Human Security News

Gunmen Clash in Tripoli, Instability Grips Lebanon, Reuters

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

Pro-government Sunni Muslim gunmen fought militiamen allied to Hezbollah in the northern city of Tripoli on Monday, in further violence that has already dismantled the balance of power in Lebanon. The upheaval, which began when Hezbollah and its allies overran the strongholds of their Sunni political foes in Beirut last week, has recalled memories of the 1975-90 civil war. Six people were wounded in sporadic gun battles between Sunni fighters in Tripoli's Bab Tebbaneh area and pro-Hezbollah Alawites in neighboring Jebel Mohsen, security sources said. Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas and their pro-Syrian allies have swept through Beirut and hills to the east in a series of dramatic victories since May 7, defeating loyalists of the U.S.-backed government before handing their conquests to the Lebanese army, which has stayed out of the fighting. At least 36 people were killed on Sunday in fighting between Hezbollah and its pro-government Druze opponents east of Beirut, bringing the overall toll to 81 dead and about 250 wounded. Hezbollah's success has dealt a severe blow to the ruling Sunni-led coalition and its main patron, the United States.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: Day 5: Lebanese dare to hope worst is over, The Daily Star (May 12)

ARTICLE: Lebanese Violence Spreads Beyond Capital, Globe and Mail (May 12)

ARTICLE: Lebanese Army steps into Beirut fray, Christian Science Monitor (May 12)

ARTICLE: Lebanon's Sunni bloc built militia, officials say, Los Angeles Times (May 12)

ARTICLE: Four days that changed the Middle East (Rami G. Khouri), The Daily Star (May 12)

ARTICLE: Lebanon does not want another war, does it? (Robert Fisk), The Independent (May 12)

REPORT: The Lebanon Crisis, The Brookings Institution (Mar. 19)

Peace Talks to Begin in Djibouti, Integrated Regional Information Networks

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

Representatives of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and an Eritrea-based opposition alliance were gathered in Djibouti on 12 May for peace talks, with the government expressing optimism about the outcome. However, opposition sources said there had been no direct talks with the government. The Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, better known as "the alliance", has repeatedly refused to open dialogue with the TFG until Ethiopian troops leave Somalia. However, in April, they agreed to a dialogue through a third party, "until a solution is found for the Ethiopian problem", said an opposition source. Representatives of Somalia's civil society said they were pushing for successful dialogue but expressed dismay that the talks could fall prey to divisions within each camp. The talks come at a time when an estimated 2.6 million Somalis need assistance. The figure is expected to reach 3.5 million by the end of the year if the humanitarian situation does not improve, according to the UN. The fighting between Ethiopian-backed Somali forces and insurgents has forced up to one million Somalis to flee their homes, while an estimated 6,500 civilians have been killed since 2007.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: Rare Somalia talks make slow start, UN hopeful, Mail and Guardian (May 11)

ARTICLE: Somalia's Perpetual War, Council on Foreign Relations (May 9)

REPORT: Bringing together Somali civil society in the quest for peace, Saferworld (Mar. 11)

Drive in Basra by Iraqi Army Makes Gains, New York Times

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

Three hundred miles south of Baghdad, the oil-saturated city of Basra has been transformed by its own surge, now seven weeks old. In a rare success, forces loyal to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki have largely quieted the city, to the initial surprise and growing delight of many inhabitants who only a month ago shuddered under deadly clashes between Iraqi troops and Shiite militias. Just as in Baghdad, Iraqi and Western officials emphasize that the gains here are “fragile.” Among the many uncertainties are whether the government, criticized for incompetence at the start of the operation, can maintain the high level of troops here. But in interviews across Basra, residents overwhelmingly reported a substantial improvement in their everyday lives. Hopes for a similar outcome in Baghdad’s Sadr City district were undercut when an Iraqi armored unit was struck by three roadside bombs on Sunday, one day after a cease-fire there was negotiated. The principal factor for improvement that people in Basra cite is the deployment of 33,000 members of the Iraqi security forces after the March 24 start of operations, which allowed the government to blanket the city with checkpoints on every major intersection and highway.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: Hasty truce with Moqtada al-Sadr tests his sway in Baghdad stronghold, Christian Science Monitor (May 12)

ARTICLE: Sadr City fighting eases under short-term truce, Los Angeles Times (May 12)

REPORT: The Iraq War: Key Trends and Developments, Center for Strategic and International Studies (May 1)

