DUBAI (AFP) – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has said his whistleblowing website plans to publish hundreds of "sensitive" US diplomatic cables on Israel, Al-Jazeera television reported on Thursday.
"Sensitive and classified documents" on Israel's 2006 war on Lebanon and January's assassination in Dubai of Hamas militant Mahmud al-Mabhuh would be released, Assange told Al-Jazeera in an interview.
Assange said WikiLeaks had 3,700 US documents on Israel, including 2,700 originating from the Jewish state, but denied the website had any agreement in place to spare the country of leaks.
"We do not have any secret deals with any country," he said according to an Arabic translation of remarks he made in English which were posted on Al-Jazeera's website.
"We do not have any direct or indirect contacts with the Israelis," Assange is quoted as saying, adding no more than two percent of available documents on Israel have been released so far.
Some of Israel's neighbours, most notably Turkey, have expressed unease at the lack of leaks the whistleblowing website has released on the Jewish state.
Israel fought a devastating one-month war with Lebanon's Shiite movement Hezbollah in the summer of 2006 that killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, mainly soldiers.
Dubai police chief Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan has linked Israel's spy agency Mossad to the January 20 Cold War-style assassination in a Dubai hotel of Mabhuh.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Blast hits outside church in Egypt's Alexandria
CAIRO (Reuters) – A large explosion struck outside a Christian church in Egypt's northern city of Alexandria, an Egyptian security source and the Arabic news channel Al Jazeera said Saturday. The security source in the port city of Alexandria said there had been a blast outside a church at about midnight, but they did not have details on any dead or injured.
The television channel cited witnesses who said the blast was caused by a car bomb and that ambulances were in attendance treating an unknown number of casualties.
Muslim majority Egypt has a large Christian minority, making up about 10 percent of the nation's 79 million.
In recent months there have been clashes centred on religious differences. In November a confrontation between hundreds of Christians and riot police in Cairo took a sectarian turn when dozens of Muslims became involved in the violence, lobbing rocks from behind a security cordon.
The Christians had been protesting against a decision by the authorities to halt construction of a church in a Cairo suburb.
One Christian was killed and dozens were hurt in the scuffles, a rare event in Egypt. A total of 156 people were arrested as a result of the incident.
Analysts say the state must address grievances such as those over laws making it easier to build a mosque than a church.
The television channel cited witnesses who said the blast was caused by a car bomb and that ambulances were in attendance treating an unknown number of casualties.
Muslim majority Egypt has a large Christian minority, making up about 10 percent of the nation's 79 million.
In recent months there have been clashes centred on religious differences. In November a confrontation between hundreds of Christians and riot police in Cairo took a sectarian turn when dozens of Muslims became involved in the violence, lobbing rocks from behind a security cordon.
The Christians had been protesting against a decision by the authorities to halt construction of a church in a Cairo suburb.
One Christian was killed and dozens were hurt in the scuffles, a rare event in Egypt. A total of 156 people were arrested as a result of the incident.
Analysts say the state must address grievances such as those over laws making it easier to build a mosque than a church.
Russian police detain 130 in anti-government protests
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Police detained at least 130 protesters at New Year's Eve rallies in Moscow and St Petersburg on Friday against restrictions on freedom of assembly and a court decision to keep former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky in jail.
A string of opposition leaders, heading a 1,500-strong protest in freezing weather in central Moscow, were among 70 people detained in the capital, an opposition website and non-state media said.
Opposition activists traditionally stage demonstrations on Triumph Square in central Moscow on the last day of each month with 31 days -- symbolizing the right to free assembly guaranteed under Article 31 of Russia's constitution.
Activists, some wearing masks of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and holding posters reading "Putin is a bloodsucking insect," protested against Thursday's decision by a Moscow judge to keep Khodorkovsky in jail for six more years.
The former boss of the Yukos oil group was convicted of theft and money-laundering in his second trial, which was condemned in the West as politically motivated.
"We came here to bring officials to their senses. Yesterday they hugely disgraced Russia," opposition leader Boris Nemtsov told reporters, referring to the sentencing.
Earlier on Friday Russia rejected sharp Western criticism of the ruling, saying foreign states had no right to try influence Russian courts. The United States said it was concerned that the Russian legal system had been abused.
"What liars they are, how corrupt they are... we have no justice," Nemtsov said before being taken away by police.
Rights groups and Kremlin critics have been fighting a losing battle with authorities over the right to gather in public, and police routinely break up demonstrations. The United States has urged the Kremlin to respect the right to free assembly.
In St Petersburg, police said they detained around 60 people -- many dressed as Father Frost, a traditional festive character resembling Santa Claus -- who were protesting in the center of the former imperial capital.
Opposition leaders Ilya Yashin and Eduard Limonov were also detained on Friday, the opposition movement Solidarnost said on its website, with Limonov being taken away by police who came to his house before he had a chance to get to the rally. Interfax news agency said Limonov had been placed under arrest for 15 days.
Moscow authorities closed off Triumph Square in August to build a multi-level underground parking garage, in a move widely seen by activists as an attempt to prevent them from protesting.
In October Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shocked activists when he gave police the green light for crackdowns at demonstrations, saying people who protest without permission will be "hit on the head with batons."
A string of opposition leaders, heading a 1,500-strong protest in freezing weather in central Moscow, were among 70 people detained in the capital, an opposition website and non-state media said.
Opposition activists traditionally stage demonstrations on Triumph Square in central Moscow on the last day of each month with 31 days -- symbolizing the right to free assembly guaranteed under Article 31 of Russia's constitution.
Activists, some wearing masks of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and holding posters reading "Putin is a bloodsucking insect," protested against Thursday's decision by a Moscow judge to keep Khodorkovsky in jail for six more years.
The former boss of the Yukos oil group was convicted of theft and money-laundering in his second trial, which was condemned in the West as politically motivated.
"We came here to bring officials to their senses. Yesterday they hugely disgraced Russia," opposition leader Boris Nemtsov told reporters, referring to the sentencing.
Earlier on Friday Russia rejected sharp Western criticism of the ruling, saying foreign states had no right to try influence Russian courts. The United States said it was concerned that the Russian legal system had been abused.
"What liars they are, how corrupt they are... we have no justice," Nemtsov said before being taken away by police.
Rights groups and Kremlin critics have been fighting a losing battle with authorities over the right to gather in public, and police routinely break up demonstrations. The United States has urged the Kremlin to respect the right to free assembly.
In St Petersburg, police said they detained around 60 people -- many dressed as Father Frost, a traditional festive character resembling Santa Claus -- who were protesting in the center of the former imperial capital.
Opposition leaders Ilya Yashin and Eduard Limonov were also detained on Friday, the opposition movement Solidarnost said on its website, with Limonov being taken away by police who came to his house before he had a chance to get to the rally. Interfax news agency said Limonov had been placed under arrest for 15 days.
Moscow authorities closed off Triumph Square in August to build a multi-level underground parking garage, in a move widely seen by activists as an attempt to prevent them from protesting.
In October Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shocked activists when he gave police the green light for crackdowns at demonstrations, saying people who protest without permission will be "hit on the head with batons."
Nigeria New Year revellers hit by Abuja 'bomb'
An explosion at a bar near a barracks in Nigeria's capital has killed a number of people.
Nigeria's military chief said a bomb had been planted to target people celebrating New Year's Eve in Abuja but he did not say who was responsible.
The explosion happened in a market where soldiers and civilians often gather to eat and drink beer.
A police spokesman said four people had died, while military sources have told the BBC 11 people were killed.
Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin blamed "devilish people" but did not name any group or give a possible motive.
He also declined to give any casualty figures.
State TV has said 30 people were killed. But police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said four people had been killed - three men and one woman.
Witnesses have told the BBC they saw body parts lying on the ground and injured people being carried away after the blast.
"People ran in different directions. There were scores of bodies - dead and wounded. They used army trucks to pack them away," a market regular called Eric was quoted as telling Reuters news agency.
The area has been sealed off.
Air Marshal Petirin said a bomb had been placed "where people were relaxing and generally being happy because of the New Year which is approaching".
He urged Nigerians to be vigilant following a recent spate of bomb attacks in a country where they had been almost unknown.
"Do not allow anybody to come and leave a bag, or any kind of object, especially when he is not there," he told state TV.
There have been bomb attacks in the capital and other cities in recent weeks:
On Wednesday, two blasts disrupted a political rally in the southern city of Yenagoa, wounding several people
Bomb attacks in the city of Jos, a flash-point between Nigerian Christians and Muslims, left 80 people dead over Christmas - an Islamist group said it was behind these attacks
In October, at least 12 people were killed in explosions in Abuja as the country celebrated 50 years since independence from the UK - this was blamed on oil militants
The market is near the Sani Abacha barracks, named after Nigeria's late military dictator, in Asokoro district, home to the presidential palace and said to be the city's most secure area.
Officially renamed the Mogadishu Cantonment, the barracks is still known to many by its old name.
Supreme Court order prevents President Mills from voting
Accra, Dec. 31, GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills could not exercise his franchise on Friday as a result of a Supreme Court ruling.
On December 24, the court suspended the conduct of District Level Elections in four electoral areas in the Ledzokuku-Krowor District of the Greater Accra Region.
President Mills itinerary indicated that he was to vote at 0900 hours on Friday, December 31, but the Presidential Press Corps that trooped to the Golden Gate polling station in the Martey Tsuru Electoral Area were disappointed because the electoral officials were absent.
In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Mr Christian Owusu-Parry, Acting Director of Public Affairs at the Electoral Commission explained that voting in the electoral area was suspended due to the court order.
A nine-member panel presided over by Mr Justice William A. Atuguba, in an unanimous decision said the elections should be held throughout the country with the exception of the affected electoral areas.
They are Okpoi Gonno Industrial Area, Tebibiano, Nii Ashitey Akomfra North and Martey Tsuru.
The court order followed a writ filed by six plaintiffs challenging the constitutional validity of the Legislative Instrument (LI) under which the District Level Elections with specific reference to the Ledzokuku-Krowor District are to be held, contending that it was an infringement on Article 11 (7) of the Constitution.
It also sought a declaration that L.I 1983 was null and void and of no legal effect and an order to restrain the EC from holding any district and unit level elections
The plaintiffs were Stephen Nii Bortey Okane, Sheriff Borteh Borquaye, Anum Kattah, Eric Tawiah, Edward Borketey and Alfred Mensah Tawiah.
Meanwhile, Mrs Philomena Edusei, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Electoral Officer told Ghana News Agency that voting had begun in the six remaining districts of Dangme East, Dangme West, Okaikwei, Ashaiman, Ablekuma and Ledzokuku-Krowor.
She said there had been an increase of electoral areas in the Region from 236 to 349 with the creation of additional 113 electoral areas.
Electoral areas in Okaikwei from 12 to 19; Ablekuma from 18 to 24; Lezokuku-Krowor from eight to 24; Ashaiman from 11 to 15; Dangme West from 36 to 40 and Dangme East from 36 to 42.
GNA
Ghanaian jailed in the UK for forgery
Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - A 40-year-old Ghanaian, Dominic Owusu-Ansah, has been jailed for four years in the UK following the discovery of a forgery factory in Milton Keynes, the British High Commission said in a statement issued in Accra on Thursday.
It said officers from the UK Border Agency's South East Region Immigration Crime Team discovered dozens of fake documents such as blank visas, passports and birth certificates when they raided a property in Oldbrook on October7, 2010.
There were also computers, stamps, scanners and printers which were being used in the manufacture of fake documents, along with numerous templates for forging work permits, bank statements, pay slips and Home Office letters, it said.
Dominic Owusu-Ansah was among four people arrested.
Appearing before Huntingdon Crown Court on December 22, 2010 he admitted charges brought under the Fraud and Identity Cards Act and was sentenced to four years in prison.
He will be deported at the end of his sentence.
Owusu-Ansah is the second person to be jailed in connection with the investigation.
At a previous hearing on December 15, Abel Agyepong, a 33-year-old Ghanaian national, admitted possessing false identity documents with intent and fraud.
He was sentenced to six months in prison.
Chief Immigration Officer Jo Howorth from the UK Border Agency's South East Region Immigration Crime Team said: "We have successfully disrupted a significant criminal enterprise, which was supplying fraudulent documents.
"There is no doubt in my mind that these documents would have ended up being used to create false identities, or help people work, claim benefits or stay illegally in the UK."
It comes as the UK Border Agency continues a campaign to tackle illegal immigration and organised immigration crime.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "The UK Border Agency has undertaken two major enforcement campaigns to crack down on immigration crime in the Thames Valley region, detaining, prosecuting and removing people and gangs who have been abusing the system through sham marriages, illegal working, people smuggling and document fraud.
"We are making more use of new technology both at the border and inland to enable officers to focus their efforts on people trying to cheat the system."
GNA
“Electricity for all in 2011” – When Will the Joke and Deception End!
By Kwaku A. Danso
Folks, there comes a time when people must wake up! The Ghanaian politician seems never interested in telling the truth, no matter what political party they belong to. We the people have allowed this to happen by failing to arrest these people we elected to office and end the joke and lies! Democracy does not work by simply having elections.
In the Monday, December 27 issue of Ghanaweb, a GNA report from Keta said:
“All communities in the country would be connected to the national power grid by the end of 2011, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information said at Keta.”
Who do these people think they are fooling! Whiles 80-90% of the people in Ghana do not have potable water and electricity, elected and appointed officials, from MPs, Chief executives of Districts, Metro areas and Regions, to Ministers of State and even Directors of government agencies can simply take money from public coffers to “renovate their houses”. The renovation we come to know means water reservoirs, generators, air conditioners, curtains and furnishings in some cases such as the former Speaker of the House Begyina Sekyi-Hughes. In addition to taking as much as they want these people see nothing wrong with a demand for hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in ex-gratia emoluments. Some are asking for houses and cars, whiles others feel they deserve moneys for their libraries, and even gold chains as awards. Our democracy is not on the right path! No way! Our leaders in Ghana have made our nation a joke!
There is a saying that you can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time! Ghanaians officials in government have for decades been sitting at their desks writing documents to obtain loans. In 2008, of the $295 million of foreign grants received, the auditor General report indicated only about $30,000 could be accounted for. To date nobody has taken any action. These officials can sit in their offices, furnished with leather sofas, and proclaim that we are a “middle income” nation, whiles we all know middle class neighborhoods don’t have daily water and most drink from poly tanks and wells. In addition electricity is interrupted many times and hours per week and hence most of these homes own generators.
