Libra-log

A cameraman for the al Jazeera television station was released from Guantanamo Bay after being detained for six years, the BBC reported.

Sami al-Hajj returned home to Sudan after being imprisoned by the United States in Guantanamo and in Afghanistan.

He arrived in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, early Friday. Weak from a 16-month hunger strike, he was carried off the plane by U.S. military personnel.

Hajj was arrested by Pakistani troops near the Afghanistan border in 2001. He was later handed over to the United States.

He was accused of being involved in militant groups, and the U.S. military alleged he had helped fund fighters in Chechnya and Bosnia in the 1990s.

He was never charged.

The United States created the camp in Guantanamo in 2002 to hold foreign terror suspects, the BBC said.

More than 275 detainees remain there. The United States hopes to try at least 80 of them in court.

Posted by libra012 at 3:13 PM | Permalink

The opposition leader in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, beat President Robert Mugabe, but failed to take the majority so the leaders will compete in a run-off vote on a date to be announced, said Zimbabwe’s electoral body on Friday.

According to Lovemore Sekeramayi, the chief elections officer, Tsvangirai won 47.9 percent and Mugabe received 43.2 percent—neither taking over 50 percent to gain the majority.

Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change, has accused Mugabe of cheating, “scandalous daylight robbery� and violent intimidation, Reuters said.

Tsvangirai has suggested he would only participate in a run-off vote if it was monitored by United Nations-led foreign observers. The original election was observed by Zimbabwe’s neighbors.

Posted by libra012 at 3:16 PM | Permalink

Six Somali pirates were detained Friday for allegedly taking 30 hostages from a French yacht, the BBC reported.

French Commandos detained the pirates in a helicopter raid shortly after they released the hostages.

The hostages, 22 French citizens, 6 Fillipinos, a Ukranian and a Cameroonian, were taken a week earlier, the BBC said.

The pirates can be held for up to four days and may be held for trial in France.

According to the BBC, the waters off of Somalia are known to be the most dangerous in the world. Pirates there seized more than 25 ships last year.

French troops stationed in Djibouti patrol that part of the Indian Ocean.

Somalia has not have an effective central government for 17 years.

Posted by libra012 at 4:10 PM | Permalink

The France National Assembly passed a bill that could bring criminal action against media promoting extreme thinness, the BBC reported.

The bill, which is now waiting on Upper House support, targets Web sites and publications that encourage girls and young women.

This would include fashion house, magazines and advertisers, the BBC said.

Those found to be encouraging severe thinness could face three years in prison and be fined up to 45,000 euros.

The French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said girls are being taught how to inflict harm upon themselves through certain media, like pro-anorexia Web sites.

“These messages are death messages. Our county must be able to prosecute those who are hiding behind those Web sites,� she said.

Posted by libra012 at 5:04 PM | Permalink

The Olympic torch passed peacefully through Tanzania—a sharp contrast to the relay runs in others countries, which have been riddled by protesters angry over Tibet and China’s human rights record, the BBC said.

A cabinet member, a UN under-secretary and 80 athletes ran the torch through the capital Dar es Salaam. Nearly 1,000 people marched with the team showing support for the Olympics, the BBC said.

The only disruption, according to the BBC, was the withdrawal of Kenyan Nobel peace prize winner Wangar Maathai. He said the Olympic flame had become a symbol of disunity.

Tanzania is the only African nation the torch will visit. Next it will travel to Oman in the Middle East.

Posted by libra012 at 8:31 PM | Permalink

The Kenyan president and his political rival agreed on a power-sharing arrangement for the cabinet Sunday, reported the Washington Post.

President Mwai Kibaki and rival Raila Odinga agreed to share the 40-member cabinet by implementing a deal they reached in February. Odinga will be prime minister and manage the cabinet.

There has been fear that while the leader negotiated the country would slide back into violence. Since the December presidential election around 1,000 people have been killed and a million have been displaced.

Last week, demonstrations began in western Kisumu and Kibera—two of Odinga’s “strongholds,� the Washington Post said.

Posted by libra012 at 8:22 PM | Permalink

The Zimbabwe presidential election results have yet to be announced, but the Senate results were declared Saturday, the BBC said.

According to the Zimbabwe Election Committee, the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change, lead by Morgan Tsvangirai and the Zanu-PF party headed by current president Robert Mugabe tied with 30 seats each.

