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Semáforo is a fortnightly collection of news from around the world, classified by geographical area - Africa, America, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and the Middle East. Semáforo also includes a section which monitors international organisations and the subjects on the international agenda for peace building.
Daily monitoring of news items is based on more than 60 sources and includes areas related to armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, international behaviour, unresolved conflicts, forced displacements, human rights, sustainable development, gender, governability and economic and political crises, militarisation and disarmament, peace processes and post-war rehabilitation and gender.
Although the unit analysed is usually a country, news items on regions, international organisations and other broad-based subjects are also included. At the end of each news item, the source consulted is shown in italics, and the code of the subject area related to the news item is shown in brackets. A glossary and a code of concepts and sources is attached at the end of each Semáforo.
It is published in Spanish every other Friday on the website, where it is possible to subscribe free of charge. You can also check the highlights of the publication in English and Catalan on the web. |
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Semáforo 203
Fortnight's newsletter 29.08.08 - 09.09.08
To read the full document click here.
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01: Africa
- • UN Security Council links the future approval of a peacekeeping force in Somalia to the progress in the political process and to an improvement of the security situation on the ground.
- • The Central African Republic Government reports the summary execution of 16 civilians by the APRD armed group in the last three months, since its withdrawal from the dialogue process.
- • The SLA reports a new offensive by the Army in South Darfur that has caused the death of more than 60 people in an attempt to regain control of the oil area.
- • The MEND armed group launches a triple offensive in the Niger Delta against military positions as an answer to an attack against civilians allegedly perpetrated by the armed forces.
- • The ruling party, MPLS, proclaims itself winner of the first legislative elections in Angola since the signature of the peace agreement in 2002, which have been considered free and fair.
- • Serious clashes take place between the DR Congo army and troops led by the dissident general Nkunda, causing the displacement of 8.000 civilians and demonstrations against the MONUC.
02: America
- • Four consecutive tropical storms in Haiti in four weeks leave a death toll of 563 people and affect other 650.000 people, while the damage in infrastructure hinders the distribution of humanitarian aid.
- • Opponents of the Bolivian president threaten to extend the protests, while the Government defies the electoral authorities and maintains its intention of holding the constitutional referendum in December.
03: Asia
- • Asif Ali Zardari, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's widow, is appointed as the new president of Pakistan after Musharraf's resignation.
- • The main Baluchistan (Pakistan) opposition armed groups, BLA, BRA and BLF, announce the indefinite suspension of their armed activity.
- • The Philippines Government ends the peace talks with the MILF armed group.
- • Thai prime minister appears before court accused of violating the Constitution, fact that deteriorates the political crisis that the country is going through.
04: Europe
- • The process of substantive talks starts between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, following months of preparatory work, and with the aim of achieving reunification.
- • Russia and France agree on the complete withdrawal to Abkhazia and South Ossetia of Russian troops within a month, while UNCHR warns against new displacements due to alleged aggressions by Ossetia militas in the Georgian areas still under Russian control.
- • The Turkish president travels to Armenia invited by his counterpart, in the first visit of a Turkish head of state to Armenian territory, signalling a gesture of rapprochement amid the historical antagonism between both countries.
05: Middle East
- • An internal document of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) rejects to negotiate indefinitely with Israel and pleads for peaceful resistance if peace talks collapse.
- • The last census in West Bank shows that Palestinian population has grown less than expected as a consequence of emigration and the decrease of the fertility rate.
- • The leader of the Lebanese organization Hezbollah declares that its group will not abandon the arms even in the case of Shebaa Farms being liberated by Israel.
- • The French president makes an official journey to Syria, being the first visit of a western leader to Damascus in five years.
06: International Organizations
- • UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearance urges Governments to investigate the whereabouts of all missing people independently of the date of their disappearance.
- • The UN special rapporteur on children in armed conflicts warns against the increase in the use of minors in military activities and suicide attacks.
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Tel. (+34) 93 586 88 42 - Fax.(+34) 93 581 32 94 - escolapau@pangea.org
ACTUALIZADA 10.09.08
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