Headlines:

• Central African Republic: Ethnic Cleansing of Muslims
• Yemen to become Six-Region Federation
• Afghanistan to Release Detainees Despite US Objections
• US Respects Pakistan's Territorial Integrity: State Department

Details:

Central African Republic: Ethnic Cleansing of Muslims

An exodus of Muslim traders fleeing attacks by Christian militia in Central African Republic has pushed food markets there to the brink of collapse, threatening the nation with even deeper crisis. The United Nations estimates that 1.3 million people, more than a quarter of the population, are already in need of urgent food aid after months of communal violence that French and African peacekeepers have been unable to stop. The poor, landlocked country descended into chaos after the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in March. International pressure that saw Seleka leader Michel Djotodia resign last month. That in turn has been followed by Christian militia attacks on Muslims. Tens of thousands of terrified Muslims have fled the capital Bangui in recent months, many involved in trade with neighbouring countries that once kept the city of 800,000 supplied with staples like sugar, flour, fuel and soap. In the market of Petevo, close to the banks of the Oubangui River in the south of the city, dozens of dusty stalls stand empty and meat is scarce since the Muslim traders who control the trade in cattle from Chad deserted the city. "We are very worried because if these shortages last longer there will be nothing left in the market and a lot more people will die of hunger," said Nadege Kodo, a woman dressed in colourful traditional robes who was searching for supplies. With 9 out of 10 people eating just once a day, according to the United Nations, the country is in dire need. Trucking routes from Cameroon have shut as machete and gun-wielding Christian militiamen prowl the countryside, slaughtering Muslims. As Muslims do most of the driving jobs, hundreds of trucks are stranded at the border. According to a survey by Oxfam and Action Contre la Faim, supplies of staples to Bangui come from some 40 wholesalers who import provisions. Fewer than 10 of these wholesalers remain and they threaten to leave soon if security does not improve. "There's already a very serious food crisis in Central African Republic," said Steve Cockburn, Oxfam's regional campaigns manager. "The problem is that the situation is going to get much, much worse. "Unless communities are better protected, more populations, more traders, more herders will leave the country and there'll be a breakdown in supply in Bangui and beyond." On the dusty streets of the capital, a spate of daylight attacks on Muslims over the past week, including one by uniformed members of the armed forces, has raised alarm. Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) said it treated 100 patients for bullet and machete wounds last week at a sprawling camp beside Bangui Airport, home to 100,000 homeless people. "People are coming in without noses, ears, nipples," said Lindis Hurum, MSF's departing project coordinator at the camp. "One guy came in holding his head to keep it from falling as he was cut with an axe on each side of the neck." The International Criminal Court said on Friday it would open a preliminary enquiry into possible war crimes. The United Nations says that more than 2,000 people have been killed and more than 800,000 displaced, half of them in Bangui. [Source: Arab News]

Yemen to Become Six-Region Federation

A presidential panel has agreed to transform Yemen into a six-region federation as part of its political transition, state news agency Saba reported. The final approval on creating a "federal state of six regions" came at a meeting of the panel, headed by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and including representatives of Yemen's main parties, Saba said on Monday. Hadi formed the committee in late January at the end of a "national dialogue" to decide on the number of regions, and to insert it into the text of a new constitution, to be drafted and voted on within a year. The six agreed regions include four in the north - Azal, Saba, Janad and Tahama - and two in the south, Aden and Hadramawt. The Southeastern Hadramawt province would include al-Mahra, Shebwa and the island of Socotra, while Saba comprises Bayda, Marib, and Al-Jawf.Azal would include the provinces of Dhamar, Amran and Saada, a rebel stronghold, while Aden would comprise the capital of the former south, as well as Abyan, Lahej and Daleh, the news agency reported. The capital city of Sanaa will not be affiliated to a region and will have "a special status in the Constitution to guarantee its independence and impartiality", said the state news agency.Janad would include Taez and Ibb, and Tahama also takes in Hudaydah, Rima, Mahwit and Hajja. Yemen's parties had been divided on whether to split the future federation into two or six regions. The government feared that a straight north-south divide could set the stage for the disgruntled south to secede. [Source: Reuters]

Afghanistan to Release Detainees despite US Objections

Afghanistan is preparing to release 65 detainees from Bagram Detention Centre despite the US condemning the decision and insisting they are "dangerous". US officials say they have evidence the men were responsible for carrying out attacks on NATO and Afghan troops. But the Afghan authorities say there is not enough evidence against them and that their release will go ahead. Hundreds of prisoners at Bagram jail have been freed since it was put under Afghan control in March last year. The issue of the detention centre, now renamed the Afghan National Detention Facility at Parwan, has put Afghan-US ties under further strain, as US-led international troops prepare to withdraw fully from the country. The facility, which housed mainly Taliban and other insurgents captured by Western military forces, was also at the centre of a number of prisoner abuse allegations. Afghan government officials suggest the prisoners could be released in a few days, but the US says it expects the release to take place on Thursday. In a statement released on Wednesday, the US military "expressed strong concern about the potential threats these detainees pose to coalition forces and Afghan security forces and civilians". It detailed four of the 65 individuals' cases, all of whom are accused of involvement in planned IED attacks against coalition forces. US officials say they have provided extensive information to the Afghan government on the 65 men, including direct evidence of connection to making bombs. [Source: BBC]

US Respects Pakistan's Territorial Integrity: State Department

Rejecting the notion of an independent Balochistan, the State Department has said the United States respects territorial integrity of Pakistan. "The United States respects the territorial integrity of Pakistan. It is not the policy of the Administration to support independence for Balochistan", the Office of the Department Spokesperson said in a written answer regarding comments on Balochistan by Congressman Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas. "We are aware of Representative Gohmert's comments.  Members of Congress express a wide range of views.  Such comments do not in any way imply U.S. government endorsement", the State Department clarified.  [Source: Associated Press of Pakistan]