Top stories from DAWNS Digest.
UN Human Rights Council Set to Condemn Syria
With movement all but blocked at the Security Council, the diplomatic action has turned elsewhere. It will be interesting to see which countries — if any– vote against this resolution at the Human Rights Council. “The United Nations’ top human rights body is meeting in Geneva to consider a condemnation of Syria. At the Tuesday session the U.N. Human Rights Council is expected to support a resolution that accuses Syria of widespread human rights violations, persecution of anti-government activists and the use of heavy weapons in residential areas. The resolution also urges Syria to let humanitarian agencies deliver food, medicine, fuel and other critical supplies in heavily hit areas. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey, which all helped draft the resolution, requested the urgent meeting.” (VOA http://bit.ly/xpediq)
Election In Senegal Headed Toward Runoff
The early returns from the Presidential vote in Senegal looks like there will be a run off election between incumbent Wade and opposition leader Macky Sall. “’Figures at our disposal indicate a second round is inevitable,’ Sall, a former prime minister for Wade and fellow liberal, told Reuters, adding that partial tallies showed Wade on 32 percent and him on 28 percent. Unofficial poll counts circulating in local media showed similar scores, but Wade’s main spokesman Serigne Mbacke Ndiaye told reporters Wade could still get above 50 percent. Wade’s campaign spokesman Amadou Sall was more circumspect, telling Reuters it was too early to see a clear trend.” (Reuters http://bit.ly/yy16k3)