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Clinton: Iran Heading Toward Military Dictatorship

   U.S.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington believes Iran
   is  becoming  a  military  dictatorship,  with the Revolutionary Guard
   supplanting the government.

     15 February 2010
   U.  S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, seen during a press,
   after  holding talks with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar
   Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, in Doha the capital of the
   State of Qatar, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.

Photo: AP

   U.  S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, seen during a press,
   after  holding talks with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar
   Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, in Doha the capital of the
   State of Qatar, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.

   U.S.  Secretary  of  State  Hillary  Clinton  says  the  United States
   believes Iran is becoming a military dictatorship.
   Speaking  in  front  of  students in Qatar Monday, Clinton said Iran's
   elite   military  force,  the  Revolutionary  Guard,  is  "in  effect,
   supplanting the government."
   Clinton's  comments  come  as  she  tours  the  Gulf region to promote
   efforts to increase pressure against Iran for its nuclear program.
   On her next stop in Saudi Arabia she meets with Saudi King Abdullah as
   well  as  Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal to rally Arab support
   for new sanctions on Iran.
   On  Sunday  at  the  U.S.-Islamic  World  Forum  in Doha, Clinton said
   Washington  wants  a peaceful solution to the nuclear controversy with
   Iran,  but will not engage the Iranians while they are "building their
   bomb."
   Clinton said Iran leaves the international community little choice but
   to impose greater costs for its "provocative steps."
   The  United  States  has  been  pressing  the U.N. Security Council to
   impose  a  fourth  set of sanctions on Iran, which has refused to stop
   enriching uranium.

   Uranium  enrichment  is  a  process  that  can be used to make nuclear
   weapons.  Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.
   Clinton  also  spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks Monday,
   saying  she  is  hopeful  "serious negotiations" between the two sides
   will begin this year.
   In   a   speech   Sunday   in   Qatar,   Clinton  stressed  the  Obama
   administration's   commitment   to   a   two-state   solution  to  the
   Israeli-Palestinian  conflict.  She also acknowledged frustration over
   the  lack  of  progress  with efforts by U.S. envoy George Mitchell to
   restart negotiations.

   Saudi  King  Abdullah  was the key sponsor of a 2003 Arab League peace
   initiative  that  gives  Israel  full  relations  with  Arab states in
   exchange for progress made with the Palestinians.

   Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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