(Reuters) – Israel and the United States are in discussion on setting a “red line” for Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“We’re discussing it right now with the United States,” Netanyahu said in an interview with Canada’s CBC television aired late on Sunday.

In the interview, two days after Canada suspended diplomatic relations with Tehran over its nuclear project, Netanyahu again signaled that a clear boundary – which he has yet to define publicly – could obviate the need for military action.

Netanyahu’s recent calls for world powers to set a “clear red line” that would show they were determined to stop Tehran’s nuclear drive has suggested a growing impatience with the United States, Israel’s main ally.

Washington, which has resisted the idea of laying down red lines for Iran in the past, has been pressing the Israeli leader to give diplomacy and sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic more time to work to rein in Iran’s nuclear work peacefully.

Recent heightened Israeli rhetoric has stoked speculation that Israel might attack Iran before the U.S. elections in November, believing that President Barack Obama would give it military help and not risk alienating pro-Israeli voters.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made comments, interpreted by Israeli media as rejecting Netanyahu’s call for a red line, that drew admonishment from a senior Israeli government official.

In an interview with Bloomberg Radio, Clinton was asked about Netanyahu’s demand that a red line be set and also whether she thought a time limit should be put on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

Clinton responded only to the second part of the question, saying, “We’re not setting deadlines.”

Israeli media seized on those comments as a rejection of Netanyahu’s red-line demand, which she did not mention in her answer.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Without a clear red line, Iran will not cease its race towards a nuclear weapon. These statements will not stop Iran’s centrifuges from spinning.”

“Unfortunately the opposite could well be true. These statements won’t serve to deter Iran but could well put it at ease,” the official said.

DIFFERENCES IN ISRAELI LEADERSHIP

But Netanyahu has faced opposition to any go-it-alone attack from Israeli security chiefs and its popular president, Shimon Peres. Opinion polls show a majority of Israelis do not want their military to strike Iran without U.S. support.

“I don’t think that they (Iran) see a clear red line, and I think the sooner we establish one, the greater the chances that there won’t be a need for other types of action,” Netanyahu said, appearing to refer to military steps.

“If Iran saw that, there’s a chance, I won’t say it’s guaranteed, but there’s a chance they might pause before they cross that line.”

Israel and the West believe Iran is working toward nuclear weapon development capability. Israel, widely thought to be the Middle East’s only atomic power, says a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to its existence. The Islamic Republic says its nuclear work is for peaceful energy purposes only.

A senior Israeli government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said talks were being held with “the American administration,” as to the red lines. He declined to elaborate.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Monday Netanyahu had told German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle that if Iran enriched uranium above 20 percent, that would provide a red line as it would prove Tehran had chosen to exceed the level of refinement suitable for civilian energy and “break out” with an atom bomb.

Enrichment to 90 percent fissile purity is the typical threshold for weapons-grade nuclear fuel. Haaretz said Netanyahu stressed that from the moment Iran decided to make a nuclear bomb, it would need only six weeks to enrich to 90 percent.

Many independent analysts say, however, that Iran would need additional time – from several months to a year or more – to fashion weapons-grade material into a nuclear warhead and fit onto a missile capable of delivering the payload.

Netanyahu, who met Westerwelle on Sunday in Jerusalem, is scheduled to travel to the New York and address the U.N. General assembly about Iran later this month.

A meeting with Obama, who is deep in his re-election campaign and due to speak to the forum two days before Netanyahu arrives, has not been finalized, the Israeli official said.

(Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Michael Roddy)

Fort Pierce, Florida (CNN) – President Barack Obama got a warm embrace on Sunday – one that lifted him about a foot off the ground.

While campaigning in Fort Pierce, Florida, the president stopped into Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Restaurant, where about 10 customers were gathered inside, and greeted the shop’s owner, Scott Van Duzer.

“Scott, what’s going on man,” the president said as he walked in. “Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I’ve ever seen.”

Van Duzer, 46, stands 6-foot-3, weighs 260 pounds and says he can bench press 350 pounds, according to a pool reporter who was at the restaurant.

“Everybody look at these guns,” Obama said, pointing to Van Duzer’s chest. “If I eat your pizza will I look like that?”

Laughing, Van Duzer hugged the president, arched his back and hoisted him off his feet.

“Look at that!” Obama said after he was back on the ground. “Man are you a powerlifter or what?”

Talking to reporters afterward, Van Duzer said he didn’t know the president was coming to his restaurant until about 40 minutes beforehand. The Florida business owner rushed from the driving range to get there in time.

Describing himself as “a big political person,” Van Duzer said he was “just overcome with excitement” and lifted the president. Van Duzer said he was a registered Republican who voted for Obama in 2008 and plans to cast his ballot again for the president in November.

