Nov 15, 2009
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African trade union federation COSATU has proposed that the alliance of the ruling ANC, Communist Party and itself replace the ANC as the main centre of political power, newspapers reported on Sunday.

The move would shift power away from the party, giving the left wing greater influence by making all three partners -- not just the ANC -- responsible for setting government policy. Such a change, if it happened, could unsettle foreign investors.

COSATU and the South African Communist Party (SACP) have been allied with the ANC since before it won the country's first all-race election in 1994, but the party has always been the senior partner.

The proposal was made at an alliance summit that started on Friday, aimed at ironing out differences between its members.

COSATU and the SACP have gained influence since they helped Jacob Zuma rise to lead the ANC and become South African president. They are pushing for a more left-wing economic policy, including higher spending, and for the inflation targets that guide monetary policy to be scrapped.

The Sunday Times said ANC members had opposed the change, but added delegates at the summit held separate meetings to discuss the plan.

A unnamed senior ANC leader accused the party's secretary-general Gwede Mantashe of trying "to kill the identity of the ANC".

"That will not happen, We are at the summit to defend the ANC. Moreover the ANC leads the alliance and (that's) not what COSATU wants," the newspaper quoted the delegate as saying.

Mantashe is also chairman of the SACP.

Nov 15, 2009
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali pirates have freed nine Indian and Bangladeshi seafarers after businessmen and clan elders in the country's semi-autonomous northern Puntland region negotiated their release, residents said on Sunday.

The sailors were dropped off late on Saturday in Puntland's capital Garowe. It was not immediately clear which vessel they came from, or whether any ransom was paid. Somali sea gangs have been holding at least 13 ships and more than 230 crew hostage.

"I can't tell them apart, but they are from India and Bangladesh," said Ali Said, a driver hired by the gunmen to take the former captives to Garowe from Eyl, a pirate stronghold.

"Now they are all healthy and at a hotel here waiting for their departure, although they do not have even one penny for transport," Said told Reuters by telephone from Garowe.

He said the Indian and Bangladeshi sailors had been on board a fishing boat when they were abducted off Oman, but Said said he did not know its name or when the hijacking had taken place.

"Their release came after joint efforts by local businessmen and clan elders," he added.

Patrols by a multinational naval force in the strategic shipping lanes that link Europe to Asia through the busy Gulf of Aden only appear to have forced the sea gangs to extend their range and strike deeper into the Indian Ocean.

Nov 15, 2009
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced two Christian men to death on Sunday for killing the Muslim husband of a female relative who converted to Islam against the wishes of her family, court sources said.

The brother and uncle of Mariam Atef Khilla were convicted of breaking into her Cairo home in 2008 and opening fire on her and her family, killing her husband and hitting her in the hand. The couple's baby daughter was also wounded.

The sources said the death sentence would be sent for review to the state-appointed Grand Mufti, Egypt's highest authority on Islamic law.

Khilla converted to Islam three years earlier to marry her husband in defiance of her family, security sources said at the time.

Christians account for up to 10 percent of Egypt's population and relations with the Muslim majority are usually harmonious. However, disputes over land, religious buildings, inter-marriage and conversion sometimes lead to violence.

Egypt's most serious Christian-Muslim clashes in decades occurred in southern Egypt in 1999 when 20 Christians were killed, 22 people wounded and scores of shops destroyed.

Nov 15, 2009
ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algerian coast guards recovered the corpses of two migrants while a surveillance aircraft and a helicopter search for eleven others who were still missing, official news agency APS reported on Sunday.

The 13 were among a group of 21 migrants trying to reach Europe when their two boats capsized on Saturday morning off the of the western province of Chlef, APS said, citing a statement by the country's navy.

The coast guards rescued one migrant while seven others managed to swim shore.

In a similar incident, twenty other migrants aged between 17 and 29 years were rescued late on Saturday near the eastern city of Annaba.

Official figures show that 1,500 Algerians were arrested in 2007 for trying to illegally leave the north African country for Europe.

Nov 15, 2009
ISIOLO, Kenya (Reuters) - Cattle raiders killed at least 10 people in arid northern Kenya on Sunday and stole more than 200 livestock, police and residents said.

Clashes over water, livestock and pasture have long plagued Kenya's remote corners, particularly during severe droughts.

