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<b>Muslims alarmed over redrawn map for Islamic world </b>
Web posted at: 8/27/2006 3:0:18
Source ::: Internews
WASHINGTON ⢠Muslim circles have expressed alarm and disgust at the publication of a redrawn map of the Islamic world in a journal closely linked to the US armed forces.
The Armed Forces Journal, which has published the redrawn map of the world of Islam along with a long explanatory article, is published by the Army Times Publishing Company, a part of Gannett Company, Inc, the world's largest publisher of professional military and defence periodicals.
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<b>The proposed scheme places Pakistan on the chopping block. According to the plan, "Iran, a state with madcap boundaries, would lose a great deal of territory to Unified Azerbaijan, Free Kurdistan, the Arab Shia State and Free Balochistan, but would gain the provinces around Herat in today's Afghanistan â a region with a historical and linguistic affinity for Persia. </b>
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"Iran would, in effect, become an ethnic Persian state again, with the most difficult question being whether or not it should keep the port of Bandar Abbas or surrender it to the Arab Shia State.
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<b>"What Afghanistan would lose to Persia in the west, it would gain in the east, as Pakistan's North-west Frontier tribes would be reunited with their Afghan brethren Pakistan, another unnatural state, would also lose its Baloch territory to Free Balochistan. </b>The remaining 'natural' Pakistan would lie entirely east of the Indus, except for a westward spur near Karachi. "The city-states of the UAE would have a mixed fate â as they probably will in reality. Some might be incorporated in the Arab Shia State ringing much of the Persian Gulf ⦠Since all puritanical cultures are hypocritical, Dubai, of necessity, would be allowed to retain its playground status for rich debauchees. Kuwait would remain within its current borders, as would Oman."
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The redrawn map claims to "redress the wrongs suffered by the most significant 'cheated' population groups, such as the Kurds, Baloch and Arab Shia, but still fail to account adequately for Middle Eastern Christians, Bahais, Ismailis, Naqshbandis and many another numerically lesser minorities."
It adds that "one haunting wrong can never be redressed with a reward of territory: The genocide perpetrated against the Armenians by the dying Ottoman Empire."
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The author, Ralph Peters, argues that even those who abhor the topic of altering borders would be well-served to engage in an exercise that attempts to conceive a fairer, if still imperfect, amendment of national boundaries "between the Bosporus and the Indus."
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According to him, "We are dealing with colossal, man-made deformities that will not stop generating hatred and violence until they are corrected. As for those who refuse to 'think the unthinkable', declaring that boundaries must not change and that's that, it pays to remember that boundaries have never stopped changing through the centuries. Borders have never been static, and many frontiers, from Congo through Kosovo to the Caucasus, are changing even now. Ethnic cleansing works."
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Peter argues that for Israel to have any hope of living in "reasonable peace" with its neighbours, it will have to return to its pre-1967 borders, with essential local adjustments for legitimate security concerns.
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He writes that the most "glaring injustice" between the Balkan Mountains and the Himalayas is the absence of an independent Kurdish state. There are between 27m and 36 m Kurds living in contiguous regions in the Middle East.
He calls Iraq an unnatural state and calls for a greater Kurdish state, which will include Turkish, Syrian and Iranian Kurds. A Free Kurdistan, stretching from Diyarbakir through Tabriz, would be the most pro-Western state between Bulgaria and Japan, he adds.
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<b>Iraq's three Sunni-majority provinces might eventually choose to unify with a Syria that loses its littoral to a Mediterranean-oriented Greater Lebanon. </b>
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<b>The Shia south of old Iraq would form the basis of an Arab Shia State rimming much of the Persian Gulf. Jordan would retain its current territory, with some southward expansion at Saudi expense.</b> For its part, the unnatural state of Saudi Arabia would suffer as great a dismantling as Pakistan. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
See the map redrawn at http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2006/06/1833899/
This is geopolitical strategy at work. When the British colonial regime ended after the end of the World War II, the re-drawing of the borders of nation-states was not completed. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the later break-up of Yugoslavia into splinter states, the re-drawing has not been completed. The dialogue between the Nation and the State with intervention by the christist and islamist intolerant belief systems has remained unsettled, incomplete.
