MOROCCAN RIGHTS GROUPS APPEAL CHILD ABUSE SENTENCE

Moroccan human rights groups are to appeal against the sentence imposed on a woman at the centre of a high-profile abuse case, saying it was too lenient.

The judge’s wife was given three years in jail for torturing her 11-year-old maid, Zineb Chetite.

The court heard medical reports listing how the girl had at times been burnt with oil and an iron, had had her head shaved and was beaten with a stick.

The case has highlighted the plight of maids in Morocco and abroad.

Details of the woman’s name have not been released, although she is known to be from an affluent family and the wife of a Moroccan judge.

Reports say she was sentenced to three-years in prison and fined 100,000 dirhams ($13,000; £8,150) for the torture and abuse of the young domestic servant.Several human rights organisations say they are to appeal against the sentence on behalf of the estimated 80,000 child workers in Morocco, who are forced into such work by their families because of poverty.

“The sentence does not reflect the scale of the atrocities committed, because the little girl was locked up in a cellar,” says Najia Adib of Don’t Touch My Children.

“We’re going to appeal because we feel the victim’s childhood was stolen.”

Zineb Chetite had to be taken to hospital earlier this year after a series of abuses, which included being burnt, beaten and suffering injuries to her genitalia, medical reports say.

The head of the Moroccan Human Rights Centre, Dr Khaled al-Sharqawi, told the BBC that the sentence was lenient as the court had not taken into consideration the maid’s age, and the fact she was a defenceless child away from home.

The group is also demanding that the woman’s husband be charged with abuse. It says he was spared legal action because of his position.

In September, a number of Moroccan non-governmental organisations appealed to the government to implement changes to the law, to prevent children younger than 15 from being employed as domestic servants.

SOURCED FROM BBC

ALGERIANS OBSERVE WEEKENDS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME

Algeria’s government has decided to break with the 33-year-old practice of observing the weekend on Thursdays and Fridays, a move investors greeted as a step to improving the difficult business climate.

Algeria is a major exporter of oil and gas but outside its energy sector, growth and investment have been modest. Business people blame heavy state regulation that makes it tough to trade with the outside world.

The Algerian cabinet ruled that starting from next month the official weekend would be moved to Friday and Saturday — in line with the practice in many Middle Eastern states.

“It’s excellent news. It will reconnect Algeria with the world,” said Lyes Kahouadji, a financial specialist at Algerian consultancy Strategica, part-owned by Deutsche Bank Group.

Investors complain that having the weekend on Thursdays and Fridays, with Saturdays and Sundays as working days, meant they only had three days a week to conduct business with partners outside Algeria.

The practice had been costing Algeria between $500 and $700 million in lost business each year, according to estimates from business lobby groups.

Saudi Arabia and Yemen also mark the weekend on Thursday and Friday. Kuwait switched to a Friday-Saturday weekend two years ago as part of efforts to promote its non-oil economy.

Friday is a day off in large parts of the Muslim world to allow people to attend prayers at the mosque.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

RAI STAR UNDER TRIAL FOR FORCED FRENCH ABORTION

Algerian singer Cheb Mami is to stand trial in France over allegations that he forced a former partner to undergo an attempted abortion. Cheb Mami, whose real name is Mohammed Khalifati, was arrested at Orly airport in Paris on Monday.

The singer, 42, is credited with bringing Algeria’s popular Rai music to an international audience. He faces 10 years in prison if convicted of complicity in violence but has denied the charges. Prosecutors at Thursday’s trial in Bobigny will allege that Cheb Rami was one of a group who abducted and beat the woman, a French photographer, in the Algerian capital, Algiers, in 2005.

The woman was allegedly forced to undergo an abortion, but on returning to France she discovered she was still pregnant and later gave birth to a daughter. France issued an international arrest warrant for Cheb Mami after he skipped bail in Paris in May 2007 and fled to Algeria.

He denies any involvement in the alleged abortion and says he is being persecuted because he is a successful Arab star. His former manager, Maurice Levy, is also under investigation along with two former aides.

SOURCED FROM BBC

VOTING BEGINS IN MORORCCAN LOCAL ELECTION

Moroccans began voting on Friday in a local election where the government of conservatives and socialists aims to limit gains by opposition Islamists and a new party formed by staunch backers of King Mohammed. It is the second local election of the reform-minded king’s reign. He is widely credited with loosening restrictions on political activity and improving the north African country’s human rights record.

Analysts said the government is hoping for a voter turnout at least higher than the record-low 37 percent registered in a 2007 legislative election. “The attention of top government officials and party leaders will be focused on the turnout rate because they are terrified of a boycott and so-called voter apathy,” said Khaled al Harri, a political analyst.

