Saturday, May 17, 2014

Catherine Ashton and Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna (9 April 2014)

The EU's Catherine Ashton and Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif will begin the talks with a working dinner
Talks between six world powers and Iran on the country's controversial nuclear programme are to resume in Vienna.
Negotiators are expected to begin trying to draft an agreement that will provide a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
Although meetings have been held since February, correspondents say nothing of substance has yet been agreed.
Both sides hope to build on an interim deal that saw uranium enrichment curbed by Iran in return for sanctions relief.
The accord - which was signed in Geneva in November but only took effect in January - gives them until late July to agree a comprehensive solution, although that deadline can be extended by mutual consent.
The world powers want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities permanently to ensure that it cannot assemble a nuclear weapon.
But Iran says its nuclear work, which it insists is peaceful, will continue - and wants an end to the sanctions that have crippled its economy.
'Transparency'
The four days of talks between Iran and the P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - will begin with a working dinner at Vienna's Palais Coburg hotel for Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Diplomats say there is political will on both sides to reach an agreement, but that it will be very difficult to overcome differences on three key issues:
  • Iran's uranium enrichment capacity
  • The heavy-water reactor at Arak
  • And the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme.
On Monday, Iranian representatives attended a meeting at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
The global watchdog was said to have sought clarification about Tehran's efforts to develop exploding bridge wire (EBW) detonators, which could be used in nuclear weapons.
Iran has agreed to provide such information by Thursday, as part of a series of steps to allay the P5+1's concerns about its nuclear activities. Other steps include allowing IAEA inspectors to visit the Saghand uranium mine and the yellowcake production plant at Ardakan, which happened last week.
On Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani warned that Iran would not surrender its "right" to nuclear development at the Vienna talks.
"If the world seeks good relations with Iran, it should choose the way of surrendering to Iran's rights, respecting the Iranian nation and praising Iranian scientists," he told a group of medical and nuclear experts.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses scientists (11 May 2014)Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has said his country will never build nuclear weapons
"The Iranian nation has never been after a weapon of mass destruction since it does not see it as legitimate," he added. "We do not have anything on the table to submit to others except transparency."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - who has the final say on nuclear matters - expressed further misgivings about the talks.
"I have always been in favour of initiative and negotiation in foreign policy," he said, quoted by Irna, "but one must not tie our country's needs and issues like sanctions to the talks. Officials should tackle the sanctions issue in another way."
He also described as "stupid and idiotic" suggestions that Iran curb its ballistic missile development programme, amid reports that Western powers wanted to include it on the agenda of the discussions in Vienna.
International

Iran nuclear negotiators to start work on final accord

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments

Catherine Ashton and Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna (9 April 2014)

The EU's Catherine Ashton and Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif will begin the talks with a working dinner
Talks between six world powers and Iran on the country's controversial nuclear programme are to resume in Vienna.
Negotiators are expected to begin trying to draft an agreement that will provide a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
Although meetings have been held since February, correspondents say nothing of substance has yet been agreed.
Both sides hope to build on an interim deal that saw uranium enrichment curbed by Iran in return for sanctions relief.
The accord - which was signed in Geneva in November but only took effect in January - gives them until late July to agree a comprehensive solution, although that deadline can be extended by mutual consent.
The world powers want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities permanently to ensure that it cannot assemble a nuclear weapon.
But Iran says its nuclear work, which it insists is peaceful, will continue - and wants an end to the sanctions that have crippled its economy.
'Transparency'
The four days of talks between Iran and the P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - will begin with a working dinner at Vienna's Palais Coburg hotel for Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Diplomats say there is political will on both sides to reach an agreement, but that it will be very difficult to overcome differences on three key issues:
  • Iran's uranium enrichment capacity
  • The heavy-water reactor at Arak
  • And the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme.
On Monday, Iranian representatives attended a meeting at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
The global watchdog was said to have sought clarification about Tehran's efforts to develop exploding bridge wire (EBW) detonators, which could be used in nuclear weapons.
Iran has agreed to provide such information by Thursday, as part of a series of steps to allay the P5+1's concerns about its nuclear activities. Other steps include allowing IAEA inspectors to visit the Saghand uranium mine and the yellowcake production plant at Ardakan, which happened last week.
On Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani warned that Iran would not surrender its "right" to nuclear development at the Vienna talks.
"If the world seeks good relations with Iran, it should choose the way of surrendering to Iran's rights, respecting the Iranian nation and praising Iranian scientists," he told a group of medical and nuclear experts.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses scientists (11 May 2014)Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has said his country will never build nuclear weapons
"The Iranian nation has never been after a weapon of mass destruction since it does not see it as legitimate," he added. "We do not have anything on the table to submit to others except transparency."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - who has the final say on nuclear matters - expressed further misgivings about the talks.
"I have always been in favour of initiative and negotiation in foreign policy," he said, quoted by Irna, "but one must not tie our country's needs and issues like sanctions to the talks. Officials should tackle the sanctions issue in another way."
He also described as "stupid and idiotic" suggestions that Iran curb its ballistic missile development programme, amid reports that Western powers wanted to include it on the agenda of the discussions in Vienna.