Information Disclosure:
Information about government should be a right in a democracy. Not in Ghana. A simple question to a Ghanaian official at any government owned office, such as Electricity Corporation, Ministries of Roads and Highways, will be met with many untruths, half-truths and sometimes simply lies. Ghana Water Company executives I have found to be more honest. Two executives in 2004 and again in 2010 have confirmed for me that since 1965 Ghana government has not invested any money to expand the water treatment facilities. As such one can conclude that almost all the moneys taken as grants and loans for water since that time have simply vanished into the general funds, and most probably some in private pockets. In the last meeting of GLU members with the Chief Director of the Minister of Roads and Highways (Mr. A.T. Essilfie) in November 2010, the room almost turned into a fight as I insisted on information and the Director was simply not ready to give any information. Fortunately he ended up giving me a copy of the Press release by the Minister, Joe Giddisu, presented in early November, 2010; this was so very revealing indeed, showing Ghana hardly invests any of the toll funds and other revenues in our own roads and bridge construction, but rely mostly on foreign grants and loans – further comment to be made at a later date. Some of us can see through the charade! We are tired!
The National Budget:
One of the greatest jokes in Ghana over the years is perhaps the national Budget. An examination of the 2011 National Budget by Minister Dr. Duffuor shows only essays and only one table in the whole 79 pages. Anybody who has worked in the West in Finance and real business environment knows a real Budget should have tables, calculations of financial projections, revenues and expenses, and less of words and essays. Ghanaian Budgets, over the years, are simply a wish list of essays and promises - promises of new roads, water for all, electricity for all, etc. What these politicians forget is that some of us older ones have been hearing these for decades, through many administrations, from the 1970s to now. The government officials have never made an effort to balance Ghana’s budgets. Is that the way they manage their own family affairs? Folks, the lies must end! And end now! We are tired of the deception and the pretense that these people know what they are doing when in fact they have no clue even how to do financial projections and the PhDs don’t seem to help them. And if they don’t know, nothing prevents them from learning from some of their colleagues who have worked for decades in the West! Our people are tired of living second class in the world fifty years after political independence! And the Joke must end!
A few years ago in the mid 2000s, the people of Ghana were told that electricity was erratic because the Akosombo dam did not have enough water. The term “load shedding” was coined and became a household word. What people did not understand was that electricity was being rationed, as government was not investing any more money in transformers to distribute power. Whatever money was allocated by the Ministry of finance in the Budget was not enough, irrespective of whether people paid for electricity or not, and whether enough tariffs were paid or not. During my inquiries in Ghana there was even a joke by somebody that possibly used 2nd hand equipment was sometimes ordered, and some people in management pocketed the difference. The truth is that moneys were not adequately appropriated for the different areas of the suburbs. As such some parts of East Legon or any town or suburb may have stable electricity whiles other parts have overloads and fuses may trip as soon as too many people are using electricity.
This is sheer madness! (As the British may say). It is sheer deception and somebody must be responsible for the nation. The responsibility must stop at the President! And President Mills must either take responsibility or simple declare he is not able to govern and resign. Agency heads of the utility corporations and the PURC must be held accountable and pay a penalty for the damage being caused by faulty and unreliable electricity! We have heard enough excuses. The PURC, ECG, GRIDCO, and other distributors must show a system of monitoring their quality and reliability and be monitored to adequately plan and deliver to modern standards as modern nations do, a minimum of 99.99% on-time reliability. Better still the distribution of electricity should be deregulated and private operators allowed to enter and simply monitored by the PURC. The Directors of the PURD must be fired if they cannot regulate. Period! How does the President think people live their lives when electricity is turned off in the middle of the day or night or appliances damaged due to unstable voltage and current? Why should everybody in the modern day have to invest in generators and plants that average about $15,000, when we can work together, collect funds in each neighborhood or town and manage our own electricity or water, sewage, schools and public parks! Is this too much for the mind of the educated African to fathom? What is the use of the Western education if we cannot do these things after 50 years!!
According to a former British Official who worked in Ghana, a $700 million loan for upgrading Ghana’s electricity was lost due to malfeasance and poor management. The Kufuor government was not able to deliver electricity and in almost two years President Mills has no clue about the malfeasance, misappropriation and potential corruption going on in the energy distribution sector. In his frustration he was reported to have retorted that he is not an electrician to produce electricity. The ignorance of our leaders shows up in massive shades to cover the actual lack of leadership and managerial acumen.
Electricity, called nkanea in Twi, however, has been used as a political gimmick for decades since Independence. Any government which was able to erect poles and string some wires on poles and promise electricity in a town got the votes of the people! It is simple: many associated electricity with an era of civilization out of the dark ages most have been forced to stay for ages. It is no surprise then that the young deputy Minister would make these deceptive promises about electricity to all communities in Ghana which he has no clue how to and when it will even be possible!
Seeking Help from Colleagues:
Wise men learn from others. The acquisition of knowledge demands humility. We teach humility to our children but practice pride as adults in high office. Our culture of pride must end when people enter public service. Granted many of these politicians have no clue how electricity is generated and the methods by which it is distributed, one should expect that 50 years after educating Ghanaians, these politicians would remember that their often smarter school and classmates who did Science and Engineering may have an idea when we are being fooled about technology. Some of us at least know enough and are aware and sophisticated enough not to be deceived by such flagrant political deception, if one were to be blunt! Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa is perhaps the youngest man in the administration, under 30 years old and with no managerial or other life experience except completing University of Ghana and one of the student leaders who sang the NDC song. He has done a good job, in my opinion, in being outright and giving ultimatum to outgoing politicians who wanted to steal (if we want to be honest) public vehicles in their use. As much as I like him for his ability to speak his mind, during a time when the silence from the slave castle by President Mills has been a major disservice to the leadership.
One may justifiably ask the Deputy Minister of Communication, what the heck does he mean by “all communities will be connected to the national grid”?
Does the young deputy Minister know what this means, and can he break down the number of districts in Ghana that do not have electricity, explain the component steps and procedures and cost to generate electricity and deliver to communities?
Can he tell us even how many communities, whatever definition he uses, have electricity today and can he tell us the reason some affluent areas like even East Legon, Adjiringanor, Adenta and many other suburbs of Accra do not have reliable supply of electricity?
Ghana is a nation where some rich people who can hardly articulate a policy or speak in public have been elected from various districts. Most of them have had to bribe delegates to win their party nomination. Unfortunately these men and women enter politics to seek their self interest and have no clue even what the needs of their communities are. As such men like Okudzeto have risen to prominence in the land of the blind and the era of a President who does not feel he owes the people any public explanation or dialogue so far as he shows up once in a while to speak at a funeral till election time is coming. My Okudzeto was reported to have added that “hundreds of mainly rural communities were also to be served with potable water stressing that that President John Evans Atta Mills meant business when he declared the year 2011 as year of action.”
Yes these people in office may think they can fool all the people all the time. This electricity used as political gamesmanship has been played by politicians for ages, and let us see if Mills succeeds in using it come 2012. If I cannot get electricity in a suburb of Accra, I’d be darned if my village of Hwee-Hwee and Asegya where trucks go once per week gets electricity. What are they going to do with it? Hook up the Internet? And who pays the bills?
Tweaaa!! These politicians think they are fooling everybody?
There is a time when our leaders will have to be serious. A writer by name Obrefo on Ghanaweb Comments section wrote:
“Comical Ablakwah on the loose again. We're yet to see the 1.6 million jobs created, and now, you're promising every community with an electricity and water. What a comic relief” (Obrefo, Ghanaweb, 2010-12-27 16:59:43.
Recommendations:
I strongly suggest that those closer to the President make him aware – whatever it takes, some of us will make electricity (and water, and roads) an election-defining point for the nation. This article cited about Ablakwa’s statements has generated almost 100% of the comments indicating they know the government statement is false information! Perhaps the Constitutional Review Commission should think of making a legal requirement for political parties to make a decent attempt to fulfill their promises or else lose some benefits. This will teach them not to lie deliberately for votes!
Another strong recommendation I will make is that our Presidents should have a 2 year evaluation by an independent pollster, and if the evaluation shows he or she is failing and get less than 50%, must be required to resign. Ghana is too young a nation to have 4 year term of mistaken choices and non-performance or incompetency. President Mills seems to be an honest man, but for God’s sake he seem to have neither the guts and fire in the belly, nor managerial competence or leadership skills that a developing nation lost in the wilderness needs to catch up as these Asian nations are doing. Perhaps resignation may keep his dignity intact.
Dr. Kwaku A. Danso -Email: k.danso@comcast.net
President-Ghana Leadership Union (GLU), Moderator, GLU Forum
Folks, there comes a time when people must wake up! The Ghanaian politician seems never interested in telling the truth, no matter what political party they belong to. We the people have allowed this to happen by failing to arrest these people we elected to office and end the joke and lies! Democracy does not work by simply having elections.
In the Monday, December 27 issue of Ghanaweb, a GNA report from Keta said:
“All communities in the country would be connected to the national power grid by the end of 2011, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information said at Keta.”
Who do these people think they are fooling! Whiles 80-90% of the people in Ghana do not have potable water and electricity, elected and appointed officials, from MPs, Chief executives of Districts, Metro areas and Regions, to Ministers of State and even Directors of government agencies can simply take money from public coffers to “renovate their houses”. The renovation we come to know means water reservoirs, generators, air conditioners, curtains and furnishings in some cases such as the former Speaker of the House Begyina Sekyi-Hughes. In addition to taking as much as they want these people see nothing wrong with a demand for hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in ex-gratia emoluments. Some are asking for houses and cars, whiles others feel they deserve moneys for their libraries, and even gold chains as awards. Our democracy is not on the right path! No way! Our leaders in Ghana have made our nation a joke!
There is a saying that you can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time! Ghanaians officials in government have for decades been sitting at their desks writing documents to obtain loans. In 2008, of the $295 million of foreign grants received, the auditor General report indicated only about $30,000 could be accounted for. To date nobody has taken any action. These officials can sit in their offices, furnished with leather sofas, and proclaim that we are a “middle income” nation, whiles we all know middle class neighborhoods don’t have daily water and most drink from poly tanks and wells. In addition electricity is interrupted many times and hours per week and hence most of these homes own generators.
Information Disclosure:
Information about government should be a right in a democracy. Not in Ghana. A simple question to a Ghanaian official at any government owned office, such as Electricity Corporation, Ministries of Roads and Highways, will be met with many untruths, half-truths and sometimes simply lies. Ghana Water Company executives I have found to be more honest. Two executives in 2004 and again in 2010 have confirmed for me that since 1965 Ghana government has not invested any money to expand the water treatment facilities. As such one can conclude that almost all the moneys taken as grants and loans for water since that time have simply vanished into the general funds, and most probably some in private pockets. In the last meeting of GLU members with the Chief Director of the Minister of Roads and Highways (Mr. A.T. Essilfie) in November 2010, the room almost turned into a fight as I insisted on information and the Director was simply not ready to give any information. Fortunately he ended up giving me a copy of the Press release by the Minister, Joe Giddisu, presented in early November, 2010; this was so very revealing indeed, showing Ghana hardly invests any of the toll funds and other revenues in our own roads and bridge construction, but rely mostly on foreign grants and loans – further comment to be made at a later date. Some of us can see through the charade! We are tired!
The National Budget:
One of the greatest jokes in Ghana over the years is perhaps the national Budget. An examination of the 2011 National Budget by Minister Dr. Duffuor shows only essays and only one table in the whole 79 pages. Anybody who has worked in the West in Finance and real business environment knows a real Budget should have tables, calculations of financial projections, revenues and expenses, and less of words and essays. Ghanaian Budgets, over the years, are simply a wish list of essays and promises - promises of new roads, water for all, electricity for all, etc. What these politicians forget is that some of us older ones have been hearing these for decades, through many administrations, from the 1970s to now. The government officials have never made an effort to balance Ghana’s budgets. Is that the way they manage their own family affairs? Folks, the lies must end! And end now! We are tired of the deception and the pretense that these people know what they are doing when in fact they have no clue even how to do financial projections and the PhDs don’t seem to help them. And if they don’t know, nothing prevents them from learning from some of their colleagues who have worked for decades in the West! Our people are tired of living second class in the world fifty years after political independence! And the Joke must end!
A few years ago in the mid 2000s, the people of Ghana were told that electricity was erratic because the Akosombo dam did not have enough water. The term “load shedding” was coined and became a household word. What people did not understand was that electricity was being rationed, as government was not investing any more money in transformers to distribute power. Whatever money was allocated by the Ministry of finance in the Budget was not enough, irrespective of whether people paid for electricity or not, and whether enough tariffs were paid or not. During my inquiries in Ghana there was even a joke by somebody that possibly used 2nd hand equipment was sometimes ordered, and some people in management pocketed the difference. The truth is that moneys were not adequately appropriated for the different areas of the suburbs. As such some parts of East Legon or any town or suburb may have stable electricity whiles other parts have overloads and fuses may trip as soon as too many people are using electricity.
This is sheer madness! (As the British may say). It is sheer deception and somebody must be responsible for the nation. The responsibility must stop at the President! And President Mills must either take responsibility or simple declare he is not able to govern and resign. Agency heads of the utility corporations and the PURC must be held accountable and pay a penalty for the damage being caused by faulty and unreliable electricity! We have heard enough excuses. The PURC, ECG, GRIDCO, and other distributors must show a system of monitoring their quality and reliability and be monitored to adequately plan and deliver to modern standards as modern nations do, a minimum of 99.99% on-time reliability. Better still the distribution of electricity should be deregulated and private operators allowed to enter and simply monitored by the PURC. The Directors of the PURD must be fired if they cannot regulate. Period! How does the President think people live their lives when electricity is turned off in the middle of the day or night or appliances damaged due to unstable voltage and current? Why should everybody in the modern day have to invest in generators and plants that average about $15,000, when we can work together, collect funds in each neighborhood or town and manage our own electricity or water, sewage, schools and public parks! Is this too much for the mind of the educated African to fathom? What is the use of the Western education if we cannot do these things after 50 years!!
According to a former British Official who worked in Ghana, a $700 million loan for upgrading Ghana’s electricity was lost due to malfeasance and poor management. The Kufuor government was not able to deliver electricity and in almost two years President Mills has no clue about the malfeasance, misappropriation and potential corruption going on in the energy distribution sector. In his frustration he was reported to have retorted that he is not an electrician to produce electricity. The ignorance of our leaders shows up in massive shades to cover the actual lack of leadership and managerial acumen.
Electricity, called nkanea in Twi, however, has been used as a political gimmick for decades since Independence. Any government which was able to erect poles and string some wires on poles and promise electricity in a town got the votes of the people! It is simple: many associated electricity with an era of civilization out of the dark ages most have been forced to stay for ages. It is no surprise then that the young deputy Minister would make these deceptive promises about electricity to all communities in Ghana which he has no clue how to and when it will even be possible!
