Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Personal: Today feels so good a day

Why?
Because yesterday, Monday, I found love.
Just hope it will be the love of my life in this, life's. short journey.

Hi M,
For that is the name.
This year's February 14 will surely be light.
With you in my arms.
Sure enough,
I think this is love,
What, yesterday, I have found.

Freedom of information laws struggle to take hold in Africa

In Uganda, a ruling this week in a landmark case of two journalists seeking to compel their government’s disclosure of multinationals oil deals highlighted the challenges to public transparency across countries such as Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and others. The ruling came just before media leaders, press freedom advocates, officials, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter gather in Ghana next week at the African Regional Conference on the Right of Access to Information.

In Uganda, a ruling this week in a landmark case of two journalists seeking to compel their government’s disclosure of multinationals oil deals highlighted the challenges to public transparency just before media leaders, press freedom advocates, officials, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter gather in Ghana next week at the African Regional Conference on the Right of Access to Information.

Senior reporter Angelo Izama and Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi of Uganda’s leading independent newspaper Monitor filed the case to appeal the refusal of Uganda’s attorney general to provide them with certified copies of oil exploitation agreements—because of alleged confidentiality clauses in the documents—according to news reports. The journalists argued that the information was of public interest: Ugandans must be able to hold the government and its partners accountable for the exploitation of the oil.

However, Chief Magistrate Deo Ssejjemba said in his ruling that the petitioners had not proved either of the public benefit of disclosing the information to the public, according to news reports. The journalists, along with their partners the Open Society Institute’s East Africa Initiative and Human Rights Network Uganda (HURINET), said they were considering appealing the ruling.

The case was originally filed by lawyer and Member of Parliament Abdu Katuntu under Uganda’s Access to Information Act, a legislation he introduced in 2005. Patrick Tumwine of HURINET told CPJ a local coalition of civil society organizations has been raising awareness about the law. More than 50 percent of Ugandans requesting information about resources allocations, local government affairs, or cases with security agencies get turned down, he said.

Freedom to information is enshrined as a fundamental human right by the United Nations, and upheld by the African Charter on Human and People's Rights. The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa explicitly states: “Public bodies hold information not for themselves but as custodians of the public good and everyone has a right to access this information, subject only to clearly defined rules established by law.” However, to this date, only five countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Uganda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Angola) have passed freedom of information legislation, according to Mukelani Dimba, the deputy chief executive officer of the South Africa-based Open Democracy Advice Centre and an expert on the topic.

Progress in the enactment of such legislation remains sluggish, even stalled for a dozen countries that have crafted draft bills. In Mozambique for instance, parliament has yet to table a draft bill presented by a platform of civil society organizations since November 2005, Alfredo Libombo, who heads the Mozambican branch of the Media Institute of Southern Africa told CPJ. The same is true in Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, according to Dimba, while legislative chambers in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, and Zambia have struggled to push through tabled draft bills.


Even the handful of countries with legislation in place have mightily struggled to translate their laws into meaningful reality. For instance, Zimbabwe’s deceptively named Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act has almost invariably been used to censor the press.

Dimba said he was aware of only two cases where the law was used for freedom of information purposes. Ethiopia passed its legislation—within a package of laws effectively criminalizing independent journalism—but has a long way to go towards a culture of transparency and openness. Ethiopian editor Dawit Kebede told CPJ, there had been some improvements with the establishment of a Government Communications Office. However, fear of government reprisals has led many designated communications officers at public agencies to decline to comment without the consent of their superiors, he explained. Even South Africa, recognized as a model of implementation, has struggled to make the progressive ideals of its legislation a reality, according to Dimba. “Only 40 percent of requests for information in SA are processed and attended to in terms of the law,” he said. “The rest are simply ignored.”

All these issues will surely be discussed by the “more than 125 persons from 40 countries” expected during the Feb 7-9 conference, organized by the Carter Center in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, where, just last month, hundreds of journalists and activists organized a protest march in response to parliament’s delay in passing “Right to Information” legislation.

