Europe
Radovan Karadzic denies Bosnian war crimes
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, beginning his defence against charges of war crimes in the Hague yesterday, has said he should be rewarded for “reducing suffering”. He said he was a “tolerant man” who had sought peace in Bosnia. Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 after almost 13 years on the run, and faces 10 charges of genocide and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the war in the 1990s. Two such crimes include the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo: more than 7,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys were killed at Srebrenica, in what some commentators have called the worst single loss of life in Europe since World War II, and more than 12,000 civilians died during the 44-month siege of Sarajevo. Mr Karadzic began his lengthy personal statement by saying he had done “everything within human power to avoid the war and to reduce the human suffering”.
North America
Obama hits back in second presidential debate
US President Barack Obama, widely seen as deflated in the first presidential debate last week, was on more energetic form in the second debate as he clashed with Republican challenger Mitt Romney in New York last night. Snap polls after the debate suggested Mr Obama “won” the contest, though by a narrower margin than his opponent was seen to have won the first. The town-hall style debate saw the two candidates roaming the stage, often cutting across one another as they fielded questions from an audience of 80 undecided voters. Questions ranged from gun control to immigration, with the main focus was on the economy. The most dramatic clash came over foreign policy, with Mr Romney seeking to portray last month’s attack on the US consulate in Libya as a failing of the Obama administration and accusing the President of waiting 14 days before calling it an act of terror. Moderating, CNN’s Candy Crowley confirmed the President’s claim that he did so the very next day.
Latin America
Colombian and Farc negotiators set off for Norway talks
Peace negotiators for the Colombian government and the Farc rebel group have set off for talks in Norway in a bid to end 50 years of guerrilla conflict. The chief government negotiator, Humberto de la Calle said: “we don’t want to create false expectations but we do believe there are structural elements that allow us to hope that we will bring back good news for Colombia.” This week’s meetings will mark the first direct negotiations in a decade between the two parties.
Africa and Middle East
UN report: Rwandan defence chief leading Conga rebellion
According to a confidential UN report, leaked to the Reuters news agency, Rwanda’s defence minister is effectively commanding a rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report says Uganda is also backing the M23 rebels, who have been fighting the DRC army since April, and builds on previous findings in June which accused Rwanda of supporting the insurgents. Both Rwanda and Uganda strongly deny supporting the rebellion. Analysts say Rwanda has backed armed groups in the east of the DRC as a way to fight Hutu rebels who fled there after the genocide of the 1990s, while others accuse Rwanda of using militias as proxies in an ongoing battle for control of the region’s rich mineral wealth.
UN gives jihadist warning over Syria conflict
A UN commission on human rights abuses in Syria has warned of the increasing risk of foreign Islamist militants radicalising the conflict. Lead investigator Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said the presence of hundreds of “radical Islamists or jihadists” was dangerous, as reports of foreign fighters entering Serbia increase. Mr Pinheiro said while foreign militants did not constitute a powerful invading army, “they are not combating for democracy and freedoms but they are combating for their own agendas”. UN envoy Lakhmar Brahimi said last month that Damascus estimated the number of foreign fighters in the country to be in the thousands. The Syrian state has long blamed much of the violence on foreign-backed “terrorist groups”.
Kenyan police seriously injured in grenade attack
At least 10 Kenyan policemen have been seriously injured in a grenade attack while searching a house in Coast state near Mombasa, where they found weapons including an AK-47 assault rifle. A police spokesperson said Somalian Islamists al-Shabab may have been behind the incident. Kenya has been hit by a series of grenade and gun attacks since it sent troops into Somalia to help fight al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, last year.
Afghan troops hurt in car bomb
At least 45 Afghan troops have been injured by a suicide car bomb attack at an Afghan-Nato military outpost in eastern Paktia province, say officials. The attacker reportedly detonated a vehicle packed with explosives close to gates at the Zurmat base. Foreign troops are due to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014, prompting fears of an increase in violence in the country.
About the Author