Seeking Help from Colleagues:
Wise men learn from others. The acquisition of knowledge demands humility. We teach humility to our children but practice pride as adults in high office. Our culture of pride must end when people enter public service. Granted many of these politicians have no clue how electricity is generated and the methods by which it is distributed, one should expect that 50 years after educating Ghanaians, these politicians would remember that their often smarter school and classmates who did Science and Engineering may have an idea when we are being fooled about technology. Some of us at least know enough and are aware and sophisticated enough not to be deceived by such flagrant political deception, if one were to be blunt! Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa is perhaps the youngest man in the administration, under 30 years old and with no managerial or other life experience except completing University of Ghana and one of the student leaders who sang the NDC song. He has done a good job, in my opinion, in being outright and giving ultimatum to outgoing politicians who wanted to steal (if we want to be honest) public vehicles in their use. As much as I like him for his ability to speak his mind, during a time when the silence from the slave castle by President Mills has been a major disservice to the leadership.
One may justifiably ask the Deputy Minister of Communication, what the heck does he mean by “all communities will be connected to the national grid”?
Does the young deputy Minister know what this means, and can he break down the number of districts in Ghana that do not have electricity, explain the component steps and procedures and cost to generate electricity and deliver to communities?
Can he tell us even how many communities, whatever definition he uses, have electricity today and can he tell us the reason some affluent areas like even East Legon, Adjiringanor, Adenta and many other suburbs of Accra do not have reliable supply of electricity?
Ghana is a nation where some rich people who can hardly articulate a policy or speak in public have been elected from various districts. Most of them have had to bribe delegates to win their party nomination. Unfortunately these men and women enter politics to seek their self interest and have no clue even what the needs of their communities are. As such men like Okudzeto have risen to prominence in the land of the blind and the era of a President who does not feel he owes the people any public explanation or dialogue so far as he shows up once in a while to speak at a funeral till election time is coming. My Okudzeto was reported to have added that “hundreds of mainly rural communities were also to be served with potable water stressing that that President John Evans Atta Mills meant business when he declared the year 2011 as year of action.”
Yes these people in office may think they can fool all the people all the time. This electricity used as political gamesmanship has been played by politicians for ages, and let us see if Mills succeeds in using it come 2012. If I cannot get electricity in a suburb of Accra, I’d be darned if my village of Hwee-Hwee and Asegya where trucks go once per week gets electricity. What are they going to do with it? Hook up the Internet? And who pays the bills?
Tweaaa!! These politicians think they are fooling everybody?
There is a time when our leaders will have to be serious. A writer by name Obrefo on Ghanaweb Comments section wrote:
“Comical Ablakwah on the loose again. We're yet to see the 1.6 million jobs created, and now, you're promising every community with an electricity and water. What a comic relief” (Obrefo, Ghanaweb, 2010-12-27 16:59:43.
Recommendations:
I strongly suggest that those closer to the President make him aware – whatever it takes, some of us will make electricity (and water, and roads) an election-defining point for the nation. This article cited about Ablakwa’s statements has generated almost 100% of the comments indicating they know the government statement is false information! Perhaps the Constitutional Review Commission should think of making a legal requirement for political parties to make a decent attempt to fulfill their promises or else lose some benefits. This will teach them not to lie deliberately for votes!
Another strong recommendation I will make is that our Presidents should have a 2 year evaluation by an independent pollster, and if the evaluation shows he or she is failing and get less than 50%, must be required to resign. Ghana is too young a nation to have 4 year term of mistaken choices and non-performance or incompetency. President Mills seems to be an honest man, but for God’s sake he seem to have neither the guts and fire in the belly, nor managerial competence or leadership skills that a developing nation lost in the wilderness needs to catch up as these Asian nations are doing. Perhaps resignation may keep his dignity intact.
Dr. Kwaku A. Danso -Email: k.danso@comcast.net
President-Ghana Leadership Union (GLU), Moderator, GLU Forum
Minister Cited Over 22 Million Euro Waste
Courtesy GhanaWeb
One of the major stumbling blocks in starting businesses, as well as to ensure the growth of existing ones in the private sector, has been access to medium and long-term financing.
To ameliorate the problem, following the successful implementation of the Ghana Private Sector Development Fund (GPSDF), financed by the Italian Government in 2003 at the tune of 11,000,000 Euros, the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MAE-DGCS) approved in December 2007 additional financial resources of 22,000,000 Euros (approximately GH¢45 million), in order to continue to support the effort of the Government of the Republic of Ghana to promote private sector development.
The Chronicle has learnt that till date, the 22 million Euros dispatched to the Ministry of Trade for disbursement, has still not been disbursed, in spite of a directive issued in March 2009 by the Italian Coordinator of the GPSDF, Fabio Tabbo, for the release of the funds.
Some would-be beneficiaries could not understand the delay, and have pointed accusing fingers at the Minister for Trade and Industry, Hannah Tetteh, in what they allegedly described as her failure to disburse the credit facility released by the Italian government under the GPSDF project.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry, in March 2009, issued guidelines to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for accessing the Italian Government credit facility of 22,000,000 Euros. The facility was to be utilised through Ghanaian financial intermediaries, namely commercial banks and leasing companies.
The new phase of the project, implemented in collaboration with the Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and Industry, consists of two main components, a loan component of 20,000,000 Euro to be used to establish a credit facility in favour of Ghanaian private Small and Medium Enterprises, and a grant component of 2,000,000 Euro covering the operational costs and the technical assistance to activities of the Project.
The SMEs, whose applications were deemed eligible, according to investigations conducted by The Chronicle, were notified by the GPSDF Secretariat to contact their banks and leasing companies that had signed the Framework On-Lending Agreement with Bank of Ghana for disbursement of the facility, but to no avail.
"Since March 2010, when Fabio Tabbo, the Italian Coordinator of the facility, issued approval letters to SMEs to contact their banks and leasing companies for disbursement, not a single Small and Medium Enterprise has benefitted," recounted the owner of a private firm, who wants his identity to be protected.
The situation, according to industry experts, was having rippling effects on the would-be SME beneficiaries that have spent huge sums of money in preparing their business plans and other relevant licenses and documentation, in order to access the facility.
They are, therefore, at Madam Hannah Tetteh's throat for allegedly failing to appoint an external auditor to audit the accounts of the GPSDF Secretariat, before paving the way for the money to be accessed.
"SMEs which were given approval letters by the Italian Coordinator of the facility have spent so much money to meet eligibility criteria, and have waited almost one year without the slightest hope that the Minister will act to make disbursement possible," bemoaned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of one of the would-be beneficiary private firms.
Efforts to get the Ministry and the GPSDF Secretariat's response to the aforementioned allegations proved futile.
Ms. Hannah Tetteh's handset, when called, was either switched off or out of coverage area. A follow up to the Ministry was even more frustrating, as The Chronicle was directed to talk to people who needed permission before relaying information to us.
The Public Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Trade and Industry had little knowledge about the GPSDF, and so was directed by the Assistant Public Relations Officer, Mabel D. Awudu, to talk to Sampson Abankwa from the GSPF Secretariat.
Abankwa said he needed permission from his boss before he could comment on the issue. But, according to him, Fabio Tabbo was on leave, and he (Abankwa) did not know when he would return to work.
The Chronicle was directed to talk to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Tuesday December 14, 2010, but her Secretary, requested that he put his concerns into writing, for it to be addressed by the Chief Director as soon as possible, but nothing has been heard from her office.
Indian group buys London's Grosvenor House
LONDON (AFP) – The conglomerate, Sahara India Pariwar, has bought London's luxurious Grosvenor House hotel from state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland for £470 million.
"We are extremely happy to announce Grosvenor House joining the Sahara family," Sahara Group chairman Subrata Roy Sahara said in a statement published on Thursday.
"The valuation of the hotel, three years back was more than £1.0 billion. The valuation, even today is quite high but due to highly satisfactory due diligence by the Royal Bank of Scotland who owned the property and after long and strict negotiations, we have purchased it for £470 million."
Grosvenor House, located in London's upmarket Mayfair district, has 420 rooms, 74 suites and 27 meeting rooms.
U.N. advisers fear Ivory Coast ethnic strife
UNITED NATIONS/ABIDJAN (Reuters) – U.N. advisers expressed grave fears on Thursday about ethnic violence in Ivory Coast after its disputed presidential election and Abidjan's new ambassador to the United Nations warned that the West African nation was on the "brink of genocide."
The two advisers reported signs "some leaders there are inciting violence between different elements of the population" during a standoff between incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and challenger Alassane Ouattara after elections that were supposed to heal wounds of a civil war in 2002-03.
"Given the history of internal conflict in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) such actions are highly irresponsible," a U.N. statement quoted Francis Deng and Edward Luck as saying.
Deng said allegations the Abidjan homes of political opponents of Gbagbo had been marked to identify their ethnicity were extremely worrying.
The advisers cited unconfirmed reports "of serious human rights violations by supporters of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and by forces under his control as well as the use of inflammatory speech to incite hatred and violence."
World leaders have stepped up pressure on Gbagbo to quit in favor of Ouattara, who is widely recognized as having won the vote on November 28 in the world's top cocoa growing nation.
Ouattara and his advisers are holed up in the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, protected by U.N. peacekeepers known as UNOCI.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "deeply alarmed" by reports that a member of Gbagbo's government has called for an assault on the hotel from January 1, his office said.
"Any attack on the Golf Hotel could provoke widespread violence that could reignite civil war," the statement said, adding UNOCI was "authorized to use all necessary means" to protect itself, Ouattara's group and civilians at the hotel.
"SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE"
A delegation of three West African leaders will return to Ivory Coast next week to try to persuade Gbagbo, president since 2000, to cede power or risk facing "legitimate force."
The dispute over the election results has provoked lethal street clashes and threatens to restart open conflict.
It has also pushed up cocoa futures to four-month highs on fears the turmoil could eventually disrupt exports. Ivory Coast's Eurobond hit a record low last week on concern it would not meet a nearly $30 million bond payment due on December 31.
Deng, special adviser on the prevention of genocide, and Luck, who holds the same position on the "responsibility to protect," did not directly refer to the possibility of genocide or identify any ethnic groups that might be under threat.
But Youssoufou Bamba, appointed as ambassador to the United Nations by Ouattara, voiced deep concerns.
"We are on the brink of genocide," he told reporters in New York. "Something should be done."
Bamba said more than 170 people had been killed in street protests, adding he aimed to meet all 15 members of the U.N. Security Council.
One Western diplomat told Reuters it may be an exaggeration to use the word genocide at the moment but said the potential for ethnic violence was "very real."
The U.N. General Assembly last week recognized Ouattara as Ivory Coast's legitimate president by unanimously deciding the list of diplomats he submitted to the world body be recognized
as the sole representatives of Ivory Coast.
But the incumbent president shows no signs of giving in after the election results were overturned by the country's top court, run by a Gbagbo ally, over allegations of fraud.
Gbagbo has accused former colonial power France of orchestrating an international plot alongside the United States to remove him from power. The French government dismissed the allegations as groundless.
The ambassador described Ouattara as the rightful leader.
"He has been elected in a free, fair, transparent, democratic election," Bamba said. "We expect the United Nations to be credible and the United Nations to prevent violation and to prevent the election to be stolen from the people."
THREAT OF FORCE
Some 16,000 Ivorians have fled the country for Liberia and the U.N. is preparing for the number nearly to double. But business and traffic in Abidjan were near normal on Thursday.
West African regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to use force to oust Gbagbo if he does not leave quietly. Rebels still running the north of Ivory Coast after the civil war have said they would join any intervention.
"We will fight alongside the ECOWAS force to remove Laurent Gbagbo from power," spokesman Affousy Bamba said by telephone. "We are awaiting ECOWAS' decision."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, chairman of ECOWAS, said the next move would be decided after next week's talks and added that he hoped for a peaceful outcome.
A military official told reporters in Abuja that ECOWAS defense chiefs were meeting in Nigeria's defense headquarters to map out strategies should Gbagbo refuse to cede power.
The United States and European Union have slapped sanctions on Gbagbo and his inner circle, while the World Bank and the West African regional central bank have cut his financing in an attempt to weaken his grip on power.
The two advisers reported signs "some leaders there are inciting violence between different elements of the population" during a standoff between incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and challenger Alassane Ouattara after elections that were supposed to heal wounds of a civil war in 2002-03.
"Given the history of internal conflict in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) such actions are highly irresponsible," a U.N. statement quoted Francis Deng and Edward Luck as saying.
Deng said allegations the Abidjan homes of political opponents of Gbagbo had been marked to identify their ethnicity were extremely worrying.
The advisers cited unconfirmed reports "of serious human rights violations by supporters of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and by forces under his control as well as the use of inflammatory speech to incite hatred and violence."
World leaders have stepped up pressure on Gbagbo to quit in favor of Ouattara, who is widely recognized as having won the vote on November 28 in the world's top cocoa growing nation.
Ouattara and his advisers are holed up in the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, protected by U.N. peacekeepers known as UNOCI.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "deeply alarmed" by reports that a member of Gbagbo's government has called for an assault on the hotel from January 1, his office said.
"Any attack on the Golf Hotel could provoke widespread violence that could reignite civil war," the statement said, adding UNOCI was "authorized to use all necessary means" to protect itself, Ouattara's group and civilians at the hotel.
"SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE"
A delegation of three West African leaders will return to Ivory Coast next week to try to persuade Gbagbo, president since 2000, to cede power or risk facing "legitimate force."
The dispute over the election results has provoked lethal street clashes and threatens to restart open conflict.
It has also pushed up cocoa futures to four-month highs on fears the turmoil could eventually disrupt exports. Ivory Coast's Eurobond hit a record low last week on concern it would not meet a nearly $30 million bond payment due on December 31.
Deng, special adviser on the prevention of genocide, and Luck, who holds the same position on the "responsibility to protect," did not directly refer to the possibility of genocide or identify any ethnic groups that might be under threat.
But Youssoufou Bamba, appointed as ambassador to the United Nations by Ouattara, voiced deep concerns.
"We are on the brink of genocide," he told reporters in New York. "Something should be done."
Bamba said more than 170 people had been killed in street protests, adding he aimed to meet all 15 members of the U.N. Security Council.
One Western diplomat told Reuters it may be an exaggeration to use the word genocide at the moment but said the potential for ethnic violence was "very real."
The U.N. General Assembly last week recognized Ouattara as Ivory Coast's legitimate president by unanimously deciding the list of diplomats he submitted to the world body be recognized
as the sole representatives of Ivory Coast.
But the incumbent president shows no signs of giving in after the election results were overturned by the country's top court, run by a Gbagbo ally, over allegations of fraud.
Gbagbo has accused former colonial power France of orchestrating an international plot alongside the United States to remove him from power. The French government dismissed the allegations as groundless.
The ambassador described Ouattara as the rightful leader.
"He has been elected in a free, fair, transparent, democratic election," Bamba said. "We expect the United Nations to be credible and the United Nations to prevent violation and to prevent the election to be stolen from the people."
THREAT OF FORCE
Some 16,000 Ivorians have fled the country for Liberia and the U.N. is preparing for the number nearly to double. But business and traffic in Abidjan were near normal on Thursday.
