An unoffical result Egypt on referedum vote.

Unofficial results: Egypt approves referendum With nearly all of the vote counted, the referendum on Egypt's new draft constitution appeared to be victorious early Sunday, according to unofficial tallies by the Muslim Brotherhood andthe semi-official al-Ahram newspaper. The Muslim Brotherhoodsaid its "final results" show 64% of the vote infavor of the constitution and 36% against it. Al-Ahram posted a similar outcome on its website, saying it was based on 98% of the votes counted. The official outcome of the referendum is not expected to be announced until later Sunday

Clash on the street of India as police took on rape protesters.

Police, protesters clash at India rape rally Police in India blasted protesters with water cannon and tear gas Saturday as clashes broke out at a rally in New Delhi against rape,leaving scores of people drenched and angry. The demonstration was prompted by wide publicoutrage over what police said was the gang-rape and beating of a 23-year-old woman on a moving busin the capital last Sunday. Her injuries were so severe she spent daysin intensive care in a city hospital, battling for her life. Police said Saturday that she had recovered enough to give a statement to a magistrate from her hospital bed the previous evening. Dozens of police, some equipped with bamboo canes, flanked the water cannon as it blasted out on to the thousands of protesters assembled by New Delhi's historic India Gate. Some demonstrators attempted to break through the security barriers blocking access to the country's government district, parliament building and presidential palace. Others chanted, punched the air in defiance and waved banners as the police sought to disperse them from Raisina Hill, the seat of Indian power. "Hang them till death," read the placard of oneprotester seeking capital punishment for rape suspects. "Stop this shame," readanother. A third said,"Give them the same physical torture." Shouts of "We want justice" also rose above the large and diverse crowd, symbolizing a widely feltanger over attacks against women. Bannersproclaiming the same message were marked with a hangman's noose. Surviving rape: iReporters speak out One young woman protester, who said herleg was injured by a blow from a police baton, lamented what she called a failure of democracy in the country. "Today, I have seen democracy dying," she said. New Delhi's police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said up to 35 protesters and nearly 40 police personnel were injured. Thirty barricades were damaged in the course of the protest, he said, and police fired 125 tear gas shells. A number of vehicles were also damaged, he said. Saturday's furious protest was just the latest held across the country in the past week, where official data show that rape cases have jumped almost 875% over the past 40 years -- from 2,487 in 1971 to 24,206in 2011. New Delhi alone reported 572 rapes lastyear and more than 600in 2012. Bhavyaa Sharma, a 19-year-old student at a leading women's college in the capital, told CNN how she fearsfor her safety when she leaves the campus.Sexual assaults on women in the city have horrified her and her female friends. "I feel vulnerable here," said Sharma, accompanied by her classmates. "I am very sure about it. Delhi is not safe for women." Opinion: Rapes show that Indian society needs a new attitude Six suspects, including the bus driver and a minor, have now been arrested in connection with Sunday's rape. As fury about the assault gathered pace, some Indian lawmakers even called for treatingrape as a capital crime. "We'll work collectively to see we make a law which is deterrent and preventive," said New Delhi's chief minister, Sheila Dikshit. India's Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde toldreporters Saturday thatthe government would work toward increasing punishment in "rarest of the rare" rape cases. But pressed on whetherthe administration wouldagree to demands for death by hanging in such instances, he said:"We'll have to see in what way it (the rape sentencing) can be enhanced." Shinde said the government was pushing for a speedy trial for the attack. Authorities are also taking a number of steps to improve security for women in New Delhi, particularly on public transport, he said. "(The) government shares the widespread concern and support that has been expressed throughout society for the girl who has so suffered. Government also respects the right of legitimate protest," he said. "At the same time, thereis need to exercise calm at this juncture and for everyone to work together to improve the safety and security environment." In the meantime, the victim has been promised the best possible medical care, Shinde said. A physician described the woman's condition Saturday as better thana day earlier, but said there was still a risk of infection. She is receiving psychological as well as medical care,he said. Read more: Indian girl seeks justice after gang rape

Clash on the street of India as police took on rape protesters.