8:15 PM Share:

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffin married Allan Cox, left, and Steve Thomas, right, in Little Rock on Monday

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffin married Allan Cox, left, and Steve Thomas, right, in Little Rock on Monday
The Supreme Court of the US state of Arkansas has halted same-sex marriages pending an appeal against a lower court ruling overturning a voter-backed ban.
On Friday the court suspended the ruling by a Pulaski County circuit judge, but it was unclear whether his ruling applied to other counties.
Since the courthouses opened on Monday, hundreds of gay couples have wed.
This is the latest in a stream of cases where same-sex couples have challenged state-level bans on gay marriage.
The state has appealed against the ruling by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
Couples gave their reaction after tying the knot in the US state of Arkansas
He found that a 2004 state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and a 1997 ban in the state statutes amounted to "the exclusion of a minority for no rational reason".
Unlike in other states where rulings overturning same-sex marriage bans were quickly suspended pending appeal, Mr Piazza refused to delay the application of his ruling, making Arkansas the first state of the conservative south-east region to allow gay marriage.
Since Monday morning when the courthouses opened, more than 450 gay couples have wed, according to the Associated Press news agency.
The Arkansas Supreme Court ruling on Friday halted distribution of new marriage licences to same-sex couples until the court can hear an appeal against Mr Piazza's decision.
For now, the marriages that have already been performed are unaffected.
Same-sex marriage supporters' arguments stem out of a June 2013 US Supreme Court ruling, United States v Windsor, in which the high court overturned a federal law that restricted the federal definition of marriage to that of a man and a woman.
Since December, federal judges in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, Michigan and Idaho have ruled bans in those states unconstitutional, but the rulings have been suspended until appeals can be heard by the higher, regional appeals courts.
US & Canada

Arkansas court halts gay marriages pending appeal

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffin married Allan Cox, left, and Steve Thomas, right, in Little Rock on Monday

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffin married Allan Cox, left, and Steve Thomas, right, in Little Rock on Monday
The Supreme Court of the US state of Arkansas has halted same-sex marriages pending an appeal against a lower court ruling overturning a voter-backed ban.
On Friday the court suspended the ruling by a Pulaski County circuit judge, but it was unclear whether his ruling applied to other counties.
Since the courthouses opened on Monday, hundreds of gay couples have wed.
This is the latest in a stream of cases where same-sex couples have challenged state-level bans on gay marriage.
The state has appealed against the ruling by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
Couples gave their reaction after tying the knot in the US state of Arkansas
He found that a 2004 state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and a 1997 ban in the state statutes amounted to "the exclusion of a minority for no rational reason".
Unlike in other states where rulings overturning same-sex marriage bans were quickly suspended pending appeal, Mr Piazza refused to delay the application of his ruling, making Arkansas the first state of the conservative south-east region to allow gay marriage.
Since Monday morning when the courthouses opened, more than 450 gay couples have wed, according to the Associated Press news agency.
The Arkansas Supreme Court ruling on Friday halted distribution of new marriage licences to same-sex couples until the court can hear an appeal against Mr Piazza's decision.
For now, the marriages that have already been performed are unaffected.
Same-sex marriage supporters' arguments stem out of a June 2013 US Supreme Court ruling, United States v Windsor, in which the high court overturned a federal law that restricted the federal definition of marriage to that of a man and a woman.
Since December, federal judges in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, Michigan and Idaho have ruled bans in those states unconstitutional, but the rulings have been suspended until appeals can be heard by the higher, regional appeals courts.

8:59 AM Share:

Ivan Marquez and Farc leaders in Cuba

Farc negotiator Ivan Marquez says the agreement includes reparations for victims of coca plantation spraying
Colombia's government and the Farc, the country's largest rebel group, have agreed on a plan to deal with the illegal drug trade.
Both parties agreed to eliminate all illicit drug production in Colombia should a final deal be reached.
The Farc, which controls large patches of rural Colombia, is believed to be partly funded by money generated by the illegal drug trade.
This was the third on a six-point peace agenda being negotiated in Cuba.
The civil war in Colombia has killed an estimated 220,000 people in the last five decades.
Last year, government officials and the left-wing Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) agreed on land reform and political participation.
As with previous agreements, details of the programme to combat the drug trade will need to be discussed further by special commissions.
Friday's agreement marked the end of the last round of the talks initiated by President Juan Manuel Santos, who is seeking a second mandate in next week's elections.
Earlier, the Farc along with the country's second largest armed group, ELN, said they would observe a unilateral cease fire for the voting.
Humberto de la Calle (R), the head of the Colombian delegationMr de la Calle (R), the head of the Colombian delegation said the deal was a "fundamental step"
At a news conference in the Cuban capital, Havana, the Colombian chief negotiator, former vice-President Humberto de la Calle, said the deal was a "fundamental step" towards peace.
"This way we eliminate the petrol that has fuelled the conflict in Colombia for decades," he said.
Mr de la Calle also said the rebels committed themselves to severing any ties to drug trafficking.
As part of the deal , both parties also agreed on a programme to clear rural areas of land mines.
The Farc negotiator Ivan Marquez said the left-wing rebels insisted on addressing the consequences of the aerial spraying of coca plantations, including reparations for those affected.
The talks in the Cuban capital, Havana, are the fourth attempt since the 1980s to reach peace.
Previous negotiations failed amid disagreements, mutual recriminations and flare-ups of violence.
The conflict - the longest-running in Latin America - has killed an estimated 220,000 people since it began in the 1960s, with some three million more internally displaced by the fighting.
Latin America

Colombia and Farc rebels agree on drug trade plan

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments

Ivan Marquez and Farc leaders in Cuba

Farc negotiator Ivan Marquez says the agreement includes reparations for victims of coca plantation spraying
Colombia's government and the Farc, the country's largest rebel group, have agreed on a plan to deal with the illegal drug trade.
Both parties agreed to eliminate all illicit drug production in Colombia should a final deal be reached.
The Farc, which controls large patches of rural Colombia, is believed to be partly funded by money generated by the illegal drug trade.
This was the third on a six-point peace agenda being negotiated in Cuba.
The civil war in Colombia has killed an estimated 220,000 people in the last five decades.
Last year, government officials and the left-wing Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) agreed on land reform and political participation.
As with previous agreements, details of the programme to combat the drug trade will need to be discussed further by special commissions.
Friday's agreement marked the end of the last round of the talks initiated by President Juan Manuel Santos, who is seeking a second mandate in next week's elections.
Earlier, the Farc along with the country's second largest armed group, ELN, said they would observe a unilateral cease fire for the voting.
Humberto de la Calle (R), the head of the Colombian delegationMr de la Calle (R), the head of the Colombian delegation said the deal was a "fundamental step"
At a news conference in the Cuban capital, Havana, the Colombian chief negotiator, former vice-President Humberto de la Calle, said the deal was a "fundamental step" towards peace.
"This way we eliminate the petrol that has fuelled the conflict in Colombia for decades," he said.
Mr de la Calle also said the rebels committed themselves to severing any ties to drug trafficking.
As part of the deal , both parties also agreed on a programme to clear rural areas of land mines.
The Farc negotiator Ivan Marquez said the left-wing rebels insisted on addressing the consequences of the aerial spraying of coca plantations, including reparations for those affected.
The talks in the Cuban capital, Havana, are the fourth attempt since the 1980s to reach peace.
Previous negotiations failed amid disagreements, mutual recriminations and flare-ups of violence.
The conflict - the longest-running in Latin America - has killed an estimated 220,000 people since it began in the 1960s, with some three million more internally displaced by the fighting.

