Algeria
"Egyptian panel seeks more open elections, term limits" by Sarah El Deeb, Associated Press / February 27, 2011
CAIRO — Hundreds of demonstrators protested in Algeria’s capital yesterday to demand the ouster of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, but police were out in far larger numbers to counter them.
The protest on central Martyrs Square came two days after the government ended a 19-year state of emergency born of Algeria’s bloody Islamic insurgency. The move aimed to ease tensions after weeks of antigovernment strikes and protests.
The demonstration, led by a political opposition party, was far smaller than protests that have brought down autocrats in fellow North African countries of Tunisia or Egypt.
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"Algerian pro-democracy protesters’ fifth bid in six weeks to march in the capital has been put down by police.
Algeria’s demonstrations have yet to get off the ground.
Yesterday, police put down three separate march bids that also drew demonstrators who turned out in favor of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
A group that had been organizing the protests has split in two, with a political wing, which tried to march yesterday, and a grouping of human rights leaders and unions that has chosen to work more closely with the population (AP)."
Burkina Faso
"Burkina Faso’s government said yesterday that it was closing public universities after weeks of violent protests over the death of a student.
Last week the government closed public schools to curb the demonstrations. In a statement yesterday, it said it was suspending social services allocated to students. It did not say when institutions would reopen.
Two police officers were charged Saturday with beating Justin Zongo, whose death in police custody sparked deadly protests that began last month and have left at least six dead. The government said the student had meningitis, but students say police mistreatment led to his death. They are demanding the government fire top ministers.
Why are all governments lying PoS?
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Djibouti
Soldiers and police filled the streets of Djibouti yesterday to prevent a planned demonstration against the president by opposition parties, officials said.
Djibouti, a tiny East African nation that hosts a US military base, saw thousands turn out at an antigovernment demonstration two weeks ago.
Related: Didja Hear About Djibouti?
Demonstrators said they planned to hold another rally yesterday, but that the government denied them permission and sent security forces into the street.
President Ismail Omar Guelleh has served two terms and faces an election in April, but critics lament changes he made to the constitution last year that scrubbed a two-term limit from the nation’s bylaws. (AP)."
"Monitors ousted in Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya — Djibouti’s government has kicked out an American election monitoring group less than a month before the nation’s presidential election, a vote opposition politicians are boycotting because they say the president is repressing dissent.
Djibouti is a tiny East African nation that hosts the only US military base in Africa. Situated on the Gulf of Aden between Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Yemen, the city-state is a major shipping hub in a volatile region.
The country is nominally democratic, but events leading up to the April 8 presidential election appear to show a hard-line approach by President Ismail Omar Guelleh at a time when democracy movements are upending administrations.
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Morrocco
"Morocco has so far avoided the persistent unrest that brought down regimes in fellow north African countries Tunisia and Egypt."
Have they?
Related: Moroccan Masses Take to Streets
(Sigh)
Zimbabwe
Lawyers for 46 people facing treason charges for allegedly plotting an Egyptian-style uprising in Zimbabwe said yesterday that some members of the group were tortured by police....
Were they trained by America?
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Whatever happened to that cholera crisis Zimbabwe was suffering?
