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Weekly anb07034.txt #5

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 03-07-2003      PART #4/5
* Libya. Italian troops to Libya? - 26 June: Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is reported as saying that Italy is close to signing an agreement with Libya to send troops there to curb illegal immigration via the Mediterranean. Under the agreement, Italian soldiers would control Libyan ports and borders. Italian ships will also be authorised to patrol Libyan waters. The statement goes further than a previous Italian decision to supply Libya with night-vision goggles and other border-crossing equipment -- subject to a partial lifting of the international arms embargo against Tripoli. Libya has already acknowledged that it cannot police its long sea and desert frontier. 27 June: The Libyan authorities deny any knowledge about plans to station Italian troops in Libya. Libya's Foreign Minister, Abdulrahman Shalgham tells La Stampa newspaper: "We will not accept an (Italian) military presence on our territory, but the issue will be discussed with Italian officials next week. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 27 June 2003)
* Libya. Gadaffi's proposal for Middle East peace - On 27 June, Muammer Gadaffi, the Libyan leader, denounced the "road map" for peace in the Middle East as he premiered his own solution in his new book "Israteen". Speaking live via satellite to an audience at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Colonel Gadaffi outlined his proposals for a one-state solution in which Palestinians and Israelis would live side by side and share a proportionally-elected government. "It will be a federal state and there will be elections under the supervision of the UN. It is not important who will have the majority of seats, Muslims or Jews, it will be just like Lebanon -- different religions but one state and one unity," he said. In Gadaffi's notional nation state, no further members of the Jewish diaspora would be allowed to settle, but existing Israeli and Palestinian citizens would move unfettered between the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. A formidable national army would also be created comprised of men on both sides. "We must accept that the two peoples are very close to each other and have to live together. Israel needs the Palestinian labourers -- it cannot be a great country without them. Both parties depend on each other and both parties have the right to live in peace," he said. Gadaffi rubbished America's plans for a two-state solution, claiming there would never be enough room for two separate states as Israel would be too narrow and both countries would be at the mercy of each other. "We need a long-term solution but the US is looking for a short term solution for electoral reasons. The American taxpayer wants to get rid of this burden because they fund the problem and they want to alleviate it. This is treason to mankind," he said. (Financial Times, UK, 29 June 2003)
* Madagascar/GB. Annulation de dette - La Grande-Bretagne a annulé 5,3 millions de dollars de dette malgache aux termes d'un accord signé le 26 juin. L'accord porte en fait sur une dette de $6,63 millions dont une partie, d'un montant de $1,28 million, sera aménagée pour être remboursable sur 23 ans. Cet accord, le 9e du genre signé entre les deux pays, porte à $74 millions le montant de la dette effacée par le Royaume-Uni pour le compte de Madagascar. (PANA, Sénégal, 27 juin 2003)
* Malawi. Malawians riot over al-Qaeda suspects - Malawi's army was deployed at the weekend to quell violent riots, in which crowds of angry Muslims attacked several churches to protest at the extradition of five foreigners suspected of working for al-Qaeda. The five -- two Turks, one Saudi, one Kenyan and one Sudanese -- were handed over to US security officials on 23 June and are widely believed to have been taken out of Malawi before they could appear in court. A Malawian court had ordered the state to free the five men, before the High Court overturned an injunction blocking their deportation. US security officials are believed to be very active in many African countries in the run-up to the first official visit to the continent by US President George W.Bush, in the second week of July. (Financial Times, UK, 30 June 2003)
* Morocco. Morocco raises 400 million Euros in eurobond issue as investors shrug off fears - On 27 June, Morocco raised 400 million Euros in a first eurobond issue that showed investors appear undaunted by last month's multiple suicide attacks in the financial capital Casablanca. The bombings, perpetrated by a group of young Moroccans, highlighted a worrying radicalisation among disenfranchised youth. But senior Moroccan officials said the government's swift crackdown and the support inside and outside the country had maintained investors' appetite in the bond deal. "Foreigners' reaction has been positive -- there has been a wave of solidarity," Fathallah Oualalou, finance minister, said in London. The five-year issue, which the government had talked about for years but only now decided to launch, was priced to yield 2.15 percentage points for a country with a speculative rating. But up to 25 per cent of the issue, managed by Merrill Lynch & Co and BNP Paribas, was sold to Gulf investors, who tend to be less price-sensitive. Much of the rest was marketed in Europe. Proceeds from the bond issue are expected to refinance some of the country's more expensive debt. (Financial Times, UK, 28 June 2003)
