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West Asia environmental issues 

Iran has blamed the origin of dust and sand storms in West Asia on foreign wars, saying extra-regional powers seek their own goals without paying attention to important issues, including the environment. Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Deputy UN Secretary General, Alis Jabana. He said climate change is also behind the occurrences of dust storms. Jabana who is also the executive secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP, was in Tehran to attend a two-day international conference on combating sand and dust storms. The top Iranian diplomat expressed readiness to expand cooperation with ESCAP in combating natural disasters. Jabana, for her part, praised the Iranian president for his presence at the conference, saying it was a proof of Iran’s concern for the environment.

US illegal presence in Syria 

Damascus says Washington, along with US-backed terrorist organizations and militia, continues to plunder Syria’s wealth and strategic resources. Syria has demanded the US government be held accountable and compensate for that. The Syrian government has also called on the US to end the illegal presence of American forces on Syrian soil and return to Damascus the land it has occupied and the oil and gas it has looted. Syria has condemned Washington’s looting of its riches as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. Damascus also sent a letter to the UN chief, asking the world body to take action to end the United States’ aggressive practices and breaches of international law and the UN Charter.

Gabon coup aftermath 

Moving to Gabon now, where a transitional government has been put in place following last month’s coup. The interim prime minister says a two-year transition to free elections is a reasonable objective. Raymond Ndong Sima said the transitional government is willing to see elections being held after 24 months. He was appointed last week by coup leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, who has declared himself president for the transition period. The coup toppled President Ali Bongo. The military takeover occurred after Bongo was declared the winner of the country's presidential election. Army officers seized power and annulled the election, with both the army and opposition calling the vote fraudulent. Bongo had been in power since 2009. He had succeeded his father, who ruled for over four decades in the Central African country. 

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