In the lower house, the opposition parties took 109. Mugabe’s party took 97. It is the first time they have failed to win the majority since the party gained power in 1980 after Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain.

According to The New York Times, Mugabe’s party is demanding a recount for 16 seats in an attempt to regain control.

Tsvangirai, for the first time, said he is the rightful winner of the presidential election. He said numbers posted outside polling stations prove he won the necessary 50 percent of votes.

He said a run-off vote is unnecessary and called for Mugabe to join in talks about a democratic, peaceful transfer of power. He has accused the president of organizing militias in what The New York Times named a “war against the people.�

Tsvangirai’s party is trying to force the election committee to release the presidential election results. A hearing is scheduled for Sunday, The New York Times said.

The events surrounding this election hark back to the 2002 Zimbabwe election. Some believe the presidential win was stolen from Tsvangiarai. As now, Mugabe’s party was accused of violence and election rigging.

Posted by libra012 at 3:45 PM | Permalink

Greek officials passed the Olympic flame to Beijing Olympic organizers in Athens on Sunday. The flame will be carried to countries around the world before ending in Beijing for the Aug. 8 start of the Summer Olympic Games.

According to the official Olympic Games Web site, the spirit of the competition is to “bring people together in peace to respect universal moral principles.�

Protests, however, disrupted the Athens ceremony—calling the weight and validity of that message into question. According to The New York Times, demonstrators angered by China’s treatment of Tibet sought to disrupt the ceremonies, despite expansive security measures.

With banners that said, “Stop Genocide in Tibet,� and shouting, “Free Tibet,� demonstrators tried to block the runner carrying the Olympic flame from completing the run in an Athens stadium, The New York Times said. Demonstrators also interrupted Beijing Olympic organizer Liu Qi’s speech during the lighting ceremony, said the Guardian.

Athens police detained ten of the estimated 15 protesters. Athens had sent more than 1,000 police to the flame route to thwart any demonstration attempts.

The protests prompted by the lighting ceremony are only a small piece of an anti-Beijing Olympic movement.

According to the LA Times, the summer games have given activists a forum to demand an end of China’s support of the Sudanese government, the perpetrator of the genocide in Darfur; and religious freedom and an end to violence in Burma and Tibet.

Hollywood figures like Mia Farrow, Steven Spielberg, and George Clooney have been at the forefront of the Beijing Games pressure, said the LA Times.

Spielberg announced he would no longer be the artistic adviser for the games. Clooney, who has been working to end the genocide in Darfur for several years, has tried to pressure Omega, a Swiss watchmaker company which Clooney is the spokesperson for, to ends its sponsorship of the Olympics.

Farrow wants a boycott of the opening ceremonies to pressure China to end ties with Sudan. She wants the world to instead watch her broadcast via Internet of the “deplorable conditions� of a refugee camp on the Sudan and Chad border, reported the LA Times.

The movement seems to be spreading. French President Nicholas Sorkozy has said the Chinese government must be pressured, specifically in regards to Tibet.

According to the Guardian, before the Olympic flames will reach Beijing in August, it must travel through London, Paris and San Francisco—where the most protests are expected.

Posted by libra012 at 8:38 PM | Permalink

While thousands of Buddhist monks and other Tibetans rioted in the Chinese city of Xiahe on Saturday, China said they regained control of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, where a mob had destroyed property in a violent riot, The New York Times reported.

In Lhasa, Chinese authorities denied that any protesters had been fired upon; however, Tibetan leaders said 100 Tibetans have now died, 30 at the protest in Lhasa, The New York Times said.

In Xiahe, an estimated 4,000 Tibetans protested for the second consecutive day, although demonstrations were much smaller Friday. The protesters’ slogans were “The Dalai Lama must return to Tibet� and “Tibetans need to have human rights in Tibet.�

The protests contradict the message that China has been trying promote—that Tibets are a satisfied and happy minority.

Some Buddhist monks are protesting against religions restrictions while others want an end to Chinese rule in Tibet.

Posted by libra012 at 11:41 AM | Permalink

China will continue their one-child policy, despite rumors that changes were ahead, The New York Times reported Monday.

Zhang Weidqing, minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission said a surge in births is expected to continue for about another decade, so no changes to the one-child policy would be considered until then.

With a population of 1.3 million, China’s one-child policy limits urban families to one child and farming families to two children. Minorities are sometimes able to have two or more, the New York Times said.

