AFRICOM Related News Clips 14 Sep 2011

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United States Africa CommandPublic Affairs Office14 September 2011

USAFRICOM - related news stories

Good morning. Please find attached news clips related to U.S. Africa Command andupcoming events of interest for September 14, 2011.

Of interest in today's news clips: BBC reports that Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the head of theNational Transitional Council, outlined his plans to create a modern democratic state basedon "moderate Islam."

The World Bank on Tuesday recognized Libya's new leadership as the country's officialgovernment and pledged to take a major role in rebuilding the country, as reported by theAFP.

Also, Reuters reports that Libyan transitional forces besieging a bastion of forces loyal toMuammar Qadhafi on Tuesday gave residents two days to leave before a threatenedonslaught.

According to Reuters, the AU said on Tuesday that World powers should take advantage ofa retreat by Somalia's al Shabaab rebels and step up efforts to defeat them by backinggovernment troops and imposing a no-fly zone and a sea blockade.

American Forces Press Service reports that NATO-led operations in Libya will continue tofocus on protecting the Libyan people, and will not support either the pro- or anti-Qadhafiforces, a NATO spokeswoman said today.

U.S. Africa Command Public AffairsPlease send questions or comments to:[email protected] (+497117292687)

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Top News related to U.S. Africa Command and Africa

African military, US Armed Forces : Joint Military Drills in Zanzibar (National

Turk)http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853By Unattributed Author
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853mailto:[email protected]


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13 September - The armed forces of the East African Community (EAC) and Us MilitaryAfrican branch, the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) will hold six days of joint militarydrills this week in Chukwani, Zanzibar.

Kimathi: 'I was framed over Kampala World Cup attacks' (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624By Unattributed Author13 September - A Kenyan human rights activist held for a year in Uganda over the 2010Kampala World Cup bombing has told the BBC he was framed by Kenya's government.

Libya: NTC's Jalil vows state based on 'moderate Islam' (BBC)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264By Rana Jawad13 September - The head of the National Transitional Council has delivered his first speechin Libya's capital, Tripoli, since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi. Mustafa Abdul Jaliloutlined his plans to create a modern democratic state based on "moderate Islam" to

thousands of flag-waving supporters in the newly renamed Martyrs' Square.

Algeria's Bouteflika to end state TV and radio control (BBC)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14901330By Unattributed Author13 September - Algeria has announced sweeping media reforms to allow private radio andtelevision stations to exist for the first time since independence in 1962.

ANC to challenge Malema Shoot the Boer 'hate song' ban (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14896710By Unattributed Author13 September - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party will appealagainst a high court ruling banning the anti-apartheid song Shoot the Boer.

Nairobi slum fire: Kenya officials deny blame (BBC)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14904634By Unattributed Author13 September - Kenya's government has defended its failure to move slum-dwellers awayfrom a fuel pipeline that leaked on Monday, causing a fire which killed dozens.

World Bank recognises National Transitional Council (News 24)http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/World-Bank-recognises-Libyas-new-rulers-20110913By Unattributed Author14 September - The World Bank said on Tuesday it recognises the National TransitionalCouncil as Libya's official government, after the new regime promised moderate Islamicrule and to investigate alleged war crimes.

Niger says Gaddafi son under surveillance (AFP)http://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-un
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14901330http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14901330http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14896710http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14896710http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14904634http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14904634http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/World-Bank-recognises-Libyas-new-rulers-20110913http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/World-Bank-recognises-Libyas-new-rulers-20110913http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/World-Bank-recognises-Libyas-new-rulers-20110913http://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-under-surveillance-libyahttp://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-under-surveillance-libyahttp://www.news24.com/Africa/News/World-Bank-recognises-Libyas-new-rulers-20110913http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/World-Bank-recognises-Libyas-new-rulers-20110913http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14904634http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14896710http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14901330http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624


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der-surveillance-libyaBy Unattributed Author13 September - Moammar Gadhafis playboy son, known for his love of fast cars, soccerand excessive partying, slipped into Niger over the weekend and began making his wayMonday to the capital, a Niger government official said.

Libya: New Leaders Pledge 'Moderate' Islamic Rule (Radio Netherlands Worldwide)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109130378.htmlBy Unattributed Author13 September - Libya's new leaders pledged "moderate" Islamic rule even as their fighterswere accused of committing war crimes and a defiant Moamer Kadhafi vowed from hidingto battle on until victory.

Gambia: 80 Percent of Europe's Cocaine Transit Through West Africa - Naval Chief

(The Daily Observer)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109131125.html

By Omar Wally13 September - The chief of Naval Staff says that records indicate that about 80 percent ofEurope's cocaine supply transits through the West African Coast.

Liberia: Political Parties Oppose Use of Foreign Troops (African Elections Project)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109131347.htmlBy William Selmah13 September - There have been heated debates in several quarters in Liberia since newsbegan circulating that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is on the verge of bringing in troopsfrom Nigeria to help keep the peace and discourage any violence during the October polls.

Residents of besieged Gaddafi town given two days to go (Reuters) http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C00L20110913?sp=trueBy Maria Golovnina13 September - Libyan transitional forces besieging a bastion of forces loyal to MuammarGaddafi on Tuesday gave residents two days to leave before a threatened onslaught, andfears rose for the fate of civilians trapped in the last redoubts of the fallen strongman.

Islamist sect shoots dead four in northeast Nigeria (Reuters)http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0IN20110913?sp=trueBy Unattributed Author13 September - Gunmen shot dead four people in a bar in the northeastern Nigerian town ofMaiduguri in the latest strike by a radical Islamist sect, police said on Tuesday.

Somalia briefly detains Turkish aid workers (Reuters)http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0KU20110913By Mohamed Ahmed and Abdi Sheikh13 September - Somali security forces briefly detained two Turkish aid workers onTuesday after they delivered food to famine victims in an area near the capital controlledby rebels, officials said on Tuesday.
http://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-under-surveillance-libyahttp://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-under-surveillance-libyahttp://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-under-surveillance-libyahttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109130378.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109130378.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109131125.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109131125.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109131347.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109131347.htmlhttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C00L20110913?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C00L20110913?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0IN20110913?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0IN20110913?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0KU20110913http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0KU20110913http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0KU20110913http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0IN20110913?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C00L20110913?sp=truehttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109131347.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109131125.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109130378.htmlhttp://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-under-surveillance-libya


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Africa Rising: Guinea reworks its deal with mining companies (The Christian

Science Monitor)http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companies

By Drew Hinshaw13 September - Hard as raw rock,Guinea's mining code may be the toughest new law inAfrica. The only problem? Guinea's miners don't dig it.

World should capitalise on Somali insurgent retreat: AU (Reuters)http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/world-should-capitalise-on-somali-insurgent-retreat-au/By Aaron Maasho13 September - World powers should take advantage of a retreat by Somalia's al Shabaabrebels and step up efforts to defeat them by backing government troops and imposing ano-fly zone and a sea blockade, the African Union said on Tuesday.

Intelligence Chiefs: Al-Qaida Weaker But Still Committed (American Forces PressService)http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65325By Karen Parrish13 September - Ten years after 9/11, al-Qaida is weaker and the U.S. intelligencecommunity is more effective, the nations top intelligence officials told Congress today.

NATO Reaffirms Commitment to Libyan People (American Forces Press Service)http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65318By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.13 September - NATO-led operations in Libya will continue to focus on protecting theLibyan people, and will not support either the pro- or anti-Gadhafi forces, a NATOspokeswoman said today.

