The death toll in Karachi from target killings reaches 98.

It is a national tragedy. The recent deaths of about a hundred people from meaningless and mindless target killings is proof that some very sick minds are on the loose on the streets of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. Mainly due to ethnic and political strife, the stray bullets that claimed innocent victims led to a countrywide uproar. Police and paramilitary forces were under strict orders to shoot on sight anyone perpetrating violence or terrorism. However, they don’t seem to be doing a lot to curb the senseless insanity.

In the words of one spokesman “157 people had been arrested in the operation last night and 38 pistols and 3 AK-47 rifles had been confiscated”. But still the rogue elements seem to be out there. Over hundreds of families have been evacuated from the troubled areas. Police combed the entire city for the bad elements that had destroyed the peace of mind of the inhabitants. With over 18 million dwellers Karachi has a history of ethnic and sectarian violence. This is a characteristic of big city life all over the globe.

Rivalry between the Muhajirs and the Pashtuns is blamed for this phenomenon. The former are members of the MQM while the latter belong to the ANP.

Khartoum has announced its separation from the South.

After years of violence and bloodshed North and South Sudan officially became distinct countries on the world map. The South contains well over 75% of the oil reserves of the once united nation. This is a cause of concern in the North since the economy virtually ran on oil. But with the civil war over it is a time of much-needed peace. There was jubilation and merrymaking in the South with the countdown to independence. Meanwhile in the North it was rather gloomy.

Sudan has faced one of the worst genocides on the face of the planet. The Northern and Southern centres of interest fought an internecine war with each other that left many casualties in its wake. With the separation of South Sudan the spate of brutalities and savagery finally has come to an end. However the North is still apprehensive about the UN Peace Keeping Troops in the region. There are further signs of trouble around the border town of Kordofan.

But now with the nation of Sudan split between North and South the battle has come to an end. Let’s hope that the peace lasts long enough for both governments to settle down.

The Yemeni President gets his viewpoint across  live on TV.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh appeared on television in his first address to the nation. With white stubble on his face rather than the trademark mustache, he was clearly recovering from the assassination attempt which took place a month ago. Saleh stated the fact that he wanted to share power. The Yemen TV pre-recorded interview portrayed him with bandages on his hands and arms.

“We are not against participation” he emphasized. He thanked King Abdullah for allowing hospitalization and treatment in Saudi Arabia. He also said in a signature style of his that ” we will confront a challenge with a challenge.” But the people of Yemen have had enough. They are not bamboozled by his pleas for reconsideration.

Rumors about his return to Yemen abound. It will however be difficult due to the steady pressure that has built up against him in his own country.

Saudi Arabia wants to resume dialogue with Iran.

There was a slight dis-ease between Saudi Arabia and Iran after the Bahrain Crisis. But things have gone back to normal. Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal spoke with Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian Foreign Minister and exchanged views. The bilateral talks would have proved fruitful had not the Iranians put certain conditions which were unacceptable to the Saudis.

The next series of talks were scheduled to take place in Riyadh but certain matters came up which prevented meaningful dialogue between the two countries. Prince Saud Al-Faisal has said that “the presence of Saudi forces in Bahrain was to preserve peace.” Furthermore, he expressed concern about the innocent women and children who were the victims of the crises in the region.

The Saudi Foreign Minister gave voice to some of his concerns before the British Foreign Minister, William Hague. They were exchanging views about the volatile Middle East in Jeddah.

Libya may just get rid of its scourge.

Colonel Muammar Al-Qaddafi has ruled Libya since decades. It seemed he wasn’t going to give up so soon. But the times have definitely changed. With today’s democratic climate of greater freedom and the concomitant cry for human rights, such dictators are like dinosaurs in the age of mammals. It was heard through the grapevine that the Libyan leader has finally ceded to demands that he quit leading the country.

But how true this rumor is cannot be decided just yet. The western nations in the form of NATO have yet to decide whether to colonize Libya in the same manner as they did Iraq. This may seems lucrative but the ensuing pacification of the nation would scare the wits out of anyone be it the mighty west. Meanwhile, Qaddafi faces charges even if he does relinquish power.

