Beijing: China on Tuesday appealed for an
immediate ceasefire in Libya, saying diplomatic efforts should
stepped up to solve the crisis through dialogue instead of
military action.
"China does not agree with the use of force in
international affairs and holds that disputes should be solved
through dialogue and in peaceful ways," Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a media briefing.
China hopes the international community can make joint
efforts to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible so as to
avoid a more severe humanitarian crisis caused by an
escalation of the armed conflict, Jiang said.
Jiang also said the international community should
help solve the crisis in Libya through political and
diplomatic efforts.
China along with Russia, India and Brazil abstained
from voting on the UN Security Council resolution to enforce
no fly zone over Libya.
PTI
'Dam on Brahmaputra in Tibet won't affect water flow to India'
Bangladesh's SC adjourns hearing on Yunus appeal until April 4
Dhaka: Bangladesh Supreme Court on Tuesday
adjourned until April 4 hearing on an appeal of Nobel Laureate
Muhammad Yunus against his removal from the Grameen Bank,
while 'no progress' was reported on "compromise" negotiations
for an amicable settlement of the issue with the government.
Court officials said the Appellate Division of the
Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque
ordered the adjournment on the hearing until April 4.
The adjournment came immediately after the hearing
began when Yunus's lawyers said they were yet to get the
certified copy of the previous High Court order upholding the
earlier Bangladesh Bank letter firing him from his position as
the managing director of the pioneering micro lending agency.
The apex court earlier set today for hearing on
Yunus's appeal as senior government leaders said a negotiation
was underway for an amicable settlement of the issue amid a
growing international criticism against his unceremonious
dismissal from the pioneering microfinance bank that he
founded three decades ago.
Yunus's lawyer Tamin Husain Shawan told newsmen that
the petitioner's counsels sought more time to prepare his case
as he lost his initial legal battle in the High Court which
upheld the central bank decision to remove him for not
obtaining its approval during his 2000 appointment as the
executive of the special financial institution.
But the sources familiar with the "compromise" process
were yet to come up with any progress report on talks between
the government and the Grameen Bank.
"I can't tell you anything until now. No comment," a
highly placed source who was familiar with the process said.
Yunus three days ago told a foreign newspaper he was
"not a political threat to anyone" in Bangladesh and would
like to resolve issues "if any" with Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina as the negotiation process were launched.
"The real issue at stake is the right of the bank's
8.3 million borrowers to control their own financial future or
whether they will be forced to cede their control to outside
authorities," Yunus said.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith last week said the
government looked for ways for an amicable settlement of the
Yunus issue as he visibly rallied huge international support
behind him since his removal from Grameen Bank last month.
"A proposal for the compromise was offered at the very
beginning of the issue and we still looks for the
opportunity," Muhith said in a statement.
But an anti-Yunus campaign by a section of ruling
Awami League was underway despite the launch of the process
while the Daily Star newspaper quoting the party "insiders"
said the Awami League "party high command instructed a section
of its leaders, including some top-ranking ones, to conduct
the campaign."
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 29, 2011, 21:02