American-Russian alliance. UN wants NATO to investigate Afghan bombing

UN wants NATO to investigate Afghan bombing

09:56 PM (MSD) September 4, 2009

The United Nations has called on NATO to thoroughly investigate an air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers in Afghanistan, after hearing reports that casualties were killed in the attack.

"I am very concerned by the reports we have seen this morning of casualties among civilians from an air strike against stolen trucks in Aliabad district of Kunduz province," said deputy UN envoy in Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith.

"Steps must also be taken to examine what happened and why an air strike was employed in circumstances where it was hard to determine with certainty that civilians were not present."

The UN is also dispatching its own investigation team

Collecting fuel

Police in northern Kunduz province say Taliban fighters ran one fuel tanker into a river bed and civilians gathered around to collect fuel in buckets and pots.

The NATO Air strike killed at least 90 people - most of them insurgents - and wounded many others.

There were at least 10 to 15 Taliban fighters on top of the tanker when it was hit.

Reports say everyone around the vehicle died in the strike.

The UN says nearly two-thirds of 828 civilians allegedly killed by pro-government forces in Afghanistan's conflict last year died in air strikes.

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200909/2677044.htm?desktop

12:01 PM (MSK) February 7, 2012

Russia raps West, sends mission to Syria

Russia, he said, understands that Assad, a member of the Alawite minority, can't rule indefinitely but wants to manage his exit in a way that preserves the status quo as much as possible - and not hand a victory to the Saudis.

11:42 AM (MSK) February 7, 2012

Russia Launches Election Monitoring Website

More than five petabytes-500 years of footage-is how much video Russia will produce during official camera monitoring of Russia's presidential elections March 4. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin first mentioned the plan to install web cameras at polling stations during an annual phone-in with Russians in December, the month that saw massive protests against flaws in the parliamentary election of 2011.

11:31 AM (MSK) February 7, 2012

Putin promises Russia's civil society a greater role in decision-making

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is running for a third term as president, on Monday promised Russians a bigger say in politics amid the growing public discontent with his dominance of power.

01:37 PM (MSK) February 6, 2012

UN Resolution on Syria 'Too Hasty' - Russia

Russia defended on Monday its rejection of a UN resolution condemning the violent crackdown in Syria, saying the UN Security Council was too hasty in putting it to a vote.

10:37 AM (MSK) February 3, 2012

UN diplomats fail to agree on Syria, leaving talks in limbo

Diplomats failed Thursday to reach agreement on a U.N. resolution aimed at ending the bloodshed in Syria, leaving discussions in limbo pending consultations with their home governments.

10:32 AM (MSK) February 3, 2012

At Moscow Rally, Fighting the Cold and the Kremlin

Like most of those bold enough to have tried a winter assault on the Kremlin, the leaders of Russia 's budding protest movement will face a challenge at its next rally that is perhaps far greater than any government force: the weather.

10:19 AM (MSK) February 3, 2012

U.S. Ends Ban on Aid to Uzbekistan

The Obama administration waived a ban on military assistance to Uzbekistan in a move to bolster ties with a nation that is part of a vital supply line to Afghanistan, but was cut off from aid because of alleged human-rights violations.

02:49 PM (MSK) February 2, 2012

Putin Concedes He May Not Win in 1st Round

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday acknowledged that he may not win the presidency in the first round of voting, though he also said that a second round of voting would lead to political turbulence.

02:38 PM (MSK) February 2, 2012

Russia Joins OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, Bans Bribes Abroad

Russia's president signed into law a ban on bribing foreign officials, marking a major step in the country's efforts to stamp out corruption.

02:16 PM (MSK) February 2, 2012

Putin says he may face runoff in Russia's election

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he could face a runoff in the March presidential vote, his first acknowledgement that he may fail to muster enough support for an outright victory.

Geopolitics

Russia and the United States: Pushing Tensions to the Limit?

Editorial

As Russia and the United States prepare for their respective presidential elections, tensions between the countries are growing. The central point of contention is U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD) plans. Russia has several levers, including its ability to cut off supply lines to the NATO-led war effort in Afghanistan, to use in the standoff over BMD, but the United States could retaliate by supporting the current protests in Russia. Moscow is willing to escalate tensions with Washington but will not push the crisis to the point where relations could formally break.

Security

Russia and the United States: Pushing Tensions to the Limit?

Editorial

Business

Russian GDP: celebrate cautiously

Keyur Patel

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Russia released a preliminary estimate for 2011 GDP growth on Tuesday - and at 4.3 per cent, it looks pretty healthy. The figure crept ahead of analyst expectations, buoyed by a strong recovery in consumer demand over the year, while 2010 growth was revised upwards, also to 4.3 per cent. Renaissance Capital was cautiously bullish, calling the forecast 'reason for a (modest) celebration'.

::News

UN wants NATO to investigate Afghan bombing