BRUSSELS: Iran and six world powers have extended expert-level talks in Geneva on the implementation of a landmark deal obliging Tehran to curb its nuclear programme for at least one additional day, diplomats said yesterday.
A round of discussions on the deal started on Thursday in Geneva and was scheduled to last through Friday.
The seven countries need to decide when the agreement goes into effect and to work out technical aspects of how Iran will suspend its most sensitive nuclear work.
In return for nuclear concessions, Western governments will ease some economic sanctions, but they have yet to agree how much prior verification they will get to be assured that Iran is meeting its obligations.
Iran rejects Western fears that its nuclear work has any military intentions and says it needs nuclear power for electricity generation and medical research.
The November 24 agreement is meant to give the six powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - time to negotiate a final settlement with Iran that could put an end to the decade-old standoff and ease worries over a new war in the Middle East.
Concern over treatment of activist
GENEVA: The United Nations’ human rights office raised concerns yesterday over the treatment of a Saudi activist punished for advocating a constitutional monarchy in the kingdom. “We are deeply concerned about the intimidation and sometimes prosecution of individuals in Saudi Arabia for exercising their right to freedom of expression,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
A closed-door court hearing last week reportedly sentenced Omar Al Saeed to four years in prison and 300 lashes, and banned him from leaving the kingdom for a further four years after his release.
“Charges against him included defaming the king, preparing, storing and transmitting material prejudicial to the public order, and disseminating defamatory information on the Internet, apparently in relation to a Tweet in which he reportedly advocated for a constitutional monarchy,” Shamdasani said.
The 23-year-old was also charged with membership of an unregistered organisation, she added.
Shamdasani said that Al Saeed appeared to have been targeted because of his work on civil and political rights with the Saudi campaign group HASEM.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian in Gaza
GAZA: Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian and wounded three others in three separate incidents of cross-border violence in the Gaza Strip yesterday, Palestinian officials said.
The Israeli military, which has long said the area in Gaza along the border fence is off limits, said it was looking into the reports.
A 22-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by the fence near Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. One source said the man was there trying to catch birds.
Three other Palestinians were also wounded by Israeli fire in the Hamas-controlled territory, medical officials said.
Agencies
