World News Catch-Up

This is the first installment of our World News Catch-Up.  Because the traditional news media would rather focus on pressing issues like Anna Nicole and American Idol, we are getting even more closed off from the real world outside of this country.  So each evening, as everyone east of the Atlantic sleeps, we will bring you some of the major world news stories.

Somalis escape capital: Somalis were seen fleeing the capital of Mogadishu after a sixth day of fighting.  The mass exodus occurred because fighting between government forces and militants had killed 250 people in six days of fighting -- with 37 of the dead coming today.  Also, international civil rights groups are condemning acts of violence against various members of the Somali media. 

The U.S State Department, meanwhile, is accusing the nearby country of Eritrea of fueling the violence in the Somali capital.

Boris Yeltsin passes on: Russia's democratic revolutionary Boris Yeltsin -- remembered for his government's survival of a 1991 coup attempt -- passed away today at age 76.  He was the first freely elected leader in Russia.  The cause of death was heart failure.  "No Americans, at least, will forget seeing him standing on the tankoutside the White House (the Russian parliament building) resisting thecoup attempt," said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Sadly, even though most of the world was saddened by his death today, many Russians in the streets of Moscow gathered to tell the media what a bad leader he was.  Said one Russian doctor, "My father spent 50 years in the (Communist) party and thought thatwhat he did was for the good of the people. In the end, everything hedid was for a handful of embezzlers."  By a long-shot, the younger generation is much more appreciative of what Yeltsin did for the Russian country than those who were alive during the 1960s.

Nigerian election may have been rigged: Opposition party leaders and international rulers are dubbing Umaru Yar'Adua's election victory as illegitimate and nothing more than a "charade."  More than 200 were killed on election day, April 14th, and there were widespread reports of voting irregularities.  The opposition candidate called it the "worst election" Nigeria had "ever seen."  Both the European Union and the United States backed the opposition leader's claim that the election was illegal.   "These were flawed elections," a U.S. State Department official proclaimed.  As a result of the questionable elections, and the possibility of more political turmoil in Nigeria, oil prices soared on Monday.

United Nations Resolution to Protect Darfur: The U.S. State Department is fed up with the slow world response to the continuously troubled situation in Darfur.  The United States introduced a U.N. Security Council Resolution that calls for an international force to protect the innocent civilians that have been plagued by violence.  The problem is that even if the resolution is passed, the U.N needs permission from the Sudanese government before any forces can be sent in.  The U.S. State Department is advising Sudan to accept the international force.

With the international pressure being ratcheted up, a top Sudanese official vowed to halt military operations in the Darfur region for two months.

More World News in tomorrow's catch-up.

Comments

[The Mexican]

I love news like this from around the world. This is what I get when I read magazines such as In These Times, International Socialist Review, Socialism and Liberation, etc. This is a welcomed addition to an astounding collection of political coverage on this site. Keep up the good work.