Police, protesters clash at India rape rally Police in India blasted protesters with water cannon and tear gas Saturday as clashes broke out at a rally in New Delhi against rape,leaving scores of people drenched and angry. The demonstration was prompted by wide publicoutrage over what police said was the gang-rape and beating of a 23-year-old woman on a moving busin the capital last Sunday. Her injuries were so severe she spent daysin intensive care in a city hospital, battling for her life. Police said Saturday that she had recovered enough to give a statement to a magistrate from her hospital bed the previous evening. Dozens of police, some equipped with bamboo canes, flanked the water cannon as it blasted out on to the thousands of protesters assembled by New Delhi's historic India Gate. Some demonstrators attempted to break through the security barriers blocking access to the country's government district, parliament building and presidential palace. Others chanted, punched the air in defiance and waved banners as the police sought to disperse them from Raisina Hill, the seat of Indian power. "Hang them till death," read the placard of oneprotester seeking capital punishment for rape suspects. "Stop this shame," readanother. A third said,"Give them the same physical torture." Shouts of "We want justice" also rose above the large and diverse crowd, symbolizing a widely feltanger over attacks against women. Bannersproclaiming the same message were marked with a hangman's noose. Surviving rape: iReporters speak out One young woman protester, who said herleg was injured by a blow from a police baton, lamented what she called a failure of democracy in the country. "Today, I have seen democracy dying," she said. New Delhi's police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said up to 35 protesters and nearly 40 police personnel were injured. Thirty barricades were damaged in the course of the protest, he said, and police fired 125 tear gas shells. A number of vehicles were also damaged, he said. Saturday's furious protest was just the latest held across the country in the past week, where official data show that rape cases have jumped almost 875% over the past 40 years -- from 2,487 in 1971 to 24,206in 2011. New Delhi alone reported 572 rapes lastyear and more than 600in 2012. Bhavyaa Sharma, a 19-year-old student at a leading women's college in the capital, told CNN how she fearsfor her safety when she leaves the campus.Sexual assaults on women in the city have horrified her and her female friends. "I feel vulnerable here," said Sharma, accompanied by her classmates. "I am very sure about it. Delhi is not safe for women." Opinion: Rapes show that Indian society needs a new attitude Six suspects, including the bus driver and a minor, have now been arrested in connection with Sunday's rape. As fury about the assault gathered pace, some Indian lawmakers even called for treatingrape as a capital crime. "We'll work collectively to see we make a law which is deterrent and preventive," said New Delhi's chief minister, Sheila Dikshit. India's Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde toldreporters Saturday thatthe government would work toward increasing punishment in "rarest of the rare" rape cases. But pressed on whetherthe administration wouldagree to demands for death by hanging in such instances, he said:"We'll have to see in what way it (the rape sentencing) can be enhanced." Shinde said the government was pushing for a speedy trial for the attack. Authorities are also taking a number of steps to improve security for women in New Delhi, particularly on public transport, he said. "(The) government shares the widespread concern and support that has been expressed throughout society for the girl who has so suffered. Government also respects the right of legitimate protest," he said. "At the same time, thereis need to exercise calm at this juncture and for everyone to work together to improve the safety and security environment." In the meantime, the victim has been promised the best possible medical care, Shinde said. A physician described the woman's condition Saturday as better thana day earlier, but said there was still a risk of infection. She is receiving psychological as well as medical care,he said. Read more: Indian girl seeks justice after gang rape

Fooball in africa, check it out.