Isiolo police commander Sammy Kosgey told reporters his officers had rushed to the scene in the remote Gambella area.

"Ten people were killed this morning. The victims' bodies have been brought here for burial," Kosgey said in Isiolo.

Some Gambella residents reached by telephone said one raider was also killed, but that his colleagues carried his body away. Many people have left homes in the area, fearing more violence.

"We shall buy guns and defend ourselves," said one local, Osman Happ. "This government is like a dead person or someone who is dead asleep. It will never protect us or our livestock."

Two months ago, heavily armed cattle raiders killed at least 29 people in a similar raid in northern Kenya.

Nov 15, 2009
JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) - South Sudan's leading political party appealed on Sunday for more time for voters to register for the country's first multi-party elections in 24 years, already tainted by allegations of fraud.

The April 2010 elections are a key part of Sudan's 2005 north-south peace deal which ended more than 20 years of conflict. Preparations have been hampered by delays and irregularities, contributing to tension between the former foes.

Registration began on November 1 for a 30-day period, but a lack of information and, with mobile registration centres moving every few days, the process has been slow and confused.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which dominates the semi-autonomous southern government, criticised the National Elections Commission (NEC) for the "absence of a serious awareness campaign ... to mobilise people to register".

In a statement, the SPLM urged the NEC "to extend by at least two weeks the period for voter registration".

The NEC said it was considering extension requests.

Sudan's political parties have all accused each other of vote-buying and faking voter registration.

"There have been insufficient funds released, causing delays in logistics," senior SPLM official Anne Itto told Reuters on Sunday.

15 Nov 2009
South-south Dialogue kicked off in Khartoum on Saturday with wide participation of a number of Sudanese political parties.

The dialogue will last for three days where issues regarding justice, equality, security in south Sudan, elections and referendum on self-determination will be debated.

The Ruling National Congress (NCP) deputy leader for parties' affairs, Nafie Ali Nafie said in the opening session that "any attempt to obstruct or violate Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to arrive at alternatives regarding south Sudan issue without involving people of south Sudan in the up-coming referendum was objectionable and waste of right."

Addressing the opening session, Nafie said that NCP "firmly believes in rescuing the agreement and is committed to referendum for self-determination, and it fully consents to and respects a referendum of whatever kind."

"NCP will act accordingly on the condition it will be free and open for the entire people of south Sudan so that the decision will be taken by the people of south Sudan not political forces from Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) or any other party," he added.

Nafie further said that his party hopes that the conference would be "conducive to results."

Nafie also called on SPLM, which has boycotted the conference, to "turn to reason" and join the conference.

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Food and Agriculture Organisation chief Jacques Diouf went on a 24-hour hunger strike on Saturday to put a spotlight on chronic malnutrition worldwide ahead of a UN summit on food security.

Diouf began the hunger strike late Friday, sleeping at FAO headquarters in Rome on a makeshift mattress of foam blocs, the UN organisation said in a statement.

He called on "people of goodwill everywhere" to join his hunger strike in solidarity with the one billion humans who suffer chronic malnutrition, the FAO said.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon will join the hunger strike on Sunday, it said.

"I hope that through these gestures we will raise awareness, and build pressure from public opinion to ensure that those who can change this situation are able to do so," Diouf said.

More than 60 heads of state and government will attend the World Summit on Food Security on Monday.

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KHARTOUM, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Just about one year ahead of the referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan, and the southern Sudanese region remains one of the most tensed areas in the country.

A south-south dialogue conference Saturday convened in Khartoum to discuss the phenomenon of tribal violence in the south and crystallize a unified stance for the southern Sudanese political forces toward some outstanding issues including the issue of unity and separation between north and south Sudan.

The participants at the conference agreed that the conditions in the south need conclusive solutions and unification of the southern Sudanese political forces, and called for signing a reconciliation charter between southern Sudan components.

Deputy Chairman of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP), Nafie Ali Nafie, addressing the opening sitting of the conference, said that "the issues of south Sudan will not be resolved but by the southerners themselves, and that the current challenges necessitate a clear stance by the southern Sudanese political forces".

"The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has placed a great responsibility on the shoulder of the southern Sudanese political forces, and the issues of referendum and self-determination require convocation of such a conference which is of great importance at this time", he added.

