Sources from Lebanon’s anti-Syria March 14th coalition revealed that their leader, Saad Hariri, is expected to be appointed to the position of prime minister within the next two days. President Michel Sleiman will consult with parliamentarians and newly elected Shi’a Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri today regarding the appointment decision. Sources have called Hariri, son of assassinated former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, a “shoo-in” for the position which, under a power-sharing constitution, must be filled by a Sunni Muslim. Hariri, for his part, had backed the nomination of Berri, leader of the opposition pro-Syria Amal movement, in “a symbolic sign of reconciliation,” according to Al Jazeera. Reports of the appointment coincided with a meeting between the young Hariri and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, in which both leaders “stressed the logic” of cooperation and dialogue. Although Hezbollah, Amal, and the pro-Syria March 8th opposition alliance faced a substantial defeat in the June 7 national elections, Hariri’s meeting with Nasrallah today (as well as a large majority vote which seated Berri as speaker yesterday) are indications that support for Syria remains strong throughout Lebanon.
In a 62-page report released today, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party of torture and forced labor in the eastern Marange diamond fields. The report charges Zimbabwe’s armed forces, controlled by ZANU-PF, with the death of 200 people during a government takeover of the fields last year. The document also claims that “high-level party members” funneled income from the fields to private coffers while Zimbabwe faces “a dire economic crisis.” Zimbabwean officials have denied allegations for the killings and have instead expressed commitment to restoring peace in Marange. On Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s deputy mining minister told a delegation from the Kimberly Process, the global effort to eradicate the flow of “blood diamonds,” that his government had begun a special operation to “flush out” illegal diamond miners in the fields. HRW has asked the organizers of the Kimberley Process to ban Zimbabwe from participation in talks and has called upon all nations to ban the sale of diamonds from Marange.
Turkish Army Chief Ilker Basbug has called for an end to the “disproportional psychological war” allegedly waged by the Turkish media against the nation’s military. In a news conference today, Basbug called speculation about a military plot to topple the government of Recip Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) a “smear campaign” aiming to “weaken and divide” the army. Earlier this month, the liberal Turkish newspaper Taraf published a document from officials of the secularist-ultranationalist Ergenekon group, detailing a coup to oust the ruling AKP government. While the Ergenekon document could be an attempt to foment tension between the Islamist AKP and its secular opponents, it could also be a legitimate warning of a planned takeover. Since 1960, the Turkish army has removed elected governments four times. Basbug argued, however, that the Turkish media has “pointlessly” focused on “a piece of paper” that contained “very ugly” and suggestive remarks about the intentions of the Turkish military. AKP officials, with the support of Erdogan, have already filed a formal complaint over the alleged plot. On Wednesday, AKP and secular opposition leaders from the Republican People’s Party met to discuss a constitutional amendment that would put military leaders from a 1980 coup on trial; currently, an article in the nation’s constitution prevents military coup leaders from prosecution.
Honduran president Manuel Zelaya has ignored a Supreme Court order to reinstate the nation’s army chief, according to the BBC. Yesterday, the court ordered the reinstatement of Gen. Romeo Vasquez who was fired by Zelaya after refusing to help him with a referendum (due to be held on Sunday) that would allow the president to seek a second term. Zelaya told supporters that the court “only imparts justice for the powerful and the rich” and “causes problems” for democracy. On Tuesday, the Honduran congress passed a bill that deemed referendums held 180 days before a general election illegal. Elections are due to be held on November 29th. Upon passage of the bill, Vasquez reportedly then told Zelaya that he didn’t want to “break the law” and that the military would not assist the president re-election effort. Zelaya has vowed to press ahead regardless of the court order. The heads of the Honduran air force, navy, and army have resigned in protest of Vasquez’s ousting.