The draw for the first two rounds of the 2013African Confederation Cup was released by theConfederation of African Football in Cairoon Monday. The CAF Confederation Cup 2013 will be the 10th edition of the CAF Confederation Cup, Africa's secondary club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The winners would play in the CAF Super Cup 2014. The matches are to be played in February, March and April 2013. First round: Gor Mahia (Kenya) vs Anse Reunion (Seychelles) CS Don Bosco (DR Congo) vs SuperSport United (South Africa) Gaborone United (Botswana) vs Liga Muculmana (Mozambique) Mogas 90 (Benin) vs AS Douanes (Togo) Rail Club Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) vs Sahel SC (Niger) Lydia Ludic (Burundi) vs Police (Rwanda) Panthere Nde (Cameroon) vsElect Sport (Chad) Desportivo Guadalupe (Sao Tome e Principe) vs US Bitam(Gabon) Central African Republic representative to be determined vs Dedebit (Ethiopia) TCO Boeny (Madagascar) vs Mbabane Highlanders (Swaziland) Gamtel (Gambia) vs ASC HLM (Senegal) New Edubiase (Ghana) vs Congo representative to be determined The Panter FC (Equatorial Guinea) vs FC Sequence (Guinea) Power Dynamos (Zambia) vs Recreativo Caala (Angola) Cameroon representative to be determined vs US Bougouni (Mali) Stella Abidjan (Ivory Coast) vs Onze Createurs (Mali) Barrack Young Controllers (Liberia) vs Johansen (SierraLeone) Azam (Tanzania) vs Al Nasir Juba (South Sudan) Al Nasr (Libya) vs Khartoum Al Watani (Sudan) Clubs mentioned first play at home in the first leg on the weekend of Feb. 15-17. The return legs are on the weekend of March 1-3. Second round: ENPPI (Egypt) vs Gor Mahia or Anse Reunion Petro Atletico (Angola) vs CS Don Bosco or SuperSport United Lobi Stars (Nigeria) vs Gaborone United or Liga Muculmana Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)vs Mogas 90 or AS Douanes ASEC Abidjan (Ivory Coast) vs Rail Club Kadiogo or SahelSC Daring Club Motema Pembe (DR Congo) vs Lydia Ludic or Police USM Alger (Algeria) vs Panthere Nde or Elect Sport Heartland (Nigeria) vs Desportivo Guadalupe or US Bitam Ahli Shandy (Sudan) vs Central African Republic representative or Dedebit Ismaili (Egypt) vs TCO Boenyor Mbabane Highlanders CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) vs Gamtel or ASC HLM New Edubiase or Congo representative vs The Panter FC or FC Sequence (Guinea) Power Dynamos or Recreativo Caala vs Cameroon representative or US Bougouni Etoile Sahel (Tunisia) vs Stella Abidjan or Onze Createurs Barrack Young Controllers or Johansen vs Azam or Al Nasir Juba Al Nasr or Khartoum Al Watani vs Royal Armed Forces (Morocco) Clubs mentioned first play at home in the first leg on the weekend of March 15-17. The return legs are on the weekend of April 5-7.

Fooball in africa, check it out.

The draw for the first two rounds of the 2013African Confederation Cup was released by theConfederation of African Football in Cairoon Monday. The CAF Confederation Cup 2013 will be the 10th edition of the CAF Confederation Cup, Africa's secondary club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The winners would play in the CAF Super Cup 2014. The matches are to be played in February, March and April 2013. First round: Gor Mahia (Kenya) vs Anse Reunion (Seychelles) CS Don Bosco (DR Congo) vs SuperSport United (South Africa) Gaborone United (Botswana) vs Liga Muculmana (Mozambique) Mogas 90 (Benin) vs AS Douanes (Togo) Rail Club Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) vs Sahel SC (Niger) Lydia Ludic (Burundi) vs Police (Rwanda) Panthere Nde (Cameroon) vsElect Sport (Chad) Desportivo Guadalupe (Sao Tome e Principe) vs US Bitam(Gabon) Central African Republic representative to be determined vs Dedebit (Ethiopia) TCO Boeny (Madagascar) vs Mbabane Highlanders (Swaziland) Gamtel (Gambia) vs ASC HLM (Senegal) New Edubiase (Ghana) vs Congo representative to be determined The Panter FC (Equatorial Guinea) vs FC Sequence (Guinea) Power Dynamos (Zambia) vs Recreativo Caala (Angola) Cameroon representative to be determined vs US Bougouni (Mali) Stella Abidjan (Ivory Coast) vs Onze Createurs (Mali) Barrack Young Controllers (Liberia) vs Johansen (SierraLeone) Azam (Tanzania) vs Al Nasir Juba (South Sudan) Al Nasr (Libya) vs Khartoum Al Watani (Sudan) Clubs mentioned first play at home in the first leg on the weekend of Feb. 15-17. The return legs are on the weekend of March 1-3. Second round: ENPPI (Egypt) vs Gor Mahia or Anse Reunion Petro Atletico (Angola) vs CS Don Bosco or SuperSport United Lobi Stars (Nigeria) vs Gaborone United or Liga Muculmana Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)vs Mogas 90 or AS Douanes ASEC Abidjan (Ivory Coast) vs Rail Club Kadiogo or SahelSC Daring Club Motema Pembe (DR Congo) vs Lydia Ludic or Police USM Alger (Algeria) vs Panthere Nde or Elect Sport Heartland (Nigeria) vs Desportivo Guadalupe or US Bitam Ahli Shandy (Sudan) vs Central African Republic representative or Dedebit Ismaili (Egypt) vs TCO Boenyor Mbabane Highlanders CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) vs Gamtel or ASC HLM New Edubiase or Congo representative vs The Panter FC or FC Sequence (Guinea) Power Dynamos or Recreativo Caala vs Cameroon representative or US Bougouni Etoile Sahel (Tunisia) vs Stella Abidjan or Onze Createurs Barrack Young Controllers or Johansen vs Azam or Al Nasir Juba Al Nasr or Khartoum Al Watani vs Royal Armed Forces (Morocco) Clubs mentioned first play at home in the first leg on the weekend of March 15-17. The return legs are on the weekend of April 5-7.

Over three thousand Liberian refugees have applied for integration to enable them stay in Ghana.

Over three thousand Liberian refugees have applied for integration to enable them stay in Ghana. This will pave way for the closure of the Buduburam refugee camp which accommodates the Liberian refuges. The last batch of Liberian refugees who opted for voluntary repatriation have been sent to their country. Programs Officer for the Ghana Refugee Board, Tetteh Paddy in an interviewwith XYZ News said the refugees will be issued with permits to legalise their stayin the country. Over one thousand Liberian refuges have also applied for a special refugees statusto enable them stay in Ghana. Mr Paddy however added that a lot of the requests willnot be granted.

Angry protesters hurled rocks at the Tunisian president and MP speaker in Sidi Bouzid

Angry protesters have hurled rocks at the Tunisian president and parliamentary speaker in Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the revolution that erupted in the north African country two years ago. The incident began after a speech by President Moncef Marzouki in the central Tunisian town, where celebrations are taking placeon Monday to mark the anniversary of the revolution. Mustapha Ben Jaafar, the parliamentary speaker, was about to address the crowd when the violence began. Security forces swiftly evacuated the two men to the regional government headquarters, the AFP news agency reported. The protesters invaded the square where the head of state had been addressing the crowd, shouting "the people want the fall of the government". Growing anger The police held back, after violent clashes over the past few months, which haveoften followed attempts to disperse protesters angry over the government's failure to improve living conditions in the poor region. Clashes and strikes have multiplied across Tunisia in the run-up to the second anniversary of the start of Tunisia's revolution. When the president took to the podium on Monday, manyin the crowd of around 5,000started shouting "Get out! Get out!" - one of the rallying cries of the revolution that toppled the regime of former dictator Zine El Abedine Ben Ali. Marzouki promised economic progress within six months to the people of Sidi Bouzid, where poverty and unemployment were key factors behind the uprising that began there on December 17, 2010, after Muhammad Bouazizi a street vendor set himself on fire in protest at police harassment. "I understand this legitimate anger. But the government has diagnosed the problem. In six months, a stable government will be in place and will provide the remedy to heal the country's problems," said the president, who was jeered by the crowd. "For the first time, we have a government which is not stealing from the people," hesaid. Marzouki had been heckled earlier in the morning, when he visited the grave of Bouazizi.

