International News - MAY

In another sign of the growing factionalism within the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), an activist belonging to the party trade union front, All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), on Monday threatened vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai. Dr Bhattarai received the threat from members of chairman ‘Prachanda's faction of the union. The trade union has been among the most faction-ridden of the party front organisations, divided among loyalists of Mr. Prachanda, Dr. Bhattarai and another vice chairman Mohan Vaidya ‘Kiran'. There have been instances of physical clashes among the three groups.

The International Criminal Court prosecutor asked judges on Monday to issue arrest warrants for Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi and two other senior members of his regime, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity by targeting civilians in a crackdown against rebels.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo says Mr. Qadhafi, his son Seif al—Islam Qadhafi and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanoussi ordered, planned and participated in illegal attacks.

He said Mr. Qadhafi's forces attacked civilians in their homes, shot at demonstrators with live ammunition, shelled funeral processions and deployed snipers to kill people leaving mosques. Judges must now evaluate the evidence before deciding whether to confirm the charges and issue international arrest warrants.“The case is now in their hands,” Mr. Moreno-Ocampo told reporters at a press conference.