Headlines for Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Iran continues crackdown on opposition
In Tehran, authorities continue to repress reform leaders after violent protests over the weekend during which eight people were killed and at least 300 arrested. A number of opposition leaders, an outspoken journalist, and the sister of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi were detained today. Ebadi says her sister has never been politically active and has been arrested to pressure the Nobel humanitarian. And Iranian police effectively placed Mahdi Karroubi on house arrest by ending his security team thereby making it unsafe for him to leave his home. Karroubi is the other reform candidate who ran against Mahmoud Amedinijad in the disputed June elections. Access to the internet and SMS texting systems remains restricted.  Iranian state media claims that tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallied today.

Argentinean men become Latin America’s first gay married couple
Two Argentine men have made history, after exchanging vows in Latin America’s first same sex marriage. FSRN’s Marie Trigona has more from Buenos Aires.

Alex Freyre and Jose Maria di Bello tied the knot in a private ceremony in the Patagonian province of Tierra del Fuego, becoming Argentina's first married gay couple. Same sex-marriage is illegal in Argentina. However the governor of the Southern Tierra del Fuego issued a special decree allowing the two men to wed legally. The couple celebrated their marriage today in Buenos Aires. Jose Maria di Bello:

“I think this marriage is going to cause a domino effect throughout Latin America. It will allow for more transformations in which all citizens’ rights will be included and respected.

Earlier in the year a Buenos Aires judge overturned Argentina’s ban on same sex marriage. But they day before the two men were originally set to marry, A federal judge issued an injunction that prevented the December 1st planned wedding in Buenos Aires. A Supreme Court appeal is still pending. The couple did not announce plans to wed to prevent further judicial roadblocks. Marie Trigona, FSRN, Buenos Aires.

Pakistan mourns victims of Ashura attack
In Pakistan, thousands attended funerals today for 43 people killed in Karachi yesterday in a suicide attack on a religious procession. The province of Sindh observed a day of mourning and the primary political parties there are calling for a general strike to protest the violence.

Children among dead in Nigeria clashes
Thirty eight people, including children, have been killed in Northern Nigeria during clashes between Nigerian security forces and suspected members of an extreme Islamist group. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

The clashes took place in the Northern city of Bauchi. The Red Cross says more than half of those killed were children. It is unclear how the children died. Most of the others killed during the violence are believed to be members of the Islamist group known as Kala Kato. The fighting started on Monday after police attempted to stop members of the sect from openly preaching their doctrine which is considered extreme. Public preaching is banned in the region. The sect has preached in support of other extremists groups like the Boko Haram, which was at the center of religious violence that left more than 700 people dead across northern Nigeria earlier this year. The Boko Haram sect is against all western values including education. The latest crisis is one of several that have hit Nigeria in recent years. More than 12,000 people have died in religioun fueled violence since Nigeria returned to civil rule ten years ago.Sam Olukoya, FSRN, Lagos.

Afghanistan investigates civilian casualties in Kunar province
Afghan President Hamid Karzai sent investigators to Kunar province today to look into reports that 10 civilians – eight of them children – were killed by international forces over the weekend. Agence France Press reports that US forces were conducting operations in the area at the time.

Israeli police arrest Vanunu for violating conditions of his release from prison
Israeli police arrested whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu today for violating a ban on contact with foreigners. Vanunu spent 18 years in prison for leaking details of Israel’s nuclear program.  One of the conditions of his release was that he have no contact with foreigners. Vanunu’s attorney says he was arrested for having a Norweigan girlfriend. He was released from jail and placed on house arrest this afternoon.

Israeli High Court orders military to open West Bank highway to Palestinians
And the Israeli High Court today lifted a ban on Palestinians using a road that runs through the West Bank. Saying the military did not have the right to limit Highway 443 to Israeli use only, the decision represents a major win for Palestinian residents of villages along the road. The military has five months to dismantle barriers to the road.