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UN News Service Africa Briefshttp://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICA

(Full Articles on UN Website)

Consolidating peace in Liberia extends beyond upcoming polls UN envoy13 SeptemberWhile the upcoming elections provide an opportunity to consolidateLiberias hard-won peace, the country will continue to need international support,particularly in strengthening its security institutions, the United Nations envoy to the WestAfrican nation said today.

Returning to Tunisia, UN aid agency launches cash-for-work project13 SeptemberThe United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is formally re-starting
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companieshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companieshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companieshttp://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/world-should-capitalise-on-somali-insurgent-retreat-au/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/world-should-capitalise-on-somali-insurgent-retreat-au/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/world-should-capitalise-on-somali-insurgent-retreat-au/http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65325http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65325http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65318http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65318http://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICAhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICAhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICAhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICAhttp://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65318http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65325http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/world-should-capitalise-on-somali-insurgent-retreat-au/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/world-should-capitalise-on-somali-insurgent-retreat-au/http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companies%20/%20nextParagraphhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companieshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companies


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operations in Tunisia for the first time in 13 years and will immediately begin acash-for-work project aimed at assisting the North African countrys neediest people.

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UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST:

14 SEPT 2011

WHEN: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.WHAT: Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) Discussion on "Foreign Relations of the UnitedStates Series - Volume on Southern Africa, 1969-1976. Speakers: Anna-Mart Van Wyk,Public Policy Scholar, WWC, Senior Lecturer and Head, International Studies, School ofArts, Monash University, South Africa; Myra Burton, Historian, Office of the Historian,U.S. Department of State; and Steve McDonald, Director, Africa Program and Project onLeadership and Building State Capacity, WWC.

WHERE: WWC, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 6th floorCONTACT: 202-691-4000; web site:www.wilsoncenter.orgNOTE: RSVP to:[email protected]: WWCevent announcement at:http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/changing-north-korea-trip-report

20 SEPT 2011

WHEN: September 20, 2011, at noonWHAT: Pakistan, the U.S. and Public Diplomacy with Consul General Riffat MasoodCPD Conversations in Public DiplomacyWHO: Riffat Masood, the Consul General of PakistanWHERE: USC; SOS B40CONTACT :[email protected]

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Full Text

African military, US Armed Forces : Joint Military Drills in Zanzibar (National

Turk)http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853By Unattributed Author13 September 2011

The armed forces of the East African Community (EAC) and Us Military African branch,the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) will hold six days of joint military drills this week inChukwani, Zanzibar.
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/changing-north-korea-trip-reporthttp://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/changing-north-korea-trip-reportmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853http://www.nationalturk.com/en/african-military-us-armed-forces-joint-military-drills-in-zanzibar-13853mailto:[email protected]://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/changing-north-korea-trip-reportmailto:[email protected]://www.wilsoncenter.org/


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The purpose of the Natural Fire 1 drills held by EAC and Africom is to strengthen theability of EAC member countries to respond as swiftly as possible to complex securitythreats, according to military sources quoted by African news agencies.

AngolaPress News Agency stated Zanzibar expected officials more than 300 troops from

Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania participating for the joint military drills.

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Kimathi: 'I was framed over Kampala World Cup attacks' (BBC)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624By Unattributed Author13 September 2011

A Kenyan human rights activist held for a year in Uganda over the 2010 Kampala WorldCup bombing has told the BBC he was framed by Kenya's government.

"It was pay-back time for my previous human rights defence of victims of extraordinaryrendition," Al-Amin Kimathi said.

A Ugandan court dropped charges against Mr Kimathi and four others on Monday.

Two Ugandans have since pleaded guilty to involvement in the suicide bombings thatkilled at least 76 people.

Somalia's Islamist al-Shabab group said it carried out the bombings in Uganda's capital,Kampala, because Uganda had sent troops to Somalia.

Before his arrest in September 2010, Mr Kimathi, the head of the Muslim Human RightsForum, had accused Kenya and Uganda of illegal rendition - arresting suspects in Kenyaand sending them to Uganda without due process.

He was detained last year after going to Uganda to advise people he said had been illegallyextradited.

The prosecution said they dropped the charges against the human rights activist and fourother suspects because of a lack of evidence.

Mr Kimathi told the BBC's Focus on Africa that during his questioning it was confirmedthat Kenya had organised his arrest.

"I have firm evidence that it [Kenya's government] did set me up. My interrogators - seniorUgandan security officers - they told me clearly," he said.

He said his year in Uganda had been a "harrowing experience".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14900624


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"We underwent great psychological torture - we were not physically tortured but this, Ibelieve, was deliberately planned to be a psychologically torturous exercise."

But he said it had made him more determined.

"You are looking at a more committed human rights defender than you saw last year," hesaid.

'Brainwashed'

On Tuesday, 14 other suspects appeared before the High Court in Kampala, all but tworejected all charges, including murder and terrorism.

Idris Nsubuga pleaded guilty to three counts of terrorism, including the "intention tounlawfully deliver and discharge an explosive".

Muhamoud Mugisha pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism".

During extra-judicial hearings last year, Mugisha said he had links with al-Qaeda, whileNsubuga said he had been brainwashed and he regretted his involvement in the attacks.

In July last year, suicide bombers attacked a bar and restaurant in Kampala where peoplehad gathered to watch the football World Cup final on TV.

Uganda and Burundi are the only countries to have sent troops to Somalia to help theUN-backed government in its fight against the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab, which controlsmuch of the war-torn country.

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Libya: NTC's Jalil vows state based on 'moderate Islam' (BBC)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264By Rana Jawad13 September 2011

The head of the National Transitional Council has delivered his first speech in Libya'scapital, Tripoli, since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil outlined his plans to create a modern democratic state based on"moderate Islam" to thousands of flag-waving supporters in the newly renamed Martyrs'Square.

Earlier, Col Gaddafi vowed in a TV message to fight "until victory".

The whereabouts of the 69-year-old fugitive leader remain unknown.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264http://faq.external.bbc.co.uk/questions/bbc_online/adverts_generalhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14894264


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"All that remains for us is the struggle until victory and the defeat of the coup," ColGaddafi was cited as saying in a statement read out by a presenter on a loyalist televisionstation.

Although the interim administration has promised the formation of a transitional

government in Libya within 10 days, there are still big challenges in stabilising the country,says the BBC's Peter Biles in Tripoli.

Anti-Gaddafi forces now control most of Libya but loyalists are still holding out in thetowns of Sirte and Bani Walid, offering fiercer resistance than had been expected.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called on the NTC to take steps to prevent humanrights abuses by anti-Gaddafi forces.

'You are our weapon'

In his first speech since moving to the capital from the NTC stronghold of Benghazi, MrJalil told some 10,000 supporters to avoid retribution attacks, adding that Libya's newleaders would not accept any extremist ideology.

"We are a Muslim nation, with a moderate Islam, and we will maintain that. You are withus and support us - you are our weapon against whoever tries to hijack the revolution," hesaid.

Mr Jalil, who served as Col Gaddafi's justice minister before joining the rebels when theuprising started, said women would play an active role in the new Libya, and thanked anumber of nations - including France and Britain - for supporting the NTC.

But he also warned against secularism, envisaging a state "where sharia [Islamic law] is themain source for legislation".

His words, broadcast live on television, were met with rapturous applause, as fireworksilluminated the Tripoli waterfront.

