conference in Munich, RIA Novosti reported Feb. 5. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Lavrov and Westerwelle will meet in Berlin to discuss Russian-German bilateral relations, European security and nuclear arms cuts. The possible lifting of Russia's moratorium on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, unilaterally imposed in December 2007, is also expected to be discussed. Lavrov will fly to Munich to participate in a plenary session of the 46th Security Conference.

Pakistan: 11 Killed, 50 Injured In Karachi Blast
February 5, 2010 1101 GMT
At least 11 people were killed and 50 were injured when a blast took place on Shahrah-i-Faisal, a main road in Karachi, Dawn News reported Feb. 5. The blast reportedly occurred when an explosives-laden motorcycle rammed into a public bus on the FTC bridge, according to Capital City Police Officer Waseem Ahmed. GEO TV reported that the road leading to Saddar was blocked and the blast site was cordoned off.

Germany: Iran Uses Tricks With Nuclear Program
February 5, 2010 1050 GMT
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Iran uses delaying tactics instead of taking action to resolve the dispute over its nuclear program, Reuters reported Feb. 5. Westerwelle stated that Iran has repeatedly bluffed and played tricks and would be judged by its actions and not by its words. He added that only a serious return to negotiations would prevent measures such as sanctions being imposed on Tehran. Westerwelle said a nuclear-armed Iran would not only be a threat for the countries in the region, it preoccupies the international community and threatens stability with a nuclear arms race.

Iraq: 20 Killed In Karbala Bombings
February 5, 2010 1039 GMT
Hospital sources said at least 20 people were killed and 75 were wounded when two car bombs blew up in Karbala as Shiite pilgrims observed a major religious rite, Reuters reported Feb. 5.

Iran: Mousavi Could Be Charged
February 5, 2010 1033 GMT
Iran's general attorney said opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi could be charged for disturbances, Al Arabiya TV reported Feb. 5.

U.K., Ireland: Deal Accepted To Save Belfast Government
February 5, 2010 1026 GMT
British Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen unveiled a breakthrough agreement that saves Northern Ireland's Catholic-Protestant unity government, AP reported Feb. 5. Brown said the agreement was possible because of "a new spirit of mutual cooperation and respect." Cowen called the painstakingly negotiated deal "an essential step for peace, stability and security in Northern Ireland." The still-confidential accord charts a path for creating a Belfast Justice Department that will take control of the province's police and courts. Britain hopes to transfer justice powers to local hands April 12 before a British general election expected in May.

Iran: Mottaki To Address Security Conference
February 5, 2010 0915 GMT
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will address the opening session of the 46th Munich Security Conference, IRNA reported Feb. 5. Mottaki will also take part in a panel discussion on international issues.

Russia: Five Killed In Chechnya Clash
February 5, 2010 0901 GMT
A law enforcement official said five servicemen from the Russian Interior Ministry's internal troops were killed in an armed clash with members of a bandit unit in Chechnya's Urus-Martanovskiy District and six others were injured, Interfax reported Feb. 5. According to the source, a group of 15 militants exchanged fire with Russian troops, killing a troop commander, the head of the gun crew, a squad commander and a rifleman. A second clash broke out when the militants attempted to break through as troops surrounded them. The source said a sniper was killed and two platoon commanders were injured.

U.K.: Troops Prepare For NATO Afghan Assault
February 5, 2010 0848 GMT
The British military said its troops launched helicopter advances in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province to prepare the battlefield for a major NATO operation, Reuters reported Feb. 5. British and Afghan troops were carrying out "shaping operations" in Helmand's Nad Ali district as part of an initial phase of Operation Moshtarak, or "together," a large assault that will seize the entire district, according to a British military official. The operations have been taking place over the last 36 hours.

Iraq: Syrian Killed In Border Clashes
February 5, 2010 0823 GMT
According to an Iraqi security source, a Syrian gunman was killed in clashes between Iraqi forces and gunmen near the Iraqi-Syrian border in Ninewa, Aswat al-Iraq reported Feb. 5. Armed clashes flared up between Iraqi Special Forces (SWAT) and five gunmen in the Rabiaa region in Talafar near the Syrian border, the source said, adding that Syrian gunman Khaled Abu Fahd was killed in the clashes while the rest of the gunmen managed to escape inside Syrian territory.

North Korea: American To Be Released
February 5, 2010 0727 GMT
North Korea conducted an investigation into Robert Park, an American national who was caught for trespassing on the northern border, KCNA reported Feb. 5. According to the results of the investigation, Park trespassed due to his "misunderstanding" of North Korea. Pyongyang officials decided to "leniently forgive" and release him, taking his admission and "sincere repentance of his wrong doings" into consideration.

India: Kashmir Security Lockdown Blocks Protests
February 5, 2010 0715 GMT
Indian troops sealed off neighborhoods in Kashmir's Srinagar and arrested dozens of activists to block planned protests over the death of a Muslim boy, AFP reported Feb. 5. A witness said troops asked residents not to venture out as a curfew is in force, but police denied imposing any curfew. Police officer Pervez Ahmed said officials are only enforcing restrictions on civilian movement to maintain law and order. Police and paramilitary forces carried out raids across Srinagar and arrested more than 75 people who participated in protests, a police officer said, adding that more arrests were likely.

Uzbekistan: Kyrgyzstan Gas Supplies Suspended
February 5, 2010 0617 GMT
According to sources at the Kyrgyzgaz Company, Uzbekistan has again suspended natural gas supplies to southern Kyrgyzstan, the news agency 24.kg reported Feb. 5. Uzbekistan informed Kyrgyz gas specialists that Kyrgyzstan's debt for natural gas was $7 million dollars as of Feb. 4. Kyrgyzgaz has not issued an official explanation.

China: North Korean Visit May Restart Nuclear Talks
February 5, 2010 0606 GMT
Sources in Beijing said Wang Jiarui, a senior official of China's Communist Party, is set to visit North Korea on a mission to help resume stalled talks on ending the North's nuclear program, Yonhap reported Feb. 5. Wang's meeting next week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il may bring significant changes to the six-party talks. Officials at South Korea's Foreign Ministry refused to confirm Wang's trip to Pyongyang, but said such a visit could help restart the nuclear negotiations.