Chinese Observers Dismiss Claims of Vote-Rigging in Zimbabwe Poll

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe with People's Republic of China Senior Military Commission Cheif Air Marshal Xu during a visit to Harare. The two countries have close ties going back decades., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Chinese observers dismiss MDC-T rigging claims

July 31, 2013
Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

The Chinese election observer mission leader, Mr Liu Guijin, has described as baseless claims by the MDC-T that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission tampered with special voting ballot papers.Mr Liu, who was once Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe in the 1990s and now leading a five-member team, said this during a press conference where the mission was giving their pre-election assessment report.

“We are not here to make judgment on the election. There have been some allegations and counter-allegations some of which are baseless. While some of them are small flaws, according to the brief we got from stakeholders like the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and what we have read from newspapers about ballot papers abandoned in the dustbin, ZEC has made some good argument on that.

So, that is probably a kind of some baseless accusation against ZEC,” said Mr Liu, who is also China’s special representative to Africa.
Mr Liu said they commended ZEC for being able to organise elections within a short period given its financial position where it had limited resources.

“The country is having harmonised election where it is electing the President, Parliamentary representatives and local authorities, it is quite complicated. This needs a lot of logistics and financial support,” he said.

He commended political parties and other stakeholders for the peaceful environment that existed prior to the polls. “The atmosphere is peaceful and all stakeholders have been working on comparatively good foundation for peace, which is commendable and appreciable,” he said.

Mr Liu said the Chinese government would continue to maintain its good relations with Zimbabwe and work with a new Government to emerge from the election.

Zimbabwe Farmers Predict Landslide Victory For President Mugabe

Zimbabwe farmers marketing tobacco. The production of the crop has increased in recent years due to the land redistribution program., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Farmers predict landslide victory for President

July 31, 2013
Herald Reporters

Farmers have predicted a landslide victory for President Mugabe in harmonised elections today.

Most farmers told The Herald yesterday that they were going to vote in huge numbers in support of President Mugabe who brought economic independence.

They said they were liberated in 1980 but got economic independence through land reform.

This saw many landless Zimbabweans getting farms in the fertile areas since they were restricted to sandy infertile soils during the colonial era.

Beatrice farmer Mr Nyasha Mutami said through the land reform he has been economically independent.

“I am now a successful tobacco farmer and have bought several assets through farming,” he said.

Most tobacco farmers said their lives have been transformed with most of them now able to send their children to better schools and building decent houses.

“My father used to work for the white farmers but he had nothing to show for the long years he worked. I have been producing tobacco for less than five years but here I am, successful and am now looking forward to buying farm machinery,’ he said.

Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust Mrs Depinah Nkomo said President Mugabe empowered women through the land reform.

“Majority of farmers are women who are doing well. Women can now own land, have the land registered in our names and have the freedom to make decisions on the farm. I choose what I want to grow and what I want to do with the money which was not the case before independence,” she said.

Mrs Nkomo said voting for the MDC was reversing the gains of the liberation struggle.

According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board more than 91 100 farmers are producing tobacco.

More than 82 percent of these growers are small-scale growers who benefited from the land reform programme.

The growing sector is almost 98, 9 percent indigenised with many women and youths now empowered as they can successfully participate in the tobacco due to the land reform.

Meanwhile, some Zanu-PF supporters have expressed confidence in today’s election saying President Mugabe and the party would win resoundingly because of its sound policies on indigenisation and land redistribution.

A snap survey carried by The Herald yesterday proved that supporters ranging from liberation war heroes, aliens, youths and the elderly were confident that they have done enough ground work to win people’s vote in today’s election.

National deputy secretary general for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association Cde Charles Gawu said today’s election is a Zanu-PF election.

Cde Gawu likened today’s election with the rising of Mbuya Nehanda.

“We have been waiting for this day to come. To us it is a big day because it represents the rising of Mbuya Nehanda from the dead. Zanu-PF’s bones are rising from the dead tomorrow,” he said.

Candidate for Harare West, Cde Varaidzo Mupunga also expressed confident that she would win in today’s election.

“I am urging all youths of Zimbabwe to rally behind all youths candidates contesting in this election. For me, I already see a landslide victory,” Cde Mupunga said.

Another candidate for Kuwadzana, Cde Betty Kaseke, said if the people are going to vote in their numbers the way they have been supporting her in her rallies, she will definitely win today’s election.

Chitungwiza resident Mr Tinashe Chapeta further urged all people to observe peace and accept the results of the election.

He urged whichever party wins the election to look seriously into the needs of the people of Zimbabwe, thus employment creation and industry revival among others.

President Mugabe Confident Of Emphatic Victory

Republic of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe at a press conference on July 30, 2013. Mugabe said he was certain of victory in the national elections., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

President confident of emphatic victory

July 31, 2013
Farirai Machivenyika and Farai Kuvirimirwa
Zimbabwe Herald

PRESIDENT Mugabe is confident Zanu-PF will romp to victory today and says the policies of his new Government would be underpinned by indigenisation and economic empowerment, with focus on resuscitating the manufacturing sector.

Addressing a Press conference for local and foreign journalists accredited to cover today’s harmonised elections at State House in Harare yesterday, the President dismissed claims in some quarters that he had the power to manipulate elections.

He said he was subject to the laws of the country like anyone else.

The President is widely tipped to romp to victory, with Zanu-PF grabbing a two-thirds majority.

President Mugabe dispelled accusations that have been leveled against him and his party that they were manipulating electoral processes, saying Zanu-PF was buoyant and would exceed its 1980 feat where it garnered 71 percent of the seats on offer.

“I don’t have the power. Are you giving me the power now? If you give me the power I will say no I don’t need it. I have the law in my country. It is the law that manipulates us all.

“I don’t control the electoral process, I comply with and obey the electoral law and I move in accordance with the demands of the electoral process that is moving in accordance with the law as set.

“That is the electoral law. I am very obedient. I am a lawyer myself; I am also a person who believes in order. I have been brought up obeying father and mother, obeying systems, obeying customs, obeying elders and that’s it.”

He said even when Zanu-PF did not agree with views by some observers that the 2008 elections were marred by violence, they had nonetheless agreed to go into a coalition with the MDC formations to facilitate the holding of new elections.

“We accepted that when Africa said we should redo the elections, that was obedient to the views of others and compliance with the thinking of others which the majority think, we should redo our elections and we agreed to redo them.

“We together sat here to establish an inclusive Government, we agreed to work together and we were working together right to the end and we were not law breakers,” he said.

He thanked all political parties for the manner they conducted their campaigns, but reserved particular praise for Zanu-PF candidates and wished them well in the polls.

“On behalf of my own party I would want to take this opportunity to thank all members, leading members of my party for the very important and very energy sapping exercise that they undertook in organising our campaign.

“I believe we ran a successful campaign. I believe the campaign also showed us that the people still support the principles of Zanu-PF and believe in Zanu-PF. I want, therefore, as I thank them to wish all those who are candidates on our behalf that is standing on our behalf every success,” he said.

He also commended the MDC formations for also conducting their campaigns in a peaceful manner.

“I would also want to thank other parties, big and small, the MDCs and their leaders for what was a joint exercise, a joint appeal to our nation for peace, for a fair and violence free campaign.

“There might have been a few incidents here and there but those of you who were with us from the beginning of the campaign to this day you will have noticed that our meetings, the interactions, were very peaceful indeed and we owe this to the decision we undertook all of us to emphasise the need for a peaceful process, all of us the principals, the three principals, it’s not just the President alone.

It’s the President, Prime Minister Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Minister (Arthur) Mutambara and even the Cabinet.

“So we go out and tell the people that this is a national election, a national election which is really an opportunity for our people to go out and cast their vote for the party of their own liking and I am glad this has paid dividends and we do hope that we remain this way even after the elections,” President Mugabe said.

The President acknowledged that there had been a few challenges in the run up to the elections but expressed hope that everything would go on smoothly today.

“I say there have been a few hitches here and there but one of the hitches was the delay in delivering of voter registers and we got them late. I suppose this had to do with the printing and whatever other hitches those who handled the printing exercise and the distribution of it had to overcome.