Chairman of the SPLM (Democratic Change), Lam Akol, for his part, noted that the levels of violence in the south concern the southern Sudanese political elites, saying "no doubt that the security situation in the south concerns the southerners, whereas only three states out of ten in the region enjoy relevant stability".

Akol further accused the SPLM, which governs south Sudan, of failing to defuse the tension and achieve security and stability in the region, saying "the SPLM bears the responsibility of the security disorder. It is a part of that mess".

He went on to say that the SPLM does not respect the rights of the tribes in south Sudan and that the government of southern Sudan is requested to reconsider the way it treats the tribes and other political parties in the south and involve the southerners in resolving the security crisis.

Chairman of the south-south dialogue conference, Abdalla Rasas, addressing the conference, said the security conditions in the south were complicated and "need all of us to exert further efforts to tackle it and reconcile the clashing tribes".

"The southern Sudan's security problem cannot be tolerated and the southern Sudanese political parties and the Islamic and Christian religious men should work together to resolve the issues of difference among the southern tribes and improve the situation in the region", he added.

Chairman of the National Umma Party and the Adviser to the Sudanese President, Abdalla Masar, meanwhile, criticized the performance of the government of southern Sudan and accused the SPLM of failure in managing the southern Sudan affairs.

"The south is passing a very critical phase because of mismanagement by the southern Sudan government, which has negatively been affected by its external commitments and failed in achieving security and stability in the south. It has attached its concern to its differences with the NCP without regard to the needs of the southerners", he noted.

Masar urged the SPLM to do justice to the southerners and other southern Sudanese parties and avail them full freedom to exercise their legal and constitutional role.

The SPLM is boycotting the south-south dialogue conference, which started its sessions in Khartoum Saturday with the participation of political parties from north and south Sudan.

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- African countries have taken a hard line at the United Nations Climate Change talks in Barcelona early this month, adding to fears that no binding deal will be reached at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) summit in Copenhagen next month.

Sudan's Lumumba Di-Aping, chairman of the G77 group of developing nations, insisted that rich countries cut emissions by 40 percent by 2020, as proposed by UN scientists.

This is considerably higher than the aggregate 16 percent on the negotiating table.

Di-Aping on Thursday said rich countries had to move further. "We call on developed countries to step up to the challenge. We believe they have a moral, financial and political responsibility to live up to the challenge," he said.

"If you take the EU position of a 20 or 30 percent cut the result is to condemn developing countries to total destruction, loss of livelihoods, and economies, land forests will be destroyed. You can't solve the climate change problem by tinkering around the edges."

Di-Aping also said the rich nations could find the money to help poor countries adapt to climate change. He insisted that it be managed by the UN rather than the World Bank. He said the bulk of the money should come from public funds rather than carbon markets.

"The EU and the U.S. together found 20 trillion U. S. dollars to avert the credit crisis," he added.

Makase Nyaphisi, Lesotho ambassador in Germany and coordinator and chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said in Barcelona, "We need certain commitments. We know the scientific evidence. We know the impacts on agriculture, health and so on. We know what action needs to take place. And we are expecting that there have to be ambitious targets taken on by Annex-1 countries, and at the moment they are not coming up with that."

Annex I countries are industrialized economies and economies in transition. Annex I countries which have ratified the UN Protocol have committed to reduce emission levels of greenhouse gasses to targets that are mainly set below their 1990 levels.

Nyaphisi said, "Africa is not stalling discussions, nor will we do so at Copenhagen. But we must have an equitable, transparent and fair deal. Countries must stop holding their cards to their chest, and let us know what they are willing to do."

Cedric Lombardo, environmental adviser to the president of Coted' Ivoire, said, "We have taken a risk. We have given Annex-1 countries the opportunity to say that Africa is blocking the negotiation process."

Lombardo said Africa took this position because the science, as laid out by the IPCC, required that Annex-1 countries reduce greenhouse gases by 40 percent below 1990 levels, in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.

"Africa needs this commitment from developed countries because it is the continent that was most vulnerable to these catastrophic effects of climate change."

Artur Runge-Metzger, the European commission's chief negotiator, said developing countries had a responsibility to cut emissions, as well as rich nations. "They already account for a huge part of world emissions and in future they will dominate. The developing countries will decide the fate of the globe."

