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THE BATTALI
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By Glenn McKenzie
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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rs, may signal thatil LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s oppo-
ons between thee® iition demanded Wednesday that
Resident Olusegun Obasanjo step
has at ipown and annul last weekend’s elec-
ions, which gave him a second term
jut were seen as deeply flawed.
Obasanjo’s challengers said the vote
vas clearly fraudulent and threatened
‘massive revolt” unless he calls new
lections. Obasanjo responded that the
ote was fair and showed no sign of
teeding the demands.
“I believe in the minds of many,
groups.
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figerians demand new
lections after voting
iess’ downfall ini nany Nigerians, that this is a signifi-
ant step forward in the history of elec-
ions in this country,” he
aid. Obasanjo has insist-
d the vote was “peace-
iil, free and transpar-
nt.”
International - and
ocal election observers
Have said voting was
fraudulent in some states
n the south and east of
It wasn't a
disaster, but it's a
long way from an
election to be
proud of
99
nate their value feflligeria, yet stressed it
irganization ]
vas too early to say
vhether results nation-
vide had been compro-
ised. There were .
eports of ballot-box
tuffing and instance when ballot boxes
vere stolen outright.
“It wasn’t a disaster, but it’s a long
way from an election to be proud of,”
»hy, 29, said Tuts aid Ross Herbert, research fellow at
ie teens on a ca® he South African Institute of
wife, a international Affairs.
Obasanjo won a second term with
)2 percent of Saturday’s vote, com-
iared to 32 percent for his leading
ival, Muhammadu Buhari. Though
:everal people were killed in election-
elated violence, the ballot was regard-
das more peaceful than expected.
e saidi
It 3
ji
lore
About 20 parties, including the main
opposition group led by former junta
leader Muhammadu Buhari, joined
’orces to demand that Obasanjo step
own by May 29, dissolve the coun-
ry’s election commission and quickly
tllow a new vote.
“We avoid any form of violence, but
since the government is violent and has
unleashed violence on the nation, the
consequences will fall on Obasanjo,”
said Olagbade Ogboro, chairman of the
National Action Congress, reading a
joint statement.
“If Gen. Obasanjo fails to heed this
humble advice being dished out to him,
the consequence may be massive
revolt,” Ogboro said.
At least 35 people died in voting-
related attacks in a legislative vote
April 12 through last weekend. Still,
the election was generally more peace
ful than many expected.
Oil-rich but desperately poor,
Nigeria frequently ranks among the
world’s most corrupt countries, and it
has been destabilized by numerous
coups since independ
ence from Britain in
1960. The West African
country of 126 million
people has never seen a
civilian government suc
cessfully hand over
power to another.
There was no sign
Wednesday of public
celebration or protest in
Nigerian cities, many of
which were being heavi
ly patrolled by police
and army troops.
Buhari, who gained notoriety for
launching a coup in 1983 after elec
tions widely regarded as flawed,
described the latest vote as the “most
fraudulent Nigeria has held since inde
pendence.”
Buhari told The Associated Press
that he didn’t support a military
takeover, “but if it happens it is entire
ly the responsibility of the government
for the failure of conducting a free and
fair election.”
His running mate, Chuba Okadigbo,
said the party would challenge
Obasanjo’s win, although Buhari said he
did not trust the courts and the election
commission to take the case seriously.
Obasanjo has consolidated his rul
ing party’s grip on the three main levels
of government. The party swept leg
islative elections April 12 and took 28
of 36 states in a vote for state governors
the same day as the presidential vote.
Ross Herbert
researcher
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Group seeks release
of youths held at
Guantanamo Bay
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Amnesty
International urged the United States on
Wednesday to release or charge three minors
who are being held in the U.S. detention camp
for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The military has not provided exact ages,
confirming only that the three are 16 years old
or younger. They are among about 660
detainees from 42 countries held on suspicion
of links to al-Qaida terrorist network or the
ousted Afghan Taliban regime.
“The detention of children in these circum
stances is particularly repugnant and flouts
basic principles for the protection of children
under international law,” William F. Schulz,
executive director of Amnesty International
USA, said in a statement.
The group called on the U.S. military to
either release them or file formal charges and
transfer them to a juvenile detention facility.
The youths are in a “communal setting” sep
arate from adult detainees’ individual cells, but
all were “captured as active combatants against
U.S. forces” and are considered enemy combat
ants, said Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, chief
spokesman for the Guantanamo mission.
“We are treating them differently ... because
as juveniles we recognize they have special
needs,” he said.
Johnson would not give ages or say how
many there were, only “very few.” However an
official at the camp who spoke on condition of
anonymity Wednesday said there were three of
them.
Schulz said reports the youths were being
interrogated were especially disturbing.
Johnson said juveniles are being held
because “they have potential to provide impor
tant information in the ongoing war on terror
ism.”
He said they, like other detainees, could be
released if it is determined they no longer pose
a threat.
Johnson said all the juveniles had arrived at
Guantanamo since Jan. 1. The camp received its
first terror suspects in January 2001.
Human rights groups long have criticized the
United States for holding the detainees without
charge and interrogating them while they are
not allowed access to lawyers.
Johnson said officials determined some
detainees were 16 and younger during medical
and other screenings after their arrival.
In September, Canadian officials reported
that a 15-year-old Canadian was captured on
July 27 after being badly wounded in a firefight
in eastern Afghanistan. Prime Minister Jean
Chretien said he was seeking consular access to
the youth.
Dog spreads cheer at Gulf air base
THE GULF REGION
(AP) — He’s a most atypical
brine — he chows down the
Jrepackaged rations with gusto
richton an ^ § ets a promotion whenever
he bites an officer,
f He’s Dragon, the 4-month-old
mutt adopted by Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron 268 when
pey found him sniffing through
jjarbage at their base near Iraq,
vhose exact location they won’t
|llow to be made public.
Dragon — named in honor of
fthe squadron’s nickname of Red
Dragons — is a cheerful reminder
of quieter times. He’s full of goofy
antics like bounding down the
airstrip with a wrench in his teeth.
The Marines aren’t sure what
will happen to Dragon when it’s
time to go home. They hope to
take him along but need funding
for the vaccines and quarantine
period.
For now, though, “he’s good
to have around,” said Cpl.
Christopher Oakeson, 22, of San
Antonio, Texas, giving the part-
German Shepherd a playful pat as
the puppy attacked a chew toy.
“With a war going on, it’s
nice to be able to just play with
a dog sometimes.”
As soon as the Marines’ rela
tives heard about the puppy, they
started sending him food, toys
and other treats and now “he
gets more boxes than any of us,”
said Sgt. Neuman Burrell, 35,
from Kentwood, La.
Sporting a red collar with
engraved ID tag, Dragon turns
his nose up at dry dog food but
devours the packaged Meal
Ready to Eat. The peanut butter
and Thai chicken servings are
his favorites.
He also enjoys baths with
Herbal Essence shampoo, said
Cpl. Amanda Hoenes, 21, of
Branson, Mo.
Occasionally, he shows
behavior that earns him the nick
name “devil dog” — which
Marines call themselves.
Dragon barks at rival squadrons
and sometimes bites. When he
chomps an officer, the Marines
give him a promotion.
art
5/23/03
and demand.
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