That has been overcome now, so I am told, and all stations and all those who should have the registers now have them and we do hope that as the voting starts tomorrow, these registers would be at all stations and will enable the process to start and start being regulated and regulated in the normal way,” he said.

President Mugabe also said he would hand over power if he were to lose the elections.
“That’s a normal thing if you go into a process and join in a competition, well there are only two outcomes, win or lose. You can’t be both, you either win or lose. If you lose then you must surrender to those who have won. If you win then those who have lost must also surrender to you, this is it, we will do so yeah, comply with the rules,” President Mugabe said.

Bradley Manning Faces Long Prison Term For Exposing U.S. War Crimes

Scene from a videotape shot by the U.S. military when they killed civilians, including journalists, in Baghdad in 2007. WikiLeaks has made the video available along with over 90,000 documents exposing war crimes in Afghanistan., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-bradley-manning-verdict-20130730,0,5272878.story

chicagotribune.com

Bradley Manning acquitted of aiding enemy, still may face long jail term

By Medina Roshan
Reuters
6:57 PM CDT, July 30, 2013
FORT MEADE, Maryland

A military judge on Tuesday found U.S. soldier Bradley Manning not guilty of aiding the enemy, the most serious charge he faced for handing over documents to WikiLeaks, but he still likely faces a long jail term after being found guilty of all 19 other counts.

Colonel Denise Lind ruled the 25-year-old Army private first class was guilty of five espionage charges, among many others, for the largest unauthorized release of classified U.S. data in the nation's history.

The trove of documents, including battlefield videos and diplomatic cables, was a huge boost to the profile of the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy website and its founder Julian Assange. Tuesday's verdict could be a blow to his efforts to encourage people with access to secret information to release it publicly.

Supporters of Manning were heartened by the not guilty ruling on the most serious charge, though WikiLeaks said the conviction represented "a very serious new precedent."

Manning, who was working as a low-level intelligence analyst in Baghdad when he was arrested three years ago, could face up to 136 years in military prison. Lind will take up the question of his sentence on Wednesday.

The outcome of the sentencing phase will be crucial for Manning and, more broadly, other future government leakers.

"This is a historic verdict," said Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. “Manning is one of very few people ever charged under the Espionage Act for leaks to the media. The only other person who was convicted was pardoned after trial.

“Despite the lack of any evidence that he intended any harm to the United States, Manning faces decades in prison. That’s a very scary precedent.”

The U.S. government was pushing for a life sentence without parole, which would have come if Manning had been convicted of aiding the enemy by leaking of information that included battlefield reports from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

It viewed the action as a serious breach of national security, while anti-secrecy activists praised it as shining a light on shadowy U.S. operations abroad.

"The verdict is certainly a chilling one for investigative journalism, for people who might come into information that they believe should be part of the public discourse," said Michael Bochenek, director of law and policy at Amnesty International. "The message is that the government will go after you."

In London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused President Barack Obama of "national security extremism" after the judge announced her verdict.

Praising Manning as "the most important journalistic source that the world has ever seen", Assange said the U.S. soldier, who prosecutors said had supplied WikiLeaks with hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents, did not receive a fair trial and called for the verdict to be overturned.

"The government kept Bradley Manning in a cage, stripped him naked and isolated him in order to break him, an act formally condemned by the United Nations Special Rapporteur for torture. This was never a fair trial," Assange said from inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, his home for more than a year.

Assange said WikiLeaks and Manning's own legal team would not rest until the judgment was overturned.

"It is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism. It is a short-sighted judgment that cannot be tolerated and it must be reversed."

MANNING AND SNOWDEN

Manning's case is one of two prominent ones involving high-profile leaks, illustrating the limits of secrecy in the Internet age. Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has been holed up in the transit area of a Moscow airport for more than a month, despite U.S. calls for Russian authorities to turn him over.

Army prosecutors contended during Manning's court-martial that U.S. security was harmed when WikiLeaks published videos of a 2007 attack by an American Apache helicopter gunship in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff, diplomatic cables and secret details on prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.

Manning's leaks to the site in 2009 and 2010 put the international spotlight on Assange.

Manning showed little reaction during the hearing, which lasted only about five minutes.

A crowd of about 30 Manning supporters gathered outside Fort Meade, where the court-martial was held. One of them, Nathan Fuller, said it was a relief that Manning had been acquitted of the most serious charge but expressed concern over the stiff sentence he could still face.

"The remaining charges against him are still tantamount to life in prison. That's still an outrage," Fuller said. "He's equated with spies and traitors."

But two top U.S. Congressmen from a House intelligence committee praised the verdict.

"Justice has been served today. PFC Manning harmed our national security, violated the public's trust, and now stands convicted of multiple serious crimes," said Representatives Michael Rogers, a Republican who chairs the committee and Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat and its ranking member.

"There is still much work to be done to reduce the ability of criminals like Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden to harm our national security," they said in a joint statement.

Manning, originally from Crescent, Oklahoma, opted to have his case heard by a judge, rather than a panel of military jurors.

During the court-martial proceedings, military prosecutors called the defendant a "traitor" for publicly posting information that the U.S. government said could jeopardize national security and intelligence operations.

Defense lawyers described Manning as well-intentioned but naive in hoping that his disclosures would provoke a more intense debate in the United States about diplomatic and military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

WikiLeaks's Assange Condemns Manning Verdict, Obama

An INTERPOL wanted poster for Julian Assange who was arrested by the British police on December 7, 2010. The WikiLeaks website has exposed U.S. war crimes and other political intrigue carried out by the world's leading imperialist state., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

WikiLeaks' Assange condemns Manning verdict, Obama

8:17pm EDT
By Andrew Osborn

LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused President Barack Obama of "national security extremism" on Tuesday after an American military judge convicted Bradley Manning over the biggest leak of classified documents in U.S. history.

Praising Manning as "the most important journalistic source that the world has ever seen", Assange said the U.S. soldier, who prosecutors said had supplied WikiLeaks with hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents, did not receive a fair trial and called for the verdict to be overturned.

"The government kept Bradley Manning in a cage, stripped him naked and isolated him in order to break him, an act formally condemned by the United Nations Special Rapporteur for torture. This was never a fair trial," Assange said from inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, his home for more than a year.

Assange said WikiLeaks and Manning's own legal team would not rest until the judgment was overturned.

"It is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism. It is a short-sighted judgment that cannot be tolerated and it must be reversed."

Assange did not confirm or deny whether Manning had in fact supplied WikiLeaks with classified documents, always using the word "alleged" when talking about the leak. WikiLeaks did not reveal its sources, he said, and always protected them.

Manning's conviction on five espionage and 14 other charges poses a potential problem for Assange since the severity of the judgment, which carries a jail sentence of up to 136 years, might deter would-be whistleblowers, the lifeblood of Assange's organization.

It is also a reminder of his own fate. Wanted in Sweden on sexual abuse allegations he denies, Assange has sought sanctuary in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London because he fears he would be extradited to the United States to face trial over his own alleged role in the leak case if he agreed to go to Sweden.

Manning's is one of two high-profile leak cases involving Americans. Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has been holed up at a Moscow airport for more than a month, despite U.S. calls for Russian authorities to turn him over.

Dressed in a dark suit, Assange said Obama had initiated more espionage proceedings cases against whistleblowers and publishers than all previous U.S. presidents combined and had made a mockery of his own words in the process.

"In 2008, the then presidential candidate Barack Obama ran on a platform that praised whistleblowing as an act of courage and patriotism. That platform has by Barack Obama's actions been comprehensively betrayed," said Assange.

Assange had nothing but praise for Manning, holding up his behavior as a model of how to be a whistleblower.

"His actions as alleged are unquestionably heroic. He in that sense is an example for others to follow."

(Editing by Doina Chiacu)
(This story was refiled to fix punctuation in the headline)

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured Over Press TV's US Desk: 'Detroit Debts Should Be Cancelled'

Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, has written extensively on the economic crisis in Detroit. He is now covering the bankruptcy hearings downtown., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Detroit debts 'illegitimate', 'should be cancelled'

Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:38PM GMT

To listen to this statement delivered to Press TV's US Desk by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, just click on the website below:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/07/29/316220/us-detroit-debts-illegitimate-canceled/

A political commentator says Detroit’s debts are “illegitimate” and “should be cancelled.”