But Mr Jalil and his colleagues still face major hurdles, adds our correspondent, not leastbecause the fugitive leader remains at large.

Many of his inner circle have fled to neighbouring countries such as Algeria or Niger.

Niger's Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said on Monday that Saadi Gaddafi and three of hisfather's generals were among 32 people who had crossed the lengthy desert border into theWest African nation since 2 September.

The NTC has also to quell Gaddafi loyalists who are holding out in the last bastions ofsupport for the fugitive leader inside Libya.
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Fighting in Bani Walid south-east of the capital was halted on Monday, with onecommander telling the BBC they were waiting for Nato war planes to continue air strikestargeting heavy weapons being used by pro-Gaddafi forces inside the town.

Late on Monday, hundreds of anti-Gaddafi forces had reportedly entered the town through

its northern gate - only to be confronted by a barrage of rocket fire and bullets from snipers.

While flat-bed trucks carried fighters down the desert road towards the front line, a fewcars sped in the opposite direction, carrying families fleeing the besieged town.

Residents said food and fuel supplies were running short in the town.

Fifteen guards were also killed when pro-Gaddafi forces attacked an oil refinery near thetown of Ras Lanuf.

'Disappearances and torture'

In its latest report, Amnesty International says that while the bulk of violations were carriedout by loyalist forces, anti-Gaddafi fighters have also been involved in torture and revengekillings.Amnesty said a full picture had yet to emerge, but said it had asked Libya's oppositionleadership to take steps to rein in its supporters and investigate any abuses, and to combatxenophobia and racism.

"The NTC is facing a difficult task of reining in opposition fighters and vigilante groupsresponsible for serious human rights abuses, including possible war crimes, but has shownunwillingness to hold them accountable," says the report - entitled The Battle for Libya -Killings, Disappearances and Torture.

Mohammed al-Alagi, a justice minister for Libya's transitional authorities, said the rebelshad made mistakes, but said these could not be described as war crimes.

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Algeria's Bouteflika to end state TV and radio control (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14901330By Unattributed Author13 September 2011

Algeria has announced sweeping media reforms to allow private radio and televisionstations to exist for the first time since independence in 1962.

The moves comes as the government battles to contain popular protests against the lack offreedoms, high unemployment and corruption.

The cabinet also approved plans to drop prison sentences for journalists convicted of libel.
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President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said the proposed changes would boost democracy.

They would come into effect once parliament - controlled by the ruling National LiberationFront (FLN) - voted them into law, he said.

The cabinet said the changes were part of a package of reforms promised by Mr Bouteflikain a national address on 15 April.

At the time, he said the government would publish a new information law and amend theconstitution to "strengthen democracy".

Neighbours toppled

Although Algeria has a lively private press, local TV and radio stations are tightlycontrolled by the state.

Many Algerians watch satellite TV, correspondents say.

The cabinet also said a new commission, which would include journalists, would becreated to regulate the press.

It would approve new press licenses - a task previously performed by the justice ministry -and impose fines for libel, the cabinet said.

Journalists would no longer be jailed for libel, it said.

However, newspapers could still be banned or suspended if they threatened state security.

Algeria has been hit by popular protests since last year, amid demands for more freedomsand better living conditions.

In February, Mr Bouteflika lifted the state of emergency that had been in force since 1992.

Three other North African leaders - Tunisia's Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, Egypt's HosniMubarak and Libya's Col Muammar Gaddafi - have been overthrown following uprisingsagainst their rule.

Mr Bouteflika has been in power since winning controversial elections in 1999.

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ANC to challenge Malema Shoot the Boer 'hate song' ban (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14896710By Unattributed Author13 September 2011
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South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party will appeal against a highcourt ruling banning the anti-apartheid song Shoot the Boer.

The court said the song, which refers to white farmers, was hate speech and banned ANC

youth league leader Julius Malema and the party from singing it.

Mr Malema is also facing an internal ANC disciplinary hearing that could expel him fromthe party.

But President Jacob Zuma said the youth leader should be helped not banished.

Mr Malema has become a critic of the president, falling out with him after accusing him ofnot doing enough for poor black South Africans - his main support group in the 2009elections which brought him to power.

"I think the objective is: How do you help Malema? Because Malema has a lot of elementsthat are good in him," Mr Zuma told South Africa's Business Report newspaper.

If found guilty by the ANC hearing, Mr Malema could be expelled from the partyaltogether as he is already on probation after criticising President Zuma last year.

His latest ANC charges relate to the 30 year old's call for regime change in neighbouringBotswana, which runs against both government and ANC policy.

"What you have to do, is deal with things that are not right with Malema. You cannot allowhim to do the wrong things," Mr Zuma said.

"In other words, the job of the ANC is to help Malema, to mould him into a dynamic, goodleader.

"That's what we need to do. It is only if you can't do it, that the question becomes what dowe do with him."

Mr Malema says he is the victim of a political witch-hunt because of his opposition to MrZuma.The ANC is due to choose its leadership next year, with its president likely to becomeSouth Africa's next leader after the 2014 elections.

'Place in history'

The BBC's Karen Allen in Johannesburg says that although Mr Malema is seen as amaverick within his own party, when evidence was heard in the high court earlier this yearover the Shoot the Boer case, a string of ANC grandees queued up to defend him.

Afrikaans interest group AfriForum had brought the case, but Mr Malema and other ANC
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leaders argued the song was a celebration of the fight against minority rule.

"This song has its place in history, it's got to be respected as such," ANC spokeswomanJessie Duarte told South African TV E News.

She said the party would appeal against the ban as the decision would be impossible toimplement.

"To me this is beginning to be beyond ridiculous," Ms Duarte said.

"The question we must also put to South Africa is how serious is a complaint by an interestgroup as small as AfriForum that it begins to make South African law change and changesthe history of this country."

On Monday, judge Collin Lamont said that in post-apartheid South Africa, all citizens arecalled to treat each other equally and urged the ANC to find new customs which did not

bring disunity.

Mr Malema, who has made the song Shoot the Boer his signature tune, wants South Africato nationalise its rich mines and seize white-owned land. He has praised President RobertMugabe's land reform in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

He is also being investigated by state prosecutors on allegations of fraud and corruption,which he denies.

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Nairobi slum fire: Kenya officials deny blame (BBC)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14904634By Unattributed Author13 September 2011

Kenya's government has defended its failure to move slum-dwellers away from a fuelpipeline that leaked on Monday, causing a fire which killed dozens.

Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi told the BBC that officials had been tryingto find a "humane" way to relocate them from the Nairobi slum.

Kenya Petroleum Company (KPC), which owns the pipeline, had warned in 2008 thatresidents should be moved.

Residents are in shock after the fire burned at least 87 people to death.

Rescuers and family members are still searching for the dead in a nearby river, wherecharred corpses can be seen.
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Some reports say more than 100 people died.

The government has been widely criticised for allowing people to go on living in the slum,in the Sinai area of the capital, despite being aware that such an accident was possible.

Mr Mudavadi admitted to the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that the accident couldhave been avoided, but defended the government's approach.

"If we're going to relocate them, where are we going to relocate them to? We are enforcingrules, but we have to do it humanely," he said.

"There's a lot of negotiations going on with the community members to try to persuadethem to move so that we're not using excessive force to get them out."

But he said the government also had to deal with a culture where people did not respect theright of access of companies to land.

Eviction notice

In 2008, local broadcaster NTV reported on the dangers facing the people living in Sinai.

