Breaking News: DOUBLE BARRELS BLAZING AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS

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[U.S and A.U warn Ethiopia not to withdraw troops from Somalia] - [Blair's approach to Africa lacked understanding] - [Gunmen attack U.N. health office in Mogadishu] - [senior U.N. official: Somalia is a worse displacement crisis than Darfur or Chad]

International:
[U.S. Detains 11 Iraqis in Search for GIs] - [Inner Rift Among Germany's Jews] - [Muslim Peacekeeping Force For Iraq] - [Scientology and the BBC: Accusations Fly] and more of today's top stories!


Breaking News: DOUBLE BARRELS BLAZING AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS - Another Human Rights Bill on Ethiopia Introduced in Congress by Congessman Chris Smith

The Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2228) - Re-introduced

Broad Bipartisan Support for Human Rights in Ethiopia Finally a Reality: Republicans Take an Unwavering Stand on Human Rights in Ethiopia

On May 9, 2007, Republican Congressman Christopher Smith introduced H.R. 2228 (“Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2007”) in the House of Representatives. H.R. 2228 effectively replaces H.R. 5680, which was prevented from getting to the House floor by then-Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Introduction of H.R 2228 by Cong. Smith is significant because it demonstrates the extraordinary importance of human rights in Ethiopia not only for the Democrats in congress but also for Republican members of the House. Such extraordinary bi-partisan interest and support for human rights is a rare event in the U.S. Congress.(More...)

The U.S and the A.U warn Ethiopia not to withdraw troops from Somalia

Washington - Ethiopia is being warned by the US and the African Union not to withdraw its troops from Somalia before peacekeepers are deployed to replace them.

AU commission chief Alpha Oumar Konare says it would be a "catastrophe" if Ethiopia pulled out too soon. US Africa envoy Jendayi Frazer said it would probably be several months before the full peacekeeping force arrived.

Ethiopia's prime minister says he wants to withdraw all his troops, after they helped oust Islamists. Up to a third of the population fled recent fighting in the capital, Mogadishu, and badly need aid.(More...)

Also see:
-BBC: Ethiopia warned on Somali pullout

CNN: Gunmen attack U.N. health office in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Gunmen attacked a U.N. World Health Organization office in Mogadishu and wounded a guard, in the latest strike near the world body's facilities in Somalia , a WHO official said on Tuesday.

The late Monday attack came just two days after U.N. aid chief John Holmes, the most senior U.N. official to visit Mogadishu in a decade, cut short his visit when bombs planted by insurgents killed three people near a U.N. compound on Saturday.

"We were attacked last night by gunmen wearing [government] uniforms. Our security guards repelled them. Unfortunately one of our guards was wounded," Mohamed Abdullahi, the acting officer in charge of WHO operations in Mogadishu, told Reuters.(More...)

Also see:
-Reuters: Gunmen attack U.N. health office in Mogadishu
-IOL: Armed men storm UN office in Somalia
-M&G: UN office in Mogadishu comes under attack

senior U.N. official: Somalia is a worse displacement crisis than Darfur or Chad

Aid workers are only reaching about a third of the thousands of civilians afflicted by Mogadishu's worst fighting for years, the United Nations' top aid official said on Monday after visiting the Somali capital.

John Holmes (seen here), the most senior U.N. official to visit the city in a decade, cut short his trip on Saturday after bombs planted by suspected insurgents killed at least three people.

The United Nations says recent battles between rebels and allied Somali-Ethiopian forces have killed some 1,300 civilians and triggered the worst displacement crisis in the world.

"In terms of numbers and access to them, Somalia is a worse displacement crisis than Darfur or Chad or anywhere else this year," Holmes told a news conference in neighboring Kenya.

"We estimate we are only reaching 35-40 percent of those in need ... many are already suffering from a cholera outbreak." The United Nations say more than 300,000 people have fled the shell-scarred city in recent weeks.(More...)

Also see:
-Somalia - 'a depressing prospect'

Blair's approach to Africa was simplistic and lacked an understanding

...The Africans who agreed to serve on the Commission were not in the mainstream of change on the continent. Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia was appointed despite a worrying human rights record which has since become dire.

Again it was a case of great intentions but a failure to do the spadework carefully and in good time. Despite that the Commission report was good, drilling down into areas that had not been researched before.

It warned clearly that the whole enterprise depended on African governments buying into it. Yet its conclusions - written beforehand – were simplistic: aid must be doubled, debt forgiven and trade barriers removed.(More...)

Today's Top International Stories

-Bush Orders First Federal Regulation of Greenhouse Gases
-U.S. Detains 11 Iraqis in Search for GIs
-Inner Rift Among Germany's Jews
-Muslim Peacekeeping Force For Iraq?(Pakistani President Proposes Multi-National, All Muslim Contingent, Removal Of "Outside Interference")
-Big Nuke Gains By Iran Reported
-Bus hijacked in northern Italy but passengers freed
-Hotel Bomb Blast Kills 24 In Pakistan
-Scientology and the BBC: Accusations Fly





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