“The debt is illegitimate and therefore should be cancelled,” Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan-African News Wire said, “This is the only solution for Detroit.”

“First of all we have to understand that Detroit was hit by a wave of predatory lending in housing which in fact resulted in some 100,000 foreclosures. And as a result of these foreclosures the tax base of the city was eroded over the last decade. Even prior to the wave of predatory lending you had large outsourcing and downsizing in the automotive industry.”

“When the city is in a situation where it cannot gain revenue through taxes they have to borrow from these same financial institutions which of course led to the massive foreclosure crisis,” Azikiwe told Press TV.

He also said that if senior citizens of “the birthplace of the world’s automotive industry” are stripped of their pensions to pay off the city’s debts, this would create a very bad pattern for municipalities.

“There are $6 billion in pension funds that are at stake in this struggle,” he noted.

“This bankruptcy was engineered by the banks and large financial institutions insides the United States. They are at the root cause of the crisis.”

The Obama administration is showing no sign of helping Detroit as its emergency manager and republican governor steer the city towards bankruptcy proceedings.

At least five republican senators have recently proposed tacking language onto spending bills that would broadly prohibit municipal bailouts.

These proposed measures are aimed towards preventing any federal aid
to Detroit.

GOP leaders are attacking the city with notable venom at a time when its 700,000 residents--80 percent of whom are African-American--must contend with deepening crises of poverty and privatization.

Tunisians Hold Mass Demonstrations, General Strike In Response to Political Assassination

Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, is a frequent guest on various international media outlets. Azikiwe is focused on African, Latin American and Middle Eastern affairs., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Tunisians Hold Mass Demonstrations, General Strike in Response to Political Assassination

Opposition leader Mohamed Brahmi is the second leftist murdered this year

By Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Tunisian workers and youth shut down the North African country on July 26 when the largest trade union federation and other political organizations held a general strike. The actions were in response to the July 25 assassination of Popular Front leftist politician Mohamed Brahmi, 58, who was shot 14 times outside his home near the capital of Tunis.

Brahmi, a member of the legislative 217-member National Constituent Assembly (NCA), is the second left political figure to be assassinated since February when lawyer Chokri Belaid was murdered also outside his home. Tunisia Minister of the Interior Lofti Ben Jeddou reported that both leaders were killed with the same weapon.

The general strike on July 26 and the funeral of Brahmi on July 27 brought out hundreds of thousands of people who expressed their opposition to the current government dominated by the moderate-Islamist Ennahda party. Demonstrations were held in the capital Tunis as well as the southern mining areas at Gafsa and the town of Sidi Bouzid, the birthplace of the uprising in December 2010 which spread across the country and led to the forced removal of longtime western-allied President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Initiated by the General Union of Tunisian Labor (UGTT), the leading trade union alliance, the work stoppage and demonstrations were held under the theme of stopping “terrorism, violence and murders.” Thousands gathered outside the UGTT headquarters on July 26 planning to march down the city’s main street to the interior ministry building when they were attacked by riot police using teargas.

UGTT Deputy Secretary-General Sami Tahri stated that all sectors of the labor force observed the strike including, the health services, public transport and banking. The trade union federal claims 500,000 members.

In Sidi Bouzid, demonstrators threw firebombs at the headquarters of the Ennahda party. The sister of the slain politician Chhiba Brahmi, pointed her finger at the Ennahda party for the assassination.

“I accuse Ennahda. It was them who killed him.” Similar accusations were made in February in the aftermath of the killing of Belaid.

The daughter of Brahmi, Balkis Brahmi, 19, told the French Press Agency (AFP) that she witnessed two men dressed in black fleeing the murder scene. “At around midday, we heard gunfire and my father crying with pain. We rushed out—my brother, mother and I—to find his body riddled with bullets at the wheel of his car parked in front of the house.”(July 26)

Political Crisis Deepens In Tunisia

The assassination of Mohamed Brahmi is a clear reflection of the political crisis in Tunisia stemming from the failure to form a unified revolutionary and effective government since the overthrow of Ben Ali. At the funeral of Brahmi on July 27, tens of thousands gathered with many chanting “The people want to topple the regime! Ghannouchi, Assassin, Criminal!” (France 24, July 27)

Rached Ghannouchi is the leader of the Ennahda party and has played a prominent role within the former opposition movement against Ben Ali. Ghannouchi stayed in exile for many years and was only unbanned after the fall of the previous regime.

Nonetheless, the government has denied any involvement in the assassination. Ghannouchi described the murder of Brahmi as “a catastrophe for Tunisia” saying “those behind this want to lead the country towards civil war and disrupt the democratic transition.” (dw.de, July 26)

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki declared Friday July 26 as a day of mourning and requested that the military grant Brahmi a state funeral. The burial was delayed until Saturday ostensibly to avoid the further escalation of tensions. (Reuters, July 26)

Prior to the funeral of Brahmi, there was a reported bomb explosion outside a police station in the suburb of La Goulette port near Tunis. The blast wounded an officer and destroyed an unmarked vehicle.

On July 29 the Ettakatol party called for the governing coalition led by Ennahda to resign and make way for the creation of new national unity government. A spokesman for Ettakatol stated that “If Ennahda refuses this proposal we will withdraw from the government.” (Reuters, July 29)

If Ettakatol withdraws from the coalition it will pose a serious dilemma for the Prime Minister Ali Larayedh. Noureddine Bhiri, a spokesman for Larayedh, said that the demonstrations taking place in Tunisia were tantamount to the “destruction of the state.” (Reuters, July 29)

Noureddine asked “What are the alternatives that they want after dissolving the government? There is nothing but violence and destruction. We need to stay united to pass this phase and end terrorism.”

Tempers flared on July 29 when rival protests outside the NCA building at Bardo Square in Tunis openly clashed throwing rocks at each other. Supporters of Ennahda and those demanding the resignation of the current government have been staging sit-ins in the area.

After the fencing-in of Bardo Square, a lawmaker who had resigned from the Constituent Assembly was reportedly beaten by security forces and taken to a hospital. One opposition figure, Manji Rahawi, was quoted as saying “The prime minister will be held accountable for any drop of blood spilled in the Bardo sit-in.”

The sit-in began on July 27 when some 42 deputies withdrew from the legislative body in protest over the continuation of the current government. The deputies belonged to various political parties including the Republican Party, El-Massar, Al-Moubadara, Nidaa Tounes, Afek Tounes, People’s Front, Democratic Alliance, in addition to independents.

In an article published by Tunis Afrique Press, it says ”these deputies following the assassination of People’s Movement Coordinator-General and NCA Deputy Mohamed Brahmi, are proclaiming a national salvation government led by an independent national personality who will not stand for any electoral event and entrusting the completion of the Constitution to a committee of experts before submitting it to a referendum as soon as possible.” (July 27)

The much-desired constitution was discussed after the fall of Ben Ali in January 2011 but has not been finished in two-and-a-half years of often political turmoil. Since the overthrow of the former government under Ben Ali the economy based largely on tourism and mining has continued to decline.

Political developments in neighboring Egypt where the military seized power on July 3 after mass demonstrations opposing the Muslim Brotherhood government were held, is being watched closely inside Tunisia. Previous opposition forces from the National Salvation Front (NSF) in Egypt have given support to the military actions and some are participating in the newly-appointed interim governing council.

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, President of the National Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar and Interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh reportedly held a consultation meeting on July 27 in Carthage to evaluate the political crisis in the country. Spokesman for the NCA said that “The trend now is to move towards expanding the base of power,” Mufdi al-Masady told a local radio station.

Nonetheless it will be extremely difficult to reach such a consensus in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Brahmi. Both the secular liberal and left parties along with the Islamist forces both have formidable constituencies in the country.

The UGTT will undoubtedly play a significant and even pivotal role in the developing crisis having the strength to engage in general strikes and mass demonstrations. Tunisia will remain in crisis until there is a formal break with imperialism and the formation of a revolutionary government which can function outside the influence and domination of both the former colonial power of France and the United States which has utilized the country in its so-called “war of terrorism” in North Africa.

