Human Rights Watch reports that Abdel Hakim Belhaj—recently an “al-Qaeda-linked terrorist” and now a military commander of Libya’s NATO-backed rebels—was actually “renditioned” by the CIA from Malaysia to Libya back in 2004.
The indigenous Telengit people in Russia’s Altai Republic are turning to the international community to help stop a new gas pipeline to China that would cut through their sacred lands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hundreds of activists from throughout South Korea have gathered in force on Jeju Island to hold a “peace event” aimed at halting construction of a naval base slated to be used by US forces—in defiance of a court injunctions against protests.
The UN issued its its report on the deadly May 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, criticizing Israel for using “excessive and unreasonable” force but finding that the blockade of the Gaza Strip itself is lawful. Turkey responded by recalling its ambassador from Israel.
France and the NTC deny claims in the Paris daily Libération that they have signed a secret deal granting French companies exclusive access to 35% of Libya’s oil reserves. Qaddafi meanwhile charges imperialist designs on deep Saharan fossil aquifers.
Over the past days, more than 500 Tuaregs, including women and children, have crossed from Libya to Algeria, claiming they were forced to flee their homes by anti-Qaddafi fighters, who took reprisals after occupying their towns.
AlJazeera claims to have uncovered documents in the ransacked offices of Qaddafi’s intelligence chief implicating US officials—including Rep. Dennis Kucinich—in secretly aiding the strongman, in violation of stated policy.
Libya’s Transitional National Council denied charges made by Morocco’s official news service that some 550 Polisario Front fighters from occupied Western Sahara had been arrested for serving as mercenaries for Qaddafi.
Clashes between police and Shi’ite protesters continue in Bahrain, fueled by the killing of a 14-year-old boy by riot police. The new protests erupted on the first day of the Eid al-Fitr festival.
The administration of Ollanta Humala has imposed a two-yea deadline for the Camisea consortium to find new gas reserves to meet its export obligations, saying all gas from existing fields will be used to meet domestic demand.
As NATO carries out air-strikes and NTC forces advance on Qaddafi’s hometown of Sirte, the fugitive strongman’s forces are accused of holding the populace captive to use as “human shields.”
Guerilla attacks on oil operations in Colombia have been escalating since President Juan Manuel Santos threatened to expel those companies that do not halt payment of protection money to the guerilla army.