Valentine's Day Ideas

Origin of Valentines Day
On February 14th, suitors ply the object of their affections with chocolate, flowers and verses of poetry. Some lucky ladies receive jewelry, while some lucky men are Read More
How to Become Romantic
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Romantic Dinner Menu Ideas
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How to Pamper your Husband on Valentines Day
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Do Girls Want Flowers or Chocolate for Valentines?
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How to Make Your Girlfriend Feel Loved
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Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to give a unique handmade gift basket. Learn how to put one together in this free video. Read More
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Long-distance lovers should celebrate Valentine's Day face-to-face, otherwise, the two should spend some hours on the phone getting closer. Make a long-distance Valentine's Read More
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Children often look forward to Valentine's Day, when they get to share cute cards with their friends, eat candy, and talk about happiness and love. However, Valentine's Day Read More
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In recent surveys, it has been demonstrated that even more people hate Valentine's Day than love it. This phenomenon has been attributed to many different things from the Read More
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How to Accessorize a Love Letter

Love letters employ a personal manner. Although the words may be personal, sometimes you really need to accessorize a love letter to further personalize it. Make the most of the message by accessorizing a love letter to your loved one.


When you are actually writing a love letter, make sure you don't fill up all the empty space because you want to save some room for accessorizing your love letter. Start in one spot of the empty space that is left and draw little hearts with a regular pen or a smelly pen. Smelly pens are a delightful surprise because the person reading it will definitely not be expecting scent from a letter.

Step 2After you have drawn hearts in the empty spaces, you can seal the letter with a kiss. This is done by applying lipstick to your lips and slightly pressing them down where ever you may feel is appropriate. You can either kiss the envelope's seal area, or you can kiss the end of the love letter, whichever way you feel creates a nice touch to the love letter.

Step 3After you are done kissing the love letter, you can even add a little bit of glitter to it. This will add lots of dazzle and color to the letter.

Step 4Another great way to accessorize a letter is to add cute stickers over the envelope. Be careful not to go overboard because it may overwhelm the message of the love letter. Keep it simple and delightful.

How to Write Romantic Love Letters to Her

Girls love to receive romantic love letters. Being able to write down your thoughts and share your love with her on paper will mean so much to the girl or woman you love. It can be difficult to put into words how you feel about her, so here are some tips to get you started, and help you write romantic love letters to the one you love.

Set the romantic mood of your love letters by choosing beautiful stationary. Your love letters should be hand-written. Sending love letters to her via email will not be as romantic as writing them by hand.

Step 2Date your letter with the month, day, and year. If you succeed in writing romantic love letters, they will be treasured for years to come.

Step 3Start you romantic love letters with a few sentences about why you have decided to write a love letter to her. Are thoughts of her keeping you awake at night, or do you feel the need to tell her how much you love her?

Step 4The main part of your letter should be about why you fell in love with her. Romantic love letters describe what you love about her, how you felt the day you met her, how you feel when you are together and apart, how your life has changed since you met her, qualities that make her special, and romantic love letters recall special times you have shared together. Be open, honest, and respectful of her when you write your romantic love letters. You may want to write the first drafts of your love letters to her on scratch paper, so that your final letter is perfect.

Step 5Tuck your romantic love letters into matching envelopes and hand-address them. Consider adding dried rose petals or heart-shaped confetti to your love letters before putting them in the envelopes. Stamp the love letters, and send them in the mail to the girl you love. You can be sure that any love letters you write to her will be thought of as romantic, and she will keep them forever.

How to Write a Love Letter for Valentine's Day

There is no need to spend a wallet full of money for Valentine's Day. The best gifts are heartfelt, which is why a love letter is a perfect item to give your loved one for Valentine's Day. Surprise her this year with your words.

Purchase some fancy stationery. Even if you decide to type your love letter, declarations of love are best read from impressive looking stationery. Choose stately designs or designs based on nature. Avoid designs involving cartoon characters, which may give your partner the impression that you are not serious.

Step 2Get in the mood. You should be alone when you write your letter. Use soft music, dim lights or a picture to inspire your love letter.

Step 3Think about why you care for your loved one. Thinking back to fun times you've had will help you gather together your words. If you need to, make an outline on a separate piece of paper before you start writing so your thoughts are organized.

Step 4Compose. Your letter should include reasons why you love her, how she has changed your life and why you're glad to have met her. Typically, love letters have a serious tone, but a lighthearted tone might be a better fit if the two of you are a fun-loving couple.

Step 5Make it your own. Write your letter in your words. Some people feel that quoting song lyrics is a good way to get your loved one to understand how you feel, but your own words will be even more powerful, even if they are more simple than a musician's are.

Step 6Close your letter with a romantic line or two written just for her. Don't forget to sign the letter with "Love." Make sure to write your signature, even if you plan to type your letter.

