BBC news 2009-07-12 加文本

BBC 2009-07-12


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BBC News with Marian Marshall.

On his first official visit to sub-Saharan Africa, President Obama has called on Africans to stand up for their democratic rights. After spending the day in Ghana, the American president praised the country for its free elections and free press which sent a positive message across the continent. Our correspondent in Accra, Will Ross sent this report.

Barack Obama talked of a turning point for the continent and called for an end to tyranny in Africa.

"You can conquer disease and end conflicts and make change from the bottom up, you can do that, yes, you can."

Barack Obama made it clear that if Africa wanted to be treated fairly on the international stage, it had to get its own house in order. With better democracy, he said America would then be a partner to help develop the continent. The speech was warmly welcomed here. But the question is whether some of Africa’s leaders who are firmly entrenched in power will pay any attention to it at all.

In Kenya, Mr. Obama's father's homeland, the Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Africa had a lot to learn from Mr. Obama and the Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said that he had thrown down a challenge to African leaders.

"I think each African leader, myself included, would be charged to rise for the challenge as to what is good governance and that means, vibrant civil society as he said, the freedom of our press, accountabilities, transparency, honesty, fighting corruption, the rule of law.... "

The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has defended his government's strategy in Afghanistan following mounting British casualties in anti-Taliban operations there. Mr. Brown said the last few days had been extraordinarily difficult but insisted the troops were improving security for the population in Helmand province ahead of elections in August. A spokesman for the British army in Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson said the army had an important job to do there.

"We sadly have suffered some fatalities .War is not without risk but by taking a battle with the Taliban by defeating their return, we are helping bring about security here in Afghanistan, helping improve the day to day life to Afghan people and also most importantly, helping prevent the export of terrorism to the streets of the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

The Red Cross in the Philippines says an Italian member of staff who had been held hostage by Muslim rebels for nearly six months has been freed .Eugenio Vagni arrived at an army base on the southern island of Holo with a local politician who had mediated with the kidnappers. Mr. Vagni was taken hostage by rebels from the Abu Sayyaf group during a visit to a prison on the island.

Security Officials in Iraq say at least two people were killed and more than ten wounded when two bombs exploded in Baghdad. The attacks, one targeting a billiards hall happened after nightfall in the district of Karada. Earlier on Saturday, near the Northern city of Mosul, four people were killed and at least 40 wounded by a car bomb.

World News from the BBC.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews have clashed with police in Jerusalem. In the third week of protests against the opening of a car park during the Jewish Sabbath. Some protesters threw stones and broke through barricades to obstruct the car park entrance. Many ultra-Orthodox - or Haredi - Jews fear the car park would bring tourists into the area, encouraging shops to open on the Sabbath. This would contravene their strict interpretation of religious rules.

Representatives of rebel groups from Darfur held talks in Cairo to try to open peace negotiations between them and the Sudanese government. From there ,/ reports.

The leader of the United Resistance Front joined heads of the Sudan Liberation Army factions for this meeting. It came just a week after officials from Sudan's most active rebel group, the Justice and Quality Movement came to Cairo for talks and as the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak prepares to host the Sudanese president who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur. After discussions with the rebel movements, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that as a neighbor to Sudan, his country had a strategic interest in helping to secure peace in Darfur.

The deposed president of Honduras Manuel Zelaya has said the interim government that ousted him must face legal sanctions. Speaking in the Dominican Republic, he gave no sign that he’d softened his position following US-backed mediation efforts last week and promised new efforts to return to power in Honduras. Mediators in Costa Rica say talks will resume shortly. Mr. Zelaya’s left-wing backers in Latin-America have criticized attempts of dialogue.

The American Space Agency NASA has delayed the launch of the Shuttle Endeavour while it tries to find out what damage was done by 11 lightening strikes around the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. The shuttle had been due to take off on a 2-week mission to the International Space Station.

BBC News.