In evidence to the U.S. Senate yesterday, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis, said that thus far, military operations in Libya have cost "hundreds of millions of dollars". American officials said the military intervention has cost the Pentagon an extra $550m with bombs and missiles accounting for most. Of the additional spending, about 60% was "for munitions, the remaining costs are for higher operating tempo" of US forces and of getting them there, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said. As of Monday, the 10th day of the intervention, the US had launched 192 long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles from Mediterranean naval positions at a cost of about $1m to $1.5m each. The US had also flown 983 sorties, 370 of those bombing missions against Gaddafi military sites and forces.
II. REUTERS - Russia speaks out against arming Libyan rebels
Russia warned the West on Wednesday against arming the rebels fighting against Muammar Gaddafi's forces and said Libyans must forge their country's political future without interference. With U.S. President Barack Obama and other Western leaders saying they were not ruling out arming the rebels, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized Russia's opposition. "It's clear that it will be a different regime, and it's clear that it should be a democratic regime, but Libyans themselves must decide without influence from outside."
III. RIANOVOSTI - Assad blames Syria unrest on foreign plotters
In his first address since the outbreak of anti-government protests in Syria, President Bashar Assad blamed foreign and domestic "conspirators" for the unrest. Assad said the aim of the conspirators was to "fragment and bring down Syria" and "enforce an Israeli agenda." The Syrian president slammed what he called foreign "plots hatched against our country," saying that the people and leadership of Syria would overcome them. "We should draw a lesson from what has happened," Assad added.
A Turkish court has handed down a guily verdict and compensation fine of TL 6,000 (3,000 Euro) to Hasip Kaplan, Member of Parliament, for an "attack of the personal rights" of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. After the verdict, Kaplan stated that he would appeal the decision and would go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) if necessary. "I do not think that my words contained any insult; they implied criticism," he said. Here is what Kaplan said in his speech in question: "The Dolmabahçe [Palace] has been turned into a place where the collaborating powers set up their counter. (...) The Prime Minster summons people and throws out speeches but he has two busses full of university students attacked by the police with tear gas and a young woman has a miscarriage. We saw such a country, such a picture in Istanbul. We have seen the government, we have seen it today in Silopi. So what, Erdoğan! If you are brave enough, if you are courageous then come and remove the election threshold, let us be in these elections together".
V. B92 - Protest in support of "KLA values"
Last week, the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX), in Kosovo, arrested a group of members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), suspected of crimes committed in the Klecka concentration camp near Lipljan. Since then, there have been protests in the streets of Kosovo. Yesterday, hundreds took to the streets to protest said arrests under the slogan, "Everyone to the defense of KLA values." The protesters, who were carrying Albanian flags with KLA insignia, shouted "KLA, KLA", "set our liberators free" and called on EULEX to leave Kosovo. EULEX also has an arrest warrant for Fatmir Limaj, the commander of the KLA unit which was deployed in the area around Klečka, but he is protected by his immunity as a member of the assembly in Priština.
VI. FINANCIALMIRROR - Cyprus receives most asylum applications per million inhabitants in EU
According to Eurostat data, Cyprus ranks first among EU member states in the number of asylum applicants per million inhabitans. In 2010, 2.875 individuals applied for asylum in Cyprus. The figure corresponds to 3.580 applicants per million inhabitants, which is the common method of comparison amongst member states in the EU. Sweden comes next, with 3.410 applicants, Belgium with 2.410 applicants and Luxembourg with 1.555 applicants per million inhabitants.The most common countries of origin for asylum applicants in Cyprus were Iraq (340), India (320) and Vietnam (225). For Greece, the respective countries were Pakistan (2.750), Georgia (1.160) and Bangladesh (985). The authorities in Cyprus reviewed 2.440 asylum applications in 2010 and granted asylum status to 425 applicants, while they rejected 2.015 applications. In Greece, the total number of applications was 3.455, approving 115, while rejecting 3.350 applications.
VII. SPERONEWS - India: Hindus burn down an Orthodox Christian church
There is much sorrow in the Christian community in India due to the new episodes of violence and damages done to the community. A Christian church in Kerala, Southern India, was completely burned down. This occurred on March23 but has only now been recounted by local sources. The church of St Mary, part of the Orthodox Church of Syro-Malankara rite in Poddivatuvialla, was set on fire by unknown persons that the police are trying to identify. Also, in the Diocese of Jhabua, some militants stopped a vehicle carrying the statues for the Stations of the Cross to a Catholic parish in Jhapadra, and they destroyed the statues. Additionally, in Rajasthan, the police arrested two people suspected of violence against Pastor Harish Ninama, who in February had been forced to walk naked over 5 kilometres on the main street of the city, derided by some young Hindu extremists on a motorcycle who abused, stripped and beat him.