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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 03 Feb 2011 [PDF]
• 1-58th AOB deploys advance team Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- The advance team for the 1-58th Airfield Operations Battalion left Fort Rucker for the Middle East Jan. 28.
• Iraqis Reject Insurgents, Support Transition AFPS 03 Feb 2011 -- Iraq’s citizens want a US civilian presence in their country and overwhelmingly reject the insurgency.
• US to Have Enhanced Civilian Presence in Iraq After Troop Withdrawal VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- U.S. officials and legislators say they are cautiously optimistic about Iraq’s ability to survive as a functioning democracy.
• WikiLeaks: Iraq Accuses Iran, Syria of Arming Militants VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Document says Iraqi PM al-Maliki told U.S. diplomats in 2009 that Iran and Syria were providing weapons to insurgents in Iraq.
• Navy Delivers Two Patrol Boats to Iraq NNS 03 Feb 2011 -- The U.S. Navy delivered two 35-meter patrol boats to the Iraqi navy's Umm Qasr naval facility Jan. 26.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Investigate Explosion AFPS 03 Feb 2011 -- Afghan and coalition forces are investigating a roadside bomb explosion that killed six Afghan civilians, including two children, today in Kunduz province’s Kunduz district.
• Insurgents Target More Afghan Government Officials AFPS 03 Feb 2011 -- While Taliban killings of the Afghan general population have decreased over the past year, more government officials have been targeted.
• Petraeus Discusses Troop Transition Options AFPS 03 Feb 2011 -- As the start of the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan approaches, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said the transition of forces could take a number of forms.
• Gen. Petraeus lauds transition efforts in Afghanistan Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- The top coalition commander in Afghanistan presented a candid assessment on the topic of transition in Afghanistan.
• Airdrop weathers storm Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- The 101st Sustainment Brigade and the U.S. Air Force did their best postman impression by battling the elements and delivering 120 bundles to a fuel-starved Task Force Currahee.
• Air Mobility key to outpost sustainability AFNS 03 Feb 2011 -- For service members assigned to small military outposts strategically placed throughout Afghanistan's most rugged landscape, air mobility is the key to mission success.
• Pakistan lodges protest over Afghan shelling IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- Pakistan has lodged protest with Afghanistan-based NATO forces over cross-border shelling, which killed a Pakistani soldier.
• Rubber removal begins at Bagram Airfield AFNS 03 Feb 2011 -- Since Jan. 30, Airmen who work on the flightline here have seen a new vehicle crossing the runway.

Defense Policy / Programs

• United States to hold talks on tactical nuclear weapons with Russia RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- The US expects to hold talks with Russia on tactical nuclear weapons within a year after New START comes into force.
• Obama signs New START ratification documents RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- US President Barack Obama signed ratification papers for the New START arms reduction pact.
• Aegis Missile Defense Test During Atlantic Trident Exercise NNS 03 Feb 2011 -- Surface Combat Systems Center tested the updated capabilities of the U.S. Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense.
• Russia rules out being NATO's patsy on missile defense RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Russia will do whatever is necessary to ensure its security in building a joint European missile defense system.
• "Ticking Time Bomb" Fort Hood Massacre Could Have Been Prevented Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 03 Feb 2011
• AOC Weapon System moves toward single computing environment AFNS 03 Feb 2011 -- Electronic Systems Center officials recently put out a request for proposal to modernize the Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System.
• Center officials award Space Fence preliminary design contracts AFNS 03 Feb 2011 -- Electronic Systems Center officials have issued two competitive contract orders for preliminary design of the Space Fence program.
• Last British exchange pilot bids farewell to Harrier USMC News 03 Feb 2011 -- As the time for his return draws near, Flight Lieutenant Douglas McKay, takes not only the British Harrier pilot exchange program, but a wealth of experience gained during his stay.
• VMGR-252 Marines aerially refuel F/A-18s for large force exercise USMC News 03 Feb 2011 -- During a night refueling mission Jan. 27, 10 aircraft stacked in formations at an altitude of about 18,000 feet in complete darkness behind one of VMGR-252's KC-130Js, waiting to be refueled.
• U.S, Thai forces join to improve multinational interoperability USMC News 03 Feb 2011 -- Marines and sailors participating in Cobra Gold 2011 arrived at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, Jan. 27.
• 'Huey' takes historic last ride at Yakima Training Center Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- It was under dark skies that Joint Base Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center's U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment bid a fond and historic farewell to the last UH-1 "Huey" helicopter in its active-duty arsenal Jan. 26.
