Weekly anb10314.txt #7

[anb-bia <anb-bia@village.uunet.be>]

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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