West African regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to use force to oust Gbagbo if he does not leave quietly. Rebels still running the north of Ivory Coast after the civil war have said they would join any intervention.
"We will fight alongside the ECOWAS force to remove Laurent Gbagbo from power," spokesman Affousy Bamba said by telephone. "We are awaiting ECOWAS' decision."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, chairman of ECOWAS, said the next move would be decided after next week's talks and added that he hoped for a peaceful outcome.
A military official told reporters in Abuja that ECOWAS defense chiefs were meeting in Nigeria's defense headquarters to map out strategies should Gbagbo refuse to cede power.
The United States and European Union have slapped sanctions on Gbagbo and his inner circle, while the World Bank and the West African regional central bank have cut his financing in an attempt to weaken his grip on power.
Nigeria police arrest 92 over northern sect attack
KANO, Nigeria (AFP) – Police have arrested 92 suspected members of a radical Islamist sect in raids after a series of attacks that killed eight people in northern Maiduguri city, a police chief said Thursday.
"We have arrested 92 suspected members of the sect in raids we carried out on many parts of the city Wednesday through Thursday in connection with yesterday's attacks, including a man in his 70s we believe is the sect's major financier," Borno state police commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar told AFP on the phone from Maiduguri.
Eight people including three policemen were killed in five separate attacks by gunmen suspected of being Boko Haram members in the city late Wednesday, military and police officials said.
Policemen raided the house of the sect's alleged bankroller where materials linking him to the sect were found.
The materials found included chemicals used in bomb making, audio tapes of the late sect leader's preaching and machetes, Abubakar said.
Abubakar said the suspects had been taken to the police headquarters in Nigeria's capital Abuja for further interrogation.
The sect launched an uprising in Nigeria's north last year that ended with a police and military assault which left hundreds dead.
"The policemen were killed in Ruwan Zafi district of Maiduguri in an attack on a police patrol team by suspected Boko Haram sect members who also burnt down the patrol van," army spokesman lieutenant Abubakar Abdullahi told AFP.
Lawal Abdullahi, the police spokesman in Borno State, of which Maiduguri is the capital, also confirmed that three policemen were killed in the attack.
"We lost three men in a shootout with suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram," he told AFP. "The suspects launched an attack on one of our patrol vehicles and burnt it. The policemen were outnumbered by the attackers."
Five civilians were killed in four other separate targeted attacks launched by motorcycle-riding gunmen in the volatile northeastern city.
In two separate attacks in the same city, suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed a policeman and retired police officer on Tuesday while three civilians suffered gunshot wounds, the police said.
That attack came barely a day after gunmen suspected to be part of a radical Islamic sect, calling itself on a website Jama?atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda?Awati Wal Jihad, claimed responsibility for Christmas eve attacks that killed dozens of people in the central Nigerian city of Jos.
The sect claimed responsibility for multiple explosions in Jos in which at least 80 people were killed in attacks and in reprisal killings.
The police said 32 people were killed in the Jos attacks.
The group also claimed to be behind the attack on three churches in Maiduguri on the same day in which six people were killed and a church was burnt down.
Boko Haram members have been blamed for a string of attacks in the north of the west African country targeting policemen and community leaders, especially in Maiduguri.
Jos is in the so-called middle-belt region between the predominantly Muslim north and the mainly Christian south and has long been a hotspot of ethnic and religious friction.
Many attribute the unrest in Jos to the struggle for economic and political power between the Christian Beroms, seen as the indigenous ethnic group in the region, and the Hausa-Fulani Muslims, viewed as the more recent arrivals.
These attacks come ahead of elections set for April.
"We have arrested 92 suspected members of the sect in raids we carried out on many parts of the city Wednesday through Thursday in connection with yesterday's attacks, including a man in his 70s we believe is the sect's major financier," Borno state police commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar told AFP on the phone from Maiduguri.
Eight people including three policemen were killed in five separate attacks by gunmen suspected of being Boko Haram members in the city late Wednesday, military and police officials said.
Policemen raided the house of the sect's alleged bankroller where materials linking him to the sect were found.
The materials found included chemicals used in bomb making, audio tapes of the late sect leader's preaching and machetes, Abubakar said.
Abubakar said the suspects had been taken to the police headquarters in Nigeria's capital Abuja for further interrogation.
The sect launched an uprising in Nigeria's north last year that ended with a police and military assault which left hundreds dead.
"The policemen were killed in Ruwan Zafi district of Maiduguri in an attack on a police patrol team by suspected Boko Haram sect members who also burnt down the patrol van," army spokesman lieutenant Abubakar Abdullahi told AFP.
Lawal Abdullahi, the police spokesman in Borno State, of which Maiduguri is the capital, also confirmed that three policemen were killed in the attack.
"We lost three men in a shootout with suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram," he told AFP. "The suspects launched an attack on one of our patrol vehicles and burnt it. The policemen were outnumbered by the attackers."
Five civilians were killed in four other separate targeted attacks launched by motorcycle-riding gunmen in the volatile northeastern city.
In two separate attacks in the same city, suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed a policeman and retired police officer on Tuesday while three civilians suffered gunshot wounds, the police said.
That attack came barely a day after gunmen suspected to be part of a radical Islamic sect, calling itself on a website Jama?atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda?Awati Wal Jihad, claimed responsibility for Christmas eve attacks that killed dozens of people in the central Nigerian city of Jos.
The sect claimed responsibility for multiple explosions in Jos in which at least 80 people were killed in attacks and in reprisal killings.
The police said 32 people were killed in the Jos attacks.
The group also claimed to be behind the attack on three churches in Maiduguri on the same day in which six people were killed and a church was burnt down.
Boko Haram members have been blamed for a string of attacks in the north of the west African country targeting policemen and community leaders, especially in Maiduguri.
Jos is in the so-called middle-belt region between the predominantly Muslim north and the mainly Christian south and has long been a hotspot of ethnic and religious friction.
Many attribute the unrest in Jos to the struggle for economic and political power between the Christian Beroms, seen as the indigenous ethnic group in the region, and the Hausa-Fulani Muslims, viewed as the more recent arrivals.
These attacks come ahead of elections set for April.
WikiLeaks show US frustrated with Egypt military
CAIRO – Egypt's military, the biggest recipient of U.S. military aid after Israel, is in decline, according to American diplomats, who blame the Arab nation's top brass for failing to modernize and adapt to deal with new threats.
U.S. diplomatic memos leaked this month show previously unknown friction between the two allies over military assistance and strategy. Military cooperation has always been seen as an unshakable link between Egypt and the U.S., even as the political side of the alliance has gone through public ups and downs over Washington's on-and-off pressure on reform and human rights.
The disagreements, the memos show, are over a wide range of topics, with the U.S. pressing Egypt to focus its military toward terrorism, halting cross-border smuggling and helping out in regional crises. They also suggest that, to the dismay of the Americans, the Egyptian military continues to see Israel, its enemy in four wars spanning 25 years in the last century, as its primary adversary 31 years after the two neighbors signed a peace treaty.
"The United States has sought to interest the Egyptian military into expanding their mission in ways that reflect new regional and transnational security threats, such as piracy, border security, and counterterrorism," said a memo dated Dec. 21, 2008, released by WikiLeaks.
"But the aging leadership, however, has resisted our efforts and remained satisfied with continuing to do what they have done for years: train for force-on-force warfare with a premium on grounds forces and armor."
The memos exposed that public talk of shared goals between the U.S. and Egyptian military is just rhetoric, says Steven Cook, a fellow at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations and the author of a book on the Egyptian military.
"There doesn't seem to be much more and there hasn't been much for a while," he said. "The U.S. criticism further reinforces what the Egyptian military is all about — the ultimate instrument of political control. They are not there to project power, but to protect the regime."
The military is the power base of the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, himself a former air force pilot. The army ousted the monarchy soon after it seized power in a 1952 coup and all of the country's our presidents since have come from the ranks of the military.
Egypt has its own complaints, too.
Egyptian military officials don't welcome pressure by the Americans to change the doctrine of their armed forces. They also complain that Washington has increased annual military aid to Israel — growing from $2.55 billion in 2009 to an expected $3 billion in 2011.
Since its peace deal with Israel, Egypt has received nearly $36 billion in military assistance — an annual installment of $1.3 billion.
With an estimated 1 million active and reserve personnel, the Egyptian military's last combat mission was in the 1991 Gulf War, when it fought as part of a U.S.-military alliance to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.
According to the leaked U.S. memos, Egyptian officials told visiting U.S. defense officials they must convince Congress that Egypt was worth more than the $1.3 billion a year it is getting in military aid, according to a memo dated Feb. 28, 2010.
In the memos, U.S. diplomats lament that the Egyptian military has a "backward" posture and has been resistant to U.S. efforts to "adjust its focus to reflect new regional and transnational threats."
They also criticize the military for assuming a direct role in the Egyptian economy, saying it "stifles free market reform" with large military-owned companies active in industries like retail, construction and hospitality.
One memo specifically singles out Egyptian Defense Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, in office since 1991, as the "chief impediment" to U.S. efforts to develop military ties between the two allies.
"During his tenure, the tactical and operational readiness of the Egyptian Armed Forces has decayed," a memo addressed to U.S. Gen. David Petraeus ahead of a visit he made to Egypt in 2008. Petraeus is now the top commander of the NATO force in Afghanistan.
Egypt has resisted sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan and only recently started training military personnel from the two nations where U.S. forces are fighting stubborn insurgencies.
Instead, the memos say, Egypt places emphasis on trying to achieve military parity with Israel through the acquisition of modern conventional arms such as aircraft and tanks.
One U.S. diplomatic memo said Congressional debate to review — and attach conditions to — aid to Egypt may act as a pressure tool to force the Egyptian military to change its doctrine.
Hossam Sweilam, a retired Egyptian army general, says Egypt continues to view the defense of Sinai, the mostly desert peninsula standing between mainland Egypt and Israel, as its core mission. Despite the peace treaty with Israel, he said, there are recurrent threats from Israeli officials that justify this doctrine.
"The U.S. should not impose on us reformulating our military the way it wants, which we think is ultimately what suits Israel and we don't want to do what suits Israel."
U.S. diplomatic memos leaked this month show previously unknown friction between the two allies over military assistance and strategy. Military cooperation has always been seen as an unshakable link between Egypt and the U.S., even as the political side of the alliance has gone through public ups and downs over Washington's on-and-off pressure on reform and human rights.
The disagreements, the memos show, are over a wide range of topics, with the U.S. pressing Egypt to focus its military toward terrorism, halting cross-border smuggling and helping out in regional crises. They also suggest that, to the dismay of the Americans, the Egyptian military continues to see Israel, its enemy in four wars spanning 25 years in the last century, as its primary adversary 31 years after the two neighbors signed a peace treaty.
"The United States has sought to interest the Egyptian military into expanding their mission in ways that reflect new regional and transnational security threats, such as piracy, border security, and counterterrorism," said a memo dated Dec. 21, 2008, released by WikiLeaks.
"But the aging leadership, however, has resisted our efforts and remained satisfied with continuing to do what they have done for years: train for force-on-force warfare with a premium on grounds forces and armor."
The memos exposed that public talk of shared goals between the U.S. and Egyptian military is just rhetoric, says Steven Cook, a fellow at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations and the author of a book on the Egyptian military.
"There doesn't seem to be much more and there hasn't been much for a while," he said. "The U.S. criticism further reinforces what the Egyptian military is all about — the ultimate instrument of political control. They are not there to project power, but to protect the regime."
The military is the power base of the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, himself a former air force pilot. The army ousted the monarchy soon after it seized power in a 1952 coup and all of the country's our presidents since have come from the ranks of the military.
Egypt has its own complaints, too.
Egyptian military officials don't welcome pressure by the Americans to change the doctrine of their armed forces. They also complain that Washington has increased annual military aid to Israel — growing from $2.55 billion in 2009 to an expected $3 billion in 2011.
Since its peace deal with Israel, Egypt has received nearly $36 billion in military assistance — an annual installment of $1.3 billion.
With an estimated 1 million active and reserve personnel, the Egyptian military's last combat mission was in the 1991 Gulf War, when it fought as part of a U.S.-military alliance to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.
According to the leaked U.S. memos, Egyptian officials told visiting U.S. defense officials they must convince Congress that Egypt was worth more than the $1.3 billion a year it is getting in military aid, according to a memo dated Feb. 28, 2010.
In the memos, U.S. diplomats lament that the Egyptian military has a "backward" posture and has been resistant to U.S. efforts to "adjust its focus to reflect new regional and transnational threats."
They also criticize the military for assuming a direct role in the Egyptian economy, saying it "stifles free market reform" with large military-owned companies active in industries like retail, construction and hospitality.
One memo specifically singles out Egyptian Defense Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, in office since 1991, as the "chief impediment" to U.S. efforts to develop military ties between the two allies.
"During his tenure, the tactical and operational readiness of the Egyptian Armed Forces has decayed," a memo addressed to U.S. Gen. David Petraeus ahead of a visit he made to Egypt in 2008. Petraeus is now the top commander of the NATO force in Afghanistan.
Egypt has resisted sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan and only recently started training military personnel from the two nations where U.S. forces are fighting stubborn insurgencies.
Instead, the memos say, Egypt places emphasis on trying to achieve military parity with Israel through the acquisition of modern conventional arms such as aircraft and tanks.
One U.S. diplomatic memo said Congressional debate to review — and attach conditions to — aid to Egypt may act as a pressure tool to force the Egyptian military to change its doctrine.
Hossam Sweilam, a retired Egyptian army general, says Egypt continues to view the defense of Sinai, the mostly desert peninsula standing between mainland Egypt and Israel, as its core mission. Despite the peace treaty with Israel, he said, there are recurrent threats from Israeli officials that justify this doctrine.
"The U.S. should not impose on us reformulating our military the way it wants, which we think is ultimately what suits Israel and we don't want to do what suits Israel."
Thursday, December 30, 2010
UN: Forces obstruct Ivory Coast mass grave probe
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – The United Nations accused incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo's security forces of blocking access to mass graves Thursday, saying investigators believe as many as 80 bodies may be in one building that U.N. personnel are being kept from entering.
Gbagbo's government has repeatedly denied that such graves exist, and the interior minister has gone on state television to dismiss the allegations that arose after the disputed presidential runoff vote. Simon Munzu, the head of the U.N. human rights division, urged security forces to allow investigators in.
"We would be the very first to say that these stories are false if they turn out to be false," Munzu said. "Our findings on the matter and their announcement to the world would have a greater chance of being believed than these repeated denials."
Human rights groups accuse Gbagbo's security forces of abducting and torturing political opponents since the disputed Nov. 28 vote, which the U.N. said Gbagbo lost. U.N. investigators have cited dozens of reported cases of disappearances, and nearly 500 arrests and detentions.
