Sakina Kamwendo failed to meet the SABC's editorial policy- SABC

 South Africa Broadcasting Cooperation  acting Chief Operations Officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng, says the broadcaster pulled the Metro FM talk show on the "Road to Mangaung" off air last night because it did not meet the corporation's editorial policy code of balance and fairness.

Motsoeneng  made the remarks during  a media briefing at Auckland Park on the SABC's decision to stop the radio station's panel discussion with newspaper journalists on the media coverage of the ANC elective congress.

According to reports the  journalists were  denied the right to go on air by a mysterious caller who canned their scheduled interview on Metro FM's "Talk with Sakina".

However  in a media statement, the SABC claims  that there was no mysterious caller, but rather an editorial decision was taken to cancel the interview.

He  says going ahead with the discussion would have transgressed the SABC's  Editorial Codes. "The discussion was about the ANC.  Our view is simple; you need the ANC to be part of that discussion. We are not banning anyone as people say. We are only saying we should be fair to all citizens of this country and we stick by that decision."

  In agreement with Motsoeneng  SABC Group Executive of Radio, Leslie Ntloko, agrees with Motsoeneng. "According to the SABC editorial policy, which is guided by the broadcasting act, when an event of national importance is of a party political nature, editorial staff must ensure that SABC policies of objectivity, accuracy, fairness, impartiality and balance are adhered to. So our decision was made in view of the fact that these were not followed," says Ntloko.

Military Police Clash anti-Morsi protesters in Cairo

Egyptian riot police have fired teargas at protesters demonstrating against President Mohamed Morsi near the presidential palace in the capital  Cairo.

According to local press almost  ten people have been injured in clashes, reports further indicates that
Protesters have broken through police lines in front of the palace.

Thousands of protesters gathered to march to the presidential palace in protest of Morsi's decree which grants him near absolute powers, and a draft constitution which was quickly adopted by his allies.

"Freedom or we die! Mohammed Morsi! Illegitimate! Brotherhood! Illegitimate!," a crowd of several hundred protesters chanted outside a mosque in the Abbasiyah district earlier Tuesday.

Protesters also gathered outside Morsi's residence shouting, "Down with the sons of dogs. We are the power and we are the people!"

Morsi has called for a nationwide referendum on the draft constitution on December 15.

Statement on the Humanitarian Situation in North Kivu - Humantiarian Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Moustapha Soumare

Twelve days after the take-over of Goma by the M23 rebel movement, the humanitarian and protection situation remains extremely worrying in North Kivu. At least 130,000 people are displaced in spontaneous sites and camps in and around Goma. The majority have fled the fighting in the area over the past two weeks.
As the implementation of the decisions of the Kampala Declaration gets underway and the M23 withdraws from Goma, the protection of the civilian population must be a priority for all, in line with the ongoing efforts of MONUSCO and international partners. Goma has a population of nearly 800,000 and while awaiting that the Congolese authorities regain full control over the city, one cannot exclude the risk of looting or renewed violence.
I call on all parties to honour their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to protect all civilians.
Humanitarian agencies are stepping up their effort on the ground to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable. NGOs and UN Agencies provide the displaced with water, food, basic necessities and medical care, including for the wounded. Humanitarian protection activities are equally important in this context, including assistance to victims of sexual violence and reuniting separated children with their families. Humanitarians are also facing an additional challenge with the contamination of many areas by explosive remnants of war, particularly north of Goma.
Some of the displaced people have already chosen to leave the crowded camps in Goma to return to their homes, where the fighting has stopped. However, thousands of people are at the same time fleeing armed groups’ brutal attacks which are on the rise in other areas of North Kivu, particularly in Masisi. In this context, the situation will remain volatile and hundreds of thousands of people will continue to depend on emergency aid for their survival.
I salute the persistence of humanitarian actors who continue their work under extremely precarious security conditions in the Goma area. To sustain these efforts, I call on all parties to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to people in need wherever they are, and to ensure the protection of displaced and host communities and their access to assistance.
I hope to see the ongoing regional initiatives lead to an effective and lasting resolution of the recurring crisis in eastern DRC, to allow the hundreds of thousands of Congolese to no longer have to suffer from the human tragedies seen every day on the ground.
I thank donor countries for their generosity. Thanks to resources made available through the Humanitarian Pooled Fund, we have been able to rapidly organise an effective humanitarian response. New pledges made by several partners following the most recent deterioration of the situation in the Kivus will help continue alleviating the suffering of thousands of people, in spite of the low funding levels of the 2012 Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP). The HAP has so far received only 56 per cent of the US$791 million required to respond to the humanitarian needs in the country. The DRC is also affected by severe epidemics (measles, cholera…), alarming levels of chronic malnutrition or food insecurity that has worsened since the beginning of this year.

BRITIAN AND GERMANY BLAMED FOR TANZANIA, MALAWI BORDER WRANGLE

As Tanzania and Malawi are still fighting over the long-time territorial dispute concerning Lake Malawi, thought to sit over highly coveted oil and gas reserves, the wrangle has taken another level as Tanzanian government blames the colonial masters over the dispute.

Malawi recently cut off dialogue concerning the border issue after intelligence  reports showed that Tanzanian troops starts patrolling the eastern side of the lake while negotiations were still in place.

