Turkey experiences blowback from Syria interventions....
The protesters included both nationalists and leftists, who accused the Erdogan government of meddling in Syria’s ongoing civil war, and inviting “jihadist murderers” into southern Turkey by overtly backing the rebels.
The big question now is how big a plurality Sharif will have, and whether he will be able to secure a simple majority outright without the need to bring smaller parties on board.
Militia forces had surrounded the foreign and justice ministries, initially demanding a law barring Gadhafi era officials from office and, when that was met, demanding Zeidan step down.
Turkish Protesters Blame Government Policy for Bombings
Slam Officials for Meddling in Syria
by Jason Ditz, May 12, 2013
Hundreds of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Antakya, Turkey on Sunday, condemning government policy as the major cause of Saturday’s car bombings in Reyhanli, which killed 46.
The protesters included both nationalists and leftists, who accused the Erdogan government of meddling in Syria’s ongoing civil war, and inviting “jihadist murderers” into southern Turkey by overtly backing the rebels.
“Erdogan has made a big mistake. Syria was a neighbour with a fire – we should have taken water to put it out, not gas to make it flare up,” noted one of the protest leaders in a speech.
Though exactly who launched the attack is so far unclear, officials were quick to blame the Syrian government, despite all those arrested for the attack being Turkish citizens. The protests suggest that not everyone is buying this, and is seeing the spillover violence as blowback for the government’s hasty decision to take sides in the war.
Pakistan government change - End of US drone Wars there ?
Pakistan’s Sharif in Talks to Form Govt
As Count Continues. PML-N Nears Majority
by Jason Ditz, May 12, 2013
Counting continues in this weekend’s Pakistani election, but it is clear that the Pakistani Muslim League-N (PML-N) has won, and that party leader Nawaz Sharif is going to form the next government. Talks are already under way on getting independent MPs on board as allies.
The big question now is how big a plurality Sharif will have, and whether he will be able to secure a simple majority outright without the need to bring smaller parties on board.
In addition to the usual district-based seats, Pakistan’s elections have a complicated system of set-aside seats distributed on the basis of overall votes from women and ethnic minorities. How those splits will shake out remains to be seen, and will be the difference between a majority party or one that needs partners.
Sharif has plenty of likely partners among smaller conservative parties, but the more partners he brings on board, the more difficult a time he will have passing the economic reforms that he is seeking.
Libya debacle continues......
Tripoli Siege Ends, But Libya’s Security Fears Grow
Government Clearly Vulnerable After Deal With Militias
by Jason Ditz, May 12, 2013
A multi-week siege of government ministries in Tripoli has come to an end this weekend, after an agreement which reportedly included a promise by Prime Minister Zeidan to reshuffle the cabinet in the coming days.
Militia forces had surrounded the foreign and justice ministries, initially demanding a law barring Gadhafi era officials from office and, when that was met, demanding Zeidan step down.
But while it may be back to work for employees at those ministries, the siegeunderscores the Libyan government’s weakness, and its inability to resolve situations even in the capital city, let alone elsewhere nationwide. Multiple attacks on police stations in Benghazi,Libya’s second largest city, further the narrative that the post-revolution government simply can’t get a handle on the situation.
Much of the violence stems from the revolution itself, and the hodge-podge collection of militias which joined forces tentatively to oust Gadhafi. After the regime change, the militias didn’t really go anywhere, and the ones who didn’t join the national government have been engaging in factional fighting virtually from the beginning.
Random villages going to war with one another was bad enough, but now the larger militias have discovered that they can essentially march into Tripoli and issue demands when the mood strikes them. With so many militia leaders disillusioned by the post-Gadhafi government, this may be just the first of many such sieges.
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