Court upholds decision to freeze Mubaraks' assets

Staff

Sat, 05/03/2011 - 13:22

Photographed by Reuters

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The Cairo Court of Appeal today upheld a decision by Attorney General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud to freeze the assets of former president Hosni Mubarak, his wife Suzanne Saleh Thabet, sons Alaa and Gamal, their wives Heidi Rasekh and Khadiga al-Gammal, and their children.

This decision covers cash, real estate, shares and other securities in banks and companies inside Egypt.

The Mubaraks face charges of acquiring wealth illegally.

ElBaradei urges Egypt's military to hand power to presidential council

Staff

Sat, 05/03/2011 - 13:22

Photographed by Mohamed Maarouf

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Pro-democracy advocate Mohamed ElBaradei suggested on Saturday the formation of a presidential council if the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces insists on handing over power after six months.

On his Twitter account, the ElBaradei said what is important at the moment is to lay foundations for a genuine democracy, adding that we should not be pressured by the time factor.

He said a temporary constitution, the setting up of a committee to put together a new constitution, and holding the presidential elections before parliamentary elections are factors that will help ensure a transition to a democracy based on participation and equal opportunity.

ElBaradei warned that holding parliamentary elections before the presidential elections, with restrictions on forming political parties still in place, will produce a parliament that does not truly represent the people.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces earlier announced that the referendum on constitutional amendments will be held on 19 March, the parliamentary election in June and the presidential race in August.

Egyptian revolutionaries say this schedule is likely to favor members of the National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood, who are the most organized forces at the moment.

Saudi Arabia imposes ban on all protests

Saudi officials are aware of protests - sometimes focused at their country - building across the region

All protests and marches are to be banned in Saudi Arabia, the interior ministry has announced on state TV.

Its statement said security forces would use all measures to prevent any attempt to disrupt public order.

The announcement follows a series of protests by the kingdom's Shia minority in the oil-producing eastern province.

Last month, King Abdullah unveiled a series of benefits in an apparent bid to protect the kingdom from the revolts spreading throughout many Arab states.

"Regulations in the kingdom forbid categorically all sorts of demonstrations, marches and sit-ins, as they contradict Islamic Sharia law and the values and traditions of Saudi society," the Saudi interior ministry statement said.

It added that police were "authorised by law to take all measures needed against those who try to break the law".

The protests in the Eastern Province - where much of the country's crude oil is sourced - have been demanding the release of prisoners who demonstrators say have been held without trial.

The announcement of the crackdown on protests follows the return, last week, of King Abdullah to the capital after an absence of several months due to illness.

He unveiled an additional $37bn (£22.7bn) in benefits for citizens, including a 15% pay rise for state employees, as well as extra funds for housing, studying abroad and social security.

Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi plans to attend his trials

The prime minister denies all the allegations against him

The Italian prime minister plans to attend all hearings in his upcoming trials, his lawyer has said.

Lawyer Niccolo Ghedini said the Milan court had been asked to schedule hearings on Mondays alone.

Silvio Berlusconi is facing four trials over the coming months, including one linked to allegations that he paid an underage prostitute for sex.

Mr Berlusconi has denied all allegations against him, saying the cases are politically motivated.

Mr Ghedini said the attendance of the prime minister at hearings on Mondays was "the utmost one could expect from a president" of the Italian council of ministers, according to Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper.

He said that in exceptional circumstances, Mr Berlusconi would also be willing to make himself available on Saturdays, if needed.

"The premier feels it is right that he should take to the stage in person to defend himself," Mr Ghedini said, adding that because of this the various hearings would need to co-ordinated in order to allow himself to attend.

Mr Berlusconi is not obliged to turn up in court and has, so far, only rarely appeared in person. Mondays, analysts say, are often particularly busy days in the parliamentary calendar.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome

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If the offer is genuine it represents a bolder strategy by the prime minister, who until now has always refused to co-operate personally with the courts because he accuses the prosecutors of being politically biased against him.

The pressure on Mr Berlusconi to appear in person has increased following a decision in January by Italy's highest court to water down the prime minister's immunity from prosecution.

But offering to show up presents some risks and some gains for the prime minister. The downside is that it will generate much more potentially damaging publicity for Mr Berlusconi and, knowing the prime minister's fiery personality, it also poses the threat of courtroom clashes with the judges.

But by appearing himself it shows Mr Berlusconi respects the rule of law, which some accuse him of trampling on. It also could reinforce his argument that he's innocent and has nothing to hide.

His lawyer added that due to a procedural error, the first hearing for a case of alleged corruption - scheduled for this Saturday - has been postponed until the end of the month.