8:57 AM Share:

The BBC's Guy Delauney: "Down on the ground, people are doing what they can to deal with the deluge"

At least 20 people are feared dead in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Serbia after the worst floods in more than a century.
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as several months of rain fell in a few days and rivers burst their banks.
Landslides have buried houses in Bosnia and reports say as many as 16 people may have died.
An outer suburb of the Serb capital Belgrade has been inundated and eight people are reported to have drowned.
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told reporters the first bodies had been recovered in Obrenovac, the worst-hit area to the south-west of the capital, and he feared more would be found.
But he said the number of deaths would not be made public until the waters had receded.
A new flood surge was expected on the Sava river late on Sunday, he said.
In some areas, flood waters reached the second floor of people's homes.
People wait to be rescued in Maglaj, BosniaArmy helicopters rescued people from areas inundated by the swollen Bosna river
Men try to deliver aid in Maglaj in central Bosnia-HercegovinaFloodwaters rose up in places up to the second floors of homes in both Serbia and Bosnia
A man on the Sava river 90km west of BelgradeThe Sava river burst its banks in towns to the west of Belgrade
"The flash floods woke my uncle at around 0330 so they went up to the first floor. Then they had to go to the third floor because all lower floors were flooded," one resident from Obrenovac said.
Rescue workers have been working to bring thousands of stranded residents to safety and officials have also ordered the evacuation of another town, Baric, closer to Belgrade.
The Sava river has risen particularly high in the western town of Sabac, and volunteers have tried to shore up flood defences there.
Rescue co-ordinator Predrag Maric appealed for food, water, and clothing to help those in need.
One of the worst-hit areas in Bosnia is the eastern town of Bijeljina where rescue teams are trying to transport 10,000 people to safety.
Among those who drowned were 10 people in the Bosnian Serb Republic, police told local media. Six bodies were found in the northern town of Doboj and there are fears that more people have lost their lives.
"Unfortunately, this is probably not the final toll," local leader Milorad Dodi said.
Europe

Bosnia and Serbia floods: Bodies pulled from rivers

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments

The BBC's Guy Delauney: "Down on the ground, people are doing what they can to deal with the deluge"

At least 20 people are feared dead in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Serbia after the worst floods in more than a century.
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as several months of rain fell in a few days and rivers burst their banks.
Landslides have buried houses in Bosnia and reports say as many as 16 people may have died.
An outer suburb of the Serb capital Belgrade has been inundated and eight people are reported to have drowned.
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told reporters the first bodies had been recovered in Obrenovac, the worst-hit area to the south-west of the capital, and he feared more would be found.
But he said the number of deaths would not be made public until the waters had receded.
A new flood surge was expected on the Sava river late on Sunday, he said.
In some areas, flood waters reached the second floor of people's homes.
People wait to be rescued in Maglaj, BosniaArmy helicopters rescued people from areas inundated by the swollen Bosna river
Men try to deliver aid in Maglaj in central Bosnia-HercegovinaFloodwaters rose up in places up to the second floors of homes in both Serbia and Bosnia
A man on the Sava river 90km west of BelgradeThe Sava river burst its banks in towns to the west of Belgrade
"The flash floods woke my uncle at around 0330 so they went up to the first floor. Then they had to go to the third floor because all lower floors were flooded," one resident from Obrenovac said.
Rescue workers have been working to bring thousands of stranded residents to safety and officials have also ordered the evacuation of another town, Baric, closer to Belgrade.
The Sava river has risen particularly high in the western town of Sabac, and volunteers have tried to shore up flood defences there.
Rescue co-ordinator Predrag Maric appealed for food, water, and clothing to help those in need.
One of the worst-hit areas in Bosnia is the eastern town of Bijeljina where rescue teams are trying to transport 10,000 people to safety.
Among those who drowned were 10 people in the Bosnian Serb Republic, police told local media. Six bodies were found in the northern town of Doboj and there are fears that more people have lost their lives.
"Unfortunately, this is probably not the final toll," local leader Milorad Dodi said.

8:53 AM Share:


The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder: "Mr Modi said he was humbled at the outpouring of support"
India's Prime Minister-elect, Narendra Modi, has arrived in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi to be greeted by delighted supporters.
He is to perform religious ceremonies in Varanasi after leading the Hindu nationalist BJP party to a landslide victory in the general elections.
Mr Modi, 63, was elected to parliament from Varanasi as well as from another seat in his home state of Gujarat.
Earlier he held a victory procession in the capital, Delhi.
Narendra Modi secured the most decisive election victory in India in three decades, campaigning on promises to revive the economy.