ZANU-PF Has Transformed Lives, Says Vice-President Mujuru

Acting President Joice Mujuru welcomes Malawian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jane Kambalane at her Munhumutapa offices in Harare on June 5, 2013., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Zanu-PF has transformed lives: Mujuru

July 30, 2013
Herald Reporter

ZANU-PF policies and programmes have transformed several lives of people in the country since the attainment of independence as many opportunities have been opened up for them, Vice President Mujuru has said.She said policies such as land reform programme had now seen several people prospering hence it was prudent for Zimbabweans to vote for Zanu-PF to safeguard the gains realised over the years.

VP Mujuru said this while addressing a campaign rally in Harare East constituency where she was drumming up support for the constituency candidate, Cde Noel Mangondo, vying for National Assembly and Cde Mavis Gumbo and Cde Amos Chaniwa who are contesting to be councillors.

“In the rural areas, many people have bought vehicles for themselves after they sold their tobacco produce, their life has significantly improved. This is because of Zanu-PF policies,” said Cde Mujuru.

VP Mujuru urged business persons to enter into partnership with rural people through contract farming, saying they would reap high returns from the arrangement.

“I was in Buhera today, which is a dry region. They have started tobacco farming. All what you need is to partner them, they have the land but they might not have money, that is where you can come in as business persons,” she said.

She said the advent of the MDC-T in local authorities such as Harare saw many diseases owing to the party’s failure to administer the city.

“In Harare, in this day and age, we had archaic diseases like cholera and typhoid, very soon we shall have diseases like bilharzia,” she said.

VP Mujuru said when she was Minister of Water, she initiated a lot of projects like how to tap water through dam projects but the MDC-T abandoned them, a situation that had seen several cities going with no water.

“There was nothing that has come from the inclusive Government. We were just quarrelling, the only positive thing was the referendum and the Constitution, issues to do with development like road construction were never on the MDC-T agenda,” she said.

She reminded party supporters of the repressive regime of Ian Smith that did not allow blacks to go into certain areas reserved for whites.

VP Mujuru recounted an incident where her late husband, General Solomon Mujuru, in the early 80s came back home with a torn shirt after he had a brawl with officials of one Harare hotel who did not want people with no suits and only accommodated club members.

She said it was critical to educate young people, most of whom trivialised the liberation struggle, how life had been changed tremendously owing to war waged by living and fallen heroes.

Meanwhile, VP Mujuru yesterday said the provision of affordable water for domestic and agricultural purposes constituted one of the greatest challenges of sustainable development in rural parts of Manicaland.

Cde Mujuru, who was addressing Zanu-PF supporters at Gaza Business Centre in Buhera, said the drier parts of the province’s quest for growth would continue to suffer from erratic rains and severe dry spell, if water harvesting was not prioritised.

“We want to empower the people of Buhera. Kusvika rinhi iro Marovanyati Dam randakauya kuno ndichikumukidza takangoritarira tiri kurishairwa mari. Zvimwechetezvo nemugwagwa weBirchenough-Murambinda. Ndizvo zvinhu zvekutanga zvatiri kuzotangisa kugadzirisa izvozvo,” said Cde Mujuru.

“The people of Buhera cannot forever remain marginalised in terms of the agricultural emancipation. We do not want your agricultural options to be limited to small grains, but also commercial tobacco farming, which makes the completion of Marovanyati Dam a key deliverable,” she added.

VP Mujuru said she would make sure that Marovanyati Dam, whose construction started in 2002, when she was the Water Resources Minister, was completed together with the rehabilitation of the aging Birchenough-Murambinda Road.

Cde Mujuru said the positive impact of water harvesting and its potential to improve the development and agricultural complexion of the district would be fully achieved through drip irrigation.

Marovanyati Dam was abandoned in 2007 at 40 percent completion.

“The future of Buhera depends on water resources development, which is a key component of the district’s economic and social development,” said Cde Mujuru, adding that the foundation of rural livelihoods was food security and self-sufficiency.

United States Blocks Zimbabwe Poll Survey

ZANU-PF campaign launch at Highfield on July 5, 2013. Zimbabwe is preparing for national elections on July 31., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

US blocks poll survey

Lloyd Gumbo Herald Reporter

THE United States has reportedly gagged one of its think tanks, Freedom House, from releasing its latest survey results that indicate a crushing victory for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF in harmonised elections due tomorrow.This comes at a time when the leading British newspaper The Guardian, has once again predicted a victory for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

In an article written by David Smith, and reproduced elsewhere in this issue, the Guardian said President Mugabe had confounded his critics on the campaign and was set to romp to victory

“Running for election for the seventh time, he (President Mugabe) is widely tipped to beat his rival Morgan Tsvangirai in Wednesday’s poll — and to be ushered back into respectability by a pragmatic West,” read the article.

The Independent, also of Britain yesterday tipped President Mugabe and Zanu-PF in an article headlined “Odds stacked against Morgan Tsvangirai as Robert Mugabe scents victory in Zimbabwe” that said, “Robert Mugabe looks like he can smell victory again . . . the odds seem stacked against 61-year-old Tsvangirai replacing the 89-year-old Mugabe, who has held power continuously in the 33 years since Zimbabwe secured its independence from Britain.”

Sources close to the US gag order said the Freedom House survey results give President Mugabe a 10 percent lead over Mr Tsvangirai of MDC-T and predicts a two thirds majority for Zanu-PF in the National Assembly where the revolutionary party is tipped to garner at least 140 seats in the 210 seat lower house.

The source said the survey predicts to a first round victory for President Mugabe, while MDC leader Professor Welshman is expected to give a good account of himself as his party has moved from a splinter group to a full-fledged political outfit with structures in nearly all provinces.

At the time the survey was conducted, the Nomination Court had not yet sat and the presidential contest was deemed to be a three-horse race.

Observers, however, say the presidential contest was still a three-horse race as Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and Mr Kisinoti Mukwazhe’s candidature would not reach 1 percent share of the vote, a position worsened by Mr Mukwazhe’s announcement that he had withdrawn from the contest.

Though the US embargoed the survey, the source said Mr Tsvangirai and his kitchen cabinet were told of the findings and advised to shift their campaign from a quest for victory to an attack on the process to create grounds to reject their inevitable defeat.

Freedom House last year commissioned a survey that found that Zanu-PF’s popularity among Zimbabweans was increasing, while that of MDC-T was plunging.

It revealed that Zanu-PF’s popularity increased to 31 percent, up from 17 percent in 2010, while MDC-T’s support plummeted from 38 percent in 2010 to 19 percent, over the same period.

It is understood that the US embassy in South Africa instructed Freedom House never to release the latest results after initial indications gave President Mugabe a 10 percentage point lead over Mr Tsvangirai.

Sources told The Herald that Witwatersrand University lecturer and analyst Susan Booysen who supervised last year’s survey instructed the analysts to have a re-look at the initial poll findings or to re-do the whole research as it was inimical to MDC-T’s chances of challenging the election results given the high chances that the party would lose the harmonised elections..

“The initial poll findings indicated that Mugabe’s popularity had increased by 10 percent ahead of Tsvangirai. Ncube’s support has also increased from less than one percent to over six percent.

“After the findings were presented to Booysen, she ordered that the team re-look at the feasibility of the statistics or to conduct another survey.

“The team preferred to conduct another poll finding based on the grounds that a lot of things have changed since campaigning has started.

“It was felt that the electorate, some of whom did not disclose their affiliation last time were now politically active,” said a source.

Another source alleged that Prof Booysen advised the MDC-T of the findings and urged the party to either pull out of the electoral process or to discredit the polls.

In an interview with The Herald, Prof Booysen denied the existence of a new poll and the US embassy’ order that they must not publish the results.

“The last report we conducted is the one we published last year that your paper quoted. There is no new report. A lot of things have changed because now there are campaigns that are taking place.