What pray is a Nation? Is Islam a Nation? Is the Kingdom of God a Nation?
It ain't no clash of civilizations but a clash of uncivilized barbarisms unleashed by intolerant religious beliefs.
One hope exists. Restoration of dharma-dhamma to achieve abhyudayam and nihs'reyas. This will take a lot of doing. This needs a Hindustan. Are Bush-Blair listening?
Who wins, who loses? The list according to the Armed Forces Journal:
<b>WHO WINS, WHO LOSES </b>
<b>Winners â</b>
Afghanistan
Arab Shia State
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Free Baluchistan
Free Kurdistan
Iran
Islamic Sacred State
Jordan
Lebanon
Yemen
â¢
<b>Losers â</b>
Afghanistan
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Kuwait
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
West Bank
The problem with this list is that shia-sunni divide has not been delineated.
The list of losers and winners is incomplete until Hindustan is clearly restored in dharma-dhamma continuum; needed: Indian Ocean Community, Himalayan Community, as counterpoises to the European Community.
<b>Saudis plan fence to block Iraq's terrorists</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- In a sign of regional concern over terrorism, <b>Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with plans to build a fence along its entire 560-mile (900-kilometer) border</b> with Iraq to prevent terrorists from entering the kingdom from the chaotic north.
The barrier, which likely will take five to six years to complete, is part of a $12 billion package of measures, including electronic sensors, bases and physical barriers, to protect the oil-rich kingdom from external threats, said Nawaf Obaid, head of the Saudi National Security Assessment Project, an independent research institute that provides security advice to the Saudi government.
The ambitious project reflects not only concern over terrorism but also growing alarm over the situation in Iraq, where <b>U.S. forces are struggling to prevent Sunni-Shiite violence from escalating to full-scale civil war</b>. (Watch as one analyst says U.S. strategy is flawed -- 1:45)
<b>Maneka Gandhi seeks action against Saudi diplomat </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->New Delhi, Oct 12: Animal Rights activist and Member of Parliament<b> Maneka Gandhi on Thursday sought action against a Saudi Arabian diplomat from whose residence in South Delhi a neelgai was recovered during a raid.</b>
In separate letters to Saudi ambassador to India Saleh Mohd al Ghamdi and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, Gandhi said she would take up the matter in Parliament also.
When the matter is brought to Parliament, "<b>I am sure that there will be great disapproval voiced by all parties. Before that happens, it is necessary for your embassy to show that it respects our country," </b>she said in her letter to the Saudi ambassador.
"It is appalling that a junior diplomat should break the laws of the country that he is posted in. I am sure that the Saudi Government would not tolerate an Indian diplomat breaking their laws," the letter said.
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<b>The neelgai is protected under schedule iii of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. </b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Good going Maneka.
They should punish him according to Islamic law by chopping off his both hands.
<b>Israel vows to respond to rocket attack</b> <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->JERUSALEM -Â Â Â Â Israel promised a punishing response to a deadly Palestinian rocket attack Wednesday near the home of the country's defense minister.
The rocket â one of eight that struck Israel during the day â killed a 57-year-old woman walking to the grocery store in the Israeli town of Sderot near the Gaza border and raised the specter of a large-scale offensive against militant rocket squads.
Militants affiliated with the Palestinians' ruling Hamas group and Islamic Jihad both claimed responsibility for the fatal Sderot attack, calling it retaliation for 19 civilians killed by Israeli shelling last week in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun
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<b>Saudi king urges Palestinians on talks</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Saudi Arabia's king urged Palestinian rival factions Sunday to hold talks in the holy city of Mecca as fighting between the Hamas and Fatah movements persisted in Gaza with no clear winner emerging.
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The bitter rivals have been buying, smuggling and building weapons for months trying to gain an edge, but they have held back from all-out battle and find themselves in a stalemate.