MY GLOBE OF NEWS: Kienappers demanded Nigeria's finance minister resignation.

MY GLOBE OF NEWS: Kienappers demanded Nigeria's finance minister resignation.

Kidnappers demanded Nigeria's finance resignation.

Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says her mother's kidnappers demanded her resignation. In her first public commentssince her 82-year-old mother's release, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said the kidnappers mentioned her battle against a multi-billion dollar fuel scam. Kamene Okonjo was freed on Friday after gunmen held her for five days. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala pusheda government policy to endfuel subsidies in January, sparking a nationwide strike. The government then agreed to partially restorethe subsidy. Kidnapping is common in southern Nigeria, where it is a lucrative criminal enterprise. 'No backing down' She said her mother, a retired professor, was held without food or water. "The kidnappers spent much of the time harassingher. They told her that I must get on the radio and television and announce my resignation," Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement. "When she asked why, they told her it was because I did not pay oil subsidy money." We cannot and we will not pay [for fraudulent claims] Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's Finance Minister Earlier this year, a parliamentary investigationfound that a scam linked tothe subsidy cost the country $6.8bn (£4bn). Kamene Okonjo was kidnapped from her home in southern Nigeria's Delta state on 9 December. On Friday, officials said she had been released and that her abductors had dropped her off near her home. It is not clear whether a ransom was paid to secureher release. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, 58, didnot answer any questions after making her statement. She is an internationally respected economist who has led a high-profile campaign to clean up corruption in Nigeria. The finance minister said the kidnapping would not change the policy of President Goodluck Jonathan's government. "For marketers whose transactions are proven tobe fraudulent, the position of the Jonathan government is also clear: We cannot and we will not pay," she said. "We will not back down on this. We will continue to stand firm." Last week, finance ministryspokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala had been threatened recently. Officials said Kamene Okonjo had probably been released because her abductors were under pressure, following a series of raids by Nigeria's security forces tohunt them down.

Gayism is matching to legalism in Uganda.

Uganda's president has said gay people should not be killed orpersecuted, as MPs continue to consider a controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill. In his first public commentson the bill for some time, President Yoweri Musevenialso said that homosexuality should not be promoted. The original version of thebill stipulated the death penalty for some homosexual acts but this has reportedly been dropped. Homosexual acts are illegalin Uganda. The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga says the government has always stressed that the bill was introduced by an individualMP and was not official policy. In his latest comments at the swearing in of a new head of the Anglican Church of Uganda, the president was careful to neither condemn the bill nor openly support it, our correspondent says. The president said: "If there are some homosexuals, we shall not kill or persecute them but there should be no promotion of homosexuality. "We cannot accept promotion of homosexuality as if it is a good thing." Ministers have warned MPs that passing the bill would have implications forforeign relations. It has been condemned by Western donors, who have suggested that aid could be cut if it is passed. Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga recently said the bill would be passed as a "Christmas gift" to its advocates. I have been married to my wifefor 39 years, but I have never kissed her in public President Museveni However, parliament has adjourned until January without voting on it. Even if MPs do approve the bill, Mr Museveni wouldhave to sign it before it takes effect. Some African opponents of homosexuality have said itwas introduced to the continent by European colonisers. However, Mr Museveni said he knew of traditional kings and chiefs who practised homosexuality, but that they did it in secret and did not promoteit. He said he had told the US ambassador to Kampala that all forms of sex were kept private in Africa, unlike in Western societies. Ugandan gay people often fear living openly "I told him that I have beenmarried to my wife for 39 years, but I have never kissed her in public and in my house before the children," the New Vision newspaper quoted him as saying at the same church ceremony. "If I did it, I would lose elections and you know I am not about to accept thatidea of losing elections." Last month, MP Medard Segona told the BBC that the provision for the deathpenalty had been dropped. In its original form, those convicted of "aggravated homosexuality", defined aswhen one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a"serial offender", faced the death penalty. Such offences would now be punished with life imprisonment, it is understood

Gayism is matching to legalism in Uganda.

