Nigerian unions have called for a two-day strike on May 28 and 29 to protest against widespread vote-rigging in last month’s elections, the secretary general of the Trade Union Congress said on Thursday. John Kolawale said the strike, which will coincide with the inauguration of president-elect Umaru Yar’Adua on May 29, would not affect oil production.
Iraq is on the brink of disintegration, British experts warned on Thursday in one of the most dramatic studies on the developments in the Middle Eastern country. The report, from the foreign policy think tank Chatham House, said the government in Iraq was nearly powerless in the face of not one but ”many civil wars and insurgencies”.
State diamond-mining company Alexkor will have to mothball some of its activities if the Richtersveld land claim is not settled, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said on Thursday. He also hit out at the community’s legal firm over its opposition to a settlement agreement signed by himself and community leaders last month.
The massive influx of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe is something South Africa is going to ”have to live with”, says President Thabo Mbeki. Responding to questions in the National Assembly on Thursday, he said it is not possible to put a ”Great Wall of China” along the South African-Zimbabwe border.
The communities of Khutsong and Moutse will contest the demarcation issue in the Constitutional Court, their attorneys said on Thursday. ”We are now in a process of compiling papers,” said Rudolph Jansen of Lawyers for Human Rights. Jansen said papers for Khutsong would be filed soon.
The increase in the period of internship for doctors from one to two years in 2008 may cause a shortage of doctors, the Health Department said on Thursday. Spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said the department was making efforts to address the challenge. ”There is ongoing collaboration between relevant stakeholders,” he said.
Algerians, shaken by suicide bombings in the capital last month, voted on Thursday for a new Parliament that is expected to remain dominated by the three parties of the governing coalition. Attacks by Islamist groups have threatened the North African country’s attempts to rebuild after years of political bloodshed and police searched voters as they entered polling stations.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad on Thursday expressed concern over continuing violent clashes between armed Palestinian factions affiliated to Fatah and Hamas. Pahad said he regretted the ”deaths of more than 40 Palestinians over the last five days coming in the wake of efforts by the Arab League to boost the Arab peace initiative”.
There were no positive dope tests at the recent Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday. A total of 68 players were tested during the 47-day event, which ended on April 28 with Australia clinching an unprecedented third successive title.
The municipality of Matatiele seems likely to stay in the Eastern Cape, according to Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi. Briefing the media on Thursday following Cabinet’s fortnightly meeting the day before, he said new draft legislation would re-affirm the current cross-boundary arrangements as they are now.