When the leaders of a nation cannot handle their masses, it is high time for foreign intervention. Sincerity from someone else is better than hypocrisy from one’s own kind.

Protests continue despite the new constitution of King Muhammad VI.

Moroccans are up in arms. Thousands of dissatisfied individuals took to the streets of Rabat (the capital city) to express their sense of injustice against the King’s victory in the referendum. King Muhammad VI has just won by a landslide but the protesters are adamant that it makes no difference and that he must go.

“We want real democracy” is the slogan on every Moroccan’s lips. They have rejected the results of the referendum calling it merely a set of figures meant to mislead. The crowds that swarmed the streets chanted “freedom” and clapped their hands in rhythmic unison. It was definitely a powerful way of conveying their true feelings.

The powers that rule have always resisted the usurpation of authority by others. And no matter how noble the intentions of the protesters the ruling elite doesn’t give up its privileges so easily.

Tunisia welcomes the unexpected arrival of a distinguished visitor.

Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament, spoke of how he would soon be visiting Tunisia not to mention Egypt. The express purpose of the visit was to confirm the European Community’s full support of the wave of democratization that was sweeping the region of North Africa and much of the Middle East. Strategic coalitions for the short term and long term were to be discussed as well.

Mr Buzek spoke of how he was “in favor of establishing a new kind of partnership with Southern Mediterranean neighbors.” An eye was also to be kept on the rapidly developing situation in Libya. “What our friends in North Africa need today is not only financial assistance but also expertise and technical assistance in the long term” he said.

The European Investment Bank, the economic bulwark of the European Union, has already lent Tunisia 600 million Euros. More aid will only be possible if democracy flourishes in the country.

The Malaysian Prime Minister speaks his mind.

Najib Razak, the Malaysian Prime Minister met with many of his supporters and fans in SK Sri Aman in Kampung Tok Nik on Saturday. He cheerfully announced that it was a clear sign that they were against the illegal assembly planned for the 9th of July and were only faithful to him and his party. He was quoted as saying: “If the attendance for a function organized in an opposition held state was so high, the support in states under Barisan Nasional Rule was certain to be greater still.”

As the crowds lionized him, Najib Razak spoke of how “Ambiga should not think herself so strong. We will not budge at all, fighting for the truth. We will keep our claws.” He further said that “the opposition leader S. Ambiga must realize that the people support the struggles and policies of Barisan and they do not side with the opposition and are against the assembly.”

Malaysia has seen conflict and a lot of finger-pointing between the government and the opposition. For now Najib Razak is still in power and he plans to keep it that way.

Bahrain is to present its protesters in civilian courts.

The anti-government and pro-Shiite protests in Bahrain were crushed with the help of Saudi forces from across the Causeway. And the West turned a blind eye towards this injustice. Until now the protesters had been brought before military tribunals but this has just abruptly been stopped. Now they are being presented before civilian courts. This decision has come along with a softening in the government’s stance.

The government is Sunni but the majority of people living in Bahrain are Shiite. This is where essential differences arose. Now the government wants to negotiate or at least talk things over with the opposition. The King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has set up an independent commission which will investigate rumors of human rights abuses during the government crackdown on protesters.

Special files will be looked into and the defendants will be allowed to secretly meet with witnesses. The government has declared that few other governing agencies have ever gone into the causes of riots.

The Iraqi Prime Minister wants to reduce his government’s size.

The state officials in Iraq are ready for some lean thinking. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri Al Maliki, has set a timetable according to which the ministerial positions are to be merged and cut in half. The plan is to improve government efficiency. At present, there are 44 cabinet members and 47 ministries.  These are to be reduced to 25. However, it was not clarified which ministries were to stay and which ones were to be discarded.

This shakedown of governmental positions and privileges is a necessity although an inconvenient one. It is for the sake of improving the daily functioning of the state. Iraqi statesmanship remains in an experimental stage especially after its colonization by the United States. There have been allegations of graft and bureaucratic red tape has plagued the nascent government.

The trimming of the ruling elite in Iraq may ruffle a few feathers among those who don’t want to leave their positions of power. This is only natural since those who have become habituated to remaining in the corridors of power are for obvious reasons unwilling to relinquish control.