Archive - Apr 12, 2010

• In Thailand protesters killed in clashes with police as pressure mounts on prime minister
• Voters in Sudan head to polls as election commission extends voting period
• World leaders gather in Washington for nuclear security summit
• Rights groups call for reform of Iraq media regulations
• Activists say social security payments denied to same sex couples

• NATO forces fire on bus, kill civilians
• Hospital aid workers arrested in Helmand Province
• US Senate – will they end stand-off on jobless benefits?
• Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Mexican officials meet over Drug War – US Consulate attacked
• Poles pay respects to late President Kaczynski

In Thailand today, the country's electoral commission called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's ruling Democrat party to be dissolved after finding that it accepted illegal donations. Although the recommendation must be approved by the attorney general before going to the constitutional court, today’s announcement could weaken Vejjajiva's hold on power as some military leaders are now pushing for new elections. Today’s move follows a weekend of heightened violence and tensions between the government and the so-called Red Shirt protesters. Ron Corben reports from Bangkok.

One day after national elections began in Sudan, the country's election commission announced it would extend the three-day voting period until Thursday. The move comes amid reports of voting irregularities, including missing voter registries and delays in opening polling stations in Southern Sudan. Voters are electing a president of both Sudan and the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan, as well as national representatives and local governors. Four of the 12 presidential challengers said they were boycotting the election. Many analysts predict incumbent President Omar al-Bashir to win another term due to the boycotts. Bashir is accused of war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court.

The Nuclear Security Summit is underway in Washington. Leaders from nearly 50 countries are in attendance to discuss the danger of loose nuclear material. The Obama Administration is calling it the most significant gathering on the issue in decades, but As FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, some politically contentious topics aren’t likely to be addressed.

Today, Iraq's prime minister, Nuri Al Maliki accused neighboring countries of meddling in his nation's democratic process. The outcome from the country's March election is still contested. Over the weekend, Al Maliki's State of Law coalition announced that it had evidence of fraud. It trails former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya alliance by just two seats. Iraqiya has also alleged voting irregularities. The outcome of the election continues to be a battle over public perception, shaped in part by a struggling local media. Before the election, the government's Communication and Media Commission began enforcing strict regulations on journalists. Today, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the commission. The group said that the regulations fall short of international standards of freedom of expression and called them a threat to the safety of media workers.

Joe Stork is the Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. And he joins us by mobile phone from Cairo.

Gay rights organizations kicked off a new national campaign in Los Angeles over the weekend. The leaders of the campaign say same-sex couples are denied millions of dollars in Social Security benefits each year. FSRN's Dan Fritz files this report.