InfoAnda - Obama vows 'new beginning' with Islam

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

HP hopes to reassure Street, Dell's margins key | 17 November 2010
"Paranormal Activity" Sequel Spooks Up Films At Box Office Weekend | 25 October 2010
Scattered Palestinian protests reflect a fractured struggle | 4 February 2010

Hardline Iran cleric urges tough stance on detainees | International | | 14 August 2009

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Obama vows 'new beginning' with Islam

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Obama vows 'new beginning' with Islam AFP - Friday, June 5 CAIRO (AFP) - - US President Barack Obama vowed to forge a "new beginning" for Islam and America in a landmark speech to the world's Muslims, promising to purge years of "suspicion and discord." ADVERTISEMENT In what may be one of the defining moments of his presidency, Obama laid out a new blueprint for US Middle East policy, pledging to end mistrust, forge a state for Palestinians and defuse a nuclear showdown with Iran. "So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace," said Obama, who was greeted with a standing ovation as he stepped alone up to the podium at Cairo University. Obama drew applause as he sprinkled his text with allusion to the Koran and the Bible, and elements of his own upbringing as a boy in the world's most populous Islamic nation Indonesia with family members in Kenya followers of the Muslim faith. In the university's imposing domed Great Hall, Obama said the US bond with Israel , the source of much Arab distrust of the United States , was unbreakable. He also rejected "ignorant" rants by those who deny the Nazi Holocaust -- in an implied shot at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But breaking with his predecessor George W. Bush, he rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to halt West Bank settlement expansion . "I have come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world," Obama said in a speech targeting the globe's 1.5 billion Muslims via television, the Internet and on social networking sites. "This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," said Obama, vowing to fight "negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear." "But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America," he added. Part of Obama's motivation appeared to be to cleanse the US image in the Muslim world, which has been tarnished by events like the Iraq war, the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Targeting young Muslims, Obama said: "I know there are many -- Muslim and non-Muslim -- who question whether we can forge this new beginning. "There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward." As expected, Obama's speech got mixed reactions. Arab League chief Amr Mussa said the speech was "balanced" and paved the way for good relations. The leading Sunni Muslim centre of learning, Cairo's Al-Azhar University, said the speech presaged a "promising new era" in relations between the Islamic world and the United States. And UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he hoped Obama's message would "have a positive impact on the peace process". But Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which fought a 2006 war with Israel, said it saw "no real change" in US policy in the region. And Iraqi Shiite radical leader Moqtada Sadr, who led two uprisings against US-led troops in 2004, said US policies "were and are still hostile to Islam". Human Rights Watch said Thursday. the speech ignored decades-long abuses in Egypt and in other Arab states. "Obama missed an important opportunity to criticize the state of emergency that has undermined respect for human rights in Egypt, Algeria, and Syria, among other countries," the New York-based rights organization said. Human Rights Watch said that Obama's choice of Cairo as the platform for his big speech "was controversial because of Egypts record of stifling the opposition, holding tainted elections, and imprisoning dissidents." Human Rights Watch also queried the value of Obama's stirring appeal for freedom of speech and equality under the law worldwide. Obama "rightly spoke of the importance of the 'ability to speak your mind,' but failed to criticize the imprisonment of dissidents, journalists, and bloggers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and elsewhere." The organization also said that rather than hailing his own government's decision not to use torture, "it would have been better had he also urged governments of the region, including Egypts, to do the same." "If Obama wants to tackle the issues that cause Muslim ill-will toward the United States, he should take on the regions repressive regimes, many of them US-backed -- including his hosts," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. Obama called on Israel and the Palestinians to revive stalled peace talks, demanding that Palestinians