A KPC spokeswoman said at the time that slum-dwellers had been given one week to leavethe area.

But residents told the channel that they would not move because the slum was their home.KPC head Selest Kilinda said the firm would investigate how the fire started.

"We did our best to stop what happened, particularly after we heard that there was fire. Wedid our best to stop the fire from ravaging the property and the lives of the people," he said.

The firm said there was a spill from the pipeline, then a fire erupted, but has not given anymore detail.

Reports said some slum residents rushed to collect fuel leaking from the pipe into an opensewer before the explosion.

The densely populated Sinai area lies between Nairobi's city centre and the airport.

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World Bank recognises National Transitional Council (AFP)By Unattributed Author13 September 2011

The World Bank on Tuesday recognized Libya's new leadership as the country's officialgovernment, and pledged to take a major role in rebuilding the country.


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"Based on evolving events in Libya and the views of member countries, the World Banktoday announced that it is engaging with the National Transitional Council as theGovernment of Libya," the Bank said in a statement.

It said it had already been asked by the NTC to work on repairing and restoring water,energy and transport services after seven months of an insurrection which ousted dictatorMoammer Khadafi.

It is also to cooperate with the International Monetary Fund to support the governmentbudget process and help rebuild the banking sector.

"We are ready to support the people in Libya. Our experts have started coordinating withtheir partners already and we are moving fast to begin work," said Sri Mulyani Indrawati,World Bank managing director.

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World Bank recognises National Transitional Council (News 24)http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/World-Bank-recognises-Libyas-new-rulers-20110913By Unattributed Author14 SeptemberThe World Bank said on Tuesday it recognises the National Transitional Council as Libya'sofficial government, after the new regime promised moderate Islamic rule and toinvestigate alleged war crimes.

Explaining its decision was based on "evolving events in Libya and the views of membercountries", the bank pledged a major rebuilding role after seven months of an insurrectionthat ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

The move came as the NTC sought the surrender of Gaddafi diehards who have beenmounting attacks against its fighters from a few enclaves including the oasis town of BaniWalid, southeast of Tripoli.

Gaddafi, wanted for alleged crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court,remains in hiding but many of his inner circle and one of his sons have fled to neighbouringNiger.

But the pro-NTC forces who brought down the Gaddafi regime found themselves onTuesday also accused of committing war crimes by the London-based human rightswatchdog Amnesty International.

Amnesty said in the first days of the uprising groups of protesters killed a number ofcaptured soldiers and suspected mercenaries.
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"Some were beaten to death, at least three were hanged, and others were shot dead afterthey had been captured or had surrendered, Amnesty said in a report.

"The NTC is facing a difficult task of reining in opposition fighters and vigilante groupsresponsible for serious human rights abuses, including possible war crimes but has shown

unwillingness to hold them accountable," it said.

But Amnesty acknowledged the atrocities allegedly committed by the now governingopposition were of a "smaller scale" than those carried out by Gaddafis regime, which it

says may be responsible for crimes against humanity.

The NTC responded by vowing to investigate the allegations, while acknowledging "thereare a small number of incidents involving those opposed to Gaddafi".

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Niger says Gaddafi son under surveillance (AFP)http://www.france24.com/en/20110912-niger-authorities-muammar-gaddafi-son-saadi-under-surveillance-libyaBy Unattributed Author13 September 2011

Moammar Gadhafis playboy son, known for his love of fast cars, soccer and excessivepartying, slipped into Niger over the weekend and began making his way Monday to thecapital, a Niger government official said.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed that al-SaadiGadhafi has crossed into Niger, where authorities are either in the process or have alreadybrought him to the capital of Niamey and intend to detain him.

The 38-year-old al-Saadi Gadhafi is one of the highest-profile former regime figures to fleeto this landlocked African nation whose immense northern desert has been a haven for drugsmugglers, al-Qaida terrorists and now fleeing Libyan loyalists. The discovery is bound toraise pressure on Niger which has promised to turn over anyone wanted by theInternational Criminal Court which includes Gadhafi and a different son.

The country, however, has not said whether they will turn over other regime figures, likeal-Saadi, who are wanted by Libyas new interim government but are not the subject of awarrant by the world court. Meanwhile, Gadhafi remains deeply popular here, where hebuilt dozens of mosques.

Nuland said al-Saadi wasnt on a U.N. sanctions list, and insisted that Nigers governmenthas made it clear to Libyas de facto government that it will cooperate on cases of fleeing

regime loyalists.

We are encouraging dialogue between them, Nuland said, adding that Libyas opposition
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leaders would make their own decision about the appropriate course of action.

Niger appears to have become the only exit for members of Gadhafis inner circle. Afterthe rulers wife and several of his other children crossed into Algeria, that border was

sealed. Its unlikely they would flee east to Egypt because they would need to go through

rebel-held territory. And the Chadian frontier has proved difficult to cross.

Nigers border with Libya is vast and impossible for the countrys ill-equipped andcash-strapped army to monitor. Since last week, waves of convoys carrying regimeofficials have drifted across the invisible line set on undulating dunes. They include othertop regime figures like Gadhafis chief of security and the general in charge of the

countrys southern command.

The arrival of al-Saadi takes it to a new level of intimacy, indicating that even the rulersfamily is choosing Niger as their best option.

Nobody called us to tell us that these people were coming, government spokesmanMorou Amadou told The Associated Press by telephone on Monday. We intercept them

as they are making their way south and they run into our patrols. We are allowing them toenter on humanitarian grounds since we cannot send them back to a war zone.

The arrival of the son also raised speculation that Gadhafi may eventually be headed toNiger. There are strong suggestions that he is going to be convoyed here, said animmigration official who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak tothe press.

First, there is our proximity. We are closest to the areas of Libya that are still underGadhafis control. But beyond proximity, there is the fact that the Algerian side is nowshut, the official said. They cant go to Egypt because of the rebels. Chad is also closed.

That leaves only one place -Niger.

Last week, the U.S. urged Niger to detain any individuals who may be subject toprosecution in Libya, and to confiscate their weapons and impound any state property, suchas money or jewels, that were illegally taken out of the country. Amadou said that al-Saadi,who was traveling in a nine-person convoy, was asked to hand over his weapons.

There have been unconfirmed reports that Gadhafi regime members are fleeing with cashand gold looted from the nations banks. Amadou said he does not know what the son wascarrying in terms of valuables, but his lifestyle in Libya before his fathers fall was markedby luxury.

When rebels rode into Tripoli last month, they stormed al-Saadis home on theMediterranean. In the parking lot they found a white Lamborghini. The son, a socceraficionado was described in a 2009 WikiLeaks cable from the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli ashaving a troubled past, including run-ins with police in Europe, drug and alcohol abuse andexcessive partying.


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In an office area in the villa, reporters saw large piles of catalogues for yachts and cars. Acatalog by the firm Benetti had a yellow handwritten post-it note attached listing the pricefor a 30-meter-long yacht as 7 million euros.

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Libya: New Leaders Pledge 'Moderate' Islamic Rule (Radio Netherlands Worldwide)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109130378.htmlBy Unattributed Author13 September 2011

Libya's new leaders pledged "moderate" Islamic rule even as their fighters were accused ofcommitting war crimes and a defiant Moamer Kadhafi vowed from hiding to battle on untilvictory.

Interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil received a hero's welcome when he made a publicspeech in Tripoli's main square late on Monday.

