Africa
Clinton to focus on Mali crisis in Algeria visit
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is visiting Algeria to discuss the growing threat posed by militant Islamists in neighbouring Mali, US officials say. Earlier this month, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution paving the way for an African force to end Islamist control in northern Mali, but the backing of Algeria is seen as crucial in any possible intervention. Algeria is an important military power in the region. Some militant Islamists from Algeria have reportedly joined the Malian rebellion, which began in March and saw Malian Islamists seize control of northern Mali in the chaos following a coup. They are said to be allied to al-Qaeda and are buoyant with recruits formerly loyal to killed Libyan leader Col Gaddafi. Algeria, initially concerned that plans to send 3,000 soldiers to northern Mali could cause more instability, is said to be “warming to the idea” or intervention, according to a US State Department official.
Jacob Zuma drops case against Sunday Times over ‘rape’ cartoon
South Africa President Jacob Zuma has abandoned a legal case against a local newspaper over a cartoon depicting him about to rape a female figure representing justice. His office said it saw the cartoon as an affront but wanted to avoid setting a precedent limiting free speech. The Sunday Times said the lawsuit was dropped along with all claims for damages and an apology. President Zuma faces a re-election contest for the leadership of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December – opponents have accused him of trying to muzzle the media.
Asia
South Korean activists send leaflets to the North
Activists in South Korea have dispatched propaganda leaflets to the North, one week after Pyongyang threatened military action over a similar launch. On that occasion the launch was prevented by South Korean authorities, with the military going into alert and hundreds of residents being evacuated as North Korea threatened artillery bombardment. An activist group floated 50,000 leaflets in several balloons from a park near the border town of Paju over the weekend, watched by a heavy police presence. There were minor scuffles as local residents tried to stop the move. A local shop owner, Kim Bok-nam, told the Reuters news agency that “Paju residents can’t live properly due to worries… last time the North warned to directly strike here, so we came to protest since we can’t tolerate it anymore.” One of the activists, Choi Woo-won, dismissed the North’s warning as “empty threats”.
Middle East
Ten die in Damascus car bombing on last day of ‘ceasefire’
On the fourth day of a supposed ceasefire at least 10 people have been killed in a car bombing in the Syrian capital Damascus, according to state media. The reports said women and children were among victims of the attack in the south-eastern district of Jaramana. Activists said government jets had bombed Harasta, in the north-east, earlier in the day. UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who brokered the truce for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, said he regretted that both sides were not complying with it: “the situation is bad and getting worse,” he told reporters in Moscow after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. There has been no real cessation in fighting in Syria since the truce supposedly came into effect on Friday morning: at least 110 people, including 39 civilians, 34 rebel fighters and 35 security forces personnel, were killed on Sunday, according to UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Violence ends Israel-Gaza truce
The Israeli army and militants in Gaza have exchanged fire amid an outbreak of fighting that shatters a brief truce. Gaza militants fired 11 rockets into Israel, officials say, hours after Israeli aircraft hit targets in Gaza. The Israeli strike followed another rocket barrage by militants, which was in retaliation for the killing by Israel of a Gazan, who Israel claimed had fired mortars at its troops. An Egyptian-brokered truce had calmed cross-border fighting since Thursday.
Europe
President Yanukovych party claims win in Ukraine election
The Party of Regions, that of President Viktor Yanukovych, has claimed victory in Ukraine’s parliamentary election with more than 36%. The opposition party led by Yulia Tymoshenko – who is in jail – has just over21%, with one third of party list votes counted. Western governments have condemned the imprisonment of Mrs Tymoshenko, who leads a coalition of opposition groups called the United Opposition Fatherland bloc. She was given a seven-year jail sentence last year for abuse of power, and voted from her cell. Her bloc says its own parallel count confirms Mr Yanukovych’s party is in the lead, but with a smaller lead than the party claims. The complex electoral system means a final result is some way off. International observers have attacked the election as a backward step for democracy, marred by “the abuse of power and the excessive role of money”. The statement comes from regional security body OSCE.
Latin America
Voluntary Chilean local polls see low turnout
There was a 40% turnout in Chilean local elections held yesterday, the first held since voting was made voluntary, prompting President Sebastian Pinera to declare them a “warning sign” that should be heeded. The elections are seen as an early indicator with just over a year to go before the November 2013 presidential election. Mr Pinera’s centre-right alliance lost some key races, including in the capital, Santiago, where Carolina Toha was elected mayor, ousting incumbent Pablo Zalaquett.
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