Latin America
Belize at risk of debt default
Belize is in danger of defaulting on its national debt after it missed a $23m bond payment, which was due on Monday. The government has the rest of a 30-day grace period to pay the interest, but has said it is unlikely to be able to do so. Creditors accuse Belize of trying to force a Greek-style debt restructuring upon the holders of the $550m bond, which constitutes half its public debt. The row has exposed the financial precariousness of many Caribbean countries, which depend on European and American tourists for much of their income. There has been a steep decline in visitor numbers, a trend attributed to the global financial crisis.
Colombian police commander admits paramilitary ties
The retired Colombian police general Mauricio Santoyo, who turned himself in to US authorities last month after being charged with conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the United States, has pleaded guilty to having links with right-wing paramilitary groups. He said he supported the United Self Defence Forces of Colombia, which is listed as a terrorist organisation in the USA. Prosecutor Neil McBride said he has denied the drug trafficking charges.
Middle East and Africa
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi dies after illness
Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, has died aged 57 in a hospital “abroad”, according to a statement by the country’s Council of Ministers on state television. After much speculation about his health following a period of eight weeks during which he was not seen in public, the statement confirmed he had been receiving medical treatment abroad and, despite some improvement, finally succumbed to a “sudden infection”. An EU spokesperson later told journalists he had died in Brussels, Belgium. He had been credited with leading economic development in Ethiopia, but criticised for a lack of respect for human rights. Ethiopia has ongoing military commitments in Abyei on the Sudanese/South Sudanese border and against Islamist militants in Somalia. Given these, and Mr Meles’s extensive control over his country, his death will have wide-ranging repercussions both in Ethiopia and in Africa more widely.
Obama warns Syria of US action in case of chemical weapon use
US President Barack Obama, speaking in a White House press briefing, has said that the use of chemical weaponry by Syria would be a “red line” that “would change his calculus” on the question of direct American military intervention in the conflict, which until now he has not considered. “There would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons,” he said. Deployment of chemical and biological weapons would widen the conflict, he added, saying “it doesn’t just include Syria. It would concern allies in the region, including Israel, and it would concern us.” Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons is the fourth-largest in the world.
Japanese journalist killed in Syria
Japan’s foreign ministry has confirmed the death of an experienced Japanese war correspondent, Mika Yamamoto. She was killed while covering the fighting in Aleppo, Syria’s second city, for Tokyo-based Japan Press news agency. Ms Yamamoto is one of several foreign journalists to have died in Syria since March 2011. She had won awards for her coverage.
New unity government in Mali
A new government of national unity has been formed in Mali under current Prime Minister Diarra, in the latest effort to restore stability following a military coup in March. The new cabinet will be comprised of 31 ministers, five of whom are seen as close to the coup leader, Captain Amadou Sanogo. The regional bloc Ecowas threatened to expel Mali unless a unity government was installed.
Lonmin drops threat to fire South African miners
South African mining giant Lonmin has dropped its threat to fire workers who failed to return to work at one of its mines after deadly clashes last week, in which 34 striking miners were shot dead by police. The decision followed an appeal by the government to drop the ultimatum. The South African parliament is due to debate the killings today, amidst a national outcry. President Jacob Zuma has declared a week of national mourning, and has promised to arrange an inquiry.
Asia and Russia
Ukraine halts extradition to Russia of would-be Putin assassin
Ukraine has postponed the extradition to Russia of a Chechen man suspected of plotting to kill Russian premier Vladimir Putin earlier this year. Ukrainian officials will wait until the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has considered Adam Osmayev’s appeal against his extradition. His lawyers say he might face torture and mistreatment if extradited to Russia. Chechen separatist militants hold Mr Putin and his ally, the Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, responsible for human rights abuses in Chechnya. Russian television reported on 27 February that Mr Osmayev and another suspect had been detained in Ukraine’s port of Odessa following an explosion in a flat in January. In the report, the two men admitted being hired by Chechen militant leaders to kill Mr Putin. Their plan was to plant mines on a Moscow road that was used by Mr Putin on a daily basis.
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