穆加貝宣誓就任津巴布韋總統觀察員譴責

穆加貝宣誓就職連任津巴布韋現任總統，展開為期五年的任期。但選舉結果卻受到質疑。

津巴布韋選舉委員會宣佈，穆加貝在27日舉行的第二輪總統選舉中，獲得壓倒性勝利。不過穆加貝是此輪投票當中的唯一候選人。

自從1980年津巴布韋獨立以來，現年84歲的穆加貝一直擔任這個國家的領導人。

但是，其他非洲國家領導人，大都不打算承認津巴布韋的大選結果。

非洲議會派遣的觀察團負責人庫馬洛說，投票是在充滿敵意的環境下進行，整個選舉既不自由也不公平。

國際社會亦普遍對穆加貝政權利用暴力恫嚇選舉的情況予以譴責。

美國總統布殊指津巴布韋政府是不合法政府，並已下令實施制裁。

聯合國安理會對津巴布韋當局不肯接受國際社會勸籲，堅持如期舉行總統選舉感到遺憾，並指津巴布韋沒有可舉行自由公平選舉的條件。

但由於南非反對，安理會對津巴布韋第二輪投票，暫時未能達成宣佈無效的協議。


Mugabe is 'prepared to fight' if Zimbabwe elects opposition

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is slated to face opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in a run-off election on June 27, said today that the opposition would never govern Zimbabwe as long as he is alive, vowing to "go to war" if the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wins the election.

"We shall never, never accept anything that smells of ... the MDC. These pathetic puppets taking over this country? Let's see. That is not going to happen," Mugabe said at the funeral of a former independence fighter. "It shall never happen... as long as we are alive and those who fought for the country are alive," he added. "We are prepared to fight for our country and to go to war for it."

He described Tsvangirai and the opposition as "traitors" and characterized them as puppets of Great Britain and the "white man", who ruled Zimbabwe until the country gained independence in 1980. "This country shall not again come under the rule and control of the white man, direct or indirect," Mugabe said.

Mugabe accused British Prime Minister Gordon Brown of interfering in Zimbabwe's affairs, after Brown called for "free and fair elections" and "an end to violence" on Friday. "We have become the focus of the British and the Americans. The U.S. has provided $70 million to the MDC for regime change ... and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is interfering in our internal affairs," Mugabe said. "Once again we want to make it clear to the British and Americans that we are no one's subjects and will never be."

The opposition accuses Mugabe's ZANU-PF party of using violence and intimidation in an attempt to win the run-off election. According to the MDC, 66 of its followers have been killed in attacks since the contested March election, in which Morgan Tsvangirai won the most votes but failed to secure a majority.

Today, police arrested Tsvangirai for the fifth time in less than ten days. He was released a few hours later along with 11 of his colleagues. "It is clearly impossible to talk about a free and fair election in Zimbabwe," the MDC said following Tsvangirai's arrest. "To suggest otherwise is to be clearly blind to the grave harassment, intimidation and violence that the people of Zimbabwe have had to endure over the past few years."

The Secretary-General of the MDC, Tendai Biti, appeared in court today after being arrested on Thursday. Prosecutors said they planned to charge him with treason, for proclaiming victory in the March election before official results were announced and for "publishing a document that was explaining a transitional strategy around March 26". Biti's lawyer says these charges could carry a death penalty.

On Friday, forty prominent African leaders, including former UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali, criticized the government of Zimbabwe in an open letter, demanding an end to acts of "intimidation, harassment and violence". Meanwhile, Mugabe said that veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation war would be willing to take up arms in order to prevent the opposition from coming into power.


Simbabwe: Mugabe droht Opposition mit Krieg

14.06.2008 – Der amtierende Staatspräsident Simbabwes, Robert Mugabe, zog anlässlich einer Gedenkveranstaltung für einen verstorbenen Veteranen des Unabhängigkeitskampfes der 1970-er Jahre Parallelen zwischen dem Unabhängigkeitskampf gegen die ehemaligen britischen Kolonialherren vor 30 Jahren und der gegenwärtigen Auseinandersetzung mit der Opposition. Dabei sagte der seit 1980 regierende Staatschef Simbabwes: „Wir sind bereit, für dieses Land zu sterben und in den Krieg zu ziehen.“ Eine Machtübernahme durch die Opposition bei einem möglichen Sieg der Bewegung für Demokratischen Wandel (MDC) bei der für den 27. Juni geplanten Stichwahl um das Präsidentenamt schloss Mugabe kategorisch aus: „Dass dieses Land zu unseren Lebzeiten von Verrätern übernommen wird, ist unmöglich und wird niemals passieren“. Den Führer der Opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, bezeichnete Mugabe wiederholt als „Verräter“ und Handlanger der ehemaligen britischen Kolonialmacht.

Die Äußerungen Mugabes fielen im Vorfeld der Stichwahl Ende des Monats, bei der Mugabe und Tsvangirai von der MDC um die Stimmen der Wahlberechtigten Simbabwes für die Wahl zum Präsidenten werben. Bei der Wahl im März hatte Tsvangirai die Mehrheit der Stimmen auf sich vereinigen können, jedoch nicht die absolute Mehrheit gewonnen. Darauf hatte die nationale Wahlkommission entschieden eine Stichwahl abzuhalten.

Am Samstag wurde Tsangvirai erneut zusammen mit anderen Mitgliedern der MDC verhaftet und auf ein Polizeirevier gebracht. Es handelt sich um die fünfte Verhaftung innerhalb der letzten zehn Tage. Angaben zu den Gründen der Verhaftung wurden nicht gemacht. Der Generalsekretär der MDC, Tendai Biti, wurde in Handschellen und Fußeisen dem Obersten Gericht vorgeführt. Ihm wird Hochverrat vorgeworfen. Er war am Donnerstag auf dem Flughafen von Harare bei der Wiedereinreise nach Simbabwe festgenommen worden. Im Falle einer Verurteilung muss Biti mit der Todesstrafe rechnen.

Angesichts ständiger Schikanen und Verfolgungen durch die Sicherheitsorgane sagte ein MDC-Sprecher, es sei „schlichtweg unmöglich, von freien und fairen Wahlen in Simbabwe zu sprechen“. Die Afrikanische Union (AU) forderte die Regierung Simbabwes zu einem Ende der Gewalt gegen den politischen Gegner auf. Zur Stichwahl am 27. Juni will die AU Wahlbeobachter nach Simbabwe entsenden.


Mugabe: A vote for MDC is a wasted vote

Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe and leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), has said in a speech that any votes for his opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would be a wasted vote. He stated, "You can vote for them [MDC] but that will be a wasted vote. You will be cheating yourself as there is no way we can allow them to rule this country." He continued by saying that "We [ZANU-PF] have a job to do and that is to protect our heritage. The MDC will not rule this country. It will never, ever happen."

In the speech Mr. Mugabe also claimed that the situation with healthcare in the country is good. He said that "I have bought scanning machines which can see right into the liver in one's body, in detail, what we go to South Africa for. They will be distributed to all major hospitals and, in future, there would be no need to go to South Africa for medical attention."

Mr. Mugabe also claimed that the issue of the maize shortage would be resolved soon. He said that "the railway lines from Zambia and South Africa pass through here. I cannot understand that. But since a lot of maize is still outside the country and being delivered, we will correct that."


מוגאבה: קול לתנועה לשינוי דמוקרטי הוא קול מבוזבז

רוברט מוגאבה, נשיא זימבבואה, אמר בנאום כי כל הקולות למפלגת האופוזיציה המתנגדת לשלטונו, התנועה למען שינוי דמוקרטי, ייחשבו לקולות מבוזבזים. הוא הצהיר כי "אתם יכולים להצביע בעבורם אך קולותיכם יהיו קולות מבוזבזים. אתם תעבדו על עצמכם משום שאין שום דרך שבה נוכל לאפשר להם לעלות לשלטון במדינה זו." הוא המשיך באומרו כי "יש לנו (מפלגת השלטון) עבודה לעשות והיא לשמור על מורשתנו. מפלגת 'התנועה למען שינוי דמוקרטי' לא תשלוט במדינה זו. דבר זה לא יקרה לעולם ועד."

בנאומו טען מר מוגאבה כי מצב שירותי הבריאות במדינה טוב. הוא אמר כי "רכשתי מכשירי הדמיה שיכולים לראות היישר אל תוך הכבד בגוף האדם, בפירוט, דברים שאנו נוהגים ללכת לדרום-אפריקה בעבורם. המכשירים יופצו לכל בתי החולים הגדולים, ובעתיד, לא יהיה יותר צורך לנסוע לדרום-אפריקה על מנת לקבל טיפול רפואי."

מר מוגאבה אף טען כי סוגיית המחסור בתירס תפתר בקרוב. הוא אמר כי "קווי הרכבות מזמביה ודרום-אפריקה עוברים דרכנו. אינני יכול להבין זאת. אך כיוון שכמויות גדולות של תירס עודן מצויות בדרכן מחוץ למדינה, אנו נתקן זאת."


Municipal elections in Belgium: Flemish Interest halted in Antwerp but advancing elsewhere

In the 2006 municipal elections in Belgium, the political party Vlaams Belang ("Flemish Cause") advanced in almost all municipalities, just like the last elections. But its rise was brought to a halt in the cities Mechelen and also in its stronghold Antwerp.

Vlaams Belang is considered by observers and opponents as a far right party, supporting Flemish independence from Belgium and restricted immigration.

Just one week before the elections, Antwerp was the scene of the 0110 concerts, organised against racism, extremism and gratuitous violence. The event was spurred by a series of acts of "pointless violence" during the last year (the murder of Joe Van Holsbeeck, the case Hans Van Themsche and the events surrounding Guido Demoor. However, Vlaams Belang asked many musicians to boycott the event, because it "only targets Vlaams Belang". The party considered the concerts as a direct attack by the political establishment. Since 1989, the other parties have instituted a cordon sanitaire against Vlaams Belang, forcing them into the opposition, notwithstanding their increasing electorial success.

In 2004, three organisations that were at the heart of the Vlaams Blok party were condemned for incitement to hate and discrimination, and the party reformed consequently and changed their name to Vlaams Belang, although the party top remained unchanged.

During the last poll in 2000, Vlaams Belang became the largest political fraction in Antwerp, with 33% of votes. However, the other parties, calling themselves the "democratic parties", adhering to the cordon sanitaire, joined together to prevent Vlaams Belang from entering into power.

On Sunday, the political cartel SP.A-Spirit obtained 35,5% of votes in Antwerp, which was 15,5% more than in the 2000 elections, while the cartel Vlaams Belang - VLOTT got 33,5% of votes. Before the elections, Vlaams Belang had set the target for Antwerp at 35% of the votes.

The electorial success of SP.A-Spirit was accompanied by a loss of votes for the coalition partners in Antwerp. Filip Dewinter, the leader of Vlaams Belang, called SP.A leader and mayor of Antwerp Patrick Janssens a cannibal, because his party seemed to have consumed the other members of the majority. Patrick Janssens received 71 289 personal votes (71% of the party's total), while Dewinter, last year's champion of personal votes in Antwerp, got 62 642 votes on his name.

In many countryside towns, Vlaams Belang participated in the elections for the first time, and immediately scored around 10%. In Schoten, Lier (both not far from Antwerp) and other places, Vlaams Belang became the largest fraction, and the question remains if the cordon sanitaire will be upheld in these communes.


Belgique : le Vlaams Belang progresse aux élections communales mais ne gagne pas la mairie d'Anvers

Publié le 9 octobre 2006   Le parti séparatiste flamand, le Vlaams Belang, a renforcé ses positions lors des élections communales de dimanche dernier. Cependant, il échoue dans sa tentative de prendre la seconde ville de Belgique, Anvers, avec ses 33,51 % des voix contre 35,28 % à son concurrent socialiste qui a profité de la chute des autres concurrents.

Selon le Vlaams Belang, sa progression a été ralentie par l'instauration du vote des étrangers pour les élections communales.

Le parti du Premier ministre Guy Verhofstadt subit, quant à lui, de plein fouet les scandales dans le sud du pays avec une régression généralisée.


Muqtada al-Sadr calls for end to fighting

Prominent Iraqi Shi'a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has told followers, the Mahdi Army militia, to stop fighting Iraqi and coalition forces and to cooperate with them.

This comes after six days of fierce fighting in Iraq's southern city of Basra, Baghdad and other Shi'a areas that has left over 240 to 250 dead.

The statement and offer came from al-Sadr's headquarters in Najaf. In the statement Sadr said, "Because of the religious responsibility, and to stop Iraqi blood being shed, and to maintain the unity of Iraq and to put an end to this sedition that the occupiers and their followers want to spread among the Iraqi people, we call for an end to armed appearances in Basra and all other provinces."

Sadr also condemned further attacks against the Iraqi government stating, "We announce our disavowal from anyone who carries weapons and targets government institutions, charities and political party offices."

However, al-Sadr also called on the government to offer general amnesty, release detainees and stop what he believes are illegal raids.

An Iraqi government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, welcomed the statement as "positive and responsive." The Madhi Army had been negotiating since Saturday night with the Iraqi government. Ali al-Dabbagh said, "As the government of Iraq we welcome this statement. We believe this will support the government of Iraq's efforts to impose security."

American forces targeted the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City with air strikes that killed 9 people and wounded 14. Another airstrike was launched at the northern Baghdad neighborhood of al-Zuhor, which killed 6 people and wounded 14. The American military said they killed 11 militants in those areas.


Moqtada al-Sadr pede o fim dos combates

O clérigo xiita Moqtada al-Sadr pediu aos seus seguidores que parem de combater as forças iraquianas e da coligação e que colaborem com elas.

Isto acontece após seis dias de violentos combates nas cidades de Bassora e Bagdade, e em outras áreas xiitas, que provocaram mais de 240 mortos.

As declarações e a oferta vieram do quartel-general de al-Sadr em Najaf. Nas declarações, Sadr disse: "Devidos às responsabilidades religiosas e para parar que o sangue iraquiano continue a ser derramado, para manter a unidade do Iraque e para pôr fim à sedição que os ocupantes e seus seguidores querem espalhar pelo povo do Iraque, pedidos um fim às aparições armadas em Bassora e em todas as outras províncias."

Sadr também condenou mais ataques contra o governo iraquiano, dizendo: "Anunciamos a nossa desaprovação a que transportar armas e que tenha como alvo as instituições do governo, caridades e escrtórios de partidos políticos."

No entanto, al-Sadr também apelou para que o governo oferecesse uma amnistia geral, libertasse presos e que parasse o que acredita serem raides ilegais.

Um porta-voz do governo iraquiano, Ali al-Dabbagh, saudou as declarações como "positivas e responsivas". O Exército Madhi tinha estado a negociar desde Sábado à noite com o governo iraquiano. Ali al-Dabbagh disse: "O governo do Iraque sauda esta declaração. Acreditamos que isto irá ajudar os esforços do governo do Iraque na imposição da segurança."

Forças americanas alvejaram os arredores de Bagdade, em Sadr City, com ataques aéreos, matando 9 pessoas e ferindo outras 14. Outro ataque aéreo foi lançado contra os arredores a norte de Bagdade, e al-Zuhor, matando 6 pessoas e ferindo 14. Os militares americanos disseram que tinham morto 11 militantes naquelas áreas.


Musharraf lifts emergency rule in Pakistan

On December 15, Pervez Musharraf appeared in a nationally televised address in Pakistan to announce the end of emergency rule which had been invoked on November 3, 2007. Musharraf said that his objective of saving Pakistan from being destabilized had been achieved. However, a ban that prevents media from making live broadcasts has been left in place.

Benazir Bhutto, a former Prime Minister and key opposition member, said that this is "an important step forward," however, more is need to achieve a "restoration of democracy" in Pakistan.

"We welcome President Musharraf's lifting of state of emergency and the revoking of the provisional constitutional order," Amadeu Altafaj Tardio, a spokesperson for the European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid told reporters at a briefing on Monday.

"It is essential for all restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms to be lifted in advance of the parliamentary elections," Tardio continued. "We thus appeal to the government to take further steps to enhance confidence in the political process."

Pakistan is scheduled to hold a general election on January 8, 2008.


Ausnahmezustand in Pakistan aufgehoben

Islamabad (Pakistan), 17.12.2007 – Der pakistanische Präsident Pervez Musharraf hat den seit sechs Wochen geltenden Ausnahmezustand für beendet erklärt. Ein entsprechendes Dekret vom Freitag trat am Samstagmittag in Kraft.

In einer am Abend vom staatlichen Fernsehen übertragenen Rede an die Nation sicherte Musharraf zu, die für den 8. Januar geplanten Parlamentswahlen würden „ausgewogen und transparent“ verlaufen. Von Gegnern des Regimes wird jedoch eingewandt, ein normaler Wahlkampf sei angesichts einer zu erwartenden Fortsetzung der Kontrolle der Medien und des Justizapparates kaum möglich. Musharraf hatte die Verhängung des Ausnahmezustandes mit der wachsenden Terrorismusgefahr begründet, seine Macht dann jedoch auch dazu benutzt, führende Richter auszutauschen. Außerdem sollen tausende Oppositionelle während des Ausnahmezustandes verhaftet worden sein.

Die Rechtmäßigkeit seiner Kandidatur zu den Präsidentschaftswahlen vom 6. Oktober des Jahres sollte vor Gericht angefochten werden, weil der Präsident gleichzeitig Oberbefehlshaber der pakistanischen Armee war. Ende November trat Musharraf von dieser Funktion zurück. Einem möglichen für ihn negativen Urteil des Obersten Gerichts war der Präsident durch die Absetzung des obersten Richters Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry zuvorgekommen, der als einer der schärfsten Gegner Musharrafs gilt. Die neu eingesetzten Richter erklärten dann die Kandidatur Musharrafs für rechtens.

Benazir Bhutto, die ehemalige Ministerpräsidentin von Pakistan, welche auch zur Wahl steht, begrüßte die Entscheidung Musharrafs als „entscheidenden Schritt vorwärts“. Als sie Mitte Oktober nach achtjährigem Exil in ihr Land zurückkehrte, ereignete sich ein folgenschwerer Anschlag bei den Feierlichkeiten, der über 130 Menschenleben forderte. Ihre Partei konnte sich mit der von Nawaz Sharif, der erst im November aus dem Exil zurückkam, nicht auf eine gemeinsame Linie einigen. Sharif hatte zu einem Boykott der bevorstehenden Wahlen aufgerufen, nachdem er zuvor als Kandidat ausgeschlossen worden war.


Musharraf quits as chief of army staff in Pakistan

President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan gave up his uniform in a ceremony yesterday in Rawalpindi. He handed power over to General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the headquarters of the Pakistani Army, after being the leader of the army for nine years.

In his final address as leader of the army, he said that the army was the saviour of Pakistan and that the army was his life. He also expressed his pride in being the leader of what he called a "great force."

Musharraf had been under a lot of pressure to quit as army chief, since the country was put into the spotlight as a result of a state of emergency being declared. He is expected to be sworn in as the civilian president of Pakistan on Thursday.

Both the opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto, and the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, welcomed the change of duties. However, Bhutto indicated her party may not be prepared to accept Musharraf in his new non-military leadership role. Condoleezza Rice requested the state of emergency be lifted before the planned elections, which are due to take place in January.

Musharraf said General Kayani was "an excellent soldier" and that "the armed forces under his command will achieve great heights."

General Kayani was named as the successor to Musharraf in October, before the state of emergency was declared in early November.


Musharraf deja el comando de las Fuerzas Armadas

28 de noviembre de 2007Islamabad, Pakistán —

Pervez Musharraf, actual Presidente de Pakistán, ha abdicado como jefe del ejército este miércoles, y será nombrado presidente civil del país, cediendo así ante las presiones internas y externas, que piden democracia en el país.

El General Ashfaq Kayani fue nombrado, en su lugar, comandante militar del país, en una ceremonia realizada en una sede militar de Rawalpindi, cerca de la capital Islamabad. Durante la ceremonia, el Presidente declaró que se sentía orgulloso de haber podido comandar esta "gran fuerza".

Una líder opositora y ex Primera Ministra pakistaní, Benazir Bhutto, dio bienvenida a la decisión, pero declaró que Musharraf no es un presidente civil que su partido político fuera a aceptar. Asimismo, la Secretaria de Estado estadounidense, Condoleezza Rice, dijo que la decisión era un buen paso, pero reclamó que el estado de emergencia vigente aún sea cancelado para las elecciones que se harán en enero de 2008.

El Presidente Musharraf lideró las fuerzas pakistaníes por nueve años turbulentos. Como líder civil, tendrá que forjar una relación con el nuevo comandante y un Primer Ministro elegido.

Musharraf asumió como presidente tras un golpe de estado en 1999 que derrocó al entonces Primer Ministro Nawaz Sharif.


Musharraf deixa comando das Forças Armadas Nacionais

Pervez Musharraf, atual presidente-ditador do Paquistão, deixou a chefia do Exército nesta quarta-feira, e foi nomeado presidente civil do país, já nesta quinta-feira. Ele cede às pressões internas e externas, por democracia no país e para deixar o comando das Forças Armadas. O general Ashfaq Kayani foi nomeado em seu lugar no comando militar do Paquistão, em cerimônia realizada em uma sede militar em Rawalpindi, perto da capital Islamabad.

O ditador tomou o poder em 1999, após um Golpe de Estado que derrubou o então primeiro-ministro Nawaz Sharif. É aguardado que como presidente civil, Musharraf deva baixar a lei marcial, em vigor no País, no dia 16 de dezembro.

Em seu discurso já como presidente civil, afirmou que o retorno dos líderes da oposição, os ex-premiês Sharif e Benazir Bhutto, é salutar para o País, no esforço para a implementação de uma democracia no Paquistão.

"Só espero que os dois trabalhem de forma a criar um ambiente político conciliatório, civilizado e democrático"[1], afirmou.

Os dois ex-primeiros-ministros do Paquistão e líderes da oposição vão se reunir nesta segunda-feira para definir uma estratégia para as eleições de 8 de janeiro, anunciaram seus partidos neste sábado.

Bhutto informou que o seu partido, o Partido do Povo Paquistanês (PPP) participará das eleições. Já Sharif anunciou sua intenção de boicotá-las.


Musharraf spokesperson denies resignation

The chief spokesperson for Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has denied reports that came out Thursday indicating that the president would step down within days. "I'm tired of saying there's no such thing," Rashid Quershi remarked, and called reports that Musharraf was seeking immunity "nonsense."

Meanwhile, Tariq Azim Khan, a former minister under Musharraf, has said that talks concerning the issue are taking place. "Talks are under way and many people are interested that the issue is settled amicably without going into the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf."

When the Associated Press asked if Musharraf was going to resign, Azim Khan replied that "there are people who are advising him to avoid confrontation, but I don't think he has made up his mind."

"It is at the moment that Pakistan cannot afford confrontation," Azim Khan said. "And it's obvious that the present government and President Musharraf cannot get along. So it is in the best interest of Pakistan that some way is found whereby this mode of confrontation can be changed or can be more conciliatory."

"He is ready to resign but he is putting conditions like indemnity for the November 3 action," said an anonymous source within the coalition government to The Guardian. "Backdoor talks are still going on. Things have not yet been finalised. Let's see what happens."

Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said the ruling coalition is determined to press forward with impeachment if Musharraf does not resign. "We have conveyed to them that the coalition is determined for impeachment, and if he wants to save himself, the best way is for him to quit."

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, a senior minister in the government, said: "Only a few people are still with him and he only wants two things: indemnity for the sins and crimes he committed in the past eight years, and a piece of land ... so he can live rest of his life there."


Porta-voz de Musharraf nega renúncia

Islamabad, Paquistão • 16 de agosto de 2008

O principal porta-voz do presidente do Paquistão, Pervez Musharraf negou ontem às reportagens de dois jornais na quinta-feira que afirmaram que o presidente irá renunciar dentro de alguns dias. "Eu estou cansado de dizer não há tal coisa", comentou Quershi Rashid e as reportagens em que Musharraf querer imunidade rapidamente como "disparate".

Entretanto, Tariq Azim Khan, um ex-ministro de Musharraf, disse que a questão relativa conversações estão ocorrendo. "As conversações estão em curso e muitas pessoas estão interessadas que o problema é resolvido de forma amigável, sem entrar em o impeachment do presidente Pervez Musharraf."

Quando a Associated Press, perguntado se Musharraf estava indo para que se demita, Azim Khan respondeu que "há pessoas que estão aconselhando-oa evitar confronto, mas não acho que ele fez a sua mente."

"É no momento em que o Paquistão não pode permitir confronto", disse Azim Khan. "E é óbvio que o atual governo e o presidente Musharraf não pode obter junto. Portanto, é no melhor interesse do Paquistão que se verifique alguma forma em que este modo de confronto pode ser mudado ou pode ser mais conciliatória."