“We never produced such a report. There is no way the American embassy would have stopped us from publishing it,” she said.
Prof Booysen was recently quoted in the American multinational media house — Bloomberg, saying there was little chance of MDC-T springing an upset on Zanu-PF, a development the source put to the findings of the embargoed survey.

“The MDC-T lost moral ground in urban areas and its other constituencies and they are no longer able to say they will win an election provided it is free and fair,” she said.

“The MDC-T has little chance of victory on two main grounds: lack of preparedness and the voters’ roll, which really can, it seems, be used for manipulation.

“There is also a threat of violence at Zanu-PF’s disposal, whether violence is used or not.”

Booysen said this would show MDC-T that there was no honeymoon in politics.

“Perhaps they think that they are crown prince that need only wait for Mugabe to go for it to fall in their lap. This is a wake-up call for them that there is no honeymoon,” she said.

Leading British newspaper, the Guardian in March predicted that Zanu-PF would be victorious in the elections as it was managing its politics well, way ahead of MDC-T and other parties.

The paper said Zanu-PF had clear empowerment programmes compared to MDC-T that had been encumbered by Mr Tsvangirai’s sex scandals and questionable handling of public finances.

Several surveys from the likes of the Council on Foreign Relations, Afrobarometer, and Mass Public Opinion Institute and pronouncements from MDC-T allies among them the NCA, Concerned ZCTU Affiliates, Zimbabwe Vigil and Sokwanele, all pointed to a victory for Zanu-PF at tomorrow’s polls.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Ready for July 31 Vote

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau (standing), flanked by Commissioners Bessie Nhandara (left), Theophilus Gambe and her deputy Mrs Joyce Kazembe, speaks during a political parties’ meeting in Harare on April 22, 2013., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

ZEC ready: Ballot papers, voters’ roll dispatched

Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it is ready for tomorrow’s harmonised elections with ballot papers, the voters’ roll and other electoral paraphernalia having been dispatched to all the provinces.The announcement by ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau comes as the Zimbabwean election has generated a lot of interest with 887 foreign journalists being accredited to cover the polls against 444 local scribes.

Among various European news organisations covering the elections are New York Times, Daily Telegraph, Germany Press Agency and Radio France International.

A total of 11 781 observers have been accredited to monitor the elections.

Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Justice Makarau said: “Polling starts at 7am on Wednesday 31 of July 2013 for the harmonised elections. Campaigning by all political parties should stop at 6:59am tomorrow on the 30 of July 2013. This is in accordance with the law. You may then wonder, are we ready for the elections come 31 July 2013? Yes, we are ready for the elections on July 2013.

Why do I say we are ready for elections? It is because we have now dispatched all ballot papers to all provinces within Zimbabwe. The ballot papers are either in the provinces or on their way to the provinces.

“We have enough indelible ink in the provinces. We have enough copies of the voters’ roll in the provinces and we have enough men and women as polling officers in the provinces. So with all those basic ingredients in place, we are assured of having an election on 31 July 2013.”

She said the voters’ roll had also been distributed to polling stations.

“The voters’ roll closed on July 10 2013. Thereafter the office of the Registrar-General of Voters who falls under our supervision started compiling the voters’ roll. He has completed that task of compiling the voters’ roll. He has given us as ZEC enough copies and these have been dispatched to various polling stations.

As we speak, each and every polling station has a copy of the voters’ roll that will be used on 31 July 2013. I am informed that hard copies of the voters’ roll can now be obtained by candidates from the office of the RGV,” Justice Makarau said.

She said due to logistical challenges the RGV’s office “may not be in a position to issue the electronic copies”.

“But hard copies are available and all political party candidates are called upon to visit his (RGV) offices to pick up their copies.

“Again to try and assist the situation, we at ZEC have decided to make copies lie open for inspection at all our constituency offices so if anyone visits our constituency offices and district offices they should be able to inspect the voters’ roll just to ensure their name is on the roll and this exercise can start as early as tomorrow (this) morning.

“Instructions have already gone out to our provincial election officers, district election officers and constituency election officers to allow members of the public in their constituencies and in their districts to inspect the voters roll in readiness for July 31,” Justice Makarau said.

She said ZEC had prepared enough ballot papers to cover the 6.4 million registered voters plus an additional 35 percent for contingencies. The 35 percent additional ballots bring the total to about 8.7 million ballot papers.

“We want to assure all Zimbabweans that it is our duty to account for each and every ballot that will be used — the 8.7 million. We want you to hold us accountable to each and every ballot that would be used,” Justice Makarau said.

Accounting of ballots would be done at polling station level.

The Presidential and House of Assembly ballot papers were printed by Fidelity Printers while those for local authorities were printed by Printflow Private Limited.

Justice Makarau said the number of polling stations has been increased to 9 735 in anticipation of large turnover with Harare having an additional 45 polling stations. Composite polling stations have also been introduced. This is a single polling station with up to four serving centres.

Justice Makarau assured the nation the elections would be free and fair. She warned it was illegal for anyone to announce the election results as that was the mandate of ZEC.

“Let me make it quite clear that only ZEC can announce the official results. It is actually in the law that nobody else should announce the results because when they do so they will be going against the law.”

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has publicly vowed to announce the election result when he is fully aware that doing so would be committing an offence.

Justice Makarau told reporters she was not having any nightmares over the impending elections as her commission was fully prepared for the task.

Several European ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe attended the press conference, among then Mr Bruce Wharton (America), Ms Deborah Bronnet (Britain), and EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Aldo-Dell’ Ariccia.

Mr Dell Ariccia said ZEC did “an amazing job despite time constraints”.

8 Tunisian Soldiers Killed in Shoot Out

Tunisian soldiers were killed on July 29, 2013. Unrest has swept the country since the assassination of opposition figure Mohamed Brahmi., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

8 Tunisian soldiers killed by 'terrorists': State TV

AFP, Monday 29 Jul 2013

Fatal gunfire exchanged in Mount Chaambi, where Tunisian army has been hunting militant Islamist group linked to Al-Qaeda since December

Eight Tunisian soldiers were killed Monday in a firefight with "terrorists" near the Algerian border where the army has been tracking Al-Qaeda-linked militants for months, national television said.

"Eight soldiers were killed as they exchanged fire with a terrorist group in Mount Chaambi," state broadcaster Wataniya 1 said.

The channel said that those killed were "members of an elite unit," without giving further details on the clashes.

Several other Tunisian media outlets put the toll at between seven and nine, while the authorities did not immediately comment on the incident.

Security forces have been hunting a militant Islamist group in the rugged Mount Chaambi area close to the border with Algeria since December, when it attacked a border post, killing a member of the national guard.

The army intensified its search at the end of April, after landmines planted by the Islamists to protect their base in the border region wounded 16 members of the security forces.

Improvised explosive devices have wounded and killed several other members of the security forces since authorities intensified their hunt for the group in April.

Authorities have said the jihadist group is made up of several dozen Qaeda-linked militants, some of whom fought in the conflict in Mali.

The death of the soldiers comes as Tunisia's Islamist-dominated government faces protests following the killing of an opposition politician on Thursday.

It was the second political assassination since February.

Opposition groups have demanded the resignation of the government and have staged nightly protests, particularly in Tunis.

But Prime Minister Ali Larayedh firmly rejected these demands on Monday, calling a general election for December 17.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/77764.aspx


Tunisia: Nine Soldiers Killed In Clashes Near The Border With Algeria

Kasserine (Updates) – Initial reports claim that nine army soldiers were killed on Monday July, 29th in a clash with an armed group. The clashes occured in Mount. Chaambi, near the Algerian border.
According to Tunisian national television station, Wattaniya 1, and as quoted by AFP, the soldiers are members of an elite unit of the Tunisian army.

Tunisia and Algeria have decided a few weeks ago to strengthen their security cooperation, including the exchange of information. In May, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, from the Algerian side, had reassured the president of the National Constituent Assembly, Mustapha Ben Jaafar, stand his country stands side to side with Tunisia.

“Tunisia is a strategic partner of Algeria. Its security depends on that of Algeria and Algeria security depends on that of Tunisia, “stated Sellal.