Asked if he was concerned about a Secret Service reaction to the hug, Van Duzer said he was informed that “I was all right as long as I didn’t take him away.”

The president said he wanted to stop by the shop and express appreciation to Van Duzer for leading community efforts that encourage blood donation.

“I still wonder how he got these biceps, but what we know is that the guy’s just got a big heart along with big pecs,” Obama said. “So we’re very proud of him and we just want to say thank you for all the great work.”

The president wasn’t the only Obama to receive a big boost recently. A female Olympic wrestler picked up his wife, Michelle, while the first lady was in London to watch the opening ceremony and lead the presidential delegation.

“Even before she made the rounds I thought I can’t just hug her like everybody else,” the wrestler, Elena Pirozhkova, said. “I think she was nervous. I went slow. I just picked her up. I wanted to ask her permission. There was security all around. And she gave it. I will only meet her once. I wanted to do something different.”

–

– CNN’s Ashley Killough contributed to this report.

The recent discovery by a Civil Society group that the Interior Minister in Jonathan’s cabinet, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro has engaged himself in another arms smuggling deal is generating serious tension amongst Nigerians and the international community on the sincerity of President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the present security challenge occasioned by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

The revelation which took the prying eyes of the National Anti-Terrorism and Peace Network to unravel through the office of the National Security Adviser to uncover is connected with a large cache of arms and ammunitions imported into the country by the Federal Government to empower the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS) tactically in protecting Nigerians from subsequent attacks by Boko Haram and other elements in the country.

This recent investigation might not be far from the earlier acceptance by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the wake of public outcry against incessant attacks on ordinary citizens and properties worth millions of naira that members of the sect have infiltrated his administration and some even live in the State House with him. President Jonathan had in a public event addressed Nigerians and the rest of the world early this year that members of the religious sect now exist in his cabinet which makes several attempts to halt their evil activities against the state very difficult to combat.

According to a letter written to the United States Government and other international agencies by the Coalition, and made available to elombah.co, the National Security Adviser had advised Mr. President to demand the immediate resignation of Comrade Patrick Abba Moro who came on board with a huge moral burden bordering on his ongoing trial before an Abuja Magistrate Court on gun running. Our sources informed us that Comrade Patrick Abba Moro while serving as Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area between 1999 and 2007 was caught at Abuja with a short service pistol without any permission or presidential directive to bear arms and was subsequently arraigned before a court of law.

A copy of the internal security report with the National Security Adviser with subject titled, “Error in Ministerial Clearance by D. S. S,” shows that the Department of State Security Service has knowingly or unknowingly cleared Comrade Patrick Abba Moro prior to his nomination as Minister designate by Mr. President.

On assumption of office in 2011, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed some Nigerians to serve as Ministers amongst whom was one Comrade Patrick Abba Moro. At this point the Nigerian Civil Society drew the attention of the Senate to a pending case of illegal possession of firearms otherwise referred to as gun running against the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, a nominee of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the position of Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Senate confirmed the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro without recourse to the moral burden and his ongoing trial at an Abuja Magistrate Court on an offence against the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The group said they are greatly alarmed that “despite the public criticism that accompanied Mr. President’s deployment of this controversial character to the Ministry of Interior especially at a time of high scale coordinated terrorist attacks against the people of Nigeria  and even foreigners who visit the country for other relationships, the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro still remains in office to perpetuate nefarious activities like arms dealing, recruitment of miscreants into strategic internal security organizations and continuous misdirection to the entire administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a whole.”

“We are imploring the government of  President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to as a matter of urgent national concern cause full investigation of the activities of the Interior Minister viz:

“The recent disappearance of a large cache of fire arms imported into Nigeria for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) alleged to have been confiscated by the said Comrade Patrick Abba Moro as Minister of Interior. Our sources within informed us that Moro’s response to this grievous criminal offence was that he has the powers as Minister to personally retain some arms on behalf of the Federal Government but this he has done in order to arm another set of youths in north central Nigeria in preparations for the 2015 general elections. This is not only a security threat to the nation but the International Community at large considering the volatile nature of north central Nigeria and its poverty margin which has in turn made the youths very vulnerable to deception and selfish antics of disgruntled politicians in the country.