Runge-Metzger admitted that the EU and G77 are still different fundamentally in many areas, including the amount of money to be made available, the channels it should go through, whether the money is public or private, and the cuts which rich countries should make to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Lesotho's Bruno Sekoli, chair of the Least Developed Group of countries, said it is more important to get a good deal, however long it takes. "We do not want a compromise deal. If it takes a year, even two years, then we will continue talking. A bad deal is not good for Africa or vulnerable countries."

Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, backed the developing nations' perspective when he said in Copenhagen last month, "Climate justice demands that the industrialized countries meet their historic responsibility for the accumulation of greenhouse gases.

"They must lead in ensuring that global emissions peak by 2020 -and fall by at least 50 percent from 1990 levels by 2050", he said.

Addressing the Global Editors' Forum conference entitled "From Kyoto to Copenhagen" on Oct. 9, Annan said it was "a tragic irony that the countries which have done least to cause climate change are those which are suffering and will suffer from its impact."

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has radically stepped up its efforts to combat the sexual exploitation of children as the country prepares to host the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, South African Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba said at a conference in Pretoria on Saturday.

Measures include tough new legislation to fight the scourge, and Africa's first internationally recognized hotline for reporting sexual abuse of minors.

During previous World Cup events, such as the game hosted in Germany in 2006, an exceptional growth in the demand for sexual services was experienced, which included the sexual exploitation of children, Gigaba said.

"It is estimated that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will create conditions that will increase the vulnerability of children and provide opportunities for abusers, exploiters, traffickers, collectors of child pornography and paedophiles to fulfill their ignoble business whilst pretending to be soccer fans," said the official.

"We have been busy in this regard, working together with the police, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), business, and other non-governmental organizations, developing strategies to be ready for paedophiles when the 2010 FIFA World Cup takes place," Gigaba said.

The expected economic gain will fuel and increase the demand and supply factors that place children risk to provide cheap and exploitative labor, sexual and other services.

The deputy minister said South Africa has joined the rest of the world in acknowledging the importance of adopting a proactive approach to fighting child pornography and all forms of child abuse.

"To this end, we have adopted laws that protect children from all forms of abuse, such as the Films and Publications Act, the Children's Act and the Sexual Offences Act. All these Acts constitute a battery of legislation aimed at protecting our children from all forms of abuse."

The Films and Publications Amendment Act, among others, establishes the Films and Publication Board which is mandated to monitor and classify images that would portray children involved in sexual acts.

Gigaba said, "Child abuse has become a global pervasive crime, and information and communications technology has aggravated it, ensuring that this crime transcends national borders and defies time and other limitations, it is important that strategic partnerships beyond any single national border be forged to protect all children without regard to where they are and who they are."

When South Africa established the Films and Publications Board, the country was "thinking globally and acting locally, and when we sought the membership of INHOPE we were then thinking locally and acting globally. In today's world, there is almost no dividing line between the local and the global; one can tread both spheres with a single step," the official said.

"One of the least known and spoken about crimes of child abuse is that of child pornography. Unlike other crimes it exists where it cannot be easily detected. However, we have all along been of the view that the fact that a person or groups of people do not know about it does not mean it is not happening," Gigaba added.

The official said South Africa in 2008 launched an internet hotline that "both enables reporting and also informs the public and the users about this challenge, as well as educates the public about how to combat this crime and protect children."

In the build up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the official said, "it is also feared that the expected economic gain will increase rural child migration and trafficking, as well as homeless children all at tremendous risk of sexual and other forms of exploitation."

MOMBASA, Kenya, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan cabinet ministers and their assistants have resolved to foster unity and cohesion by refraining from making adverse public utterances against the coalition government.

In a communique issued at the end of a three-day national leaders retreat in Mombasa, east Kenya, late on Saturday, the ministers and assistant ministers also agreed to avoid utterances that could portray a negative image of the government.

"Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers will individually and collectively lead in upholding and promoting national interests and positive image of the country," the communique said.

The retreat which was attended by President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka also resolved that cabinet ministers and assistant ministers shall abide by the principles of collective responsibility.

The ministers and assistant ministers further agreed that they will personally and collectively expedite and facilitate the reform program of the government including the new constitution, the boundary review, the national healing and reconciliation process and the Agenda Four.

The national leaders observed the need for the government to take a common position on the new constitution and to expedite delivery of a constitution that is functional, workable and simple to understand by the Kenyan people.

