Weekly anb10314.txt #7



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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 31-10-2002      PART #4/7

* Djibouti. More US marines head to Djibouti - 29 October: Elements of a US Marine division are being sent to Djibouti to search for al Qaeda leaders. Members of the 2nd Marine Division will join other US forces already in the Horn of Africa to search for members of the terrorist network behind the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, the military said. The troop movement had been rumoured for some months, and it could begin moving within the next several days. The news follows reports in September that about 800 US troops, including about 200 personnel from special operations units and the CIA, had assembled at a French base in Djibouti. US officials say al Qaeda leaders may be hiding in a variety of places throughout the Horn of Africa after the US campaign in Afghanistan last year destroyed the terrorist network's base in Afghanistan. The US military asked last May to use Djibouti to train and acclimate American forces for missions in the region. Topping the list of suspected hideouts is Yemen, the ancestral home of Osama bin Laden's family. Al Qaeda is also blamed for the October 2000 suicide attack on the destroyer USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden, in which 17 US sailors were killed. Other spots in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, are also thought to be potential al Qaeda hideouts. (CNN, USA, 30 October 2002)

* Egypt. Hosting 2006 Nations Cup - The 2006 African Cup of Nations will be held in Egypt. The decision was made by the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) in Cairo. Egypt polled seven out of the 11 votes cast, with Libya getting two and Algeria and Côte d'Ivoire each having a single vote. Two members of the 13-man executive committee did not take part in the 24 October decision. Senegal's Mawade Wade did not attend for medical reasons and Chad's Adoum Djibrine was excused as a result of prior commitments. The 2006 tournament will double as Africa's qualifying series for the World Cup taking place in the same year. The four semi-finalists at Egypt 2006 will automatically secure World Cup slots but Caf officials have not decided the basis on which the continent's fifth qualifying place will be decided. (BBC News, UK, 24 October 2002)

* Egypte. Nouveau port sur la mer Rouge - Le 26 octobre, le président Moubarak a inauguré la première tranche d'un nouveau port sur la mer Rouge, "le plus grand port" sur cette mer, a rapporté la télévision d'Etat. Le port d'Aïn Soukhna desservira une zone industrielle dans le nord-ouest du golfe de Suez. Cette zone accueille 200 usines spécialisées dans les industries électronique, sidérurgique, automobile et pétrochimique, dont une usine d'engrais et une aciérie. (Le Figaro, France, 28 octobre 2002)

* Kenya. Countdown to elections - 24 October: The man President Daniel arap Moi wants to replace him as Kenya's leader later this year has been unveiling his political vision in Nairobi. The son of Kenya's first president, Uhuru Kenyatta, said he represented a new generation determined to tackle the country's deepening poverty and its reputation for corruption. But although he sought to distance himself from his mentor, he also implied that he wanted an amnesty for those accused of corruption under Mr Moi's government. The 41-year-old has been trying hard to shake off his image as a political puppet and novice -- a man plucked from obscurity by President Moi and thrust, blinking, into the limelight. Mr Kenyatta has criticised the legacy of 24 years in power. "Kenya is faced with a number critical challenges including high poverty levels, serious unemployment, crippling domestic debt, poor infrastructure and failing institutions," he said. Mr Kenyatta said he represented a new beginning for Kenya and insisted that the ruling Kanu party is taking steps to deal with its vices -- a reference to the allegations of corruption which have built up over almost four decades in power. 25 October: President Moi has dissolved Parliament to pave the way for elections due by the end of the year. 29 October The general elections will be held on 27 December, after which, President Daniel arap Moi, who has been in power for 24 years, will step down, officials have announced. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 29 October 2002)

* Kenya. Dissolution du Parlement - Le 25 octobre, le président Arap Moi a dissout le Parlement. Cette décision a été reçue négativement par de nombreux Kényans et notamment par l'Eglise. En effet, cette dissolution met fin à la révision de la Constitution, très attendue par la majorité des Kényans. "Cette décision confirme que les membres du gouvernement n'ont jamais voulu que cette révision s'effectue", a dit le vice-président de la conférence épiscopale. La commission de la révision de la Constitution avait déjà proposé un projet et promis une version définitive pour le 12 décembre. Une conférence constitutionnelle devait avoir lieu le 28 octobre. Mais le président Moi avait publiquement désapprouvé le travail de la commission. Selon l'agence Misna, le président a fixé au 27 décembre la date des élections générales. (DIA, Kinshasa, 29 octobre 2002)