“The government of the United States and the United Nations should also know the rationale behind the sack of General Andrew Azzazi and Dr. Bello Haliru as National Security Adviser and Minister of Defense respectively leaving behind Comrade Patrick Abba Moro who is in charge of Prisons, Immigrations and Civil Defense Corps to propagate his clueless and directionless policies while innocent citizens are being cut down in their prime on daily basis. This is time for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to act fast and not to stamp the impression that he has conceded certain parts of his administration to political elements in settlement for his last victory.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan we are aware has been advised by his National Security Adviser after a detailed checks at the Chief Magistrate Court Registrar’s office and office of the Attorney General of the Federation to quietly relieve Comrade Patrick Abba Moro of his position to strengthen government’s strategies on the war against terrorism, corruption and in furtherance of the rule of law principle. Attached is a copy of an internal communication between the National Security Adviser and the Intelligent Operations on 24th day of April, 2012 showing details of their investigation on the above subject matter for your kind perusal.

“The common people of Nigeria are still in shock that despite these chilling revelations from Mr. President’s inner security agent the Federal Government has continued to look the other way round while lives and properties are being lost on a daily basis. This is the time for Mr. President to act in order to convince Nigerians that the present crisis is not being sponsored by the government against the citizenry.”

President Good luck Jonathan says he is ready to pay any price for Nigeria to turn around the fortunes of its people.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the catholic Bishop’s conference in Umuahia.

Represented by the minister of labor and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu the president said it is his intention to leave indelible marks for posterity to judge and assured that the administration will continue to uphold truth, justice and the rule of law.

He said that government has put in place programmes to create jobs for the youths,adding that the security situation in the country is being addressed while institutions have been put in place to fight corruption.

According to him, the president has begun a transformation agenda that will take Nigeria to greater heights.

President Jonathan urged the conference to adopt prayer points that will ensure peace and national development.

In his speech, Governor Theodore Orji said that his administration partners with the church and explained that Abia was chosen for the conference because of the conducive atmosphere in the state due to security.

He said that what the country is passing through at the moment is a period of metamorphoses and said that it is the country’s will power to overcome that matters.

The governor who said that leaders were expected to lead by example congratulated the bishops and

The governors of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha and his Anambra state counterpart, Peter Obi commended the heads of churches for managing situations and decried the way things were going in the country.

In his speech, the president, catholic bishops conference of Nigeria, most Revd. Ignatius Kaigama reiterated his call on the federal government to address insecurity in the country by adopting best practices and urged the Catholic Church to be actively involved in evangelism.

He said that the family is a crucial place in spreading the gospel rather than leaving it for the clergy alone.

The host bishop, Lucius Ugorji of Umuahia Diocese while preaching the homily at the mass earlier decried moral decadence in society and the emphasis on the use of artificial contraceptives for family planning.

He also called for a total restructuring of the education system and the return of schools to the mission by governments that are yet to do so.

The papal Nuncio in Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja is among those attending the weeklong conference at the end of which the bishops are expected to issue a communiqué making known their position.

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Transparency in Governance has thrown its weight behind the trio of Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese, founders of Newswatch magazine to reclaim the management of their media outfit from Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim who is now on a collision course with both management and staff of the organization.

The National President of the group, Comrade Ibrahim Alih who spoke to newsmen on the recent crisis facing the takeover of the magazine by billionaire businessman, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim lamented that Nigerians and particularly lovers of objective journalism like what Newswatch Magazine represents are worried that Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim has recently constituted himself to an undertaker that sees useful ventures to their graveyards.

Comrade Ibrahim Alih described the forceful seizure of the company by Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim who went in as a core investor from the founders that are reputable journalists known everywhere in the world for their integrity and objectivity in the profession as an extension of Jimoh’s business empire to the public sector even after acquiring Nigeria’s properties through controversial means from the Federal Government.

He further called on Nigerians and the International Community to stand behind Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese in prayers and goodwill to their journey to reclaim their hard earned outfit for a businessman who has become known for his penchant for ill wealth.

“Nigerians must rise up in prayers at this critical moment for the founders of Nigeria’s most popular Newspaper and mouthpiece of democracy, ‘Newswatch Magazine’ as a core investor, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim is using dubious means to take away the company from its original owners through legal technicalities”

“The trio of Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese must have fallen cheap for the antics of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim who is known for illegal acquisition of very lucrative ventures belonging to individuals and government using legal jargons and technicalities, we must rise up as lovers of objective journalism being practiced by these exceptional Nigerians to ensure that no man is allowed to kill the vision and mission which Newswatch Magazine has brought to bear everywhere in the world

“Every available record in the Court of public opinion has shown how these elements who astronomically have acquired such ventures in the past as nothing to write hom about and any attempt to subject the true owners of this property to unnecessary psychological trauma would be rebuffed by the Nigerian Civil Society”.

“The people of Nigeria are calling on Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim to have a rethink and stop this shameful dance with these harmless patriots who have sacrificed all their lifetime to the service of nation and humanity,” he also added.

By News Express,

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has vowed to demolish the recently erected statue of late Ezeigbo Gburugburu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, if urgent action is not taken by government to clear the vicinity of criminals and traders and to complete the road named after the late statesman.

