The recapture of Musa Qala from the Taliban by British-led forces has resulted in many civilian casualties, local residents say. British military authorities report only two civilian dead in the battle—both children. But residents say they counted 15 women and… Read moreAfghanistan: civilian casualties in Musa Qala?
Security forces are on alert in Bolivia ahead of rallies planned in four eastern departments to inaugurate declarations of autonomy. Rejecting the draft constitution recently completed by supporters of President Evo Morales, regional assembly members in Santa Cruz Dec. 13… Read moreBolivia on the brink?
Ruling in a case brought by Nicaragua, the International Court of Justice found Dec. 13 that three Caribbean islands in the disputed San Andrés Archipelago belong to Colombia under a 1928 treaty. But the ICJ said the treaty did not… Read moreWorld Court rules for Colombia in round one of Nicaraguan maritime dispute
For once we get some joy from being able to say “told you so.” When the Liberty Seven were first busted lasted year, we called out the case against them as bogus. It is a glimmer of hope that a… Read moreMiami: case against Liberty Seven goes down to defeat
Democratic Republic of Congo Armed Forces (FARDC) troops clashed again Dec. 13 with forces loyal to renegade general Laurent Nkunda in the Gungu heights of North Kivu province. Earlier in the week, Nkunda’s fighters forced back government troops and reclaimed… Read moreDRC government loses ground in Kivu war
On Dec. 10, Chiquita Brands filed a motion to dismiss in a case brought by 144 survivors of Colombian paramilitary victims in federal district court in Washington DC. The case, first filed in June under the Alien Tort Statue, holds… Read moreColombia: Chiquita cases open window into para arms pipeline
Mexican army troops detained the supposed leader of the powerful Gulf Cartel in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Dec. 12. Forces of the Eighth Military Zone claimed Marco Antonio Ramírez del Río, alias “Tony La Palma,” is successor to Luis Reyes Enríquez, known… Read moreMexican troops hunt narco forces in Tampico
“We are doing everything we can to stop drugs crossing to the United States but given this is a transnational business by definition it requires the United States do its part and that essentially means the flow of arms to… Read moreMexico’s chief prosector blasts US arms trade
At least 51 migrants drowned trying to cross from Turkey to Greece—and the European Union—when their boat sank in rough weather Dec. 9. The boat was carrying about 70 Palestinians, Iraqis and Somalians when it sank off Seferihisar, in the… Read moreTurkish governor invokes human rights in Aegean disaster
From Reuters, Dec. 12: Residents say lives ruined by South Korea oil spill TAEAN, South Korea – South Korean officials say they have made progress in cleaning up the country’s worst oil spill but residents worried on Thursday about ruined… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
A fire broke out at one of Iraq’s main oil refineries Dec. 10, with the US calling it was an industrial accident—but Iraqi officials insisting it was an insurgent attack. The Dora refinery was built in the 1950s and is… Read moreIraq: insurgents hit oil refinery?
Two car bombs detonated on the morning of Dec. 11 at an Algiers court building and a UN facility, leaving over 60 dead, scores injured and more still missing in the rubble of collapsed buildings. When the first bomb exploded… Read moreSalafists strike Algiers —again
