Dozens of civilians killed in Darfur
By Alaa Shahine
KHARTOUM - Gunmen on horseback attacked a truck carrying medicine and aid in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region and killed around 30 civilians on board, some of whom were burned alive, the United Nations said today. The African Union had earlier put the death toll at 22 and said 10 others were wounded on Sunday when gunmen attacked the vehicle near Sirba, 45 km north of El Geneina, capital of West Darfur state and close to the Sudan-Chad border. "The gunmen were riding on horseback. The exact number of civilian casualties is not yet established but it is estimated that around 30 people were killed," UN spokeswoman said. New Zealand Herald (12/11)
Fiji's ousted PM faces arrest
Fiji's deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase is warned not to returns to capital Suva, otherwise to be facing arrest. The military's Land Force Commander, Col Pita Driti, said that the army will not accept his presence in Suva, according to Monday 's report from Fijilive, a local news service. Qarase has been telling the media from his village in the Lau Group that he will return to Suva this week and finish his business. He is reportedly trying to hold talks with the military commander, Commodore Bainimarama, to restore democracy. But Col Driti said Qarase should face reality and concede defeat. People's Daily Online/Xinhua (China) (12/11)
Morocco opened 'new vistas' in consolidation of human rights, Canadian Gov. General
Rabat, Dec. 10 - Visiting Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean affirmed, here Sunday, that Morocco has "opened up new vistas" in the consolidation of human rights. Speaking at press conference after she met with Moroccan female leaders, the Canadian official stressed that "Morocco has opened up new vistas in terms of human rights, good governance and the promotion of the women's rights." At the end of this meeting on the "Concerns of the Women's Rights in Morocco," Michaëlle Jean also lauded what she called a "promising and positive" social policy adopted in Morocco. The official, who arrived Saturday to Rabat on a working and friendship visit to Morocco, told the press she noticed a certain cohesion between these female leaders and the Moroccan authorities, asserting "such a cohesion would make it easy for Morocco to achieve significant breakthroughs in the social and political fields." Maghreb Arab Presse (Morocco) (12/11)
Myanmar steps up pressure against aid agencies: Crisis Group
Agence France-Presse
Yangon- Myanmar is hampering humanitarian efforts by tightening restrictions on international aid agencies, further putting at risk the country's impoverished population, the International Crisis Group said. The military-run nation is becoming increasingly aggressive and intrusive towards global aid agencies in a bid to control their activities, the independent organisation said in a report released on Friday. Apart from the junta's pressure, overseas pro-democracy groups were also stepping up efforts to restrict and micro-manage humanitarian aid flows, it said. Hindustan Times (India) (12/11)
Iran has no preconditions for helping Iraq
Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here on Sunday that Iran has no preconditions for helping the Iraqi government. Hosseini told his weekly press briefing that the presence of foreign troops is the most important factor behind violence in Iraq. "What we emphasize is that the occupiers must leave the region ... and then we will have security, stability and prosperity in this country." Opening a dialogue with Iran and Syria was one of the key recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group which was co-chaired by former secretary of state James Baker and former congressman Lee Hamilton. Tehran Times (Iran) (12/11)
ISRAEL-OPT: Amnesty and Israel clash over arms and human rights
[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]
JERUSALEM, 10 Dec 2006 (IRIN) - The London-based human rights organisation Amnesty International has asked the European Union (EU) to block arms sale to Israel and Palestinians so as to stave off impending disaster in Israel and the Palestinian territories. However, Israel has reacted negatively to the proposal.In an open letter to the EU on International Human Rights Day on Sunday, Amnesty’s secretary general Irene Khan said worsening human rights abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories would lead to catastrophe. IRIN News (UN Press Agency) (12/11)
CHALLENGES 2006-2007:
Old Problem of Graft in Kenya Set to Dog the New Year
Joyce Mulama
NAIROBI, Dec 10 (IPS) - As 2006 comes to a close, concerns over Kenya's track record in tackling corruption are deepening in the East African nation. Authorities have consistently said they are committed to the fight against graft; but civil society organisations argue that various developments indicate a lack of political will to root out corruption. In particular, these groups have taken issue with the recent reappointment of ministers who left the cabinet earlier this year after they were implicated in two graft scandals. Inter Press News Service Agency (Africa) (12/11)
Hundreds of thousands demonstrate in Beirut against government
Argentina Star
Hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah-led protesters have rallied in Lebanon's capital to demand the Western-backed government step down. Opposition supporters have been camping out in central Beirut since December 1, paralyzing the capital. Protesters have vowed not to move until Prime Minister Fuad Siniora bows to their demands for a national unity government. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallied in the northern city of Tripoli. Mr. Siniora has said there should be negotiations, and insists he will not resign. The prime minister and the Sunni-led ruling majority have refused opposition demands and accuse the Shi'ite Hezbollah of trying to stage a coup in the aftermath of the group's 34-day war against Israel earlier this year.Argentina Star (12/11)
Clashes follow death of Pinochet
Thousands of Chileans have taken to the streets following the death of the country's former military ruler, Augusto Pinochet, at the age of 91. Jubilant opponents danced in the centre of Santiago, Chile's capital, before clashes broke out. Police used water cannon and tear gas to control crowds. Supporters mourned Gen Pinochet outside the military hospital where he died. The general took power in a 1973 coup, and more than 3,000 people were killed or "disappeared" in his 17-year rule. He was accused of dozens of human rights abuses as well as fraud but poor health meant he never faced trial. BBC News (UK) (12/11)
Excommunicated cleric installs married men as bishops
WEST NEW YORK, New Jersey (AP) -- An excommunicated Roman Catholic archbishop continued to defy the Vatican when he installed two married priests as bishops on Sunday. In front of a sea of reporters and photographers and several dozen congregants, Raymond A. Grosswirth of Rochester, New York, and Dominic Riccio, of the Newark Archdiocese, were installed by Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo at the Trinity Reformed Church. The ceremony concluded a two-day convention of Milingo's advocacy group, Married Priests Now! In a visible break from tradition, the wives of both men helped their husbands on with their vestments before each man was anointed. CNN.com (12/11)
In tsunami's wake, a peaceful Aceh holds first election
By Simon Montlake Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA – Voters in the battle-scarred Indonesian province of Aceh go to the polls Monday, nearly two years after a devastating tsunami scoured its coastline and released an outpouring of international aid for the stricken survivors. The ballot is the first since the signing in August 2005 of a landmark peace accord between the Indonesian government and armed rebels, who agreed to lay down their weapons in return for political autonomy for Aceh. Former rebels are competing in electoral races for the governorship and 19 district mayors and regents. Christian Science Monitor (12/11)
posted by Dave Carroll @ 12/11/2006 06:42:00 AM
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