The retreat also decided that cabinet ministers and assistant ministers should facilitate and expedite the implementation of the Grand Coalition Government Medium Term Plan and Vision 2030 on the basis of annual delivery targeted results.

"As members of one government, Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers will support policies and government bills in public and in Parliament," the communiqué said.

The cabinet ministers and assistant ministers resolved further that they will trust and respect each other and any differences will be resolved through internal mechanisms and abide by the code of conduct of ministers and assistant ministers.

The retreat also resolved that cabinet ministers will abide by the oath of secrecy and keep government secrets.

On enhancing communication, the national leaders resolved that the government will develop a comprehensive Government Communications Strategy that will include cabinet, ministerial and overall government communication.

Other resolutions passed during the retreat include holding similar meetings regularly at least twice a year, establishment of Ministerial Management Committees comprising of Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Head of Departments in each ministry with the committees meeting at least once a month to deliberate on policies, programs and activities of the ministry.

On division of duties, it was agreed that assistant ministers will be allocated specific functions in their ministries in addition to their parliamentary responsibilities.

It was also resolved that benefits and privileges of Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers be rationalized and communicated by a circular to Accounting Officers.

The retreat also proposed for further analysis and consideration by the two principals, the formation of conflict resolution mechanisms within the Grand Coalition Government and holding of regular meetings of the Grand Coalition Parliamentary Group.

It also proposed that the Grand Coalition Management Committee should hold regular meetings and develop a Grand Coalition management plan.

KHARTOUM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and Mauritania Sunday agreed to enhance cooperation to prevent double taxation and commercial exchange.

In a meeting Sunday between the Sudanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Karti and the Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Naha Mint Hamdi Ould Mouknass, the two sides reviewed horizons of cooperation between Khartoum and Nouakchott in the political and economic fields.

"We have discussed bilateral relations and common issues of concern besides horizons of cooperation between the two countries, namely in fields of prevention of double taxation, scientific research, information and cultural exchange", said the Sudanese state minister Karti in a press statement following the meeting.

He further said the two sides have agreed to convene meetings of the joint ministerial committee in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott on second half of December.

The Mauritanian official, for her part, said that her visit to Khartoum "avails a good opportunity to discuss with the Sudanese government issues of mutual concern."

South African President Jacob Zuma says the county's police do not have a "license to kill", but vowed to crackdown on rampant crime ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

His words came on Friday, a day after his deputy police minister, Fikile Mbalula, told reporters in Cape Town that he has told his officers to "shoot the bastards" in fighting criminals.

"No police officer has permission to shoot suspects in circumstances other than those provided for by law. The law does not give the police a license to kill," said Zuma.

"We have stated our position very clearly. It is the duty of the police to protect all people against injury or loss of life. But ... police sometimes have no choice but to use lethal force to defend themselves and others," Zuma said.

After taking office in May, Zuma's government has tried to decrease the country's crime rate, but still, an average 50 killings a day sometimes for as little as a mobile phone, displays severe lack of security.

Zuma, who has backed stronger gun-powers for the police, said that crime was at the top of his government's agenda. He said the police force would be boosted by some 24,000 in the next three years with detectives increasing by 19 percent this year.

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(Xinhua) -- The new Madagascan transitional prime minister officially took office on Friday in the Madagascan capital of Antananarivo during a handover ceremony.

Eugene Regis Mangalaza, 59, was appointed by representatives of four political camps, each led by current president Andry Rajoelina, and former presidents Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy on October 6 in Antananarivo, as transitional prime minister to replace Monja Roindefo appointed by Rajoelina on February 7.

Having snubbed the prime minister palace for almost a month, outgoing Prime Minister Roindefo peacefully left his office for Mangalaza, organizing on Friday a fellowship handover ceremony attended by diplomatic corps members.

In his speech at the ceremony in the palace, Roindefo congratulated his successor for his acceptance to hold the power transfer conforming the "Republican legislation".

"This is a first step to ensure the return to constitutional order, international recognition and technical assistance and financial partners," he said.

Roindefo added that a big responsibility waited Mangalaza, especially because Malagasy people claimed a credible and transparent election during the popular demonstrations which led to the political crisis in the country.

At the age of 44, Roindefo concluded the speech by saying that a statesman had not any retirement and now it was the best time for him to serve his country.