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<b>Thirty Palestinians, including two children, have died during the latest outburst of street fighting that began Thursday, raising the death toll to more than 60 since last month</b>.
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<b>Both sides began preparing for the possibility of a big battle after Israel left the Gaza Strip in September 2005 and the arms race intensified after Hamas won legislative elections a year ago and took control of the Palestinian government</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Situation is very serious. It may add further division between Shia's and Sunnis.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Arab versus Arab </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
Hamas shows the enemy is within
The raging civil war in Gaza has overshadowed other developments in West Asia, including the bloody standoff between the Lebanese Army and Islamists holed up in Palestinian camps in Beirut. Indeed, such has been the intensity of the fighting between extremist Hamas and moderate Fatah forces in Gaza - scores have been killed, many more injured - that it has detracted attention from the 40th anniversary of Israel's stunning victory in the Six-Day War. With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah finding itself squeezed out of Gaza by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's Hamas, Governments in Europe, the US and West Asia are scrambling to come up with an appropriate response. The US and the EU have declared cessation of all aid, which does not mark much of a departure from their policy ever since Hamas came to power in March 2006, while Arab Governments are yet to respond. Israel, which believes "Gaza is lost", has rightly decided to stay out of the conflict and let the two sides of Palestinian politics slug it out; any assistance to Fatah in the form of arms and ammunition at this stage may prove counter-productive as the arsenal may ultimately end up in Hamas's armoury. But calculated restraint by others at this point of time may not prove to be a good idea: To allow Hamas to take over Gaza would have consequences that would adversely affect all players in West Asia's turbulent politics. For instance, with Gaza under its belt, we can expect Hamas to eye both Israel and Egypt. It will also mean a big boost for Hizbullah in southern Lebanon and the Islamists who have now taken over the Palestinian leadership in Beirut's camps. For Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the two big players who have the most at stake, a rampaging Hamas is particularly bad news. It indicates Iran further expanding the theatre of its influence as Sunni power declines.
So where do we go from here? For starters, both the US and the EU have to get rid of the lethargy that seems to have overtaken Washington and Brussels. This is the time to play a pro-active role, not necessarily by trying to open a channel with Hamas but by bolstering Mr Abbas's forces. If neither wants to sully its hands, let the UN Security Council meet and authorise the deployment of an international force to restore peace and end the civil war before it spills over into West Bank. More important, inaction at this stage will only embolden Iran. This is also an opportune moment to let Arab states know, in unambiguous terms, that it is futile to try and accommodate mismatching pieces in the peace jigsaw puzzle. King Abdullah's much-vaunted Mecca initiative for a unity Government has turned out to be a non-starter: For all his public proclamations, Mr Haniyeh has turned out to be no better than what he was always perceived as - a snake in the grass, biding his time to strike. Of course, for the moment all talk of kickstarting the stalled West Asia peace process must cease. It would be silly to think of sitting across the negotiating table with Palestinians squabbling among themselves. A last point that needs to be made refers to US President George Bush's flawed West Asia policy based on democratising Arabs and Arab societies. Elections elsewhere in the world may be a good idea, but in the sands of Arabia, they tend to bring malcontents to power. For evidence, look at the ascent of Hamas in Palestine and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
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06-16-2007, 07:41 AM (This post was last modified: 06-16-2007, 07:43 AM by Husky.)
Mudy, the Dutch view on the islamis fighting it out in Palestine:
http://www.elsevier.nl/opinie/commentaren/...6462/index.html (has original)
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Wednesday, 13 juni 2007
<b>Powergrip of Hamas shows Verhagen was right</b>
<i>The powergrip of Hamas shows once more that one can't talk to islamists</i>
Oene van der Wal
Israel had always been sceptical about the democratic inclination of the Palestinian government, and refused to acknowledge that (government?). Now the Olmert-government is proven right. The powergrip of Hamas shows once more that it is of no use talking to islamists.
Since the Israeli withdrawal in 2005, many attempts have been made to start up a functioning governance. The west supported the relatively moderated powers of Fatah and its leader, president Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas is being isolated, even if that is the democratically-chosen majority party. Hamas though refuses to recognise Israel and wishes just as little to hand over its weaponry.
From the regions in North-Gaza and and Gaza-city where heavily armed Hamas-militias rule come increasingly frequent reports that point to increasing influence of radical islam. Moreover, the Gaza-strip is not functioning as a state. Just like in other islamic 'failed states' - Afghanistan, Somalia and to lesser extent Iraq - the islamists see in this their chance to do a grab for power.
The Israeli government is reflecting on a reaction. Occupy the Gazastrip once more? It is a real opption, if Hamas were to get the entire region under control and resume firing of rockets in direction of the Jewish state. Not to be ruled out is that Hamas shall try to obtain control over the western Jordan shore.
The development of the crisis in the Gazastrip shows how sensible the Verhagen-line is. The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs (CDA), visiting Israel and Gaza (on) these days, does not want to discuss anything/does not want to converse with Hamas and earlier refused, totally correctly, entry to Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh, who wanted to address a Palestinian gathering in Rotterdam.
Would Palestine-friends Femke Halsema (Groenlinks/Greenleft) and Dries van Agt (CDA) still find that one one to bake sweet breads with the fundies? (That is, still be buddies with the Palestinian terror groups)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
See the similarities between Palestine and Pakistan. Islamic country (people mght argue that Palestine is not islamic) divided into two parts by a non-islamic country. Now they are getting politically divided into two factions. Only major difference may be that Pakistan was multiethnic where as Palestine is not.
Once their prime enemies disapper from the scene both countries will go in the same direction.
Another similarity, over populated, high rate of unemployment, too much Islamic and begging bowl is filled by Uncle.
Hamas means, Syria and Iran will dominate Middle East. Saudi Price are too busy in Harem and modern life style.
Yesterday Bush made announcement that Iran had stopped nuclear programme after 2003. After thinking lot last 24 hours, I have lot of questions and may be answer to this mystery.
Why Bush made announcement yesterday? Why now? By making this announcement what they will gain? What Iran will gain or infact will lose?
US intelligence is US intelligence agency, they failed to detect Indiaâs nuclear test and 9/11 and other attacks all over world. So current announcement seems like more political chess game or maneuvering then anything else.
There is a possibility that after 9/11 and Xerox Khan arrest, Iran was unable to get know how from Pakistan but North Korea was ready to give them as they gave to Syria which went into flames by Israel plane 50 days back. China any day can give them and Russia may be helping them indirectly even now. So giving clear chit to potential problem doesnât make sense when US admin had upped its ante for last one year for sanctions. Even UN is going through lot of rounds on this issue.
So what changed? Last week there was a Middle East conference in Annapolis, MD. It is very much possible other Sunni Middle East US friendly/technology dependent countries also looking for ready made Nukes from US. To keep Nukes from their hand US must have told them Iran had no nuke programme, Middle East must have refused to buy story, so President made this public announcement.
Now what Iran will gain or lose. Current PM of Iran is not very popular except nuke progamme is uniting factor, so now even that binding factor have gone, does that mean political unrest in Iran. Iranian were showing pride on their programme will get shock over night and will bring down self esteem to depression. Now whole pride is gone into gutter.
So it makes sense now. Now it will be easy to get Middle East solution, Hamas pride will be in drain and other parties will be more willing to come to implement solution.
Just my thought.
<b>Rice wins support for Iran sanctions </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->13 minutes ago
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won support on Iran Thursday from two key European allies, France and Germany, whose leaders urged continued pressure on Tehran because of its nuclear program, saying the country remains a danger.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--> <b>Iran leader claims win in nuke faceoff </b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But Iran's more favorable position may in large part be due to gains by moderates in Tehran. In recent months, Iran handed over confidential documents to the IAEA about its past enrichment activities and answered other questions about its nuclear program. Soon after, the IAEA issued a report saying Iran had been generally truthful about its past enrichment activities.