Political crisis

The death of nine Tunisian soldiers in a critical time when Tunisia is facing a political crisis after the assassination of secular opposition leader Mohamed Brahmi. The powerful union UGTT and Ettakatol, a member of the ruling coalition party (Mainly known by Tunisians as Troika), held meetings in this evening to decide their position on the political crisis.

Clashes almost broke this morning between Islamists and secular protesters outside the headquarters of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), on the background of the opposition’s demands to ouster the government and the dissolve of the NCA. The head of government, member of the Islamist Ennahdha party, has rejected these requests and announced elections for December 17th, the anniversary of Al Bouazizi’s slain, the hero behind the Tunisian revolution.

This piece is an update to a recent article published on The Tunis Times 30, July. [Breaking news: Military Squad Ambushed at Chaambi Mountain]


Tunisia’s prime minister refuses to step down

By Associated Press, Published: July 29

TUNIS — In a defiant speech, Tunisia’s prime minister rejected opposition demands that his government step down and promised on Monday to complete the country’s democratic transition with a new constitution by August and elections in December.

The assassination of two opposition legislators in the past six months has plunged Tunisia — the birthplace of the Arab Spring — into a crisis with anti-government protests, the resignation of a cabinet minister and a walkout by dozens of lawmakers.

The standoff was given extra urgency by a bloody ambush Monday that left at least eight soldiers dead in a mountainous region near the Algerian border that is known as an Islamist militant stronghold. Jebel Chaambi, Tunisia’s highest mountain at 5,000 feet, was the site of an intensive military hunt for an al-Qaeda-linked militant group during the spring.

Prime Minister Ali Larayedh’s fiery speech, in which he called those wanting to dissolve the government “anarchists” and “opportunists,” is unlikely to appease an angry opposition that says the Islamist-led government has failed to carry out the political transition promised after the overthrow of Tunisia’s dictator in January 2011.

On Thursday, left-wing Tunisian politician Mohammed Brahmi was assassinated in Tunis, shot 14 times outside his home in front of his family. That followed the killing of another left-wing opposition legislator, Chokri Belaid, in February.

On Sunday night, thousands of people demonstrated in front of the elected assembly charged with writing the country’s new constitution and demanded that it be dissolved along with the government. Dozens of opposition lawmakers have suspended their participation in the assembly, and Education Minister Salem Labiadh submitted his resignation Monday.

Even more serious for the government, the governing coalition appears to be breaking apart. Mohammed Bennour, spokesman for the left-of-center Ettakatol party, said his group wants to withdraw from the coalition and dissolve the government. That would leave the moderate Islamist Ennahda party that dominates the coalition even more isolated.

In his televised speech, Larayedh presented a road map for completing the democratic transition with a new constitution by the end of August and the passage of the needed election laws by Oct. 23 — the anniversary of the date in 2011 that brought the Ennahda party to power.

He said an election for a new legislative body would be held on Dec. 17, the third anniversary of the self-immolation of itinerant fruit seller Mohammed Bouazizi that sparked the uprising that overthrow dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali a month later.

More Deaths in Egyptian Political Unrest

A wounded man being carried to a field hospital in Nasr City, Egypt on July 27, 2013. Over 100 people were killed in one day by the military., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

3 killed, including reporter, thirty injured in Egypt's Port Said violence

Ahram Online , Monday 29 Jul 2013

Street violence in the Suez Canal city on Sunday left three dead, dozens injured as unrest continues across Egypt

Clashes between loyalists of Egypt's deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and other residents in Port Said on Sunday left three dead, state news agency MENA said.

Supporters of the toppled Islamist leader had opened fire during the funeral of a fellow loyalist killed in deadly Saturday violence in north Cairo, MENA reported.

The president's loyalists reportedly set several police vehicles alight during the clashes.

Those killed in the violence include a reporter from Egypt's interior ministry official website who succumbed to gunshot injuries hours later.

Thirty others were wounded by gunfire, birdshot and bladed weapons.

Enraged local residents set ablaze several shops owned by members of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to MENA.

The Muslim Brotherhood, from which ousted president Morsi hails, denied allegations that its supporters had initiated the violence.

Street violence between rival factions has rocked Egypt since the army's overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July amid nationwide protest against his rule.

At least 80 Morsi loyalists were killed on Saturday in clashes with police at their month-old sit-in in Cairo's Nasr City, throwing the bitterly polarised country into deeper turmoil.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/77694.aspx


Pro-Morsi marches end violently in Mansoura, Ismailia

Ahram Online, Tuesday 30 Jul 2013

Supporters of Morsi organise marches to security directorates across Egypt, in protest at what they describe as police brutality in the early hours of Saturday in Cairo

Clashes erupted between supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi and opponents in Egypt's Nile Delta Mansoura and the Canal city of Ismailia on Monday.

Supporters of Morsi organised marches to a number of security directorates across Egypt, in protest at what they describe 'police brutality' during Saturday's clashes that left at least 80 dead and hundreds injured.

In Mansoura, violence broke out after police forces prevented a pro-Morsi march from reaching the security directorate as planned.

Police fired teargas when violence erupted, according to Al-Ahram's Arabic site. There were around 5,000 protesters chanting against Defence Minister Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and calling for the reinstatement of Morsi as president.

The marchers, some of whom carried symbolic empty coffins in reference to victims, set out from the Mansoura University Stadium to reach the security directorate.

Last week, an explosive device went off at a police station near the security directorate in Mansoura, the capital of Daqahliya governorate in the Nile Delta, killing at least one conscript and injuring 19.

In Ismailia, similar clashes erupted that saw pro-Morsi supporters, also marching to the security directorate, and opponents exchange birdshot and stones. The police also fired teargas in an attempt to end the clash.

No death or injury tolls were reported from both incidents.

Morsi's supporters and opponents have frequently faced off since his overthrow, leading to at least 200 dead and hundreds injured in the past few weeks.

Both camps have used firearms against one other, among other weapons, on numerous occasions.

The Ministry of Health said at least 80 had been killed in violence in Cairo's Nasr City district on Saturday, further enraging the Islamists who denounced the "massacre" and vowed to continue their protests.

After one year in office, Morsi was ousted on 3 July after mass nationwide protests against the former elected president.

Morsi has been held incommunicado ever since.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/77774.aspx


Egypt prosecution slaps Wasat Party's Madi, Sultan with 15-day detention

Ahram Online, Tuesday 30 Jul 2013

Egypt's prosecution ordered on Monday a 15-day detention for Wasat Party head Aboul-Ela Madi and spokesman Essam Sultan, less than one day after their arrest.

Sultan and Madi are accused of inciting violence by way of inflammatory speech directed at Morsi supporters camped-out in Nasr City's Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque, which allegedly led to the fatal torturing of three citizens at the sit-in.

They are also accused of calling on Islamists to torch state institutions in Nasr City.

Both men were arrested early Monday in Cairo's Moqattam district and were transferred to Tora Prison on the outskirts of Cairo, where former president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons are also held.

The arrest of Madi and Sultan, who are staunch supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, comes weeks after the detention of several leading Islamist figures in the wake of Morsi’s ouster.

The Wasat Party was founded in the late 1990s by defectors of the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which Morsi hails.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/77768.aspx


Egypt PM 'not sure' if security opened fire on Morsi loyalists

Ahram Online, Tuesday 30 Jul 2013

Interim PM El-Beblawi denies army interference in politics since Morsi ouster, says he will resign 'the moment' he feels civilian government is 'besieged'

Egypt's Interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi said he is "not sure" if security personnel used live ammunition against supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi during clashes early Saturday, stressing the importance of respecting human rights.

"I am not sure," he replied when asked by CNN if police or army forces had opened fired at pro-Morsi crowds in Cairo's Nasr City.

El-Beblawi stressed that anyone who breaks the law, including government officials, should be held accountable.

He added that he was sure an instruction had been given regarding Saturday's events, and he "was told by the minister that they took the instruction very seriously. But we will undertake an investigation to make sure that there is no abuse."

"But what surprises me is someone wants to make his voices aloud, how come they take to the street after 1 o'clock in the morning," El-Beblawi stated during the interview conducted in English.

