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
At least three suspected Shining Path guerillas were killed March 20 in a gun battle with Peruvian solidiers in Huachocolpa, Huancavelica department. According to a statement from Peru’s Defense Ministry, the confrontation occurred in the early morning hours when soldiers… Read morePeru: army kill three in clash with Shining Path
Residents of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu report that hundreds of militants clashed with Ethiopian and Somali government forces, in fighting that left dozens dead in the northeastern quarter of the city March 20. Insurgents set fire to the bodies of killed… Read moreSomalia: pitched battle in Mogadishu —as “official” regime moves in
Police blocked opposition supporters from protesting outside the Egyptian national legislature, the People’s Assembly, after the body adopted of a set of constitutional amendments the opposition says aim to ensure the ruling National Democratic Party’s power and the succession of… Read moreEgypt: People’s Assembly under siege