Despite owning a Ph.D. in social anthropology and another doctorate in philosophy, the new prime minister was candid to say in his first address to the nation that his responsibility was difficult because he did not choose members of his government.

According to Mangalaza who is from Ratsiraka's camp, he would not want to aggravate the political situation in Madagascar and agreed to lead a government whose members are appointed by the four parties.

However, he told his future ministers that after being appointed they should not keep in mind their own political camps, but work for the government, adding idlers would be replaced.

"The aim of this government of national unity is preparing for elections, laws on the practice of politics in Madagascar, during 12 months instead of 15 months (planned by the agreement of four stakeholders on August 6 in Maputo, Mozambique)", said the new Madagascan prime minister.

He said that ministers of the government would be soon announced to begin resolving the political crisis that began in December last year.

(Xinhua) -- Algerian Criminal Court sentenced Friday to death and life imprisonment the head of al-Qaida of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and his 52 fellow members, according to the official Algeria Press Service (APS) news agency.

The court sentenced 49 decedents, including Abdelmalek Droukdel, head of AQIM, to death penalty and four decedents to life imprisonment, accusing them responsible for the 2007 bomb attack in Algiers, which led to the death of 11 and injury of over 100.

On April 11, 2007, a blast attacked a police post in Algiers, killing and injuring more than 100 people, for which the AQIM later claimed responsible.

The defendants admitted that they had spotted the movement of the security forces in Algiers and transferred the information to terrorist organizations several days before the bombing.

The criminal court sentenced in absentia to death and life imprisonment against 11 terrorists on Tuesday.

KINSHASA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Swedish ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Van De Geer, said on Thursday that reforms for the DRC armed forces (FARDC) is a priority for the European Union (EU).

The Swedish diplomat, whose country will be assuming the rotating EU Presidency, made the remarks at a meeting with the DRC's Defense Minister Charles Mwando Nsimba.

He said he was pleased with the progress made so far by the government, which already tabled a bill on army reform in parliament.

He reiterated the EU readiness to collaborate with the Congolese government in the reform, saying the EU could participate in the biometric census of the FARDC.

He also announced that the EUSEC plan will soon be operational to boost security in the DRC when the reform measures are unfolded.

NAIROBI, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will next week host a high-level international conference bringing together over 1,200 delegates from around the world in Nairobi.

The 17th Session of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent and 2009 Council of Delegates will be held in Africa on Nov.18-25 for the first time in the history of the movement.

"This is the first time that such a conference will be held in Africa which is a testimony of the significance of the continent to the movement," Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Abbas Gullet said.

He said there are persistent negative images about Africa, including war, natural disasters, poverty and suffering. This is the time to showcase the true African spirit in a positive light.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is today the world's largest humanitarian network, with 186 Member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and nearly 100 million volunteers.

Gullet said the delegates are welcome to Kenya, which is one of the world's premier tourist destinations with diversity of culture, friendly people and great wealth of natural resources.

Under the theme "Our World Your Move", the meeting will discuss specific topics including humanitarian diplomacy, migration, global program for Africa, Strategy 2020 of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, Internally Displaced Persons, Food Security, Global Alliance on HIV, global strategy on addressing the social culture of violence, disaster risk reduction, role of volunteers among others.

The movement is engaged with disaster management with the auxiliary responsibility of assisting Governments to carry out humanitarian work in times of peace and conflict.

It also manages natural disasters such as drought, famine and floods with its relief operations in emergencies strictly complying with the provisions of the code of conduct for disaster response, said Gullet.

Similarly, the movement carries out health and social services which focus on disease prevention and advocacy.

Under the water and sanitation program, the movement strives to improve access to safe and affordable water and sanitation.

The 16th session of the General Assembly took place in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2007.

HARARE, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has set the tone for inter-party negotiations with the two MDC factions as they seek to resolve outstanding issues in the country's Global Political Agreement (GPA).

The state controlled Herald newspaper on Friday gave an account of Mugabe's presentation at the heads of state summit of the SADC troika on politics, defense and security held in Maputo on Nov. 5,which gave details of the party's position on the outstanding issues.

The Maputo summit directed that the parties should sit within 15 days to resolve all issues still outstanding in the GPA.

Observers see the publication of the party's position paper as setting the tone for what Zanu-PF sees as negotiable and non-negotiable issues and warning the other parties of what they should expect when negotiations start, since the parties have differed over issues they regard as outstanding.