The Ministry of Health said at least 80 were killed in the Saturday clashes that occurred less than two kilometers away from the massive pro-Morsi sit-in at Nasr City's Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque.

Doctors at the sit-in's field hospital said at least 200 protesters were killed and 4500 injured, most of whom they say were fatally shot by police forces.

According to the Egyptian prosecution and eyewitness accounts, Morsi’s supporters were attempting to rally on top of the Sixth of October Bridge, which prompted security forces to take action.

Widely circulated videos showed police troops firing rounds in the direction of Morsi's supporters, some of whom also appeared to be using firearms.

In the weeks following Morsi's ouster on 3 July, thousands of pro-Morsi protesters have staged sit-ins at Rabaa Al-Adawiya and in Giza's Al-Nahda Square, located in front of Cairo University. They have also been organising marches across Egypt to demand Morsi's reinstatement as president.

The number of protesters at Rabaa Al-Adawiya increased on Friday, with crowds extending to the Unknown Soldier Memorial (one kilometre away) and the nearby Sixth of October Bridge.

The Egyptian army removed Morsi from the presidency after one year in office following nationwide protests against the former leader.

El-Beblawi, however, stressed that it there has been no interference in politics by the military since Morsi's overthrow.

"As far as I am concerned, I feel very much in charge with my council of ministers, and I haven't seen any indication or any sign from anyone to tell me what to be done," he stated.

"The moment I feel that the civilian government is besieged, I will put in my resignation."

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/77772.aspx


Clashes leave 12 houses torched in Cairo's Ezbet Abu-Hashish

Ahram Online , Monday 29 Jul 2013

Family dispute or confrontation over ousted president fate: Conflicting reports emerge on how clashes broke out in Cairo's Ezbet Abu-Hashish working-class neighbourhood late Sunday

Twelve houses were torched in Cairo's Ezbet Abu-Hashish working-class neighbourhood late on Sunday night after clashes erupted in the area.

Head of Egypt's Civil Protection Authority Abd El-Aziz Tawfik said that eight fire-fighting vehicles arrived at the scene to extinguish the flames, state news agency MENA reported.

Security forces have been inspecting the damage and conducting an investigation.

Conflicting reports have emerged on how the clashes broke out.

Gunshots and Molotov cocktails were used in clashes between the two local families of El-Ghagar and El-Fotaima, according to Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

According to eyewitnesses quoted by MENA, tens of supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi threw Molotov cocktails at homes from the nearby Sixth of October Bridge.

Other media reports said that a pro-Morsi march passed by Ezbet Abu-Hashish when arguments broke out between protesters and residents, turning into violent confrontations.

Security forces had closed off one side of the Sixth of October Bridge during the clashes, but reopened it when the situation stabilised.

After one year in office, Morsi was ousted on 3 July as part of the Egyptian armed forces' roadmap, which was launched days after mass nationwide protests began against the former elected president.

Morsi's supporters and opponents have frequently faced off since his overthrow, leading to at least 200 dead and hundreds injured in the past few weeks.

Both camps have used firearms against one other, among other weapons, on numerous occasions.

The health ministry has yet to issue a report on injuries in this incident.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/77687.aspx

EU Envoy Meets With Egyptian 'Rebel' Leaders

European Union evoy Catherine Ashton with Mahmound Badr and Mohammed Abdel-Aziz of the Egyptian Tamarod (rebel) organization. The organization supported the military seizure of power., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Egyptian people respect those who respect their will, 'Rebel' tells Ashton

Ahram Online, Monday 29 Jul 2013

Leaders of Egypt's anti-Morsi 'Rebel' campaign tell EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that they reject a safe exit without trial for Mohamed Morsi

Leaders of the anti-Morsi 'Rebel' (Tamarod) campaign met with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Cairo on Monday and stressed they reject "deals" and a safe exit for Mohamed Morsi and other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Ashton is in Cairo for talks following the killing of at least 80 supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi during violent clashes with the police early on Saturday morning.

"Everyone involved in bloodshed must be subject to a fair trial," Mahmoud Badr, one of the leaders of Rebel said, according to a statement on the group's official website.

"We asked her if she would personally accept an armed sit-in to be set up under her house, one that would force her to go to her home before being searched thoroughly and would turn the gardens surrounding her house to places for people to sleep, and would construct toilets in them," read the statement.

In her second visit to Egypt this month, Ashton is meeting members of Egypt's current transitional government as well as members of the Muslim Brotherhood who are firmly demanding Morsi's reinstatement.

Badr said the delegation told the EU's top diplomat that the Egyptian people respect those who respect their will and "all countries must respect our will."

He also posed her a question about whether European nations would allow sit-ins by Al Qaeda in their cities, pointing out that "black flags of Al Qaeda are present at all of the pro-Morsi rallies."

The archaic black flag carrying "there is no God but Allah" in white is used by Al-Qaeda. It has appeared in numerous Islamist and Brotherhood rallies in Egypt over the past two years.

The Rebel campaign supported calls by army chief and defence minister Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for Egyptians to rally against "terrorism" last Friday, a message thought to be implicitly aimed at the Brotherhood. Huge numbers of Egyptians heeded El-Sisi's call to demonstrate. Police gunned down Morsi's supporters later that night.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/77754.aspx

Egyptian Opponents of Military Coup Call for Fresh Demonstrations on Tuesday

Egyptians clash with security forces in Cairo on July 15, 2013. Demonstrators expressed opposition to the military coup that displaced President Mohamed Morsi., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Pro-Morsi alliance calls for Tuesday rallies to protest violence

Several marches and demonstrations will take place on Tuesday to commemorate 'bloodshed' on Saturday, when over 80 Morsi supporters were killed in clashes with the police

Ahram Online, Tuesday 30 Jul 2013

Egypt's National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy, an alliance led by the Muslim Brotherhood demanding the reinstatement of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, has called for mass rallies on Tuesday to condemn the killing of dozens of pro-Morsi protesters during clashes with security forces on Saturday.

"We never imagined that the coup perpetrators would be that bloody. The leader of the coup claimed he had popular support to practice aggressive oppression against the blood of Egyptians," read a statement released by the coalition.

"We call on the masses to rage against the bloodshed of unarmed Egyptians and to take to the street and to continue the peaceful revolt against the oppressive measures practiced by the leaders of the coup d'état."

Over 80 Morsi supporters were killed and hundreds injured on Saturday during clashes with police forces near the pro-Morsi sit-in in Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square in Cairo, where Morsi's supporters have camped out for four weeks.

Hours before the clashes, mass protests were held in Cairo's Tahrir Square and several cities in response to a call made by Egyptian armed forces chief and defence minister Abdel Fattah El-Sisi requesting popular support to confront "violence and terrorism."

The coalition announced that a women's demonstration will march on the defence ministry with empty caskets on Tuesday at noon. Meanwhile, another women's march will take off from the pro-Morsi sit-in in at Nahda Square in Giza and pass by a number of embassies.

Another march on the pro-Morsi sit-in in Rabaa Al-Adawiya will be held as a symbolic funeral of slain protesters, whereas a press conference by the relatives of those killed in the clashes will be held at 5pm.

The coalition has also planned a student vigil at the location of the clashes, near the sit-in, where protesters will be holding pictures taken of the clashes. A funeral for slain protesters will also be held at 10 pm near the sit-in.

Islamist supporters of Morsi have been holding a sit-in at Rabaa Al-Adawiya demanding Morsi's reinstatement since his ouster by the military on 3 July.

Mbeki to Brief African Union Peace and Security Council on Khartoum-Juba Disagreements

African Union mediator and former South African President Thabo Mbeki wih Presidents Silva Kiir of South Sudan and Omar Hassan al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan in Ethiopia for peace talks. They have agreed to establish a demilitarized zone., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

MONDAY 29 JULY 2013

Mbeki to brief AUPSC on Khartoum-Juba row

July 28, 2013, (KHARTOUM) - The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) will discuss in its meeting in Addis Ababa on Monday a report from the chairman of the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki, on its efforts to solve the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan.

Last month, both Sudan and South Sudan agreed to the AUHIP initiative which aims at solving the outstanding issues between the countries including the border issue and allegations of support to rebel groups on each side of the borders.