The United Nations has said that security forces accompanied by masked men with rocket launchers were preventing U.N. personnel from reaching the scene of one mass grave identified by witnesses in the area. Munzu said investigators got as far as the front door of a building where between 60 and 80 bodies are believed to be kept before they were forced to leave.
Meanwhile, a fiery member of Gbagbo's Cabinet urged supporters to seize a hotel where the internationally recognized winner of last month's election has been organizing a shadow government under U.N. protection.
Charles Ble Goude was quoted by a pro-Gbagbo newspaper Thursday as saying that Alassane Ouattara, whom the United Nations declared the winner of the Nov. 28 vote, and his prime minister "have until January 1, 2011 to pack their bags and leave the Golf Hotel."
West African leaders on Wednesday took possible military intervention off the table for now so negotiations can continue next week to have Gbagbo hand over power in Ivory Coast. ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, has sent combat troops to several nations in the past two decades. Defense officials from the member states met Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria, where the bloc is based.
"He who attacks Laurent Gbagbo will sorely regret it," the newspaper Le Temps reported Ble Goude as telling Gbagbo supporters in the Yopougon neighborhood, where a U.N. patrol was surrounded by a mob on Tuesday and one peacekeeper was wounded by a machete. "No on can remove our president from power."
U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Leroy said the U.N. has become a target of violence after a campaign of "disturbing lies" on state television suggested that the U.N. is arming and transporting anti-Gbagbo rebels.
Ble Goude is Gbagbo's minister of youth and employment, known as the "street general" for organizing a violent anti-French and anti-U.N. gang that terrorized the foreign population in Ivory Coast in 2004-2005. The beachside Golf Hotel is protected by some 800 blue-helmeted U.N. peacekeepers and hundreds of rebels loyal to Ouattara.
Under a peace deal after the 2002-2003 civil war, the U.N. was tasked with certifying the results of the election. The U.N. declared Ouattara the winner, echoing the country's own electoral commission chief. Gbagbo insists he won, pointing out that the Ivory Coast constitutional council declared him the winner. The council, which is led by a Gbagbo ally, had invalidated half a million ballots from Ouattara strongholds in the north.
The United States and other world powers have insisted Gbagbo hand over power to Ouattara. For many, the credibility of the international community is at stake if it is unable to ensure that Ouattara takes power.
Chaos in Ivory Coast, once a West African economic powerhouse with skyscrapers dominating this seaside commercial center, already has kept Gbagbo in power five years beyond his mandate.
Ivory Coast's new U.N. ambassador, Youssoufou Bamba, said he is worried about his country's future and is consulting with members of the Security Council ahead of a meeting next week on ways to help Ouattara assume power.
"We are on the brink of genocide," Bamba said after presenting his diplomatic credentials to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
Practical obstacles may prevent ECOWAS troop deployment to Ivory Coast, said Africa security analyst Peter Pham. The best troops from ECOWAS states are already deployed on missions elsewhere such as Sudan, and even if soldiers could be found, transport logistics would be a challenge, he said.
"Gbagbo called their bluff on their ability to follow through on any sort of military threat," said Pham, of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a New York-based think tank. "Sending a peacekeeping force is one thing, but an invasion force that will be resisted by the national military is quite another."
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States has begun planning for the possible evacuation of its embassy in Ivory Coast amid concerns of a full-blown conflict
Gbagbo's government has repeatedly denied that such graves exist, and the interior minister has gone on state television to dismiss the allegations that arose after the disputed presidential runoff vote. Simon Munzu, the head of the U.N. human rights division, urged security forces to allow investigators in.
"We would be the very first to say that these stories are false if they turn out to be false," Munzu said. "Our findings on the matter and their announcement to the world would have a greater chance of being believed than these repeated denials."
Human rights groups accuse Gbagbo's security forces of abducting and torturing political opponents since the disputed Nov. 28 vote, which the U.N. said Gbagbo lost. U.N. investigators have cited dozens of reported cases of disappearances, and nearly 500 arrests and detentions.
The United Nations has said that security forces accompanied by masked men with rocket launchers were preventing U.N. personnel from reaching the scene of one mass grave identified by witnesses in the area. Munzu said investigators got as far as the front door of a building where between 60 and 80 bodies are believed to be kept before they were forced to leave.
Meanwhile, a fiery member of Gbagbo's Cabinet urged supporters to seize a hotel where the internationally recognized winner of last month's election has been organizing a shadow government under U.N. protection.
Charles Ble Goude was quoted by a pro-Gbagbo newspaper Thursday as saying that Alassane Ouattara, whom the United Nations declared the winner of the Nov. 28 vote, and his prime minister "have until January 1, 2011 to pack their bags and leave the Golf Hotel."
West African leaders on Wednesday took possible military intervention off the table for now so negotiations can continue next week to have Gbagbo hand over power in Ivory Coast. ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, has sent combat troops to several nations in the past two decades. Defense officials from the member states met Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria, where the bloc is based.
"He who attacks Laurent Gbagbo will sorely regret it," the newspaper Le Temps reported Ble Goude as telling Gbagbo supporters in the Yopougon neighborhood, where a U.N. patrol was surrounded by a mob on Tuesday and one peacekeeper was wounded by a machete. "No on can remove our president from power."
U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Leroy said the U.N. has become a target of violence after a campaign of "disturbing lies" on state television suggested that the U.N. is arming and transporting anti-Gbagbo rebels.
Ble Goude is Gbagbo's minister of youth and employment, known as the "street general" for organizing a violent anti-French and anti-U.N. gang that terrorized the foreign population in Ivory Coast in 2004-2005. The beachside Golf Hotel is protected by some 800 blue-helmeted U.N. peacekeepers and hundreds of rebels loyal to Ouattara.
Under a peace deal after the 2002-2003 civil war, the U.N. was tasked with certifying the results of the election. The U.N. declared Ouattara the winner, echoing the country's own electoral commission chief. Gbagbo insists he won, pointing out that the Ivory Coast constitutional council declared him the winner. The council, which is led by a Gbagbo ally, had invalidated half a million ballots from Ouattara strongholds in the north.
The United States and other world powers have insisted Gbagbo hand over power to Ouattara. For many, the credibility of the international community is at stake if it is unable to ensure that Ouattara takes power.
Chaos in Ivory Coast, once a West African economic powerhouse with skyscrapers dominating this seaside commercial center, already has kept Gbagbo in power five years beyond his mandate.
Ivory Coast's new U.N. ambassador, Youssoufou Bamba, said he is worried about his country's future and is consulting with members of the Security Council ahead of a meeting next week on ways to help Ouattara assume power.
"We are on the brink of genocide," Bamba said after presenting his diplomatic credentials to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
Practical obstacles may prevent ECOWAS troop deployment to Ivory Coast, said Africa security analyst Peter Pham. The best troops from ECOWAS states are already deployed on missions elsewhere such as Sudan, and even if soldiers could be found, transport logistics would be a challenge, he said.
"Gbagbo called their bluff on their ability to follow through on any sort of military threat," said Pham, of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a New York-based think tank. "Sending a peacekeeping force is one thing, but an invasion force that will be resisted by the national military is quite another."
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States has begun planning for the possible evacuation of its embassy in Ivory Coast amid concerns of a full-blown conflict
Canada no longer recognizes Ivory Coast envoy
MONTREAL (AFP) – Canada said Wednesday it no longer recognized the Ivory Coast ambassador to Ottawa appointed by president Laurent Gbagbo, and that it would welcome new diplomatic representation from the West African nation.
"The tenure of Louis L.B. Bony as ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire to Canada has ended," Melissa Lantsman, spokeswoman for Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, told AFP.
Bony was appointed in 2008 by Gbagbo, who is now clinging to power in Abidjan despite international calls for him to relinquish control to his rival Alassane Ouattara following last month's disputed elections.
"Canada will only accept a new head of mission appointed by President Ouattara," Lantsman added.
"Canada respects the right of President Alassane Ouattara to select Cote d'Ivoire's diplomatic representation abroad," the spokeswoman said, adding that, like the United Nations and several world powers, "Canada has publicly recognised Alassane Ouattara as the legitimately-elected president of Cote d'Ivoire."
Ivory Coast's embassy in Ottawa refused comment on the matter, saying the ambassador was currently abroad and expected to return to Canada next week.
"The tenure of Louis L.B. Bony as ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire to Canada has ended," Melissa Lantsman, spokeswoman for Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, told AFP.
Bony was appointed in 2008 by Gbagbo, who is now clinging to power in Abidjan despite international calls for him to relinquish control to his rival Alassane Ouattara following last month's disputed elections.
"Canada will only accept a new head of mission appointed by President Ouattara," Lantsman added.
"Canada respects the right of President Alassane Ouattara to select Cote d'Ivoire's diplomatic representation abroad," the spokeswoman said, adding that, like the United Nations and several world powers, "Canada has publicly recognised Alassane Ouattara as the legitimately-elected president of Cote d'Ivoire."
Ivory Coast's embassy in Ottawa refused comment on the matter, saying the ambassador was currently abroad and expected to return to Canada next week.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Voting postponed in Northern, Upper East, Brong Ahafo regions
Accra, Dec. 29, GNA - Voting in district level elections in the Northern, Upper East and Brong Ahafo regions have been rescheduled for Thursday as the Electoral Commission (EC) works to overcome difficulties in the distribution of ballot papers to the various electoral areas.
This means only Ashanti and the Volta regions are seeing any election on Wednesday. Even then, coverage is 80 per cent in Ashanti and 90 per cent in the Volta Region, EC sources told GNA.
Mr David Adenze Kanga, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, who is monitoring the vote in the Upper East and Northern regions, also told the GNA that they were yet to receive ballot papers for the elections in the two regions.
He said the ballot papers were expected on Wednesday and distribution carried out for the election on Thursday.
The Brong Ahafo Region is also yet to receive its ballot papers hence the postponement.
The EC is stressing that the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections are based on electoral areas and therefore are "unrelated" to one another.
The polls opened at 0700 hours in the Volta and Ashanti regions, the second set of regions to vote in the rescheduled elections because of the late printing of ballot papers. Voting will end at 1700 hours
The elections in the Greater Accra Region, which were also to have been held on Wednesday, were postponed on Tuesday night until Thursday.
The Upper West and Central regions voted on Tuesday while the Eastern Region and Western regions will also vote on Thursday.
Electoral statistics for the five regions available to the Ghana News Agency show that in the Upper East Region, a total of 896 candidate, made up of 826 males and 70 females are vying for the District Assemblies whilst a total of 2,763 (2,561 males and 202 females) are contesting the Unit Committee Election.
The Volta region data show that a total of 1,833 candidates (1,646 males and 187 females are contesting the District Assembly whilst 4,211 candidates (3,753 males and 458 females) are contesting for the Unit Committee Election.
In the Ashanti Region the record shows that 3,393 contestants (3,153 males and 240 females) are contesting the District Assembly election whilst 9,473 candidates (8,431 male and 1,042 female) are contesting at the Unit Committee level.
The Northern Region recorded 1,749 candidates (1,604 males and 145 females) vying for District Assemblies and 4,009 candidates (3,787 males and 222 females) are contesting the Unit Committee Election.
The Brong Ahafo Region has 1,979 candidates (1,830 males and 149 females) contesting for District Assemblies and 6,187 candidates (5,578 males and 609 females) are contesting the Unit Committee Elections.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, called for the co-operation of all stakeholders, as it took the necessary steps to address the operational hiccups.
Dr Afari-Gyan said the Commission was capable of overcoming the glitches being encountered and urged voters, security agencies and the media, especially radio presenters, to be circumspect in their actions and pronouncements.
The EC Chairman, who is in the Ashanti Region to monitor the polls, appealed to media practitioners, especially radio presenters, not to present localized problems observed during the process as a national one.
GNA
This means only Ashanti and the Volta regions are seeing any election on Wednesday. Even then, coverage is 80 per cent in Ashanti and 90 per cent in the Volta Region, EC sources told GNA.
Mr David Adenze Kanga, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, who is monitoring the vote in the Upper East and Northern regions, also told the GNA that they were yet to receive ballot papers for the elections in the two regions.
He said the ballot papers were expected on Wednesday and distribution carried out for the election on Thursday.
The Brong Ahafo Region is also yet to receive its ballot papers hence the postponement.
The EC is stressing that the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections are based on electoral areas and therefore are "unrelated" to one another.
The polls opened at 0700 hours in the Volta and Ashanti regions, the second set of regions to vote in the rescheduled elections because of the late printing of ballot papers. Voting will end at 1700 hours
The elections in the Greater Accra Region, which were also to have been held on Wednesday, were postponed on Tuesday night until Thursday.
The Upper West and Central regions voted on Tuesday while the Eastern Region and Western regions will also vote on Thursday.
Electoral statistics for the five regions available to the Ghana News Agency show that in the Upper East Region, a total of 896 candidate, made up of 826 males and 70 females are vying for the District Assemblies whilst a total of 2,763 (2,561 males and 202 females) are contesting the Unit Committee Election.
The Volta region data show that a total of 1,833 candidates (1,646 males and 187 females are contesting the District Assembly whilst 4,211 candidates (3,753 males and 458 females) are contesting for the Unit Committee Election.
In the Ashanti Region the record shows that 3,393 contestants (3,153 males and 240 females) are contesting the District Assembly election whilst 9,473 candidates (8,431 male and 1,042 female) are contesting at the Unit Committee level.
The Northern Region recorded 1,749 candidates (1,604 males and 145 females) vying for District Assemblies and 4,009 candidates (3,787 males and 222 females) are contesting the Unit Committee Election.
The Brong Ahafo Region has 1,979 candidates (1,830 males and 149 females) contesting for District Assemblies and 6,187 candidates (5,578 males and 609 females) are contesting the Unit Committee Elections.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, called for the co-operation of all stakeholders, as it took the necessary steps to address the operational hiccups.
Dr Afari-Gyan said the Commission was capable of overcoming the glitches being encountered and urged voters, security agencies and the media, especially radio presenters, to be circumspect in their actions and pronouncements.
The EC Chairman, who is in the Ashanti Region to monitor the polls, appealed to media practitioners, especially radio presenters, not to present localized problems observed during the process as a national one.
GNA
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
AMA: We'll Arrest Anyone Who Buys From Street Hawkers
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly says it is awaiting the endorsement of the Attorney-General’s office to enforce a new bylaw prohibiting people from selling or buying on the streets in the metropolis.
Anyone who buys from street hawkers when the bylaw becomes operational faces arrest and prosecution. Currently only hawkers in the central business district of Accra are regularly chased out by AMA taskforce as the assembly strives to rid the city of congestion.
Accra Mayor Alfred Nii Okoe Vanderpuije told Joy FM he is hopeful the bylaw will be approved early next year.