More than 13 million Moroccans are eligible to vote for 130,223 candidates vying for 27,795 seats in 1,503 village and city councils. Analysts forecast a higher turnout in rural areas than in cities.”Illiterate people will vote more than educated voters,” said political analyst Taoufik Bouachrine. “The number of voters among the poor will be higher than rich and middle classes.” The polls opened at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and will close at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT).

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

GHADDAFI SAYS US ATTACK ON LIBYA AND 9/11 STRIKES ARE SIMILAR

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Thursday urged the world to understand what motivates terrorists, and likened the 1986 U.S. strikes on Libya to Osama bin Laden‘s terror attacks.

Gadhafi, who was long accused of sponsoring terrorism, got tepid applause from the Italian lawmakers he addressed on the second day of a trip to Italy, Libya’s former colonial ruler.

“It is not very intelligent to chase terrorists down the Afghan mountains or central Asia,” Gadhafi said in the hour-long speech. “That’s impossible. We must look at their reasons.”

He called for dialogue with terrorists, saying, “One must talk to the devil, if it brings about a solution.”

Sarcastically, he asked, “What’s the difference between the U.S. airstrikes on our homes and bin Laden’s actions?” If anything, he said, bin Laden is an outlaw, while the United States is a country that should abide by international law.

Former President Ronald Reagan ordered airstrikes on Tripoli and Benghazi in April 1986 after an attack on a disco in Germany killed three people, including two U.S. servicemen. The Libyans say the retaliatory attacks killed 41 people, including Gadhafi’s adopted daughter, and injured 226 others.

The Libyan leader told the lawmakers he was being intentionally provocative “in order to try and understand acts of terrorism.”

SOURCED FROM AFP

LIBYAN MUAMMAR GADDAFI VISITS ITALY

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has arrived in Rome on his first visit to Italy, Libya’s former colonial ruler and now its biggest trading partner. Despite improved relations between the two states, Col Gaddafi landed wearing a photo of a Libyan who was executed by Italian colonial authorities. He will meet top officials and stay in a tent he uses for foreign trips.

Talks are expected on investment between the two countries and the issue of illegal immigration. Col Gaddafi – dressed in full military regalia and heading a 200-member entourage – was given a red-carpet welcome by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at Rome’s Ciampino airport.

This is the Libyan leader’s first visit to Italy since he took power in a coup in 1969. Italy occupied Libya for 30 years in the early part of the 20th Century and until recently relations have been difficult. “This event symbolises a great change in the relations between Italy and Libya after many difficult years… ,” Mr Berlusconi said as he welcomed him.

“It has required a very strong will to take us to a new season of peace, friendship and collaboration.” “I praise this generation of Italians for having resolved the issues of the past with great courage,” Col Gaddafi said. Security will be tight during the three-day visit, says the BBC’s David Willey in Rome.

Demonstrations are planned by left-wing students who are against Mr Berlusconi’s policy – with Libyan help – of intercepting and forcibly repatriating immigrants who try to reach Italy by sea. Human Rights Watch said the policy, part of an Italy-Libya Friendship Treaty had seen about 500 migrants towed to Libya without any screening since 6 May.

SOURCED FROM BBC

EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC CLERIC DECLARES FATWA ON THE USE OF WMD

Muslims should not use weapons of mass destruction and possess them only as a deterrent, a top Islamic cleric says.

Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa said using such weapons would violate Islamic teachings as Muslims as well as non-Muslims could be killed.

He issued the religious ruling, or fatwa, following reports that the use of such weapons was legitimate, the state news agency Mena said.

His ruling comes just days before the visit of US President Barack Obama.

Mr Obama, who arrives on 4 June, is expected to give a speech on US relations with the Muslim world.

On a recent visit to Turkey he said the US was not at war with Islam and called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world.

Cairo has said it does not want to make atomic bombs and in the past has called for a region free of nuclear weapons.

Correspondents say that is a reference to Israel – the only Middle Eastern power suspected of possessing such an arsenal.

Pakistan is the only Muslim country known to have nuclear weapons, although Western powers and Israel suspect Iran of trying to develop an atomic bomb.

The grand mufti, who is state-appointed, said it was also not allowed for Muslims to kill civilians even during a declared war.

SOURCED FROM BBC

‎Emmanuel Onatafe‎ [4:42 PM] sends:

‎‎Emmanuel Onatafe‎‎ [4:43 PM]:
PASTOR CHRIS AND THE MEDIA
He is not new to the media; both print and electronic, he is almost on every TV station in Africa and the world, a search on your TV set will take you to either a programme on healing school of Christembassy or Pastor Chris teachings, the Internet has a lot to say about him, a click on Pastor Chris or Christembassy will tell you that. Magazines and Newspapers are not left out in this publicity fad, because a line or two on Pastor Chris will increase their sales which will bring more food to their table. A household name is an understatement for this man who is fast becoming a brand to behold.