* Mauritania. Taking Spain's migrants - 2 July: Spain and Mauritania have agreed measures aimed at reducing illegal immigration from Mauritania to the EU. Spanish Foreign Minister and her Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Ould Toba, signed an accord that will allow Spain to return illegal immigrants from Mauritania even if they are citizens from another country. Mauritania itself is not a significant source of illegal immigration to the EU but the country serves as a transit territory for people from other countries, especially from Senegal and Mali who enter Europe through Spain's Canary Islands. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 2 July 2003)
* Mozambique. Le Corridor de Nacala - Le 27 juin, le Mozambique et une agence gouvernementale américaine, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, ont signé à Washington un accord de financement pour la modernisation du Corridor de Nacala, la ligne de chemin de fer reliant le port mozambicain de Nacala au Malawi. Le montant total du financement s'élève à $29,6 millions. Le gouvernement américain est particulièrement intéressé par ce projet en raison du fait que deux entreprises américaines sont membres du consortium qui a remporté le marché pour l'exploitation de cette ligne. Celle-ci avait été sabotée par les rebelles du Renamo durant la guerre civile. Sa reconstruction est jugée essentielle au développement de l'ensemble de la vallée du Zambèze. (PANA, Sénégal, 28 juin 2003)
* Namibie. Sortie du COMESA - Le 1er juillet, la Namibie a annoncé sa décision de se retirer du Marché commun pour l'Afrique de l'Est et Australe (COMESA), pour des raisons de contraintes financières, a révélé à Lusaka le Haut Commissaire de la Namibie en Zambie, Mme Ithepe. Elle a expliqué que la Namibie avait déjà envoyé une lettre au secrétariat du COMESA pour expliquer les raisons de son retrait. Elle a également fait remarquer que la Namibie envisage de se retirer d'un certain nombre d'organisations régionales et internationales parce que sa participation à ces regroupements économiques s'avère onéreuse. Le fonctionnaire chargé des relations publiques au niveau de l'organisation sous-régionale, M. Karake, a confirmé la notification du retrait de la Namibie, mais a estimé que le principal perdant de ce retrait sera la Namibie elle-même. (PANA, Sénégal, 1er juillet 2003)
* Niger. Irish police seek missing Special Olympians - 1 July: Irish police appeal for information about five foreign athletes who have gone missing after they participated in the Special Olympics in Dublin. Four of the six-strong Niger delegation disappeared after they went shopping on 30 June, the day after the competition finished. About 7,000 athletes from 166 countries took part in the nine-day long Special Olympic Games for athletes with learning difficulties in Dublin. The missing competitors did not arrive at Dublin Airport for their scheduled return, today. A police spokesman says none of the five have applied for political asylum. Concerns for their welfare are a priority. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 1 July 2003)
* Nigeria. Grève générale - 27 juin. La pluie et les grèves paralysent l'activité au Nigeria. Depuis deux jours, des pluies torrentielles se sont abattues sur le pays, provoquant des inondations, notamment autour de Lagos. Tous les transports en commun ont été paralysés et l'électricité coupée. Au même moment, la plus grande centrale syndicale du pays a appelé à la grève générale pour demander une baisse du prix de l'essence qui vient d'augmenter de 50%. -- 30 juin. Pour protester contre l'augmentation des prix des carburants, les syndicats ont lancé une grève générale illimitée largement suivie. Les axes routiers étaient dégagés en raison de l'absence de milliers de bus et de taxis, les marchés étaient vides, de nombreuses banques et commerces étaient fermés. Dans la capitale Abuja, la police a fait usage de gaz lacrymogènes pour disperser les manifestants. Après l'échec d'une rencontre de concertation entre le président Obasanjo et les responsables syndicaux, ces derniers ont décidé de poursuivre la grève. -- Le 1er juillet, au second jour de la grève, la police a molesté des manifestants et des journalistes, alors que la première journée s'était soldée par la mort de six personnes. 80 manifestants ont été arrêtés. -- 2 juillet. A Abuja, des dizaines de personnes ont été blessées dans une bousculade lorsque la troupe a tiré des balles en l'air pour disperser les manifestants. Les manifestations, parties d'Abuja et de Lagos, se sont étendues dans toutes les grandes villes du pays. -- 3 juillet. Les négociations visant à mettre un terme à la grève générale ont encore échoué aux premières heures de jeudi. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 3 juillet 2003)
