Hated security service dismantled in Egypt

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/170324.html

The revolution in Egypt has claimed yet another victory as one of their key demands is met.

The newly appointed Minister of Interior, Mansour al-Asawi announced the creation of a brand new security agency,"National Unity Force" and the dissolution of the widely-hated "Amn El-Dowla" or State Security Investigative Agency.

Hisham Safie Eldin served under the Ministry of Interior for over 15 years and blames much of the past problems on a failed system, not the people in service.

Many people fear the remnants of the old security agency may try to sabotage the post-revolution development and growth. But Safie Eldin has confidence in the future.

Though the move to remove the old state security agency has been widely welcomed, some still remain cautious.

Ahmed Abdul Qawy of the Reform and Development Party plans to keep a close watch on the new agency to prevent it from becoming yet another repressive body.

After Mubarak stepped down on February 11, Egyptians forced their way into the headquarters of the state service in Cairo and other provincial offices and took documents that they say were being shredded or burned to conceal evidence of human rights violations.

Some of those documents have been shown on State TV and posted on the internet.

The former state security agency Amn El Dowla had a poor reputation amongst the population for various mistreatments and human rights abuses. The minister of interior says the new security agency will work in line with the constitution, law and human rights principals.

Russia launches $650bn military plan

A russian aircraft carrier

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166974.html

Russia is planning to spend $650 billion on renewing its military equipments, including helicopters, submarines and warships until 2020.

The plan includes the purchase of 100 warships, 8 nuclear submarines, 600 jets and 1,000 helicopters.

Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin says the plan would largely extend the number of modern equipments adding the main task is the modernization of the armed forces. However, Popovkin says Russia is not interested in purchasing any foreign weapons or military hardware.

With only 10 percent of its armed forces considered as “modern,” the Kremlin needs to upgrade its decrepit military by recruiting and training new troops as the country continues to rely on its antiquated equipments and is currently short of manpower. A drive to improve the forces is said to have already begun.

The new S-500 anti-missile system is supposed to back the country's missile defense in the near future. However, on the naval front Russia has failed to regain parity with the US as it has not spent on new aircraft carriers.

An independent military analyst Alexander Golts says “Much of Russia's focus appeared mistakenly aimed at keeping nuclear parity with the United States at a time when the greatest threats to the country's security were coming from North Korea and Central Asia.”

Russian generals sacked without reason

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166969.html

Russia has fired seven senior interior ministry generals without a clear explanation.

The deputy head of Moscow's interior ministry department and the interior ministry's inspector general are among the officials fired on Friday.

Moscow has vowed to track down on terrorism. However, it is not yet clear if the dismissals are in any way related to last month's bombing of Moscow's Domodedovo airport, which claimed the lives of 37 people.

Following the attack, President Dmitry Medvedev fired the head of interior ministry's transport administration for the Central Federal District, warning of further dismissals.

Medvedev's administration has recently witnessed mass protests against what people call Kremlin's stifling of democracy as well as corruption, and rising prices.