Analysis

Narendra Modi arrived to a hero's welcome in the Indian capital for the first time after leading his party to a historic win. Supporters lined the streets, showering him with flowers en route to BJP headquarters.
Security was very tight: police lined the route and armed special forces personnel were deployed.
At party headquarters, the mood was festive. A brass band kept pace with a company of bagpipers and supporters danced and sang. It took a while for Mr Modi's cavalcade to make its way there and senior BJP politicians urged the crowd to stay calm.
"He's coming, he'll be here very soon," one of them told exuberant supporters, while another begged people to get down from trees they had climbed to gain a vantage point.
As they spotted the cavalcade, Mr Modi's supporters at party HQ drove themselves into a frenzy, almost knocking down the security barricades in the process.
"Modi, Modi," they screamed, giving him a rock-star welcome.
Manmohan Singh, whose Congress party was crushed in the poll, has tendered his resignation as prime minister.
Results show the BJP gained a majority in parliament and will be able to govern without coalition partners.
However, many Indians still have profound concerns over Mr Modi because of claims he did little to stop communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims.
Mr Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, has always denied the allegations and was never charged.
'India has won'
After arriving in Delhi from his home state, Mr Modi was greeted by flag-waving supporters. He stepped out of his car, flashing a victory sign.
A brass band, drummers and bagpipers met him at the BJP headquarters, while bunting and balloons decorated the street.
Noticeably tight security is in place, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi reports.
The BJP has won 282 seats - more than the 272 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.
Speaking at the BJP headquarters, Mr Modi said: "I want to bow, I want to give my thanks... to the people of India."
He said Indian media had created "consciousness among voters" and a "great festival of Indian democracy".
People wait by the Ganges in Varanasi ahead of Narendra Modi's arrival 17/05/2014In Varanasi, people gathered by the Ganges ahead of Narendra Modi's arrival
PM elect Narendra Modi waves as he arrives at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi 17/05/2014Earlier Mr Modi was mobbed by supporters in Delhi
Band outside BJP HQ in Delhi 17/05/2014Members of a brass band waited for Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi outside BJP headquarters in Delhi
Supporters of unseen Chief Minister of the western Indian state of Gujarat and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime-ministerial candidate Narendra Modi are held back by security personnel as he arrives at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on 17 May 2014Security was tight with police and special forces personnel lining Mr Modi's route
Graphic of election results in 2009 and 2014
On Friday, Mr Modi wrote in a widely-shared tweet: "India has won, good days are about to come."
He also told supporters he would rule for all Indians.
"The age of divisive politics has ended - from today onwards the politics of uniting people will begin."
World leaders, including US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, have congratulated Mr Modi on his victory.
India's new leader has received invitations to Washington and London. Previously, the US had denied him visas and the UK cut off all ties with him following the 2002 riots.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif commended the BJP's "impressive victory" in the election.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi: "I respect the verdict of the people"
The Congress party, which has dominated Indian politics since independence, is only expected to win 44 seats.
Congress has been mired in serious corruption scandals and its leadership has been considered ineffective in recent years, analysts say.
Accepting defeat, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said: "We humbly respect the verdict of the people."
Manmohan Singh met the president to hand in his resignation.
In a televised farewell address earlier on Saturday, Mr Singh said the government had achieved a lot in the past 10 years. "I wish the incoming government every success," he said.
line break
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
The BBC's Andrew North travelled to Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat
India election
  • World's biggest exercise in electoral democracy; 814 million eligible voters
  • A total of 8,251 candidates stood for election
  • It started five weeks ago and a total of 551 million votes were cast, with a record 66.38% turnout
  • The party or alliance that wins a majority in the 543-seat parliament forms the government
Graphic of election results
Asia

India elections: Varanasi welcomes Narendra Modi Prev

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments



The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder: "Mr Modi said he was humbled at the outpouring of support"
India's Prime Minister-elect, Narendra Modi, has arrived in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi to be greeted by delighted supporters.
He is to perform religious ceremonies in Varanasi after leading the Hindu nationalist BJP party to a landslide victory in the general elections.
Mr Modi, 63, was elected to parliament from Varanasi as well as from another seat in his home state of Gujarat.
Earlier he held a victory procession in the capital, Delhi.
Narendra Modi secured the most decisive election victory in India in three decades, campaigning on promises to revive the economy.

Analysis

Narendra Modi arrived to a hero's welcome in the Indian capital for the first time after leading his party to a historic win. Supporters lined the streets, showering him with flowers en route to BJP headquarters.
Security was very tight: police lined the route and armed special forces personnel were deployed.
At party headquarters, the mood was festive. A brass band kept pace with a company of bagpipers and supporters danced and sang. It took a while for Mr Modi's cavalcade to make its way there and senior BJP politicians urged the crowd to stay calm.
"He's coming, he'll be here very soon," one of them told exuberant supporters, while another begged people to get down from trees they had climbed to gain a vantage point.
As they spotted the cavalcade, Mr Modi's supporters at party HQ drove themselves into a frenzy, almost knocking down the security barricades in the process.
"Modi, Modi," they screamed, giving him a rock-star welcome.
Manmohan Singh, whose Congress party was crushed in the poll, has tendered his resignation as prime minister.
Results show the BJP gained a majority in parliament and will be able to govern without coalition partners.
However, many Indians still have profound concerns over Mr Modi because of claims he did little to stop communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims.
Mr Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, has always denied the allegations and was never charged.
'India has won'
After arriving in Delhi from his home state, Mr Modi was greeted by flag-waving supporters. He stepped out of his car, flashing a victory sign.
A brass band, drummers and bagpipers met him at the BJP headquarters, while bunting and balloons decorated the street.
Noticeably tight security is in place, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi reports.
The BJP has won 282 seats - more than the 272 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.
Speaking at the BJP headquarters, Mr Modi said: "I want to bow, I want to give my thanks... to the people of India."
He said Indian media had created "consciousness among voters" and a "great festival of Indian democracy".
People wait by the Ganges in Varanasi ahead of Narendra Modi's arrival 17/05/2014In Varanasi, people gathered by the Ganges ahead of Narendra Modi's arrival
PM elect Narendra Modi waves as he arrives at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi 17/05/2014Earlier Mr Modi was mobbed by supporters in Delhi
Band outside BJP HQ in Delhi 17/05/2014Members of a brass band waited for Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi outside BJP headquarters in Delhi
Supporters of unseen Chief Minister of the western Indian state of Gujarat and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime-ministerial candidate Narendra Modi are held back by security personnel as he arrives at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on 17 May 2014Security was tight with police and special forces personnel lining Mr Modi's route
Graphic of election results in 2009 and 2014
On Friday, Mr Modi wrote in a widely-shared tweet: "India has won, good days are about to come."
He also told supporters he would rule for all Indians.
"The age of divisive politics has ended - from today onwards the politics of uniting people will begin."
World leaders, including US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, have congratulated Mr Modi on his victory.
India's new leader has received invitations to Washington and London. Previously, the US had denied him visas and the UK cut off all ties with him following the 2002 riots.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif commended the BJP's "impressive victory" in the election.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi: "I respect the verdict of the people"
The Congress party, which has dominated Indian politics since independence, is only expected to win 44 seats.
Congress has been mired in serious corruption scandals and its leadership has been considered ineffective in recent years, analysts say.
Accepting defeat, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said: "We humbly respect the verdict of the people."
Manmohan Singh met the president to hand in his resignation.
In a televised farewell address earlier on Saturday, Mr Singh said the government had achieved a lot in the past 10 years. "I wish the incoming government every success," he said.
line break
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
The BBC's Andrew North travelled to Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat
India election
  • World's biggest exercise in electoral democracy; 814 million eligible voters
  • A total of 8,251 candidates stood for election
  • It started five weeks ago and a total of 551 million votes were cast, with a record 66.38% turnout
  • The party or alliance that wins a majority in the 543-seat parliament forms the government
Graphic of election results

