'Syria violence throws UN peace mission into doubt - Tuesday 17 April 2012' diff viewer (3/4)

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Syria violence throws UN peace mission into doubt - live updates	Syria violence throws UN peace mission into doubt - live updates
2012-04-17 10:30:07 UTC	2012-04-17 11:10:07 UTC (40 minutes later)
	12.02pm: Hillary Clinton's latest comments on Syria illustrate the kind of western ambivalence on Syria that is roundly criticised in the latest International Crisis Group report on Syria.
	As we mentioned earlier Clinton said the US was "hoping for the best" on Annan's peace plan but considering "next steps" if it failed (see 9.29am).
	The ICG report, by Damascus-based analyst Peter Harling, described this kind of approach as confused and counter-productive. It says:
	This dual US and Arab approach – on the one hand, proclaiming support for Annan and for a diplomatic resolution; on the other, toying with greater militarisation of the opposition – arguably is a strategy at war with itself and one that could readily backfire. Some argue that only by dangling the prospect of a stronger rebel force might Assad be persuaded to give in, But a different scenario is more likely: the regime will point to any decision to arm the opposition as a breach of the Annan plan and use it as a reason not to comply and to reinvigorate its own offensive; meanwhile, the military half-measures on behalf of the opposition might satisfy the urge to "do something" – but these will be woefully inadequate to beat back a regime offensive. There are good reasons why the US wishes to steer clear of direct military involvement – not least the danger of regional spillover and the outbreak of an even bloodier civil war. But the end result of the mixed approach currently contemplated risks being to both undermine the diplomatic track and expose the opposition to ever harsher retaliation.
	Harling's report admits that the chance of Kofi Annan's peace initiative are slim, but it argues that it remains the best option on the table. It suggest the current ambivalence to the Annan plan risks repeating the failure of Arab League initiative earlier this year.
	Far worse than giving this a chance would be to repeat the mistake committed during the last diplomatic, Arab League-sponsored initiative, which also included a monitoring mission: to expect its failure; rush to pull the plug on an unsatisfactory policy; wait for the emergence of an alternative that has been neither considered nor agreed. And then watch, as the killing goes on.
	The report points out that Assad's regime has been repeating stalling tactics over the Annan plan that it used during Arab League initiative.
	To date, Damascus' reaction has been in line with its traditional posture: it took some time before accepting Annan's six-point plan (including a commitment to political negotiations, a UN-supervised ceasefire, guaranteed humanitarian access, the release of detainees, freedom of movement for foreign media and respect for the right to peaceful demonstrations); is dragging its feet regarding implementation; injecting conditions (such as the end to all opposition violence); and exploiting (if not provoking) spikes in violence to stall the process.
	Despite such tactics from the regime the ICG report argues that Annan's proposals should be fleshed out to form the basis for political deal.
	It suggests that a deal could be made to work if it included:
	• Details of how peacekeeping mission would work
	• Piloting a ceasefire on a small scale first
	• A freeze on all weapons transfers from neighbouring countries
	• A deal to allow peaceful protests anywhere in Syria apart from central Damascus
	• Launching an international investigation into the worst forms of violence
	11.45am: Bahrain/Britain: Two protesters who climbed on to the roof of the Bahrain embassy in London yesterday are still there this morning, despite some wet and chilly weather overnight.
	They unfurled a banner showing pictures of hunger striking human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and senior Shia opposition leader Hassan Mushaima, both of whom were sentenced to life in prison in Bahrain following last year's pro-democracy protests there.
	The BBC identified the protesters as Mushaima's son, Ali, and 30-year-old Moosa Satrawi. "I'm not going down until I hear Mr al-Khawaja call me or Mr Mushaima," Satrawi told the BBC. "Otherwise I will jump myself from the roof."
	Bahrain's foreign ministry has described the protesters as "terrorists", urging the British authorities to "deal with the situation immediately, take necessary and fast action required in such cases, disembark the terrorists from the roof of the building and enforce the working law proceedings against them".
11.18am: Bahrain: News of a spat between Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority (IAA) and Brazilian political cartoonist Carlos Latuff.	11.18am: Bahrain: News of a spat between Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority (IAA) and Brazilian political cartoonist Carlos Latuff.
Some of his cartoons have been used as posters during demonstrations in Bahrain but the IAA is complaining that they lack "integrity" and "balance" and contain "serious journalistic and factual errors".	Some of his cartoons have been used as posters during demonstrations in Bahrain but the IAA is complaining that they lack "integrity" and "balance" and contain "serious journalistic and factual errors".
They also complain that his drawings "tip over the limits" of free speech.	They also complain that his drawings "tip over the limits" of free speech.
Here's a sample of Latuff's recent work.	Here's a sample of Latuff's recent work.
