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A Libyan writer and political commentator arrested last week and accused of a driving offence appears to have been targeted for calling for peaceful protests in the country, Amnesty International has said.

Jamal al-Hajji, a former prisoner of conscience who has dual Libyan and Danish nationality, was detained on 1 February in Tripoli by plain clothes security officers. They accused him of hitting a man with his car, which he denies.

Jamal al-Hajji’s arrest came shortly after he made a call on the internet for demonstrations to be held in support of greater freedoms in Libya, in the manner of recent mass protests in Tunisia, Egypt and other...

Anti-government protestors in Egypt rallying against the rule of president Hosni Mubarak have taken to the streets for a fourth straight day throughout the country, demanding that the long-time leader step down and complaining of poverty, corruption, and oppression. The demonstrations supposedly were inspired by a popular uprising that saw TunisianZine al-Abidine Ben Al ousted from office. A national curfew is in effect, but has been ignored by many.

 

 

The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard has today announced a new bill into Parliament to assist in the Queensland floods recovery. The proposed levy will be a once-off tax, given only to those with an annual income of above $50,000.

This week has seen some of the worst flooding in Australian history throughout the Queensland and Northern New South Wales area. Heavy downpours exacerbated by converging weather systems played havoc and took lives. Perhaps the most horrific flooding was seen in Toowoomba, QLD where a wall of water hit the town in an extreme case of flash flooding.