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‎‎Emmanuel Onatafe‎‎ [4:43 PM]:
No doubt, a man of his character will definitely raise waves especially in the media. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome the president of Believers’ Loveworld who pastor one of the largest congregation in the Africa has become a major subject to media houses who represents him negatively except for some few who against all odds brings to spot light the great and mighty works his been doing around the world which is the practice of true journalism. This is a man who has helped millions especially the youths discovered their destinies in life through his outreach crusades like the “National Youth Conference” whose major theme is Nation Building. His message of hope and faith has brought succor to many who had already giving up hope in life. Amazingly, no one is saying anything about these things.

‘He dresses like a business mogul…’ writes a news magazine, ‘he speaks like an airport announcer…’ writes another. But, is that all about him? Definitely not! Ok, come to think of it, how come so called reputable media organization like uhuhuonline publishes only negative stories that has to do with Pastor Chris and Christembassy, like ‘Pastor Chris in a Miracle scandal’ ‘Pastor Chris paid me 10,000 RD…’ ‘South Africans vows to drive Pastor Chris and…’ without the opportunity of fair hearing on his side of the story? Nothing was written about night of bliss London and Toronto Canada, or are they not news worthy? Off course they are!

I think the reputation of media organizations like this, is questionable, they should be advice to go back to their notes and learn properly the ethics of true journalism and put it to practice rather than continuing in what they are doing which could best be describe as an intentional attack on a man who has become a threat to them thereby compromising what true journalism is, and parading themselves as bunch of misguided critics assassinating a character who is not bothered about what they are writing. The funniest thing is that none of all junk journalistic practice has affected him in anyway; rather it is increasing his influence all over the world which is reflected in the ever increasing number of foreigners who travel from far and near to be at his meetings.

There are world’s untold stories that are waiting to be told, excellent journalism should crave for that rather than none essentials, kudos to the likes of CNN and BBC who have distinguish themselves in contemporary journalism. Character assassination will not make your organization known, men of goodwill should be commended and celebrated, and fair hearing is a right that should not be compromise. The world knows that Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is man of goodwill and a blessing to his world, no amount of criticism by the media can stop him.

that is all

AIR FRANCE PLANE DISAPPEARS OFF MOROCCAN COAST

Air France says a passenger jet carrying 216 passengers and 12 crew has disappeared from its radar. The plane which was on its way to Paris from Rio de Janeiro suddenly lost radio contact following adverse weather conditions. A search and rescue mission has commenced 320 miles off the coast of Brazil. Air traffic controllers suggest the jet may have disappeared off the coast of Morocco and that it may have been struck by lightning leading to a foray of  failed component messages . Meanwhile at the Charles de Gaulle airport, visibly worried friends and relatives flooded the crisis center of the airline.  French President Nicholas Sarkozy is expected at the airport shortly

CONNECTAFRICA

ALGERIAN MILITANTS KILL 9 SOLDIERS

Islamist militants in Algeria ambushed and shot dead nine soldiers, newspapers reported on Wednesday.

Seven soldiers were also wounded in the attack by at least 30 militants in Biskra province, some 550 km (342 miles) east of the capital Algiers, the El Khabar, Echorouk and El Watan newspapers said.

One rebel was killed, the newspapers said, quoting local sources. No confirmation of the attack was immediately available and there was no claim of responsibility.

A week ago, five paramilitary police were killed in an ambush in the province of Medea, 100 km east of Algiers.

Al Qaeda’s North African wing, known as al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, has been behind a series of bomb attacks and ambushes in the North African country, which is emerging from a civil conflict that broke out in the 1990s.

In the past few years, the group’s ability to carry out major attacks has been weakened by the death or capture of leading militants and government amnesties.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

ANGOLA SEEKS SUPPORT IN LANDMINES CLEARING

Countries that took part in Angola’s civil war have a duty to help clear thousands of landmines left behind from the conflict, the African country’s social welfare minister said on Thursday. The three-decade-long war pitted the ruling MPLA party, backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba, against the main opposition UNITA party, supported by the United States and South Africa.

“We are doing this alone when there were 11 or 12 different armies that mined our country,” minister Joao Baptista Kussuma said on the sidelines of a national conference on landmines. The war, which turned into one of the longest Cold War conflicts, resulted in half a million dead and hundreds of thousands of landmine injuries. Angola still has the largest number of landmines in the world after Afghanistan.

Asked if he thought some of the nations that took part in the conflict should help Angola clear the landmines, Kussuma replied: “I certainly do.” Angola has invested millions of dollars since the end of the war in 2002 to clear landmines and pave the way for the construction of roads and bridges and jump-start its once prosperous farming sector.

Still, 106 people were killed and 200 were injured by landmines in Angola from 2006 to 2008, according to a study by its De-Mining Commission released on Thursday. The UN estimates that, despite an extensive de-mining programme, millions of landmines remain scattered across Angola. Large stretches of the country are still out of bounds, too dangerous to farm or to travel through.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS