Weekly anb07034.txt #5

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

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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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