• SFBCC-S prepares servicemembers for mission ahead Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- Cold weather and melting ice were no match for the students attending the Special Forces Basic Combat Course - Support course designed to help prepare them for being deployed in support of special operations forces.
• Cold blast joins 75th Fires Brigade blasts Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- The name Operation Diamond Freeze couldn't have been more appropriate during the last part of the 75th Fires Brigade's combined arms live fire exercise which took a pause from training to practice safety.
• Officials to conduct DOS rollback AFNS 03 Feb 2011 -- Air Force officials announced Feb. 2 plans to conduct an enlisted date of separation rollback as part of its ongoing measures to manage the force and maintain a quality enlisted corps.
• New IWTP opens at Anniston Army Depot Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- Anniston Army Depot commemorated the grand opening of its $40.1 million industrial wastewater treatment plant with a ribbon cutting ceremony here Jan. 21.
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Energy Savings Project NNS 03 Feb 2011 -- Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport flipped a ceremonial switch Feb. 1, marking the end of a 12-month Energy Savings Performance Contract construction phase.
• Indiana National Guard Responds to Weather Emergency AFPS 03 Feb 2011 -- Indiana National Guardsmen are just beginning to draw down their forces after more than 1,000 soldiers and airmen responded to severe weather across the state.
• Partners against disease; Iron Brigade, Korea fight hoof-and-mouth disease Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- A joint effort between 4-7th Cavalry and 4th Chemical Company made January's gunnery training possible for several units within the brigade.
• Time to pick up those masks Army News 03 Feb 2011 -- Second Infantry Division leadership has directed personnel with Family members in-country, whether they're here command-sponsored or not, to pick up XM52 protective masks, for their dependents older than 11 years of age, and Infant Chemical Agent Protection Systems, if they have children younger than 10.
• USS Halyburton Assists Yemeni Dhow NNS 03 Feb 2011 -- USS Halyburton (FFG 40) assisted a Yemeni fishing dhow in the Gulf of Aden that had been adrift at sea for 10 days, Jan. 28.
• Report: Iran Needs One Year to Make Nuclear Weapons VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- A British research group says Iran needs at least a year to produce its first nuclear weapon.
• Think Tank: Iran Could Make Nuclear Weapon In One To Two Years RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- An influential think tank says Iran may be able to make a nuclear weapon in as little as one or two years if it chose to do so.
• Iran army forces well ready to defend country IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- Iran's army forces are well prepared to fight any likely attack by enemies.
• Naval Military Exercises Staged in S. Korea KCNA 03 Feb 2011 -- A brigade for special warfare of the south Korean navy staged a naval infiltration drill.
• Su-25 combat jet crashes in Azerbaijan - media RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- A Su-25 Frogfoot close air support aircraft crashed on Thursday in the Kurdamir district of Azerbaijan, local media reported.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 03 Feb 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 03, 2011
• CACI Awarded Contract to Support Enterprise Integration and Service Management for U.S. Air Force CACI 03 Feb 2011 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) announced today that it has been awarded a prime position on the U.S. Air Force's Network-Centric Solutions 2 (NETCENTS 2) Enterprise Integration and Service Management (EISM) contract to provide a broad range of support services for EISM activities.
• IPA4 Eurofighter logs 500 flight hours EADS 03 Feb 2011 -- The first single-seat instrumented production Eurofighter (IPA4) has completed 500 hours of flight at the Cassidian Spain facility at Getafe, near Madrid.
• Northrop Grumman Multi-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar Counters IEDs Northrop Grumman 03 Feb 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Multi-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (MB SAR), recently provided counter-improvised explosive device (IED) support to help enable the safe drawdown of U.S. combat troops in Iraq.
• Northrop Grumman's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Completes First Carrier Landing Aboard USS Truman Northrop Grumman 03 Feb 2011 -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) -built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the U.S. Navy's newest airborne early warning and command and control aircraft, has landed on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and begun carrier suitability testing.
• Raytheon Awarded APY-10 Radar Contract for Boeing's P-8A Aircraft Raytheon 03 Feb 2011 -- Boeing has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a low rate initial production contract to develop six long-range, multimission maritime and overland surveillance radars plus spares for its P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
• SAIC Awarded Contract by the U.S. Air Force to Support Network-Centric Operations SAIC 03 Feb 2011 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) announced today it was awarded a prime contract by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to provide information technology (IT) services in support of network-centric operations under the Network Centric Solutions-2 (NETCENTS-2) Enterprise Integration and Services Management (EISM) contract. The multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract has a three year base period of performance, two one-year options, and a total contract ceiling of $460 million for all awardees, if all options are exercised.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 3 January 2011 United Nations 03 Feb 2011
• Press Conference by Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, 3 January 2011 United Nations 03 Feb 2011
• DPRK Proposes Inter-Korean Parliamentary Contact KCNA 03 Feb 2011 -- The Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK sent the south Korean parliament a letter proposing parliamentarian contact and negotiations.
