Devolved Parliaments Soon to Come Under the Spell of Multiculturalism: Devolved Scotland and Wales Slow to Embrace Ethnic Minorities
THE GUARDIAN: Lack of black and Asian faces in both legislatures strengthens case for positive action, campaigners believe

Despite being set up to empower and involve the people of Scotland and Wales, both their devolved legislatures have been slow to include the countries' ethnic minorities. On this count at least, they have been arguably weaker than Westminster.

Despite having at least 170,000 people from an Asian, black or mixed race background among its electorate – 4% of the Scottish population – Holyrood has only ever had one non-white MSP elected, four years ago.

The Welsh assembly too, despite Cardiff's long history of black settlement and having an overall minority ethnic population of roughly 100,000 people across Wales – at least 3% of the population – first had a minority ethnic member elected in 2007.

In both legislatures there is a black democratic deficit, said Ashok Viswanathan, deputy director of the campaign organisation Operation Black Vote (OBV). » | Severin Carrell , Scotland correspondent | Monday, April 04, 2011

Ruler's Son Reportedly Floats Handover, Democracy Plan
THE AUSTRALIAN: A PEACE plan under which Muammar Gaddafi would hand over power and set Libya on course to become a constitutional democracy has been privately floated by his son, according to diplomatic sources.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the Colonel's British-educated son, would take control of the country in the interim under plans that he has proposed himself.

The sources said that the idea was being discussed by "eminent people" in Tripoli, although they cautioned that neither Colonel Gaddafi nor the rebel council in Benghazi appeared ready to accept such a move.

"This is the beginning position," they said, but added that there were currently no talks.

The plan, which follows a visit to London last week by Mohammed Ismail, one of Saif Gaddafi's aides, indicates that members of the dictator's inner circle are considering their options.

The revelations came as diplomatic efforts to find a way out of the seven-week conflict escalated. » | Deborah Haynes, Roland Watson, Martin Fletcher and Zahid Hussain | The Times | Monday, April 04, 2011

Gbagbo Regime on Verge of Collaspe [sic]
THE AUSTRALIAN: IVORY Coast has been plunged into full-scale civil war as the forces of Laurent Gbagbo fought to save his regime from collapse.

The sounds of mortars and gunfire echoed through the streets, reports of massacres reached the principal city, Abidjan and the UN evacuated its headquarters after coming under attack from soldiers who were loyal to Mr Gbagbo.
He has refused to stand down despite losing presidential elections in November. » | Jonathan Clayton | The Times | Monday, April 04, 2011

Hundreds of Yemenis Wounded in Taiz Protests
Hundreds of protesters have been wounded in the Yemeni city of Taiz, after police reportedly fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowds. Medical sources have told Al Jazeera that as many as 1,600 people have been injured.
Omar al Saleh reports

Canada Pushes for Healthy Street Food
Vancouver has become the first North America city to impose strict healthy food regulations for potential street vendors. In its attempt to cut down on unhealthy street food, the Canadian government is trying to lessen the number of carts selling foods that are high in sodium, fats or sugars.
But public opinion about the move remains divided.
Al Jazeera's Imtiaz Tyab reports from Vancouver

Turkey Sails in to Help Injured Libyans
Shifting away from the focus on Libya's air war, Turkey has concentrated on the humanitarian needs of the current conflict.
A Turkish ferry, the Ankara, has rescued 250 severely injured people from Misurata. And there are hundreds of others still waiting to escape the violence there, as Gaddafi forces continue to attack the city that is a key rebel stronghold.
Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports from Benghazi

Libya 'Sends Official to Meet Greek Leader'
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Abdel Ati al-Obeidi, Libya's deputy foreign minister, is in Athens to deliver a message to the Greek prime minister.

Abdel Ati al-Obeidi, Libya's deputy foreign minister, arrived in Athens to deliver a message from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to the Greek prime minister, raising the prospect of diplomatic efforts to end a war facing stalemate on the battlefield.



Obeidi crossed into neighbouring Tunisia and travelled from Djerba airport to the Greek capital on Sunday, according to a security worker at the airport. 



"They (Libyan government) requested to send an envoy with a message for prime minister George Papandreou and that is why he is in Athens," a senior Greek government official said.



In Tripoli, the Libyan capital, Libyan officials were not immediately available to comment on Obeidi's movements.



The Libyan official met with Papandreou later on Sunday evening.



"What the message is, we don't know yet," Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught reported from Tripoli.



Papandreou's office said Baghdadi al-Mahmudi, the Libyan prime minister, requested Obeidi's visit during a phone conversation on Saturday. Papandreou also discussed the Libyan crisis with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, on Sunday.



Papandreou has been talking by phone with the leaders of Qatar, Turkey and Britain over the last two days. » | Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies | Sunday, April 03, 2011

New Television Channel for a "Free Libya"
While rebel fighters and forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi battle for control of key coastal towns, some Libyans have found another way of getting their opinions heard.
 A new satellite television channel was launched in the Gulf state of Qatar on Saturday.