10.53am: Egypt: The ruling military council has inserted a new element of confusion into the coming presidential election, the Associated Press reports. The generals now insist a new constitution be written before a new president is seated – a rushed timeframe that some fear may prolong their hold on power. AP continues:	10.53am: Egypt: The ruling military council has inserted a new element of confusion into the coming presidential election, the Associated Press reports. The generals now insist a new constitution be written before a new president is seated – a rushed timeframe that some fear may prolong their hold on power. AP continues:
For weeks, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists sought to dominate the writing of the country's first new constitution since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak more than a year ago. But after Islamist domination of the process sparked a backlash of criticism, the military has stepped back in to take a more direct role.	For weeks, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists sought to dominate the writing of the country's first new constitution since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak more than a year ago. But after Islamist domination of the process sparked a backlash of criticism, the military has stepped back in to take a more direct role.
The military's new assertiveness has split the national debate. Some liberals have welcomed the military's weight to counteract the increasing power of Islamists. Others, however, worry that the generals aim to continue their control over Egypt beyond their promised deadline for handing over power to a civilian president by the end of June.	The military's new assertiveness has split the national debate. Some liberals have welcomed the military's weight to counteract the increasing power of Islamists. Others, however, worry that the generals aim to continue their control over Egypt beyond their promised deadline for handing over power to a civilian president by the end of June.
In a meeting Sunday, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces urged heads of political parties, including the Brotherhood, to finish writing the country's constitution before the election of a new president, now set for May 23-24.	In a meeting Sunday, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces urged heads of political parties, including the Brotherhood, to finish writing the country's constitution before the election of a new president, now set for May 23-24.
The generals did not directly say the election would be delayed if the constitution is not finished, according to Mustafa el-Naggar, who attended the meeting. But few believe the document can be written and approved by a referendum in that timeframe.	The generals did not directly say the election would be delayed if the constitution is not finished, according to Mustafa el-Naggar, who attended the meeting. But few believe the document can be written and approved by a referendum in that timeframe.
"My feeling is something is just not right," said Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghozlan. "This is too foggy ... Is there a desire to find a pretext to extend the transitional period?"	"My feeling is something is just not right," said Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghozlan. "This is too foggy ... Is there a desire to find a pretext to extend the transitional period?"
El-Naggar's al-Adl Party warned that pushing back elections would open the door for "mayhem that threatens the country's security ... It is a coup against the democratic transition. The people won't accept anyone ruling them without an election."	El-Naggar's al-Adl Party warned that pushing back elections would open the door for "mayhem that threatens the country's security ... It is a coup against the democratic transition. The people won't accept anyone ruling them without an election."
The election has already been marred by confusion after the commission overseeing the process on Friday disqualified 10 of the 23 would-candidates from the race, including the top three hopefuls. The three the Muslim Brotherhood's Khairat el-Shater, former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, and ultraconservative Islamist Hazem Abu Ismail all submitted their appeals on Monday.	The election has already been marred by confusion after the commission overseeing the process on Friday disqualified 10 of the 23 would-candidates from the race, including the top three hopefuls. The three the Muslim Brotherhood's Khairat el-Shater, former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, and ultraconservative Islamist Hazem Abu Ismail all submitted their appeals on Monday.
The election commission is expected to decide Tuesday which appeals will be reviewed, and a final list of candidates will be released April 26, just under a month before the vote.	The election commission is expected to decide Tuesday which appeals will be reviewed, and a final list of candidates will be released April 26, just under a month before the vote.
The process for writing the constitution has similarly been thrown into turmoil, fuelling doubts it can be finished quickly. A panel created by parliament is supposed to draw up the document. Last month, the Brotherhood and other Islamists, who hold 70 percent of parliament's seats, formed a 100-member panel dominated by Islamists, provoking an outcry that they were trying to control the process.	The process for writing the constitution has similarly been thrown into turmoil, fuelling doubts it can be finished quickly. A panel created by parliament is supposed to draw up the document. Last month, the Brotherhood and other Islamists, who hold 70 percent of parliament's seats, formed a 100-member panel dominated by Islamists, provoking an outcry that they were trying to control the process.
A court suspended that panel, and now the military is mediating a new attempt to form a new one. The parliament must still vote on the final makeup.	A court suspended that panel, and now the military is mediating a new attempt to form a new one. The parliament must still vote on the final makeup.
10.40am: Bahrain: Former Islamist Ed Husain, who founded Quilliam, Britain's first counter-extremism thinktank, and now works for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, has been causing a stir on Twitter with comments about his visit to Bahrain in the company of Richard Haass, CFR's president.	10.40am: Bahrain: Former Islamist Ed Husain, who founded Quilliam, Britain's first counter-extremism thinktank, and now works for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, has been causing a stir on Twitter with comments about his visit to Bahrain in the company of Richard Haass, CFR's president.
Other Twitters users have both praised and condemned him for what appear to be pro-regime sympathies.	Other Twitters users have both praised and condemned him for what appear to be pro-regime sympathies.
He announced his arrival in the kingdom on April 15, to a "warm welcome from great people", and soon noted the large proportion of women (43%) employed in the civil service: "On average, their salaries are higher than men."	He announced his arrival in the kingdom on April 15, to a "warm welcome from great people", and soon noted the large proportion of women (43%) employed in the civil service: "On average, their salaries are higher than men."
Before long, he was tweeting about being given "free access to all and sundry" and how Bahrainis are "open to talking/engaging".	Before long, he was tweeting about being given "free access to all and sundry" and how Bahrainis are "open to talking/engaging".