FP morning brief 6/30

Moscow and Washington say spy arrests won't affect relations

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Top story: While Russian leaders initially reacted angrily to the U.S. arrest of 11 suspects on charges of spying for Russia, Moscow has now softened its tone with on foreign ministry official saying the arrests would "not negatively affect Russian-U.S. relations."

While Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with former U.S. President Bill Clinton that U.S. police had "got out of control," he too said that "the positive that has been accumulated in the recent time in our international relations will not suffer."

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that "I think we have made a new start to working together on things like the United Nations, dealing with North Korea and Iran... I do not think that this will affect those relations."

It's becoming clear that despite the elaborate nature of the spy ring, none of those arrested were in particularly sensitive positions and it appears unlikely that damaging information was gained. "The effort is out of proportion to the alleged benefits," said former CIA Moscow station chief Richard Stoltz. "I just don’t understand what they expected.”

Afghanistan: Gen. David Petraeus was confirmed by the senate as the new commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after an uneventful Senate hearing.

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Asia Maoist rebels killed 26 police officers in an ambush in Eastern India. Taliban gunmen launched a failed attack on a U.S. base in Eastern Afghanistan. Benigno Aquino was sworn in as the new president of the Philippines. Middle East Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with rival Ayad Allawi to attempt to resolve Iraq's political standoff. Israel is expanding the powers of the Gaza flotilla inquiry panel. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said there is no chance of a Palestinian state before 2012. Europe Germany votes for a new president today in an election seen as a test for Chancellor Angela Merkel's government. A subway strike in protest of the Spanish government's austerity measures has shut down Madrid. Greek police clashed with rioters at a union demonstration in Athens. Africa Burundi's main opposition leader has gone into hiding. The Democratic Republic of Congo marked 50 years of independence from Belgium. Congolese troops say they have killed 80 rebels who crossed over from Uganda and Rwanda. Americas A Colombian court has handed down the first sentences for convicted leaders of illegal right-wing militias. The U.S. has rejected accusations by former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya that it was behind the coup that ousted him. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit a sparsely populated area of Southern Mexico.   -By Joshua Keating

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