Step 7Put your letter in a fancy envelope. You can find basic, yet pretty, ones at a stationery store.

How to Pick the Best Valentine's Gift for Her

Valentine's Day is such a special time for couples. But for most men it can be a time of major stress. Picking out the perfect Valentine's gift for your wife or girlfriend doesn't have to be that hard. Follow these suggestions to make sure you get it right this year and don't end up sleeping on the couch!


An obvious choice is jewelry. It's very hard to screw up jewelry. But a lot of men won't even consider jewelry for their love if they're on a tight budget. That is a major mistake. While expensive jewelry is great, there don't have to be diamonds in that little box to make her happy. There's just something about getting a piece of beautiful jewelry from a man that makes us melt. Maybe it's because it's a symbol of your love that we can wear on our bodies to remind us of you. Or maybe it's from a childhood of watching princess love stories. Whatever the reason, you may not understand it, but it is much deeper for us than how expensive the jewelry is. If you're strapped for cash opt for semi-precious stones set in sterling silver or 10k gold. You don't have to break the bank to get her something beautiful.

Step 2
Flowers can be a boring and predictable Valentine's Day gift, or they can be so heartfelt they bring tears to her eyes. Sure roses are great, but how many times has that been done? If you really want to wow your girlfriend don't buy her roses. Buy her favorite flower in her favorite color. This is much more personal than red roses and shows her how well you know her. If you don't know her favorite flower, don't freak out. Ask one of her close friends or family members. And if they don't know, see if they'd be willing to ask her casually and then tell you what she says.

Step 3
Perfume is a very tricky gift. Let's face it men, most of you don't know a thing about women's fragrances. If you show up on Valentine's Day with a bottle of Liz Taylor's White Diamonds for your 22 year old girlfriend, you're likely to be asked to leave. So to play it safe, always check with her friends before buying a perfume. If you still don't know what she wears but want to get her a scent, err on the side of caution and buy a very popular scent that is age appropriate and preferably with a light fragrance. Ask the lady at the makeup counter for more help if you're having trouble.

Step 4
If you're feeling really daring you could go with an extremely romantic gift that is emotional and meaningful. Do something very personal that requires you to go out of your way to obtain. Get her a book signed by her all time favorite author or poet. Write a love song about her and surprise her by performing it at a local coffee shop on amateur night. Name a star after her (Yes, this is possible. Look it up online and you'll find many companies specializing in star naming.). Personalize a teddy bear just for her from a place like The Build-A-Bear Workshop. Dress the bear like you and have your name printed on his shirt. Use your imagination and do something original! These kinds of gifts are usually the ones women remember the most.

How to Pick the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift

It is that time of year where LOVE is in the air! Make sure you remember the special loved one's in your life this February 14th.

First make sure you know what that special person is "in to". Giving someone a gift that does not fit their personality, will likely not gain any brownie points for you. Discover their hobbies, and find out if they like jewelry, candy, etc.

Step 2Next, shop around. Don't buy the first gift you see. This time of year there are several flower shops that offer discounts, as well as jewelry shops, etc. If you know their hobby is important to them, maybe get them a gift they can "use".

Step 3Make sure you visit online coupon sites for discounts you can either print or enter a code to use. There are several such as retailmenot.com and gblpridejewelry.com. Try to make the gift as personal as possible. This shows you really have put some thought into what makes that special person HAPPY!

How to Pick the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift for Him

Most men will not profess their interest in Valentine's Day other than knowing that they are expected to recognize their valentine on the day with gifts and attention. Surprise the man in your life on Valentine's Day with gifts of his own.

Give him a free pass to hang out with the guys on the weekend at the sports bar. Better yet, offer to be the designated driver for all of the guys at the end of the night so they can enjoy a few drinks while watching the game and still get home safely.

Step 2Buy a gift certificate for him to enjoy a favorite sport. If he enjoys golf, get a gift certificate for greens fees at his favorite course. If he loves to shoot, buy a few hours of time at the gun range.

Step 3Make a date night at home by preparing his favorite meal and watching a movie from his favorite genre. You can rent a movie from or buy a movie you know he would like and make it part of his Valentine's Day gift.

Step 4Create a love coupon book for him. On each coupon, write something he would enjoy from a back massage to a foot rub to something more risqué. Allow him to turn in as many coupons as he would like on Valentine's Day to make his night.