"Ele está pronto a demitir-se, mas ele está colocando condições como indenização para ação em 3 de novembro", disse uma fonte anônima no seio da coligação governamental com The Guardian. "Conversações em porta-fechada ainda estão em curso. Coisas ainda não foram finalizados. Vamos ver o que acontece."

O Ministro da Defesa do Paquistão, Chaudhry Mukhtar Ahmed disse que a coligação está determinada a avançar com impeachment Musharraf não se demita. "Temos que lhes é determinado que a coligação de impeachment e se ele quer salvar-se, o melhor caminho é pra ele parar de fumar."

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, um ex-ministro do governo, disse: "Apenas algumas pessoas ainda estão com ele e ele só quer duas coisas: indenização para os pecados e crimes que ele cometeu nos últimos oito anos e um pedaço de terra... Para que ele possa viver resto de sua vida lá."


"Muslim Brotherhood" facing troubled times

The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest Sunni Muslim political group, and also an influential Egyptian association, has been under pressure from the Egyptian government. Founded in 1928 in Egypt, the Brotherhood grew to approximately 2 million strong in the 1940s. Soon the Brotherhood was at odds with the government, and one of their members even assassinated the prime minister. Soon after the Brotherhood founder and leader Hassan al-Banna was assassinated, possibly by a government agent.

Tensions with the government have not eased in succeeding years. Although the Brotherhood shuns terrorist violence, it also promotes Jihad. Tensions with the government also arise from the Brotherhood's support of labor rights and political freedom. The brotherhood is at times critical of the government. The Muslim Brotherhood currently participates in the government; even though they are adversarial towards it, they are the largest opposition party, with 20% of Parliament. However, the Brotherhood has been officially banned for much of the time since 1954, so all of its political members are forced to run as independents.

Recently the Egyptian government has resumed suppression of many Brotherhood activities. As many as 600 Brotherhood members have been arrested since it began. As many as four are believed to have been kidnapped or murdered, as the government had not announced their arrests until recently. The Egyptian government has even arrested 6 members of Parliament.

The Brotherhood is on the defensive on all of this. Regarding 4 of the members of parliament imprisoned the Brotherhood lawyer has said, "But they had nothing at all to do with this mess ... and the people questioning them know this, they're certain of this." The Economist speculates that the reason for this recent crackdown by the government is to create a more accepting climate for the rumored inauguration of the current president's son, Gamal Mubarak.


Les Frères musulmans traversent une période délicate

Les Frères musulmans, la plus grande et plus influente organisation sunnite d'Égypte, est dans le viseur du Gouvernement égyptien. Fondé en 1928 en Égypte, les Frères musulmans ont cru jusqu'à atteindre 2 millions dans les années 1940. Très vite, les Frères musulmans entrent en conflit avec le Gouvernement, un de leurs membres assassina le Premier ministre d'alors. Peu après, le fondateur et dirigeant des Frères musulmans Hassan al-Banna fut assassiné, probablement par un agent gouvernemental.
Les tensions avec le Gouvernement ne s'améliorèrent pas. Bien que les Frères musulmans condamnent la violence terroriste, ils promeuvent aussi le Jihad. Les tensions avec le Gouvernement proviennent aussi du soutien de l'organisation aux droits des travailleurs et aux libertés politiques, en plus d'être parfois critiques du Gouvernement. Les Frères musulmans, bien que participant à l'appareil politique du pays, sont le plus grand parti d'opposition, détenant 20 % des sièges au Parlement. Cependant les Frères musulmans soient officiellement interdits depuis 1954, ce qui oblige ses membres à se présenter comme indépendants.
Récemment, le Gouvernement égyptien a commencé à sévir contre les Frères musulmans. Plus de 600 membres ont été arrêtés dans cette opération, ainsi que 6 députés, 4 d'entre eux étant supposés être kidnappés ou tués, le Gouvernement n'ayant annoncé leurs arrestations que récemment.
Les Frères musulmans sont maintenant sur la défensive. Considérant l'emprisonnement des 4 députés de la Fraternité, l'avocat des Frères musulmans a déclaré : « Mais ils n'ont absolument rien à voir avec cette agitation ... et toutes les personnes les ayant interrogés le savent, ils en sont certains ». The Economist spécule que la raison de l'action gouvernementale est de susciter un climat plus acceptable pour l'intronisation du fils du président, Gamal Moubarak, que la rumeur prétend imminente.


Muslim leaders don't accept "pressured" apology

Newsweek magazine apologized to the victims of last week's deadly protests in Afghanistan, which were sparked when a Newsweek report stated that U.S. officials defiled the Koran.

But Islamic parties in Pakistan say the Newsweek apology is a transparent attempt to defuse Muslim anger. Qazi Hussain Ahmad, the head of an Islamic party alliance told the BBC on Monday that Newsweek's clarification held no weight. "There have been reports by the prisoners who have been released from Guantanamo Bay of desecration of the holy Koran, and different atrocities perpetrated on them."

On Tuesday Mr.Ahmad said,"Whatever (Newsweek) magazine has done now is under pressure (from the U.S. government)," he said. "It has not denied what it has reported and many people freed from Guantanamo Bay have narrated the same thing."

The Tuesday edition of the Pakistani daily newspaper the News quoted Hafiz Ehsan Saeed, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, as saying that the Koran was routinely desecrated at Guantanamo.

Reuters reported that Muslims said they suspected that pressure from Washington was behind the magazine's backing off. On Monday, presidential spokesman Scott
McClellan had criticized Newsweek's initial response to the incident, saying it was "puzzling." Later in the day, Newsweek retracted the story which the White House said was a "good first step".

Newsweek defended its reporting and said its investigation is continuing into allegations that the Koran had been desecrated by U.S. personnel.

"Unfortunately relations are so bad at this point that the perception will linger;" said Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Many people won't believe it. They'll believe the magazine was pressured into doing a retraction." Hooper said.

"We will not be deceived by this," Sadullah Abu Aman, an Islamic cleric, told Reuters in Afghanistan.

The magazine said it had made a mistake in its May 9th report regarding the accusations, which led to violent anti-American protests in Afghanistan.  Over 16 were killed, and more than 100 were injured.  While many officials supporting the protests vowed for non-violence, some in the streets threatened to start a religious war against the United States.

Newsweek's Editor, Mark Whitaker, said the magazine's error was reporting confirmation by U.S. military investigators that Guantanamo personnel flushed the Koran down a toilet. The source initially said he had read of the event in a military investigative report, but the source later told the magazine he might have seen the account of the Koran incident in other investigative documents or drafts.

Mr Whitaker told Reuters, "As to whether anything like this happened, we just don't know. We're not saying it absolutely happened but we can't say that it absolutely didn't happen either."

The Newsweek report was not the first public allegation alleging Quran desecration at Guantanamo Bay. News stories came out in August and October 2004, reporting that British citizens who had been released from Guantanamo claimed U.S. guards threw their Qurans into the toilet. Also, in January, 2005, Kristine Huskey, a lawyer representing Guantanamo detainees, said a detainee witnessed a guard tossing a Quran into a toilet.


Newsweek se disculpa por noticia no comprobada sobre un supuesto insulto estadounidense al Corán

16 de mayo de 2005Estados Unidos — La revista norteamericana Newsweek emitió este domingo un comunicado en el que pide disculpas por una noticia publicada sin comprobar, que dice que agentes penitenciarios de los Estados Unidos de América, enjuagaron el libro sagrado del Islamismo, el Corán, en un sanitario de Guantánamo. La divulgación de esta noticia provocó una ola de protestas contra los EUA en Afganistán, que trajo como resultado por lo menos 16 muertos y varios heridos. La revista dijo que cometió un error en la publicación de la materia.

La noticia apareció el 9 de mayo y decía que investigadores del comando militar norteamericano escribieron en un informe que encontraron evidencias de que guardias estadounidenses lanzaron el libro sagrado del Corán en un sanitario, durante un interrogatorio con los prisioneros, con el objetivo de forzarlos a hablar. El reporte de la revista, escrito por Michael Isikoff y John Barry, citaba una fuente anónima y decía que la noticia no había sido desmentida por autoridades militares.

Después de la publicación de la materia, autoridades militares desmintieron la noticia publicada por la revista y dijeron que no hay evidencias o informes internos que corroboren el hecho.

La nota de la revista dice: "Lamentamos la mala comprensión por cualquier parte de nuestra historia y extendemos nuestras compasiones a las víctimas de la violencia y a los soldados de Estados Unidos que quedaron en medio"

El portavoz del Pentágono Bryan Whitman dijo: "Infelizmente no pueden notar los daños que ellos causaron a esta nación, ni a aquellos que fueron viciosamente atacados por esas falsas alegaciones."

El periódico The New York Times dice que el reportaje de Newsweek aparece en un momento en que la credibilidad de los medios de comunicación, según encuestas con los lectores, ha caído y uno de los motivos es el uso de fuentes desconocidas en los informes.


"Newsweek" o profanacji Koranu

"Newsweek" oświadczył, iż informacje na temat profanacji Koranu z 9 maja mogły nie być prawdziwe.

Redaktor naczelny tygodnika przyznał, iż informacja na temat rzekomego spuszczenia Koranu w toalecie pochodziła od "źródła rządowego", jednakże później nastapiła korekta owej informacji. Ponadto przeprosił wszystkich, którzy ucierpieli w wyniku publikacji.

Po opublikowaniu artykułu w samym Afganistanie zginęło około 14 osób a 100 zostało rannych. Dodatkowo informacji o bezczeszczeniu pisma świętego spotkała się z protestami w Pakistanie, Indonezji i strefie Gazy.


Revista Newsweek desculpa-se por notícia não comprovada sobre suposto insulto americano ao Alcorão

A revista norte-americana Newsweek emitiu uma nota ontem, 15 de maio, domingo, que pede desculpas por uma notícia publicada, não comprovada,  que diz que agentes penitenciários dos Estados Unidos da América, em Guantánamo,  jogaram o livro sagrado do Islamismo, o Alcorão, num vaso sanitário (veja na seção Página externa abaixo). A divulgação dessa notícia provocou uma onda de protestos contra os EUA no Afeganistão, que resultou em pessoas feridas e pelo menos 16 mortes.   A revista disse que cometeu um erro na publicação da matéria.

A notícia apareceu dia 9 de maio e dizia que investigadores do comando militar norte-americano informaram num relatório que encontraram evidências de que  guardas americanos atiraram o livro sagrado do Alcorão num vaso sanitário,  durante interrogatório com os prisioneiros, com o objetivo de forçá-los a falar.  A matéria de autoria de Michael Isikoff e John Barry citava uma fonte anônima  e dizia que a notícia não tinha sido desmentida por autoridades militares.

Após a publicação da matéria, autoridades militares  desmentiram a notícia publicada pela revista e disseram que não há evidências ou relatórios internos que corroborem a notícia publicada.

A nota da revista diz: "Nós lamentamos pela má compreensão por qualquer parte de nossa história e estendemos as   nossas compaixões às vítimas da violência e aos soldados dos  Estados Unidos que foram pegos no meio."

O porta-voz do Pentágono Bryan Whitman disse:"Infelizmente eles não podem reparar os danos que eles causaram a esta nação, nem àqueles que foram viciosamente atacados por essas falsas alegações."

O jornal americano The New York Times  diz  que a matéria da Newsweek aparece num momento em que a credibilidade da mídia, segundo pesquisas com os leitores, tem caído e um dos motivos é o uso de fontes desconhecidas nas matérias. [1]


Muslims told not to wear veils when they vote in Quebec

Muslims in the province of Quebec have been told to remove their veils on next Monday's Quebec general election.

Marcel Blanchet, Quebec's chief returning officer, says he is using special grants to make this law. He also hired two bodyguards after the office had received threatening phone calls and e-mails. Some residents were also promising to wear the niqāb, a veil which covers the whole face except for the eyes, on Monday's vote.

But before he made this decision, Blanchet allowed voters to wear the niqāb on voting day only if they showed their ID and voting card. Blanchet, however, was criticized by  all three main Quebec party leaders for that decision.

"Relevant articles to electoral laws were modified to add the following: any person showing up at a polling station must be uncovered to exercise the right to vote," he said.

Sarah Elgazzar, of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, in her opinion, that this will discourage Muslim voters to show up on election day.

An eleven-year-old Ontario girl, who played at a soccer tournament in Quebec in February, was removed from the tournament after she refused to take off her headscarf at the request of the referee. A Muslim woman, who worked at a prison in Quebec, last week, was fired from her job after she also refused to take off her veil.


