The International Federation of Human Rights released a report condemning Colombia’s human rights record since the Sept. 11 attacks, accusing the government of carrying out widespread abuses under the banner of combating terrorism.
Residents of Kington’s poor district of Tivoli Gardens reacted with shock and disbelief to the news that extradited kingpin Christopher “Dudus” Coke arranged a plea bargain at US District Court in Manhattan—after the manhunt for him cost scores of lives.
The de facto authorities in Tripoli should stop the arbitrary arrests of African migrant workers assumed to be mercenaries, Human Rights Watch said, calling for the NTC to “release those detained as mercenaries solely due to their dark skin color.”
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.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a joint press release that they have evidence the Sudanese army has committed war crimes in the country’s South Kordofan region, with villages coming under aerial bombardment.
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.
