For the first time since Lebanon's brutal civil war (1975-1990) there were gun battles on the streets of West Beirut last week during a seven-day conflict that left at least 80 people dead and over 200 wounded throughout Lebanon. We are two young women studying at the American University of Beirut in Hamra, West Beirut. This is our account of the past week's conflict.
Results from the May 11th presidential election in Serbia show a close victory for President Boris Tadić's pro-European Union bloc. If Tadić's acceptance speech is any indication, the new government will have to struggle to create a coalition government which faces the question of Kosovo's independence and an accelerated course toward the EU.Boris Tadić
The Canadian government has really had it in for Abousfian Abdelrazik. Abdelrazik, a Sudanese-Canadian, went back to Sudan in August, 2003 to visit his sick mother, but he was thrown in jail, "at our request," according to a document from the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS). He claims to have been beaten in prison. He was released the following year, only to be reincarcerated again in November, 2005, for another seven months. Sudanese authorities told him that he was being held at the request of Canadian and American governments.
Chido Makunike looks at the various competing interests in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert Mugabe and the West in relation to what the Zimbabweans are hoping to get out of democracy. Over a month after Zimbabwe's March 29 elections, the winner of the presidential poll remains unknown. The delay adds considerable additional complexity to the many undercurrents of the country's problems.Robert Mugabe
Weekly demonstrations against Kosovo's declaration of independence continue on the Serbian side of the divided city of Mitrovica, and all signs point to violence breaking out in the area once again. On May 11th, both the parliamentary and municipal elections will be held across Serbia.
A vote for autonomy in Santa Cruz, Bolivia was passed by approximately 82% of voters on Sunday, May 4th. The vote endorses a move by Santa Cruz to, among other things, gain more control of gas reserves in the area and resist the central government's break up of large land holdings. Clashes during the vote in Santa Cruz left 35 injured. One man died from asphyxiation due to tear gas fired by police forces. The vote and conflict marks a new phase in the polarization of Bolivia, and a new challenge for the region. Photo: Bolivia Indymedia
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