Gaddafi’s Son Warns of Civil War

Tripoli, Libya

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam Kadhafi, has warned that protests against his father’s rule have threatened to sink the country into civil war and split it into several small states.

During his lengthy address on the state television on Monday morning, Kadhafi said his father was in the country, dismissing reports that he had fled the country, prompting people to come out to the streets and celebrate.

In his speech he pledged a new constitution, liberal media laws and political reforms among others, saying that the parliament will meet on Monday to draw a clear reforms agenda.

He said they will destroy all the seditious elements, declaring war on anyone who is armed. He further added that his father was leading the military-backed fight and would fight to the last minute, until the last bullet.

The Human Rights Watch says at least 233 people have died since the violence erupted on Thursday, urging the government to stop the unlawful killing. The security forces were reported of using teargas and live ammunitions against the protesters.

The unrest sparked by the arrest of a lawyer who is an outspoken critic of the government, saw violence hit the eastern city of Benghazi, spilling over to the capital, Tripoli and other cities.

Government forces were reported to be patrolling the streets of the capital on Monday after crushing the protests in the city. Saif said Benghazi was out of government control, which he termed as a foreign plot.

Country's envoy to the Arab League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi, announced he was submitting his resignation and joining the revolution in protest against the acts of repression and violence on demonstrators.

Gaddafi assumed into power in 1969 after leading a bloodless military coup against then country's leader King Idris, declaring the country republic after abolishing monarchy rule. He is the longest serving leader in the continent, who has been vibrant on formation of a unitary government of Africa.

Kampala, Uganda

Museveni Extends Rule in Re-election

Incumbent Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been re-elected for a fourth five -year term after being declared winner of the country’s presidential election held on Friday.

Museveni emerged winner with 68 percent of the total ballot cast against his main challenger Kizza Besigye’s 26 percent. Besigye has rejected the electoral commission results over claims of fraud, claims which Museveni rejects.

“The electoral commission declares Yoweri Kaguta Museveni elected president of the republic of Uganda on the presidential elections held on the 18th day of February, 2011”, said the Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu, during the announcing of the official results on Sunday.

Museveni obtained 5, 428, 369 votes of the total 8, 272, 760 ballot cast against Besigye’s 2, 064, 963 who came second in the presidential race contended by eight candidates.

Besigye told a news conference on Saturday that his coalition party rejects categorically the outcome of the election, where he accused the governing party of using state resources to buy votes and bribe polling agents.

“An election conducted under such environment cannot reflect the will of the people and clearly the institutions of the state charged with the management of the election have failed our country,” he said.

This is the third time Besigye- former ally to Museveni-is seeking to topple him after 25 years stay in power. Besigye’s candidacy has attracted significance from citizens who are disgruntled by Museveni’s rule, but a divided opposition has hampered the pursuit.

The European Union chief election observer Edward Scicluna said that the vote was undermined in a number of areas, stating avoidable administrative and logistical failures that led to unacceptable number of people being barred from voting.

He also told reporters that the unnecessary military presence on voting day had created an uneasy intimidatory situation, but expressed gratefulness for the peaceful manner in which process was conducted.

Museveni rose to power in 1986 after deposing then President Tito Okello, restoring stability to the East African state that had been ravaged by years of political instability and dictatorial rule.

Once feted by the west, Museveni has been classified among African leaders who have declined to hand over power. In 2006 he amended the constitution to let him run for a third term after declaring in 2001 that he would stand down.