Thousands celebrated last month's fall of the Kadhafi regime in Martyrs' Square, two daysafter Abdel Jalil, the head of the National Transitional Council (NTC), arrived in Tripolifrom Benghazi in the east.

Moderate Islam would be the main source of legislation in post-Kadhafi Libya, he told thecrowd.

"We will not accept any extremist ideology, on the right or the left. We are a Muslimpeople, for a moderate Islam, and we will stay on this road," he said.

In a new report released Tuesday, Amnesty International accused Kadhafi's regime ofcrimes against humanity but also said NTC fighters had committed possible war crimes.

While the London-based rights group's report consisted mainly of damning examples ofviolations by Kadhafi's regime, it said the NTC appeared unwilling to hold its fightersaccountable for human rights violations.

Amnesty said in the first days of the uprising against Kadhafi's rule groups of protesterskilled a number of captured soldiers and suspected mercenaries.

"Some were beaten to death, at least three were hanged, and others were shot dead afterthey had been captured or had surrendered, the report, "The Battle for Libya -- Killings,Disappearances and Torture," said.

"The NTC is facing a difficult task of reigning in opposition fighters and vigilante groupsresponsible for serious human rights abuses, including possible war crimes but has shownunwillingness to hold them accountable," the report said.
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Kadhafi, meanwhile, in a statement read out on Syria-based Arrai Oruba television, vowedto defeat those behind the "coup" that ousted him.

"It is not possible to give Libya to the colonialists again," the one-time strongman said.

"All that remains for us is the struggle until victory and the defeat of the coup," added theformer leader who has gone underground since Tripoli fell to rebel fighters late last month.On the battlefield, Kadhafi's remaining forces launched ferocious counterattacks Mondayon the oil refinery town of Ras Lanuf in the east, on the road towards Kadhafi's hometownof Sirte, and at Bani Walid southeast of the capital Tripoli.

Striking deep behind enemy lines, Kadhafi fighters killed at least 12 NTC soldiers at RasLanuf, an NTC military spokesman told AFP.

The oil infrastructure along the Mediterranean coast between Sidra and Brega was a key

battleground of the seven-month uprising against Kadhafi, as the mainly rebel-held eastand mainly government-held west fought it out.

But since Tripoli's fall, NTC forces have advanced dozens of kilometres (miles) westtowards Sirte, which remains in Kadhafi's hand, moving to secure the vital oilinfrastructure on which its post-war reconstruction plans depend.

Southeast of Tripoli, civilians poured out of the desert town of Bani Walid Monday afterintense fighting between Kadhafi loyalists and troops of the new regime who haveencircled it.

But those fleeing said many more remained trapped inside the oasis town, 180 kilometres(110 miles) from the capital, for want of fuel for their vehicles.

"Families are scared to death by this war," said Mohammed Suleiman as he passed througha checkpoint with 10 relatives crammed into the back of his white BMW.

West of Sirte, an NTC commander said his forces had met strong resistance as theyadvanced to a place called "Checkpoint 50" -- 50 kilometres from the town.

"We came under fire from a lot of Grads (rockets)," said field commander Umranal-Awaib.

The unexpected counter-offensive by Kadhafi loyalists came despite the flight toneighbouring Niger of 32 members of his inner circle during the past 10 days.

"A total of 32 people are now here, including one of (Kadhafi's) sons, Saadi, as well asthree generals," Niger's Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said.

They crossed the border in four separate groups and had been taken in for "humanitarian


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reasons", he added.

The most recent arrivals included Saadi, the third of Kadhafi's seven sons, who has areputation as a playboy; and eight of the fallen despot's other close associates, Rafiniadded.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Niger was preparing to detainSaadi.

"We have confirmed with the government of Niger that Saadi crossed over, that they areeither in the process or have already brought him to the capital of Niamey and intend todetain him," she said.

On the diplomatic front, China which opposed the NATO campaign backing theanti-Kadhafi forces, finally recognised Libya's interim government after weeks of holdingback.

Washington also announced it had sent an advance team to help its officials reopen the USembassy in Tripoli.

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Gambia: 80 Percent of Europe's Cocaine Transit Through West Africa - Naval Chief

(The Daily Observer)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109131125.htmlBy Omar Wally13 September 2011

The chief of Naval Staff says that records indicate that about 80 percent of Europe'scocaine supply transits through the West African Coast.

Commodore Madani Senghore was speaking Monday at the Navy Guard Post near theFerry Terminal in Banjul during the opening ceremony of the Africa Partnership Station(APS) Training Programme 2011 High Speed Vessels Swift (HSV2) for the Gambia Navyand other security and maritime stakeholders.

The two-week training, which is organised by the United States Navy brought together 70participants. The main objective of APS is to work with partner nations like The Gambia inorder to pro-actively manage available maritime assets for self-sufficiency in the maritimedomain and promote regional security and cooperation to ensure unhindered maritimecommerce, the protection of marine resources and the safety and security of lives andproperties.

Commodore Senghore informed the convergence that with the dynamic evolving trends ofglobal maritime security threats that transcend national maritime boundaries, the oceansand waterways equally pose global security challenges. He also disclosed that sub-Saharan
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Africa registers over US$1billion economic loses yearly through illegal fishing.

He explained that the training is mainly geared towards enhancing maritime safety andsecurity through partnership, stressing that maritime security is an essential component forthe global stability that ensures development and prosperity.

He added: "About 70 percent of the world is water, 80 percent of the global populationlives on or near the coastline and about 90 percent of the world's commerce sails across theoceans, rivers and internal waterways."

The Naval chief stated that transnational maritime crimes and others, such as terrorism,human trafficking, illegal migration by boat and toxic waste dumping in the maritimeenvironment call for concerted efforts to confront them.

"Moreover, it is widely believed that what happens on the African continent may directlyor indirectly impact on Europe, the United States and the rest of the world at large," he

added.He informed the gathering that in achieving the objective, the APS focuses on enhancingsix major strategic pillars namely; maritime domain awareness, maritime professionals,maritime infrastructure, maritime response capabilities, regional integration andcomprehensive approach.

The chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) Lt. GeneralMasanneh Kinteh stressed that the Africa region requires constant maritime seagoingNaval assets, maritime legislation and institutions to better regulate the fishing industry,policing and prosecution of illegal acts, such as piracy, dumping of waste materials forcoastal pollution and so on.

He noted that the National Defence strategy of many countries in the region including TheGambia covers only the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of 200 Nautical miles offshore.

However, he said that with limited seagoing vessels to cover such a wide territory,maritime safety and security is a huge objective to be achieved by the Gambia Navy.

Lt. Gen Kinteh stated further that current naval assets also require huge financial resourcesto ensure their maintenance and seaworthiness, adding that the allocation of these scareresources for the operation and maintenance of naval assets at the expense of other vitalsectors of the economy poses a serious challenge to any Third World country, The Gambiainclusive.

He acknowledged that the involvement and support of the United States in resolving thecivil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other conflicts in other parts of Africa was there forall to see.

He further acknowledged that the United States has been investing human, material andfinancial resources for peace, security and democracy in the African continent.


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Cynthia Gregg, charge d'affairs, United States Embassy in The Gambia said The Gambialike many other countries, face maritime threat from illegal fishing boats and humantrafficking. She explained that the US Navy is in The Gambia to assist in protectingsecurity threats, adding that The Gambia is a very wonderful and beautiful country, very

secure and safe to live in. "We want to make sure that this continues forever," she said.Other speakers at the occasion included Lt John Repik, team leader and Lt. CommanderCharles E Easton, swift officer in charge.