Many Iranian analysts believe supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate say on the nuclear program and all other issues, ordered the cooperation, perhaps influenced by Rafsanjani, a powerful cleric in Iran's political leadership.
Political analyst Saeed Leilaz called the U.S. report a <b>"victory for moderate voices such as Rafsanjani who have been pushing for compromise and diplomacy</b>," citing as an example what <b>he called "extensive cooperation" with the IAEA</b>.
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Iran may be moving towards regime change or Mullaha toss?
More insight is required.
<b>Spinning the NIE Iran Report </b> -Time
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Israel</b>
<b>The Game Plan:</b> Despite the talk of an "Israeli option" for military action, few analysts believe an Israeli attack on Iranian facilities is likely, or even possible. Until now, Israel's strategy has been to press the U.S. to take military action if sanctions fail to budge Iran, and to persuade European and other powers to back tougher sanctions. This will likely remain Israel's focus: It will work to rally support on Capitol Hill and in U.S. public opinion to raise the domestic political cost for American politicians in an election year relaxing a hard line on Iran.
6. <b>Iran </b>
<b>The Game Plan: </b>Iran has long refused to allow itself to be seen to be bowing to foreign pressure to end uranium enrichment, and that's unlikely to change, particularly now that Tehran will expect the NIE report to weaken support for further sanctions. At the same time, however, the Iranians have indicated interest in various compromise proposals involving their acquiring or producing reactor fuel abroad rather than establishing industrial-scale enrichment facilities. (They do, however, insist on being able to maintain their current research-level enrichment facilities.) It would not be out of character for Tehran to take advantage of what it portrays as a setback to Washington by stepping up efforts to float a compromise proposal more favorable to its terms. Reading Iran's intentions is always difficult, but the handling of the nuclear standoff with the West is the subject of fierce factional struggles inside Tehran's corridors of power, and it's simply too soon to tell
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I still don't think this whole drama is for sanctions , I think some thing bigger must have caused public U-turn.
It is also possible to give breather to Iraq's Maluki government from shites.
let me add more new development
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>An Old Face Resurfaces</b>
Don't ever say the Bush administration doesn't take care of its own. Nearly three years after Paul Wolfowitz resigned as deputy Defense secretary and six months after his stormy departure as president of the World Bankâamid allegations that he improperly awarded a raise to his girlfriendâhe's in line to return to public service. <b>Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has offered Wolfowitz, a prime architect of the Iraq War, a position as chairman of the International Security Advisory Board, a prestigious State Department panel, </b>according to two department sources who declined to be identified discussing personnel matters. The 18-member panel, which has access to highly classified intelligence, advises Rice on disarmament, nuclear proliferation, WMD issues and other matters. "We think he is well suited and will do an excellent job," said one senior official.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>The Iran NIE for beginners: <i>As though MI6 told Stanley Baldwin in 1933 that fears that Hitler would reoccupy the Ruhr in 1934 were groundless</i>.</b>
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In Israel, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said "it's apparently true" that Iran stopped pursuing its military nuclear program in 2003.
"But in our opinion, since then it has apparently continued that program," Barak told Army Radio. "There are differences in the assessments of different organizations in the world about this, and only time will tell who is right."
Asked if the new U.S. assessment reduced chances that the U.S. will launch a military strike on Iran, Barak said that was "possible."
However, he said, "We cannot allow ourselves to rest just because of an intelligence report from the other side of the earth, even if it is from our greatest friend." </b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Money changed hands between MI6 agents, Taliban: British media </b>
Pioneer.com
Nandini Jawli | London
The crisis over expulsion of two European diplomats in Afghanistan deepened on Thursday with fresh allegations that the duo were not only holding unauthorised talks with the Taliban but also had passed cash to the insurgents.
British media reports have quoted Afghan officials suggesting that the diplomats had given money to the insurgents, who are involved in waging a bloody war against British and other NATO forces.
Britain insisted on Wednesday night that discussions with lower-ranking members of the Taliban had been sanctioned by the Afghan Government, and did not justify the expulsion of two such senior Western diplomats.