halt violence and Israel ease the plight of those in the occupied territories. "America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own," he said. "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop." Israel said it was ready to work for reconciliation with the Muslim world "while taking into consideration its national interest, first and foremost its security." The US president renewed his offer of dialogue with arch-foe Iran "without preconditions". "It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve," he said. The overture to Tehran drew criticism from right-wingers in the United States and sparked some concern in Israel. "Where he continues to say he will sit down with the Iranians without any preconditions -- I just think that that puts us in a position where America looks weak in the eyes of their rulers," said House Republican Minority Leader John Boehner. "There was an expectation in Jerusalem that the president would repeat his previous clear expressions on the (Iran nuclear) issue," a senior Israeli official told AFP asking not to be identified. Ahead of Obama's speech, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had fired a shot across his bows saying: "Nations in the region hate the United States from the bottom of their hearts because they have seen violence, military intervention and discrimination." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: Obama's Presidency Obama speech widely hailed but foes still scepticalAFP - 2 hours 21 minutes ago Obama vows 'new beginning' with IslamAFP - Friday, June 5 China's Hu, Obama discuss NKorea: state mediaAFP - Thursday, June 4 Obama heads to Cairo for landmark speechAFP - Thursday, June 4 Related Articles: World Retailer Wal-Mart plans to add 22,000 US jobsAFP - Friday, June 5 Taliban release all kidnapped staff, studentsAFP - Friday, June 5 Stolen Renoir turns up near Venice, after 25 yearsAFP - Friday, June 5 N.Korean boat crossed sea border with S.KoreaAFP - Friday, June 5 Militants blow up girls school in Pakistan: policeAFP - Thursday, June 4 Related Full Coverage Obama's Presidency What change will Obama bring? Will it affect the rest of us globally? All Full Coverage Most Popular – World Viewed US actor Carradine dead, suicide suspected: Thai police Black boxes may never be found: crash investigators World 'getting closer' to swine flu pandemic: WHO Pandemic warnings as swine flu spreads to Africa Life, health insurers invest big in tobacco View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Friday, 5 June 2009
Taliban release all kidnapped students: officials
Britons jailed for life for French student murders
White House Web push for Obama speech
Militants blow up girls school in Pakistan: police
US actor Carradine dead, suicide suspected: Thai police
Indonesian woman faces jail over email complaint
President Obama meets Saudi king
Sberbank 'could sell Opel stake to Russian investor'
Stolen Renoir turns up near Venice, after 25 years
ECB, BoE hold record low rates, analysts eye bonds
First Afghan fibre optic cable connects to Tajikistan
Hezbollah camp seen gaining in Lebanon vote
Retailer Wal-Mart plans to add 22,000 US jobs
Bin Laden criticises Obama in new tape
NKorean navy boat crosses border with South: official
Thai 'Yellow Shirts' register new party: official
China's Hu, Obama discuss NKorea: state media
Palm Pre gets thumbs up in media reviews | Technology |
China's Hu, Obama discuss NKorea: state media
Canada will not regulate online broadcasters | Technology |
S.Korea's economy still gloomy: official data
China, Japan to launch talks on copyright piracy
Philippines plan to cut rice import
Poisoned liquor suspected in 25 Indonesian deaths
Collector: footbinding forerunner to fashion
Whitney Houston to release comeback album this fall | Entertainment |
Billy Elliot set to win big at Tony Awards | Entertainment |
Three US soldiers, poll candidate killed in Afghanistan
EU polls kick off with boost for Dutch right-winger
Obama seeks to change Muslim perceptions of U.S. | International |
Videogames delivering workouts along with fun
Carradine may have died from sex act: Thai police
Taliban release all kidnapped students: officials
UK PM Brown battles to hold on in face of revolt | International |
Brazil mistakes sea 'trash' for plane crash debris
White House launches online offensive for Obama speech
GM hopes to return to profit by 2011: court papers
Speed an issue in Air France crash, search goes on | International |
US says speeding up visas for researchers
Oldest serving cop in US dies at age 84
No sign of debris yet at jet crash site: Brazil
U.S. to impose financial sanctions on North Korea: report | International |
Israel gives mixed signals on Iran attack
Intel buying Wind River Systems for $884 mln
EU to send mission to Moscow and Kiev over gas dispute
Philippine army kills 13 rebels in heavy fighting | International |
Bomb in Baghdad cafe kills 7
All Israeli options against Iran on table