Québec : le directeur général des élections interdit la participation des personnes voilées au vote du 26 mars

Marcel Blanchet, directeur général des élections [1] de la province du Québec, a lu une déclaration devant les médias, vendredi 23 mars 2007, annonçant une modification en urgence de la loi électorale visant à interdire aux personnes ayant le visage couvert, par un moyen ou un autre, de participer au scrutin du 26 mars, au cours duquel sera renouvelée l'Assemblée nationale du Québec.

Cette décision fait à la suite d'une vague de protestations après l'annonce, la veille, de l'absence de dispositions, dans la loi électorale, interdisant aux personnes voilées de voter sans se découvrir. La loi électorale, en raison de ce que le chroniqueur Yves Boisvert voit implicitement comme une faille juridique, permettait ainsi aux personnes voilées de voter sans se découvrir, en fournissant simplement deux pièces d'identité et en prêtant serment, tandis que les scrutateurs auraient été habilités à recevoir le serment d'un électeur connaissant l'électeur masqué visant à confirmer son identité.

Les services du DGE avaient annoncé que de nombreuses protestations, voire des menaces physiques, avaient été faites par téléphone auprès de ses services, tandis que certains protestataires annonçaient leur intention de se présenter dans les bureaux de vote affublés de masques ou la tête recouverte d'un sac en papier. Des mesures de protection physique de M. Blanchet ont d'ailleurs été prises, pour parer à toute éventualité.

M. Blanchet s'est prévalu des dispositions de l'article 490 de la Loi électorale [2] pour adapter en urgence plusieurs dispositions de celle-ci. La Loi électorale, telle qu'elle sera en vigueur pour les élections de lundi, stipule désormais que « toute personne qui se présente à un bureau de vote ou à la table de vérification de l'identité des électeurs doit avoir le visage découvert, pour pouvoir exercer son droit de vote ».

André Boisclair, chef du Parti québécois, s'était ému, jeudi, de la perspective de voir des personnes pouvoir voter sans montrer leur visage, indiquant qu’« il y a des bornes qu'il ne faut pas dépasser » et recourant à des comparaisons pour justifier son opposition aux nouvelles mesures : « Ces femmes doivent lever la burqa pour prendre la photo de leur permis de conduire ou la carte d'assurance maladie; ça devrait être la même chose pour pouvoir voter. »

Au-delà de la question des accomodements raisonnables, André Boisclair estimait que le respect des valeurs démocratiques devait prévaloir sur les différences qui, selon ses vues, enrichiraient la société québécoise et avait indiqué que, dans son entourage, plusieurs de ses conseillers juridiques seraient d'avis que la non vérification de l'identité d'une électrice, par comparaison de son visage réel avec celui affiché sur ses pièces d'identité, pourrait être contraire à la loi.

Sans se montrer aussi sévère que son adversaire, Jean Charest, Premier ministre sortant et chef du Parti libéral du Québec, s'il avait indiqué sa préférence à permettre aux électrices musulmanes de pouvoir voter sans se dévoiler, mais en se faisant accompagner par une personne de confiance attestant de son identité, estimait malgré tout que les responsables de chaque bureau de vote devraient être habilités à exiger, si nécessaire, que l'électrice se dévoile pour permettre la vérification de son identité. Il avait conclu en lançant « un appel au DGE pour prendre les mesures nécessaires pour s'assurer qu'on identifie correctement tout le monde ». Dès l'annonce de la nouvelle décision de M. Blanchet, il s'est toutefois réjoui que celui-ci, après consultation des trois principaux partis québécois, ait choisi de faire preuve de bon sens, en prenant une décision qui « va permettre un déroulement du vote qui se fera dans l'ordre et correctement ».

André Boisclair avait écrit à Marcel Blanchet, vendredi matin, pour lui suggérer de recourir aux pouvoirs conférés par l'article 490 de la loi électorale au directeur général des élections, en vue de d'adapter, en raison de la circonstance exceptionnelle, les dispositions en vigueur. Il émettait en outre la crainte que, le jour du scrutin, en guise de protestation, de nombreux électeurs non musulmans ne choisissent de se présenter masqués ou voilés dans les bureaux de vote pour perturber le déroulement du scrutin. Il a remercié le DGE « d'avoir révisé sa position » et indiqué que, pour ce qui le concernait, la question était close. Ce qui n'empêchera pas, dans l'éventualité d'un retour du Parti québécois au pouvoir, une possible révision de la loi électorale en vue de pérenniser la mesure d'urgence prise par le directeur des élections.

Mario Dumont, chef de l'Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ), s'était initialement montré peu concerné par la polémique sur le port du voile dans les bureaux de vote. Il estimait, jeudi, devoir laisser « au DGE le soin de faire son travail et de faire son interprétation ». Toutefois, dès vendredi matin, il écrivait à son tour à M. Blanchet, pour lui demander des éclaircissements, et se montrait déboussolé sur la question de l'application de la loi électorale. À l'annonce de la volte-face du directeur général des élections, il s'est d'ailleurs félicité d'une « décision logique et (de) la simple application des lois du Québec ».


Myanmar protesters beaten by police

Myanmar police have beaten up to 700 protesters with batons, according to witnesses. The crowd was gathered near a pagoda in Rangoon, and included students and Buddhist monks. AFP reported that only monks were allowed to enter the pagoda, and Reuters has quoted witnesses as saying that tear gas was used to disperse the monks.

Some monks were taken away by police in trucks. This is the first time that Myanmar security forces have used violence against the protests, which are now in their ninth day.

Myanmar authorities have imposed a curfew from dusk until dawn, and have also banned public gatherings of more than five people. Troops and riot police have begun taking positions near monasteries, opposition party headquarters, and the house of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.

Comedian Zaganar was arrested at his home overnight. He has previously spoken publicly in support of the protests.

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, announced earlier today that the Australian government is following events in Myanmar closely, and urged the Myanmar government to show restraint. He also called for the respect of "the legitimate right of Myanmar citizens to peaceful protest."


Eskalation der Gewalt in Myanmar

Rangun (Myanmar), 26.09.2007 – In Myanmar eskaliert die Gewalt. Die Militärjunta geht anscheinend mit Gewalt gegen die demonstrierenden Mönche vor. Am Mittwoch wurden in der Nähe der Shwedagon-Pagode in Rangun 100 Mönche mit Warnschüssen von der Polizei aufgefordert, eine Demonstration aufzulösen. Danach, so berichten Augenzeugen, haben Militärangehörige Mönche verprügelt und Tränengas eingesetzt. 80 Personen seien festgenommen worden. Am späten Dienstagabend waren bereits zwei Dissidenten festgenommen worden. Es handelt sich um U Win Naing und den Komiker Zaganar.

Grund für die Auseinandersetzungen war die Tatsache, dass sich die Mönche einer von der Regierung ausgesprochenen Ausgangssperre widersetzt hätten, heißt es in den Berichten. Öffentliche Versammlungen von mehr als fünf Personen waren verboten worden. Die Mönche protestieren den neunten Tag in Folge gegen die Militärregierung. Zuletzt haben sich ihnen auch andere Bürger angeschlossen. Laut „BBC News“ gehen die Demonstrationen ungeachtet der Vorfälle an der Shwedagon-Pagode weiter. An zwei Protestzügen sollen sich mehrere tausend Menschen beteiligen. Einer der Züge soll ins Zentrum von Rangun führen, der andere zum Haus der Oppositionspolitikerin Aung San Suu Kyi. Wichtige buddhistische Stätten in Rangun wurden von der Polizei abgeriegelt. Einige der Mönche sollen Mundschutz tragen, um sich vor einem möglichen Einsatz von Tränengas zu schützen. Passanten hätten applaudiert, als die Mönche vorbeizogen. Die Proteste sind eine Reaktion auf drastische Benzinpreiserhöhungen im August, die sich inzwischen zu einer Demonstration für Demokratie und Freiheit entwickelt haben.

Ein Rundfunksender berichtete in der Zwischenzeit, dass es bei den Zusammenstößen einen Toten gegeben habe. Ein örtliches Kloster meldete den Tod von mindestens zwei Mönchen. Mitarbeiter der Krankenhäuser sprechen von von einem Toten und mehrere Verletzten. Ein oppositioneller Rundfunksender berichtet sogar von acht Toten, während Mitglieder der Militärregierung von vier Toten, darunter drei Mönchen, ausgehen.

Nach Angaben des französischen Außenministers Bernard Kouchner will sich der UNO-Sicherheitsrat noch heute mit dem Vorgehen der Militärregierung gegen die Demonstranten beschäftigen.


Se impone toque de queda en Birmania

26 de septiembre de 2007Rangún, Birmania —

La Junta Militar de Birmania impuso anoche el toque de queda en Rangún, la ciudad más importante del país que quedó restringida tras varios días de manifestaciones. El anuncio fue hecho a través de altavoces por parte de responsables gubernamentales que pasaban por la ciudad a bordo de camiones. Las restricciones serán aplicadas durante sesenta días; en la ciudad de Mandalay una orden parecida fue impuesta también.

La reacción de la República Popular China, uno de los aliados del régimen birmano, fue que se estabilizara la situación, al tiempo que anunció que China se atendrá a su política de no interferencia. "Como país amistoso y vecino de Birmania, China espera ver estabilidad y desarrollo económico en Birmania", declaró un portavoz del gobierno chino.

Por su parte, la Casa Blanca declaró que el presidente estadounidense, George W. Bush, podría anunciar en su discurso ante la Asamblea General de la ONU, que se inauguró este martes, nuevas medidas contra figuras militares del régimen birmano.

El presidente de la Junta Militar, el general Than Shwe, considerado un experto en la guerra psicológica, se reunió ayer con otros jefes castrenses en su cuartel general de Napydaw, mientras los tenaces monjes movilizaban un día más a decenas de miles de personas en Rangún y otras ciudades del país.

Las manifestaciones se repitieron pese a que las autoridades recorrieron las urbes para advertir desde automóviles y con megáfonos que cualquiera que observara o participara en las protestas podría ser condenado a una pena de tres años de a diez años de cárcel.

Durante la marcha pacífica de ayer por las calles del centro de Rangún, los manifestantes gritaban democracia, democracia mientras eran aplaudidos y vitoreados por ciudadanos desde varias residencias de la ciudad.


La police réprime brutalement les manifestations au Myanmar

Quelque 700 manifestants ont été frappés aujourd'hui à coups de matraque par la police du Myanmar (ou Birmanie), selon les déclarations des témoins.

Composée notamment d'étudiants et de moines bouddhistes, la foule s'était rassemblée près d'une pagode de Rangoon. L'AFP indique que seuls les moines étaient autorisés à entrer dans la pagode, tandis que l'agence Reuters a cité des témoins affirmant que des gaz lacrymogènes avaient été utilisés pour disperser les moines. Certains moines ont été emmenés dans des camions de la police.

C'était la première fois que les forces de sécurité du Myanmar utilisaient la manière forte contre les manifestants, qui ont entamé leur neuvième jour de protestations. Les autorités nationales ont en outre imposé un couvre-feu allant du crépuscule à l'aube, et ont interdit tout rassemblement de plus de cinq personnes. L'armée et la police anti-émeutes ont commencé à prendre position près des monastères, du siège du parti d'opposition, et de la maison de l'activiste pro-démocratie Aung San Suu Kyi. L'acteur Zaganar a été arrêté chez lui la nuit dernière, après avoir soutenu publiquement les manifestations.

Le ministre australien des Affaires étrangères, Alexander Downer, a annoncé hier que son gouvernement suivait avec attention les événements au Myanmar, et a appelé le gouvernement du Myanmar à faire preuve de retenue. Il a aussi appelé au respect du "droit légitime des citoyens du Myanmar à manifester pacifiquement".


Myanmar: cominciano gli scontri a Yangon

Yangon, mercoledì 26 settembre 2007

Sono cominciati gli scontri in Myanmar dopo che le autorità militari avevano minacciato la repressione. Dopo otto giorni di proteste pacifiche la polizia e l'esercito, sfruttando il coprifuoco imposto da ieri nelle ore notturne, hanno impedito stamane che i monaci uscissero dalle pagode, circondando i sei principali monasteri di Yangon.

I monaci ed i cittadini hanno ugualmente tentato di scendere in strada, venendo caricati dalla polizia che ha fatto pesante uso di lacrimogeni e bastoni e che avrebbe ripetutamente sparato in aria. Il bilancio provvisorio è di almeno tre monaci deceduti (forse cinque, comunque almeno sei i morti in totale), decine di feriti e centinaia di arresti tra i cittadini in piazza. Due cortei di monaci, che hanno raccolto un grosso seguito di cittadini superando le diecimila persone, sarebbero comunque in marcia nella ex capitale, uno dei quali diretto verso la residenza di Aung San Suu Kyi, leader vincitrice delle elezioni nel 1990 ed agli arresti domiciliari. La leader politica sarebbe anche stata trasferita in carcere.

