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Occupied Arab Territories in Political Turmoil
 Jamaica
says the Sao Paulo Consensus is a major milestone in the outcome
of the UN conference on trade and development;
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International Court of Justice Declares Israeli Separation Wall Illegal
"The Secretary-General has forwarded the advisory opinion to the General Assembly, which had requested the Court's advice and which will determine how to proceed on this matter." UN Spokesman Stephen Dujarric. League of Arab States Welcomes ICJ Ruling; Israel Calls it Shocking And reactions to the Court's decision are already coming in. The Permanent Oberver of the League of Arab States to the UN, Ambassador Yahya Mahmassani told UN Radio that he expects the UN General Assembly to consider the ruling in a special session. "We think that all countries should respect this decision and implement it, and of course, we think that Israel is in clear violation of international law and should be made to abide by it."
"It
is shocking and appalling to us that in all of its over 60 pages,
of this non-binding advisory opinion, the Court has failed to address
the essence of the problem, and the very reason for building the fence:
the indiscriminate, evil murderous campaign of terror that Israelis
are facing."
Human Rights Rapporteur Calls on Sudan to Protect Right to Food in Darfur The UN special rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler, has expressed concern about the activities of rebel militias in the West of Darfur in Sudan. They have reportedly destroyed food and water resources. The spokesman for the Human Rights Commission, Jose Diaz, says Mr. Ziegler is calling on all parties in Sudan to take urgent action to protect the right to food of the 1.2 million people displaced by the violence in Darfur. "He's concerned that despite the continued violence throughout the Darfur, the government is urging the displaced population to return to their homes where the agricultural areas, crops, livestock, and drinking water installations have been destroyed." Mr. Diaz added that the UN Human Rights Commission will send a team of 8 human rights monitors to the Darfur region shortly.
UN Refugee Agency to Open New Camp in Chad for Darfur Refugees
"The families say they initially fled their village of Aboulia six months ago when it was attacked by three planes and more than 100 militia on camels and horses who shot at people in the village, stole cattle and burned houses. One woman said she witnessed militia raping girls in the village during the attack and that four girls were kidnapped and have not been heard from since." UNHCR Spokesman Ron Redmond.
FAO Tells Asian Countries to Take Long Term Measures to Fight Bird Flu The UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, says new outbreaks of bird flu in China, Thailand and Viet Nam demonstrate that the virus continues to circulate in Asia and poses a continuing threat to human health.
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The
International Court of Justice has ruled that the construction of
the wall by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal.
The advisory opinion was adopted by 14 to 1, with only the US judge
dissenting. The Court's opinion says Israel is obligated under international
law to cease the construction of the separation barrier, and to dismantle
it. The Court also asks the United Nations to consider what further
action is required to bring to an end the illegal situation resulting
from the construction of the wall. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric
says the ruling has been received by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Israel's
UN Ambassador, Dan Gillerman, insists the barrier is necessary to
prevent Palestinian attacks.
The
UN Refugee Agency reports that it has transferred more than 120 thousand
Sudanese refugees from the border of Chad to refugee camps. UNHCR
plans to open a ninth camp in Eastern Chad next week. The first convoys
of Sudanese refugees from the Chadian border town of Bahai will leave
for the new camp on Monday. UNHCR Spokesman Ron Redmond says about
30 people, mostly women and children arrived this week in Bahai. They
are part of some 50 families who have been hiding out in the mountains.