PM Brown calls for tougher sanctions against Iran

In the UK and international media today, the Guardian notes that Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday in London and called for tougher sanctions to be imposed on Iran. In related news, the Daily Telegraph runs a piece on the internal political power struggle in Iran over its nuclear development programme. The Financial Times also reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that there is no need for negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme. The paper also reports that high-level officials from North Korea concluded a visit to Syria. The Financial Times also reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that there is no need for negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme. The paper also reports that high-level officials from North Korea concluded a visit to Syria. The Guardian also carries a piece by Jonathan Freedland who writes that the Annapolis summit has little chances of succeeding. In addition, the paper profiles the three main factions in Gaza - Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad - and also carries a timeline of the clashes between Fatah and Hamas. The Guardian and the Financial Times note that analysts are warning that failure to produce an agreement or declaration at the upcoming US-sponsored summit in Annapolis could lead to a return to violence. Meanwhile, the Guardian, BBC Online and the Independent report that Amnesty International accused Fatah and Hamas of serious human rights abuse during their recent internal faction clashes. The Times notes that an Israeli air strike yesterday killed Mubarak al-Hassanat, a high-profile Hamas terrorist in Gaza.

In the Israeli press, all papers report that PM Olmert met yesterday with PM Brown in London. Following their meeting, PM Brown called for tougher sanctions to be imposed on Iran in order to halt its nuclear development programme. The papers also note that ceremonies across Israel today will mark the 12^th anniversary since the assassination of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post report that an Amnesty International report has accused Palestinian faction groups Hamas and Fatah of violating human rights during their internal clashes. Both papers also note that defence officials plan to approve a list of civilian sanctions against Gaza in response to escalating rocket attacks fired against Israel. The Jerusalem Post reports that PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the Palestinians will not attend the Annapolis summit if no agreement is reached beforehand. Haaretz reports that Iran signed a military deal with China to buy twenty-four J-10 fighter jets that are based on Israeli technology. Maariv reports that Syria two weeks ago prepared itself for an attack by Israel.

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