adminWar crimes court orders freeing of Rwandan rebel
The International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday rejected a prosecution demand that it suspend an order to free Rwandan rebel leader Callixte Mbarushimana after dropping war crimes charges against him.
The “pre-trial chamber . . . rejects the prosecution’s application,” the ICC said on its website, as the prosecution said it was looking at options.
ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had on Friday asked the court to suspend the decision to release Mbarushimana, identified as the executive secretary of the Democratic Forces of the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group.
DPRK leader dies
PYONGYANG — Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), passed away last Saturday at the age of 69, the DPRK’s official KCNA news agency reported yesterday.
Kim, who was general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), died “from a great mental and physical strain at 08:30 (2330 GMT Friday) on December 17, 2011, on a train during a field guidance tour,” said the report.
6 soldiers among dead in Syria
Armed clashes erupted in Syria on Sunday, killing at least 15 civilians and six government troops, activists said. Isolated and faced with a possible civil war, Syria appeared to be bending toward allowing Arab League observers in as a step toward ending the conflict.
Weeks needed to disband militias: Libya defence chief
TRIPOLI — It will take weeks to rid Libya’s streets of the militias that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, and months to form an army fit to take their place, Defence Minister Osama Al-Juwali said yesterday.
His comments signalled a rift with others in Libya’s interim leadership who have called repeatedly for the heavily-armed militias that swept into Tripoli in August to quit the capital and set them a deadline of the end of this month.
Israel set to complete swap for captured soldier
Israel released 550 Palestinian prisoners late on Sunday, in the second and final phase of a swap with Hamas militants that brought home an Israeli soldier after five years in captivity.
Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, Israel has agreed to exchange a total of 1 027 prisoners for Sgt Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza militants in June 2006. Schalit returned home in October when Israel freed the first batch of 477 prisoners. Sunday’s release completed the swap.
Former IMF chief Strauss-Kahn speaks
DOMINIQUE Strauss-Kahn has made a rare public appearance after sexual-assault charges against him were dropped, declaring a Eurozone collapse would not solve Europe’s sovereign debt crisis.
Speaking at a forum in Beijing in his first public appearance since resigning under pressure earlier this year, the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director stressed the continent’s banks must be recapitalised.
Egypt clashes move into 4th day, US worried
CAIRO — Egyptian security forces fought opponents of army rule in Cairo for a fourth day yesterday and the United States, worried by the violence, urged the generals to respect human rights.
Medical sources said the death toll had risen to 13 since Friday. Hundreds have been wounded and scores detained.
Terry gives Chelsea a fright
London — Chelsea captain John Terry is expected to be fit to face Tottenham in Thursday’s London derby despite limping out of yesterday’s open training session at Stamford Bridge.
According to a statement on Chelsea’s website, the England centre-back “pinched his Achilles” while blocking a shot towards the end of the training session and went off for treatment as a precaution.
However, Chelsea said they expect Terry, who took a blow to the knee during last weekend’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Wigan, to lead the team out as normal at White Hart Lane on Thursday.
Chelsea are currently fourth in the table, just two points behind third-placed Tottenham.
Nengomasha urges troops ahead of break
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha is encouraging his troops to finish off the year with an away victory over AmaZulu today to enhance their title aspirations.
Chiefs — with 27 points — now sit just a point behind both Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United and could go into the eight weeks break sitting at the top if they win at Moses Mabhida and the Tshwane duo fails to pick maximum points tomorrow.
Zvasiya turns hero for Chiefs
Sports Reporter
WARRIORS defender and former FC Platinum player Lincoln Zvasiya was the hero for his South African Premiership giants, Kaizer Chiefs, when he netted in the 79th minute in what proved to be the winner in their 2-1 win over Free State Stars.