Gaddafi calls for resistance to “colonial crusade”
Colonel Gaddafi’s last public appearance in the flesh was several days ago. But the Libyan leader broadcast a brief message of defiance on state media.
He described the coalition attack as an aggression and said it would increase the Libyan people’s unity.
“This is a colonial crusade. This crusade will be capable of unleashing a full scale war,” he said.
“The army stores are now open and we are arming all the masses with all types of weapons to defend the independence, unity and honour of Libya.
To read – Libya: a timeline of international diplomacy
“The Mediterranean and North Africa are now a battleground: the interests of countries participating in this crusade will be in danger from now on.”
Colonel Gaddafi also called on others around the world – in Arab and Islamic nations, in Latin America, Asia and Africa – to confront what he called “this aggression”.
Food and fuel short in quake-hit areas of Japan
Queues of several kilometres long have been reported, as petrol runs short in the areas of Japan hit by last week’s earthquake and tsunami. Conditions are hard in Sendai but anyone who wants to follow official advice and leave will find it hard. As well as the lack of petrol, there is no public transport out of the city. The British embassy has laid on coaches to take people as far as Tokyo.
In some places, getting fuel is the main concern. In others, like here in Takahagi City, the worry is water. The Japanese government has mobilised 100,000 extra troops to deliver supplies to stricken areas like this.
Food shortages are also common, even in areas that were not damaged in last Friday’s double disaster. Problems with transport and access mean many people are stocking up on basics like bread and rice and the shelves are emptied as soon as they are filled.
Miyako Elementary School is home to more than 500 evacuees – more than half of them over 70. It is warmer than out in the open, but even so, many are getting sick. A total of 450 thousand people are thought to be homeless. Many are asking why their government has not done more to help them.
Lampedusa: Italian island at the sharp end of immigration
Dubbed “The gateway to Europe” the small Italian island of Lampedusa holds a unique geographical position, it is closer to Africa than Italy.
The island is currently facing an influx of illegal immigrants from Tunisia and as the situation in Libya deteriorates there are fears of a fresh wave of refugees.
Islanders have called for a state of emergency.
This week in reporter.
Historic vote in Egypt
Egyptians have been voting in a referendum on constitutional amendments that the military rulers hope will lead to elections within six months.
A high turnout is expected for what is in effect the first truly democratic vote in living memory.
The poll has divided the country between those who are calling for a complete overhaul of the constitution, and those who think the amendments will suffice.
One of the voters today was the head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, who is believed to think the amendments don’t go far enough.
After ruling for 30 years, Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, stood down in February, after 18 days of popular protests, mainly centred around Tahrir Square in central Cairo.
The square became a symbol of popular uprising and led to similar protests in several other Arab nations, some of which are still going on.
> The fight for women’s rights in Egypt
A popcorn seller protests in Bahrain
“This man’s popcorn machine was taken away from him, preventing him from selling his popcorn, during an attack on Pearl Square in Bahrain’s capital. As local TV said that security forces were armed with guns and swords, he stuck a toy sword and gun on his board sign and wrote: ‘Khalifa [the King’s name] this is what your army used; they even stole my popcorn machine. Why?’This video shows the nation of Bahrain and how peaceful the demonstrators are and how they keep on staying pleasant even after the massacre in Pearl square.”
February 21. Video by Hussain
Footage claims to show Libyan mercenary
Footage has emerged which, it is alleged, shows anti-government demonstrators in Libya capturing a man believed to be a mercenary from Chad.
It is proof, so the protesters say, that recent reports are true and Muammar Gaddafi has resorted to outside help to keep his hold on power. It has not been possible to confirm the authenticity of the pictures.
Meanwhile, news agency images filmed on Thursday show youths who have taken over abandoned army tanks in the eastern coastal town of Tobruk. They are seen displaying seized weapons and repeating calls for Gaddafi to leave.
Ben Ali’s corruption culture
Many Tunisians would like to see the former occupants of the presidential palace return to stand trial on corruption charges. The Ben Ali family robbed Tunisia of billions of euros through illegal transactions.
Armenian protesters call on government to go
Thousands of demonstrators in the Armenian capital Yerevan have called on the government to resign, in the former Soviet republic’s largest protest for three years.
The opposition are predicting a bloodless “velvet revolution” inspired by the Arab uprisings.
They accuse the current president, Serzh Sarkisian, of vote rigging to get elected.
Iceland backs a new Icesave deal
Iceland’s parliament has backed a new plan to repay four billion euros to the governments of the UK and the Netherlands.
The money will reimburse them both for bailing out 400,000 of their own citizens who lost savings in the Icesave bank collapse.
The deal replaces an earlier one which Icelanders rejected in a referendum.
Icelandic Finance Minister Steingrimur J. Sigfusson said: “Parliament has really answered both questions: yes, we want to solve this on a basis of this agreement, and that parliament is going to deal with it on its own, and there is not going to be a referendum.”
Under the new terms Iceland will have longer to repay the money, until 2046 and at a lower 3.3% rate of interest.
But Sigmundir David Gunnlaugsson of the Progressive Party was not happy.
“Well naturally I’m disappointed because this means that Iceland is being forced to accept terms that other countries, for example the UK and the Netherlands, would never have accepted if they were in the same position.”
Icesave’s parent, Landsbanki went under in 2008 along with other main banks. The government compensated its savers, but not those overseas.
The UK and the Netherlands stepped in but extracted an unpopular deal from Iceland’s government. People power rejected it then but not this time.
Turin automobile museum reopens
Turin’s automobile museum has reopened after four year’s refurbishment.
The enlarged building is now home to one of the rarest and most valuable car collections in the world, displaying some 200 vehicles from the earliest experimental days to now.
