Headlines for Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Two Venezuelan students killed in protest over RCTV
Two Venezuelan students were killed during demonstrations against a government ordered shut down of the country’s oldest television station yesterday. The two, including a 15 year old, were shot in the city of Merida. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets during clashes between groups both supporting and opposing the government in a number of Venezuelan cities. Over the weekend, the popular opposition television station RCTV, along with five other stations, was ordered off the air after refusing to air a speech by President Hugo Chavez. Protests were expected to continue today.

ICRC calls for more protection for civilians in Afghanistan
As attacks in Afghanistan continue, the ICRC says more must be done to protect civilians. Asma Nemati reports from Kabul.

An explosion outside a US base in the Afghan capital today wounded 14 people today, including eight civilians. Just over a week ago, attacks in the heart of Kabul killed 12 people, adding to the rising number of civilian casualties. Today, the International Committee of the Red Cross – or ICRC – called on all parties – the Afghan national security forces, the international military forces and the armed opposition, to minimize civilian deaths and injuries. ICRC spokesperson Carla Haddad Mardini expands that call not only combat zones but also far away from the battle fields:

"What we are seeing on the ground is that medical facilities and first aid posts are not spared the effect of the fighting. They are even sometimes directly targeted. Ambulances are sometimes blocked so people cannot be easily evacuated and medical workers who venture in these areas do it at the risk of their lives."

As President Karzai prepares for an international conference on Afghanistan later this week in London, major figures within the US military have hinted at a deal with the Taliban. The UN recently took off names of six terrorists off its black list to ease communicating with them about the deal. Asma Nemati, FSRN, Kabul.

Sri Lanka incumbent says challenger not eligible to serve
Before the polls even closed in Sri Lanka’s first peace time vote in more than 25 years, senior political leaders moved to block the projected winner from taking office. They say that General Sarath Fonseka – who led the military’s defeat of the Tamil Tigers, is not eligible because he is not registered to vote. Incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa is hoping for renewed support for his administration. But the opposition accuses Rajapaksa of abuse of power, corruption and nepotism.  With the majority vote closely divided between the two candidates – the Tamil vote is viewed as central to the final outcome.

Death toll rises in Nigerian sectarian violence, officials arrest hundreds
The death toll in Northern Nigeria’s sectarian violence continues to climb and officials have made mass arrests – Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

The police put the latest death toll at 326. But the final figure may be substantially higher as Muslim officials say 364 Muslims were killed. Christian groups also claim a large death toll. People who fled nearby villages which were also affected by the crisis now are returning home to find scores of corpses. Nigeria’s emergency management agency says it is helping displaced victims of the conflict. Some 40,000 people, including children orphaned by the crisis, are in 18 camps.  Christian groups allege that Muslim members of the police force and the Army actually took part in killing Christians during the crisis. Officials say 313 people have been arrested. The sectarian crisis is the latest in a series of religious conflicts between Christians and Muslims to hit Nigeria in the last 12 years. Sam Olukoya, FSRN, Lagos.

Four more sentenced to death over unrest in Urumchi
A Chinese court sentenced four more people to death for what they call “violent crimes of attacking, smashing, looting and burning” during sectarian violence in Urumchi last year. Nine others have already been executed, and the four newly sentenced join 22 others awaiting execution over the unrest. The names of the convicted indicate that they are Uighurs. Some 200 people died during the clashes between members of China’s majority group – the Han – and minority Uighurs.

Schwarzenegger suggests outsourcing CA prisons to Mexico
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has suggested a new way of resolving the issue of overcrowding in the state's prison system...by sending the prisoners to facilities in Mexico. Shannon Young has more.

Governor Schwarzenegger estimates California could save one billion dollars by housing an estimated 20 thousand undocumented prisoners in jails built south of the border. Schwarzenegger’s comments came during a question and answer session at the Sacramento Press Club. He suggested that the state could pay for the construction of prison infrastructure and guards in Mexico at half the cost of a US facility. California is running a budget deficit of nearly 20 billion dollars. A spokesperson for the governor's office later clarified that the idea is not an official proposal. However, the legal conditions for such a deal are feasible since Mexico reformed its criminal justice code last year to open the door to private investment in the prison system. Shannon Young, FSRN, Mexico.

Former Guatemalan President rounded up at ranch
Guatemalan officials caught up with former President Alfonso Portillo – they arrested him during a raid on a ranch this morning. Portillo was indicted by the US courts yesterday on charges of money laundering. He’s accused of embezzling millions of dollars from government and charity accounts and laundering it through foreign banks. The indictment unsealed yesterday charges that the former president funneled 1.5 million dollars through US banks – the funds were intended to buy books for Guatemalan school libraries. Portillo faces charges in Guatemala as well.