John Dugard, a UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories likened Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories to “apartheid,” and said that failure to address the situation will make it hard to solve abuses elsewhere…. Read moreUN rights rapporteur on Palestine: Yes, it’s apartheid
During his unannounced visit to Baghdad, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon felt the shockwaves of a nearby rocket attack while giving a press conference. Ban and his staff left the press meeting shaken but unscathed. Iraqi deputy prime minister Salam… Read moreIraq carnage round-up
The Somali government says al-Qaeda has appointed a young militant as its commander of the resistance forces in Mogadishu. Deputy Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle told a news conference the insurgency is being directed by Aden Hashi Ayro, an Afghanistan-trained… Read moreAl-Qaeda running Somali resistance?
From the St. Petersburg Times, March 20: Al-Arian’s gaunt condition stuns his family Sami Al-Arian has been on a hunger strike for 58 days to protest being held beyond his prison sentence. On a water-only diet, he has lost 53… Read moreFamily “stunned” by condition of Palestinian hunger-striker in federal prison
The Euro-bashers are already having a field day with Italy’s admitted capitulation to Taliban hostage-takers. But isn’t it interesting that most stateside media accounts—while baiting the Italians as spineless, effeminate Euro-boys—fail to even mention that the Taliban captives were held… Read moreItaly swaps Taliban for hostages —or did Karzai?
Police in Nepal are searching sugarcane fields in the southeast for bodies after clashes between Maoists and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum left at least 27 dead. The clash in the town of Gaur, on the Indian border, was the… Read moreMaoist-Madhesi violence in Nepal
On March 22, Chad said warplanes from Sudan bombed two towns in its war-torn east, killing several people and violating a non-aggression pact signed last month. President Idriss Deby’s government said two bombers have repeatedly struck the settlements of Kariari… Read moreSudan bombs Chad —again?
Major clashes broke out in Basra, Iraq’s second city, March 21—apparently between Fadhila and Mahdi Army forces, two Shi’ite factions. The fighting comes only days after the withdrawal of British troops from the city, citing recent “progress” in security there…. Read moreIraq: clashes in Basra, terror in Mosul
On March 21, Hardy and Kathy Will, parents of slain New York Indymedia journalist Bradley Roland Will, visited the Oaxaca barrio where their son was gunned down while filming street protests Oct. 27. Accompanied by dozens of supporters, they left… Read moreOaxaca: Brad Will’s parents visit slay site
In the early morning hours of March 19, some 75 members of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO), who had been maintaining a vigil encampment in front of the Senate building in Mexico City since early October,… Read moreOaxaca protest camp evicted by Mexico City police
The Colombian government says that it will seek the extradition of eight unnamed people affiliated with the US banana giant Chiquita Brands International for their alleged involvement in the company’s payments to illegal right-wing paramilitary groups. The Chicago Tribune reports… Read moreColombia seeks eight in Chiquita terrorist scandal
Colombian prosecutors have opened a criminal probe of 20 leading political figures for signing a 2001 document with Salvatore Mancuso and other leaders of the illegal paramilitaries in a secret meeting at Mancuso’s base at Santa Fe Ralito, CĂłrdoba department…. Read moreColombia: probe widens in para scandal