Simili situazioni sarebbero presenti in altre città del Paese, in particolare a Sittwe con quindicimila manifestanti, anche se la scarsissima copertura giornalistica in Myanmar rende difficile il flusso di notizie.

Forte preoccupazione ed invito alla moderazione sono giunti da Giappone, Unione Europea e Stati Uniti, mentre su richiesta britannica questa sera si riunirà il Consiglio di Sicurezza delle Nazioni Unite.


Birmańscy żołnierze otworzyli ogień do protestujących

Protesty w Birmie rozpoczęły się w połowie sierpnia. Od ponad tygodnia nasiliły się ponieważ włączyli się do nich mnisi buddyjscy, którzy poparli biedotę. Ludzie manifestują przeciwko obniżeniu warunków życia, spowodowanych sierpniową podwyżką cen paliw. Jest to pierwszy otwarty bunt w Birmie od 1988 roku, kiedy to zginęło 3 tys. osób. Demonstranci manifestują również przeciwko rządom junty wojskowej i domagają się powrotu demokracji. Rząd wprowadził zakaz demonstracji. Na ulicach stoją opancerzone pojazdy, armatki wodne i więźniarki. W powietrzu czuć zapach gazu łzawiącego. "Do domu albo was zastrzelimy" - informowało dziś rano przez megafony wojsko. Rządowe gazety podają, że do klasztorów przeniknęli "łże-mnisi", którzy podburzają duchownych przeciwko reżimowi.

28 września w godzinach porannych birmańscy żołnierze zaczęli strzelać do protestujących w Rangunie, dawnej stolicy Birmy. W mieście demonstrowało ok 10 tys. osób. "Specjalne oddziały birmańskiej policji zaatakowały tłum pałkami" - opowiadali świadkowie zdarzenia. "Chodźcie, zabijcie mnie" - wołała starsza kobieta w kierunku policjantów. "To my was karmimy. A wy zabijacie nas i naszych mnichów" - krzyczał jeden z demonstrujących.

Już wczoraj doszło do starcia demonstrantów z armią w rejonie pagody Sule. Rząd poinformował, że zginęło 9 osób a wśród nich był japoński dziennikarz. Śmierć potwierdziła ambasada Japonii w Rangunie. Świadkowie twierdzą, że zbitych było dużo więcej. Również jeden z mieszkańców Rangunu na blogu BBC napisał, że widział więcej ciał oraz, że strzelano nie tylko do demonstrantów ale także do przechodniów. "Wojsko od razu wywoziło ciała" - dodał. "Rangun przypomina teraz front w strefie wojennej" - relacjonował inny 30-letni mężczyzna.

Wczoraj miało miejsce również wtargnięcie żołnierzy do sześciu klasztorów pod Rangunem. Po najściu mnich z klasztoru Ngwe Kyar Yan pokazywał agencji AP krwawe ślady walk, łuski i zdemolowane wnętrze klasztoru. Policja zabrała ok. 150 mnichów.

"Żołnierze rozbili bramę do klasztoru. Rozwalali drzwi, tłukli szyby i niszczyli meble. Kiedy mnisi stawili opór, zaczęli do nich strzelać, puścili też gaz łzawiący, a potem ich ciągnęli do suk" - opowiadał świadek zajścia.

Agencja Reutera informowała o grupie ludzi, która krzyczała w kierunku żołnierzy wulgarne wyzwiska a następnie ukrywała się w zaułkach ulic po to aby za chwilę znowu wyjść. Chronili się oni w pasażach handlowych i w domach. Takie wychodzenie i ukrywanie sie trwało kilka godzin. "Chcemy tylko demokracji" - krzyczeli. Żołnierze próbowali dogonić demonstrantów oraz wzywali do zakończenia protestu.

"Na ulice wyszło młode pokolenie Birmańczyków. Wiedzą więcej o świecie od rodziców. Są zdesperowani, porównując sytuację w rozpaczliwie biednej Birmie z prosperującą Tajlandią. Wierzą, że rewolta to jedyna szansa ich pokolenia na godne życie" - poinformował Richard Ehrlich, korespondent "Washington Times" z Bangkoku.

Do miasta przybyły wzmocnione oddziały wojska. Policja zbudowała zasieki z drutu kolczastego i drewna wokół świątyni Sule i pagoda Szwedagon.

Dziś wojskowe władze Birmy w Rangunie ogłosiły rejon pięciu klasztorów buddyjskich i ważnych świątyń "strefami zamkniętymi". Miejsca te były głównymi skupiskami antyrządowych protestacji.

Wojskowe władze Birmy w ciągu ostatnich tygodni wydaliły z kraju wielu dziennikarzy i obcokrajowców, którzy obserwowali demonstracje. Wczoraj w hotelach w Rangunie żołnierze prowadzili poszukiwania dziennikarzy, którzy wjechali do Birmy na podstawie wiz turystycznych. Dziś dokonano aresztowania Birmańczyka, który pracował dla japońskiej gazety. Zamknięte są również wszystkie kawiarenki internetowe. Dostawcy usług internetowych nie odpowiadają na telefony. Mieszkańcy o bieżącej sytuacyj dowiadują się z radia BBC, które próbują złapać na falach krótkich.

Rada Bezpieczeństwa ONZ zwołała w sprawie Birmy specjalne spotkanie, na którym wraz z Chinami (główny sojusznik Birmy) został podpisany komunikat z wezwaniem do rządu kraju o powściągliwość w używaniu siły wobec protestujących.

Wnioskowano również o nałożenie sankcji wobec junty ale sprzeciwiły sie temu Chiny. Zaniepokojenie swoje wyraziły jedynie:

Zdementowane zostały również informacje o uwięzieniu w Insein Aung San Suu Kyi, laureatki Pokojowej Nagrody Nobla (1991). Jeden z dyplomatów poinformował, ze przebywa ona nadal w swoim domu gdzie ma wyznaczony od wielu lat areszt domowy.

"Problem polega na tym, że Birma jest bardziej podzielona, niż nam się wydaje. To nie jest konflikt całego społeczeństwa z rządzącym establishmentem. Sposób sprawowania władzy przez armię jest godny potępienia, jednak wielu Birmańczyków popiera armię, jest związanych z kastą rządzącą, akceptuje władzę i tę wersję socjalizmu, który pozwala nawet względnie dobrze żyć. W związku z uwarunkowaniami historycznymi dla wielu Birmańczyków wojsko stało się symbolem całości ich państwa. Birmańczyków jest kilkadziesiąt milionów, a na ulice wyszło 70 tys. - to jest sporo, ale to nie są wszyscy. Nie do końca jasna jest także sytuacja z buntem kleru. Mnisi buddyjscy to nie są mnisi w naszym rozumieniu tego słowa. W buddyzmie wstępuje się do klasztoru na określony czas. Więcej, w Birmie rozpowszechniona jest praktyka, że każdy mężczyzna oddala się na pewien czas do klasztoru, aby dojrzeć intelektualnie. Tak więc konflikt z mnichami to nie jest to samo, czym byłby, na przykład, konflikt z księżmi w Polsce" - powiedział prof. Wiesław Olszewski, specjalista w zakresie stosunków międzynarodowych.


緬甸反軍政府示威活動，已有兩百人遭逮捕

2007年緬甸反軍政府示威，事因加價事件，引發連日來民眾反政府示威，緬甸軍人政府宣佈宵禁，在前首都仰光和曼德勒，軍政府開始捉拿反政府者。 [1] 計劃以暴力鎮壓示威。 [2]


Naked statues of Donald Trump appear in various US cities

2016 United States presidential election

A number of statues depicting US presidential candidate Donald Trump without his clothes on were erected in various US cities yesterday morning.

The statues were unveiled in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. Titled "The Emperor Has No Balls", the project was devised by the anarchist collective INDECLINE, presenting Trump in an unflattering and humiliating way.

A spokesperson for INDECLINE told The Washington Post the project was inspired by the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Emperor's New Clothes" which depicts a vain and overconfident leader. The spokesperson also said the project is meant to poke fun at the tendency for those in authoritarian positions to raise monuments of themselves.

The statues are credited to a Las Vegas-based artist called Ginger, who said he was approached by INDECLINE because of his pervious work designing monsters for horror movies and haunted houses. A video of Ginger creating these statues went up on INDECLINE's YouTube page.

The New York City statue became a busy tourist spot until the parks and recreation department took it down. A spokeswoman for the NYC parks and recreation centre stated: "NYC Parks stands firmly against any unpermitted erection in city parks, no matter how small."


Des statues de Donald Trump nu font leur apparition dans plusieurs villes américaines

Plusieurs statues représentants le candidat républicain Donald Trump nu ont été érigées dans plusieurs villes à travers les Etats-Unis ces derniers jours, dans les centres-villes de New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cleveland et Seattle. Intitulé « The Emperor Has No Balls » (littéralement « L'empereur n'a pas de couilles »), le projet est une initiative du collectif anarchiste Indecline, qui souhaite présenter Donald Trump de manière peu flatteuse et humiliante.

Un porte-parole du collectif Indecline a expliqué au Washington Post que cette exposition sauvage a été inspirée par le conte de Hans Christian Andersen, Les Habits neufs de l'empereur, qui raconte l'histoire d'un empereur vaniteux. Le porte-parole explique également que le projet veut moquer la tendance qu'ont les personnes dépositaires de l'autorité à ériger des monuments les représentants.

Les statues sont attribuées à un artiste de Las Vegas, Ginger, qui raconte avoir été approché par Indecline en raison de sa spécialité pour les monstres et les maisons hantées, qu'il réalise pour les films d'horreurs. Indecline a mis en ligne une vidéo montrant la création de ces statues par Gringer.

Installée dans la ville natale de Donald Trump, la statue new-yorkaise est rapidement devenue un haut lieu touristique, avant d'être rapidement détruite par le service municipal en charge des parcs. Une porte-parole du Department of Parks and Recreation a déclaré que « l'érection d'une structure ou œuvre d'art non autorisée dans la ville est illégale, peu importe la taille ».


Nancy Pelosi named new Speaker of the US House of Representatives

Californian Democrat Nancy Pelosi, 66-years-old, has been named the 60th United States Speaker of the House with the votes 233-202. She is the first female House speaker in United States history. The opening of the Congress in 2007 marks the first time in a dozen years that the Democrats have control of the entire Congress.

In her speech she said it was time for a new America: "Now it is our responsibility to carry forth that vision of a new America. A new America that seizes the future and forges 21st century solutions through discovery, creativity, and innovation, sustaining our economic leadership and ensuring our national security. A new America with a vibrant and strengthened middle class for whom college is affordable, health care accessible, and retirement secure. A new America that declares our energy independence, promotes domestic sources of renewable energy, and combats climate change. A new America that is strong, secure, and a respected leader among the community of nations," said Pelosi in her speech.

She finished her speech by calling all the children, including her own grandchildren, to the microphone and declaring "For all of America's children, the House will be in order."

Rep. John Boehner of Ohio was named the new Republican minority leader.

The full text of her inaugural speech can be found here.


ננסי פלוסי הושבעה כיושבת ראש בית הנבחרים של ארצות הברית

הדמוקרטית הקליפורניית ננסי פלוסי הושבעה בגיל 66 כיושבת ראש בית הנבחרים של ארצות הברית לאחר הצבעה עם רוב של 233 על 202. היא האישה הראשונה בתפקיד זה. פתיחת הקונגרס בתחילת 2007 מסמנת את הפעם הראשונה מזה תריסר שנים שהדמוקרטים שולטים על כל הקונגרס.

בנאומה אמרה שזה הזמן לאמריקה חדשה: "עכשיו זוהי האחריות שלנו לנשוא קדימה את החזון של אמריקה חדשה. אמריקה חדשה שאוחזת בעתיד ומעצבת פתרונות למאה ה-21 דרך גילוי, יצירתיות, וחדשנות, תומכת בהנהגה הכלכלית שלנו ומבטיחה את הביטחון הלאומי שלנו. אמריקה חדשה עם מעמד בינוני נמרץ וחזק עם יכולת ללכת לקולג', טיפול רפואי נגיש ופרישה מובטחת לגמלאות. אמריקה חדשה שמכריזה שהאנרגיה שלנו בלתי-תלויה, מקדמת מקורות ביתיים של אנרגיה חלופית, ונלחמת בשינויים האקלימיים. אמריקה חדשה חזקה, בטוחה ומוקרת כמנהיגה בקרב קהילת האומות," אמרה פלוסי בנאום שלה.

היא סיימה את נאומה בקריאה לכל הילדים, כולל נכדותיה, לעלות לבמה ולהכריז במיקרופון "בשביל כל ילדי אמריקה, הבית (בית הנבחרים) יהיה מסודר."

הרפובליקני ג'ון בוהנר מאוהיו הושבע כראש המיעוט בבית הנבחרים.

את התמליל המלא של נאום הפתיחה שלה ניתן למצוא כאן.

5 בינואר 2007


Naoto Kan elected new Prime Minister of Japan

Naoto Kan was elected as the 94th Prime Minister (PM) of Japan on Friday. He replaces Yukio Hatoyama, who resigned last week as PM and as member of the Democratic Party of Japan.

Hatoyama's cabinet resigned to allow the election of the new PM. Kan was elected as President of the Democratic Party and as official candidate to the position of Prime Minister. Later, an extraordinary session took place in the Diet, where Kan was elected with a large majority. PMs are formally appointed by the Emperor, but the Japanese Constitution requires him to appoint the person "designated by the Diet." Emperor Akihito is expected to appoint Kan in mid-June.

Kan, who is 63, will have to face a growing public debt and an aging population, among other issues..


Naoto Kan, nuevo primer ministro japonés

Naoto Kan ha sido electo hoy como 94º primer ministro de Japón, considerado como un conservador en el tema fiscal y conocido por su lucha contra los burócratas. La escogencia de Kan se da luego de la renuncia de Yukio Hatoyama tanto como primer ministro como presidente del Partido Democrático el martes pasado.

Horas antes, el gabinete de Hatoyama había renunciado en masa para permitir la elección del nuevo jefe de gabinete. Posteriormente, dentro del seno del Partido Democrático se eligió a Kan como nuevo presidente del partido y como candidato oficial a primer ministro. Finalmente se convocó a una sesión extraordinaria en la Dieta en donde holgadamente Naoto Kan fue electo nuevo premier con el apoyo total de los diputados de su bancada, que controla la mayoría de la Cámara Baja y de la Cámara Alta.

Antiguo ministro de Salud en 1996 y ministro de Finanzas y viceprimer ministro en el gobierno de Hatoyama, y con 63 años de edad, Kan asumirá el liderazgo del gobierno frente al control de una creciente deuda pública, el problema del envejecimiento de la población y tratar las relaciones con sus principales aliados internacionales: Estados Unidos y la República Popular China.

También su ascensión al poder significará una calma a nivel del partido, que encarará las elecciones de la Cámara Alta en julio próximo, donde renovará la mitad de sus escaños.


சப்பானின் புதிய பிரதமராக நவோட்டோ கான் தெரிவு

சப்பானின் 94வது பிரதமராக நவோட்டோ கான் தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்டார். சென்ற வாரம் யுகியோ அட்டொயாமா தனது பதவியைத் துறந்ததை அடுத்து நிதியமைச்சராக இருந்த 63 வயதுடைய நவோட்டோ கான் புதிய பிரதமராகவும் சப்பானின் மக்களாட்சிக் கட்சியின் தலைவராகவும் தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்டார்.

இதற்கு முன்னராக புதிய பிரதமரைத் தெரிவதற்காக அட்டொயாமாவின் அமைச்சரவை முழுவதுமாகப் பதவி விலகியது. இதனையடுத்து அவர் கட்சியின் தலைவராகவும், பிரதமர் படஹ்விக்கு அதிகாரபூர்வ வேட்பாளர் ஆகவும் நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். இதனையடுத்து கான் பெரும்பான்மை வாக்குகளால் பிரதமராகத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டார். இவரை சப்பானியப் பேரரசர் அக்கிஹிட்டோ ஜூன் நடுப்பகுதியில் சம்பிரதாயபூர்வமாக பிரதமராக நியமிப்பார்.

மக்களாட்சிக் கட்சியின் மிக முக்கிய அரசியல்வாதிகளில் ஒருவரான கான் நாட்டின் வர்த்தக சமூகத்தின் மத்தியில் பெரும் வரவேற்பைப் பெற்றவராகக் கருதப்படுகிறார். கடந்த மூன்று வருடங்களில் பதவிக்கு வந்துள்ள ஐந்தாவது பிரதமர் கான் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

நாட்டின் தென்பகுதியிலுள்ள அமெரிக்கப் படைத்தளத்தை அகற்றுவது உள்ளிட்ட தேர்தல் உறுதிமொழிகளை நிறைவேற்றத் தவறியதைத் தொடர்ந்து எழுந்த சர்ச்சைகளினால் அட்டொயாமா தனது பதவியில் இருந்து விலகினார். இந்நிலையில் கட்சி உறுப்பினர்கள் மத்தியில் உரையாற்றிய கான் சப்பானின் இராஜதந்திரக் கொள்கையில் அமெரிக்காவுக்கு முக்கிய இடமுண்டு எனக் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ள போதிலும் அமெரிக்கப் படைத்தளம் குறித்து எதனையும் தெரிவிக்கவில்லை.

ஞாயிறு, சூன் 6, 2010


National Geographic reporter faces espionage charges in Sudan

Paul Salopek, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the Chicago Tribune, was charged with espionage, along with two others in Sudan yesterday. Salopek, 44, has been on a freelance assignment for National Geographic writing a story about the sub-Saharan African region known as the Sahel. The official charges include espionage, passing information illegally, writing "false news" and entering the country without a visa.

The charges come three weeks after he, along with his driver and interpreter, were arrested on August 6th by pro-government forces in Darfur. His driver and interpreter, both Chadian nationals, are both accused of espionage as well. At the moment, he has been granted a defense motion for a continuance, delaying the start of the trial until September 10th. Until then both the editors of the Chicago Tribune and National Geographic are working through diplomatic channels to ensure his release back to the United States.

National Geographic Magazine Editor in Chief Chris Johns was quoted as saying, "Paul Salopek was on assignment for National Geographic magazine to write a comprehensive feature article on the swath of sub-Saharan Africa known as the Sahel. He had no agenda other than to fairly and accurately report on the region. He is a world-recognized journalist of the highest standing, with a deep knowledge and respect for the continent of Africa and its people."

The situation is being monitored by U.S. politicians including the junior Senator Barack Obama, who is currently visiting Africa. He had this to say about the current situation:

"One of our reporters from the Chicago Tribune is currently being detained in the Sudan, allegedly for espionage," Obama said, speaking about the issue to a wide audience of Kenyan journalists. "This is an issue that myself, the U.S State Department and international journalists organizations are taking very seriously."


Erneut ausländischer Berichterstatter im Sudan verhaftet

Khartum (Sudan), 27.08.2006 – Erneut wurde in der Krisenregion Darfur im Westen des Sudans ein ausländischer Berichterstatter verhaftet und der „illegalen Einreise, Spionage und Verbreitung falscher Nachrichten“ beschuldigt. Paul Salopek, zweifacher Pulitzer-Preisträger und Afrikakorrespondent, der Chicago Tribune, hatte bereits mehrfach über die verschiedenen Konflikte im Sudan berichtet und hielt sich nun in Darfur auf, um eine Reportage über die Sahelzone für National Geographic zu schreiben.

Am 6. August waren Paul Salopek sowie seine zwei Begleiter aus dem benachbarten Tschad – Fahrer und Übersetzer – festgenommen und ins Gefängnis gebracht worden. Drei Wochen später wurden nun die Anschuldigungen offiziell bekanntgegeben. Am 10. September sollen Salopek und die beiden Tschader in Al-Fashir im Bundesstaat Shamal Darfur vor Gericht kommen. Im Falle einer Verurteilung drohen ihnen mehrere Jahre Haft.

Der Gouverneur von Shamal Darfur soll Salopek in den Medien als „Kriminellen“ bezeichnet haben, weswegen dessen Verteidiger, Omer Hassan, Zweifel an der zu erwartenden Fairness des Verfahrens angemeldet hat. Der vorsitzende Richter in dem Fall hatte zudem am 14. August wegen genau derselben Vorwürfe den slowenischen Friedensaktivisten Tomo Križnar zu zwei Jahren Haft und einer Geldbuße von umgerechnet 2.400 US-Dollar verurteilt.

Zu seiner Frau hatte Paul Salopek letztmals am 5. August Kontakt gehabt. National Geographic wurde besorgt, als Salopek sich am 17. August nicht wie vereinbart meldete.

Sowohl National Geographic als auch Chicago Tribune fordern die Freilassung Salopeks. Eine Delegation des US-Kongresses besuchte Salopek.


Nationalist Party wins Taiwan election

The Chinese Nationalist Party, also known as Kuomintang (KMT, traditional Chinese:中國國民黨), has won today's elections in Taiwan against President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The DPP had previously ended half a century of Kuomintang rule in 2000 when President Chen was elected and won more seats than any other party in the 2001 election.

The election can only be described as a landslide win for the KMT, winning more than 70% of all the seats in the 113 seats parliament while the DPP only managed to gain just under 25%. Reuters is reporting 86 seats for the KMT while AFP is reporting 82 seats.

"I am willing to shoulder all of the responsibility," President Chen was quoted as saying at a press conference. He resigned as the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party immediately.

The Kuomintang is part of the Pan-Blue coalition along with the People First Party and Chinese New Party. As a coalition they stand for reunification with China, which the Democratic Progressive Party opposes. The Democratic Progressive Party is a member of the Pan green coalition which stands for Taiwanese independence from the People's Republic of China. Taiwan calls itself the Republic of China; however, it is only recognized by few states and is officially seen as part of the People's Republic of China by most, though it is generally recognized as a de facto independent nation.


Le parti politique nationaliste chinois remporte les élections à Taiwan

Publié le 13 janvier 2008  Le Guomindang, le parti nationaliste chinois, également connu sous le nom de Kuo-Min-Tang (KMT) a remporté le 12 janvier 2008 les élections législatives à Taiwan face au Parti démocratique progressiste du président Chen Shui-bian. Lors de l'élection de ce dernier en 2000, le PDP avait mis fin à un demi-siècle de règne du Guomindang, puis remporté plus de sièges que n'importe quel autre parti lors des élections de 2001.

Cette élection est un véritable raz de marée pour le KMT, qui remporte plus de 70 % des 113 sièges du parlement, alors que le PDP obtient seulement 25 % des sièges. L'agence Reuters annonce 86 sièges pour le KMT tandis que l'AFP fait quant à elle état de 82 sièges.

« Je suis prêt à assumer toute la responsabilité » de cette défaite, a déclaré le président Chen lors d'une conférence de presse. Il a donné immédiatement sa démission du poste de président du Parti démocrate.

Le Guomindang fait partie de la coalition pan-bleue, qui regroupe également le Qinmindang et le Nouveau Parti chinois. Cette coalition soutient une réunification de Taiwan avec la République populaire de Chine, à laquelle le Parti démocrate progressiste est opposé. Le PDP est quant à lui membre de la coalition pan-verte qui milite pour l'indépendance de Taiwan par rapport à la Chine, bien que cette indépendance ne soit reconnue que par quelques États et que Taiwan reste officiellement considéré par la communauté internationale comme partie intégrante de la Chine, mais une nation indépendante de facto.


