Andry Rajoelina the new president of Madagascar

2009-03-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

MADAGASCAR NEWS – The new president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, celebrated and consolidated power on Wednesday. He has been appointed by the Indian Ocean island's military in a move which drew international disapproval.

Andry Rajoelina is a 34-year-old former disc jockey (DJ). He is the youngest president in Africa. He partied with supporters in the street after meeting his ministers to plan out strategies.

This newest presiden’s priorities are anti-poverty programs that is expected by locals, handling international concern at his ascent to power and controlling some dissent in the armed forces.

To several thousand supporters celebrating in the capital Antananarivo's May 13 square he said, "We will bring about the return to a normal life, to security and above all national reconciliation, which is at the heart of democracy."

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President Marc Ravalomanana who is 59 years old resigned on Tuesday after most of the military backed his rival that led weeks of anti-government strikes and protests there.

The unrest there killed minimum of 135 people, devastated the $390 million-a-year tourism sector and at the same time also worried multinationals with investments in the mining and oil industries.

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Sudanese president Bashir rolled his hips even after arrest warrant

2008-07-30T05:22:00.000-07:00

Omar Hassan al-Bashir did littlr jig, jutted his cane and rolled his hips in front of tens of thousands of people in a mandatory pep rally in Darfur, troubled region of Sudan even after he has been accused of genocide.

Bashir's spectators screamed "Seer, seer, al-Bashir!" and "Go, go, Mr. Bashir!"

Bashir, here, did not act as if he is guilty. He totally focussed on peace, development and pleasing the crowds. After stepping down of his plane, he was handed a white dove. He threw the bird toward the sky, though it did not really fly but only flapped few times. Who bothers. Mr. Bashir walked down the runway.

The UN Security Council is authorised to suspend the case along with some council members such as China and Russia. They say that the allegations against Bashir are complicating the peace efforts. If the Sudanese government shows some good will, the UN will intervene in the case.