8:38 AM Share:

Footage of the aftermath of the explosions
At least 10 people have been killed and scores more injured in a twin bombing in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Police said two improvised explosive devices had been detonated in the sprawling Gikomba market.
Meanwhile hundreds of UK tourists were evacuated from the coastal resort area of Mombasa amid warnings of an attack.
In recent years, Kenya has been hit by a spate of attacks, mostly been blamed on the al-Shabab militant Islamist group from neighbouring Somalia.
British tour companies have suspended flights to Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city.
High threat
The Kenyan National Disaster Operation Centre said the first explosion occurred in a minibus, the second in the large open-air Gikomba market.
Two people were reportedly arrested near the scene of the explosions.
Pictures from the scene showed clothing blown onto telephone wires above.
Fire engines and the Red Cross were at the scene tending the injured.
Damaged vehicles at the site of the explosion in Nairobi (16 May 2014)The twin blast happened at a crowded second-hand clothes market in Nairobi
Medics transport an injured woman on a stretcher in Nairobi (16 May 2014)Hospital officials said at least 70 people were injured in the attack
Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi said at least 70 people had been wounded.
"Many of the injured are bleeding profusely. We need a lot of blood," a spokesman said.
President Kenyatta vowed to fight "evil" terrorism following the attacks.
"All of us around the world must be united to ensure that we are able to fight this particular terror," he said at a news conference.
A soldier stands guard in front of a crowd at the scene of the blast in Nairobi (16 May 2014)Police increased security at bus stops earlier this week
British tourists queue at the check-in at Mombasa airport (16 May 2014)Hundreds of British tourists have been evacuated from Mombasa amid warnings of an attack
Earlier this week, authorities tightened security at bus stations. They also ordered all vehicles to have clear glass windows.
Friday's bombings took place two days after the UK, France and the US warned there was a high threat of attacks in Kenya.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke out against the attacks
Kenya had criticised the warnings, saying the tourism industry would be affected.
Correspondents say many Kenyans are expressing their frustration at the worsening insecurity.

The government recently rounded up refugees of Somali origin in an attempt to rid Nairobi of militants they believe to be hiding among refugees.
The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab has launched a series of attacks against Kenyan targets in recent years, claiming to be retaliating for Kenya's military involvement in Somalia since 2011.
Last September, at least 67 people were killed when al-Shabab fighters seized the upmarket Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi for four days.
Earlier this year, there were riots in Mombasa after a radical Muslim cleric accused of recruiting youngsters for al-Shabab was shot dead.
map
Africa

Kenya's Nairobi hit by twin bomb blasts in Gikomba market

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments

Footage of the aftermath of the explosions
At least 10 people have been killed and scores more injured in a twin bombing in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Police said two improvised explosive devices had been detonated in the sprawling Gikomba market.
Meanwhile hundreds of UK tourists were evacuated from the coastal resort area of Mombasa amid warnings of an attack.
In recent years, Kenya has been hit by a spate of attacks, mostly been blamed on the al-Shabab militant Islamist group from neighbouring Somalia.
British tour companies have suspended flights to Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city.
High threat
The Kenyan National Disaster Operation Centre said the first explosion occurred in a minibus, the second in the large open-air Gikomba market.
Two people were reportedly arrested near the scene of the explosions.
Pictures from the scene showed clothing blown onto telephone wires above.
Fire engines and the Red Cross were at the scene tending the injured.
Damaged vehicles at the site of the explosion in Nairobi (16 May 2014)The twin blast happened at a crowded second-hand clothes market in Nairobi
Medics transport an injured woman on a stretcher in Nairobi (16 May 2014)Hospital officials said at least 70 people were injured in the attack
Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi said at least 70 people had been wounded.
"Many of the injured are bleeding profusely. We need a lot of blood," a spokesman said.
President Kenyatta vowed to fight "evil" terrorism following the attacks.
"All of us around the world must be united to ensure that we are able to fight this particular terror," he said at a news conference.
A soldier stands guard in front of a crowd at the scene of the blast in Nairobi (16 May 2014)Police increased security at bus stops earlier this week
British tourists queue at the check-in at Mombasa airport (16 May 2014)Hundreds of British tourists have been evacuated from Mombasa amid warnings of an attack
Earlier this week, authorities tightened security at bus stations. They also ordered all vehicles to have clear glass windows.
Friday's bombings took place two days after the UK, France and the US warned there was a high threat of attacks in Kenya.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke out against the attacks
Kenya had criticised the warnings, saying the tourism industry would be affected.
Correspondents say many Kenyans are expressing their frustration at the worsening insecurity.