“If you patronize, if you sat in your vehicle, your vehicle stops at the light and you bought something from your vehicle or you patronize selling on the streets, you are breaking the bylaw and we will enforce those once we get the green light and we are awaiting clearance on that from the Attorney-General’s Office. We have submitted this since September and so we are waiting for the clearance that should come anytime. I’m sure early next year we should have it, I’m sure.”
Alfred Vanderpuije who also dismissed assertions that such a bylaw will be too difficult to enforce, said maintaining a law-abiding society is a shared responsibility of those clothed with authority to enforce laws and the rest of society, and called on all to support it.
“We have not relented in our efforts to get hawkers off the streets. All of us have equal responsibility. Yes AMA has the ultimate responsibility but we have not ignored our responsibility in this respect, you know, we are out there, our taskforce is out there every day to make sure that we clear the streets of workers which we’ve been able to maintain except that now we are in the Christmas, we have more people in town, we have more people shopping, we have all that going on.”
Source: myjoyonline
Poll: Obama and Hillary Clinton are 'most admired'
WASHINGTON – For the third straight year, President Barack Obama ranks as the man most admired by people living in the U.S., according to an annual USA Today-Gallup poll.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most-admired woman for the ninth year in a row, edging out former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and TV host Oprah Winfrey, as she did last year.
The poll, released Monday, asked respondents what man and woman, living anywhere in the world, they most admired. Rankings from one to 10 were based on total mentions and reported in percentages.
Obama has been the poll's most-admired man since his election in 2008. With 22 percent choosing him, Obama leads his predecessors, George W. Bush, with 5 percent, and Bill Clinton, with 4 percent.
However, Obama's percentage has fallen over the years. In 2008 he led the list with 32 percent and in 2009 with 30 percent.
Rounding out the top 10 most-admired men, with 2 percent or less: former South African President Nelson Mandella, computer tycoon Bill Gates, Pope Benedict XVI, the Rev. Billy Graham, former President Jimmy Carter, talk-show host Glenn Beck and the Dalai Lama.
Hillary Clinton has been the most-admired woman in the poll 15 times since 1992, when she first appeared following her husband's election as president. She leads this year with 17 percent, followed by Palin with 12 percent, Winfrey with 11 percent, and first lady Michelle Obama with 5 percent.
Rounding out the top most-admired women, with 2 percent or less: former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Queen Elizabeth, actress Angelina Jolie, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and, in a three-way tie for ninth place, Burmese democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi and former first ladies Laura Bush and Barbara Bush.
The USA Today-Gallup survey, conducted Dec. 10-12, is based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,019 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most-admired woman for the ninth year in a row, edging out former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and TV host Oprah Winfrey, as she did last year.
The poll, released Monday, asked respondents what man and woman, living anywhere in the world, they most admired. Rankings from one to 10 were based on total mentions and reported in percentages.
Obama has been the poll's most-admired man since his election in 2008. With 22 percent choosing him, Obama leads his predecessors, George W. Bush, with 5 percent, and Bill Clinton, with 4 percent.
However, Obama's percentage has fallen over the years. In 2008 he led the list with 32 percent and in 2009 with 30 percent.
Rounding out the top 10 most-admired men, with 2 percent or less: former South African President Nelson Mandella, computer tycoon Bill Gates, Pope Benedict XVI, the Rev. Billy Graham, former President Jimmy Carter, talk-show host Glenn Beck and the Dalai Lama.
Hillary Clinton has been the most-admired woman in the poll 15 times since 1992, when she first appeared following her husband's election as president. She leads this year with 17 percent, followed by Palin with 12 percent, Winfrey with 11 percent, and first lady Michelle Obama with 5 percent.
Rounding out the top most-admired women, with 2 percent or less: former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Queen Elizabeth, actress Angelina Jolie, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and, in a three-way tie for ninth place, Burmese democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi and former first ladies Laura Bush and Barbara Bush.
The USA Today-Gallup survey, conducted Dec. 10-12, is based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,019 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
U.S. embassy in London was a target of UK suspects
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. embassy in London was a target of a group of men arrested last week in Britain and charged with conspiracy to cause explosions and preparing acts of terrorism, the U.S. State Department said on Monday.
Twelve men were arrested on December 20 in what British police said were counter-terrorism raids essential to protect the public from the threat of attack.
Three were later released without charges, leaving nine who appeared in court on Monday to face the charges.
Asked if he was aware of reports the suspects indicated that the U.S. embassy in London was on their target list, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters: "I am aware and ... obviously our folks in London are aware of this."
In response to a follow-up question during a telephone briefing with reporters, Toner said: "You asked me if we were aware that we were on the targeting list and I confirmed that."
The suspects were from London, the Welsh capital of Cardiff and the central English city of Stoke.
A British police statement said the men had conspired to cause "explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property".
It added they had been downloading material from the Internet, researching and discussing potential targets, carrying out reconnaissance and "igniting and testing incendiary material".
The police statement did not specify what the potential targets were.
Twelve men were arrested on December 20 in what British police said were counter-terrorism raids essential to protect the public from the threat of attack.
Three were later released without charges, leaving nine who appeared in court on Monday to face the charges.
Asked if he was aware of reports the suspects indicated that the U.S. embassy in London was on their target list, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters: "I am aware and ... obviously our folks in London are aware of this."
In response to a follow-up question during a telephone briefing with reporters, Toner said: "You asked me if we were aware that we were on the targeting list and I confirmed that."
The suspects were from London, the Welsh capital of Cardiff and the central English city of Stoke.
A British police statement said the men had conspired to cause "explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property".
It added they had been downloading material from the Internet, researching and discussing potential targets, carrying out reconnaissance and "igniting and testing incendiary material".
The police statement did not specify what the potential targets were.
Iran hangs man convicted of spying for Mossad: IRNA
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran on Tuesday hanged an Iranian convicted of spying for the Islamic Republic's arch foe Israel, the official IRNA news agency quoted a statement from the judiciary as saying.
Ali Akbar Siadat was found guilty of relaying sensitive data to Mossad, having worked for the Israeli intelligence agency since 2004. He was arrested four years later when he tried to leave Iran with his wife.
Iran and Israel have been enemies since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and Tehran periodically announces the arrest of people suspected of spying for Israel, which Iran refuses to recognize.
"Ali Akbar Siadat, who spied for Israel's Mossad, was hanged inside the Evin prison (in Tehran) this morning," IRNA said.
"He was convicted of corruption on Earth, confronting the Islamic Republic and strengthening the Zionist regime (Israel)."
"Siadat confessed receiving $60,000 for transferring classified information to Mossad on Iran's military activities," IRNA said. The statement said he had been given "special equipment including a laptop" to contact Mossad.
IRNA said Siadat met Israeli agents in Turkey, Thailand and the Netherlands among other countries. He gave them information on Iran's military drills, military bases, military aircraft as well as missile systems operated by the Revolutionary Guards, the news agency said.
A convicted Iranian, Ali Ashtari, was hanged in Iran in 2008 for working with Mossad. Israel denied any links with the case.
Iran often accuses Israel and the United States of trying to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
Israel, believed to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, sides with the United States and its allies in accusing Iran of seeking to build atomic weapons of its own.
Iran denies this, saying it wants to use nuclear power to generate electricity.
Israel has not ruled out military strikes on Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the stand off over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Iran has vowed to retaliate to any strikes with missile salvoes on Israel and U.S. targets in the Gulf.
IRNA also said Ali Saremi, a member of the exiled opposition group the Mujahideen Khalq Organization, was hanged for various offences, including "moharebe" or waging war against God.
Under Iran's penal code, imposed since its 1979 Islamic revolution, espionage and waging war against God can carry the death penalty.
Ali Akbar Siadat was found guilty of relaying sensitive data to Mossad, having worked for the Israeli intelligence agency since 2004. He was arrested four years later when he tried to leave Iran with his wife.
Iran and Israel have been enemies since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and Tehran periodically announces the arrest of people suspected of spying for Israel, which Iran refuses to recognize.
"Ali Akbar Siadat, who spied for Israel's Mossad, was hanged inside the Evin prison (in Tehran) this morning," IRNA said.
"He was convicted of corruption on Earth, confronting the Islamic Republic and strengthening the Zionist regime (Israel)."
"Siadat confessed receiving $60,000 for transferring classified information to Mossad on Iran's military activities," IRNA said. The statement said he had been given "special equipment including a laptop" to contact Mossad.
IRNA said Siadat met Israeli agents in Turkey, Thailand and the Netherlands among other countries. He gave them information on Iran's military drills, military bases, military aircraft as well as missile systems operated by the Revolutionary Guards, the news agency said.
A convicted Iranian, Ali Ashtari, was hanged in Iran in 2008 for working with Mossad. Israel denied any links with the case.
Iran often accuses Israel and the United States of trying to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
Israel, believed to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, sides with the United States and its allies in accusing Iran of seeking to build atomic weapons of its own.
Iran denies this, saying it wants to use nuclear power to generate electricity.
Israel has not ruled out military strikes on Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the stand off over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Iran has vowed to retaliate to any strikes with missile salvoes on Israel and U.S. targets in the Gulf.
IRNA also said Ali Saremi, a member of the exiled opposition group the Mujahideen Khalq Organization, was hanged for various offences, including "moharebe" or waging war against God.
Under Iran's penal code, imposed since its 1979 Islamic revolution, espionage and waging war against God can carry the death penalty.
Nigeria says at least 80 died in Jos attacks
JOS, Nigeria (Reuters) – At least 80 people were killed in Christmas Eve bombings and clashes two days later between Muslim and Christian youths in central Nigeria, officials say.
The police said on Saturday 32 people were killed in the bomb attacks but with more than 100 wounded in hospital the death count was expected to rise.
"We have recovered 80 dead bodies so far in Jos," Daniel Gambo, an official at the Nigerian emergency management agency said late on Monday.
The chief of defense staff said two suspects were arrested in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, in possession of dynamite and dangerous weapons on Monday.
Armed police continued to patrol the streets in Jos and surrounding areas on Tuesday to deter further unrest.
A series of explosions on Friday led to religious violence which flares up sporadically in the central "Middle Belt" of Africa's most populous nation, where the largely Muslim north meets the mostly Christian south.
Hundreds of people died in religious and ethnic clashes at the start of the year but co-ordinated bomb attacks have not featured in previous violence and the governor of Plateau state has said the attacks were politically motivated.
President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to hunt down those responsible for the bombings but the government has not said who might be responsible for the violence.
The police said on Saturday 32 people were killed in the bomb attacks but with more than 100 wounded in hospital the death count was expected to rise.
"We have recovered 80 dead bodies so far in Jos," Daniel Gambo, an official at the Nigerian emergency management agency said late on Monday.
The chief of defense staff said two suspects were arrested in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, in possession of dynamite and dangerous weapons on Monday.
Armed police continued to patrol the streets in Jos and surrounding areas on Tuesday to deter further unrest.
A series of explosions on Friday led to religious violence which flares up sporadically in the central "Middle Belt" of Africa's most populous nation, where the largely Muslim north meets the mostly Christian south.
Hundreds of people died in religious and ethnic clashes at the start of the year but co-ordinated bomb attacks have not featured in previous violence and the governor of Plateau state has said the attacks were politically motivated.
President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to hunt down those responsible for the bombings but the government has not said who might be responsible for the violence.
Israeli companies to help build West Bank city
AMALLAH, West Bank – The developer of the first modern Palestinian city in the West Bank says about 20 Israeli suppliers will be working on the project — after the companies promised they will not use products or services from Israeli settlements.
Bashar Masri, the developer of the Rawabi city project, said Tuesday he tries to use Palestinian suppliers but when necessary, has had to turn to Israeli suppliers on condition settlement products aren't used. He didn't identify any of the suppliers.
Jewish settlers have accused the Israeli suppliers of caving in to an international boycott of businesses connected to the settlements.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in September over Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem — lands Palestinians want for their future state.
Bashar Masri, the developer of the Rawabi city project, said Tuesday he tries to use Palestinian suppliers but when necessary, has had to turn to Israeli suppliers on condition settlement products aren't used. He didn't identify any of the suppliers.
Jewish settlers have accused the Israeli suppliers of caving in to an international boycott of businesses connected to the settlements.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in September over Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem — lands Palestinians want for their future state.
Pakistan govt in turmoil as party to quit Cabinet
KARACHI, Pakistan – A key party in Pakistan's ruling coalition said it would quit the cabinet on Tuesday, threatening the stability of the country's already shaky U.S.-allied government.
The latest political pressure on President Asif Ali Zardari's government comes as Pakistan faces a slew of problems, including a violent Islamist insurgency and a financial crunch that has left the government relying on an $11 billion loan from the IMF.
Government instability could also hamper U.S. efforts to convince Pakistan to take more action against Islamic extremists and al-Qaida-affiliated groups hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas. Pakistanis are also still reeling from this year's massive floods and persistent electricity shortages.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a secular party whose primary base is the southern city of Karachi, said its two cabinet ministers would submit their resignations Tuesday, which is typically a precursor to joining the opposition. MQM leaders, however, said they would not shift their 25 seats to the opposition — yet.
Farooq Sattar, one of the MQM Cabinet ministers, said his party was unhappy with the lack of progress in solving Pakistan's problems and felt Zardari's Pakistani People's Party did not consult the MQM enough.
Earlier this month, another coalition member, the Jamiat Ulema Islam, said it would join the opposition. If the MQM decides to join the opposition as well, the governing coalition would fall below the 172 seat threshold needed to keep a majority in Parliament.
That could lead to early elections, continuing a long-standing pattern in Pakistan where civilian governments never finish their full terms, either because they are ousted in a military coup or forced out by other means.
During a news conference Tuesday, JUI leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should resign or be removed by Zardari because he had exacerbated tensions within the governing coalition.
"If this crisis continues in the presence of this prime minister, then I fear that it might derail democracy," he said.
The PPP won the most seats in the 2008 elections weeks after its leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. Her husband, Zardari, gained the presidency months later after the ouster of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf from that position.
But Zardari is widely reviled in Pakistan, and the party's popularity has slipped as problems here have grown.
If the government does fall, the biggest beneficiary could be Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N. The party is more religiously conservative than the PPP or the MQM and it has not been as vocal in opposing the Taliban.
Zardari's party was lobbying hard Tuesday to prevent the MQM from leaving the coalition.
"We will try to sort out whatever their demands and concerns are," said Sharmila Farooqi, a PPP spokeswoman. "We will still have their support. We have a five-year mandate and we still have two more years."
The latest political pressure on President Asif Ali Zardari's government comes as Pakistan faces a slew of problems, including a violent Islamist insurgency and a financial crunch that has left the government relying on an $11 billion loan from the IMF.