China security tight in Tiananmen | International |
China bus fire kills at least 24: Xinhua | International |
Drug gangs kill 11 in Mexico, mutilate bodies | International |
US, China need to lead on climate: US senator
Iran leader issues veiled criticism of moderates | International |
Climate talks move into next phase
Carradine may have died from sex act: Thai police
NKorea sees SKorean president in Roh's suicide
Suspense builds ahead of Apple extravaganza | Technology |
Obama vows 'new beginning' with Islam
Apple's Jobs ready to return from leave: report | Technology |
Koreans Pak, Lee share LPGA lead
US, Israeli defense ministers meet in Washington
China: At least 24 die in bus fire in southwest
US, China need to lead on climate: US senator
Nintendo rejected rivals' technology choice: report | Technology |
North Korea silent on fate of US journalists
Tech firms see 18 percent drop in storage revs: report | Technology |
Obama urges laggards get ready for digital TV | Technology |
Progress but still no deal on NKorea sanctions: UN
Videogame industry prays for resilient 2009 | Technology |
US actor Carradine found hanged in Thai hotel
Aussie cricker Symonds ordered home, career in the balance
Canon revives new plant as camera sales hold firm | Technology |
Just a few on Twitter do all the tweeting: study | Technology |
Sony joins Universal, YouTube for music video site | Technology |
India new govt will focus on growth, help poor
Vietnam Airlines gets $120 mln loan for six aircraft
Pakistan's forex rise $330 mln to $11.52 bln
Pakistan stocks extend losses on economy, tax worries
Thai coroner seeks cause of Kung Fu actor's death | Entertainment |
Next season on the box? Anti-crisis 'Heal TV'
Edie Falco: from mobster wife to pill-popping nurse | Entertainment |
Europride gay festival expects 50,000 in Zurich
Chris Pine looks Unstoppable | Entertainment |
Soweto hopes to score on SAfrica's Confeds Cup
Heath Ledger documentary to air on Ovation TV | Entertainment |
Bollywood union boycotts Australia over attacks
Lost, Hangover try to catch Up at box office | Entertainment |
Defying recession, Japan's green cars surge in popularity
Reality gets Stranger with arranged-wedding show | Entertainment |
The Shield leads TV critics' nominations | Entertainment |
Calling Earth from the Air: world release of green movie 'Home'
Guns and drugs? Some rappers inflate hustler image | Entertainment |
Iconic Berlin Wall kiss to smack again: gallery
NY Philharmonic to play Platoon theme in Vietnam | Entertainment |
Australia PM outraged over sick kids TV stunt
"Carefree again", says Placebo's Brian Molko
Iraq, Afghanistan to resume ties soon: diplomats
Blind Japanese woman receives IBM's top award
British PM tries to save govt with cabinet reshuffle
Bomb kills 40 in Pakistan mosque as Holbrooke visits | International |
Rio Tinto calls off massive Chinalco tie-up
Iran to Obama: "sweet talk" not enough for Muslims
Obama speech aims to fix rift with Muslims
Myanmar court delays Suu Kyi trial, witness ruling | International |
Obama hopeful of Mideast peace progress this year | International |
Ukraine leader vows to block election changes | International |
Berlusconi says topless photos invasion of privacy | International |
Mogadishu exodus swells, Islamists battle for town | International |
Dalai Lama shrugs off concern over Dutch meeting | International |
Obama pledges Mideast peace drive
Obama speech widely hailed but foes still sceptical
U.S. says nuclear arms talks with Russia productive
Microsoft exec sees lower margins from cloud | Technology |
Sandra Bullock ... hates romantic comedies?
Philippine May inflation at 3.3pct, 18-month low
First Pacific denies Philippines asset swap bid
China, Japan should team up on product safety
Susan Boyle out of London clinic
Seoul shares end higher as techs, banks advance
Sky's the limit for Singapore gardens
China considering environmental tax: govt
Sandra Bullock ... hates romantic comedies?
NZ dollar steady, data eyed; debt weak
Susan Boyle leaves clinic, eyes U.S. success | Entertainment |
Growth figures confirm S.Korea avoided recession
World Bank: 900 mln dollar aid package to Pakistan
South Korea c.bank downplays recovery talk
Taiwan dollar ends at 1-week low on fund outflows
Bollywood producers, Indian multiplexes end standoff | Entertainment |
Researchers Say Playing Music In Stairwells May Help Fight Obesity
Kelly Osbourne's Hair Fell Out After Bleach-Job
Couple Conceived Baby At Green Day Show, Named Child Dookie
Saudi Prince Goes To Excess With $481 Million Private Jet
Prince William Is Dead Claims Google Database; The Prince Begs To Differ
Mysterious Lights Have Brits Eyeing Night Sky
Angelina Jolie Dethrones Oprah As Forbes Most Powerful Celeb
New York City Shelters Homeless At Vacant Luxury Condos
David Beckham Likes Eating Italian Delicacy "Little Bum"
Cameron Diaz Wishes She Had A Bigger Butt
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01