NPR News 2011-12-30 加文本

NPR News 2011-12-30

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.

The Obama administration has signed a deal to sell Saudi Arabia nearly 13 billion dollars in fighter jets. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports it's designed at least in part to send a signal to Iran now that US troops are out of Iraq.

The White House says the US is selling Saudi Arabia 84 advanced combat planes and modernizing another 70. It says the jets will be built by Boeing, and the deal will support more than 50,000 American jobs. Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro calls it a major boost for Saudi Arabia's security.

“This sale will send a strong message to countries in the region that the United States is committed to stability in the gulf and broader Middle East.”

Though Shapiro says this is not just aimed at Iran, the announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions with Tehran. Iran is threatening to close down a key oil supply route if the US goes ahead with tougher sanctions. US officials think Iran is feeling the pinch. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department.

Opposition demonstrators in Russia are planning more protests. From Moscow, Jessica Gallaher reports they planned a rally against the detention of a left-wing activist who is in frail health.

Thousands of people have signed up on the social media network Facebook to protest the jailing of Sergei Udaltsoc. He was arrested following a rally contesting the country's parliamentary elections on December 4th, but received an extended jail sentence last Sunday after thousands of protesters attended a mass rally against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and ruling party United Russia's win in the country's parliamentary elections. Prosecutors say the extended sentence was given to Udaltsoc because he failed to complete a sentence he received after attending another protest in October. Udaltsoc's supporters are demanding his release as they say he’s in frail health from a hunger strike. Demonstrators say Udaltsoc's sentence is too strict and are also protesting against other sentences that opposition leaders have received amid the mass protests. For NPR News, I'm Jessica Gallaher in Moscow.