Government instability could also hamper U.S. efforts to convince Pakistan to take more action against Islamic extremists and al-Qaida-affiliated groups hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas. Pakistanis are also still reeling from this year's massive floods and persistent electricity shortages.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a secular party whose primary base is the southern city of Karachi, said its two cabinet ministers would submit their resignations Tuesday, which is typically a precursor to joining the opposition. MQM leaders, however, said they would not shift their 25 seats to the opposition — yet.
Farooq Sattar, one of the MQM Cabinet ministers, said his party was unhappy with the lack of progress in solving Pakistan's problems and felt Zardari's Pakistani People's Party did not consult the MQM enough.
Earlier this month, another coalition member, the Jamiat Ulema Islam, said it would join the opposition. If the MQM decides to join the opposition as well, the governing coalition would fall below the 172 seat threshold needed to keep a majority in Parliament.
That could lead to early elections, continuing a long-standing pattern in Pakistan where civilian governments never finish their full terms, either because they are ousted in a military coup or forced out by other means.
During a news conference Tuesday, JUI leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should resign or be removed by Zardari because he had exacerbated tensions within the governing coalition.
"If this crisis continues in the presence of this prime minister, then I fear that it might derail democracy," he said.
The PPP won the most seats in the 2008 elections weeks after its leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. Her husband, Zardari, gained the presidency months later after the ouster of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf from that position.
But Zardari is widely reviled in Pakistan, and the party's popularity has slipped as problems here have grown.
If the government does fall, the biggest beneficiary could be Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N. The party is more religiously conservative than the PPP or the MQM and it has not been as vocal in opposing the Taliban.
Zardari's party was lobbying hard Tuesday to prevent the MQM from leaving the coalition.
"We will try to sort out whatever their demands and concerns are," said Sharmila Farooqi, a PPP spokeswoman. "We will still have their support. We have a five-year mandate and we still have two more years."
Floods force evacuations in eastern Australia
SYDNEY (AFP) – Military helicopters were called in Tuesday to help evacuate hundreds of Australians stranded by rising floodwaters, as entire towns were inundated by the worst deluges in parts of the region in decades.
Torrential rains following in the wake of tropical cyclone Tasha, which last week crossed into the northeastern state of Queensland before quickly fading, have swollen rivers and flooded scores of farms and homes in the state.
Some towns saw their worst floods in 50 years, including Theodore some 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of Brisbane, which has been cut off for two days and whose 350 residents were being evacuated by helicopter.
Local Banana Shire Council Mayor Maureen Clancy said the town was "just a sea of water", telling Australian news agency AAP that floodwaters had even reached its evacuation centre.
"Following a request from Queensland, the government is providing two Blackhawk helicopters to assist in the evacuation of Theodore," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement.
"Australian Defence Force personnel are on stand-by to offer further support if required."
By early afternoon, the Dawson River at Theodore was at 14.59 metres (48 feet) and rising -- way beyond the town's 1956 record of 14.07 metres -- and most of the town under water.
As many as 1,000 people have been forced from their homes by the waters, which has affected large parts of central and southern Queensland, with more than 100 homes and businesses inundated.
Officials said while the rain was abating in some places, a vast amount of water upstream was yet to flow through the towns as it made its way to the sea.
"There's an enormous amount of water still coming and I think that's the problem, the unknown we've got to face," Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown told ABC Radio after touring affected communities by air.
The Queensland government has declared several areas, including Theodore, Chinchilla and Dalby, disaster zones -- a move that gives police the power to force people from their homes if necessary.
"We are facing a really significant event here right across many parts of Queensland -- a lot of flooding, a lot of people isolated, a lot of evacuations now occurring and a lot more rain to come," Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said.
The floods are estimated to have cost grain farmers more than 400 million US dollars, while the crisis has closed hundreds of roads, shutting down parts of major highways.
The government said that it would provide assistance to communities affected by the flooding, helping restore essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges and schools.
"While conditions across much of Queensland have eased, the threat from floodwaters remains in many areas," Gillard said, adding that while authorities had evacuated some people, other communities remained stranded.
Police have warned residents not to attempt to drive through waterlogged roads, after they were forced to rescue several people from vehicles -- including two adults and two toddlers who were forced to cling to trees after their car was swept away.
They also arrested three teenagers after they attempted to use inflatable mattresses in a "foolish and dangerous" attempt to ride floodwaters for 30 kilometres to get to Brisbane on Monday.
"It's tomfoolery ... people on li-los (inflatable mattresses) floating down rivers, it's madness, we implore people to stop the silliness," assistant police commissioner Brett Pointing said
Torrential rains following in the wake of tropical cyclone Tasha, which last week crossed into the northeastern state of Queensland before quickly fading, have swollen rivers and flooded scores of farms and homes in the state.
Some towns saw their worst floods in 50 years, including Theodore some 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of Brisbane, which has been cut off for two days and whose 350 residents were being evacuated by helicopter.
Local Banana Shire Council Mayor Maureen Clancy said the town was "just a sea of water", telling Australian news agency AAP that floodwaters had even reached its evacuation centre.
"Following a request from Queensland, the government is providing two Blackhawk helicopters to assist in the evacuation of Theodore," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement.
"Australian Defence Force personnel are on stand-by to offer further support if required."
By early afternoon, the Dawson River at Theodore was at 14.59 metres (48 feet) and rising -- way beyond the town's 1956 record of 14.07 metres -- and most of the town under water.
As many as 1,000 people have been forced from their homes by the waters, which has affected large parts of central and southern Queensland, with more than 100 homes and businesses inundated.
Officials said while the rain was abating in some places, a vast amount of water upstream was yet to flow through the towns as it made its way to the sea.
"There's an enormous amount of water still coming and I think that's the problem, the unknown we've got to face," Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown told ABC Radio after touring affected communities by air.
The Queensland government has declared several areas, including Theodore, Chinchilla and Dalby, disaster zones -- a move that gives police the power to force people from their homes if necessary.
"We are facing a really significant event here right across many parts of Queensland -- a lot of flooding, a lot of people isolated, a lot of evacuations now occurring and a lot more rain to come," Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said.
The floods are estimated to have cost grain farmers more than 400 million US dollars, while the crisis has closed hundreds of roads, shutting down parts of major highways.
The government said that it would provide assistance to communities affected by the flooding, helping restore essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges and schools.
"While conditions across much of Queensland have eased, the threat from floodwaters remains in many areas," Gillard said, adding that while authorities had evacuated some people, other communities remained stranded.
Police have warned residents not to attempt to drive through waterlogged roads, after they were forced to rescue several people from vehicles -- including two adults and two toddlers who were forced to cling to trees after their car was swept away.
They also arrested three teenagers after they attempted to use inflatable mattresses in a "foolish and dangerous" attempt to ride floodwaters for 30 kilometres to get to Brisbane on Monday.
"It's tomfoolery ... people on li-los (inflatable mattresses) floating down rivers, it's madness, we implore people to stop the silliness," assistant police commissioner Brett Pointing said
Gbagbo camp rebuffs presidents' Ivory Coast ultimatum
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – The government of Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo rebuffed on Tuesday a call for him to step down or face removal by force, before three West African presidents had even delivered the ultimatum.
Regional and world powers want Gbagbo to cede power to rival presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara after elections last month provoked a dispute that has killed more than 170 people and threatens to tip the country back into civil war.
The three presidents -- Benin's Boni Yayi, Sierra Leone's Ernest Bai Koroma and Pedro Pires of Cape Verde -- arrived in Abidjan on Tuesday to hand over the call from the West African bloc ECOWAS to resign or face military intervention.
Gbagbo's government originally said it would welcome the emissaries "as brothers and friends and listen to the message they have to convey."
But shortly before they were expected to meet Gbagbo at about 1300 GMT (8 a.m. ET), his government warned it would not tolerate any meddling in its affairs, nor would it heed any call to make way for Ouattara.
"Let's avoid political delinquency. No international institution has the right to intervene by force to impose a president in a sovereign state," government spokesman Ahoua Don Melo told BBC in an interview when asked if Gbagbo would leave.
Some newspapers said Gbagbo's government insistence that he won last month's elections and that he is backed by the Ivory Coast constitution, was already a clear sign that he is not going to heed the ultimatum to step down.
Provisional elections results in the world's largest cocoa grower showed Ouattara winning by eight percentage-points. But the nation's top court, run by a Gbagbo ally, overturned the results amid allegations of fraud.
The United States and the European Union have slapped a travel ban on Gbagbo and his inner circle while the World Bank and the regional West African central bank have frozen his finances in an attempt to weaken his grip on power.
The standoff turned violent this month after Ouattara supporters tried to seize the state broadcaster's building and clashed with security forces, killing at least 20 people.
After several days of calm, sporadic gunfire was heard on Tuesday morning in the Abidjan neighborhood of Abobo, a stronghold of Ouattara supporters. A Reuters witness said police were chasing youths who were trying to set up barricades with burning tires. It is not known if there are casualties.
Residents and human rights groups have accused pro-Gbagbo gunmen of extra-judicial killings, kidnappings and torture since the election. The U.N. condemned the violence.
The election was meant to heal the wounds of a 2002-03 civil war that split the country in two, but experts now fear the dispute over the results could reignite conflict.
The turmoil has pushed cocoa futures to recent four-month highs amid fears it could eventually disrupt exports. Ivory Coast's Eurobond hit a record low last week on concern that the country would not meet a $30 million bond payment December 31
Regional and world powers want Gbagbo to cede power to rival presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara after elections last month provoked a dispute that has killed more than 170 people and threatens to tip the country back into civil war.
The three presidents -- Benin's Boni Yayi, Sierra Leone's Ernest Bai Koroma and Pedro Pires of Cape Verde -- arrived in Abidjan on Tuesday to hand over the call from the West African bloc ECOWAS to resign or face military intervention.
Gbagbo's government originally said it would welcome the emissaries "as brothers and friends and listen to the message they have to convey."
But shortly before they were expected to meet Gbagbo at about 1300 GMT (8 a.m. ET), his government warned it would not tolerate any meddling in its affairs, nor would it heed any call to make way for Ouattara.
"Let's avoid political delinquency. No international institution has the right to intervene by force to impose a president in a sovereign state," government spokesman Ahoua Don Melo told BBC in an interview when asked if Gbagbo would leave.
Some newspapers said Gbagbo's government insistence that he won last month's elections and that he is backed by the Ivory Coast constitution, was already a clear sign that he is not going to heed the ultimatum to step down.
Provisional elections results in the world's largest cocoa grower showed Ouattara winning by eight percentage-points. But the nation's top court, run by a Gbagbo ally, overturned the results amid allegations of fraud.
The United States and the European Union have slapped a travel ban on Gbagbo and his inner circle while the World Bank and the regional West African central bank have frozen his finances in an attempt to weaken his grip on power.
The standoff turned violent this month after Ouattara supporters tried to seize the state broadcaster's building and clashed with security forces, killing at least 20 people.
After several days of calm, sporadic gunfire was heard on Tuesday morning in the Abidjan neighborhood of Abobo, a stronghold of Ouattara supporters. A Reuters witness said police were chasing youths who were trying to set up barricades with burning tires. It is not known if there are casualties.
Residents and human rights groups have accused pro-Gbagbo gunmen of extra-judicial killings, kidnappings and torture since the election. The U.N. condemned the violence.
The election was meant to heal the wounds of a 2002-03 civil war that split the country in two, but experts now fear the dispute over the results could reignite conflict.
The turmoil has pushed cocoa futures to recent four-month highs amid fears it could eventually disrupt exports. Ivory Coast's Eurobond hit a record low last week on concern that the country would not meet a $30 million bond payment December 31
Crude Oil Trades Near Two-Year High on Speculation U.S. Inventories Shrank
Crude rose to trade near a two-year high in New York on speculation that cold weather in the U.S. and Europe will boost demand in industrialized nations.
New York, the biggest city in the world’s largest oil consumer, suffered the heaviest December snows in six decades as storms spread across the eastern U.S. Oil fell yesterday after China raised benchmark lending and deposit rates.
“Oil is more or less balanced between positive data from cold weather in Europe and the U.S., and negative data from China’s latest interest rate hike,” said Daniel Briesemann, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt. “I don’t expect a big move in one or the other direction this week as volumes are very low. When traders return in the New Year, we’ll get a better picture of the price direction.”
Crude for February delivery was at $91.33 a barrel, up 33 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:45 a.m. London time, after rising as high as $91.38. Brent crude for February settlement rose as much as 30 cents to $94.15 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.
The New York contract lost 51 cents yesterday after rising to $91.88, the highest since Oct. 7, 2008, as China’s second interest-rate increase this quarter bolstered concern that growth will slow in the biggest energy-consuming country.
Winter Weather
Winds on the U.S. east coast may “quickly” cover roads with snow, even though storms have ended, according to a winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service late yesterday. The wind-chill factor pushed temperatures in New York City’s Central Park to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius) at 12:51 a.m., according to data on its website.
Oil also retraced some of yesterday’s 0.6 percent drop before an Energy Department report forecast to show U.S. inventories shrank for a fourth week, the longest stretch of declines in a year. The dollar fell for a fourth day, bolstering the investment appeal of commodities.
U.S. oil stockpiles probably decreased 3 million barrels from 340.7 million in the week ended Dec. 24, according to the median estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Supplies have fallen this month by 19 million barrels, or 5.3 percent, the most since December 2006.
The Energy Department will release its weekly report at 11 a.m. in Washington on Dec. 30, a day later than usual because of Christmas. The American Petroleum Institute, which collects stockpile information on a voluntary basis, will release its weekly report tomorrow, also a day later than usual.
“We are looking ahead to this week’s reports to get a picture of the relative supply and demand factors as they exist here at the end of 2010,” Peter Beutel, president of Cameron Hanover Inc., an energy adviser in New Canaan, Connecticut, said in a note today. “If nothing else, they may tell us more about the economy.”
Oil, which rallied 78 percent in 2009, has risen 15 percent this year as signs of a global economic recovery bolstered optimism fuel demand will grow
New York, the biggest city in the world’s largest oil consumer, suffered the heaviest December snows in six decades as storms spread across the eastern U.S. Oil fell yesterday after China raised benchmark lending and deposit rates.
“Oil is more or less balanced between positive data from cold weather in Europe and the U.S., and negative data from China’s latest interest rate hike,” said Daniel Briesemann, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt. “I don’t expect a big move in one or the other direction this week as volumes are very low. When traders return in the New Year, we’ll get a better picture of the price direction.”
Crude for February delivery was at $91.33 a barrel, up 33 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:45 a.m. London time, after rising as high as $91.38. Brent crude for February settlement rose as much as 30 cents to $94.15 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.
The New York contract lost 51 cents yesterday after rising to $91.88, the highest since Oct. 7, 2008, as China’s second interest-rate increase this quarter bolstered concern that growth will slow in the biggest energy-consuming country.
Winter Weather
Winds on the U.S. east coast may “quickly” cover roads with snow, even though storms have ended, according to a winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service late yesterday. The wind-chill factor pushed temperatures in New York City’s Central Park to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius) at 12:51 a.m., according to data on its website.
