Iraq
Iraq: referendum on SOFA postponed
The deadline for an Iraqi referendum on the security agreement with the US passed with a few deadly bombings but no vote. The US still has over 130,000 troops in Iraq.
Author: CounterVortex
Central America
Honduras: more repression in Tegucigalpa; “resistance camp” on border
One was shot and several wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces around Tegucigalpa, while Zelaya supporters established a “resistance camp” along the Nicaraguan border.
The Andes
Venezuela withdraws Bogotá ambassador over FARC accusations
President Hugo Chávez withdrew his ambassador from Bogotá to protest charges by Colombia that weapons found in the hands of the FARC were sold by Sweden to Venezuela.
Central America
Honduras: coup regime says FARC funds Zelaya backers
Honduran police claim to have uncovered evidence that Colombia’s FARC guerilla organization has financed supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya.
Central America
Political groups clash at Zelaya’s Nicaragua camp
Hundreds of Daniel Ortega supporters armed with rocks and sticks blocked roads to bar a Nicaraguan congressional delegation protesting Manuel Zelaya’s Nicaraguan base camp.
Central America
Honduras: pressure builds on coup regime as Mesoamerican summit opens
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, hosting a regional summit, called for “absolute ostracism” of the de facto regime in Honduras, saying “sanctions should continue to be applied.”
Central America
Honduras: protester murdered, leader detained
Hundreds attended the funeral of a man killed by police at the border protest over the weekend. Campesino leader Rafael Alegría was meanwhile detained by the de facto authorities.
Central America
Honduras: rights group reports 1,155 violations
A mission of international human rights organizations released a report in Tegucigalpa charging “serious and systematic violations” of rights following the June 28 military coup.
Central America
Guatemala: thousands march against cement plant
Thousands of indigenous Guatemalans marched the 35 kilometers from Sacatepéquez to Guatemala City to protest construction of a cement plant near their lands.
Afghanistan
US shifts Afghan opium strategy
US Marines and Afghan forces destroyed hundreds of tons of opium and heroin in Helmand, in raids that officials say are part of a shift in counter-narcotics strategy.
Inner Asia
Kyrgyzstan election results contested
Kyrgyzstan’s incumbent Kurmanbek Bakiyev claims an 85% of the vote in the weekend’s presidential election, but challenger Almazbek Atambayev is questioning the results.
Africa
Nigerian Taliban spread attacks
Rebels of a group known as the “Nigerian Taliban” expanded attacks against security forces to three northern states, leaving at least 80 people dead in two days of clashes.