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Liberia: Political Parties Oppose Use of Foreign Troops (African Elections Project)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109131347.htmlBy William Selmah13 September 2011

There have been heated debates in several quarters in Liberia since news began circulatingthat President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is on the verge of bringing in troops from Nigeria tohelp keep the peace and discourage any violence during the October polls.

Opposition politicians who have been very vocal against this reported move said the troopsare intended to silence them and pave the way for the ruling party to rig the election.

Eric Gbarmie, spokesman of the National Union for Democratic Progress of Senator PrinceJohnson said at a news conference: "We don't want to witness a repeat of history. It can berecalled that President William Tolbert brought in Guinean troops in Liberia and paid themsalaries and allowances as opposed to the low salaries and incentives of personnel of thearmed forces of Liberia at the time".

The political parties in their communiqu said the president's plans are disturbing andundermine the constitution.

But a member of the National Legislature Senator Abraham Massalay was swift to come inthe President's defense saying her move is constitutional and met the blessing oflawmakers.

"She's not in error. Nigeria and Liberia have a security pact. Why are you so critical ofNigerian troops coming here?", asked Senator Massaly, adding "When your country wason fire these were the people who organized the first vanguard force and brought somequietude around here."

He argued that Liberia's security was still in the hands of the international community ofwhich Nigeria is a part.

Meanwhile, the President's Press Secretary Cyrus Badio has said despite the fact that nodecision has been reached on sending Nigerian troops to Liberia, discussions were ongoing
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among ECOWAS member countries on consolidating peace and security in the region,especially in post-conflict countries.

He said any agreement to send ECOWAS troops to Liberia will have to be done within theframework of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

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Residents of besieged Gaddafi town given two days to go (Reuters) http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C00L20110913?sp=trueBy Maria Golovnina13 September 2011

NORTHERN GATE OF BANI WALID (Reuters) - Libyan transitional forces besieging abastion of forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi on Tuesday gave residents two days to leavebefore a threatened onslaught, and fears rose for the fate of civilians trapped in the last

redoubts of the fallen strongman.

Forces of the new ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) that overran Tripoli onAugust 23 have met unexpectedly stout resistance in five days of fighting for the town ofBani Walid 180 km (110 miles) southeast of the capital.

Along with Gaddafi's hometown Sirte on the central Mediterranean coast and Sabha in theremote southern desert, Bani Walid counts among the last strongholds of old regimefighters and their resistance has impeded NTC efforts to normalise life in the oil-producingNorth African state again.

Residents fleeing the town have reported days of intense firefights, and NATO warplaneswere backing up NTC fighters with air strikes on pro-Gaddafi rocket positions.

Families trapped there for weeks started to slip out after Gaddafi forces abandoned somecheckpoints on the outskirts, and dozens of cars packed with civilians streamed out of thearea on Monday and Tuesday.

NTC field commanders said people in Bani Walid, dominated by a tribe, the Warfalla, thatwas a pillar of Gaddafi's rule, had been told via broadcast radio messages they had twodays to leave town before it would come under full-blown attack.

"I think only 10 percent of the people are Gaddafi supporters. They are fanatics. And therest are waiting to be liberated. We have given them two more days to leave the city," NTCfighter Abumuslim Abdu told Reuters.

The United Nations said it was worried about the plight of civilians marooned insidebesieged pro-Gaddafi towns.

"Our big concern right now is Sirte, where we are receiving reports that there's no water
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and no electricity," U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told Reuters in Dubai.

Some NTC combatants said they suspected local fighters of the Warfalla tribe, Libya'slargest, were passing tips to Gaddafi forces in Bani Walid. "We believe there are traitorsamong them," said Mohammed el Gahdi, from the coastal city of Khoms.

NTC military spokesman Ahmed Bani told reporters the plan for Bani Walid for now wasto wait.

"When our forces entered Bani Walid they found the brigades of Gaddafi using citizens asshields," he said, adding that missile launchers had been placed on the roofs of homes,making it difficult for NTC forces or NATO warplanes to strike.

NTC CHIEF CALLS FOR CALM

Despite the fighting, efforts to get Libya running again were gathering pace, with NTC

chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil making his first public speech in Tripoli late on Monday --just hours after Gaddafi loyalists attacked an oil refinery.

Despite the assault, Abdel Jalil felt confident enough to address a crowd of about 10,000people in the central Martyrs' Square and use the speech to call for restraint.

"We seek a state of law, prosperity and one where sharia (Islamic law) is the main sourcefor legislation, and this requires many things and conditions," he said, adding that"extremist ideology" would not be tolerated.

Abdel Jalil has said that, along with taking control of pro-Gaddafi enclaves, capturing orkilling the fugitive leader is a priority and only then could Libya be declared "liberated".

A Syrian-based television station said on Monday it had received a new message from theGaddafi, who has issued regular battle calls to his followers in the three weeks since Tripoliwas captured, but could not broadcast it for security reasons.

It quoted the ousted leader, who it said was still in Libya, as saying: "We cannot give upLibya to colonisation one more time...There is nothing more to do except fight untilvictory."

Human rights group Amnesty International warned in a report on Tuesday that the securityvacuum risked plunging Libya into a bloody vortex of attacks and reprisals.

"We need to open the courts to anyone who harmed the Libyan people in any way. Thejudicial system will decide," Abdel Jalil said in Tripoli, urging NTC fighters to respect thatprinciple.Despite the attack on the oil refinery near coastal Ras Lanuf, Libya continued to ramp upefforts to get oil pumping again.


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The Arabian Gulf Oil Company (Agoco) said on Tuesday that production from the easternoilfield of Sarir had reached 160,000 barrels per day (bpd) and that it had begun to sendcrude oil to the export terminal of Tobruk.

Libya holds Africa's largest crude oil reserves and sold about 85 percent of its exports to

Europe under Gaddafi. Western oil firms, including Italy's Eni and Austria's OMV, arekeen to restore production.

SON UNDER SURVEILLANCE

One of Gaddafi's sons, Saadi, arrived in neighbouring Niger on Sunday after crossing thesouthern Sahara desert frontier. On Monday the U.S. State Department said Niger'sgovernment had confirmed to it that it would detain Saadi Gaddafi.

But a Nigerien government spokesman said Saadi was only being watched for now."Nothing has changed in the government's position. There is no international search for

him. Like the others he is just under surveillance," he said, referring to other Gaddadfiloyalists who have recently fled to Niger.

Two other sons and Gaddafi's only biological daughter have made their way out to Algeria.One son is reported to have died in the war and three others are still on the run.

The NTC has said it will send a delegation to Niger to seek the return of anyone wanted forcrimes under Gaddafi's rule.

Niger, like Algeria, has cited humanitarian reasons for accepting fugitives of the formergovernment, but has promised to respect its commitments to the International CriminalCourt, which wants to try Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullahal-Senussi for war crimes.

###

Islamist sect shoots dead four in northeast Nigeria (Reuters)http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0IN20110913?sp=trueBy Unattributed Author13 September 2011

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead four people in a bar in thenortheastern Nigerian town of Maiduguri in the latest strike by a radical Islamist sect,police said on Tuesday.

Boko Haram, whose name translates from the local Hausa language as "Western educationis sinful", has claimed responsibility for almost daily attacks in the remote, dusty northeastof Africa's most populous nation.

The sect's ambitions have grown and its threat has spread, bombing the police headquarters
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in June and the United Nations building in the capital last month, killing 23 people.