Oil also retraced some of yesterday’s 0.6 percent drop before an Energy Department report forecast to show U.S. inventories shrank for a fourth week, the longest stretch of declines in a year. The dollar fell for a fourth day, bolstering the investment appeal of commodities.
U.S. oil stockpiles probably decreased 3 million barrels from 340.7 million in the week ended Dec. 24, according to the median estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Supplies have fallen this month by 19 million barrels, or 5.3 percent, the most since December 2006.
The Energy Department will release its weekly report at 11 a.m. in Washington on Dec. 30, a day later than usual because of Christmas. The American Petroleum Institute, which collects stockpile information on a voluntary basis, will release its weekly report tomorrow, also a day later than usual.
“We are looking ahead to this week’s reports to get a picture of the relative supply and demand factors as they exist here at the end of 2010,” Peter Beutel, president of Cameron Hanover Inc., an energy adviser in New Canaan, Connecticut, said in a note today. “If nothing else, they may tell us more about the economy.”
Oil, which rallied 78 percent in 2009, has risen 15 percent this year as signs of a global economic recovery bolstered optimism fuel demand will grow
Uganda yellow fever outbreak kills more than 40
Yellow fever vaccines are being imported for the north of Uganda to inoculate people against the disease which has killed about 45 people.
People began falling ill about a month ago in nine northern districts, the country's health ministry says.
A health official in Kitgum told the BBC the outbreak was confirmed as yellow fever on Christmas Eve.
The disease, transmitted by infected mosquitoes, was last recorded in Uganda almost 40 years ago, officials say.
Task forces have been put in place in the affected districts and isolation units set up.
Bosco Ochola, chairman of the Kitgum task force, said his staff were treating about 65 infected patients.
"This morning we got a phone call from the Ministry of Health that arrangements are being made from WHO (World Health Organization) to bring vaccines to cover the population," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme
Yellow fever, unlike malaria, is transmitted by a type of mosquito which is active only during the day.
Radio talk shows and dramas were trying to inform people of this, he said.
The health ministry says at least 2.5 million people will be vaccinated when the vials arrive, Uganda's state-owned New Vision newspaper reports.
The disease has a wide array of symptoms from nausea and vomiting to kidney failure, jaundice and bleeding.
About half of those who develop severe symptoms and are untreated die from the disease.
People began falling ill about a month ago in nine northern districts, the country's health ministry says.
A health official in Kitgum told the BBC the outbreak was confirmed as yellow fever on Christmas Eve.
The disease, transmitted by infected mosquitoes, was last recorded in Uganda almost 40 years ago, officials say.
Task forces have been put in place in the affected districts and isolation units set up.
Bosco Ochola, chairman of the Kitgum task force, said his staff were treating about 65 infected patients.
"This morning we got a phone call from the Ministry of Health that arrangements are being made from WHO (World Health Organization) to bring vaccines to cover the population," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme
Yellow fever, unlike malaria, is transmitted by a type of mosquito which is active only during the day.
Radio talk shows and dramas were trying to inform people of this, he said.
The health ministry says at least 2.5 million people will be vaccinated when the vials arrive, Uganda's state-owned New Vision newspaper reports.
The disease has a wide array of symptoms from nausea and vomiting to kidney failure, jaundice and bleeding.
About half of those who develop severe symptoms and are untreated die from the disease.
No police in Mexico town after last officer kidnapped
The Mexican border town of Guadalupe has been left with no police force after the last officer was kidnapped.
Erika Gandara's house was set on fire by unidentified gunmen before she was abducted last week, according to the state prosecutor's office.
All her colleagues had resigned or were killed in the region's drug war.
More than 30,000 people have died in drug-related violence since 2006 when the President announced a crackdown on the cartels.
Ms Gandara, 28, had patrolled the town of 9,000 inhabitants on her own since June.
"Nobody wants to go into policing here, and the budget just isn't there anyway," she told AFP news agency earlier this year.
Guadalupe is about 5km (3 miles) away from the US border and 60km (40 miles) from Ciudad Juarez, the centre of drug smuggling operations into the United States.
It is also close to the hamlet of Praxedis Guadalupe Guerreror, where a 20-year-old college student got the job of police chief in October because no one else applied.
The Mexican government has sent soldiers to patrol Guadalupe and to investigate the kidnapping of Ms Gandara.
Erika Gandara's house was set on fire by unidentified gunmen before she was abducted last week, according to the state prosecutor's office.
All her colleagues had resigned or were killed in the region's drug war.
More than 30,000 people have died in drug-related violence since 2006 when the President announced a crackdown on the cartels.
Ms Gandara, 28, had patrolled the town of 9,000 inhabitants on her own since June.
"Nobody wants to go into policing here, and the budget just isn't there anyway," she told AFP news agency earlier this year.
Guadalupe is about 5km (3 miles) away from the US border and 60km (40 miles) from Ciudad Juarez, the centre of drug smuggling operations into the United States.
It is also close to the hamlet of Praxedis Guadalupe Guerreror, where a 20-year-old college student got the job of police chief in October because no one else applied.
The Mexican government has sent soldiers to patrol Guadalupe and to investigate the kidnapping of Ms Gandara.
Haiti mobs lynch voodoo priests over cholera fears
Voodoo priests in Haiti are being lynched by mobs who blame them for spreading cholera, the country's government has said.
At least 45 people have been lynched in recent weeks as Haiti continues to be ravaged by a cholera epidemic.
Haiti's communications minister has made an appeal for the lynchings to end and called for a campaign to ensure people understand how cholera spreads.
More than 2,500 Haitians have died from the water-borne disease since October.
Another 121,000 people have been treated for symptoms of cholera, with at least 63,500 admitted to hospital, figures show.
The outbreak has also prompted angry protests aimed at the United Nations, whose Nepalese peacekeepers have been suspected of introducing cholera to Haiti.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has announced an investigation into the reports, although the UN initially denied the suggestion.
Blame game
Although many Haitians still practise voodoo or use aspects of voodoo in their religious worship, the latest violence erupted out of fears the traditional priests were using their powers to spread the infection
"The victims... were stoned or hacked with machetes before being burned in the streets," communications ministry official Moise Fritz Evens said.
Haiti's communications minister said she abhorred the killings and insisted that the answer was to improve general education about how cholera is transmitted.
"Voodoo practitioners have nothing to do with the cholera epidemic. We must press for an awareness campaign about the disease in the communities."
A highly prominent voodoo leader, Max Beauvoir, told Reuters news agency police were not doing enough to stop the violence.
"Since the earthquake some people have been blaming us, saying that we cast spells and did evil things which brought the earthquake as a punishment," he said.
Haiti's cholera epidemic has provoked widespread fear across the country. Anger spread when suspicions emerged that the Nepalese UN peacekeepers could have brought the disease to Haiti - where it is extremely rare - from their country, where it is endemic.
Poor sanitary conditions in much of quake-hit Haiti have contributed to the rapid spread of cholera, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can kill quickly but is treated easily through rehydration and antibiotics.
The country was hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in January 2010 that devastated most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and killed at least 250,000 people.
At least 45 people have been lynched in recent weeks as Haiti continues to be ravaged by a cholera epidemic.
Haiti's communications minister has made an appeal for the lynchings to end and called for a campaign to ensure people understand how cholera spreads.
More than 2,500 Haitians have died from the water-borne disease since October.
Another 121,000 people have been treated for symptoms of cholera, with at least 63,500 admitted to hospital, figures show.
The outbreak has also prompted angry protests aimed at the United Nations, whose Nepalese peacekeepers have been suspected of introducing cholera to Haiti.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has announced an investigation into the reports, although the UN initially denied the suggestion.
Blame game
Although many Haitians still practise voodoo or use aspects of voodoo in their religious worship, the latest violence erupted out of fears the traditional priests were using their powers to spread the infection
"The victims... were stoned or hacked with machetes before being burned in the streets," communications ministry official Moise Fritz Evens said.
Haiti's communications minister said she abhorred the killings and insisted that the answer was to improve general education about how cholera is transmitted.
"Voodoo practitioners have nothing to do with the cholera epidemic. We must press for an awareness campaign about the disease in the communities."
A highly prominent voodoo leader, Max Beauvoir, told Reuters news agency police were not doing enough to stop the violence.
"Since the earthquake some people have been blaming us, saying that we cast spells and did evil things which brought the earthquake as a punishment," he said.
Haiti's cholera epidemic has provoked widespread fear across the country. Anger spread when suspicions emerged that the Nepalese UN peacekeepers could have brought the disease to Haiti - where it is extremely rare - from their country, where it is endemic.
Poor sanitary conditions in much of quake-hit Haiti have contributed to the rapid spread of cholera, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can kill quickly but is treated easily through rehydration and antibiotics.
The country was hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in January 2010 that devastated most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and killed at least 250,000 people.
Somali pirates free German chemical tanker
Somali pirates have freed a German-owned chemical tanker, reportedly after a $5.5m (£3.6m) ransom was paid.
The Marida Marguerite, with a crew of 19 Indians, two Bangladeshis and one Ukrainian, was seized in May by pirates armed with rocket-propelled grenades.
Kenya-based officials said a ransom was paid, but there was no independent confirmation.
Pirates now hold 25 vessels and 587 hostages after they seized another German-owned ship on Monday.
The EU's Indian Ocean anti-piracy force (Navfor) said in a statement that the cargo ship Ems River was taken in the early hours, about 200 miles (325km) north-east of the port of Salalah in Oman.
The ship was on its way to Greece from Dubai at the time of the attack, carrying a cargo of petroleum coke.
The EU said it had an eight-strong crew of one Romanian and seven Filipinos.
One Tuesday afternoon, the Marida Marguerite was sailing to safe waters, according to Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme.
He said $5.5m was paid to release the ship. The vessel's owners have not yet commented.
Officials and companies rarely comment on the payment of ransoms, though analysts say such deals are widespread.
The Marida Marguerite, with a crew of 19 Indians, two Bangladeshis and one Ukrainian, was seized in May by pirates armed with rocket-propelled grenades.
Kenya-based officials said a ransom was paid, but there was no independent confirmation.
Pirates now hold 25 vessels and 587 hostages after they seized another German-owned ship on Monday.
The EU's Indian Ocean anti-piracy force (Navfor) said in a statement that the cargo ship Ems River was taken in the early hours, about 200 miles (325km) north-east of the port of Salalah in Oman.
The ship was on its way to Greece from Dubai at the time of the attack, carrying a cargo of petroleum coke.
The EU said it had an eight-strong crew of one Romanian and seven Filipinos.
One Tuesday afternoon, the Marida Marguerite was sailing to safe waters, according to Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme.
He said $5.5m was paid to release the ship. The vessel's owners have not yet commented.
Officials and companies rarely comment on the payment of ransoms, though analysts say such deals are widespread.
Monday, December 27, 2010
NDC to cash in on NPP’s goodwill message gaffe
Myjoyonline.com
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Adenta in Accra, Kojo Adu-Asare is pepping up the party’s propaganda secretary to ‘scan’ and mount billboards of an apparent “printer’s devil” contained in a sponsored goodwill message from the New Patriotic Party and its flagbearer for 2012, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the general public.
The “goodwill message”, a full-page, colour poster of a smiling Nana Addo, published in the Thursday, December 23 edition of the Daily Guide newspaper, has the inscription Hope for the Season and says “Nana Akufo-Addo and The New Patriotic Party (N.P.P.) Extends Season’s Greetings to all Ghanaians and friends of Ghana and wish you the very best for the coming year.” It enumerates a number of aspirations of the party including making it possible for every Ghanaian to create prosperity for himself or herself, to make Ghana a safe, peaceful and truly democratic environment, and to bring back to Ghana, a strong decisive, and compassionate leadership of integrity and competence.
It however continues “We will not continue with our efforts to provide affordable, quality healthcare for all and to give free, quality education and skills for jobs to every child or youth. We are the party that can fix it. We are the NPP.”
It is this last part of the message that is threatening to discomfort the NPP and its flagbearer.
On Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen Thursday, Kojo Adu-Asare will not agree with suggestions that there was an error in the statement, insisting that the NPP was only being true to type, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
He said it cannot be a typographical error for the statement to include an emphatic word like “not”, which must be underlined on the billboards he proposed to be mounted throughout the country to tell the electorate the real NPP, emphasizing that it amply demonstrates the mindset of the NPP.
It turned out the MP’s prompting was a belated one, for the NDC’s Propaganda Secretary had already hit town with the message in a statement he issued under the headline;
NANA AKUFO-ADDO & NPP REVEAL TRUE COLOURS ON NATIONAL ISSUES.
Said he; “The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken note of the NPP Flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo’s Christmas greetings to the good people of Ghana as captured on the second page of the Thursday, December 23, 2010 edition of the Daily Guide Newspaper. In the said message, Nana Akufo Addo who hopes to be president of Ghana though it is most unlikely, emphatically stated that he and the NPP, apart from possibly creating property for individuals in the ever-expanding Ghanaian economy ‘will not continue’ with ‘efforts to provide affordable, quality healthcare for all and to give free quality education and skills for jobs to every child or youth’.
“Though the NDC in the name of God is convinced that Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP would never see power in 2012, we are incensed by such unpatriotic comments from a man who aspires to the highest office of the land in view of the fact that affordable quality health care, education and skills for jobs are some of the crucial needs of our people which the Atta Mills-led government is tirelessly providing.
“Having served this notice, Ghanaians must be wary of Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP since they do not consider issues such as healthcare, education and human resource development as important, though Ghanaians principally hold these dear.
“We in the NDC in wishing Ghanaians well during this festive occasion assure all that the NDC-led government would not relent or shirk its responsibility in meeting the expectations of the Ghanaian people,” the statement concluded.
Swine flu kills 56 in Egypt since October
CAIRO (Reuters) – A resurgent H1N1 swine flu virus has infected 1,172 people in Egypt and killed 56 since October 8, a Ministry of Health official said Monday.
The virus has infected 16,373 people, of whom 281 died, since it was first reported in Egypt in June 2009, said the official, who asked not to be named.
H1N1 flu broke out in 2009 and quickly spread across the world. The World Health Organization said about 18,450 people died from the virus, including many pregnant women and young people.
Last year Cairo took various initiatives to try to limit the spread of H1N1, including culling all pigs in the country, temporarily closing schools and stopping travelers with fever at airports.
The virus has infected 16,373 people, of whom 281 died, since it was first reported in Egypt in June 2009, said the official, who asked not to be named.
H1N1 flu broke out in 2009 and quickly spread across the world. The World Health Organization said about 18,450 people died from the virus, including many pregnant women and young people.
Last year Cairo took various initiatives to try to limit the spread of H1N1, including culling all pigs in the country, temporarily closing schools and stopping travelers with fever at airports.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)