Monday May 23, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Brad Dubbelman

Making headlines:

The African National Congress (ANC) was declared winner in the municipal elections on Saturday but gains by the main opposition show growing frustration with the party which has been in power since apartheid ended 17 years ago. The ANC secured 62% of the vote, less than the 67% it gained in the 2006 elections. The Democratic Alliance, once associated with white privilege and now trying to recreate itself as the party of good governance for all, saw its support jump to 23,9% from 14% in 2006.

The president of Tunisia's independent election committee, Kamel Jandoubi, proposed postponing an upcoming election to October 16 from July 24, citing operational reasons. Speaking at a press conference, Jandoubi said it would be impossible to have elections on the expected date in July. Ali Larayad, a spokesman for Ennhada, the main opposition and Tunisia's only Islamic party, said that he was not convinced that an election day three months later than expected is in the interests of the country and its political stability or security.

Sudan's northern army seized control of the disputed oil-producing Abyei region, officials said on Sunday, forcing thousands to flee and bringing the country's north and south to the brink of full conflict. Khartoum sent tanks into Abyei town, the area's main settlement, on Saturday, the United Nations said, after weeks of growing tension and accusations of skirmishes by both sides. Both the United States and Britain condemned the escalation of violence in the fertile border region, claimed by both north and south.

Also making headlines:
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Saturday that France will keep its troops in the Côte d’Ivoire to help protect its citizens in the West African nation.
The KwaZulu-Natal political landscape is set for some political horse trading with 12 municipalities recording no clear winners in the local government elections.
And, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton pledged support for rebels in east Libya on Sunday, making the most senior visit to the area by a foreign official since the revolt against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi began.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.