A prominent group of Iraqi women who backed the United States-British invasion recently met the American ambassador in an effort to pressure the politicians drawing up Iraq’s constitution not to limit women’s rights. Western feminist groups and some Iraqi women activists fear that Islamic law, if enshrined as a main source of legislation, will be used to restrict their rights.
If Independent Democrats deputy leader Themba Sono reverts to the Democratic Alliance, as suspected, the latest colour-change by this political chameleon should surprise no one. Sono is currently away in Australia on Gauteng legislature business and is expected back on Wednesday.
It turns out that Jews do expel Jews after all, and without the descent into anarchy predicted by leaders of Israel’s once indulged settlers. Following dire warnings that the forced removal of 8 000 settlers from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank would provoke civil war, opponents of the pullout have been left reeling by its speed and relative ease.
”Be careful what you wish for; you might get it.” The old adage has never seemed more apt in the light of the ironies thrown up by the Jacob Zuma saga. It is trite to observe that Zuma, who once asked for nothing more than his day in court, is now looking less happy about the state’s legitimate attempt to make his day a tough one by building the strongest case possible.
Ten people burnt to death on Friday in Abuja, Nigeria, when the bus in which they were travelling was hit by drunken motorist, causing the vehicle to catch fire. The 10 had just finished work at a hotel and were travelling to a settlement on the outskirt of Abuja in a staff bus when a car rammed into the bus.
Smaller parties are set to take the major battering when the two-week defection window opens next Wednesday for members of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures. The parties most like to suffer defections are the United Democratic Movement, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Independent Democrats.
Despite his advancing years and his stint in prison for assault, Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) leader Eugene Terre’blanche is still an imposing figure. ”The rest of my life belongs to my culture, my language, my God and my nation,” he said in an interview on Thursday.
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The state should be asked to pay Jacob Zuma’s legal fees, the tripartite alliance said on Thursday after discussing the controversy over the axed former deputy president the day before. South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said the recent raids by the Scorpions on Zuma’s residences were also condemned.
Tropical Storm Katrina strengthened on Thursday as it trudged toward Florida’s heavily populated south-eastern coast, and forecasters expected it to become a weak hurricane before making landfall overnight. As the wind gained speed, the storm’s forward pace slowed, and it could drop 30cm of rain or more as it creeps across the peninsula.