10 Valentine's Day Gifts for Him

Typically, many people perceive Valentine's Day gifts as overly sentimental and syrupy sweet. When you're buying for a man, however, sappy and sentimental may not always be the best choice. Luckily, there are plenty of options that don't involve flowers and chocolates in heart-shaped containers.

Memorabilia
Whether he collects baseball cards or Star Wars action figures, buying a piece of memorabilia to add to his collection will make him light up like a little boy. Do a little research and see which figure, card or other collectible he's been eyeing. Then, scope out the collectible shops and auction sites to find just the right collectible at the right price.
Camping Equipment
Present him with a set of new camping equipment ranging from canteens to tents, if your budget permits. If you're unsure of what items he already owns, consider buying a gift card to an outdoor sports store so he can choose his own items.
Video Games or Accessories
For the gamer in your life, buy the latest hot video game title. Nothing says romance like acceptance of his geekiest hobbies.
His Favorite Films on DVD or Blu-Ray
Whether he loves action films, dramatic independents or gory horror films, give him a few of his favorite films on DVD or Blu-Ray. A gift of his favorite films tells him that you not only love him, but you listen to him when he's droning on about vintage versus present-day Sam Raimi films.
Home-Cooked Meal
You've no doubt heard the saying, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Test the theory by preparing a home-cooked meal for Valentine's Day. Create a feast featuring his favorite entrees and desserts. Add candlelight and wine to make the meal more romantic.
Tickets to a Sporting Event
Not all men love sports, but those who do will appreciate tickets to a favorite team's game. While you may not be able to spring for the best seats in the house, he will appreciate the gesture and enjoy sharing his love for sports with you.
An Adventure
Enlist the help of a service that provides customers with "adventure experiences." From hot air balloon rides to Nascar racing experiences, purchase a gift certificate that will allow him to take part in a boyhood fantasy.
Electronics
You've probably seen him admire the latest GPS model or iPod as he roams the aisles of his favorite electronics store. Surprise him with a gift that will really knock his socks off by giving him the item he's been longing for.
Watch or Timepiece
A watch or timepiece, such as a pocket watch, is an elegant gift that will become a sentimental keepsake in the years to come.
Cuff Links
For a partner who regularly wears button-up dress shirts to work or functions, select a pair of cuff links that will match his style. You can even purchase secret message cuff links that allow you to store a message inside a tiny barrel placed on top of the link.

How to buy cheap Valentine's Day gifts for him

For many women it is important to buy a gift for their husbands or boyfriends even when they have very little money. Instead of spending over your budget, purchase cheap Valentine's gifts for him.

Look at his hobbies for ideas on cheap Valentine's gifts for him. If your man is a fisherman then look for fishing line or hooks you could purchase. A sports enthusiast may enjoy a football to throw around with you.

Step 2Take a peak at his bath accessories for cheap Valentine's gifts for him. He may use a special shaving cream or body spray that you could turn into a gift basket.

Step 3Search www.ebay.com for cheap Valentine's gifts for him. You may be able to find the video game he has been looking for or the barbecue set he cannot wait to use for a very inexpensive price.

Step 4Look for ten dollar magazine subscriptions that he would enjoy. Not only are these inexpensive but they are also a gift that he will get more than once.

How to celebrate a cheap Valentines Day

Consider celebrating Valentine's Day the day after. Gifts, flowers, and chocolates can all be found at a deep discount. Also, the restaurants will not be as packed.

Step 2
Instead of going to a restaurant, enjoy a nice dinner at home. You can often get expensive ingredients, such as lobster and steak, for less than the cost of going out.

Step 3Call into your local radio station to request "your" song. Then ask your loved one to dance!

Step 4
Write sweet notes and leave them around the house where your other half will find them. You could also hide small presents, or even do a scavenger hunt.

Step 5Have a frugal gift challenge. See who can find the most romantic gift for under $10 each. Try making CDs of his favorite music, or a thrift store knick-knack that may remind her of you.

Step 6
If you have children, consider having them make their own Valentine's Day cards.

Step 7Consider celebrating Valentine's Day the day after. Gifts, flowers, and chocolates can all be found at a deep discount. Also, the restaurants will not be as packed.

How to Save Money on Valentine's Day

Offer to make a romantic dinner for Valentine's Day. You can make a nice Italian meal like spaghetti and meatballs fairly easily, and to really put it over the top you can make some cookies or cake for dessert. Get a nice glass of wine and one red rose and your entire night is set! It sure beats the hell out of paying over a hundred dollars on a dozen roses, plus this idea is definitely more personable and less commercial.