Details in British media suggest cash being involved in dealings with Taliban. <b>The Guardian reported that the expelled diplomats-EU's acting mission head in Kabul, Michael Semple, who is Irish, and Mervyn Patterson, a senior UN official and a British national had visited Musa Qala in Helmand province on Monday.</b>
The duo spoke to local leaders in the town and were recaptured from the Taliban by British and Afghan troops two weeks ago after fierce fighting.
The paper quoted an Afghan Government official saying, "Not only did they hold talks with the Taliban but also had given them money. They are personae non gratae."
<b>The BBC quoted Governor of Helmand province Asadullah Wafa that he had warned the diplomats not to meet the Taliban who are 'fighting us and training suicide bombers'. Wafa also told the BBC that an Afghan travelling with the diplomats had almost $20,000 on him, which he could not explain. </b>
The Times reported that the accusation against the two men was made after President Karzai of Afghanistan was told that duo were attempting to broker a deal with the Taliban behind his back.
Allegations about their activities in Helmand coincided with fiercely denied reports by Britain that MI6 agents have been in contact with the Taliban. Whitehall sources said there was nothing to suggest a link between the activities of MI6 in Afghanistan and the role of the two western diplomats.
Despite Government denials on Wednesday night, British papers have reported that Britain and other members of the international security force in Afghanistan are currently supporting President Hamid Karzai's attempts to "peel off" lower-ranking members of the Taliban who are not fully committed to the insurgency.
The Times says, <b>"MI6 is playing its part in meeting likely candidates, but its role, according to senior British Govt officials, is strictly in line with Kabul's strategy of reconciliation".</b>
The opposition Conservatives see the developments as sign of the 'increasingly confused messages emerging from No 10 Downing Street over the British approach to Afghanistan. <b>They are mounting pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to return to the Parliament and explain what discussions are taking place with Taliban fighters. </b>
The Conservatives said Britain should not be holding meetings with the Taliban while they were killing British troops.
Liam Fox, the shadow Defence Secretary, said, <b>"The whole strategy is disjointed. We need a single co-ordinator to ensure things are properly joined up between the military and politicians". </b>The Liberal Democrats said they were in favour of talking to the Taliban but also had concerns about Brown's overall approach.
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<b>Saudi Governor orders haircuts for men who hit on girls</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Several Saudi newspapers, including Al Hayat, say Prince Fahd bin Badr ordered police yesterday to carry out the punishment after seeing a group of men with long hair pestering female students as they left school in the town of Skaka.
Many clergymen in this conservative Gulf country say <b>men should not have long hair because Islam prohibits the sexes from emulating each other</b>.
Saudi Arabia has long enforced a strict Islamic lifestyle in which men and women are segregated in public.
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London: Premier British intelligence agency, MI6 chief, has been told that Saudi Arabia will permit Israel to fly over the kingdom to bomb Iranâs nuclear sites.
The MI6 chief discussed the issue in London with Mossad chief Meir Dagan and Saudi officials after British intelligence officers helped to uncover the plant, in the side of a mountain near the ancient city of Qom.
Both Tel Aviv and Riyadh see the site as a major threat. Details of the talks emerged after John Bolton, America's former UN ambassador, told a meeting of intelligence analysts that "Riyadh certainly approves" of Israel's use of Saudi airspace.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband acknowledged that the danger of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East was "particularly potent" and refused to rule out military action altogether, but he insisted: "We are 100 per cent focused on a diplomatic solution."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, US President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have warned Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that he must allow in weapons inspectors or face more sanctions.
The scene is set for a showdown next Thursday when Iranian officials meet representatives of the E3+3 group of Britain, France, Germany, the US, Russia and China in Geneva, The Daily Express reports.
Significantly, Russia, which has previously resisted pressure for sanctions, said it also found the latest disclosures disturbing.
British, US and French intelligence agencies detected the site near Qom three years ago.
Diplomatic sources said it could hold 3,000 centrifuges, capable of making enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb each year.