• US to AU Panel: Make Clear Gbagbo Must Go VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- The United States says the African Union should make it clear to Ivory Coast's incumbent president that he must give up power.
• UN mission identifies thousands of displaced people in western Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 03 Feb 2011 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire reported that 18,000 internally displaced persons have been identified.
• Journalists Arrested as Crackdown Continues in Khartoum VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- The Sudanese government continued cracking down on opposition media and protestors Thursday, as activists continued planning for more rounds of demonstrations.
• UN Urges International Action as Somali Drought Deepens VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos: Serious international focus is needed to head off increasingly severe shortages of food and water.
• Somalia: UN launches new anti-piracy plan calling for greater global naval support UN News Centre 03 Feb 2011 -- The UN launched an action plan to combat piracy off the Somali coast.
• From the Field: On the frontlines of the UN's counter-piracy efforts in eastern Africa UN News Centre 03 Feb 2011 -- The UN International Maritime Organization launched its anti-piracy plan in London.
• Somali Parliament Extends Term VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Somalia's transitional parliament has voted to extend its term by an extra three years.
• SOMALIA: Aid agencies struggle to access communities as drought looms IRIN 03 Feb 2011 -- Humanitarians are becoming increasingly concerned about how they will reach food insecure communities living in areas controlled by armed groups.
• Video Allegedly Shows Tajik Fighter Who Officials Say Was Killed RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- A video is circulating in Tajikistan that shows uniformed men questioning a man believed to be militant commander Alovuddin Davlatov.
• 5 Buddhists Gunned Down in Southern Thailand VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Five Buddhists in southern Thailand have become the latest victims of a years-long struggle between the government and Malay Muslims fighting for autonomy in the Buddhist-dominated country.
• Clashes in Philippines Kill 13 VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- The Philippine military says 13 people are dead after a month of fighting between rival Muslim rebel groups on a troubled southern island.
• PHILIPPINES: Clan violence drags Mindanao down IRIN 03 Feb 2011 -- Wilson Nandang, 35-year-old mayor of the remote southern Philippine town of Labangan on the island of Mindanao, is in hiding in Manila.
• Nepal Elects Prime Minister after 17 Tries VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Lawmakers in Nepal have finally elected a new prime minister, on their 17th attempt since the previous government resigned last year.
• Nepal: Ban welcomes election of new premier ending political stalemate UN News Centre 03 Feb 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban welcomed the election of Jhalanath Khanal as Prime Minister of Nepal, a move that ends a prolonged stalemate.

News Reports

• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Aboard Air Force One en route University Park, Pennsylvania The White House 03 Feb 2011
• Obama Continues to Monitor Tense Egypt Situation VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- President Obama returned to the White House after a brief trip to Pennsylvania on Thursday, and has been holding more consultations advisers on the situation in Egypt.
• Egypt's President Fed Up But Says Cannot Leave VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says he is fed up with being the country's leader and would like to leave now, but fears Egypt would sink deeper into chaos if he did.
• US Watches Egypt's Army as Protests Continue VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Egypt’s military is playing a pivotal and perhaps evolving role in the demonstrations in Egypt, and U.S. defense leaders are staying in close touch with their counterparts in Cairo.
• State Department Notes 'Constructive' Egyptian Military Role AFPS 03 Feb 2011 -- News reports from Cairo indicate the Egyptian military is not taking sides in the demonstrations and counter demonstrations taking place in the country.
• UN Evacuates Staff From Egypt VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- As the security situation in Egypt worsens, the United Nations has begun to withdraw its staff from Egypt, with around 600 personnel and their families being evacuated to Cyprus.
• Sec. Clinton Remarks at Open Skies Air Services Agreement Signing US Dept. of State 03 Feb 2011
• Clinton Condemns Attacks on Journalists in Egypt VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- The Obama administration, led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is condemning “in the strongest terms” the crackdown on journalists trying to cover the political upheaval in Egypt.
• Intimidation of media, human rights groups in Egypt 'outrageous,' Ban says UN News Centre 03 Feb 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban called for an immediate end to “the intimidation and restrictions on the international media and human rights groups” in Egypt’s current turmoil.
