Egypt Launches Air Strike on Sinai Islamist Militias

Cairo--Egyptian military has launched air raids on suspected Islamist militants in the northern Sinai Peninsula, following insurgent gun attack on an Egyptian border post that left 16 guards dead.

According to witnesses two Egyptian military jets carried out air strikes on positions in the town of Sheikh Zouaid in the Sinai border region with Israel and Gaza on Wednesday, killing more than 20 suspected Palestinian militants and destroying three of their armoured vehicles.

The strike follows recent rise in clashes between armed men and security forces at several security posts in the border region since the end of the uprising 18 months ago.

On Sunday, gunmen attacked an Egyptian border post and  killed 16 border guards in Sheikh Zouaid town about 10 km (six miles) from Gaza. Earlier on Wednesday gunmen opened fire on several check points in Arish and neighbouring town of al-Rafah on the border with Israel according to state-run Ahram news media.

The recent escalation of insurgency in the region has seen heavy military build-up around al-Arish and the Rafah border crossing to Gaza, which has been indefinitely closed in the hunt for remaining attackers. Israel forces have reported to have killed some of the militants who broke through into Israeli border.

Israel seems to approve the Egyptian military occupation in the region, welcoming the Wednesday strike. A senior Israeli defence official Amos Gilad told Israel Radio that Egypt was determined to impose order in Sinai because it was their responsibility.

Both Israeli and Egyptian officials have blamed the Sunday’s attack on Islamic militants, who have been said to have gained grip in the recent months taking advantage of the relaxed security situation after ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak 18 months ago.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood under which incumbent President Mohammed Mursi was elected to power has accused Israeli intelligence agency Mossad of being responsible of the Sunday attacks.

This is the first time Egypt has fired missiles in Sinai since the 1973 war with Israel over possession of the peninsula but was settled with a peace accord in 1979 between the two states that saw Sinai returned to Egypt.

Mahe, Seychelles  

South Africa’s Zuma in Seychelles for Madagascar Crisis Talks

 South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has arrived in the Seychelles to assist in the deliberation of the a peace deal in the second round of talks in a bid to end the power struggle between Madagascar’s leader and the man he ousted three years ago.

The Indian Ocean Island state political crisis began when President Marc Ravalomanana was hounded out of power in March 2009 following weeks of street protests led by incumbent leader Andry Rajoelina and backed by the military, which left nearly 170 people dead.

A Seychellois government official has confirmed Zuma’s arrival on Wednesday where he is expected to meet both Malagasy leaders together on the main Seychelles island of Mahe, for the latest round of talks to resolve the impasse. Earlier on Tuesday the foe leaders met separately with Seychelles President James Michel who said return of stability to Madagascar was crucial for the wider region.

"It is my hope...we can together reach a consensus that will establish a lasting solution for peace," said Michel in a statement on Tuesday.

First round of the talks chaired by the 15-member regional development bloc - Southern African Development Community (SADC) ended without a resolution late last month between the two rivals who met at an exclusive resort on Desroches, in a private Seychelles island. SADC has then extended a deadline to august 16 for the two to settle their outstanding differences.

A series of talks backed by the African Union that ensued shortly after Rajoelina’s takeover have since failed to secure an enduring deal, that has seen the mineral-rich state mired into economic downturn following isolation by the international community.

A roadmap on elections, signed last year by the two leaders, is yet to be fully implemented, with main contention being, Ravalomanana’s return to the country and be cleared to run in the agreed election in May next year.

Ravalomanana who is exiled in South Africa since his depose faces a life imprisonment sentence back home after being tried in absentia for killing of demonstrators by his presidential guards during the street uprising.