"The Pirates' Brand of 'Democracy'"

ANALYSIS - All Africa Against Togo
Kofi Akosah-Sarpong looks at how African newspapers feel about the Togolese coup detat following the country's military brass installing the late President Gnassingbe Eyadema's son, Faure, as president, and argues that democracy and rule of law is finally getting roots in Africa as reflected in the African mass media

Protesters dispersed; Africa tensions mount
Security forces used tear gas and batons to scatter hundreds of opposition demonstrators yesterday, and tension heightened between Togo and its neighbors over what West African and other leaders call a Togolese military coup. Five West African leaders summoned Togo's authorities to talks in Niger today, calling for sanctions if the new leader, Faure Gnassingbe, did not comply.

South Africa to review mercenary law, targets Iraq
South Africa will review tough mercenary laws to try to dissuade citizens from becoming embroiled in war zones like Iraq, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday.

Thatcher house-hunting in Cape Town
Mark Thatcher's luxury nine-bedroom Constantia mansion has been sold and Thatcher, who arrived back in Cape Town this week, is looking for another house in the city.

Mark Thatcher house goes for hefty splodge of wonga
Mark Thatcher's luxury nine-bedroomed home in Cape Town's Constantia Valley has been sold for a price which, says agent Mike Greeff, is the highest ever reached in the suburb.

Morocco's financial system, among Africa's best?
President of the African Development Bank, Omar Kabbaj, lauded the "considerable progress" achieved by the Moroccan financial system, which made of it one of Africa's best.

Ghana to host growth and poverty reduction seminar
Ghana is to host an international experts' conference on growth and poverty reduction in Africa with particular focus on how to promote economic growth vis-à-vis strong democratic governance. The conference scheduled for February 16 is on the theme: "Fighting Poverty in Africa: NEPAD and the Commission for Africa".

Mbeki wags finger at 'lazy civil servants'
President Thabo Mbeki promised on Friday to "deal with" lazy civil servants who deny citizens the service they deserve, but also issued a stern warning that violent protests by communities impatient with service delivery "will be met with the full force of the law".

S.Africa's Mbeki Vows AIDS Action, Critics Persist
South African President Thabo Mbeki vowed Friday to step up the battle against HIV/AIDS, saying his government's program was among the world's best.

Africa's Problems Will Not Be Solved By Western Aid
LAST Saturday I read an article "Make poverty history" in which former South African president, Nelson Mandela addressed a rally at Trafalgar Square in London. Mandela was quoted to have said that poverty was another form of imprisonment as the world's poor are trapped in the prison of poverty. The developed countries, while talking about fighting poverty in the developing world always emphasise aid as a way of fighting poverty. This school of thought misses the point.

1990: Freedom for Nelson Mandela
Leading anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela has been freed from prison in South Africa after 27 years.

How will Pyongyang's brinkmanship work?
With Pyongyang again resorting to its trademark brinkmanship before crucial negotiations, attention is now focused on how the communist country's tactics will affect the six-party nuclear talks and whether Washington will budge.

From Haiti to Iraq and Beyond
The Pirates' Brand of 'Democracy'
The U.S. is determined to "make the pursuit of freedom the organizing principle of the 21st century," said Condoleezza Rice on the Paris leg of her worldwide debut as Secretary of State. The real nature of this pirate-imposed brand of "democracy," designed to bestow absolute freedom of action to U.S. corporations, is evident in Iraq and Haiti.

Tsunamis reveals ancient sculptures on southern Indian shores
The deadly tsunamis that crashed into southern India have unearthed priceless relics, including two granite lions, buried under sand for centuries, archaeologists say.

Tsunami throws up India relics
The deadly tsunami could have uncovered the remains of an ancient port city off the coast in southern India.

China: Horrific New Year
Amnesty International has monitored a significant rise in executions as China celebrates the lunar new year. According to incomplete statistics, there were 200 executions reported in the two weeks leading up to the start of the lunar new year, 9 February.

World, Rafsanjani warns U.S. against 'adventures' in Iran
TEHRAN - An influential Iranian cleric, in a new blast against Tehran's arch-enemy, told Washington on Friday it cannot stop Iran pursuing nuclear technology and should not attempt a military "adventure" in the country.

UK returns looted Iranian artifacts
A number of 87 looted artifacts from the Jiroft civilizations in southwest Iran over 3,000 years ago were returned to the Iranian embassy in London Wednesday.

No More Illegal Excavations in Jiroft
Three years after the first looters put their feet on the treasure land of Jiroft, Iranian officials talk of finally knocking them down.

A hunger for truth
Carolina Maria de Jesus lived in a shanty town when she began keeping the diary that famously exposed the wretchedness of Brazil's poor. 50 years on, her story is still relevant, says Filipa Fortuna

Peru Probes Cash Payouts to Help Poor
Peru's government is considering subsidizing some of this Andean nation's poorest people with direct monthly cash payments, President Alejandro Toledo said Thursday.

Argentine prisoners 'end riots'
Rioting inmates at a top security jail in Argentina have freed their hostages and apparently ended a revolt which left eight people dead, police say.

Education President vs. War President
During the last two weeks, Cuban President Fidel Castro, the real "Education President" has dedicated long hours at public events to back up his stated belief that only a well-educated and cultured population can save a world marked by greed, injustice and plain indifference.