Uganda's president has said gay people should not be killed orpersecuted, as MPs continue to consider a controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill. In his first public commentson the bill for some time, President Yoweri Musevenialso said that homosexuality should not be promoted. The original version of thebill stipulated the death penalty for some homosexual acts but this has reportedly been dropped. Homosexual acts are illegalin Uganda. The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga says the government has always stressed that the bill was introduced by an individualMP and was not official policy. In his latest comments at the swearing in of a new head of the Anglican Church of Uganda, the president was careful to neither condemn the bill nor openly support it, our correspondent says. The president said: "If there are some homosexuals, we shall not kill or persecute them but there should be no promotion of homosexuality. "We cannot accept promotion of homosexuality as if it is a good thing." Ministers have warned MPs that passing the bill would have implications forforeign relations. It has been condemned by Western donors, who have suggested that aid could be cut if it is passed. Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga recently said the bill would be passed as a "Christmas gift" to its advocates. I have been married to my wifefor 39 years, but I have never kissed her in public President Museveni However, parliament has adjourned until January without voting on it. Even if MPs do approve the bill, Mr Museveni wouldhave to sign it before it takes effect. Some African opponents of homosexuality have said itwas introduced to the continent by European colonisers. However, Mr Museveni said he knew of traditional kings and chiefs who practised homosexuality, but that they did it in secret and did not promoteit. He said he had told the US ambassador to Kampala that all forms of sex were kept private in Africa, unlike in Western societies. Ugandan gay people often fear living openly "I told him that I have beenmarried to my wife for 39 years, but I have never kissed her in public and in my house before the children," the New Vision newspaper quoted him as saying at the same church ceremony. "If I did it, I would lose elections and you know I am not about to accept thatidea of losing elections." Last month, MP Medard Segona told the BBC that the provision for the deathpenalty had been dropped. In its original form, those convicted of "aggravated homosexuality", defined aswhen one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a"serial offender", faced the death penalty. Such offences would now be punished with life imprisonment, it is understood

Nairobi under presure as grenade blast left one injured

Grenade attackhits Nairobi's mainly Somali Eastleigh area 16 December 2012 Last updated at 21:03 At least one person has been injured in a grenade attack in a predominantly Somali district of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, police say. Three grenades were thrown from a vehicle towards shops in Eastleigh, witnesses said. No group has so far said itcarried out the attack. However, the area has suffered previous attacks that officials have blamed on Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militant group. Kenya says al-Shabab is trying to destabilise the country. The Citizen TV station reported that the blast happened on Eastleigh's Muratina road. A reporter for Reuters news agency at the scene said one grenade had hit abutcher's shop next to a guest house, blowing a hole in the wall and shattering windows. The injured person had been acustomer at the shop, Reuters said. Eastleigh was hit by two grenade attacks earlier this month that left at leastsix people dead. In November, Kenya accused al-Shabab of killing seven people in another grenade attack in the area. Last year, Kenya sent its troops to fight al-Shabab in Somalia. They have now joined the 18,000-strong African Union (AU) force supporting the UN-backed government.

Nairobi under presure as grenade blast left one injured

Grenade attackhits Nairobi's mainly Somali Eastleigh area 16 December 2012 Last updated at 21:03 At least one person has been injured in a grenade attack in a predominantly Somali district of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, police say. Three grenades were thrown from a vehicle towards shops in Eastleigh, witnesses said. No group has so far said itcarried out the attack. However, the area has suffered previous attacks that officials have blamed on Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militant group. Kenya says al-Shabab is trying to destabilise the country. The Citizen TV station reported that the blast happened on Eastleigh's Muratina road. A reporter for Reuters news agency at the scene said one grenade had hit abutcher's shop next to a guest house, blowing a hole in the wall and shattering windows. The injured person had been acustomer at the shop, Reuters said. Eastleigh was hit by two grenade attacks earlier this month that left at leastsix people dead. In November, Kenya accused al-Shabab of killing seven people in another grenade attack in the area. Last year, Kenya sent its troops to fight al-Shabab in Somalia. They have now joined the 18,000-strong African Union (AU) force supporting the UN-backed government.

