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Rohingya Muslim women, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, carry children and wait for their turn to collect aid at Taiy Khali refugee camp, Bangladesh, on Sept. 22, 2017. (Photo by AP)

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, September 24, 2017.

 

Myanmar crackdown

Health workers treating Rohingya refugees say they have visited women with injuries consistent with violent sexual attacks, who give accounts of horrific assaults. Physicians working in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh say they have seen at least 25 Rohingya women with injuries normally caused by group sexual assaults. According to the doctors, all patients said the assaults were carried out by Myanmar’s army forces. Meanwhile, doctors at a clinic run by the International Organization for Migration said they had seen signs of “inhuman attacks” on hundreds of women. The reports provide witness accounts of sexual attacks carried out against Rohingya women and young girls by the army in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The United Nations has called the atrocities by Myanmar’s army a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. No concrete action has yet been taken by Myanmar’s government to end the violence.

Lebanon’s president defends Hezbollah

Lebanese President Michel Aoun says the Hezbollah resistance movement should not be disarmed as long as Israel occupies parts of Lebanon’s southern territory. Aoun said Hezbollah only uses weapons to ensure Lebanon’s resistance against Israel. He noted that disarming Hezbollah is impossible as it would mean depriving Lebanon of its right to self-defense, while allowing Israel to wage war whenever it wants. Aoun also expressed concern about Israel’s failure to respect international law and UN resolutions. He said peace in the region must be “founded on law and the resolution of the Palestinian issue”. In July 2006, Israel attacked southern Lebanon on the pretext of countering attacks by Hezbollah on its forces across the border. Tel Aviv agreed to a ceasefire and withdrew after 33 days due to Hezbollah’s armed resistance.

Bahrain-Israel ties

Bahrain is reportedly leaning toward Israel and could normalize bilateral ties by next year in a bid to form an anti-Iran alliance. Israeli media quoted western and Bahraini officials as saying that the Al Khalifah rulers in Manama are also thinking of trade exchange with Tel Aviv. The reports said Bahraini officials have ordered mosques to prevent prayer leaders from delivering anti-Israeli sermons. This comes after reports that Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah criticized the Arab boycott of Israel, saying that the Bahrainis were free to visit Israel. Hamad’s statement was reportedly made at an event hosted by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. His stance on Israel was welcomed by the pro-Israeli center's director, who hailed the monarch as “ahead of the pack and smart”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also described relations with the Arab world better than any other time.

Iran blocks Kurdistan flights

Iraqi Kurdistan’s insistence to go ahead with an independence referendum yields its first practical repercussion. Iran has blocked all flights to and from the semi-autonomous region. A spokesman for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council made the announcement. Keivan Khosravi says the decision has been made upon a formal request by Iraq’s central government. This after Tehran’s demarches with good will failed to dissuade Kurdish officials from stopping the referendum. The Iranian official noted that rash decisions by the Kurdistan Regional Government are counterproductive. The KRG’s decision to hold a split plebiscite has been strongly opposed by the UN, the US as well as neighboring Iran and Turkey.

Kurdistan’s controversial vote

The President of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani says the region is determined to hold the independence referendum on Monday. Speaking to reporters in a news conference, Barzani said only through separation can the Kurds safeguard their security and protect their rights. Barzani noted that the referendum plan came after longtime negotiations with Iraq’s central government failed. The Kurdish leader stressed that Kurdistan will never go back to Baghdad for negotiating on a failed strategy of partnership. Barzani says the current government of Iraq is not a democratic one but a theocratic system in which the Kurds are not given their fair share. The president of Iraq's Kurdistan region criticized Baghdad and Ankara over their threatening rhetoric. He stressed the Kurds are not going to cause any confrontation with any nation. Shortly after Barzani’s presser, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi slammed the referendum plan. He said Baghdad will take necessary measures to protect the unity of the country.

Catalonia independence

Thousands of pro-independence Catalans are rallying in public squares in Barcelona and other towns in support of a disputed referendum on secession from Spain. Many of the ralliers are carrying pro-independence flags and signs calling for the October first independence vote. The Spanish government has called the referendum illegal and pledged to stop it. The crowds have been asked by secessionist politicians to print and distribute posters supporting the vote. The Madrid government has cracked down on referendum supporters, detaining a number of local officials. The president of Catalonia stresses the region will go ahead with the vote as planned.


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