Daily News Channel
A regional body comprised of several southern African nations is refusing to recognize Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina as the island nation’s new president, an official said. The Southern African Development Community group, which met Thursday in Swaziland, has “completely rejected the legitimacy” of Rajoelina, the organization’s executive secretary, Tomaz Salomao, told CNN.
Madagascar’s military handed over the reins of the island nation to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina on Wednesday, ending a two-month long political crisis — but apparently creating a constitutional one. Rajoelina, a former disc jockey turned mayor of Madagascar’s capital, declared himself president of a transitional government and his supporters pledged to hold elections in two years. But Rajoelina, at 34, is six years too young to be president, according to the country’s constitution.
Iran said Saturday that Morocco’s decision to cut diplomatic ties between the two countries harms Muslim unity, state media reported.
Mauritania has requested that Israel close its embassy in the West African country, according to an official in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign affairs.
A New York Post cartoon Wednesday drew fire from civil rights activist Al Sharpton and others who say the drawing invokes historically racist images in suggesting an ape wrote President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package. The artist, Sean Delonas, called Sharpton’s reaction “ridiculous,” and the newspaper defended its decision to run his cartoon