The.Economist-2006-03-04.pdf

Proudly Produced by nEo

Proudly Produced by nEo

About sponsorship

Politics this week

Mar 2nd 2006

From The Economist print edition

In the wake of last week's bombing of the Iraqi Shias' Askariya shrine, a wave of

sectarian reprisals ensued, mainly against Sunni Arabs, raising fears that the country

might tip into wholesale civil war. Despite a four-day curfew and the deployment of

American and Iraqi troops, the communal strife continued, leaving at least 500 civilians

dead; some morgue officials put the toll at more than 1,300. See article

The Palestinians' caretaker government welcomed the European Union's offer of

euro 120m ($140m) in emergency aid to keep it going. The money will be channelled to

aid projects and to pay energy bills. The EU and America are still discussing whether to

stop payments after Hamas forms a government.

Iran and Russia failed to agree on a Russian proposal to enrich uranium for Iran on

Russian soil; the Iranians refused to agree to stop all uranium enrichment at home. Iran requested last-minute

talks with Britain, France and Germany, ahead of a board meeting next week of the IAEA, the UN's nuclear

guardian.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia foiled an attack on the country's largest oil refinery, at Abqaiq, killing four al-Qaeda

terrorists. Later, a police raid killed the man the Saudis said was al-Qaeda's leader in the kingdom. Jordan said it

had thwarted an al-Qaeda plan to attack “a vital civilian facility” in Amman.

For the first time in three years, Côte d'Ivoire's president, Laurent Gbagbo, and Guillaume Soro, leader of the

main northern rebel group, held talks on Ivorian soil, raising hopes that the divided country may not again descend

into outright civil war.

Uganda 's incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni, was re-elected by a wide margin over his nearest rival. Kizza

Besigye promised to challenge the result, alleging that many of his supporters were prevented from casting their

vote. See article

Masked gunmen, believed to be police, made a night raid on the independent-minded Kenya Television Network.

Other gunmen burned copies at the printing press of the Standard newspaper, part of the same group, which has

been investigating shenanigans surrounding Kenya's president, Mwai Kibaki.

Hunters and gatherers

A Council of Europe report on alleged illegal detentions and renditions of terrorist suspects at secret airports or on

flights operated by the Central Intelligence Agency found no evidence that the Americans had broken any laws.

But it added that Europe was a “happy hunting ground” where foreign spies could operate with no domestic

supervision.

Russia's president , Vladimir Putin, visited Hungary and the Czech Republic. He took a soft tone with his hosts,

seeming partly to apologise for actions by the Soviet Union, but also to make up for recent squabbles over energy

supplies. See article

The prime minister of Kosovo , Bajram Kosumi, resigned after less than a year in office. He had been widely

criticised as ineffective. Talks about the ultimate status of the Serbian province continue in Vienna.

Ken Livingstone, London's Labour mayor, had his suspension from office stayed by the High Court. He was due to

begin a four-week enforced holiday on March 1st for comparing a local journalist, who is Jewish, to a guard in a

concentration camp. Mr Livingstone refuses to apologise, insisting that he was merely following his usual method

for handling the press.

Fresh blood

Portia Simpson Miller is due to become Jamaica's first female prime minister after being elected president of the

Proudly Produced by nEo

ruling People's National Party. This made her automatically eligible to succeed P. J. Patterson, the island's leader

for the past 14 years, when he steps down, probably next month.

Honduras's new president, Manuel Zelaya, declared a state of emergency in the country's health-care system,

which is facing a shortage of medicines. He entered office in January promising to make poverty a top priority.

Uruguay became the first South American country to bring in a ban on smoking in bars, restaurants, offices and

other enclosed public places.

A terminal decline?

The Bush administration said it would take another look at the security issues surrounding the sale of operations in

six American ports to DP World, which is based in Dubai. Congressional leaders said they would wait for the

outcome of the 45-day review before taking any action to block the deal. Separately, an opinion poll for CBS

showed George Bush's approval rating at a new low of 34%. See article

Six months after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans held its annual Mardi Gras

celebration, which was somewhat muted. Meanwhile, a video emerged that showed

federal officials warning Mr Bush of the risk to the city shortly before the disaster. See

article

Reuters

Cardinal Roger Mahony, leader of the Los Angeles archdiocese, said Catholic priests

would defy any legislation from Congress requiring churches to check the legal status of

immigrants to whom they give assistance. Denouncing anti-immigrant sentiment as

“hysterical”, the cardinal called for a humane reform of immigration policy.

Speaking as a friend

President Bush arrived in India at the start of a state visit and announced a deal on the transfer of American

nuclear technology to India. America's Congress will want to look at the details. On his way, Mr Bush paid a

surprise visit to Afghanistan , where he met Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace. See article

Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, announced the termination of a body supposed to

be negotiating reunification with the mainland. China's response (it warned of “disaster”)

was relatively restrained. See article

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines' president, ordered a review of the country's

security situation after claiming to have uncovered a coup plot to topple her. Mrs Arroyo

declared a state of emergency in the country on February 24th, but pledges to give up

her emergency powers as soon as possible.

Thailand's prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, called a general election, which the

opposition said it would boycott, after weeks of demonstrations against him. Protestors

set a deadline for him to resign. See article

Proudly Produced by nEo

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: