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Latest news from and about the homeland

Photograph: Screenshot/ BLA video A fresh wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances has been documented across Balochistan this month, as Baloch rights groups recorded the recovery of several bodies of men who had earlier been forcibly taken, and appealed once more to international institutions that have largely ignored the province. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)…

Mugabe to hold elections by end of July

Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, will hold elections by the end of July, reported the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday.

On Friday, a constitutional court ruled that parliamentary and presidential polls must take place before 31st July, and a date must be fixed by 29th June.

Opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, said his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would support a July election so long demands for political reform were met.

Speaking to Reuters, MDC Spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said:

Libya to appeal against ICC bid rejection

Libyan officials announced today that it will appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reverse its decision to prosecute Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of the country’s leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Speaking in a joint conference the Libyan Justice prime minister, Ali Zeidan, announced that they would launch an appeal, within the next 5 days, against the ICC’s refection of Libya’s bid to try Saif Gaddafi.

Ethiopian protesters demand release of political leaders and journalists

Over 10,000 Ethiopians staged an anti-government demonstration today  in the first large-scale protest in almost 8 years.

The protests called for the release of detained political leaders and journalists. Speaking to the Guardian, the organiser of the protest and chairmen of the Semanayawi (Blue) party, Yilekal Getachewm said,

Khmer Rouge leaders apologise for atrocities

Former leaders of the Khmer Rouge, who are now facing trial for charges of genocide in Cambodia, have expressed their regret over atrocities committed by the regime during their trial this week.

Nuon Chea, the organisation’s main ideologist,and "brother number two",  expressed “condolences” and said on Thursday,

"I am responsible for what happened during the time of Democratic Kampuchea".

ICC rejects Libyan trial for Saif Gaddafi

The International Criminal Court's pre-trial chamber has ruled that Libya is not ready to try Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam.

He was indicted on war crimes charges in 2011 and at the time the ICC said it could allow Libya to try Gaddafi, if conditions were right. However in a statement the ICC said that Libya continues to "face substantial difficulties in exercising fully its judicial powers across the entire territory".

Libyan officials are seeking to try Gaddafi in the country, as it would revive faith in the justice system.

China slams US call for Tiananmen accountability

China slammed US calls for accountability to those killed during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, accusing the US "prejudice".

In a statement the US State Department urged China to "end harassment of those who participated in the protests and fully account for those killed, detained, or missing."

China's official news agency, Xinhua, quoted the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei as saying, the US should "immediately rectify its wrongdoings and stop interfering in China's internal affairs so as not to sabotage China-U.S. relations".

Evidence of Nazi war crimes left hidden in archives

Crucial evidence on Nazi war crimes remained hidden in British and US government archived for decades, reports the Independent.

Tiananmen mothers condemn failure to launch political reform

Mothers of victims of China's Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 slammed the President Xi Jinping for failing to launch political reform stating that he was taking China "backwards towards Maoist Orthodoxy".

Demanding justice for those that were killed by China's state forces, the group of mothers published an open letter via Human Rights Watch, arguing that hope for political reform had descended into despair.

The group, Ding Zilin, said:

Tutu calls on UEFA to ban Israel from hosting Under-21 Championship

In a letter to The Guardian, Desmond Tutu and a group of politicians, actors, playwrights and sports personalities, urged UEFA not to hold the Under-21 European Championship in Israel.

Citing a London Congress last week, where UEFA decided that heavier punishments should be in place to tackle racism amongst footballers, the signatories argued that the same principle should be applied for Israel.

Eritrean diplomat expelled from Canada

The head of the Eritrean consulate in Toronto has been ordered to leave Canada after breaching UN sanctions.

Semere Ghebremariam Micael is alleged to have demanded a 2% “diaspora tax” and “national defence fees” from Eritreans in the country, in violation of Canadian law and the sanctions imposed on Eritrea by the UN.