Zhang said the policy has been successful in controlling population so far. Critics, however, say the policy is responsible for abuses like forced abortions. The New York Times also said there is evidence that the one-child policy created the gender imbalance in China, and there may be too few women in the future.

Last month, Rueters quoted the vice minister in the National Population and Family Planning Commission, Zaho Baige, as saying China may move from the one-child policy. Wu Jianmin, spokesmen for an advisory board to the national legislature, also made comments suggesting the policy would be changed.

After Baige’s comment, China officially denied the statements and the announcement Monday cements that denial.

Posted by libra012 at 1:29 PM | Permalink

In an unusual announcement, China called for its ally Sudan to do more to stop the violence in Darfur, the BBC reported.

China’s envoy Liu Guijin said Sudan is a “humanitarian disaster� and a grave concern to the Chinese government. He said more must be done to allow peacekeepers to arrive sooner.

China is an ally of Sudan’s government. It sells weapons to the region and buys much of its oil. As a result of this close relationship, China has been criticized for supporting the Sudanese government. Critics have called for China to pressure the government to end the fighting in the Sudanese region of Darfur.

The BBC said China wants to make sure criticism does not “overshadow� the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. It wants to defend its economic investments in Sudan, while simultaneously seeming to take aggressive steps against the Darfur violence.

Posted by libra012 at 5:29 PM | Permalink

Pilots for Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines are still unable to reach a seniority agreement, Minnesota Public Radio said.

Chief Financial Officer Ed Bastian said the airline may or may not look for a replacement deal if the Northwest merger falls through, USA Today reported. Bastian said the airline has a “standalone option.�

Delta is also not saying how long it will allow pilots from both sides to negotiate, but they insist that pilots reach an agreement. MPR said that its “clear Delta and Northwest want to avoid anything like the seniority squabble tearing apart US Airways pilots.�

About three years ago, America West Airlines and US Airways merged. Now, however, the pilots of the “one� airline are split into “East� and “West� groups. They, like the Delta and Northwest pilots, cannot agree on seniority. Seniority decides which planes pilots fly. The bigger the plane, the more money they make, MPR said.

Posted by libra012 at 7:49 PM | Permalink

Cuba’s parliament made Raul Castro, Fidel Castro’s brother, president on Sunday.

It is the first time in 50 years Cuba has seen a change in leader. Despite the new president, however, it is unlikely there will be any significant political change, National Public Radio reported.

Raul Castro said that Fidel Castro would remain as the formal commander in chief and would be consulted for major decisions.

The United States called the president decision a “transfer of authority and power from dictator to dictator light,� reported NPR.

Cubans also recognized that little change would occur, but some hoped for economic reforms to improve Cuba's faltering economy and Cuban's daily lives, NPR said.

Posted by libra012 at 7:22 PM | Permalink

Cuban President Fidel Castro announced his resignation on Tuesday after 50 years in power, The New York Times reported.

The Parliament will choose a 31-member council of state on Sunday, which will pick the person to succeed Fidel Castro. The government says this is a democratic process, but according to The New York Times, Fidel Castro, his brother Raul and his inner circle will make the decision.

It is likely that Raul Castro will be made president, but Fidel Castro would still have a heavy influence. The country has been ruled by both of these men for some time. When Fidel was ill in 2006, he gave power temporarily to his brother. Since then, Raul Castro has been the man on stage, with Fidel Castro “lurking in the wings,� The New York Times said.

Raul Castro has been said to be more practical than his brother, more willing to admit mistakes, and open to moving towards a governmental system like China’s state-run capitalism, The New York Times said.

Despite those characteristics, few changes may actually occur. Although according to the BBC, economic changes may have to be made as a result of a growing dissatisfaction with the Cuba’s stumbling economy.

Bush, from Rwanda, immediately called for a “transition to democracy� in Cuba, the BBC said. The UK’s prime minister, Gordon Brown, expressed similar hopes.

According to The New York Times, few Cubans expect drastic change. In fact, Fidel Castro’s letter to the nation was met with little to no reaction. The day continued as usual. Radio and television seemed to barely acknowledge the announcement.

