Israel fires warning shots at Syria over Golan Heights mortar strike

 

An Israeli Merkava tank crew sit on the Israeli annexed Golan Heights overlooking the Syrian village of Breqa on November, 06, 2012. (AFP Photo / Menahem Kahana)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/syria-israel-warning-fire-455/

Israel has fired warning shots into Syria after mortars launched from Syrian territory hit an Israeli base in the Golan Heights. It is the first time Israel has fired within Syrian territory since the 1973 war.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said the missile was fired as a warning short after the errant mortal fired from Syria hit the military post.

"In the midst of Syrian infighting, a mortar shell fired by the Syrian army struck near an outpost at Tel Hazeka," The Jerusalem post cites IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai as saying.

"In light of the policy instituted by IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, a warning round was fired back into Syria. We don't believe it caused injuries or damages," he continued.

The IDF fired a single Tamuz anti-tank missile, a weapon known for its high degree of accuracy, military sources told AFP.

Just hours before the strike, Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Syria that Israel would “respond” if stray shells landed inside the Golan Heights.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also said Israel was “closely monitoring what is happening on our border with Syria and there too we are ready for any development."

Israel worries the Syrian insurgency could engulf the Golan, turning the region into an ideal base for Islamic militants to launch attacks, as they do from Egypt’s Sinai desert.

Israeli officials fear the fall of President Bashar Assad’s government could further lead to an Islamist power grab in Syria, fueling sectarian war and destabilizing the region.

There are also concerns that the security breakdown in Syria might lead the Lebanese movement Hezbollah – which is allied to Damascus and staunchly opposed to Israel– to acquire control of chemical weapons stockpiles.

Several mortar shells have struck the Golan Heights since the Syrian civil war erupted 19 months ago. Israel has recognized the fire as unintentional, but still holds Damascus responsible.

On Thursday a mortar launched from within Syrian territory hit an Israeli settlement on the territory but did not explode.

 

Israeli Merkava tanks maneuver on the Israeli annexed Golan Heights overlooking the Syrian village of Breqa on November, 06, 2012. (AFP Photo / Menahem Kahana)

Israel recently filed a complaint with the United Nations Security Council after Syrian three tanks entered the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights earlier this month. The IDF also filed a complaint with UN peacekeeping forces operating in the area.

The tanks were reportedly engaged in a battle with Syrian rebels in the village of Beer Ajam, which is located in the Syrian controlled portion of the Golan Heights.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 war, though they agreed to return the land to Syria in return for a peace agreement which was rejected by the Arab world.

During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Syrian forces crossed the ceasefire line into the Golan Heights to retake the territory. The Syrian troops were ultimately ejected by Israel forces.

Israel annexed the Golan in 1981, though they returned about five percent of the territory to Syrian control. The land was merged into a demilitarized zone that is currently patrolled by UN peacekeeping forces.

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South African police fire stun grenades, rubber bullets as unions clash

 

Striking miners run away as South African police officers fire rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse miners who were trying to prevent a rally organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg on October 27, 2012 (AFP Photo / Stephane De Sakutin)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/africa-police-unions-clash-374/

South African police fired stun grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse striking miners who tried to foil a rally of the nation’s largest union. The miners say the union reached an unfavorable deal with Amplants mine without their consent.

­The Anglo American Platinum mine in Rustenburg has announced an agreement to reinstate 12,000 miners fired earlier this month for staging illegal strikes and failing to appear at a disciplinary hearing. The credit for the deal was taken by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

"[Amplants] agreed to reinstate all the dismissed workers on the provision that they return to work by Tuesday," the NUM announced Saturday, a day after the breakthrough in talks.

But the Amplants workers said they were neither aware of nor happy with the deal.

"We know nothing about it. We were not consulted, we only heard about it on the radio," Ampants miner Reuben Lerebolo told AFP.

 

Striking miners run away as South African police officers fire rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse miners who were trying to prevent a rally organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg on October 27, 2012 (AFP Photo / Stephane De Sakutin)

Clashes outside a stadium in Rustenburg broke out after police cleared around 300 people from the area. Protesters armed with sticks and stones held posters reading "NUM we are tired of you." The demonstrators blocked the stadium’s entrance with vans and set T-shirts bearing the union’s emblem on fire.