Mr Berlusconi's immunity from prosecution was largely withdrawn in January.

In this latest trial Silvio Berlusconi is accused of fraud and embezzlement over the acquisition of television rights involving one of his media companies.

It is claimed that with his son and others Mr Berlusconi overpaid for television rights and then avoided paying tax on the transaction.

The case is related to another fraud trial involving the prime minister that began a week ago.

A third trial where Mr Berlusconi is accused of bribery is due to begin later this month.

The fourth trial is scheduled for next month in which the prime minister has been indicted for paying an underage prostitute for sex and abusing his powers.

The 74-year-old leader recently said that he had undergone more trials than anyone in the history of the universe, claiming he had been a defendant in more than 50 cases.

The prime minister also revealed that he had given up his mobile phone because he feared he might be the target of wire tapping by prosecutors who have been investigating him.

The BBC's Duncan Kennedy, in Rome, says that while his legal troubles and alleged scandals involving young women have eroded his popularity, the prime minister seems to be gathering strength in parliament, as a breakaway party set up to challenge his leadership has itself become disunited.

Yemen: Foreign Office travel advice tightened

A wave of protests against the government in Yemen began in late January

The Foreign Office is warning Britons against all travel to the Middle Eastern state of Yemen.

Officials say the advice has been reviewed and reissued because of increasing violence in the country.

UK nationals already in Yemen without a pressing need to stay are advised to leave using commercial travel services.

There have been protests against the government in several cities, and there are reports of clashes between police and demonstrators.

The Foreign Office says there are reports of violence being used to disperse crowds, and of a number of deaths.

Further protests are expected, say officials, and violence is likely.

The previous travel advice recommended against all but essential travel to Yemen, including the main cities of Sana'a and Aden, because of the threat of terrorism, kidnapping and tribal violence.

It also advised against all travel to the northern region of Sa'ada, where Shia rebels have been active since 2004.

Unrest

Demonstrators are calling for the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled since 1978.

They say they are frustrated about government corruption and about soaring unemployment.

In one of the latest incidents, rebels say the army fired rockets at an anti-government protest in northern Yemen, killing two people.

President Saleh has rejected an opposition plan under which he would step down from power this year. He intends to serve his full term in office, which ends in 2013.

He has blamed the US and Israel for the unrest in Yemen and across the Arab world.

Yemen is one of only four countries where the Foreign Office currently advises against all travel.

The other three are Libya, Ivory Coast and Somalia.

Egypt: Protesters raid on Cairo state security HQ

Egypt's secret police are much loathed, accused of serious human rights abuses in the country

Egyptian protesters have stormed the headquarters of the secret police in Cairo, demanding that the organisation be dismantled.

It followed rumours that officials were destroying documents that could be used in court to prove human rights abuses.

On Friday, some 200 protesters stormed the agency's offices in Alexandria after police fired on protesters.

The abolition of the force has been a demand of protesters who ousted Hosni Mubarak as president in February.

Egypt's State Security Investigations - which is reported to have some 100,000 employees and a large network of informants - is widely accused of human rights abuses, including torture of detainees.

'Shredded' papers

In Cairo, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the national headquarters of the state security forces in Sixth of October city, on the edge of the capital.

One of the protesters told the BBC they had been allowed into the building by guards and had discovered piles of shredded documents, but nobody inside.

The army has secured the building.

The internal security services were the feared enforcers of Hosni Mubarak's three decades in power, says the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Cairo.

Habib el-Adly has been blamed for police violence during the protests

It was their agents that used violence to try and stop the protests in Tahrir Square - and they have now become the latest target of continuing if small scale protests, our correspondent says.

On Saturday, former Interior Minister Gen Habib al-Adly - who had been in charge of the secret services - appeared in court accused of money-laundering and corruption. He denied all the charges.

On Friday, the country's newly appointed Prime Minister Essam Sharaf vowed to reform the dreaded security apparatus.

Addressing thousands in the capital's Tahrir Square, the focal point of protests that toppled Mubarak, he said he hoped Egypt's "security apparatus will serve the citizens".

In the port city of Alexandria later, several people were injured as protesters and police clashed in the lower floors of the state security agency there.

Soldiers eventually regained control of the building where witnesses said officers had been trying to destroy papers.

Mr Mubarak stepped down after 18 days of protests, handing over power to the armed forces.

Libya rebels repel Gaddafi forces

More than 30 people killed as opposition fighters force back government troops in western town of Az Zawiyah. Last Modified: 05 Mar 2011 20:22 GMT