National Public Radio said the Cuban-American community in Miami was also very subdued. The reaction is a stark contrast to the celebrations that came in 2006 after Fidel Castro temporarily handed over power to his brother and rumors circulated that Fidel Castro was dead. This time, Cuban-Americans are “expressing far more caution than optimism,� NPR said. Few expect drastic changes and many do not believe Fidel Castro is truly stepping down, NPR reported.

Posted by libra012 at 2:42 PM | Permalink

President Bush began a six-day tour of Africa on Saturday to highlight the programs he has launched there to fight disease, poverty and illiteracy, the Washington Post reported.

Although he wanted to focus on the region’s success stories, he had to defend his conflict resolution record in Africa and his choice not to visit troubled places like Kenya or Chad.

He said that he wanted his trip to help others realize success is possible, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would visit Kenya on Monday to pressure the Kenyan president to reach a compromise with his opposition.

Bush also defended his decision not to send troops into Darfur, even though he has said genocide is taking place there, the BBC reported.

He said the decision was made in part to avoid sending troops to another Muslim country.

Last week, director Steven Spielberg withdrew from helping with the Olympics in protest against China’s policy in Darfur, but Bush said he would not take similar action.

“I view the Olympics as a sporting event,� he said to the BBC.

Bush said he would talk to Chinese President Hu Jintao and “remind him that he can do more to relieve the suffering in Darfur,� the BBC said.

According to the Washington Post, Bush aides were “bristled at the notion that he is not doing enough to solve� crisis in Africa.

“We solved Liberia. We solved southern Sudan,� an official said, the Washington Post reported.

Posted by libra012 at 7:51 PM | Permalink

Kosovo announced its independence from Serbia on Sunday, the New York Times reported.

Tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians poured into the streets to celebrate the independence announcement.

Many of the Kosovo Serbs did not share in the Albanian’s excitement. Nearly 2,000 Serbs threw stones, lit firecrackers and broke windows at the United States Embassy. Grenades were thrown at the United Nations and Europeans Union buildings. More demonstrations are planned for Monday in Serbian enclaves throughout Kosovo.

According to the European Union, Britain, France and Germany are expected to recognize Kosovo’s declaration by Tuesday. Serbia and its ally Russia, however, are looking for ways to keep other countries from recognizing Kosovo as an independent state.

Ten years ago, Kosovo was engulfed by a civil war between the Serbs and ethnic Albanians which resulted in 10,000 deaths. The United Nations helped end the conflict, but after they intervened Kosovo was left in “years of limbo� under UN rule, the New York Times said. Independence could end that state of uncertainty.

Posted by libra012 at 7:25 PM | Permalink

With the rebel forces pushed out of Chad’s capital, the Chadian government said everything is returning to normal, the New York Times reported.

“We have control, not only of the capital but of the whole country,� President Idriss Deby said at a news conference in Chad on Wednesday.

Although the fighting in the capital Ndjamena has ended, other problems threaten the region.

According to the New York Times, the fighting has added to the tension between Chad and its neighbor Sudan. The countries already accuse one another of inciting rebellions across their shared border. The Sudanese rebels have also come to Deby’s aid, which only increases the potential for problems.

There is some fear in the international community that the area could slip into an “uncontrolled conflict� similar to the conflict that captured the region after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the New York Times said.

There is a push for international peacekeeper in the area, but the Sudanese government has delayed any such efforts. Without peacekeepers, the future of the 2.5 million refugees of both Sudan and Chad is unclear.

Posted by libra012 at 4:21 PM | Permalink

The Human Rights Watch accused the United States and Europe of “undermining human rights� throughout the world by supporting rigged elections, reported the New York Times.

The advocacy group said the United States and Europe have allowed countries like Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Jordan, Bahrain, Thailand and China to feign a move towards democracy for simply holding elections, even when the outcomes are fixed, said the Boston Globe.

The accusations extend to Kenya, a country that is now engulfed in violence between ethnic tribes after the December election results were disputed. According to National Public Radio, thousands of people have been displaced and 850 have been killed. Recently, the Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, categorized the crisis as ethnic cleansing.

The Human Rights Watch said the Kenyan government may have been led to believe they could get away with a rigged election since the Bush administration accepted the results of the controversial Nigerian election last year, reported the New York Times.

According to the Economist, some declared Nigeria’s 2007 election as “the most fraudulent they had even seen.� Accusations include the use of false ballots, the lack of a full voter registry and illegally preventing one candidate from campaigning.

Posted by libra012 at 7:52 PM | Permalink