Pro-Catalan independence parties won a majority in the region's election on Sunday. Artur Mas' centre-right CiU part won 50 sets out of 135 and the left-wing separatist ERC won 21. Speaking to reporters after the election results, Mas stressed that his disappointing result - 62 seats down from last year - was a reflection of austerity cuts and not reflective of separatism. Both the CiU and the ERC have pledged to hold an effective referendum on independence. Although said to be illegal under Spanish law at present, the parties have said they plan to circumvent this by announcing a public...
The Egyptian stock market took a plunge Sunday, the first day it was open since the president's announcement of his widening powers and exemption from judicial review. The decree has sparked protests and strong opposition . Meanwhile, news came that the President Mohamed Mursi will meet senior members of the judiciary on Monday, in order to resolve the situation.
Leaders of four African countries have called on M23 rebels to stop fighting and withdraw from the city of Goma, in the east of the Democratic Reublic of Congo (DRC). President Kabila of the DRC, and the presidents of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya met in Kampala on Sunday. Rwanda was represented by its foreign minister. The leaders issued a statement calling on the rebels to "stop all war activities and withdraw from Goma" and "stop talk of overthrowing an elected government". Kabila was also asked to look into the “legitimate grievances” of the rebels.
The Interpol General Secretariat has called for the arrest of over 130 fugitives suspected of taking part in the Rwandan genocide at the International Expert Meeting on Genocide, War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity in France earlier this week. Speaking at the event, which involved more than 150 law enforcement and judicial experts from 44 different countries, Interpol's director of operational police services, Mick O'Connell, said, " International investigations are being enhanced and prominent war criminals and mass atrocities perpetrators have been identified, located and brought to...
Amnesty international has described Australia’s asylum-seekers camp, Nauru, as appalling and likely to be in breach of its obligations to refugees. Commenting on the Australian government’s responsibility for the ill-treated asylum seekers, Amnesty International’s Graham Thom, who visited the camps this week, said “ I think it is fair to say that Australia is again in serious breach of its international obligations.” The Amnesty report, released on Friday, alleged that the refugee camp conditions were “unacceptable for vulnerable people, many of who have suffered torture and trauma.” The...
The Basque separatist group ETA called on the Spanish and French governments to hold discussions towards dis-arming, ceasing military operations, and the return of ETA prisoners to the Basque region. A leaked summary of ETA's statement was published in the Basque newspaper Naiz. The group stated that discussions over those three issues "would bring about a definitive end of the armed conflict." The full statement is expected to be published on Sunday. The Spanish government has previously stated it is not open for discussions with ETA until they full disarm and disband.
Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has faced strong opposition, following a decree issued on Thursday, that consolidated power over the judiciary with the president. Amidst protests in Cairo square, prominent Egyptian democracy advocate Mohammed ElBaradei called on the president revoke the decree that granted him near absolute powers over the judiciary. “I am waiting to see, I hope soon, a very strong statement of condemnation by the U.S, by Europe and by everybody who really cares about human dignity,” he said. Demonstrations in Cairo square continued for a second day, resulting in Egyptian...
Ahead of a pivotal election on Sunday, Artur Mas, Catalonia's president, outlined his views on the call for independence. Highlighting the rejection of Catalonia's call for greater tax-raising powers, assaults on the teaching of the Catalan language at schools and the dire Spanish economy, Mas pledged to hold a referendum on independence if he was to be re-elected. Urging the nation to face the potentially historic choice it has before it, Mas said: “If we stay in the position we are in now, it will be a disaster,” “Something important is changing,” “If Slovenia, Malta, Estonia can be states...
Bahrain has convicted 23 medics who were involved in last year’s protest against the kingdom’s regime. The medics were either sentenced to three months in prison or a fine. The convictions have come soon after a report released by Amnesty International , criticising the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain. The report said that oppressive practices by the government have become ‘increasingly entrenched’.] The charges against the medics stem from treatment given to injured protesters, after demonstrations by Shias against the Sunni regime. Over 95 medics were arrested and 20 of them...
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on Thursday for Simone Gbagbo for alleged crimes against humanity, urging her to surrender. Simone Gbagbo is a politician and the wife of the Ivory Coast's former president, Laurent Gbagbo, and campaigned for him during his presidential campaign. Over 3000 people died in the elections' aftermath after Laurent Gbagbo disputed the election results. A year ago, Simone Gbagbo was charged with looting, armed robbery and embezzlement, along side her husband. In a statement, the ICC said : "According to the warrant of arrest, initially issued...