• Five Polish reporters detained in Cairo RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Police detained five journalists working for Poland's TVP public broadcaster in riot-torn Cairo on Thursday.
• Reporters in Egypt Under Assault VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Journalists covering the protests in Egypt are being detained by security forces and attacked by supporters of President Hosni Mubarak in the capital, Cairo.
• Egypt's new premier, vice premier start talks with opposition RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Egypt's new prime minister and vice president have started talks with the Egyptian opposition political forces to overcome the current crisis.
• Egyptian PM Apologizes for Violent Clashes VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Egyptian soldiers have taken positions between pro- and anti-government protesters in Egypt's capital, where gunfire erupted early Thursday after violent clashes between the two sides.
• Gunbattle reported near presidential palace IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- Heavy gunfire broke out around presidential palace in Cairo on Wednesday evening between the police forces and protesters approaching the presidential palace.
• Clashes break out again in Cairo RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Fierce clashes between opponents and supporters of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resumed on Cairo's central Tahrir Square on Thursday afternoon.
• Egyptian Antigovernment Protesters Square Off Against Mubarak Supporters RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- Egyptian Army troops in central Cairo have been deployed between supporters and opponents of President Hosni Mubarak who have been fighting for strategic positions along the fringes of Tahrir Square.
• Egyptian Police Start Wave of Arrests VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Egyptian security forces are arresting demonstrators as clashes continue between supporters of President Hosni Mubarak and his opponents who want him to go now.
• Egyptian army separates rival protesters to prevent clashes RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- The Egyptian military has cordoned off Cairo's Tahrir Square in a bid to separate supporters of beleaguered President Hosni Mubarak and opposition protestors calling for him to step down.
• Egyptian Army deploys vehicles, detains rioters in Cairo RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- The Egyptian military has deployed vehicles in downtown Cairo and started detaining protesters.
• Egypt crisis escalates with ceding power to military vice-president IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- Human crisis has escalated in Egypt by ceding power to vice-president Omar Suleiman which followed by violence against protesters by the plainclothes forces.
• Egypt health minister says 8 killed, 900 hurt in Cairo violence RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- The number of casualties from clashes on Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital continues to grow, amounting to eight dead and 900 injured.
• Five killed, over 800 injured in Cairo clashes RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Five people were killed and over 800 injured in downtown Cairo as clashes between supporters of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and opposition protesters continued.
• Five dead, 800 wounded by gunfire, clash of plainclothes-protesters IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- Protesters seeking the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak gathered at Tahrir Square after a night of gunfire and a day of mayhem that left at least five dead and more than 800 wounded.
• Russia's Medvedev wishes Mubarak peaceful end to Egyptian crisis RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday he hoped the current political crisis would be resolved peacefully and swiftly.
• EU leaders call on Mubarak to stem bloodshed with quick transition IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- The leaders of the British, French, German, Italian and Spanish governments issued an unprecedented statement calling for a 'quick” transition in Egyptian but stop short in calling for President Hosni Mubarak to resign.
• EU slams Mubarak regime for not protecting pro-democracy protesters IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- European Union's foreign affairs supremo Catherine Ashton strongly criticized the Egyptian government on Thursday for not protecting pro-democracy protesters in the country.
• Israel wants any new Egyptian government to 'honor peace' RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Israeli PM Netanyahu said he hoped the historic Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty will not be threatened by any new Egyptian government.
• Muslim Brotherhood wants end to Egypt-Israeli peace deal RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood movement has unveiled its plans to scrap a peace treaty with Israel if it comes to power.
• Muslim Brotherhood Spokesman Predicts End for Mubarak Regime VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak pledged in a televised address to remain in office only until the next election and after protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square turned violent.
• Palestinian PM Blames Egypt Turmoil on Failed Mideast Talks VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Thursday the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process was one of the root causes of the bloody upheaval in Egypt.
• Fatah joins Zionist regime in support of Mubarak IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- The foreign policy advisor of Fatah, Abdallah Al-Frangi voiced strong support for Mubarak regime amid latest bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in downtown Cairo.
• UK to step up calls for reforms throughout Middle East IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- The British government is to step up calls for political reforms throughout the Middle East in the wake of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
• Egypt Protests Inspire Further Uprisings VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- As the anti-government protests in Egypt descend into violence, there have been other demonstrations in countries across the Arab world calling for an end to authoritarian rule.
• The Specter Of 1979 Is Haunting The Middle East RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- As the world watches events in Egypt unfold, the spectacle of demonstrators massed on Cairo's Tahrir Square is awakening memories of an equally epochal moment in the Middle East 32 years ago.