On the border issue, the AUHIP suggested mandating the African Union Border Program (AUBP) to set up an advisory committee to determine the baseline for the demilitarised security zone (zero line) on the ground on the basis of the coordinates listed in the map provided by the AUHIP to the two parties.

On the issue of support for rebel groups, the AUHIP decided to assign the African Union Commission (AUC) and the head of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to take the necessary steps to verify claims of support and harbouring of rebels.

Last June, the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir ordered the suspension South Sudanese petroleum exports through Sudan’s oil installations accusing Juba of providing shelter and support to Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), which includes three Darfur rebel groups and Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) in Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Juba denies the charges and in turn claims that Khartoum is rebels in its eastern Jonglei state.

Following his meeting with Bashir in Khartoum, Mbeki was quoted as saying "We came to say to the President that the committees formed by the African Union to review the matter started its work and it is our opinion that these committees are given time to do their job".

This week the Sudanese government formally agreed to the request made by Mbeki and China to postpone for at least two weeks the deadline by which it will shutdown the pipelines carrying oil from landlocked South Sudan.

Sudan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Abu Bakr Al-Sideeg, said that the Sudanese foreign minister, Ali Ahmed Karti, will represent Sudan in AUPSC’s meeting which coincides with the meetings of the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC) between Sudan and South Sudan which is taking place in Juba.

The JPSC rapporteur, Al-Muiz Faroug, had previously told Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA) that the meeting will discuss the security arrangements, borders and border crossings as well as complaints from each side.

In September of last year, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among other issues.

Last March, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements.

South Sudan Moving Toward Dictatorship, Former VP Says

Republic of South Sudan President Silva Kiir jokes with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Israel supported South Sudanese seccession but then expelled refugees from the Zionist state., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

July 29, 2013

S. Sudan Moving Toward Dictatorship, Former VP Says

by Gabe Joselow, VOA

South Sudan’s recently fired Vice President Riek Machar says President Salva Kiir has been taking steps toward dictatorship, after he dismissed his entire cabinet last week. Machar is now focusing on winning the presidency in 2015.

The former vice president does not dispute President Kiir’s decision to dismiss his cabinet. Speaking to VOA from Juba, Machar acknowledged that he had been at odds with the government for some time.

“I have been critical lately of the performance of the government,” he admitted. “I have pointed out these issues, the rampant corruption, the rise of tribalism, the insecurity.”

The president’s move underscores divisions within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party. Kiir also suspended SPLM secretary-general Pagan Amum, who represents the country in ongoing negotiations with Sudan.

Machar said the president is mistreating Amum by restricting his movements and barring him from speaking to the press.

“This is denying him his rights,” he said, “this is a step toward repression and dictatorship.”

The president is expected to name a new cabinet soon, and has already appointed his spokesman, Marial Benjamin, to be the next foreign minister. Before his appointment was announced, Benjamin said in an interview with VOA the cabinet reshuffle was long overdue and would not come as a surprise to many South Sudanese.

Party officials said the move was intended to reduce the size of government.

The U.S. State Department has expressed concern that the dismissal of Machar, as well as several deputy ministers and police brigadiers, poses a “risk to stability” in the world’s youngest nation.

Machar and Kiir come from separate ethnic groups, and some analysts have speculated the rift between the two men could worsen tensions in their communities, or cause a split within the military.

Machar said he does not expect any violence, and that the SPLM is a “party that transcends tribal lines.”

The former vice president noted that from this point on, he plans to contest the leadership of the SPLM, and then run for president in 2015.

http://www.voanews.com/content/fomer-south-sudan-vice-president-says-country-moving-toward-dictatorship/1712347.html

Eritrea Denies Allegations Over Neighboring Somalia

Presidents of Sudan and Eritrea: left, Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Isasias Afwerki. The two countries have signed bi-lateral agreements., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

TUESDAY 30 JULY 2013

Eritrea ‘continues support’ to Somalia’s Al-Shabab, says Ethiopia

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

July 29, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – In fresh allegations made by Ethiopia on Monday, the East African nation said that efforts to maintain peace and stability in Somalia is taking longer due to Eritrea’s continued support of the Islamist militia group, Al-Shabab.

The Ethiopian government said despite ongoing efforts by regional governments and the African Union peace keeping force (AMISOM), Eritrea continues to undermine peace efforts in war-ravaged Somalia.

“Although relative peace and security is gained in Somalia, Eritrea didn’t reduce its support to Al-Shabab and remains to be a destabilising influence”, Ethiopia’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Dina Mufti, told Sudan Tribune.

“Eritrea continues to violate UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the country absolutely remains to be a regional security threat”, he added.

The Ethiopian government said it has its own, as well as international evidence to support its latest allegations against the secretive Red Sea nation.

Mufti said there was a need for tightened sanctions to cripple Eritrea’s negative role across the volatile East African region.

Eritrean envoy to the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa was on Monday unavailable for comment.

In 2009, the UNSC imposed sanctions against Eritrea for its role in financing, as well as providing arms and military training to the Al-Qaeda-linked group, Al-Shabab.

The sanctions also include an arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze against the country’s senior political and military officials.

Asmara has repeatedly denied allegations of backing Al-Shabab, accusing the US and its regional ally Ethiopia of running “smear campaigns” aimed at tarnishing the country’s Image.

Eritrea has repeatedly demanded that sanctions be lifted, however, the UN monitoring group on Somalia and Eritrea - a panel which investigates violations of imposed sanctions, insists it is too early, arguing that Eritrea has shown little improvement.

Relations between Ethiopia and its former province remain tense after the two neighbours engaged in a 1998-2000 border war that killed an estimated 70,000 people.

TIMETABLE FOR PULL-OUT

Meanwhile, Mufti has dismissed unconfirmed reports that the Horn of Africa nation is planning to pull-out the thousands of troops it deployed in Somalia.

“There is no an immediate plan of withdrawing our troops from Somalia”, Mufti said

According to the Ethiopian official, troop pull-out depends on the pace of progress achieved in Somalia.

“Ethiopian forces will remain in Somalia until AU peacekeepers and particularly the Somali government forces build up military capability that would fully enable them to defend existing security threats in their soil,” he said.

He reiterated that Ethiopia will continue to extend all necessary support to the Somali government until such time durable peace and stability is achieved.

(ST)

Verdict Is Expected Tuesday for Pfc. Manning

Bradley Manning has been indicted by the United States government for exposing war crimes being committed in Iraq by the Pentagon. He is being used as a scapegoat for the failure of the U.S. in the war., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

July 29, 2013

Verdict Is Expected Tuesday for Soldier in Leaks Case

By CHARLIE SAVAGE
New York Times

WASHINGTON — A military judge has reached a verdict and will announce it Tuesday afternoon in the high-profile court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst whose release of some 700,000 secret documents to WikiLeaks opened a window into American military and diplomatic activities.

The judge, Col. Denise Lind, will read the verdict from the bench at 1 p.m. at Fort Meade, Md., the army said in a statement.

Private Manning has already confessed to being WikiLeaks’ source for the files, which included videos of airstrikes in which civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands of front-line incident reports from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, dossiers on men being held without trial at the Guantánamo Bay prison, and about 250,000 diplomatic cables.

But while Private Manning has pleaded guilty to a lesser version of the charges he is facing, which could expose him to up to 20 years in prison, the government decided to press forward with a trial on a more serious version of the charges, including “aiding the enemy” and violations of the Espionage Act, which could result in a life sentence.

His court-martial began in early June, and the merits portion wrapped up last week with closing arguments in which a prosecutor portrayed Private Manning as an anarchist and a traitor who was merely out to make a splash, while his defense lawyer portrayed him as a young, naïve, but well-intentioned humanist who wanted to spark debate and bring about change.

Beyond the fate of Private Manning as an individual, the “aiding the enemy” charge — unprecedented in a leak case — could have significant long-term ramifications for investigative journalism in the Internet era.

The government’s theory is that providing defense-related information to an entity that published it for the world to see constituted aiding the enemy because the world includes adversaries, like Al Qaeda, who could read the documents online.