Morocco says al Qaeda behind cafe blast

Morocco's Minister of Communications Khalid Naciri on Friday hinted to the possibility that al Qaeda is linked to the bombing, which targeted a cafe in the city of Marrakech on Thursday and led to the death of 16 people.

Naciri, who is also the spokesman for the Moroccan government, said in an interview with French radio station "Europe 1": " Logically, we think they are linked to this type of terrorist attack and murder."

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Source: http://www1.albawaba.com/main-headlines/morocco-says-al-qaeda-behind-cafe-blast

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UALM Asks Amnesty and HRW to Investigate Abuse in Lebanon's Prisons; Calls for Prompt Government Formation

Australia: The United Australian Lebanese Movement (UALM) is concerned with the state of human rights conditions in Lebanese prisons. The current rioting and subsequent deaths in custody in the Roumieh Prison in Lebanon is a result of two decades of negligence and malpractice in the field of correctional services.� Prisoners are held in cells with up to 15 fellow inmates with no medical treatment.� The politicised justice system has been crippled, and many in the overcrowded jail have been waiting up to 5 years for their case to be heard over common law issues, such as theft.Many have died in prison before and during the riots.� One prisoner did not live to face his trial over a mere traffic incident because he was repeatedly refused treatment for his diabetes. The problems stem from three main issues. Firstly, the lack of funding from the Finance Ministry which was under the control of the late Rafic Hariri who was the five time Prime Minister from 1992 to 2005.� In this period Lebanon witnessed institutionalised corruption, and saw its public debt grow by $50 billion.The Finance Ministry is currently controlled by Hariri's son, Saadedine Hariri, and his Future Movement political party, and has been since 2005. An estimated $11 billion is currently unaccounted for under his government.� Such funding could have been diverted to pay for the construction of jails in both North and South Lebanon as proposed by the Change and Reform Bloc in Lebanon's parliament.The second issue is the politicised judiciary and the political appointment of Said Mirza (an ally of Hariri) as Lebanon's Chief Prosecutor.� His involvement in the highly politicised Special Tribunal for Lebanon, investigating the killing of Rafic Hariri;� saw arbitrary arrests, constantly shifting accusations and propaganda being leaked to the media that have placed doubt in the integrity of the UN backed court.� This involvement has diverted attention away from reforming Lebanon's highly politicised judiciary that is struggling to deal with the backlog of court cases and the subversion of justice in the court and prison systems of Lebanon.The third issue is the conduct of Lebanon Internal Security Forces (ISF) and its leader, Brigadier Ashraf Rifi, another close ally of Lebanon's "care taker" Prime Minister Saadedine Hariri.� The ISF was responsible for arbitrary arrests and human rights abuse during the Syrian occupation of Lebanon under Rafic Hariri and continues to operate in the same manner today.� The treatment in Roumieh prison of Al Qaeda inspired terrorist groups such as Fateh Islam (that waged a brutal war with the Lebanese Army in 2007) is deemed luxurious compared to other inmates as these groups are believed to have links to Future Movement political figures.The "care taker" Interior Minister Ziad Baroud being a consensus appointment among Lebanon's different factions has been unable to implement any reforms and has struggled to reign in the actions of his subordinate, Brigadier Ashraf Rifi.����������� The UALM calls for the government in Lebanon to be formed quickly and initiate a state of change. Urgent reform must be enacted to include basic human rights.� The UALM also supports Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other humanitarian groups that shed light on the state of affairs in Lebanese prisons.The United Australian Lebanese MovementMedia Office

Source: http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/News/PoliticalNews/en-US/roumieh-prison-ualm-statement-zek-533.htm

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DED, Emirates NBD co-operate to promote consumer rights

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division at the Department of Economic Development in Dubai (DED) and Emirates NBD are joining hands to offer consumer protection tips and guidelines that will be displayed at the bank's ATM screens located all over the UAE. This initiative is part of DED's ongoing drive to strengthen the communication channels with consumers to educate them about their rights. 

Emirates NBD

ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller

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Source: http://www1.albawaba.com/ded-emirates-nbd-co-operate-promote-consumer-rights

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Egypt economy in deep crisis

The Egyptian Minister of Finance, Samir Sayyad, has recently said that his country?s economy shrank during the first three months of this year by 7% due to slow economic activities following the protests the country has witnessed which led to a significant decline in tourism and investments. The minister said that his country got a promise from the World Bank of a loan worth $ 2.2 billion with an interest rate of 3% paid in 18 years.

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www1.albawaba.com/main-headlines/egypt-economy-deep-crisis

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Ceremony cancelled as Yemeni president refuses to sign GCC deal

The Gulf Cooperation Council stated on Sunday that a ceremony to finalze a Yemeni deal ending three months of protests against the regime has been cancelled after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign. "The ceremony that was supposed to be held (Sunday)... will not take place," said the press office of GCC secretary general Abdullatif al-Zayani.

A delegation from Saleh's ruling General People's Congress party and the opposition Common Forum coalition had been expected to leave to the Saudi capital on Sunday to sign the pact in the presence of GCC foreign ministers.

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www1.albawaba.com/main-headlines/ceremony-cancelled-yemeni-president-refuses-sign-gcc-deal

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Israeli police dogs attack Palestinian workers in Hebron

West Bank, (Pal Telegraph)-Two Palestinian workers were attacked Sunday by Israeli police dogs in the south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

Source: http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/west-bank/9052-israeli-police-dogs-attack-palestinian-workers-in-hebron.html

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Second consecutive win for MPC in Math Alympiade

SOUTH REWARD--A team of Milton Peters College students has topped the Math Alympiade in the Netherlands to bring home the title of cum laude for the second consecutive year.

The group consisted of VWO V students Daron Brison, Adonis Jacob, and Sabrina Carty, and VWO IV student Ginonne Secerina. They were informed via an online Skype call with the organisers in the Netherlands that they were the overall winners out of 18 schools from various countries that participated in the competition.

The group travelled to Garderen, Arnhem, in the Netherlands at the beginning of March to compete. The final was held March 11-12. VWO/HAVO math teacher Iwan Blankendal accompanied the group.

He took the opportunity to thank this year's sponsors that had made it possible for the students to travel to the Netherlands: Van Dorp, Krebbers, NAGICO Insurances, PricewaterhouseCoopers, UTS, Liccom, Ralph Richardson, Windward Electrical Company, Windward Islands Bike, Checkmate Security, Bureau Telecommunications and Post, Ranger Security, Atrium, the Beentges family, and Philipsburg Broadcasting.

Blankendal also thanked last year's main sponsors TelEm Group of Companies and former education commissioner William Marlin.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/15969-second-consecutive-win-for-mpc-in-math-alympiade-.html

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