Headlines for Tuesday, February 7, 2012

UNICEF says children continue to suffer in Syria

In graphic video reportedly taken in Homs Sunday, a young boy in a makeshift hospital lurches from a gurney – the lower half of his face is missing. According to the UN Children's  fund, at least 400 kids have been killed in Syria over the past 11 months, and hundreds more are in Syrian jails. UNICEF spokesperson, Marixie Mercado. “There are reports of children being arbitrarily arrested, tortured and sexually abused while in detention. Over the past few days, reported heavy shelling by government forces of civilian neighborhoods in the city of Homs is undoubtedly causing further suffering for more children."

France recalls diplomats from Damascus

Following yesterday's closure of  the US embassy in Damascus, France recalled its ambassador to Syria today. Clea Caucutt reports.

France joins the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain in recalling its envoy to Damascus. Bernard Valero, spokesperson for the French Foreign Affairs ministry, denounced the ongoing repression in Syria. "There is a growing number of civilian victims of repression, which is not acceptable, which is not tolerable. We want to say very clearly to the Syrian regime that it’s not because there was no vote at the Security Council, that we are going to forget about what the regime is doing against its own population." France was in favor of the UN Security Council resolution against Syria that was vetoed by China and Russia on Saturday. The EU bloc is discussing slapping new sanctions on Syria in the coming weeks. Clea Caulcutt, FSRN, Paris.

Arab countries recall ambassadors

The Gulf Cooperation Council also announced today that their six member states are recalling ambassadors and expelling Syrian diplomats. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in Damascus today, meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Unconfirmed reports from the ground say that the violence continues unabated.

HRW: epidemic lead poisoning in Nigerian kids working in gold mines

Human Rights Watch says thousands of kids in Northern Nigeria need immediate medical treatment to deal with the worst lead poisoning epidemic in modern history. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

Four hundred children have died from  lead poisoning since the scope of the outbreak  became public knowledge two years ago. Some of the children were exposed to the lead dust when they process ore in gold mines. Human Rights Watch says even though the United States Centers for Disease Control  has treated more than 1,500 children for acute lead poisoning, thousands of other children urgently need the life-saving therapy that removes lead from the body. Children are particularly susceptible to high levels of lead exposure which can cause brain, liver, kidney, nerve, and stomach damage. Human Rights Watch blames the Nigerian government for not protecting children from being used as laborers in the mines. Sam Olukoya, FSRN, Lagos.

Maldives President quits amid clashes between military and police

The President of the Maldives resigned today, in what some are calling a mutiny and coup. Political tension and protests grew after Mohammed Nasheed ordered the arrest of a judge who freed a government critic from jail. Long a fighter for democracy and once a poster child  for global warming, Nasheed said he stepped down to avoid using force. Second in command, Mohammed Waheed Hassan was sworn in as President this afternoon.

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners begin gradual hunger strike

700 Palestinian prisoners inside an Israeli jail began a weekly hunger strike to protest prison conditions. FSRN's Rami Almeghari has more.

Today's strike follows warnings about prison conditions from both the Gaza-based Palestinian ministry of prisoners and community members. The strike will be staged each Tuesday. Ministry officials delivered a number of demands to Israeli authorities, including an end to solitary confinement, improved medical care, access to phone calls and permission for Gaza families to visit their loved ones inside the jail. If  these demands are not met, prisoners say they will expand the protest into an open hunger strike that would include Palestinian detainees in many other Israeli prisons as well. According to ministry statistics, Israel still holds about 7000 prisoners. Rami Almeghari, Free Speech Radio News, Gaza.

Komen executive quits on heels of Planned Parenthood controversy

A high level Susan G. Komen for the Cure official quit today. Karen Handel, the VP for Public Policy, took the fall for the group's now rescinded decision that would have denied Planned Parenthood eligibility for future grants. In her resignation letter, Handel said she “continue[s] to believe” the initial decision that disqualified the group was the right one.