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Al Jazeera correspondent speaks out on journalists’ trial
Members of the press gathered outside a heavily guarded Cairo courthouse Thursday as three al Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt appeared in court for the first time since their arrest.
Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy, and Baher Mohammed were brought before a judge in a cage. While the court was in recess, they shouted messages to other journalists to pass on to their families.
The three men were detained more than 50 days ago.
The Egyptian government accuses them of joining or aiding a terrorist organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, which they have categorized as such.
Journalists around the world have staged protests demanding their release.
All three have pled not guilty to the charges against them.
A number of other al Jazeera staff not present in the court today were also charged by the Egyptian authorities.
One of them is Sue Turton, a reporter for the network. Click above to watch Turton speak with CNN’s Hala Gorani, in for Christiane Amanpour.
Ukraine: A crisis with a human face
A closer look at Ukraine reveals a crisis with a very human face; Hala Gorani looks at some of the most haunting photos.
Click above to watch.
Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych may be open to early elections, says U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt
By Mick Krever, CNN
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych may be opening to the idea of early presidential elections, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told CNN’s Hala Gorani, in for Christiane Amanpour, on Thursday.
“There’s a lot of discussion this evening about early elections, and I understand that there were some suggestions made by Yanukovych to the three visiting European foreign ministers who were here,” Pyatt said on the phone from Kiev, referring to the visit of the French, German, and Polish foreign ministers to the Ukrainian capital.
The next elections are currently scheduled for 2015. Yanukovych would be reversing position were he to support early elections.
U.S. Ambassador urges calm in Ukraine
Geoffrey Pyatt, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, speaks with CNN's Hala Gorani, sitting in for Christiane Amanpour.
Pyatt said that the U.S. does not believe that Yanukovych should step down, as the opposition wants, but did say that a new government should be formed.
“Our position is the President Yankukovych needs to lead his country into a new future, and he needs to do so through the vehicle of a new government, change to the constitution and the political order.”
More than 100 people died in the fighting Thursday, protest medical officials said. The government didn't release its own figures.
Ukraine: cessation of violence, not ‘judging,’ needed
By Mick Krever, CNN
Reacting to Western sanctions on Ukrainians responsible for the deadly recent violence, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N. Yuriy Sergeyev said that the most important thing is not “judging what is going on” but “to stop the violence.”
The European Union said it would freeze the assets of Ukrainians deemed responsible for the violence, with the United States adding that it was rushing to impose sanctions of its own.
Sergeyev, speaking with CNN’s Hala Gorani, in for Christiane Amanpour, expressed his “deepest condolences” for the friends and families of those killed in what he called “atrocities.”
“The only way out of this crisis [is] to put all the parties involved to the negotiation table.”
“The violence should be stopped. And what is needed [is] the wisdom and responsibility from all the sides.”
Click above to watch Sergeyev’s full interview with Gorani.
Ukraine Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara tells CNN government implemented ‘almost all’ opposition demands
By Mick Krever, CNN
The Ukrainian government has implemented “almost all” of the opposition demands, but the opposition is refusing to cooperate, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara told CNN on Wednesday.
“We are ready to discuss the constitutional reform,” Kozhara told CNN’s Hala Gorani, sitting in for Christiane Amanpour, on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, it looks like the opposition doesn’t want to share their part of the responsibility with the Ukrainian government.”
Protesters stoked fires along barricade lines as night fell Wednesday over Kiev's Maidan, or Independence Square, a day after 26 people died in violent clashes that have drawn reproach from Western leaders.
Kozhara, speaking from Kiev, called Tuesday’s events “very unfortunate.”
“In the last weeks, police actually stood still, and not responding to offensive actions from the radical groups, which are today many in Kiev.”
American Ambassador defends U.S. role in Ukraine
By Mick Krever, CNN
With the worst violence in weeks raging in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt defended America’s role in the country.
“We are friends of Ukraine,” Pyatt told CNN’s Hala Gorani, sitting in for Christiane Amanpour. “We want to see a Ukraine that is stable and democratic and economically successful.”
“The United States wants to see the politics off the street, back in Ukraine’s democratic institutions.”
At least nine people died in clashes on Tuesday, including both civilians and police officers. Protestors set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Party of the Regions.
“We are appalled by the violence that’s unfolding. It’s been a terrible day in Ukraine’s history,” Pyatt said. “We are hoping that the government and the opposition will take immediate steps to de-escalate.”
Viktor Yushchenko: Ukraine opposition does not control streets
By Mick Krever, CNN
The Ukrainian opposition does not control the street protests that have raged for months in the country’s capital, Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday.
“I don’t think that the political opposition of Ukraine has the control of the entire situation on Maidan,” or Independence Square, Yushchenko said through a translator.
The opposition, he said, has not provided a “comprehensive pact” that would satisfy the demands of the protestors.
The opposition is concerned with “the fight for power,” but less with “the strategic course of the country.”
‘Civilized future’ of Ukraine at stake, says acclaimed Ukrainian writer
By Mick Krever, CNN
After months of protests, the very “civilized” future of Ukraine is at stake, acclaimed Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov told CNN’s Hala Gorani, sitting in for Christiane Amanpour, on Wednesday.
“There are lots of things at stake,” he said from Kiev. “The European, or the civilized, future of Ukraine; but most of all, actually, is the question of rule of law.”
“For 23 years there was no rule of law in the country, nobody was respecting the laws, and actually the laws were used to punish the enemies.”
President Yanukovych, in power since 2010, is using those same tactics to punish his enemies, Kurkov said.
There is no sign that protestors, hunkered down since November in far-below-freezing temperatures, are ready to quit.
Ukraine under siege
As protests continue in Ukraine, CNN's Christiane Amanpour speaks to opposition MP Lesya Orobets about negotiations with the government.
EU getting ‘profoundly mixed messages’ from Ukrainian Pres. Yanukovych, says Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt
By Mick Krever, CNN
The European Union is getting “profoundly mixed messages” from the Ukrainian government about whether it will sign a free trade deal, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Monday.
“We have a deal with President Yanukovych; we negotiated for several years…and it’s ready for signature,” he said. “But there seems to be a profound policy muddle in Kiev.”
President Viktor Yanukovych, Bildt said, is saying one thing one day and something else the next.
“From our point of view, the policy is clear,” he said. “If they want to sign, we will sign. We can do it tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, three days from now.”
It’s been nearly a month since Yanukovych ditched the free trade deal; since then, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have protested the decision, pushing for closer integration with Europe.
“They are evidently under very severe pressure, primarily from Russia,” Bildt said, referring to Ukrainian leaders. “That, I think, is the underlying reason for what we are now seeing.”
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