Ban mourns death of deputy head of UN peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today mourned the death of his deputy envoy in Timor-Leste who passed away last night, paying tribute to his dedication to helping the people of the fledgling nation consolidate sustainable peace and stability.

UN envoy welcomes peace pact between Somali Government and rebel group

The top United Nations envoy to Somalia today welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between the Government and a rebel group, reiterating that the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation is transitioning from a “failed to a fragile State.”

Head of UN agriculture agency helps launch Haiti’s spring planting season

The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has helped kick off Haiti’s spring planting season, distributing seeds, fertilizer and tools to farmers in a village near the epicentre of January’s devastating earthquake.

Today on New Scientist: 15 March 2010

All today’s stories on newscientist.com at a glance, including: the extreme empaths who feel your pain, the true forces driving elephant poaching, and the power of the “Wasabi” gene

Social media envoys to post and tweet for malaria control, UN official says

The United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria is today launching a new group of high-profile Internet users to inspire and involve social media audiences in the effort to combat the disease.

Animal activists’ unsettling bid for freedom

Freedom of information requests on animal experiments are unsettling researchers at British universities, says Andy Coghlan

New UN group of social media envoys to post and tweet for malaria control

The United Nations is today launching a new group of high-profile Internet users to inspire and involve social media audiences in the effort to combat malaria.

Cyprus: UN envoy refutes media claims of call for special summit

The United Nations official tasked with steering negotiations between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on the Mediterranean island’s unification has not called for a so-called “quintet summit” to discuss the 1960 pact guaranteeing Cyprus’ sovereignty, contrary to some recent media reports.

Explosions Rocks Nigeria Amnesty Ceremony

Explosions rock Nigeria amnesty ceremony

WARRI, Nigeria (AFP) – Two explosions rocked the southern Nigerian oil city of Warri on Monday during talks on an amnesty for former rebel fighters in the oil-rich Niger Delta, a government official said.

One device went off and after some few minutes another one was heard near the main hall where the event was taking place, sending large plumes of smoke into the air. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured.

“There were car bombs, two of them. The first one exploded just as the governors came in and the second one was about 30 minutes later,” Delta State government spokesman Linus Chima to AFP.

“I think the intention is obvious, just to scuttle the talks and make it seem as if Warri in Delta state is not safe,” he added.

The blasts shattered windows, people were running, and the governors were rushed out of the conference room to their cars, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Soldiers were ordering everyone to evacuate the building.

The blasts went off moments after the region’s main armed group MEND threatened to detonate three devices it had planted near the venue.

Several hundred top officials and community leaders had gathered at the ceremony. At least four governors and the federal minister in charge of the region, Ufot Ekaette, were attending the ceremony organised by the independent newspaper Vanguard.

Explosions hit Nigeria oil talks

Two suspected car bombs have been set off in the Nigerian oil city of Warri, where officials were in talks over an amnesty for militants in the area.

Witnesses said the explosions shattered windows at the state governor’s office and sent officials fleeing for cover.

The militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) had issued a bomb threat earlier.

Several armed groups recently agreed to an amnesty, but some Mend leaders rejected the government’s offer.

A Mend leader announced in January that a temporary ceasefire was over.

Fair share?

In Warri, witnesses reported seeing huge plumes of smoke rising into the air.

There were no reports of injuries.

“There were car bombs - two of them,” Delta State government spokesman Linus Chima told AFP news agency.

“The first one exploded just as the governors came in and the second one was about 30 minutes later.”

“I think the intention is obvious, just to scuttle the talks and make it seem as if Warri in Delta State is not safe.”

The BBC’s Caroline Duffield in Lagos says the suspected use of car bombs is a significant change in tactics from Mend.

She says it is not clear how many of the group’s top commanders are behind this attack. Until recently, many were insisting that despite all their frustration, they wanted to pursue the amnesty process.

For years, armed groups have caused havoc in the oil-rich Niger Delta, abducting oil workers and sabotaging pipelines.

They claim they are fighting for a fairer share of oil wealth for local people.

But their critics say they use the money they get from illegal oil sales and ransoms to buy weapons and fund more militant activities.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/8567876.stm
Published: 2010/03/15 13:06:13 GMT

Timor-Leste: UN peacekeeping mission mourns death of deputy leader

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste today announced the death of its deputy chief, paying tribute to his dedication to helping the people of the fledgling nation consolidate peace.