September 2013 - Page 4 of 7 - Armoured & Luxury

UK closely aligned with US over Syrian Crisis says Hague

September 9, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

William Hague says the UK and US remain “closely aligned” on Syria, after talks with his US counterpart John Kerry.

The UK foreign secretary said the two were working together to save lives and revive peace talks as well as press for a strong response to the Assad government’s use of chemical weapons.

Mr Kerry said the risks of doing nothing were greater than acting.

The two countries remained “true friends” despite the UK ruling out any military involvement, he insisted.

Their meeting in London comes as the US tries to gather support for military strikes.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Parliament’s vote last month means the UK will not join the US in any military action in response to Syria’s suspected use of chemical weapons.

Kurdish PKK rebels halt Turkey pull-out

September 9, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) says it has halted its withdrawal from Turkey, a website linked to the armed militant group reports.

The PKK accused the Turkish government of failing to move towards “democratisation and the resolution of the Kurdish problem”, the Firat news agency reported.

The PKK had started the withdrawal earlier this year, under a peace plan.

The 30-year Kurdish conflict has left more than 40,000 people dead.

The PKK said the ceasefire it announced in March would remain in force. But it urged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government to “take action in line with the project of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan”, the jailed PKK commander who negotiated the peace deal.

Brazilian protests disrupt Independence Day celebrations

September 9, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Protesters in Brazil have disrupted Independence Day celebrations, demanding better public services and an end to corruption.

Riot police responded with tear gas and baton roundIn Rio de Janeiro, some 200 protesters interrupted the traditional Seventh of September military parade, shouting anti-government slogans.

They clashed with police, who threw tear gas and arrested dozens of people.

There were further clashes in the capital, Brasilia, where President Dilma Rousseff was giving a speech.

She said there was “still a lot to be done” in Brazil and that there were “urgent problems to be addressed and the population has the right to demand changes”.

Egyptian army launches offensive against Sinai militants

September 9, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

At least nine Islamist militants have been killed in a major offensive by the Egyptian army in Sinai, security officials have said.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that tanks and troops, backed by Apache helicopters, had struck the militants in towns along the Gaza Strip border.

The operation is said to be the biggest of its kind in recent years in Sinai.

Meanwhile, Egyptian soldiers defused mortars and other explosives found on a railway line near the Suez Canal.

There have been frequent attacks on pipelines and security forces since the uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

MPs warn that Aircraft carrier fighter jet programme is a huge risk

September 4, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

MPs have raised fresh concerns about the cost of fighter jets for the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, warning of “uncontrolled growth” in budgets.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee said billions of pounds had already gone “down the drain” during the carrier strike procurement programme.

An order for jump jets for the two new carriers was scrapped in 2010, only to be reversed 18 months later.

Ministers said they were negotiating to bring costs under control.

The Labour government signed a contract for two new aircraft carrier in 2007.