Commonwealth heads have suspended Pakistan's military regime
but balked at tougher action against others - until the next summit
Efforts to advance good governance and human rights ended in a Commonwealth fudge at the Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Durban, South Africa on 12-15 November. Calls for radical action against member governments which suppress opposition movements, steal state funds and gaol journalists ended in a 'high-level review' of the Commonwealth, to advise 'how best it could respond to the challenges of the new century.' The review committee, to report to the next CHOGM in Canberra in 2001, balances modernisers (Australia and Britain, favouring tougher measures on governance), non-interventionists (Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago), and nationalists (India, Singapore and Zimbabwe).
Between the banks and the ruling families, Africa's money runs out
President Bill Clinton's government wants to crack down on the private-banking departments of some major US banks through which, it is alleged, corrupt foreign officials have laund...
The new King sacked his security chief - and may even have
a new Sahara policy
King Mohammed VI affirmed his new authority with the summary dismissal of Driss Basri, the late King's veteran Minister of State for the Interior. Four months after the death of Ki...