 Simply called Libya, it is a mix of news and talk shows covering developments in the North African country, with funding from abroad.
 Al Jazeera's Nazanin Sadri reports from the capital, Doha. (03 April 2011)

Syria Uprising: Dissidents Seized from Their Homes
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Suspected dissidents were seized from their homes in Syria on Saturday as the country's Ba'athist regime deployed its feared secret police in an operation to spread renewed fear among opposition sympathisers.

here were reports of pre-dawn raids across the country, highlighting the risks faced by those who dared publicly to challenge Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president of 11 years, even when they were not braving live fire on the streets.

After days of using his aides to signal his willingness to make concessions, Mr Assad abruptly changed tack on Wednesday in a defiant television address in which he denounced protesters as conspirators in the pay of foreign powers.

The uncompromising new strategy appeared to yield dividends, with fewer taking to the streets on Friday than opposition activists had hoped.

But, showing that the challenge to Mr Assad was far from over, tens of thousands were still willing to defy him in demonstrations across the country despite widespread expectation of savage retaliation from the security forces.

Once again, as has happened so often in over a fortnight of unrest, they were met with violence and live fire by police and military units as well as unidentified loyalists in plain clothes who took up sniper positions on rooftops and balconies.

In a country that has effectively sealed itself off to the outside world, it is nearly impossible to establish an accurate death toll. But opposition activists told of as many as 27 deaths in four different towns and cities. » | Adrian Blomfield, Middle East Correspondent and Loveday Morris | Saturday, March 02, 2011

Niall Ferguson – Civilization: Is the West History?
Watch episode one here

Qatar Airlifts Seriously Injured Libyans
Some of those injured during the fighting in Libya are being airlifted out of the country for urgent medical treatment.
The first of the emergency humanitarian flights landed in the Qatari capital on Saturday.
Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports from the capital, Doha. (03 April 2011)

Inside Story - A Conflict in Stalemate
As neither side has made any significant advances since the uprising against Gaddafi's rule began six weeks ago, what are the options?

Libya Shells Town in West; Rebels Name "Crisis Team"
REUTERS AFRICA: TRIPOLI - Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi shelled a building in Misrata early on Sunday to try to dislodge rebels from their last big stronghold in western Libya where a doctor says hundreds have been killed.

Like many cities, Misrata rejected Gaddafi's rule in a revolt in February. In a violent crackdown, Gaddafi's forces restored control in most places in western Libya, leaving Misrata cut off and surrounded, with dwindling supplies.

In the rebel capital of Benghazi in the east, the anti-Gaddafi council have named a "crisis team", including the former Libyan interior minister as the armed forces chief of staff, to try to run parts of the country it holds. » | Maria Golovnina | Sunday, April 03, 2011

Bahrain Bans Main Opposition Newspaper
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Paper critical of government accused of publishing "fabricated" reports about last month's pro-democracy protests.

Bahraini authorities have banned Al-Wasat, the country's main opposition newspaper, which has been critical of the government in its coverage of Shia-led protests quashed last month.

The newspaper did not publish on Sunday after a message on state TV saying Bahrain's Information Ministry had ordered the paper to shut down.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA) says officials accuse Al-Wasat of "unethical" coverage of the Shia-led uprising against the country's Sunni rulers.

The Kingdom's Information Affairs Commission also referred the newspaper for investigation, BNA said.

Al-Wasat has been accused of publishing "fabricated" reports last week about the "security developments in Bahrain". » | Source: Agencies | Sunday, April 03, 2011

Catholic Church Reports Mass Murder in Côte d'Ivoire
A Catholic charity in Côte D'Ivoire says 1000 people have been killed in the western town of Duekoue. Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of November's election, are closing in on territory still held by President Laurent Gbagbo. Sonia Gallego reports

Radical Cleric Breaks Silence on Mideast Unrest
Mar 31, 2011 – Will Al Qaeda benefit from changes in the region?

WIKI: Inspire magazine »

Afghanistan: Obama Condemns Killings of UN Staff
BBC: President Barack Obama has described as "outrageous" the killings in Afghanistan triggered by the burning of a Koran in the US last month.

Mr Obama said the desecration of any holy text was "an act of extreme intolerance and bigotry", but it did not justify killing innocent people.

An attack on a UN base on Friday in the city of Mazar-e Sharif killed 14 people, seven of them UN staff.

A top UN official has blamed the pastor who burnt the Koran for the violence.

At least 10 people were killed and many more were injured in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Saturday in a second day of protests.

'No justification'

During a service at the Dove World Outreach Center in Florida on 20 March, Pastor Wayne Sapp soaked a Koran in kerosene, staged a "trial" during which the Islamic holy book was found guilty of "crimes against humanity", and then set it alight.

The incident took place under the supervision of Pastor Terry Jones, who last year drew condemnation over his aborted plan to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US.

In a statement published on Saturday evening, Mr Obama extended his condolences to the families of those killed by the protesters in Afghanistan.

"The desecration of any holy text, including the Koran, is an act of extreme intolerance and bigotry," he said. "However, to attack and kill innocent people in response is outrageous, and an affront to human decency and dignity.

"No religion tolerates the slaughter and beheading of innocent people, and there is no justification for such a dishonourable and deplorable act." » | Sunday, April 03, 2011

Gaddafi Asks for Obama's Advice

Saif Gaddafi: 'The West Is Supporting Terrorism'

Saudi-Arabien: Das Land der Gegensätze