• Competing Protests Begin in Yemeni Capital VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Hundreds of pro- and anti-government protesters have gathered in different parts Yemen's capital, Sana'a, on what opposition supporters have called a "day of rage."
• Antigovernment Protesters Turn Out In Yemen RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- Opponents of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh marched in the capital Sanaa today to in demonstrations designed to force the president from office.
• UK closely monitoring events in Jordan IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- The British government says it is closely monitoring “what is obviously a very fluid and evolving situation” in Jordan following the replacement of the government.
• EU Ministers Visit Tunisia VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- European Union lawmakers are in Tunisia Thursday on a fact-finding mission as the country's interim government enacts sweeping reforms, including firing police chiefs and governors.
• Their Own Private Egypt: Could Azerbaijan Or Central Asia Be Next? RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- All along the southern tier of the former Soviet Union, people have watched with rapt attention as events in Egypt have unfolded.
• Study Shows Central Asia Infrastructure Near Collapse VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- A new study indicates that without concerted effort by national governments and the international community, Central Asia's infrastructure will decline into chaos.
• Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev gains right to call early presidential elections RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Amendments to Kazakhstan's constitution allowing the head of state to announce early presidential elections came into force on Thursday.
• FAO Food Price Index UN Food and Agriculture Organization 03 Feb 2011 -- The FAO Food Price Index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
• World food prices reach new historic peak UN Food and Agriculture Organization 03 Feb 2011 -- World food prices surged to a new historic peak in January, for the seventh consecutive month, according to the updated FAO Food Price Index.
• Global food prices rise to new highs, not expected to fall in coming months - UN UN News Centre 03 Feb 2011 -- Food prices around the world surged to a new historic peak in January, for the seventh consecutive month.
• US Calls for Immediate of Release of Diplomat Detained in Pakistan VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- The US Embassy in Pakistan has issued a strongly worded statement calling for the release of a U.S. diplomat.
• Pakistan Court Extends Detention of US Diplomat VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- A Pakistan court has ruled that police can continue holding a U.S. diplomat accused of a double murder for at least eight more days.
• Pakistani Court Orders American Held For Eight More Days RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- A Pakistani court ruled that police can keep holding a U.S. consular employee accused of killing two Pakistani men.
• Pakistani court extends remand of American shooter IRNA 03 Feb 2011 -- A court in Pakistan extended till February 11 physical police remand of an American national.
• Harare Suburb Center of Political Violence VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- In the last six weeks political violence in Zimbabwe has intensified, and now one working class Harare suburb has been described as a 'war zone'.
• Recriminations Between Zimbabwe Governing Parties as Violence Surges VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Political tensions continue to rise in Zimbabwe with state-run media accusing PM Morgan Tsvangirai of trying to spark an Egypt-style uprising.
• Catholic Church: Cuba to Free 4 More Political Prisoners VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Cuban Roman Catholic Church officials say the government has agreed to release four more political prisoners and send them into exile in Spain.
• Hugo Chavez apologizes to Venezuelan people ahead of 2012 election RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday for the first time asked the nation to forgive his mistakes as he is preparing to run in next year's presidential election.
• Venezuela's Chavez Marks 12 Years in Power VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has marked his 12th anniversary in power, saying "the battle has begun" for his 2012 re-election.
• Haiti Announces Manigat-Martelly Runoff VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- Haitian election officials say former first lady Mirlande Manigat and popular singer Michel Martelly will face off in the presidential runoff election set for March 20.
• Ban welcomes release of final results of first round of elections in Haiti UN News Centre 03 Feb 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban welcomed the announcement by Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council of the final results of the first round of presidential and legislative polls.
• Nigerian Electoral Commission Set to Publish List of Candidates VOA 03 Feb 2011 -- An official of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said his organization will publish this weekend a list of all candidates that will participate in the April presidential, parliamentary and state governorship elections.
• Belarusians Barred From EU Put On Defiant Face RFE/RL 03 Feb 2011 -- What do Pres. of Belarus, country's prosecutor-general, the rector of the State University and one of Minsk's top surgeons have in common?
• Russia should not ignore rights violations in Belarus - Lavrov RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- Russia will not turn a blind eye to violations of human rights in Belarus following December's flawed presidential elections.
• Moscow court to study legality of Khodorkovsky custody extension RIA Novosti 03 Feb 2011 -- The Moscow City Court will open review proceedings on February 4 to examine the legality of recent extension of custody.