In fact, the party leaves virtually no room for negotiation on the issues the other parties regard as outstanding, and instead urges its partners in the inclusive government, especially Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party, to call for the removal of the West-led economic sanctions imposed on the country, as per its promise in the GPA.

Negotiations failed to start this week because the negotiators were tied up elsewhere and have now been rescheduled for Monday. Even then, the negotiators would still want to get direction from their principals -- Mugabe, Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara (MDC-M).

Following the absence of an outright winner in the parliamentary elections of 2008 and the political tension and economic turmoil that prevailed then, Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara signed the GPA on Sept. 15, 2008, paving the way for the formation of an inclusive government.

The deal was brokered by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who was appointed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as facilitator to the process. South Africa remains facilitator and is now monitoring progress towards the resolution of the outstanding issues.

Among the issues that Tsvangirai's party wants addressed are the appointments of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana. The party also wants Mugabe to swear in its treasurer Roy Bennett as a deputy minister. Mugaberefuses to swear Bennett into office until he has been cleared by the courts of insurgency and terrorism charges.

Tsvangirai and Mutambara want provincial governors to be appointed according to the parties' performances in the March 29 presidential and general elections, saying the party with the highest number of parliamentary seats in the province should appoint one of its own as the provincial governor.

Zanu-PF insists that the appointments of Gono, Tomana and provincial governors are not outstanding in the GPA.

A communique issued at the end of a SADC extra-ordinary summit held in South Africa on Jan. 27, however, urged the parties to deal with the issues after the formation of the government. The summit had been called to deal with problems in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"The appointments of the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney General will be dealt with by the inclusive government after its formation; and the negotiators of the parties shall meet immediately to consider the National Security Bill submitted by the MDC-T as well as the formula for the distribution of the Provincial Governors," the communique said.

However, Zanu-PF is putting its foot down with regards to the appointments of Gono and Tomana, saying that these were done constitutionally before the formation of the inclusive government in February.

"The President then had no obligation to consult anyone, let alone leaders of political parties. The appointments were in accordance with the Constitution and the law," the party said, adding that the issues were never discussed during the dialogue and that the SADC had recommended discussions on these should be done within the government.

"Zanu-PF has taken the position that these are non-issues and have nothing to do with the GPA and Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment Number 19) Act and are being raised in order to distractattention from strategic issues such as the removal of sanctions."

Although insisting that the appointment of provincial governorswas President Mugabe's prerogative, the party said there was a likelihood of an agreement by the negotiators.

Tsvangirai announced a partial withdrawal from the government on Oct. 16, citing lack of progress in concluding the outstanding issues but suspended the boycott on Nov. 5 following the SADC intervention.

Some of the issues which Zanu-PF acknowledges as outstanding include the setting-up of a National Economic Council, the constitution-making process and a land audit, which it says have been constrained by lack of funds "and the rather crowded agenda."

The Herald supports the Zanu-PF component in the inclusive government and has been accused by the two MDC factions of being partisan.

LAGOS. Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has said his administration will support the Pan-African Parliament in the realization of its objectives, the News Agency of Nigeria reported on Friday.

Yar'Adua gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday when visiting first Vice President of the Parliament Bethel Amadi visited him at the Presidential Villa.

Article 17 of Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) established the Pan-African Parliament in 2004.

"Nigeria and ECOWAS will support the Pan-African Parliament to achieve its objectives. We will support it at both regional and national level," he said.

He described the emergence of the Parliament as a great event of great historic significance.

The President remarked that democracy is anchored by Parliament and without the growth and development of Parliament, democracy cannot be sustained.

He gave the assurance that the Nigerian federal government would assist in the building of the regional headquarters of the Parliament in Abuja.

Amadi had earlier solicited the support of Yar'Adua to enable the Parliament achieve its full potentials.

He said Article 18 of the Protocol establishing the Parliament required it to work in close cooperation with Parliament of the Regional Economic Communities and National Parliaments of member states.

He expressed the support of the Parliament to the decisions of the ECOWAS regarding the political situations in Guinea, Conakry and Niger Republic.

"We fully and unequivocally support your position as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on these issues in Guinea and Niger Republic," he said.

Amadi also solicited for the support and assistance of the Nigerian government in the provision of office accommodation and logistics for the Parliament's regional liaison office in Abuja.