Step 2Go for a short get-away. Spend the afternoon at the park with a picnic of sandwiches, salad, and wine. Make your girlfriend or boyfriend a card and just spend the day together. Again, it will be obvious you put more effort into it then just going to the local florist and ordering flowers to be delivered to the home at an unknown time.

Step 3Make something! The reason most people don't follow this step is that it is the most difficult. Ironically, it is also the most budget sensitive. Create your own poem, or if you sing and play an instrument -- create a song!

Step 4Avoid Valentine's Day packages from your local florist or online store. They will attempt to sell you a teddy bear, bouquet of roses and a box of 'no name' chocolate for twice the price of buying all those things separately. Also, do not fall for the gifts that deliver one thing to your sweetie for an entire week. Not only do you have to worry about someone being home for those amount of days, it can also get annoying after awhile.

SADC NGO's pressure Malawi on gay couple

About thirty-five Southern African non-governmental organizations want arrested gay couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza released without condition. The NGOs argue the arrest and trial on suspected homosexuality compromises the fight against HIV/AIDS and mostly violates fundamental rights.
Under sections 153 and 156 of the Penal Code, homosexuality is against the laws of Malawi.

“These laws must be repealed as they are discriminatory,” said the NGO’s umbrella body, Aids and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa.

Last week Malawi’s lawmakers meeting in the capital Lilongwe bashed European parliamentarians of trying to work against the enshrined laws of a sovereign state. Leader of the Parliamentary group on legal affairs challenged the British and Scottish chambers not to enforce their moral and cultural belief on the people of Malawi.

The House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM 564) moved that the arrest of the two has already caused the couple abuse, humiliation and violence while being held at Chichiri Prison in Blantyre City. Medical and psychological reports indicate Chimbalanga is a man and not a woman, and is mentally stable after examinations.

Earlier, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Honourable Ledford Thotho said no matter what happens, Malawi was a sovereign state and homosexuality was an immoral and criminal act under the country’s laws. The religious and traditional leaders echoed his sentiments.

However, local NGOs have distanced themselves from being secretly funded by pro and anti gay organizations from western civil rights organizations.

The Evangelical Association of Malawi (ECM), through General Secretary Reverend Francis Mkandawire, said this was news to them and that Malawi’s moral and spiritual values should be respected under the laws.

In a different development, former advisor on Christian matters to President Bingu wa Mutharika, Reverend Malani Mtonga, expressed his group, Church Foundation for Integrity and Democracy (CFID), bent at promoting religious and democratic values, would see no problem in receiving aid to help the organization sensitize the masses on the evils of homosexuality.

“If there is a lobby with the same vision ready to fund, there is no problem to accept to pass on messages to the public,” he said.

AU chairman: USA is nonsense

There is no basis to form a United States of Africa (USA) when there is no unity among the various governments on the continent, stated the newly elected Africa Union Chairman Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika. He said it was "nonsense" to pursue that dream adding his predecessor Muammar Gaddafi pushed it too far.
“Why should we create one Africa when in our countries and our regional groupings we are not united? Libya is pushing these matters too much,” the Malawian president told the local press upon his arrival from the AU Summit in Ethiopia.

He added: “We all know why Gaddafi wants the formation of OAU now; it is because he wants to be the first leader. Some of us don’t like other things but we choose to be silent deliberately. We just look at other things when we know they are nonsense.”

Diplomatic row

Ahead of the Summit, a diplomatic row brewed over who was suitable to man the affairs of the AU. The Libyan leader’s backers, including their northern allies Tunisia, argue that the AU chairmanship – faced by a US$ 1.3bn deficit for its programmes – needs someone with demonstrable financial muscle like Kadhafi.

However, the Malawian President said the southern African country was qualified to lead the AU and that he was ready to take up the mantle. “The chairmanship of the African Union is rotational,” Mutharika told journalists before departing for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the summit at which he was earmarked to take over the chairmanship of the continental grouping from the Libyan leader, Kadhafi.

He said: “The Southern African region, through SADC (the Southern African Development Community), has elected Malawi and therefore we are looking forward to be nominated.”

West African giant Nigeria joined other countries to back the candidacy of Mutharika according to the Vanguard newspaper.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Zimbabwean women activists released without charge

The 22 members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) who were arrested on the 2nd February in Pumula have been release without charge. The women were arrested in Bulawayo a suburb of Bulawayo for discussing about the constitutional reform process in the country.
WelcomeZimbabwe_Kabutana
They stated that they have a right to freely participate in the reform process.