THE SPEED: Alarm as China Issues Rules for Disputed Area 1 mo...

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THE SPEED: MY GLOBE OF NEWS: flow of arms to Syria

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MY GLOBE OF NEWS: flow of arms to Syria

MY GLOBE OF NEWS: flow of arms to Syria: Flow of Arms to Syria Through Iraq Persists, to U.S. Dismay 1 more image By MICHAEL R. GORDON, ERIC SCHMITT and TIM ARANGO. Published: Decem...

Amid Egypt's Duel on Democracy, Morsi Calls for Vote 2 more images By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK Published: December 02, 2012 CAIRO - President Mohamed Morsi speaks darkly of imminent threats from a conspiracy of unnamed foreign enemies and corrupt businessmen. He vows to uncover counterrevolutionaries hiding under judicial robes. His advisers charge that loyalists of the former dictator have infiltrated the opposition, saying it would gladly sacrifice democracy todefeat the Islamists

Amid Egypt's Duel on Democracy, Morsi Calls for Vote 2 more images By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK Published: December 02, 2012 CAIRO - President Mohamed Morsi speaks darkly of imminent threats from a conspiracy of unnamed foreign enemies and corrupt businessmen. He vows to uncover counterrevolutionaries hiding under judicial robes. His advisers charge that loyalists of the former dictator have infiltrated the opposition, saying it would gladly sacrifice democracy todefeat the Islamists

Alarm as China Issues Rules for Disputed Area 1 more image By JANE PERLEZ Published: December 02, 2012 HAIKOU, China - New rules announced by a Chinese province last week to allow interceptions of ships in the South China Sea are raising concerns in the region, and in Washington, that simmering disputes with Southeast Asian countries over the waters will escalate. The move by Hainan Province, which administers China's South China Sea claims, is being seen by some outside analysts as another step in the country'sbid to solidify its claims to much of the sea, which includes crucial international shipping lanes through whichmore than a third of global trade is carried

MY GLOBE OF NEWS: Floods displace more people in north Cameroon

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Rebels begin withdrawal in eastern DR Congo

Rebels in eastern DR Congo say they have started withdrawing from territory they have captured from government troops, days after a pullout deal was reached in neighbouring Uganda.

Amani Kabashi, deputy spokesman for the M23 group, told Al Jazeera that rebels were starting to withdraw from the town of Mushake, 50km south of the provincial capital, Goma, on Wednesday.

Diplomatic efforts to end violence in eastern Congo have been ongoing since the M23 group captured Goma in fighting with Congolese troops and advanced across the east of the country last week. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by fighting between government troops and the rebels.

Colonel Vianney Kazarama, the M23 military spokesman, later said rebels were to withdraw from the city of Sake on Thursday and Goma on Friday.

Herve Ladsous, the UN peacekeeping chief, told reporters on Tuesday night that rebels' advances had stopped.

Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from Goma, said there were no indications of a withdrawal from the city on Wednesday.

"The big question everyone is asking here is what happens next, if M23 withdraws," she said.

"M23 themselves are saying they want a demilitarised zone around Goma. They're very concerned that people who've been working with them in the city will be targeted once they leave, if the Congolese army comes in."

Transferring weapons

M23 military leader Sultani Makenga said on Tuesday his men would leave Goma "in three days at the latest" and pull back 20km under a deal struck in Uganda the previous day with an east African regional group.

Makenga said the rebels had begun transferring arms, provisions and medical supplies from Goma to the Rutshuru territory north of the city, an area along the Ugandan and Rwandan borders.

