news without borders 7 theSun | MONDAY NOVEMBER 2 2009 Abdullah quits Afghan run-off Victory for Netanyahu as US drops settlement demand housands in Taipei Thousands in Taipei march for gay marriage march for gay marriage TAIPEI: Thousands of people from Taiwan’s gay and lesbian commu- nity marched through the streets of Taipei on Saturday to demand recognition of same-sex marriage and equal rights, organisers said. The island’s seventh annual Gay Pride Parade, with an estimated turnout of 25,000, also attracted supporters from neighbouring Hongkong, Japan and Southeast Asian countries, they said. “We urge the government to better protect gay human rights including same-sex unions, so we can have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples,” chief organ- iser Tung Chu-chu said. Rainbow flags, balloons and placards were in abundance as participant s gathered in a square outside the presidential office, with dress varying from period costumes to swimming trunks. “I hope the government will not only legalise same-sex unions but also allow us to adopt children,” said Nancy Chen, who pushed a stroller to highlight her call. But Chen admitted that “it would take a few more years” for the general public to accept the idea before the legislation process can begin. “Even though Taiwan is becom- ing more open-minded towards gays, many still think that gay people can have romantic relation- ships but not something as serious as starting families,” she said. Taiwan’s cabinet in 2003 drafted a controversial bill to legalise same- sex marriages and recognise the rights of homosexual couples to adopt children, the first in Asia to do so. However, the law has yet to be passed and some gay groups have criticised the bill as a ploy to woo voters. Some marchers, meanwhile, said they were here to enjoy the carnival mood and festivities. “I think Taiwan is more liberal. The parade here is much more in- teresting and colourful,” said John Lee from Hongkong as he posed for pictures in a ball gown. – AFP JERUSALEM: Israel’s premier savoured a victory on yesterday after Washington hailed his “unprecedented” position on settle- ments and backed his call for peace talks to resume without the construction freeze sought by the Palestinians. “There is no question that the US are our staunchest friends and that Israel’s firm stance on its positions pays off,” Deputy For- eign Minister Danny Ayalon told public radio in a satisfied tone echoed by other officials. The Israelis had reason to be satisfied. In a joint press conference, unusually before talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed for negotiations to be restarted as soon as possible, despite the Palestinian insistence – which Washing ton backed only a few months ago – that Israel first put a stop to all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. Israeli analysts said the change of tone came after Washington realised that its main ally would just not give in. But the Palestinians warned the change in focus was bound to doom Washington’s wider goal of getting a peace agreement to end their decades-old conflict. “Israel should not be given any excuse to continue building settlements ,” Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said. “This is the main obstacle in the way of peace.” Clinton’s comments marked “a huge disappointment for the Palestinians with respect to the Obama administration”, said Ziad Abu Zayyad, co-editor of the Palestine-Is- rael Journal and a former Palestinian minister and legislator. “The Obama administration has proven once again that it is no different from previous administrations, because it will support whatever Israel accepts.” – AFP KABUL: Opposition candidate Abdullah Abdullah yesterday pulled out of Afghanistan’s run-off election, plunging the war-torn country into fresh political turmoil less than a week before the scheduled contest. After President Hamid Karzai snubbed a series of demands pro- moted as a bi d to avoid a repeat of massive first-round fraud, Abdullah said he saw no point in standing in the second round, while stopping short of calling for a boycott. But Karzai’s camp insisted the contest should still go ahead, with analysts saying a one-horse race could still take place on Nov 7 even if turnout is likely to be well below the 38% recorded last time. “The decision which I am going to announce was not an easy one. It was a decision that I have taken after wide-ranging consultations, with the people of Afghanistan, my supporters and influential leaders,” Abdullah told supporters. “In protest against the misconduct of the government and the Independ- ent Election Commission (IEC), I will not participate in the election,” he added in an address in Kabul. During his lengthy speech, the former foreign minister launched a scathing attack on Karzai’s eight-year rule, dimming prospects that the two rivals could yet agree on some form of power-sharing agreement. “We have had eight years of lost oppor- tunities because of the weakness of the government,” he said to applause from around 2,000 supporters. Following the widespread fraud in the first round on Aug 20, Abdul- lah demanded that Karzai sack the head of the IEC, Azizullah Ludin, and suspend four ministers who campaigned for the incumbent. Abdullah’s camp set a deadline of Saturday for Karzai to bow to his demands, saying he would not take part in a contest that will not be free and fair. But his demands received short shrift, with the IEC saying Ludin can only be dismissed by the supreme court while Karzai said Abdullah has no right to interfere in ministerial positions. Abdullah said he had no faith in the prospect of a free and fair elec- tion next Saturday while the head of the commission, who was appointed by Karzai, remained in place. After the announcement, Karzai’s chief campaign spokesman said the run-off should still take place. Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir predicted the election would still take place in line with the Afghan constituti on but said Karzai ran the risk of losing his legitimacy. – AFP