Darfur Rebel Raid Stirs Sudan-Chad War, Christian Science Monitor

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

Sudan on Sunday cut diplomatic ties with its neighbor Chad, which it accuses of backing a Darfur rebel assault on Sudan's capital, Khartoum, over the weekend. Although the Darfur rebels have little chance of toppling Sudan's regime, the advance is "the first time anyone has managed to take civil war to the doorstep of the [Sudanese] government, so it's a propaganda victory of sorts," says Richard Cornwell of the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa. The move by the Justice and Equality (JEM) rebel group may expose the fragility of the Sudanese government by putting pressure on existing divisions, say analysts. But it also gives Khartoum a reason to ramp up its latest offensives in Darfur and raises the prospect of a border war between Chad and Sudan; both believe the other is using rebels as proxy fighters. This weekend's rebel assault came out of the blue. Several hundred JEM rebels launched their attack on Saturday morning having traveled more than 600 miles from their Darfur strongholds. Sudanese armed forces responded with artillery and helicopter gunships as fighting raged through the day.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: Sudan police arrest opposition leader, Los Angeles Times (May 12)

ARTICLE: Sudan crackdown after rebel raid, BBC (May 12)

ARTICLE: Incursion Crushed, Sudan Reports, Washington Post (May 11)

Sharif's Party Quitting Pakistan's Cabinet, Associated Press

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced Monday that his party was withdrawing from the cabinet, raising doubts over the government's stability and Pakistan's transition to democracy after eight years of military rule. Sharif said, however, that the party would still support the six-week-old coalition government despite disagreeing with its main partner over the restoration of judges fired by President Pervez Musharraf. Both parties appear reluctant to sever ties and the civilian government led by the party of Asif Ali Zardari is likely to survive over the short term. Both Sharif and Zardari's parties have called for the reinstatement of dozens of judges axed by Musharraf when he declared a state of emergency in November to forestall a Supreme Court ruling on his eligibility for office. But the parties have disagreed on exactly how to do it, and weekend negotiations in London did not produce a deal. Zardari wants to link the judges' reinstatement to broader judicial reforms that could restrict the chief justice's tenure. Complex legal and political issues, including the status of the judges Musharraf installed after the purge, have also proved stumbling blocks to a deal.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: Nawaz Sharif deals blow to fragile Pakistan civilian government, The Times (May 12)

ARTICLE: Another D-Day for Pakistan over militants, Asia Times (May 12)

ARTICLE: Army deploys tanks after new clash in Darra, Dawn (May 11)

Burundi clashes as UN Seeks Peace, British Broadcasting Corporation

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

A UN delegation is in Burundi to try to help secure peace as fighting continues between the army and the FNL rebels. The UN Commission for the Consolidation of Peace is spending five days in the country talking to both sides. The visit had been due to take place last month but was postponed after fighting between government troops and the FNL left 26 dead. Burundi is emerging from more than a decade of civil war in which about 300,000 people were killed. In 2006 the government and the FNL (National Liberation Forces) agreed a ceasefire but it broke down after the government rejected rebel demands for power-sharing. Explosions were heard on Monday morning in the hills overlooking the capital, Bujumbura. The army has been shelling rebel positions in the districts of Kabezi in the south and Mutimbuzi to the north of the city. Army spokesman Adolphe Manirakiza could not confirm any casualties but said the army was pursuing "routine patrols" against rebels. The BBC's Prime Ndikumagenge in Bujumbura says people are hoping that the arrival of an FNL delegation in Bujumbura this week could mark the end of hostilities.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: UN Peacebuilding Commission delegation kicks off visit to Burundi, UN News Service (May 10)

REPORT: Challenges to the peace process in Burundi, Global Insight // Institute for Global Dialogue (Jan. 31)

ACADEMIC ARTICLE: Transitional Justice for Burundi: A Long and Winding Road, Peace Justice Conference // Crisis Management Initiative (Jun. 2007)

U.S. Relief Planes Finally Allowed into Burma, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

After being blocked by the Burmese government for days, the first U.S. relief plane was allowed into the devastated southeast Asian country on Monday to provide emergency supplies to the victims of a deadly cyclone. The unarmed military C-130 cargo plane, packed with 13,000 kilograms of water, mosquito nets, blankets and other supplies, took off from a Thai military base and arrived in the Burmese city of Rangoon, military spokesman Lt.-Col. Douglas Powell said. Two more American air shipments are expected to get clearance to fly in on Tuesday. Another four U.S. military ships and 11,000 military personnel stationed in southeast Asia are ready to help with the aid mission, but it is unclear whether the military junta that rules Burma, also known as Myanmar, has any intention of giving the troops and equipment clearance to enter its borders. Burma has strained relations with the international community, including the U.S. government, which has imposed economic and trade sanctions on the country in response to the policies of the military junta. Burma, in response, has blocked certain countries from delivering aid in the aftermath of Saturday's cyclone.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: An unbending regime still blocks aid, Christian Science Monitor (May 12)