Rutshuru has been the rebels main stronghold since they launched their uprising in April.

Reports from residents and the UN peacekeeping mission appeared to confirm the announcement that the rebels were transporting weaponry out of Goma.

Meanwhile, the M23's political leader, Jean Marie Runiga, said the group was not against withdrawing from Goma, but would only do so if certain conditions were met.

He said demands included the release of opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, a former prime minister who has been under unofficial house arrest since declaring victory in flawed elections last year that were officially won by President Joseph Kabila.

The rebels also demanded direct talks with the president and the dissolution of the electoral commission.

Pro-rebel demonstration

About 300 people marched through the streets of Goma on Wednesday in support of M23, Al Jazeera's Azad Essa reported from the city.

They were carrying posters and banners calling for Kabila to step down and played music as scores of bystanders looked on from the roadside. A handful of police monitored the demonstration as the march brought traffic to a standstill.
About 300 people demonstrated against the government after M23 urged Goma residents to come out [Azad Essa/Al Jazeera]

M23 took over Goma on Tuesday last week after Congolese soldiers withdrew. UN forces did not intervene, saying they lacked the mandate to do so.

African leaders are scrambling to contain the latest violence in the region where nearly two decades of conflict has been fuelled by political and ethnic rifts and competition over vast minerals resources.

Kabila met M23 rebels for the first time at the weekend after a summit in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

Monday's pullout agreement would allow the rebels to stay in their home region of Kivu, which is believed to hold up to three-quarters of the world's reserves of coltan, a mineral used in the manufacture of many electronic products.

'Neutral zone'

Ladsous said the UN's main military adviser, General Babacar Gaye, would head for DR Congo and other East African countries to work out details of the withdrawal deal.

He said this would include the working of a proposed neutral zone, who controls Goma airport, which is currently in the hands of the UN mission, MONUSCO, and how to set up a proposed international neutral force for DR Congo.

The rebellion erupted in April when the M23, which UN experts have said is backed by neighbouring Rwanda, broke away from the DR Congo army, complaining that a 2009 deal to end a previous conflict had not been fully implemented.

The full name of the M23 is the March 23 Movement, which refers to the date when peace accords were signed in 2009 between the Congolese government and the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a rebel group.

Under the agreements, former CNDP fighters were to be integrated into the national army, but some of them say they were not treated fairly and that the peace treaty was never fully put into effect, forcing them to commit mutiny and form the M23.

Since April, more than 475,000 people have been displaced in the country and more than 75,000 others have been forced to seek refuge in neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda, according to UNHCR.

Egypt crisis: Appeals courts launch anti-Mursi strike action

Judges across Egypt have announced they will go on strike in protest at President Mohammed Mursi's recent decree giving himself new powers.

Appeals courts and the Court of Cassation will halt work until the decree is revoked, the judges say.

The decree, issued last Thursday, gave Mr Mursi powers to take any measures to protect the revolution, and stated that no court could overturn his decisions.

The move sparked anger and widespread protests.

Mr Mursi's backers say the decree was needed to protect the gains of the revolution against a judiciary with deep ties to overthrown President Hosni Mubarak.

The Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups have called a rally for Saturday in support of Mr Mursi.

On Monday, Mr Mursi sought to defuse the crisis by saying the decree granting him new powers was limited in scope.

He met senior judges and told them that the measure would be restricted to "sovereign matters" designed to protect institutions.

But judges who attended the meeting said they were not satisfied. They want him to withdraw the measure completely.

Protesters who have taken to the streets since the decree was issued last Thursday say Mr Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood has hijacked the revolution.

Anti-Mursi protests were held in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Minya and other Nile Delta cities on Tuesday.

Low-level rallies continued in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday.

The Brotherhood has organised counter-demonstrations.

The decree bars judges from dissolving the assembly that is drawing up a new constitution.

The president is also authorised to take any measures to preserve the revolution, national unity or safeguard national security.

Critics say the decree is an attack on the judiciary.