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| Iraq tells Iran to leave border Iraq demands the withdrawal of Iranian troops it says have crossed into Iraqi territory and taken control of an oil well. news.bbc.co.uk |
British citizen Akmal Shaikh executed in China China defends execution for drug smuggling, saying the evidence of mental illness was "insufficient", while Gordon Brown said he was "appalled and disappointed" that requests for clemency were not granted. telegraph.co.uk |
The real Robinson affair | Malachi O'Doherty The tale of Peter and Iris Robinson has turned from a domestic tragedy into a political crisis that may engulf the first ministerThe crisis created by Iris Robinson's affair started out as tragic and domestic; now it is political. When Peter Robinson was taking charge of the story, he directed us to his own woes: his wife's infidelity and his struggle to save his marriage. Northern Ireland's first minister presented himself as a noble and committed servant of the people who even went to work the morning after Iris had tried to take her life.Those who saw this as a strategic move – to pre-empt more serious disclosures in a BBC Spotlight programme – appear to have been vindicated. After his emotional outpouring on television, Robinson's political colleagues urged the media to back off. This call was supported by of state Shaun Woodward, the Northern Ireland secretary, and even Martin McGuinness, the deputy first minister.Under intense pressure to withdraw its programme, the BBC made a decision on yesterday Thursday afternoon to broadcast it immediately. And a story that, until then, had centred on sexual infidelity turned out to be about money and the abuse of power.The reporter Daragh McIntyre guided the audience through the astonishing disclosures – assisted by a former adviser to Iris Robinson who had kept all her text messages; and by Kirk McCambley, her lover. They alleged that the first minister's wife had solicited £50,000 from two property developers to help McCambley establish a restaurant. She had also advised him to apply for the lease to a property owned by the borough of Castlereagh, on which she sat as a councillor. After the relationship collapsed, Robinson demanded that McCambley repay the money, in part to herself and in part to a church, citing God's will in several text messages.Her former adviser, Selwyn Black, claimed that when Peter Robinson heard of the problem, he directed that the money be repaid to the property developers (one of whom has since died). The main allegation against Robinson is that he failed in a public duty then to report his wife's dealings. Some will say it is understandable that a man should protect his wife, but two other failings weigh strongly against Robinson in the affections of the public and his party.One is the amazing story that emerged from the press conference the day before the Spotlight programme, when he revealed that he had gone to work as normal on the morning after Iris had tried to kill herself. He seemed to think that this would be read as evidence of his commitment to public service. The public, however, appears to prefer men who stay with their wives when they are at death's door.The other failing – and the one that may finish him – is that he did not keep his party colleagues informed of the scandal gathering around them. On Thursday, before the Spotlight broadcast, several senior colleagues went on air pleading sympathy and understanding for Peter Robinson. Today they may be thinking that they would have held back their ardent pledges of support if they had known what was coming. In the run-up to a general election in which the party will defend nine seats, mostly against an alliance of Tories and Ulster Unionists, the political climate will be darkened by any investigations.Many might be thinking today that a leadership contest would be the lesser hurdle to surmount. While they reflect on that problem, the political crisis that threatens power-sharing itself – the question of when policing and justice powers can be devolved – is much less likely to be resolved. Sinn Féin says now. The DUP under Robinson has been procrastinating. Can he close a deal now even if he wants to? Not if it involves coaxing a party to act against its instincts when it is pondering the question of whether it can trust him.Northern IrelandNorthern Irish politicsMalachi O'Dohertyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Thousands mourn communist leader Tens of thousands attend the funeral of Indian communist leader Jyoti Basu in Calcutta. news.bbc.co.uk |
Survivors of Haiti's Earthquake in Urgent Need of Tents, Food UN also appealing to donors to convert pledges of money into cash www1.voanews.com |