台湾の立法院選挙 国民党歴史的圧勝 陳総統引責辞任へ

日本経済新聞によると台湾（中華民国）の国会議員に当たる立法委員選挙（定数113人）が1月12日即日投開票され、中央選挙委員会によると、最大野党の中国国民党が3分の2を超える81議席を獲得した。一方、陳水扁総統率いる民主進歩党は27議席に止まり、歴史的な大敗を演じた。この背景には、陳水扁総統の政権運営に対する不満があると見られている。同日夜、陳水扁総統は兼任している民進党主席を辞任することを表明した。

これまで任期3年だった立法議員の任期は、今選挙から1年延長され4年となった。選挙の方式も「小選挙区比例代表並立制」となり、定数も225人からほぼ半数にあたる113人（小選挙区73人、先住民6人、比例代表34人）に削減された。今回の選挙では小選挙区と先住民枠を合わせて300人程度、比例代表からは12の政党・政治団体から立候補があった。中国新聞（本社広島県）によると、今回の選挙における有権者数は1700万人だった。

中国新聞によると、国民党の前主席で総統選挙に立候補を予定している馬英九氏は民進党の経済不振などを攻撃し、政権交代を訴えた。また、民進党の陳総統も「国民党が多数を取れば中国との統一に向う可能性が高い」と主張して危機感を煽り、有権者の台湾人意識（アイデンティティ）に訴えた。しかし、「和解と共生理念」を訴えている謝長廷元行政院長（同党公認の総統選挙立候補予定者）との対立から党内での足並みが乱れたのも影響したといわれている。またスポーツニッポンによると、この敗北の責任から陳総統は主席を引責辞任する意向を表明した。

一方産経新聞によると、中華人民共和国では、この民進党の大敗で「総統選へ向けて国民党有利がほぼ固まった」とみて、この結果を歓迎している。産経の観測によれば、「台湾」の名前で国連への加盟をするかを問う国民投票が中国にとって最大の関心事であり、民進党の大敗からこれを断念させたいとする。また同記事によれば、中国は陳総統の責任問題も浮上するとみて注視している。


Partido nacionalista vence as eleições de Taiwan

O Partido Nacionalista Chinês, também conhecido como Kuomintang (KMT, chinês tradicional:中国国民党), ganhou hoje eleições em Taiwan contra o partido do presidente Chen Shui - Bian, o  Partido Progressista Democrático (DPP). A DPP já tinha terminado meio século de regra dos Kuomintang , em 2000, quando foi eleito o presidente Chen e ganhou mais assentos do que qualquer outro partido na eleição de 2001.

*Peter Enav. Taiwan Opposition Wins Vote by Landslide [inativa] — Associated Press, 12 de janeiro de 2008. Página visitada em 13 de janeiro de 2008. Arquivada em 15 de janeiro de 2008

*Taiwan's KMT trounces DPP in legislature poll [inativa] — Associated Press, 12 de janeiro de 2008. Página visitada em 13 de janeiro de 2008. Arquivada em 19 de janeiro de 2008

*Ralph Jennings. Taiwan's KMT trounces DPP in legislature poll [inativa] — Reuters, 12 de janeiro de 2008. Página visitada em 21 de maio de 2021. Arquivada em 24 de maio de 2016


2008中華民國立委選舉揭曉

2008年中華民國立法委員選舉，立委選票與政黨票部分目前已開票完畢，中國國民黨一如國外媒體的預期，在本次選舉中獲得壓倒性的勝利，台北市、基隆市、桃園縣、新竹縣市、苗栗縣、台中市、彰化縣、南投縣、雲林縣、嘉義市、宜蘭縣、花蓮縣、台東縣、連江縣等選區席次全部拿下，另外，台中縣除了其中一選區由顏清標當選外，其餘幾乎由國民黨所掌握，計獲得區域立委79席中61席。

本次立法委員選舉首次席次減半，由原有225席改為113席，動機是撙節國庫。但最初推動縮減案的民主進步黨反而成為輸家。一共獲得13席，居於第二大黨。

另一特徵則是首次登場的區域不分區立委政黨票。結果其中51%支持國民黨、37%支持民進黨。亦有政治觀察評論認為雖然國民黨在區域立委大勝，但藍綠版塊的的比例事實上並無顯著變化。甚至民進黨在區域立委的得票率是歷史新高，僅新制不利於該黨而已。

開票結束後，部分效應已浮現。包括陳水扁辭去民進黨主席，由謝長廷接任。同時，馬英九邁向總統之路可能在黨籍立委協助下更為平坦。

本屆區域及不分區113席分配如下：中國國民黨81席、民主進步黨27席、無黨團聯盟3席、親民黨1席、無黨籍1席。另一方面，因政黨票新制而積極投入選戰的第三勢力則無一當選。


Nationwide rallies against anti-terror laws held in Australia

A coordinated set of Australian protests against proposed anti-terror bills and calling on the withdrawal of troops from Iraq began in Sydney today.  Approximately one thousand people gathered in Belmore Park in the center of the New South Wales capital for a rally and march through the city.

According to the protestors the new legislation may, if passed, may be used to suppress important civil liberties.

"These new laws are against dissent" said David Bernie, a speaker from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties. "We are seeing a big change.  Now, ASIO questioning warrants, people subject to those are not allowed to talk about it for two years. Now, this is automatic, and it is automatic irrespective of whether there is any need for secrecy or not. So ASIO doesn't have to apply for any gag order, the gag order applies automatically. Its stops not only that person talking about it, but their lawyer talking about or the media talking about it."

Mr. Bernie said that under the laws, it may be a criminal act for family members to discuss the fact that a member of the same family had been secretly detained. "Would John Howard, if he was told by his son, 'I am safe but I can't tell you where I am', not tell Janette about it? It just is a ridiculous situation."

The Prime Minister has said that the new anti-terror legislation is justified because of the threat to Australia. Mr Howard said in an interview with John Laws on November 3 that he won't enjoy enacting laws that restrict civil liberties, but that it is necessary under the current circumstances.

"Now I don’t like the fact that we have to do this. I don’t like it at all. In many ways it’s as distasteful to me as it is to the most rampant civil libertarian in the country. But we are living in different times, and anybody who thinks that we’re not, is frankly, out of touch with reality. This country is not immune from the possibility of a terrorist attack. It is not. And people who think it is are just kidding themselves," Mr Howard said.

The rally was addressed by several other speakers including the Greens party Senator Kerry Nettle before setting out on a police escorted march through the streets of Sydney.

On return to Belmore Park further speeches took place, and the rally was concluded with a speech from Paul White from the Muslims for Peace organisation. He suggested that the notion that it was necessary for foreign troops to stay in Iraq to prevent civil war was false. "The historical fact is that Iraq has never had a history of sectarian conflict. Never, never, never. Sunnis and Shi'tes live all over Iraq, not just in the South and in fact they are heavily inter-married." he said. He suggested that most of the violence in Iraq was directly or indirectly the result of foreign intervention. "The real leaders of Iraq's Muslims are unanimous, Sunni and Shi'ite, in denouncing sectarian violence". He concluded, "The only solution to the chaos in Iraq is for all foreign troops to leave Iraq."


Protesty przeciwko przepisom antyterrorystycznym w Australii

Projekt nowego prawa antyterrorystycznego wywołał w Sydney demonstracje tysięcy Australijczyków.

Demonstranci są przeciwni zatwierdzeniu przez rząd rozszerzenia uprawnień organów bezpieczeństwa wobec osób podejrzanych o ekstremizm. Uważają, że jest to przejaw proamerykańskiej polityki władz, a nowe prawo wymierzone jest przeciwko osobom sprzeciwiającym się wojnie w Iraku i zaangażowaniu się w nią Australii.


Native protesters repel police raid in Caledonia, Ontario

Just before 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police officers armed with guns, tasers, tear gas, and pepper spray stormed the area that dozens of Six Nations protesters have occupied for the past 52 days.

"People were pepper sprayed...another man was shot in the back with a Taser and we were told more police officers would be coming back," said protester Hazel Hill.

"The police just completely swarmed the territory," said protester Mike Desroches, adding that the officers entered with guns drawn.  No shots were fired.

"They swarmed every which way, I couldn't even hazard a guess how many cops," said another man, Clyde Powless. The protesters have been unarmed since the beginning of the occupation, although a police statement said some officers needed medical attention for injuries sustained "while confronted by the protesters with […] axes, crowbars, rocks and a various assortment of make-shift batons".

OPP Deputy Commissioner Maurice Pilon confirmed that 16 people were arrested before protesters called in reinforcements that caused police to retreat.  A spokeswoman for the protesters, Janie Jamieson, made it clear that the confrontation was not over.  "We're prepared ... for however long it takes," she said.

Protesters started a huge tire fire to block the road in an attempt to prevent a further incursion by the police. A dump truck was also stopped astride the road and roadblocks set up to prevent the passage of traffic.

Protesters expect more natives to support them in the near future.


抗議集団が警察の進入を排除—カナダ・オンタリオ州カレドニア

カナダ・オンタリオ州警察 (OPP) は20日午前5時前（UTC-4、日本時間午後6時前）、銃、テーザー銃、催涙ガス、トウガラシスプレーで装備し、数十人のイロコイ連邦派抗議集団が過去52日間占領していた地域を攻撃した。（訳注：抗議集団は、この土地が1784年に先住民に対し払い下げられた土地だと主張している。これに対し、政府側は、1841年に高速道路用地として収容されていると主張している。）

「人々はトウガラシスプレーをかけられた。別の男性はテーザー銃で背中を撃たれた。そして、より多くの警察官が戻ってくるだろうと言われた。」と、抗議集団のヘイゼル・ヒルは言った。

「警察は地域を完全にうじゃうじゃと埋め尽くしていた。」と抗議集団のマイク・デスロッチスは言い、警官は銃を抜いて入ってきたと言い足した。弾丸は全く撃たれなかった。

「いろいろな道から彼らは集まってきたので、あてずっぽうでも何人の警官がいたのか言うことができない。」別の男性、クライド・パウレスは言った。占領がはじまってからずっと、抗議集団は武装をしていなかった。

OPP副局長モーリス・パイロンは、抗議集団が呼び入れた援軍が警察を後退させる前に、16人を逮捕したことを確認した。抗議集団のスポークスウーマン、ジェニー・ジェーミソンは、「私たちは準備ができています。どんなにそれに時間がかかってもいいように。」と、対立が終わっていないことを断言した。

抗議集団は、警察にさらに侵入されることを防ごうと、道を塞ぐためにタイヤを燃やして大きな火を熾した。また、道をまたぐようにダンプカーを停め、バリケードを作った。

抗議集団は、より多くのネイティブ・アメリカンが、近い将来彼らを支持してくれるだろうと期待している。

英語版ウィキニュース記事の翻訳です。


NATO summit in Bucharest enters second day

One of the biggest gatherings of world leaders, the 20th annual NATO summit which began on Wednesday continued today in Bucharest.

NATO leaders begin negotiations in earnest over Afghanistan Thursday, after the opening day of their summit in Bucharest saw a successful French offer of more troops, but a public disagreement over the alliance's enlargement.

In the morning, the heads of the 26-strong alliance will hold their first formal working session, picking up on the themes of Wednesday's dinner - enlargement, Kosovo and Afghanistan, plus other issues.

The conflict of interests involves a delicate diplomatic brinkmanship between NATO's historic open-door policy and Russia's feeling that the alliances' borders are growing too close for comfort.

At the Bucharest summit, Albania and Croatia too will begin the formal process of their membership.

NATO's backing of a United States missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic has been harshly condemned by Vladimir Putin, who will be making his first appearance at this year's summit to express his fears of a new arms race.

The leaders of Albania and Croatia will get their first taste of NATO's highest body, when they sit with their counterparts, alongside Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, in a special session.

The ambitions of Macedonia, the southernmost of the former Yugoslav republics -- have been challenged by neighbour Greece in a dispute over its official name.

Greece refuses to recognise the former Yugoslav republic's name because it is the same as that of the northern Greek province of Macedonia and Athens worries that this could imply a claim on its territory.


Vertice NATO: riflettori puntati sull'Afghanistan e l'allargamento

Il vertice della NATO che si tiene dal 2 al 4 aprile nella capitale romena cade in un momento decisivo per l'Alleanza Atlantica, che rischia di spaccarsi su due fronti: la situazione in Afghanistan e l'eventuale allargamento della NATO ad est.

Questa sera è poi previsto l'arrivo di Vladimir Putin, principale oppositore alla politica di allargamento della NATO e leader di una Russia con la quale i rapporti si sono raffreddati molto nell'ultimo anno.

Ieri, 2 aprile, il presidente degli Stati Uniti George Bush ha dovuto incassare la contrarietà di vari paesi europei rispetto ad un allargamento della NATO a est. Germania, Francia, Italia, Spagna, Portogallo, Grecia, Olanda, Belgio, Lussemburgo e Norvegia hanno espresso parere negativo ad un allargamento dell'Alleanza ad Ucraina e Georgia. Anche la Gran Bretagna ha espresso le sue perplessità, ritenendo inopportuna una azione che avrebbe aperto un grave contrasto con la Russia.

Un eventuale allargamento della NATO ad est avrebbe potuto aprire un duro scontro con la Russia, che già critica per l'allargamento dell'Alleanza a Polonia, Ungheria e Romania, avrebbe visto entrare nella NATO due paesi orbitanti nella propria sfera d'influenza. Inoltre con la Russia i rapporti sono ancora molto freddi per l'ipotesi di scudo missilistico statunitense in Europa dell'est, giudicata una minaccia alla sicurezza da parte russa, nonché per i recenti sviluppi nel Kosovo, culminati nella dichiarazione d'indipendenza.