The government recently rounded up refugees of Somali origin in an attempt to rid Nairobi of militants they believe to be hiding among refugees.
The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab has launched a series of attacks against Kenyan targets in recent years, claiming to be retaliating for Kenya's military involvement in Somalia since 2011.
Last September, at least 67 people were killed when al-Shabab fighters seized the upmarket Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi for four days.
Earlier this year, there were riots in Mombasa after a radical Muslim cleric accused of recruiting youngsters for al-Shabab was shot dead.
map

8:31 AM Share:

Former City minister Lord Myners welcomed the vote
Co-op Group representatives have voted unanimously in favour of proposals to overhaul the way in which the 150-year-old British mutual is run.
At a special meeting in Manchester, delegates approved a motion calling for elected board directors and greater powers for individual members.
The proposals broadly reflect reforms called for in a report by ex-City minister Lord Myners, who called the Co-op "manifestly dysfunctional".
The group lost £2.5bn last year.
It has been mired in controversy, with its banking arm facing near-collapse last year, and the resignation of chief executive Euan Sutherland in March.
Co-op Group's chair, Ursula Lidbetter, welcomed Saturday's vote, calling it a "highly significant moment" for the organisation.
She added: "There is a huge task ahead of us if we are to deliver the reforms necessary to restore the group's reputation and return it to health, but the board will work hand-in-hand with our members to ensure that we seize this opportunity."
SGMThe Co-operative Group's meeting took place in its new head offices in Manchester
Following the vote, Lord Myners told the BBC his "work here is done," and that he was thrilled by the unanimous approval.
He said it marked a "turning point" for the group.
Four proposals
Following the standard annual meeting, a special session was held to vote on a motion containing the following four proposals, which reflect some suggestions made by Lord Myners:
  • The creation of an elected board of directors, comprising people with relevant experience to run an organisation like the Co-op
  • The establishment of a structure that gives Co-op members powers to hold the board to account
  • Moving to a "one member, one vote" system, in which members can directly vote on policies
  • The introduction of rules to protect against de-mutualisation
That motion was backed by Co-op Group chair Ms Lidbetter and interim chief executive Richard Pennycook.
The details of the proposals will now be refined and put forward to members at an upcoming meeting.
There is a Co-op food store in every UK postal areaThere is a Co-op food store in every UK postal area
Earlier this month, a review of the group by Lord Myners concluded the board was "manifestly dysfunctional".
The report suggested replacing it with a smaller board made up of people with business experience.
Lord Myners called the Co-op Group "one of the great national business calamities", and said "radical decisions on governance structure need to be taken very soon - and with resolution - if the Co-op, as my mother knew it, is to be saved".
He added that elected members would have to show "selfless sacrifice" to push the reforms through.
Infographic showing the businesses that make up the Co-op Group
Euan Sutherland, who resigned as boss of the Co-op Group in March after 10 months in the job, said the organisation was "ungovernable".
Fall from grace
Co-op Group's former chief executive, Sir Graham Melmoth, who stepped down in 2002 having been credited with reviving the organisation's fortunes, told the BBC "most people will find something that they can generally support" in the motion.
"I'm immensely disheartened and sad that a great institution has got to this stage," he added.

"It wasn't so long ago that the balance sheet looked very respectable. You could take it anywhere - its covenant was absolutely first-class - now it's a great fall from a great height and we've got to get back there."
But Sir Graham insisted that governance reforms were "almost secondary" to battling the levels of indebtedness at Co-op Group, with the banks "sitting on the neck" of the beleaguered mutual.
Although the Co-op has nearly eight million members, making it Britain's largest mutual, only a few hundred got to vote in Saturday's meeting.
Unlike in corporate companies, where each share entitles the holder to one vote, Co-op members vote for their regional representatives, who in turn vote at the annual general meeting.
Business

Co-op Group members approve sweeping reforms to board

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments

Former City minister Lord Myners welcomed the vote
Co-op Group representatives have voted unanimously in favour of proposals to overhaul the way in which the 150-year-old British mutual is run.
At a special meeting in Manchester, delegates approved a motion calling for elected board directors and greater powers for individual members.
The proposals broadly reflect reforms called for in a report by ex-City minister Lord Myners, who called the Co-op "manifestly dysfunctional".
The group lost £2.5bn last year.
It has been mired in controversy, with its banking arm facing near-collapse last year, and the resignation of chief executive Euan Sutherland in March.
Co-op Group's chair, Ursula Lidbetter, welcomed Saturday's vote, calling it a "highly significant moment" for the organisation.
She added: "There is a huge task ahead of us if we are to deliver the reforms necessary to restore the group's reputation and return it to health, but the board will work hand-in-hand with our members to ensure that we seize this opportunity."
SGMThe Co-operative Group's meeting took place in its new head offices in Manchester
Following the vote, Lord Myners told the BBC his "work here is done," and that he was thrilled by the unanimous approval.
He said it marked a "turning point" for the group.
Four proposals
Following the standard annual meeting, a special session was held to vote on a motion containing the following four proposals, which reflect some suggestions made by Lord Myners:
  • The creation of an elected board of directors, comprising people with relevant experience to run an organisation like the Co-op
  • The establishment of a structure that gives Co-op members powers to hold the board to account
  • Moving to a "one member, one vote" system, in which members can directly vote on policies
  • The introduction of rules to protect against de-mutualisation
That motion was backed by Co-op Group chair Ms Lidbetter and interim chief executive Richard Pennycook.
The details of the proposals will now be refined and put forward to members at an upcoming meeting.
There is a Co-op food store in every UK postal areaThere is a Co-op food store in every UK postal area
Earlier this month, a review of the group by Lord Myners concluded the board was "manifestly dysfunctional".
The report suggested replacing it with a smaller board made up of people with business experience.
Lord Myners called the Co-op Group "one of the great national business calamities", and said "radical decisions on governance structure need to be taken very soon - and with resolution - if the Co-op, as my mother knew it, is to be saved".
He added that elected members would have to show "selfless sacrifice" to push the reforms through.
Infographic showing the businesses that make up the Co-op Group
Euan Sutherland, who resigned as boss of the Co-op Group in March after 10 months in the job, said the organisation was "ungovernable".
Fall from grace
Co-op Group's former chief executive, Sir Graham Melmoth, who stepped down in 2002 having been credited with reviving the organisation's fortunes, told the BBC "most people will find something that they can generally support" in the motion.
"I'm immensely disheartened and sad that a great institution has got to this stage," he added.

