WAR: Blair "Double-Crossed" by Bush Aides

Guardian

Arab news channel al-Jazeera is to consult its lawyers in an attempt to pursue George Bush through the courts over the US president's alleged threat to bomb the broadcaster's headquarters.

The satellite broadcaster's managing director, Wadah Khanfar, who is in London to petition No 10 for a meeting with Tony Blair to discuss the leaked memo, said the incident had hardened attitudes against the US among its viewers.

"Al-Jazeera is not just a TV station. It has become something people are very attached to. People are angry," he said, adding that the broadcaster would consult lawyers to see what further action could be taken.

Mr Khanfar said that the Doha-based broadcaster, which derives the majority of its funding from a $100m grant from the emir of Qatar, would not drop its calls for the memo, in which Mr Bush is alleged to have suggested bombing the Arab station's headquarters, to be published.

"We demand to know what's happened. We need to know for the sake of history, for the sake of journalism. It has historical value," he said, adding that the broadcaster had not yet had a response from Downing Street over its request for a meeting.


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Guardian

The failed coup in Venezuela was closely tied to senior officials in the US government, The Observer has established. They have long histories in the 'dirty wars' of the 1980s, and links to death squads working in Central America at that time.

Washington's involvement in the turbulent events that briefly removed left-wing leader Hugo Chavez from power last weekend resurrects fears about US ambitions in the hemisphere.

One of them, Elliot Abrams, who gave a nod to the attempted Venezuelan coup, has a conviction for misleading Congress over the infamous Iran-Contra affair.

The Bush administration has tried to distance itself from the coup. It immediately endorsed the new government under businessman Pedro Carmona. But the coup was sent dramatically into reverse after 48 hours.

Now officials at the Organisation of American States and other diplomatic sources, talking to The Observer, assert that the US administration was not only aware the coup was about to take place, but had sanctioned it, presuming it to be destined for success.


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