Titles:

• Obama: U.S., U.K. leadership is essential
• China urges "democratic consultation" over IMF head 
• UK considers using attack helicopters in Libya
• Saudi troops sent to crush Bahrain protests 'had British training' 
• UK ambassador airlifted as Yemen leader refuses to quit
• US to withdraw troops from Pakistan

News Details: 

 
Obama: U.S., U.K. leadership is essential
In a historic speech to the two houses of Parliament, President Barack Obama said Wednesday that U.S. and U.K. leadership in the world is essential for the promotion of freedom and human dignity. "Our relationship is special because of the values and beliefs that have united our people through the ages," Obama said in the first-ever address by a U.S. president to both houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall.  "The time for our leadership is now," he said. "We are the nations most willing to stand up for the values of tolerance and self-determination that lead to peace and dignity." Obama also hailed the economic leadership of the U.S. and the U.K. and their support for free enterprise. He said that emerging economies such as China and India are moving toward market-based principles. "We live in a global economy that is largely of our own making," he said.

China urges "democratic consultation" over IMF head
China said on Thursday that any decision on who should lead the International Monetary Fund "should be made through democratic consultation," refraining from taking a firm public position on French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde's candidacy. The faxed statement from the Ministry, in response to a question about China's position on who should head the IMF, repeated Beijing's position that senior management of the organization "should enhance representation of the emerging market countries and reflect changes in the world economy."But the statement did not say directly whether China endorses or opposes Lagarde, or possibly the other declared candidate, Mexican Central Bank Governor Agustin Carstens. They are competing to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who faces charges of sexual assault and resigned from the position."There is a consensus among the leaders in the G20 group that the selection of the management of international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, should abide by the principles of openness, transparency and being merit-based," said the statement, echoing the Foreign Ministry's earlier comments on the issue."China has noted that countries concerned have proposed candidates for the executive directorship of the IMF. We hope that the decision will be made through democratic consultation on the basis of these above principles."

UK considers using attack helicopters in Libya
Defence Minister Nick Harvey rejects French claims that Britain is about to send Apache attack helicopters into Libya - but confirms it is an option being considered by the UK. Military chiefs are considering deploying Apache attack helicopters in Libya but no final decision has been made, the Government has insisted. Defence Minister Nick Harvey contradicted claims by French defence minister Gerard Longuet that Britain would follow the French in sending helicopters into the fight against Colonel Gaddafi, after Labour MPs complained Parliament was being "kept in the dark" about the deployment of UK forces. Mr Harvey told the House of Commons: "My understanding is that the French have indeed taken a decision to deploy their attack helicopters in Libya. I state again for the avoidance of all doubt: no such decision has been taken by the United Kingdom.  "It is an option we are considering and there is absolutely no sense in which it is true to say that we have kept Parliament in the dark about a decision."

Saudi troops sent to crush Bahrain protests 'had British training'
Saudi Arabian troops sent into Bahrain to crush a popular uprising may have had British military training, the Government has admitted. The British Government has said it is "deeply concerned" by reports of human rights abuses in Bahrain, where the ruling royal family has used Saudi troops to put down Shi'ite demonstrations. The Sunni royal family in Saudi Arabia fears the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran in the Middle East, and is helping Bahrain's Sunni rulers retain power. The Ministry of Defence has now admitted that members of the Saudi Arabian National Guard sent into Bahrain may have received military training from the British Armed Forces in Saudi Arabia.  The revelation is likely to renew allegations that the Coalition is sending mixed messages on democracy in the Middle East. Despite British criticism of the Bahrainis' actions, David Cameron last week welcomed the Crown Prince of Bahrain to Downing Street, drawing criticism from human rights groups. Britain keeps a large and secretive military training team in Saudi Arabia. British In a written parliamentary answer, Nick Harvey, the Armed Forces Minister, said the Government could not rule out the possibility that British-trained Saudis took part in the Bahraini operation.

UK ambassador airlifted as Yemen leader refuses to quit
Britain's ambassador to Yemen had to be airlifted to safety from the United Arab Emirates embassy in Sanaa yesterday along with his international colleagues as an armed mob closed in, and president Ali Abdullah Saleh again refused to cede power. The militiamen, armed with knives and swords, blocked the entrances to the UAE mission, where Jonathan Wilks, along with the US representative and three Arab ambassadors, had gathered, expecting Mr Saleh to arrive to sign the agreement. Yemeni military helicopters landed at the embassy and ferried the diplomats out, taking them to the presidential palace. There, they witnessed several Yemeni ruling party officials sign the accord. But Mr Saleh, shown on state TV standing alongside the US ambassador, did not sign. Mr Saleh said later he would not do so unless opposition leaders attend and sign it as well in public, not "behind closed doors". "If they don't comply, they are dragging us to a civil war, and they will have to hold responsibility for the bloodshed in the past and the blood which will be spilled later on because of their stupidity," Mr Saleh warned in an address on state TV.

US to withdraw troops from Pakistan
The US military has announced the withdrawal of a number of its troops from Pakistan. The Pentagon said it had received a request from the Pakistani government to reduce its presence in the country. The request came after a raid by US special forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in early May. The US has more than 200 troops in Pakistan helping to train the army. But there are said to be intelligence and special forces operating there.A spokesman at the Pentagon said that within the last two weeks Pakistan had asked the American military to reduce its footprint, and the Americans were doing so, pulling out some troops. The numbers are quite small. It is not clear if any of the American intelligence and special operations forces that are said to be in Pakistan clandestinely are also being pulled out.