"It wasn't so long ago that the balance sheet looked very respectable. You could take it anywhere - its covenant was absolutely first-class - now it's a great fall from a great height and we've got to get back there."
But Sir Graham insisted that governance reforms were "almost secondary" to battling the levels of indebtedness at Co-op Group, with the banks "sitting on the neck" of the beleaguered mutual.
Although the Co-op has nearly eight million members, making it Britain's largest mutual, only a few hundred got to vote in Saturday's meeting.
Unlike in corporate companies, where each share entitles the holder to one vote, Co-op members vote for their regional representatives, who in turn vote at the annual general meeting.

8:25 AM Share:

Thursday, May 15, 2014


Rajesh Mirchandani: "Families and friends say they will not leave until they get news of their loved ones"
Trade unions in Turkey have been holding a one-day strike in protest at the country's worst mine disaster, which has claimed at least 282 lives.
Thousands took to the streets in cities across the country, with clashes breaking out in Izmir.
President Abdullah Gul visited the scene of the disaster in Soma, as Turkey holds three days of mourning.
The first funerals of victims have been held in a crowded town cemetery, as excavators dug new graves.
Note to son
Meanwhile a survivor of the disaster described what happened.
Rescue worker Ugur Acar: "There is water mixed with coal dust coming up to your knees, it feels like wet cement"
"We smelt the smoke and we went upstairs and heard the explosion," Tac Feratay told the BBC. "I went back down to rescue my friends. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't go back."
Harrowing stories about victims continue to emerge, with Hurriyet newspaper reporting a note found in the hand of a dead miner which read: "Please give me your blessings, son."
Excavators have been digging new graves in the town's cemetery, as funerals are held for victims in quick succession and loudspeakers broadcast the names of the dead.
Women cried and sang improvised songs about their relatives as the bodies were lowered into the graves.
Protesters appear to have been assaulted during the PM's visit to Soma, as Orla Guerin reports
Rescue efforts continue at the mine in Soma but there is little hope of finding anyone else alive.
Eight bodies were recovered overnight, bringing the death toll to 282. Correspondents saw another body taken away during Thursday. Up to 150 miners remain missing.
The disaster triggered a wave of anger around the country.
Several unions are reportedly taking part in the 24-hour strike, and blame the privatisation of the mining sector for making working conditions more dangerous.
Some 3,000 people in the capital, Ankara, marched on the labour ministry, the BBC's Turkish Service reports.
Plan of mineThe rescue operation has been restricted by fire and toxic gases - about 150 miners remain missing
Tac Feratay with his familyTac Feratay, who survived the blast, said he couldn't rescue his friends
Mourners at a funeral - 15 MayRelatives have been burying their loved ones
Little girl at funeral - 15 MayA mother holds her daughter as they attend a ceremony in the town cemetery
In Istanbul, people tried to march to Taksim Square, the scene of last year's anti-government demonstrations, but were stopped by police.
It was a second day of protest, after police clashed with crowds on Wednesday.
Police fired tear gas and water cannon on some 20,000 people who took to the streets in Izmir, Turkey's third largest city situated just 120km (75 miles) from Soma. A union boss in the city was said to have been hospitalised.
There were also reports of demonstrations in Bursa, Antalya, Diyarbakir and other cities.
President Gul called on Turks to be "unified... to get over these hard times" during his visit to Soma. He was speaking after meeting injured miners in hospital and touring the scene of the disaster.
His visit was met by protests but it was not the same level of tension that greeted the prime minister on Wednesday, the BBC's Selin Girit reports from Soma.
line break
Analysis: James Reynolds, BBC News, Soma
Erdogan aide Yusuf Yerkel (left) kicks a protester in Soma, Turkey, on 14 May 2014Photos emerge of the prime minister's aide, Yusuf Yerkel, appearing to kick a protester in Soma
National disasters produce lasting images, which can often change the course of a leader's time in office. US President Bill Clinton's embrace of victims of the 1995 Oklahoma bombing increased his stature, while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's care for the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake ensured his popularity.
By contrast, here in Soma, Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have struggled to capture the mood of an angry, mourning nation.
It may be that the startling photo of an Erdogan aide (in a smart suit) kicking a protester comes to symbolise what has happened here.
To government opponents, the photo encapsulates their long-held complaints - about a privileged administration which treats dissent as treason.
line break
Scuffles broke out during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit on Wednesday, as people booed him and kicked his car, calling for his resignation.
However, it was Mr Erdogan's aide, Yusuf Yerkel, who made headlines on Thursday when photos emerged of him appearing to kick a protester in Soma.
Later pictures of the prime minister appearing to slap a protester in a local supermarket were shown in the Turkish media.
Mr Erdogan's office said that whatever happened was a "reaction of the moment", but the man in question has come forward to ask for an apology.
The prime minister had been criticised for being insensitive in his reaction to the disaster, by appearing to suggest that it was a fact of life.
Power cut
The Soma mine was privatised in 2005.
The government has been accused of rejecting a recent proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into mine accidents in the area, although officials say the Soma mine was subject to regular inspections, most recently in March.
Checking the names of survivors in Soma on 15 May 2014The names of the survivors are posted on this board
Damaged local office of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party in Soma, Turkey, on 14 May 2014The Soma office of Prime Minister Erdogan's AK party was damaged by protesters
An explosion soon after midday on Tuesday sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine's tunnels and galleries, while 787 miners were underground, some 2km (1.2 miles) below the surface and 4km from the mine entrance.
Many of them died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The disaster and its aftermath explained in 45 seconds
Government officials said 363 miners were rescued in the hours after the explosion, but no survivors have been brought out since dawn on Wednesday.
Coal mining is a major industry in the Soma area, helping to supply a nearby lignite-fired thermal power plant, but safety has long been a concern. Nearly 40% of Turkey's electricity production depends on coal.
Map: Turkey mine disaster
Europe