I due paesi candidati inoltre non sono pronti ad entrare in un apparato militare ad alto livello quale la NATO, né tecnicamente né politicamente: l'Ucraina vive una spaccatura interna proprio tra filorussi e filoatlantici, mentre la Georgia, a ridosso delle aree calde del Caucaso - aree in cui la Russia non tollera interferenze - oltre ad avere contrasti aperti con il governo russo, ha al suo interno ben due province separatiste fuori dal suo controllo, Abkhazia e Ossezia del Sud.

Fonti statunitensi parlano comunque di opzione non chiusa annunciando che la questione dell'entrata di Georgia e Ucraina è solo rimandata, ed anche il segretario generale della NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer conferma che "la porta della NATO rimane aperta" e che "qui a Bucarest abbiamo avuto la conferma che la famiglia della NATO continuerà ad allargarsi".

Resta da discutere per mancanza di consenso, rinviata a domani sera, l'ipotesi dell'ingresso di Ucraina e Georgia nel Membership Action Plan (MAP), che rappresenta comunque un passo verso l'integrazione.

Nel quadro dell'allargamento della NATO Albania e Croazia hanno ricevuto l'invito ad entrare nell'Alleanza, mentre la Macedonia (ufficialmente FYROM) riceverà l'invito solo quando si risolverà il contrasto con la Grecia relativo al nome. Oggi infatti la Repubblica di Macedonia è riconosciuta ufficialmente con l'acronimo di Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia, e la volontà del suo governo di cambiare il nome in Macedonia, stesso nome della limitrofa regione della Grecia, è osteggiata dal governo ellenico che teme l'aprirsi di rivendicazioni territoriali.

Albania, Croazia e Macedonia sono tutti membri del MAP.

Altro tema caldo con la Russia è lo scudo spaziale, un sistema missilistico di difesa antimissile che gli Stati Uniti intendono realizzare nell'est Europa e che viene giudicato una minaccia alla sicurezza nazionale da parte dei vertici delle forze armate russe. Nel corso del meeting George Bush, forte sostenitore del progetto, sarebbe riuscito a strappare la conferma della necessità del sistema, nonostante la precedente contrarietà dei paesi dell'Europa occidentale nonché le forti polemiche russe.

La NATO è da anni impegnata in una lunga guerra contro i talebani in Afghanistan, che oggi appare molto difficile tanto sul piano militare quanto su quello politico: sono molti gli osservatori che ritengono che un fallimento della NATO in Afghanistan potrebbe determinare la fine dell'Alleanza.

Sul tavolo, ieri, vi era la richiesta dell'aumento delle truppe combattenti (da 47mila a 55mila, come richiesto dal generale a comando delle operazioni della NATO in Afghanistan) nonché il caso del Canada, che aveva minacciato di ritirare il proprio contingente (2.500 soldati) impegnato da vari mesi in duri combattimenti, con numerose perdite.

L'aumento di truppe, fortemente richiesto da Bush, avverrà anche se non nei numeri richiesti, in particolare con la conferma di Nicolas Sarkozy per la Francia (800-1.000 uomini in più), Canada (altri 1.000), Gran Bretagna (circa 800), Polonia, Repubblica Ceca, Romania e Georgia.

Il problema del Canada è rientrato sempre nella giornata di ieri grazie all'approvazione di un piano di riorganizzazione delle truppe, al quale parteciperanno anche Italia e Germania (più volte accusate in quanto non partecipano alle operazioni di combattimento), che prevede una parziale rotazione degli schieramenti e la ricollocazione di alcune truppe nelle aree più calde del sud e dell'est dell'Afghanistan. Questo piano consentirà anche all'Italia di impegnare più truppe nelle aree a rischio senza dover per questo aumentare il numero degli uomini schierati (attualmente 2.350), come ha confermato Romano Prodi.

Il nuovo piano per l'Afghanistan prevede un maggior coordinamento tra le forze in campo e punterà maggiormente sui Operational Mentoring Liaison Team (OMLT), team di addestratori e consiglieri militari che accompagneranno le unità dell'esercito afghano (ANA) e della polizia afghana per assisterli e guidarli nelle varie operazioni di combattimento. Si tratta di una figura finora prevalentemente appannaggio delle forze statunitensi, necessaria per consentire all'esercito afghano una maggiore autonomia ed un maggior ruolo nelle operazioni militari.

Infine è arrivato un segnale di distensione dalla Russia con l'annuncio della disponibilità, da parte di Putin, di sfruttare il corridoio nord (dalla Russia attraverso Kazakistan e Uzbekistan) per la linea di rifornimenti ai contingenti NATO in Afghanistan. Attualmente rifornimenti, a parte quelli per via aerea aerei, partono dal Pakistan passando per zone in cui è forte la presenza talebana e sono stati più volte oggetto di attacchi.

L'aumento delle truppe e la riorganizzazione delle stesse in Afghanistan vanno letti nel quadro dell'offensiva di primavera, attesa a breve in Afghanistan.

Il pomeriggio di oggi (3 aprile) sarà dedicato alle discussioni sull'Afghanistan, ed interverranno il premier afghano Hamid Karzai, il segretario generale delle Nazioni Unite Ban Ki-moon, l'Unione Europea (rappresentata da Javier Solana e Manuel Barroso), i leader degli altri paesi non NATO che contribuiscono alla missione ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) nonché la Banca Mondiale.

Sull'Afghanistan pesano le divergenze, in seno alla NATO, sia per quanto riguarda la partecipazione dei singoli Paesi (Italia, Germania e Spagna non intendono partecipare a missioni di combattimento), sia per quanto riguarda la strategia dell'Alleanza: mentre gli Stati Uniti spingono per una maggiore aggressività contro le forze talebane, l'Europa (in particolare l'asse franco-tedesco, confermato a questo vertice) preme per una maggiore attenzione alla ricostruzione ed al rapporto con i civili, criticando la sovrapposizione di competenze tra le varie truppe in Afghanistan. In quel paese, infatti, oltre all'ISAF a comando NATO operano truppe, prevalentemente statunitensi, a comando USA ed esclusivamente dedicate alle operazioni antiterrorismo, nell'ambito di Enduring Freedom.


Rozpoczął się szczyt NATO w Bukareszcie

Wczoraj rozpoczął się szczyt NATO w Bukareszcie. Podczas trzydniowych rozmów i spotkań przywódcy 26 państw członkowskich zajmą się przyszłością misji w Afganistanie i rozszerzeniem sojuszu w kontekście stosunków z Rosją.

Bukaresztański szczyt już jest uznawany za jeden z najważniejszych w historii Sojuszu Północnoatlantyckiego, staje się on okazją do zaprezentowanie rzeczywistej umiejętność sojuszu do współpracy i wypracowania jednolitego, silnego stanowiska wobec sytuacji międzynarodowej.

Nie bez znaczenia w tym kontekście będzie ujednolicenie pozycji w sprawie rosyjskich nacisków dotyczących nie przyłączania do NATO Ukrainy i Gruzji. Zarówno zwolennicy rozszerzenia sojuszu o byłe republiki sowieckie, czyli Polska, USA, Kanada i kraje bałtyckie, jak i przeciwnicy z Niemiec i Francji obstają przy swoim stanowisku. Kością niezgody w tej sprawie jest strategia wobec Rosji, domagającej się nie dopuszczenia do członkostwa Ukrainy i Gruzji w zamian za pomoc wojskową w Afganistanie.

Jednak to właśnie dalsze losy afgańskiej misji wojskowej, w bezpośrednio wewnątrznatowskim kontekście, będą najważniejszym punktem spotkania w Bukareszcie. Przedstawiciele USA i Wielkiej Brytanii – krajów reprezentujących największe siły wchodzące w struktury ISAF, będą próbowali wykorzystać szczyt, aby przekonać innych członków do zwiększenia swojego udziału w misji. Nieoficjalnie wiadomo, że na wezwanie to pozytywnie odpowie Francja, jeszcze w Rumunii ogłaszając znaczne zwiększenie swojego kontyngentu.

Poza wewnętrznymi sporami następuje natomiast proces włączania do NATO Albanii, Chorwacji i Macedonii. Członkostwu Macedonii pod obecną nazwą przeciwna jest Grecja, uważająca, że nazwa Macedonia jest historycznym określeniem jednego z jej regionów. Trwają jednak rozmowy zapowiadające szybkie i pozytywne rozwiązanie tej problematycznej kwestii.

Wczoraj członkowie szczytu spotkali się na roboczej kolacji, w czasie której poruszyli kwestie związane ze strategią rozszerzania i stanowiska wobec Rosji. Na dziś, zaplanowano spotkanie głównego ciała sojuszu, czyli Rady Północnoatlantyckiej, a także przeprowadzenie panelu poświęconego misji ISAF.

Prezydent RP Lech Kaczyński udał się do Bukaresztu 2 kwietnia 2008 r.

Towarzyszą mu:

Po przylocie Prezydent RP spotkał się z Prezydentem Gruzji Micheilem Saakaszwilim i Prezydentem Litwy Valdasem Adamkusem.

3 kwietnia br. po powitaniu przez Prezydenta Rumuni Traiana Basescu i Sekretarza Generalnego NATO Jaapa de Hoop Scheffera Prezydent RP wziął udział w sesji roboczej Szczytu NATO.

Prezydent Lech Kaczyński spotkał się również z Premierem Wielkiego Księstwa Luksemburga Jeanem–Claudem Junkerem i wziął udział w śniadaniu roboczym w formule Rady Partnerstwa Euroatlantyckiego oraz w sesji dotyczącej Afganistanu.

W godzinach wieczornych Prezydent RP spotkał się z Premierem Królestwa Belgii Yvesem Laterme oraz z Kanclerz Niemiec Angelą Merkel.


NATO to take control of Libyan no-fly zone

NATO has agreed to take control of the no-fly zone in Libya as early as this weekend, after a unanimous vote to do so by all 28 member states.

Only the no-fly zone will be the responsibility of NATO forces; other military operations in Libya will remain under the control of the group of nations already involved. A two-level command system will be put in place, with political oversight being the responsibility of a new committee headed by NATO but also including other countries that are engaged in military operations in Libya. Deployment of military assets will fall under the purview of NATO alone.

An agreement was reached on Wednesday afternoon, after a conference call between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British foreign secretary William Hague, French foreign minister Alain Juppe, and the Turkish foreign minister.  This was proposed to the North Atlantic Council, and NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen later confirmed that all NATO members had agreed to implement it.

Turkey and France had previously disagreed over the issue of NATO control, with France opposed and Turkey in favor of having NATO command of military forces.

Hague said of the agreement that "this is a new coalition, put together very quickly for obvious reasons last week, and so there are bound to be issues to sort out in its management. But we are getting through those pretty well."


L'OTAN per prendre el control de la zona d'exclusió aèria de Líbia


Il comando delle operazioni in Libia passa alla NATO

Si è concluso quest'oggi a Bruxelles, la capitale belga, il vertice dei capi di stato e di governo dei ventisette paesi dell'Unione Europea. A rappresentare l'Italia c'era il Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri Silvio Berlusconi.

Durante il vertice si è discusso soprattutto delle operazioni militari in Libia e alla fine si è deciso che il comando di tutte le operazioni militari verrà assegnato alla NATO. Entro domenica la NATO riceverà il comando delle operazioni dall'Africa Command americano (US Africom). Silvio Berlusconi in un'intervista rilasciata questa mattina ai giornalisti italiani, si è detto assolutamente soddisfatto dei risultati raggiunti in questo vertice.


НАТО контролише ваздушну зону над Либијом

28. март 2011.Напуљ/ Либија , (Beta-AFP) - Авиони НАТО успоставили су од недеље контролу над ваздушним зоном изнад Либије, саопштио је у понедељак у Напуљу главнокомандујући операцијама у Либији, канадски генерал Шарл Бушар.

„Авиони НАТО у недељу су завршили своју прву мисију надгледања забране летења изнад либијске територије“, рекао је генерал који је на функцију главнокомандујућег војном операцијом у Либији постављен у петак.

Бушар је изјавио да и даље траје процес преношења команде војном операцијом са међународне коалиције на НАТО. У недељу када је та одлука и донета у Бриселу, представници НАТО су рекли да ће процес преношења команде трајати између 48 и 72 сата.

Канадски генерал је истакао да ће трупе НАТО своје акције изводити у „тесној сарадњи са регионалним и међународним партнерима (Алијансе) како би се заштитила Либија“. „Што више наша акција буде имала заједнички карактер, снажнија ће бити и порука либијском народу који има огромну потребу за нашом подршком“, рекао је Бушар.