lennart
09-08-03, 18:09
Police break up two demonstrations in Azerbaijan
AIDA SULTANOVA, Associated Press Writer Friday, August 8, 2003
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(08-08) 19:00 PDT BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) --
Police in the Azerbaijani capital dispersed a rally Friday by government opponents protesting the appointment of President Geidar Aliev's son to the prime minister post, participants said.
The protests have become a daily event in the run-up to the Oct. 15 presidential elections in this former Soviet republic.
Aliev is hospitalized with heart and kidney problems at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. His supporters insist he is improving and still plans to seek re-election.
Aliev's son, Ilham, was named prime minister Monday -- making him the country's second-highest ranking leader and first in the line of presidential succession.
Opposition officials claim that Ilham Aliev is maneuvering to take over leadership of the tiny, oil-rich Caucasus nation if his father dies.
Opposition parties gathered outside the Constitutional Court on Friday to criticize Ilham Aliev's appointment and to call for clear information about Aliev's health.
Police broke up the rally and arrested seven participants, all members of the opposition party Musavat.
Aliev, a former KGB official and Soviet-era leader of Azerbaijan, was elected president in 1993, two years after the nation became independent.
Meanwhile, another rally by the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan was broken up by police carrying truncheons. Authorities detained 10 participants as they attempted to march near the Central Election Commission to demand free and fair elections.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/08/international2200EDT0751.DTL
De Bush-regering is echter in stilte gehuld, dit in contrast met hun houding over Iran. Wellicht verdienen sommige landen geen democratie? Metname landen die deel uitmaken van de 'coalition of the willing'.
AIDA SULTANOVA, Associated Press Writer Friday, August 8, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(08-08) 19:00 PDT BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) --
Police in the Azerbaijani capital dispersed a rally Friday by government opponents protesting the appointment of President Geidar Aliev's son to the prime minister post, participants said.
The protests have become a daily event in the run-up to the Oct. 15 presidential elections in this former Soviet republic.
Aliev is hospitalized with heart and kidney problems at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. His supporters insist he is improving and still plans to seek re-election.
Aliev's son, Ilham, was named prime minister Monday -- making him the country's second-highest ranking leader and first in the line of presidential succession.
Opposition officials claim that Ilham Aliev is maneuvering to take over leadership of the tiny, oil-rich Caucasus nation if his father dies.
Opposition parties gathered outside the Constitutional Court on Friday to criticize Ilham Aliev's appointment and to call for clear information about Aliev's health.
Police broke up the rally and arrested seven participants, all members of the opposition party Musavat.
Aliev, a former KGB official and Soviet-era leader of Azerbaijan, was elected president in 1993, two years after the nation became independent.
Meanwhile, another rally by the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan was broken up by police carrying truncheons. Authorities detained 10 participants as they attempted to march near the Central Election Commission to demand free and fair elections.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/08/international2200EDT0751.DTL
De Bush-regering is echter in stilte gehuld, dit in contrast met hun houding over Iran. Wellicht verdienen sommige landen geen democratie? Metname landen die deel uitmaken van de 'coalition of the willing'.