According to Assistant Inspector Chimani, the arrested women had already been released; he further apologized for arresting them, after he denied having knowledge of the situation.

Chimani revealed that the officers concerned did not know that they were WOZA members.

The women groups acknowledge the professionalism of the police, but call on the police officers to stop the arbitrary arrest of Zimbabweans.

WOZA was formed in 2003 as a women’s civic movement to press for better governance and social justice in that country.

Zambian scoops Face of Africa

A 22-year-old Zambian has been adjudged winner of the prestigious 2010 Face of Africa modeling competition held in Nigeria. Lukando Nalungwe, a student at the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants beat nine others in the final round of the 30-member competition.
face of africa 2010
Lukando has since been awarded a modeling contract with O Model Africa and US$50,000.

Meanwhile, the 2003 Miss Zambia Cynthia Kanema has challenged government to recognize Lukando just as they have recognized others who excelled in other fields.

Kanema said the winner deserves recognition from government and other stakeholders who appreciate modeling and fashion.

“I think it’s about time Zambia had something like that, I mean we are very proud of her, she seems like a lovely girl. She has done the whole country proud but more than that the modeling industry. Zambia is just beginning to make a breakthrough right now and Lukando is leading the way, so that’s really good.”

The Multichoice Zambia Public Relations Manager Marlon Kananda told AfricaNews that he expects the Zambian fashion and modeling industry to excel after the face of Africa triumph adding that he would like to see young people take part in reality shows such as Face of Africa which bring immense opportunities.

Chad: French aid worker released

Armed men have released a foreign aid worker held for 89 days in Chad, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Saturday.
chad_army
French aid worker Laurent Maurice was abducted by armed men on 9 November 2009 in the village of Kawa, some 20km (12 miles) from the border with Sudan, where the aid agency is supporting a primary health care center.

The Organization said in a press statement "Laurent Maurice is tired but appears to be in good health".

An ICRC spokesman was quoted by Reuters that the aid worker was now on his way to Sudan's capital Khartoum.

"The ICRC is relieved that Laurent is now free and happy that he will soon be back with his family and friends", the AFP news agency quoted Jordi Raich, the head of the ICRC's mission in Sudan.

"We would like to express our profound gratitude to all those who helped us in one way or another during his captivity," Raich added.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner confirmed the report.

Maurice, 37, had been in Chad for 10 months before his abduction.

Another French aid worker who was working for the ICRC, Gauthier Lefevre, was kidnapped in Darfur last October and still being held.

Attacks against aid workers are common phenomenon in eastern Chad.

Gambia: Four ministers fired

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has fired four key ministers and appointed four others, according to the state-owned media.
yahya jammeh
Lamin Bojang, Minister of Works, Construction and Infrastructure, Antouman Saho, Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources, Ismaila Sambou, Minister of Local Government and Land and Nancy Njie, Minister of Tourism and Culture were all relieved of their duties last Thursday.

Dr. Mamadou Tangara has been appointed Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, and Alhagie A. Cham had the Minister for Information and Communication Infrastructure.

Lamin Kaba Bajo has been appointed the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters. Further, Baboucarr H M Jallow takes over as Minister of Trade, Industry and Employment, Fatou Mass Jobe Minister of Tourism and Culture and Pierre Tamba Minister of Local Government and Land.

Meanwhile, Yusupha Kah, who was handling Trade, Industry and Employment Ministry, has been redeployed to a newly created Ministry of Economy, National Planning and Industrial Development.

Libyan Court frees Swiss businessman

A Libyan court has dropped a case against Swiss businessman Rashid Hamdani for alleged illegal business activities, his lawyer said on Sunday, a day after a colleague was fined over similar charges. Hamdani, who was also cleared last month of charges of overstaying his visa, was free to leave Libya where he has been stranded for one and a half years.
Hamdani
Hamdani and fellow countryman and businessman Max Goeldi have been entangled in a diplomatic row between Switzerland and Libya, which barred them from leaving the country since July 2008.

Goeldi was ordered on Saturday to pay an 800-dollar fine for illegal business activities. The pair were caught up in a row over the treatment in Switzerland of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's son Hannibal, who was detained briefly in Geneva with his wife when two hotel servants complained he had mistreated them.