39. Israel's president asks Benjamin Netanyahu to form new government

    1. Israel's president, Shimon Peres, has asked the Likud party leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to form the country's next government and become prime minister.

 

By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent Last Updated: 1:10PM GMT 20 Feb 2009

Mr Peres called on Mr Netanyahu to establish support for his nomination as prime minister in the country's parliament after his main rival, the Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, declared that she had no desire to join a broad coalition.

Mr Netanyahu's Right-wing Likud party finished a close second in this month's general election behind the centrist Kadima party. But the vote on Feb 10 saw Right-wing parties finish with an overall majority.

"The president has made a decision regarding the formation of the government and the presidency will summon deputy Benjamin Netanyahu ... to entrust him with this task," according to a statement issued by Mr Peres's office.

The announcement came after Mr Peres held separate talks with Mr Netanyahu and Miss Livni, the current foreign minister, in an effort to persuade them to form a broad government alliance.

But Miss Livni emerged from the talks saying: "I will not be a pawn in a government that would be against our ideals."

In remarks to Jewish leaders, America's Middle East envoy George Mitchell criticised Mr Netanyahu's stance on negotiations with the Palestinians. Mr Netanyahu has derided political talks with Palestinians and has vowed to put economic improvements before sovereignty talks.

But Mr Mitchell said: "One cannot talk about economic development on the Palestinian side when you are not moving forward with diplomatic moves at the same time."

Political analysts have predicted friction between a Right-wing government and President Barack Obama's administration.

"Netanyahu is going to face big pressure from the Obama administration to at least look like he is making some movement on the peace process, and he will need Livni for that," said Shmuel Sandler, professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University.

"As for Livni, if she stays too long in opposition, she runs the risk that some of her Kadima colleagues who originally came from the Likud and remain ideologically close to the party, might decide to bolt back there."

40. 'Unhappy us' claims over Afghanistan dismissed

By Matt Dickinson, Press Association

Thursday, 19 February 2009

The Defence Secretary John Hutton today dismissed claims that US military commanders are unhappy with the performance of the UK armed forces in Afghanistan.

A flurry of recent reports have suggested that US top brass has been left unimpressed by some aspects of the British effort in the country, with the counter-insurgency tactics singled out for criticism.

But Mr Hutton said in an interview with the Financial Times: "I do not think that is fair, nor do I think that reflects the real view in the Pentagon and elsewhere.

"There is a very high level of regard for the contribution that UK forces have made in Iraq and Afghanistan."

He said the UK - whose armed forces have suffered 145 fatalities in Afghanistan since 2001 - was open to criticism as long as it was "fair".

But Mr Hutton added: "Our reputation is very important to us. We will very strongly defend it.

"We will defend it by begin open to criticism where it is fair.

"We will not change our tactics in Afghanistan on the basis of uncorroborated and unsourced gossip from people who don't have the courage to put their names to their remarks."

The comments from Mr Hutton - who will discuss the Afghanistan mission at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Poland today - came as President Barack Obama revealed plans to send 17,000 more US troops to Afghanistan.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband yesterday welcomed the move, saying the extra forces would play an "important and positive role" in the campaign.

Some will be deployed in Helmand province, where UK soldiers have been engaged in fierce fighting with the Taliban.

Around 8,100 British servicemen and women are currently serving in Afghanistan.

Speaking on a visit to the troubled country last night, Mr Miliband said: "I think that there is a universal recognition that these extra American troops can play, and will play, an important and positive role, when they are aligned and allied with a strategy for economic development and political development."

He also pledged that Britain would keep its troop levels "under review" - although he stressed that the prospect of an increase had not been raised directly.

"In terms of the United Kingdom we represent about 12% of the troops in Afghanistan at the moment," Mr Miliband said.

"We have had no request to increase our number of troops but, of course, we always keep the number under review."

Mr Hutton said he will raise the issue of increased troop contributions from other countries during today's meeting in Poland.

The US currently has around 30,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Mr Hutton acknowledged a shortage of troops may have hampered progress in Afghanistan and said he would press the UK's European Nato allies to provide extra military resources.