Africa
Israel: Eritrea destabilizes Horn of Africa
Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia charged that Eritrea is trying to destabilize the peace process in the Horn of Africa, and serving as a save haven for terrorist groups.
Iran
Obama’s Nowruz message to Iran: “appeasement” or Trojan horse?
Obama’s video message to the people of Iran on the Persian new year Nowruz has the neocons crying “appeasement.” But days earlier, Obama renewed sanctions on Iran for another year.
Afghanistan
Pakistan: peace-for-sharia deal takes effect in Swat Valley
Sharia courts opened this week in Pakistan’s Swat Valley as part of a peace agreement with tribal militias. But it remains to be seen how much power the local civil government will cede.
Inner Asia
Kyrgyzstan: opposition calls for protests
Opposition parties this week called for protests across Kyrgyzstan on March 27, amid worsening economic conditions and mounting accusations of government repression.
Inner Asia
Tibet: repression continues, China Lobby strikes back
Tibetan protests in China continue to be met with harsh repression, now ignored by the media. But Beijing’s lobbyists were mobilized as US Congress passed a resolution honoring the Dalai Lama.
Europe
Victory for Czech anti-radar campaign
In a setback for Pentagon plans to install a US military radar base in the Czech Republic, the Prague government temporarily withdrew its proposal to ratify an agreement on the installation.
The Andes
Bolivia seeks State Department approval for Czech aircraft sale
Bolivia, which kicked out the US DEA last year, applied for US State Department approval to purchase six warplanes with US-made components from the Czech Republic for drug enforcement.
The Andes
Bolivia: Total gas operation illegal
Bolivia has issued a decree nullifying an exploration contract with the French oil major Total signed by rancher Ronald Larsen, leader of the resistance movement to Bolivia’s land reform.
The Andes
Bolivia: Morales initiates land reform; ranchers pledge resistance
Bolivian President Evo Morales, empowered by his country’s new constitution, began redistributing land to indigenous peasants in the Chaco region—as local ranchers pledged to resist.
Africa
Madagascar: coup d’etat or revolution?
The African Union, after initially calling it an “attempted coup,” issued a new statement accepting the military’s installation of opposition leader Andry Rajoelina as president of Madagascar. ExxonMobil, the French Total and Rio Tinto Group have oil and mineral interests in Madagascar, which has rich deposits of iron ore and bauxite. Investors have hailed Ravalomanana’s free-market reforms, while Rajoelina accused him of running Madagascar like a dictator, while letting his people starve. Most of the island’s population lives on less than $2 a day.
Photo: IRIN
Central America
Sixth Circuit upholds judgment against Salvadoran ex-military commander
The 6th Circuit US Court of Appeals upheld a decision finding former Salvadoran military commander Nicolas Carranza liable for murder and torture during the country's civil war,
Watching the Shadows
Rights advocates welcome rehearing denial in detainee photo case
The ACLU hailed a decision denying the Pentagon’s appeal of a ruling that it must disclose photographs of apparent detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.