* Kenya. Delay to reform proposals - Steps towards an overhaul of Kenya's constitution were put on indefinite hold on 28 October as delegates were barred by police from attending a national constitutional conference and opposition politicians said they would let the matter rest until after elections in December. The move came a day after President Daniel arap Moi announced the dissolution of the constitutional commission which, led by renowned academic Professor Yash Pal Ghai, recently recommended sweeping changes to the country's system of government. The proposed reforms would have curbed presidential powers, introduced a prime ministerial position and devolved powers to the districts. (Financial Times, UK, 29 October 2002)

* Lesotho. Western firm fined for bribe - The High Court of Lesotho has fined a Canadian engineering firm more than $2m for bribing the senior official on a water project, in what is seen as a landmark case in Africa. Acres International was found guilty of paying Masupha Sole, the head of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, more than $250,000 to win lucrative contracts. Judge Mahapela Lehohla said it was the first time a Western company had been convicted of bribing a "Third World official" and it would send out a clear message. The company denies the charge and is seeking to appeal the verdict. Its lawyer said the prosecution in the trial had "become a persecution". "The prosecution thinks we are guilty and we remain convinced that we are not," said Sytzke Alkema. Other international firms also face charges of bribing officials in the huge Lesotho water project. If convicted, they could be excluded from World Bank-funded projects in future. Acres International was found guilty on two counts of bribery last month for paying money to Masupha Sole through its agent. "Heavy sentences are needed when bribery and corruption has been detected," Judge Lehohla said. "There is a total absence of remorse. All that Acres appears to regret is that it was caught," he said. Acres International says it is "equally disturbed and dismayed" by the sentence. (BBC News, UK, 28 October 2002)

* Lesotho. Firme canadienne condamnée pour corruption - Le 28 octobre, la Haute Cour du Lesotho a condamné une firme canadienne d'ingénierie à 2,2 millions de dollars d'amende pour corruption, un jugement considéré comme crucial contre les pratiques de corruption de multinationales dans les pays en développement. La firme Acres International, basée dans l'Ontario, a été reconnue coupable d'avoir versé par un intermédiaire, dans les années 1990, l'équivalent de 447.000 euros à Masupha Sole, directeur d'un vaste projet hydraulique de plusieurs milliards de dollars, inauguré en 1998, afin de s'assurer une partie des contrats. (La Croix, France, 29 octobre 2002)

* Liberia. Inquiétudes de l'Onu - La décision des autorités de Monrovia de consacrer la moitié du budget national 2002-2003 aux activités militaires et sécuritaires signifie qu'il n'y aura pas de "répit en vue pour les populations civiles du pays". Telle est la conclusion du rapport du secrétaire général de l'Onu sur l'évaluation de la situation au Liberia. L'instabilité du pays risque en outre d'être exacerbée par la crise actuelle en Côte d'Ivoire, qui peut contribuer aussi à compliquer la situation sécuritaire dans la sous-région, estime M. Annan dans un document publié le 28 octobre. Il se félicite en revanche de l'intention affichée par les autorités libériennes d'entamer un dialogue avec les dissidents du LURD (Libériens unis pour la réconciliation et la démocratie), à condition que ceux-ci suspendent leur opposition armée. (Centre de nouvelles Onu, 28 octobre 2002)