ARTICLE: UN frustrated at Burma response, BBC (May 12)

ARTICLE; Burma accused of 'crime' against its people, The Times (May 12)

Tsvangirai Sets Terms for Run-Off, Zimbabwe Standard

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday set down conditions for taking part in the Presidential election run-off as the African Union (AU) piled pressure on President Robert Mugabe to ensure this second round of voting was held in accordance with the electoral laws. Tsvangirai announced in Pretoria he was ready for the run-off, despite widespread concerns it would not be free and fair. He said he would only participate in the poll, to be held "no later than 24 May", if conditions guaranteeing free and fair election were in place. To forestall an escalation of violence in the run-up to voting, MDC sources disclosed the party would press for a peacekeeping force from the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) and African Union that would ensure the election was held in peace. According to the Electoral Act, a run-off has to be held within 21 days from the date of the announcement of results. Tsvangirai said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), heavily criticised for delaying the announcement of results of the 29 March election, should be reconstituted. He made the announcement after chairing a two-day meeting with top officials of both factions of the MDC, who have formed a parliamentary coalition.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: Run-Off Election Delayed, allAfrica.com (May 12)

ARTICLE: Western Election Observers Not Welcome - Minister, The Zimbabwe Guardian (May 12)

ARTICLE: More arrests in Zim as Tsvangirai prepares return, Mail and Guardian (May 12)

Egyptian Intelligence Chief in Israel for Talks, Associated Press

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

Egypt dispatched its powerful intelligence chief to Israel on Monday in an attempt to mediate an end to months of violence in the Gaza Strip, but Israeli leaders said there would be no truce unless Gaza militants release an Israeli soldier they have held captive for nearly two years. As mediator Omar Suleiman completed his talks, militants fired a rocket from Gaza that struck a house in an Israeli village, killing a woman and seriously wounding another Israeli, rescue services said. Islamic Jihad said it fired rockets at the time of the fatal attack. Suleiman's meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other top leaders were aimed at wrapping up a cease-fire between Israel's military and Palestinian gunmen in Gaza. Israeli troops regularly clash there with militants who fire rockets at Israeli towns and attack border patrols. The crude rockets and mortar attacks have killed 15 people since late 2001. Suleiman, a central figure behind the scenes in the Egyptian regime who serves as a top-level envoy for President Hosni Mubarak, told reporters that he had "high expectations" for the visit. But he made little apparent progress.

Supporting Links:

ARTICLE: Olmert to Egypt: No Gaza truce if Shalit is not released, Haaretz (May 12)

ARTICLE: Bush should stay home (Akiva Eldar), Haaretz (May 12)

AUDIOVISUAL: Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Council on Foreign Relations (Apr. 16)

UN Closes Afghan Refugee Centre, British Broadcasting Corporation

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:35 GMT

The UN has closed its repatriation centre in eastern Afghanistan because of unrest in the city of Jalalabad. The temporary closure comes as aid agencies say it is becoming more difficult to operate in parts of the country as security worsens. More than 60,000 Afghan refugees from neighbouring Pakistan have passed through the UN centre this year. The UN says it decided to close the centre after protests closed the main road from Kabul to the Pakistan border. In one demonstration, locals claimed that US forces had killed three civilians in a military operation. The other protest, Jalalabad, was connected to the killing of a local MP's father and the kidnapping of seven members of his family. The UN High Commission for Refugees is keen to stress that the closure is only a temporary measure. Deteriorating security is partly because of the Taleban insurgency. But as the incident in Jalalabad demonstrates, the violence is often rooted in local disputes. Many Afghans believe that the government in Kabul is weak and has failed to impose law and order in much of the country.

Supporting Links:

REPORT: Internal Displacement in Afghanistan, Brookings Institution (Nov, 2007)

REPORT: Return to Afghanistan? A study of Afghans living in Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran, ReliefWeb // Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (Oct. 2005)

ACADEMIC ARTICLE: Afghan Migratory Strategies and the Three Solutions to the Refugee Problem, Refugee Studies Quarterly (May 2)