"The Boko Haram members went to the beer parlour at about 8pm (1900 GMT Monday)killing three customers and the owner of the joint," said Abubakar Kabiru, policespokesman for northeast Borno state.

He said two more people were shot dead on Sunday by suspected members of the sect,which wants sharia law more widely applied across Nigeria.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said the heightened security risks in Nigeria werekeeping foreign investors from putting funds into sub-Saharan Africa's second-largesteconomy.

Nigerian authorities have made several arrests since the U.N. blast and eight suspectedmembers of Boko Haram are due to be arraigned in an Abuja court on Tuesday. It was notclear what they will be charged with.

Boko Haram's attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and intelligence officialshave said there is evidence to suggest some members have trained in Niger and haveconnections with al Qaeda's North African wing.

The group's views are not espoused to by the majority of the Nigeria's Muslim population,the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.

###

Somalia briefly detains Turkish aid workers (Reuters)http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE78C0KU20110913By Mohamed Ahmed and Abdi Sheikh13 September 2011

MOGADISHU (Reuters)- Somali security forces briefly detained two Turkish aid workerson Tuesday after they delivered food to famine victims in an area near the capitalcontrolled by rebels, officials said on Tuesday.

The government's coordinator for humanitarian affairs said the charity workers, includingan emergency aid official working with IHH, failed to obtain clearance to meet the Islamistmilitants fighting to topple the government.

"The Turkish aid workers were arrested because they did not coordinate with our nationalsecurity. They met with al Shabaab without clearance or approval from governmentsecurity," humanitarian coordinator Mohamud Dahir Farah told Reuters.

"They have now been released," he said, adding that a local charity worker remained indetention. Two somali drivers were also arrested.
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A Somali intelligence source who declined to be named said the release followed talksbetween President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, Turkey's ambassador to Somalia and the Horn ofAfrica country's chief of intelligence.

"(Such arrests are) normal, because of the security situation there. They apologised for the

mistake," said an IHH official in Turkey who declined to be named.

The group was arrested late on Monday after delivering food and other emergency suppliesto an area 50 km (30 miles) outside the Mogadishu -- known as KM 50 -- where thousandsof hungry Somalis are living in squalid refugee camps.

KM 50 is controlled by the al Qaeda-linked militants.

There, IHH's Murat Kacakadam announced the group planned to ship supplies into therebel-controlled port of Kismayu in southern Somalia, the first known attempt by an aidagency to use the port which is a major source of revenue for the militants.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan visited Somalia last month as part of his country'spush to strengthen its ties with Africa.

###

Africa Rising: Guinea reworks its deal with mining companies (The Christian

Science Monitor)http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0913/Africa-Rising-Guinea-reworks-its-deal-with-mining-companiesBy Drew Hinshaw13 September 2011

Dakar, Senegal - Hard as raw rock, Guinea's mining code may be the toughest new law inAfrica. The only problem? Guinea's miners don't dig it.

Last week, the most mineral rich country this side of the Congosigned into action 106pages of updated rules affecting the mining companies that operate here.

There are oodles of them: European, American, Chinese.

The new law would allow Guinea to purchase rights of up to 35 percent of all money madeoff their mines and to hike export taxes on mineral shipments. It was the keystone ofPresident Alpha Cond's campaign, last year, to become Guinea's first democraticallyelected leader after five decades of misrule by dictators.

But the law is "senseless," the world's largest maker of aluminum, United Co.Rusal, said inan e-mail to Bloomberg News. Australia's Rio Tintoclaims it will cost them $10 billion.

"Any investor of good sense will look for investment opportunities somewhere outside
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Guinea," according to Rusal.

Maybe so, maybe not.

"There's always been that kind of argumentthat companies will go elsewhere," said

Bonnie Campbel, author of "Mining in Africa." She went on to say, "I think we're at aturning point now. There's a growing awareness in the political and economic role mineralsshould play."

Besides, in Guinea's case, companies may not have much of an elsewhere. TheBritain-sized woodland country sits on half the world's supply of bauxite, the ore crushedup to make aluminum. It also holds gold, iron, and diamonds.

For years, dictators, starting with Skou Tour, sold off that pay-dirt for some of the lowestroyalty rates on earthand with little oversight on where the money went.

Guinea's new ruleswhich force companies to publish mining contracts and undergoauditsis "a very significant step forward," said Legal Adviser Patrick Hellerfor RevenueWatch.

"This is an extremely progressive code," he said. "From the perspective [of] goofgovernance, this is one of the strongest codes in Africa, and it holds up elsewhere in theworld."

His concern? This isn't the first law Guinea has signed to crack down on its lucrativeandvenalmining industry. Guinea's 1995 code, Heller said, "was not a terrible law."

"The problem," he said, "was that it was never followed."

###

World should capitalise on Somali insurgent retreat: AU (Reuters)http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/world-should-capitalise-on-somali-insurgent-retreat-au/By Aaron Maasho13 September 2011

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - World powers should take advantage of a retreat bySomalia's al Shabaab rebels and step up efforts to defeat them by backing governmenttroops and imposing a no-fly zone and a sea blockade, the African Union said on Tuesday.

The al Qaeda-linked group pulled out of bases in Somalia's coastal capital Mogadishu atthe end of August, raising hopes that its influence was waning in the Horn of Africa nation.

Al Shabaab warned it would fight on elsewhere but experts say it has been significantlyweakened by internal divisions and a shortage of fighters.
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"There's a shared belief by all of us that the time is now to make a difference in Somalia,"Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner of the bloc's Peace and Security Council, told reporters.

"There can be some frustration that (AU peace keepers are) not fully equipped and that

(government) troops are not fully operationalised so that they can take an immediateadvantage at a period (when) al Shabaab are weaker than they used to be in the past," hesaid in the AU's headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Somalia has not had an effective central government since the 1991 overthrow of dictatorMohamed Siad Barre. Al Shabaab has been waging a four-year insurgency againstWestern-backed government troops and AU peacekeepers.

The AU last year called on the U.N. Security Council to impose a no-fly zone and amaritime blockade on the war-shattered nation to cut the flow of arms and recruits to therebels, but the world body has not carried out the request.

The United Nations will hold a meeting on Somalia in New York next week and Lamamrasaid he hoped "concrete steps" would be taken to support efforts to oust the rebels.

"We have been told that those recommendations are under consideration at U.N. level andwe believe that the time has come now to implement those measures which are likely tochange the dynamics of the situation in Somalia," he said.

Somalia is in the grips of a famine that the United Nations says is killing hundreds daily.

###

Intelligence Chiefs: Al-Qaida Weaker But Still Committed (American Forces PressService)http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65325By Karen Parrish13 September 2011WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2011Ten years after 9/11, al-Qaida is weaker and the U.S.intelligence community is more effective, the nations top intelligence officials told

Congress today.

CIA Director David P. Petraeus and Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapperspoke before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Intelligence committees about howU.S. intelligence efforts and al-Qaidas capabilities have changed since 9/11.

Petraeus, in his first appearance as CIA director after retiring as an Army general from thejob of leading U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, said a decade of war has thinned theranks of al-Qaidas leaders, creating a window of opportunity against the core terroristorganization.
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Today, as a result of sustained counterterrorism efforts -- a substantial number with ourpartners in Pakistan and Afghanistan -- the core part of al-Qaidas organization is muchweaker and less capable than when it attacked us on 9/11, he said.