“If Ojukwu Gateway & Statue continue to wear an eyesore and a disrespectful look in weeks to come, we shall have no other option than to remove the sacred statue and detach the name from the area renamed,” MASSOB, which was inspired by the late Ojukwu, threatened this evening.

The threat is contained in a joint statement issued in Onitsha, where the Ojukwu Gateway and Statue are located, by MASSOB, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Human Rights Club of LRRDC-HRC and Human Rights Development International (HRDI).

Entitled “Ojukwu Gateway& Statue In Onitsha Abandoned & Converted To Sodom & Gomorrah”, the statement was signed by Comrade Uchenna Mmadu, National Director of Information, MASSOB; Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Intersociety Nigeria; Comrade Aloysius Attah, Chairman, CLO, Anambra State Branch; Comrade Samuel Njoku, Coordinator, HRC of LRRDC, Anambra State Branch; and Comrade Peter Onyegiri, Zonal Coordinator, HRDI, Southeast Nigeria.

“While condemning the present eyesore status of the Ojukwu Gateway,” the activists called “on the Government of Anambra State to as a matter of uttermost urgency and importance, address the problems enumerated above or remove the Ikemba’s statue from the site and return the area renamed to the status quo ante bellum if the State Government lacks the capacity of competence and urgency.”

Continuing, the statement said: “Any project in Ikemba’s name and honour should defy any form of delay including excuses of rainy season. Besides, the mobilisation stage of road reconstruction involving clearing of unwanted soil/sand, removal of obstruction objects such as shanties, kiosks and bricks, and construction/reconstruction of drainages, usually done at the heat of rainy season, have not been done and completed in this respect, not to talk of the reconstruction proper. From our detailed findings, the Government of Anambra State should swiftly ask for the immediate removal of the Federal Controller of Works for Anambra State as well as the site manager of the firm handling the reconstruction work; the CCC Nig. Ltd., Eng. Chamy. Our joint call for their immediate removal is premised on suspected conflict of interest, sabotage, selfishness and corruption.

“If funds are responsible for putting the work at the lowest pace, the Government of Anambra State should provide enough funds immediately and seek for refund from the Federal Government later; if security is the problem, the State Security Council should post adequate security personnel to the site to be aided with human rights kits; if relocation of those trading and transporting in the area is the problem, the State Government should fully, forcefully but humanely carry out the relocation exercise and ensure that such exercise is environmentally and commercially friendly; and if the construction firm is the problem, the State Government should issue an ultimatum to the firm and in consultation with the President, revoke the contract and reward it to a more competent firm in the event of continuing slowest pace.

“We further call on the Government of Anambra State to clear the entire Niger Bridgehead-Ojukwu Gateway of hoodlums including motley of government revenue agents, both fake and authentic. As a matter of fact, the ASTA office under the Bridge should be closed down permanently and the entire place ridden of thuggish IGR agents, Motor Park touts, Okada and vehicle riders/drivers’ permits and emblems’ revenue collectors, etc. The Ojukwu Gateway should be adorned with a befitting roundabout and a recreation facility. It should also be magnificently flowered, lightened and kept clean at all times. It should as well be declared a freedom square for free speeches with immunity from arrest and trial. The sanitization exercise should be extended to Lagos and Aba Parks at Onitsha Upper Iweka where fake and serving police personnel from Okpoko Police Station in Ogbaru LGA, who usually go in mufti, as well as touts and criminals are causing havoc by terrorizing the innocent passers-by on daily basis with impunity. The despicable attitude of the iron traders at Uga Junction/Atani Road, who heap tons of rods on the edges of the newly constructed gutters of the Atani-Ogwuikpere Federal Road, built by the present Government of Anambra State, should also be checkmated as a matter of uttermost immediacy.

“On the issue of police brigandage, we call on the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ballah Nasarrawa, to ensure that no illegal roadblocks and extortionist activities are carried out anymore by police personnel working under the trio of the Onitsha AC, the DPO of the Onitsha CPS and the DPO of the Fegge Police Station. We also call on the CP to declare the DPO of the Fegge Police Station, Mr. Roland Omotoje a disaster and unfit to continue to serve in Anambra State. The reported criminal activities of the DPO including mass arrest and serial extortion of the Okada operators in Fegge usually from 6.30pm, has risen to an apogee. Those who refused to pay huge bribes or could not afford them are ordered by the DPO to be charged to magistrate court with spurious felonious charges, from where they are dumped in awaiting trial prison custody.”

News Express recalls that Ojukwu Gateway and Statue, located close to the famous Niger Bridge, were commissioned amid fanfare by President Goodluck Jonathan during his August 30 visit to Anambra State.