France claims Iran making a bomb
France accused Iran on Thursday of secretly making nuclear weapons, ditching Europe’s traditional diplomatic caution for bluntness in remarks that echoed the tough U.S. stance on Iran’s disputed nuclear program.
The accusation from French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy – which Iran quickly denied – appeared to reflect mounting exasperation and a tougher stance by one of three key European negotiators.
“No civilian nuclear program can explain the Iranian nuclear program. It is a clandestine military nuclear program,” Douste-Blazy said on France-2 television.
The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency voted last month to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, but Russia, a close ally of Iran, insisted that the council not take up the file until March.
Tehran, Iran
Danish pastries renamed in Iran
Iranians love Danish pastries, but when they look for the flaky dessert at the bakery they now have to ask for “Roses of the Prophet Muhammad.”
Bakeries across the capital were covering up their ads for Danish pastries Thursday after the confectioners’ union ordered the name change in retaliation for caricatures of the Muslim prophet published in a Danish newspaper.
“Given the insults by Danish newspapers against the prophet, as of now the name of Danish pastries will give way to ‘Rose of Muhammad’ pastries,” the union said in its order.
Ankara, Turkey
Hamas leaders arrive in Turkey
A five-man delegation from the Hamas movement headed by leader Khaled Mashaal arrived in the Turkish capital Thursday, provoking harsh criticism from Israel and concern from U.S. officials.
“It is hard to understand why these people went to Turkey,” Raman Gissin, a spokesman for the Israeli government told a private Turkish news channel. “It is a serious mistake; this visit could have serious consequences for our links that could be hard to repair.”
Reflecting the controversial nature of the visit, it was first announced that the delegation would be received by Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Hours after the delegation arrived, the prime minister’s office said the meeting would not take place.
A Turkish official close to the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity said the prime minister changed his mind in part because of intense pressure from the Bush administration not to meet with Hamas officials.
Instead, Mashaal and the delegation held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul at the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development party.