Tunisia: Rice Should Press for Rights Improvements
S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should urge the Tunisian government to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists when she visits the country on Saturday, September 6, Human Rights Watch said today. She is scheduled to meet with President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who has held office since 1987.
Morocco: Blogger Jailed for Two Years for Criticising King
A Moroccan blogger who wrote an article criticising the King was sentenced to two years in jail after a startling short trial, report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), International PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Libya: Tell a Gaddafi Story
In 1969, a young man wearing the military shirt of a “Colonel” in the Libyan army shot his way to power by deposing a corrupt high-consumption and hedonistic monarchy controlled by British “handlers”.
Morocco: After Unfair Trial, Blogger Sentenced to Two Years in Prison And Fine for Article About King
ANHRI has condemned the severe sentence that blogger Mohamed Erraji received on 9 September 2008 from a court in Agadir of two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Moroccan dirhams (approx. US$625) for “disparagement of the king”. The case stems from an article entitled “The King Encourages the Dependency of his People” that Erraji published on his blog on 3 September 2008.
Ghana/Libya: Libya Down Ghana in Tripoli
A solid performance from Libya saw them run out 1-0 winners over Ghana in Tripoli in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, putting them firmly in control at the top of Group 5 with 12 points and only one game remaining.
Morocco: Newspaper Editor’s Trial for Disrespecting King Adjourned Indefinitely
Reporters Without Borders regrets that newspaper editor Ahmed Reda Benchemsi’s year-old trial on a charge of “disrespect for the king” was adjourned indefinitely on 3 September 2008 by a Casablanca court. The presiding judge said at the end of the hearing that “the court could summon Mr. Benchemsi again if all of the prosecution case requirements are met.”
North Africa: Democratic Reform Must Top Agenda for Rice Visit
A landmark visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Libya provides a rare diplomatic opening that should be used to promote political and human rights reforms in one of the world’s most repressive societies.
Uganda: Libyan Envoy Calls for Museveni Fourth Term
UGANDANS should support President Yoweri Museveni for a fourth term to foster liberation movements and African unity, the Libyan envoy has said.
Libya: Rice Makes Historic Visit to Gaddafi
Condoleezza Rice headed for Tripoli on Friday in the first trip by a United States Secretary of State to Libya in more than half a century.
Rice makes Algeria stop on North Africa tour (AFP via Yahoo! News)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice touched down in Algeria’s capital for several hours Saturday, continuing a North Africa tour that earlier took in Tunisia and Libya.
Rice holds terrorism talks in Morocco on last leg of tour (Zawya)
RABAT, Sept 7, 2008 (AFP) – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks in Morocco Sunday on issues including terrorism, a diplomatic source said, as part of a tour of North Africa, where an Al-Qaeda-linked group has claimed attacks.