Recently Malawi president Joyce Banda said her country will take the long standing dispute with Tanzania to the International Court of Justice for arbitration.

Banda’s move to call for arbitration follows reports that Tanzania troops arrested and harassed Malawian fishermen in the disputed waters.

Malawi also accused Tanzania for including the lake in its new map and harassing Malawian fishermen.

“ I have decided to take the matter to the international Court of Justice to determine and resolve this wrangle, the issue has gone too far and Malawi will seek international help to ensure that justice prevails” Banda was quoted in the local media.

Speaking in an interview Malawi minister of foreign Affairs, Ephraim Chiume, also accused Tanzania for including lake Malawi on their new map without reaching  an agreement.

Msiska said it is very unfortunate that director of survey a Mr Mayunda who developed the new map was a chief negotiator between Tanzania and Malawi.

“Issuing a new map which includes Lake Malawi means that the dispute has been cleared, however the negotiations are still going on, it shows that Tanzania is not ready to negotiate”  said Msiska”

Msika added “Deploying troops to patrol our lake it is like they are calling for war, Tanzania is challenging us however this is a legal matter and that is the reason why we are seeking support from the International Court of Injustice.

Tanzanian Reaction

However Tanzania government has challenged Malawi to go ahead and take the boundary wrangle to the International Court of Justice .

Speaking in a telephone interview Tanzania High Commissioner to South Africa Ravhia Msuya blamed colonial masters , Britain and Germany on the issue.

Msuya claimed that Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique use to share Lake Malawi before the colonial era but it was later divided.

“We are only claiming what is ours and nobody is to blame here despite the colonial masters, back then we use to share the lake that is the reason why we have nyasa speaking people in both Tanzania and Malawi.’

She further rejects Malawi’s claims that her government is patrolling and harassing Malawian fisher men saying it’s only defending its territory, She claimed that 50 percent of the lake which forms its borders with Malawi belongs to Tanzania.

Msuya further conquered with her Malawian counterpart Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Malawi Patric Tsere saying she’s confident that talks on the border dispute will resume soon.

She said that Malawian authorities had not formally informed the Tanzanian government that it is pulling out of the talks.

Warrant of arrest for Julius Malema

South Africa youth activist and former ANC youth league president Julius Malema has been advised that a warrant  had been issued for  his arrest.

One of Malema lawyers  confirmed on Friday  that the former youth leader was informed about the warrant of arrest.

 "He was contacted about an arrest warrant," Nicqui Galaktiou of Brian Kahn Inc. Attorneys told Reuters in an interview

However Galaktiou could not immediately give further details about the warrant.

 According to sources Malema  will also face charges related to tax evasion investigated by a special task team of the South African Revenue Services (SARS).If  arrested  he is expected to be taken to Polokwane where he will be charged.
 
 The Hawks confirmed last year in August that they were investigating him for fraud and corruption. “From the information that we have, we have enough to tell us that we need to do a full investigation ... there's a lot that tells us that we have reason to worry,” Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela was quoted in the media last year.

Libya promise US to bring envoy's killers to justice'

Libyan authorities have promised the United State government that it will do what ever it takes to  bring the killers of the US ambassador and three other personnel to justice.

 The announcement was made by the head of the national assembly, Mohammed Magarief, on Wednesday

"We confirm that no one will escape from punishment and questioning," Magarief told a news conference broadcast live on Al Jazeera television.

  Magarief also apologised to the United States for the attack on its consulate in Benghazi in which the diplomats were killed.

He further promised that all foreigners in Libya would be protected.

"Diplomatic missions, foreign companies and citizens of foreign countries in Libya are under the protection the Libyan country and security forces," he said.

Deputy Interior Minister Wanis al-Sharif earlier accused supporters of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi of carrying out the attack.

Hillary Clinton speaks on the Death of American Personnel in Benghazi, Libya

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

September 12, 2012

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It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the death of four American personnel in Benghazi, Libya yesterday. Among them were United States Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and Foreign Service Information Management Officer, Sean Smith. We are still making next of kin notifications for the other two individuals. Our hearts go out to all their families and colleagues.

A 21 year veteran of the Foreign Service, Ambassador Stevens died last night from injuries he sustained in the attack on our office in Benghazi.
I had the privilege of swearing in Chris for his post in Libya only a few months ago. He spoke eloquently about his passion for service, for diplomacy and for the Libyan people. This assignment was only the latest in his more than two decades of dedication to advancing closer ties with the people of the Middle East and North Africa which began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. As the conflict in Libya unfolded, Chris was one of the first Americans on the ground in Benghazi. He risked his own life to lend the Libyan people a helping hand to build the foundation for a new, free nation. He spent every day since helping to finish the work that he started. Chris was committed to advancing America’s values and interests, even when that meant putting himself in danger.

Sean Smith was a husband and a father of two, who joined the Department ten years ago. Like Chris, Sean was one of our best. Prior to arriving in Benghazi, he served in Baghdad, Pretoria, Montreal, and most recently The Hague.
All the Americans we lost in yesterday’s attacks made the ultimate sacrifice. We condemn this vicious and violent attack that took their lives, which they had committed to helping the Libyan people reach for a better future.

America’s diplomats and development experts stand on the front lines every day for our country. We are honored by the service of each and every one of them.