* Nigeria. Strike goes ahead - 27 June: Nigerian unions are pressing ahead with an indefinite general strike on 30 June even though the government has declared it illegal. The protest is against President Obasanjo's decision to remove fuel subsidies which has led to a 54% rise in fuel prices for ordinary Nigerians. "Nothing on earth is going to stop the strike action," said Owei Lakemfa, spokesman of the main umbrella group of the Nigeria Labour Congress, which is organising the nationwide strike and mass street protests. On 26 June, the government described the union's plans as "unwarranted, illegal and unfortunate", and said the union had not given the government the statutory 15 days of warning. And it threatened legal action against any attempt to barricade factory gates or stop workers carrying out their normal duties. 30 June: The general strike has started. It is being observed by large numbers of workers after last-ditch talks with the government collapsed. Roads leading into the country's major cities are reported to be unusually quiet as thousands of commuter buses and taxis stay off the road. police say they killed four people when they fired on striking crowds in Abuja. 1 July: Nigerian riot police fire into the air and beat union activists and journalists with whips and rifle butts on the second day of a general strike against massive fuel price rises. At least three journalists and an unknown number of striking union workers were injured in the police attack on the 1,000-plus worker rally at a federal government complex in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Streets are largely empty in the major cities of Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Port Harcourt, with residents staying home and shops remaining shuttered for fear of violence and looting. However, many shops and business in Abuja are open. 2 July: Police have fired teargas in Abuja's main market. It appears that support for the strike is weakening, with many shops and offices open. -- No agreement has been reached between the government and striking trade unionists. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 2 July 2003)
* Rwanda. Extra genocide judges to ICTR "no solution" - 26 June: The chief prosecutor in Rwanda has said that the appointment of extra judges to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is not the solution to the problems facing the trials of genocide suspects. The 18 judges, elected on 25 June by the UN Security Council, will join the Court's current 16 permanent judges to help speed up the work of the tribunal. Many people who are involved in running the tribunal have an interest in perpetuating its existence because they make a livelihood out of it. The ICTR, set up in 1995 and based in Arusha, Tanzania, is dealing with the cases of major figures accused of being behind the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Rwanda;s chief prosecutor, Gerard Gahima, says that people should not expect miracles because of the additional judges. "The ICTR has fundamental problems such as bad management, severe corruption, problems relating to the abuse of the procedure by the defendants and their defence lawyers", he said. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 June 2003)
* Rwanda. La loi électorale - Le jeudi soir, 26 juin, le Parlement rwandais a adopté une loi électorale qui ouvre la voie à des élections présidentielle et législatives prévues pour août et septembre prochains, a annoncé la radio nationale. L'adoption de cette loi électorale suit celle, lundi, d'un autre texte régissant la création et les activités des partis politiques. Pour le scrutin présidentiel, la loi prévoit que le président de la République est élu au suffrage universel et secret, pour un mandat de sept ans, renouvelable une fois. L'élection a lieu au scrutin uninominal à un tour à la majorité relative des suffrages exprimés. Les candidats à la présidence doivent être de nationalité rwandaise depuis leur naissance, nés au moins d'un parent rwandais, avoir 35 ans au moins à la date du dépôt de leur candidature, justifier d'une résidence sur le territoire national et d'une inscription sur les listes électorales au moment du dépôt. -- 29 juin. Le principal candidat déclaré de l'opposition à la présidentielle du mois d'août, l'ancien Premier ministre Faustin Twagiramungu, a estimé que les conditions posées à toute candidature par la nouvelle loi électorale rendaient sa tâche difficile. Elle pose "quelques petits problèmes" pour que puissent être entérinées les candidatures de personnes indépendantes du parti au pouvoir, a-t-il déclaré à l'AFP. Il sera obligé de se présenter comme candidat indépendant, car l'Assemblée nationale et le gouvernement ont récemment demandé la dissolution de son parti, le Mouvement démocratique républicain. La loi électorale impose aux indépendants de présenter, à l'appui de leur candidature, une déclaration de soutien de 6.000 électeurs répartis dans tout le pays. "Dans les pays occidentaux cela se fait, mais ici les gens ont peur", estime l'ancien Premier ministre. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 30 juin 2003) 

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