* Liberia. Libération d'un journaliste? - Le 28 octobre, le président Charles Taylor a déclaré qu'Hassan Bility (rédacteur en chef de l'hebdomadaire privé The Analyst) et d'autres détenus allaient être libérés, à condition qu'ils s'engagent à respecter "un accord, les prévenant qu'ils seraient à nouveau incarcérés en cas de violations", omettant toutefois de préciser de quel type de violation il s'agit. Taylor a ajouté qu'"il ne s'agit pas d'une libération totale, mais d'une forme de répit". Aucune date n'a été fixée pour la libération du journaliste. Hassan Bility, connu pour son ton très critique envers le président, avait été interpellé le 24 juin 2002 par des agents de la sécurité, qui l'accusaient de collaboration avec les rebelles du LURD. Incarcéré sans inculpation et dans un lieu tenu secret, il était considéré comme un "prisonnier de guerre" et devait être jugé par un tribunal militaire. La décision du président intervient après de multiples appels de la communauté internationale. (RSF, France, 29 octobre 2002)

* Libya. Libya cuts links with world - 26 October: Libya has closed its airports and severed phone links with the outside world in the latest demand for compensation from former colonial power, Italy. People who phoned Libya received a recorded message: "As part of the mourning over the victims of the savage crimes committed by the Italian fascists against the Libyan people, all international telecommunications are to be halted today." Libyans wore black to mark the Day of Mourning and black banners fluttered over homes, government buildings, buses and cars said the official Libyan news agency, JANA. Airports were closed down, but opened briefly for a visit by Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, which Libya is threatening to leave. Libyan satellite television broadcast its programmes in black and white on 26 October. The Italian occupation of Libya began in 1911. Allied troops ended the Italian occupation during World War II and the United Nations declared Libya an independent state in 1952. In the 1980s and 90s, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi repeatedly demanded reparations from Italy for the colonial period. Italy replied that it had settled all obligations in a payment worth $6.7m in 1956. And in 1998, the Italian and Libyan governments signed an agreement ending the conflict. Italy apologised for deporting unknown thousands of Libyans to barren islands in southern Italy, where thousands died because of disease, famine and bad weather. But the protests have stood and Libya has held an annual Day of Mourning. Apart from the protest, relations between Italy and Libya are currently cordial. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is scheduled to pay a one-day visit to Libya on 28 October. Italy imports oil and natural gas from Libya. (BBC News, UK, 26 October 2002)

* Libya. Threatening to quit Arab League - 24 October: Libya threatens to pull out of the Arab league, in the latest of a series of disagreements with the umbrella body for 22 Arab countries. Officials in Tripoli have not specified why on this occasion Libya is threatening to leave the League. But earlier this year, Muammer Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, was angered at the short shrift given to a peace plan he presented at an Arab summit in Beirut, intended to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. 28 October: Libya has agreed to suspend submitting a year-long notice needed before withdrawing from the Arab League. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 28 October 2002)

* Libye. Retrait de la Ligue arabe - 24 octobre. La Libye a décidé de quitter la Ligue arabe, a annoncé le ministère des Affaires étrangères libyen. Le gouvernement a remis une demande officielle en vue de son retrait de la Ligue, selon l'agence de presse libyenne Jana. Le régime n'a pas fourni les raisons de ce retrait. Toutefois, selon les responsables libyens, le colonel Kadhafi reproche à la Ligue arabe son "inefficacité" dans la gestion de plusieurs dossiers liés au monde arabe, notamment le bras de fer entre l'Irak et les Etats-Unis et le regain de violences dans le conflit israélo-palestinien. Déjà dans le passé, la Libye, qui se pose aujourd'hui davantage en champion de l'unité africaine qu'arabe, avait menacé de se retirer de la Ligue. Le secrétaire général de la Ligue arabe, Amr Moussa, a annoncé qu'il se rendra d'urgence à Tripoli pour régler cette crise. -- 26 octobre. M. Amr Moussa n'a pas réussi à convaincre le colonel Kadhafi à revenir sur sa décision. Ce retrait de la Libye a provoqué une crise dans la Ligue arabe et fait planer une sérieuse menace sur l'avenir de cette organisation obsolète, paralysée par les conflits internes et les divergences d'intérêts, indiquent des observateurs. Amr Moussa n'a d'ailleurs pas caché que ce retrait libyen risque de faire boule de neige. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 octobre 2002)

Weekly anb1031.txt - #4/7