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Summary: Civilian lives continue to be lost amid government crackdowns on pro-democracy protests across North Africa and the Middle East.
Libya In the latest in a series of UN measures to address the human rights situation in Libya where at least 3,000 people are estimated to have been killed by government forces, the UN General Assembly this week adopted a resolution that has suspended Libya from the Human Rights Council. Full story. This follows another resolution adopted last week during an emergency session at the Council referring Libya to the International Criminal Court for an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity, and imposing sanctions against Libyan leaders, including an arms embargo, travel bans and an asset freeze. Full story. Yet as civilians mobilise to form an armed offensive against Libyan security forces and call on the UN for intervention, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to crush protesters and defeat any foreign assistance they may receive. Full story. A revelatory statement by Libya’s former Minister of Justice, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, has revealed that the Gaddafi regime is also responsible for deliberately infecting more than 400 children with AIDS in the late 1990s. Until now, six Bulgarian medics were thought to be responsible for the incident, for which they ended up spending more than eight years in prison. Full story. Yemen Meanwhile in Yemen anti-government protests demanding an end to President Saleh’s 32-year rule are intensifying across the country after six weeks of rallies. The number of casualties, however, continues to increase. So far 26 people are reported to have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces or Saleh loyalists, while thirty people were reported to have been injured in clashes last week in the eastern city of Hodeidah. Full story. Oman In the neighbouring Gulf sultanate of Oman, civilian protests are nearing the end of their first week of demands for greater employment and political reforms. Yet as with other countries in the region, civilian lives have been claimed. Although there are conflicting reports on the current death toll, staff at a state hospital said six people have died, while the health minister has put the toll at one. In a further incident on Tuesday, stone-throwing demonstrators were first attacked with batons and tear gas and then with live fire in the northern port of Sohar. Full story. China Seemingly inspired by the protests in the Middle East, pro-reform protesters have also mobilised in China in what has been coined the “Jasmine Revolution”, consisting of simply strolling through designated places in order to get around the country’s strict security measures. However, an army of uniformed police, plainclothes agents and a heavily armed SWAT team in full body armour quickly descended onto the scene, shoving peaceful protesters along for “loitering”. Journalists were even attacked by security forces, with one reporting that he ended up in hospital after being punched, kicked, hit with broom handles and dragged along the ground by his feet. Full story. Further Information: