WASHINGTON — The Republican defeat in a special Congressional contest in Mississippi sent waves of apprehension across an already troubled party Wednesday, with some senior Republicans urging Congressional candidates to distance themselves from President Bush to head off what could be heavy losses in the fall. More on Republican Election Losses Stir Fall Fears

Somalia has been in a state of hopeless conflict for many years (Somali refugees speak of horrific war crimes, May 7). The current US-led war on terror approach is creating a space in which extremist groups such as al-Shabab have become legitimate political actors, while policy failures have enabled the local insurgency to find support and develop recruitment bases. These include aerial bombings, support for the Ethiopian troop presence, and the badly timed terrorist designation of al-Shabab. More on Policy failures in Somalia conflict

Press Release

Ethiopians’ long quest and struggle for justice and freedom is continuing today. The march, though torturous, towards democracy is on. The millions that participated in the May 15, 2005, general election have vowed that no amount treachery and oppression shall break their will to live in a just, free, prosperous and united Ethiopia.

In 2005, 25 million Ethiopians, trusting the words of the ruling party and its western backers and hoping that the election of 2005 will be different from previous elections, went out and registered to vote. The people, along with opposition, were led to believe that for the first time in the country’s history will have the right to elect those who should assume power and put an end to the chaos and misery associated with the thorny issue of power struggle. More on Ginbot 7, a Movement for Justice and Democracy is formed