The employees of the world’s largest producer of platinum say they cannot go back to work until their demands are met, including a monthly wage hike to 6,000 rand (about $1,800). Amplats in return offered a one-off "hardship allowance" of 2,000 rand (about $230) and the same working conditions as before, provided they return to work by Tuesday.

 

A South African policeman (2nd R) intervenes to protect a striking miner (2nd L) from being beaten by a member of the COSATU Union movement (R) as South African police officers fire rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse miners who were trying to prevent a rally organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg on October 27, 2012 (AFP Photo / Stephane De Sakutin)

Saturday’s clashes turn a new page in the ongoing conflict between various union factions in the country. The strife itself is slowly replacing the wildcat strikes that have gripped South Africa since August. The miners have steadily grown dissatisfied with the way the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU), and its powerful affiliate NUM represent their interests. Striking South Africans even started a fresh union, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), to take matters into their own hands.

In Rustenburg, AMCU members tried to scuttle COSATU’s rally and even beat up several people wearing COSATU T-shirts. South Africa’s largest labor organization wanted to stage a rally Saturday in a bid to reclaim the northwestern area from “the forces of counter-revolution" after workers snubbed NUM in the recent strikes.

 

man holds a sign as striking miners gather in protest to prevent a rally organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg on October 27, 2012 (AFP Photo / Stephane De Sakutin)

The South African strikes have begun to lose steam despite the recent clashes. At their peak, some 80,000 miners, representing about 16 percent of the mining workforce were striking around the country. If the Amplats miners were return to work on Tuesday, it would most likely put an end to labor unrest in the country.

 

South African police officers face striking miners as rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas are used to disperse miners who were trying to prevent a rally organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg on October 27, 2012 (AFP Photo / Stephane De Sakutin)

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South Africa gold mine fires 8,500 striking workers

 

Striking mine workers gather outside the Anglo American Mine on Friday, October 5 in Rustenburg, South Africa

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/10/23/268382/s-africa-gold-mine-fires-8500-workers/

South African miner Gold Fields has sacked over 8000 of striking workers after they refused to return to work at the KDC East mine near the city of Johannesburg, a spokesman says.

“All 8,500 people who were on strike did not come back. They did not return to work, so we have issued dismissal letters to all of them,” spokesman Sven Lunsche announced on Tuesday.

“We have now reached a stage where we can't hold off anymore. Our hands were forced and we have now done it.”

Lunsche further stated that the workers have 24 hours to appeal their dismissal.

Workers at the last striking mine of the world's fourth gold producer in Carletonville, southwest of Johannesburg, ignored a final deadline set for 4:00 pm (14:00 GMT).

Tens of thousands working in South African mines --mostly located near the commercial hub of Johannesburg-- have been on strike for more than a month.

The strikes have paralyzed production in the country, which accounts for around seven percent of global mine products.

In August, clashes between striking miners and police left 46 miners dead at Lonmin platinum mine in the South African North West Province.

The strikes have damaged South Africa's reputation as an investment destination.

South Africa possesses nearly 80 percent of the world’s known platinum reserves. The country’s mining sector directly employs around 500,000 people and accounts for nearly one-fifth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

 

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Egypt’s president selects new defense minister, retires top commander

Former Egyptian Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi (file photo)

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/08/12/255890/morsi-appoints-new-defense-minister/

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has appointed a new defense minister and vice president, cancelling a constitutional declaration issued by the military restricting presidential powers.

On Sunday, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi was replaced as defense minister with Major General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Morsi also ordered the retirement of military chief of staff Sami Anan, replacing him with Sedqi Sobhi Sayyid Ahmed.

Mahmoud Makki, a former judge, was also appointed vice president.

Last week, Morsi sacked the country’s intelligence chief, the Republican Guard commander and the head of the military police days after gunmen killed 16 Egyptian border guards at a checkpoint near Egypt’s border with Israel.

The Egyptian president also fired Abdel Wahab Mabrouk, the governor of North Sinai, where the deadly attack took place.

The moves seem to be in response to the deadly violence at Egypt's border with Israel.

Under a constitutional declaration issued on June 17, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), which assumed power following the ouster of the Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, took control of the state budget and gave itself veto power over a new constitution, diminishing president’s powers.

Morsi was elected president on June 24 in a runoff against Ahmed Shafiq, who had served as Mubarak's last prime minister.

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