Newscast for Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Zelaya supporters trapped on Honduras Nicaragua border
In Honduras, interim President Roberto Micheletti says he is not that bothered by the US government revoking the diplomatic visas of several Honduran officials. The State Department also said it is revoking derivative visas for those officials' family members. Meanwhile, ousted President Manuel Zelaya is encouraging his supporters to convene at the Honduran-Nicaraguan border. But the military has set up a blockade there and since last weekend, hundreds of people have been trapped. Tim Russo reports.

Public option sidelined for co-op proposal for health care reform
Details of another proposal for health care reform are beginning to emerge. A group of senators say they are making progress on the major piece of legislation.  And although details are still in flux, the measure does not include the central tenet of Democratic proposals, a government-run public option.  Instead, it would include a co-operative health system. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Congress rejects food security bill
On Capitol Hill today, lawmakers considered the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009.  Consumer groups said the bill would help increase food safety but the legislation had its critics, including small and organic farmers.  FSRN´s Karen Miller has more.

Venezuela freezes diplomatic ties with Colombia following accusations it supported FARC guerrillas
Venezuela froze diplomatic relations with Colombia yesterday, following accusations that Venezuelan weapons had been found in a camp abandoned by Colombia´s FARC guerrillas. President Chavez withdrew his ambassador from Colombia, claiming he would not accept more aggressions from the neighboring country.
Chavez also criticized the Colombian government for its plans to allow the US military to use five military bases in Colombia, saying this was a threat to Venezuela´s sovereignty. FSRN spoke to Larry Birns, a former diplomat and Latin America expert about this crisis.  Birns directs the Washington based Council on Hemispheric Affairs.

Violence continues in Nigeria as military shells Islamic militants´ compound
More than 150 women and children fled the compound of Islamic militant Mohammed Yussuf as Nigerian military shelled his base in the northern city of Maiduguru. Yussuf´s organization the Boko Haram has staged several attacks against police compounds in northern Nigeria since last Sunday.

The violence has claimed the lives of more than 300 people according to Nigerian human rights groups, although government officials claim that most of those killed have been militants. Nigeria´s population is evenly split between Christians and Muslims with the latter dominating the northern regions.

Islamic groups have staged attacks against Nigerian security forces in four northeastern states since Sunday.  As the fighting continues between the Boko Haram and the Nigerian government civilians are beginning to get caught in the crossfire. Some 4,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to the Associated Press.  The whereabouts of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yussuf are still unknown.

Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: SF Eight No More