The successful operation against Osama bin Laden demonstrated the value of intelligence

integration, the directors agreed.

Petraeus said bin Laden had been iconic, the sole al-Qaida leader since the groupsfounding. While Ayman al-Zawahiri succeeded him in June, much of the groups supportbase finds Zawahiri less compelling as a leader, the CIA director added.

Analysts expect Zawahiri will have more difficulty than did bin Laden in maintaining thegroups cohesion and motivation in the face of continued pressure, Petraeus said.

The groups rank of top lieutenants has lost many of its plotters, paramilitarycommanders, trainers and bomb-makers, he said, and the organization is struggling to find

qualified replacements.

These setbacks have shaken al-Qaidas sense of security in Pakistans tribal areas,Petraeus said.

With the core groups focus diverted from plotting against the west to ensuring its ownsurvival, he said, some mid-level and rank-and-file al-Qaida members may seek safe havenin Afghanistan or outside the South Asia region.

The upshot is that it will be more difficult for al-Qaida to attract and accommodatewould-be jihadists wanting to travel to the tribal areas of Pakistan, he said.

If the United States and its allies are to successfully exploit al-Qaidas window ofvulnerability, we must maintain the pressure, he said.

Petraeus cautioned that al-Qaida and its affiliates still pose a very real threat, and the groupstill seeks what he termed one of its principle goals: Forcing the United States and a

number of our allies to retreat from the world stage [to] clear the way for overthrowinggovernments in the Islamic world, and for the destruction of Israel.

Al-Qaida remains committed to and can still launch attacks against the United States andEurope, he said.

Increasingly, in fact, we see signs of al-Qaidas efforts to carry out relatively smallattacks, that would nonetheless generate fear and create the need for costly securityimprovements, he added.

As al-Qaidas core has weakened, its affiliates and sympathizers outside South Asia havetaken the initiative, he said.


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Working with our local partners to cooperate against these affiliates will continue to be

crucial to our overall efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaidas globalnetwork, he said.

While linked to the central al-Qaida structure, these groups largely operate independently

and have their own command structures, resource bases and agendas, he noted.

Our nation faces a serious threat from these groups, particularly from those based in

Yemen, home to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, Petraeus said.

The Yemen-based group has emerged as the most dangerous node in the global jihad, hesaid, with two attempted attacks against the United States since December 2009.

Since May, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has launched an offensive against theYemeni government in parts of southern Yemen, expelling many government forces fromthe region and increasing its members freedom of movement, he said.

Petraeus said counterterrorism cooperation between the United States and Yemen hasimproved in recent months, however, which is crucial to denying the group the safe havenit seeks to establish.

Southern Somalia also is one of the worlds most significant terrorist havens, and the

al-Qaida affiliate there, al-Shabab, is larger and better funded than most extremist groups,he said.

It has attracted and trained hundreds of foreign fighters, including scores of Americans

and dozens from other western countries, he added.

Suicide bombings in Uganda last year demonstrated al-Shababs ability to operate outsideSomalia, but sustained pressure on the relatively small group of leaders linked to the coreal-Qaida group could persuade the organization to turn away from global jihad, Petraeussaid.

He noted both Harun Fazul, the top al-Qaida operative in East Africa, and the al-Shababmastermind behind the Uganda bombings were killed in June, while African Union

troops recently drove al-Shabab members out of Somalias capital, Mogadishu.

Nonetheless, we must continue our work to reduce al-Shababs capabilities, he said.

Yet another al-Qaida affiliate, al-Qaida in the lands of the Islamic Maghreb, has targetedwestern interests throughout northern and western Africa, while battling security forces inAlgeria, Mali and Mauritania, Petraeus said.

We are working with our regional partners and France to counter AQIM, and those efforts

have helped to prevent a significant attack by AQIM against western interests since late2007, he added.


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Nigeria and Iraq also are among the areas threatened by al-Qaida affiliates, he said, whileregional government forces in Southeast Asia, including Bali and India, have killed orcaptured many terrorist leaders there.

The CIAs global campaign against al-Qaida and its affiliates requires both offensive anddefensive measures, and they will need to be sustained over a long period to be effective,he said.CIA officers work closely with international partners to thwart terrorist plots before theycan be carried out, and have succeeded in preventing several attacks, Petraeus said.

We owe these successes to improved tradecraft resulting from the fusion of intelligence

disciplines, to tight integration with other agencies and the military, to the sharing ofintelligence with foreign partners, and to [congressional] support, he said.

Over the past decade, CIA operatives and analysts have forged more effective

relationships, resulting in better information flow and new insights into how and whereterrorists operate, Petraeus said.

Cooperation with other intelligence organizations and with law enforcement agencies alsois closer than ever, he added.

We continue to work with [the Office of the Director, National Intelligence] and NationalCounterterrorism Center to improve the application of community resources, he said.Clapper said intelligence integration across government is greatly improved since 9/11.

The intelligence community today is producing and sharing more and better streams ofintelligence, he said. We are connecting people to people, people to data, and data to datathrough enhanced collaboration, automation and connectivity.

Clapper said the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security,Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, NationalCounterterrorism Center, State Department and Treasury Department all contribute to thenations overall counter-terrorism effort.

Intelligence information today can be discovered, evaluated and integrated faster and morecomprehensively than ever before, he said, while remaining consistent with privacy lawsand the protection of civil liberties.

We have put in place remarkable capabilities and achieved significant successes,

Clapper said. The nature of terrorism, though [makes] it impossible to guarantee thatevery planned attack will be thwarted and every plot disrupted.

###

NATO Reaffirms Commitment to Libyan People (American Forces Press Service)


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http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65318By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.13 September 2011

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2011NATO-led operations in Libya will continue to focus on

protecting the Libyan people, and will not support either the pro- or anti-Gadhafi forces, aNATO spokeswoman said today.

NATOs No. 1 concern has been the protection of civilians from the very beginning of

Operation Unified Protector, Oana Lungescu said.

The alliance initiated the operation to enforce U.N. Security Resolutions 1970 and 1973following the gross and systematic violation of human rights by the Gadhafi regime in

Libya, said Col. Roland Lavoie of the Canadian air force, military spokesman for theoperation.The resolutions specifically refer to the repression of peaceful demonstrators, arbitrary

detentions and forced disappearances, torture and summary executions, he explained.

NATO has effectively enforced the U.N. mandate to protect civilians, Lungescu noted.We have saved countless lives, and by protecting Libyan civilians, weve helped them togradually resume a normal life across Libya, she said. And [weve helped them] take the

future into their own hands.

NATO still is focused on protecting the Libyan people as the situation in some parts of thecountry remains fluid, Lungesco said.

Our mission is not yet complete, she said. Six months ago when NATO, together with

our partners, started [enforcing] the mandate of the United Nations Security Council,Benghazi was under threat, Misrata was under siege, and civilians were attacked andthreatened every day by Gadhafi regime forces.

NATOs involvement, Lungesco noted, will last only as long as its mission dictates.

As the secretary general has clearly stated, we are determined to continue the mission foras long as necessary, but not a day longer than necessary, she said. Our clear intention is

to terminate the mission as soon as the situation allows.

Lavoie said Libyas National Transition Council forces have attempted to peacefully

resolve the disputes throughout the country.

The areas of confrontation between Gadhafi and NTC forces on the ground have notchanged drastically over the last few days, he said. This is essentially due to the

deliberate, and very co

AFRICOM Related News Clips 14 Sep 2011

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