Maghreb News
2013-03-01
A Tunisian judicial source on Thursday (February 28th) identified the suspected killer of opposition leader Chokri Belaid. Tunis resident Kamel Gathgathi hails from the Jendouba region, his father Taieb confirmed to AFP.
Four Belaid murder suspects – all salafists under age 35 – were arrested earlier this week, Prime Minister-designate Ali Larayedh said on Tuesday.
UN refutes al-Mahmoudi torture claim
2013-03-01
UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) representatives on Thursday (February 28th) determined that former Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi was not being mistreated in a Tripoli prison.
“He is being treated well, and although he suffers from various medical conditions, he has adequate access to medical care,” Libya Herald quoted the UN mission as saying.
The visit followed claims by al-Mahmoudi’s Tunisian lawyer, who said that Moamer Kadhafi’s last prime minister was in “critical condition” due to torture.
Mauritania plans national elections
2013-03-01
Mauritania will hold its national poll next September or October, election officials announced on Thursday (February 28th).
“The precise date of the vote will be decided in consultation with the concerned parties,” the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said.
The legislative and municipal elections were slated for October 2011, but were postponed indefinitely due to lack of consensus between the government and the opposition on their organisation, AFP reported.
Over the next months, CENI plans to “strengthen enrolment, improve the distribution of national identification cards and complete voter registration”, the year-old commission said.
Mauritania last held legislative elections in 2007.
Algeria targets Tizi Ouzou terrorists
2013-03-01
ANP troops on Thursday (February 28th) uncovered explosives and weapons in Tizi Ouzou, following an ambush that left a terrorist dead, Tout sur l’Algerie reported.
The operation between Tadmait and Drâa Ben Khedda came one day after another terrorist was killed in Tleta Hidoussen.
Libya confirms pilot error behind 2010 plane crash
2013-03-01
Libyan investigators on Thursday (February 28th) announced that pilot error and poor co-ordination between the captain and co-pilot led to a deadly plane crash in 2010, Libya Herald reported.
On May 12th, 2010, an Afriqiyah Airbus from Johannesburg crashed at Tripoli airport, killing 103 passengers and crew.
Following the crash, Airbus accelerated work on developing automated ground-collision avoidance systems.
Manouba salafists prevent ‘Harlem Shake’
2013-03-01
Tunisian salafists prevented fellow Manouba University students from performing internet dance craze “Harlem Shake” on Thursday (February 28th), Tunisie Numerique reported. Police were forced to intervene after the clash turned violent.
Since a weeks-long protest last year against the university’s niqab ban, the suburban Tunis campus has seen several altercations between secular and Islamist students.
Meanwhile, a mass “Harlem Shake” in front of the education ministry is staged for Friday. The move comes in response to the probe ordered by Education Minister Abdellatif Abid into the Tunis “Harlem Shake” videomade by students in the Menzah 6 neighbourhood.
Tiznit hosts short film festival
2013-03-01
Morocco’s 3rd Tiznit International Short Film Festival (FICMT) opens on Friday (February 28th), MAP reported. French director Jean-Louis Dufour will preside over the jury. Twenty films from the Maghreb, Europe, North America and elsewhere will vie for prizes at the three-day event.
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