ICC Investigates Guinea Violence

10.22.09

Bloombery, By Peter S. Green

Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) — The International Criminal Court is investigating possible war crimes in the African nation of Guinea after government troops allegedly shot as many as 135 people and sexually assaulted others during a pro-democracy demonstration last month.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the court’s prosecutor, confirmed he’s examining the situation in Guinea, his office said in an e- mailed statement today. Earlier today, the European Commission called for Moussa Dadis Camara, the leader ofGuinea’s ruling military junta, to step down and face trial for war crimes over the shootings.

Soldiers opened fire near the stadium in Conakry, capital of the west African nation, on Sept. 28 after demonstrations by opposition supporters over Camara’s intention to run in Jan. 31 presidential elections. Guinea’s opposition contends more than 200 people were killed and 150 women were raped by members of the military during the crackdown.

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US Creates New Sudan Policy

10.22.09-

The LA Times, By Paul Richter.

Reporting from Washington - The White House on Monday unveiled a Sudan policy that seeks a middle ground between punishing the country for its actions in Darfur and appeasing it, a step away from the get-tough policy advocated by President Obama during his election campaign.

The announcement of the new policy came after seven months of debate within the administration. It was cautiously welcomed by advocates of stringent measures to end the violence in Darfur, who expressed relief that the White House did not adopt a more conciliatory approach.

The administration wants Khartoum to end the fighting between Darfur rebels and government-backed militias. But it also is trying to persuade President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir’s government to cooperate in fighting terrorism, and in implementing a 2005 agreement that ended a civil war between the country’s northern and southern regions.

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Reuters

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