Turkish mine disaster: Unions hold protest strike

Posted by nAVID Forex Academy  |  No comments


Rajesh Mirchandani: "Families and friends say they will not leave until they get news of their loved ones"
Trade unions in Turkey have been holding a one-day strike in protest at the country's worst mine disaster, which has claimed at least 282 lives.
Thousands took to the streets in cities across the country, with clashes breaking out in Izmir.
President Abdullah Gul visited the scene of the disaster in Soma, as Turkey holds three days of mourning.
The first funerals of victims have been held in a crowded town cemetery, as excavators dug new graves.
Note to son
Meanwhile a survivor of the disaster described what happened.
Rescue worker Ugur Acar: "There is water mixed with coal dust coming up to your knees, it feels like wet cement"
"We smelt the smoke and we went upstairs and heard the explosion," Tac Feratay told the BBC. "I went back down to rescue my friends. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't go back."
Harrowing stories about victims continue to emerge, with Hurriyet newspaper reporting a note found in the hand of a dead miner which read: "Please give me your blessings, son."
Excavators have been digging new graves in the town's cemetery, as funerals are held for victims in quick succession and loudspeakers broadcast the names of the dead.
Women cried and sang improvised songs about their relatives as the bodies were lowered into the graves.
Protesters appear to have been assaulted during the PM's visit to Soma, as Orla Guerin reports
Rescue efforts continue at the mine in Soma but there is little hope of finding anyone else alive.
Eight bodies were recovered overnight, bringing the death toll to 282. Correspondents saw another body taken away during Thursday. Up to 150 miners remain missing.
The disaster triggered a wave of anger around the country.
Several unions are reportedly taking part in the 24-hour strike, and blame the privatisation of the mining sector for making working conditions more dangerous.
Some 3,000 people in the capital, Ankara, marched on the labour ministry, the BBC's Turkish Service reports.
Plan of mineThe rescue operation has been restricted by fire and toxic gases - about 150 miners remain missing
Tac Feratay with his familyTac Feratay, who survived the blast, said he couldn't rescue his friends
Mourners at a funeral - 15 MayRelatives have been burying their loved ones
Little girl at funeral - 15 MayA mother holds her daughter as they attend a ceremony in the town cemetery
In Istanbul, people tried to march to Taksim Square, the scene of last year's anti-government demonstrations, but were stopped by police.
It was a second day of protest, after police clashed with crowds on Wednesday.
Police fired tear gas and water cannon on some 20,000 people who took to the streets in Izmir, Turkey's third largest city situated just 120km (75 miles) from Soma. A union boss in the city was said to have been hospitalised.
There were also reports of demonstrations in Bursa, Antalya, Diyarbakir and other cities.
President Gul called on Turks to be "unified... to get over these hard times" during his visit to Soma. He was speaking after meeting injured miners in hospital and touring the scene of the disaster.
His visit was met by protests but it was not the same level of tension that greeted the prime minister on Wednesday, the BBC's Selin Girit reports from Soma.
line break
Analysis: James Reynolds, BBC News, Soma
Erdogan aide Yusuf Yerkel (left) kicks a protester in Soma, Turkey, on 14 May 2014Photos emerge of the prime minister's aide, Yusuf Yerkel, appearing to kick a protester in Soma
National disasters produce lasting images, which can often change the course of a leader's time in office. US President Bill Clinton's embrace of victims of the 1995 Oklahoma bombing increased his stature, while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's care for the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake ensured his popularity.
By contrast, here in Soma, Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have struggled to capture the mood of an angry, mourning nation.
It may be that the startling photo of an Erdogan aide (in a smart suit) kicking a protester comes to symbolise what has happened here.
To government opponents, the photo encapsulates their long-held complaints - about a privileged administration which treats dissent as treason.
line break
Scuffles broke out during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit on Wednesday, as people booed him and kicked his car, calling for his resignation.
However, it was Mr Erdogan's aide, Yusuf Yerkel, who made headlines on Thursday when photos emerged of him appearing to kick a protester in Soma.
Later pictures of the prime minister appearing to slap a protester in a local supermarket were shown in the Turkish media.
Mr Erdogan's office said that whatever happened was a "reaction of the moment", but the man in question has come forward to ask for an apology.
The prime minister had been criticised for being insensitive in his reaction to the disaster, by appearing to suggest that it was a fact of life.
Power cut
The Soma mine was privatised in 2005.
The government has been accused of rejecting a recent proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into mine accidents in the area, although officials say the Soma mine was subject to regular inspections, most recently in March.
Checking the names of survivors in Soma on 15 May 2014The names of the survivors are posted on this board
Damaged local office of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party in Soma, Turkey, on 14 May 2014The Soma office of Prime Minister Erdogan's AK party was damaged by protesters
An explosion soon after midday on Tuesday sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine's tunnels and galleries, while 787 miners were underground, some 2km (1.2 miles) below the surface and 4km from the mine entrance.
Many of them died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The disaster and its aftermath explained in 45 seconds
Government officials said 363 miners were rescued in the hours after the explosion, but no survivors have been brought out since dawn on Wednesday.
Coal mining is a major industry in the Soma area, helping to supply a nearby lignite-fired thermal power plant, but safety has long been a concern. Nearly 40% of Turkey's electricity production depends on coal.
Map: Turkey mine disaster

4:00 PM Share:
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