Tanzania's leader 'sorry' for fatal violence
Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete, has expressed deep regret over the recent violence in the country's northern town of Arusha where four people were killed by police fire during an opposition rally.
"This is very unfortunate. I believe it is an isolated case and the government will make sure that harmony is restored," Mr Kikwete told ambassadors and heads of international organisations based in Dar es Salaam late Friday.
"We will make sure such incidents never happen again. This is the first and should be the last of its kind to happen in our country," he said at a New Year's party he hosted for envoys at State House. Mr Kikwete reiterated that the October 31 elections had been generally peaceful. "Democracy is taking root and becoming more vibrant though still fragile," he said, adding: "I am delighted with the election in Zanzibar and its outcome. Last year's polls were smooth. Zanzibar is calm and peaceful."
Rwanda hearing of Tutsi ex-rebel case postponed
Nkunda’s lawyer, Aimé Bokanga said that a Rwandan military court on Monday postponed the hearing of a plea to free a Congolese Tutsi ex-rebel chief detained in Rwanda for the past two years.
"The clerk's office decided to postpone the hearing sine die because the judge (General Steven Karyango) has been suspended. We're waiting for a new judge to be appointed. Under Rwandan law he needs to be a general because the person we have brought proceedings against is a general," said the lawyer. This latest postponement is the fourth since the case was sent to the military courts.
Ivory Coast unity cabinet possible, says UN ambassador
Youssoufou Bamba, Ivory Coast's ambassador to the UN said that a unity government could be possible if the incumbent Laurent Gbagbo drops his claim to the presidency. Mr Bamba was appointed by Mr Ouattara, whom the international community recognises as the winner of the election. According to Mr Bamba, the only thing that could not be negotiated was the result of the election. Mr Gbagbo "has been defeated," he said. "He has to admit that, he has to step down and... the rest is negotiated." "Mr Gbagbo is not alone," he added. "He has followers; he has competent people in his party. Those people, we are prepared to work with them in the framework of a wide composite cabinet."
Sudan: 40 people died in clashes
At least 40 people have died in clashes between the Arab Messeriya nomads and the Dinka Ngok in the Abyei region over the weekend. Leading members of Abyei's Dinka Ngok tribe and the south accused the north of arming the Arab Messeriya militias in clashes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“The Messeriya militia has been mobilized by SAF; the Messeriya is backed by SAF, to attack the Ngok Dinka areas. The Messeriya attacked a village called Nyakol about 15 Km North West of Abyei and we lost one person and they lost three because they are the ones attacking the village,” alleged the SPLM secretary for Abyei, Chol Changth Chol, when he spoke to Sudan Radio Service from Abyei.
But the Sudan Armed Forces spokesperson, Colonel Alsawarmi Khalid, has refuted claims that they are backing the Messeriya to attack the Dinka Ngok areas.
“We are here in Khartoum but there is no information like that because there is no SAF in southern Sudan. No we didn’t hear anything about any attack. There is no SAF in the south it’s all SPLA solders” said Col Khalid.
The Abyei referendum was supposed to be conducted simultaneously with the southern Sudan referendum for self determination which began on Sunday the 9th, but the two partners to the CPA, the SPLM and the NCP could not agree on who is eligible to vote in Abyei.