Spain faces social protests ahead of Sunday's elections

May 16, 2011

Madrid - Spain is facing more social protests ahead of Sunday's local and regional elections after thousands of people demanded 'real democracy' in rallies around the country.

Demonstrations would continue, Fabio Gandara, one of the organizers of last Sunday's protests, told the daily El Pais on Monday.

About 50 young people meanwhile spent the night at Madrid's central Puerta del Sol square, saying they may stay there until the elections.

An internet movement called 'Real Democracy Now' mobilized an estimated 20,000 people on Sunday in Madrid, where a small group of protesters engaged in acts of street violence, burning garbage containers and damaging bus shelters.

Five police officers and two other people were injured as demonstrators clashed with riot police. Twenty-four people were detained.

Rallies were also staged in Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Majorca and other cities. They were backed by about 400 associations representing ecologists, the unemployed, people unable to pay mortgages, opponents of neo-liberalism and globalization, among others.

The movement was launched on Facebook, calling on citizens to show that they were not just 'merchandise in the hands of politicians and bankers.'

Demonstrators demanded an end to corruption, political systems favoring only large parties and slammed 'governments in the hands of bankers' which imposed austerity policies undermining social rights.

'This is not a crisis, it is embezzlement,' protesters chanted in Madrid in a reference to Spain's economic crisis, which has made unemployment soar to 20 per cent - the eurozone's highest jobless rate.

'I have two university degrees and I cannot get a job paying more than 5,000 euros (7,050 dollars) annually,' said Ana Sierra, 26. 'We study, we make efforts and now the only possibility is to emigrate. We are condemned to living precariously,' she said.

'Of course we will continue (protesting),' Gandara said. 'We shall continue creating a citizens' forum where people can express themselves.'

There was widespread disillusionment with politicians ahead of Sunday's poll, commentator Inaki Gabilondo said.

According to opinion polls, the opposition conservative Peoples Party (PP) will easily defeat Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialists, whose second term has been marked by the economic crisis.

Source: Monsters and Critics.
Link: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1639383.php/Spain-faces-social-protests-ahead-of-Sunday-s-elections.

Abdullah bin Zayed welcomes new Arab League's SG, hails Qatari move

Cairo, 15 May 2011 (WAM) - UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has paid tribute to the outgoing Arab League's Secretary General Amr Musa.

"We will miss him as a Secretary General, but we will win him in another posts," Sheikh Abdullah said during a speech delivered before a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers today in Cairo.

"no one imagined that Mr. Amr Musa will leave his position. It is true that we will miss him as Secretary General, but we will certainly win him in another positions. As for Dr Nabil Al Arabi (who succeeded Musa as the Secretary general), I say, we will also miss you as Egypt's Foreign Minister. Yet, you will be an asset for us as the Arab League's Secretary general." Sheikh Abdullah also praised the Qatari move of withdrawing its candidate to the post of Secretary General in a token of appreciation to Egypt's 25th January revolution.

"Qatar has given us a hope that Arab solidarity is able to overcome all differences," he added.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Link: http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1289993531805&p=1135099400124&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews.

Badie Congratulates New Arab League Chief

Monday, May 16, 2011

Muslim Brotherhood chairman Dr. Mohamed Badie congratulated Dr. Nabil el Araby for emerging as the new Arab League Chief. In a statement he hoped that his tenure would be a blessing to the Arab world and people.

Thanking him for his performance as Egypt’s Interior Minister during the few short months following the Egyptian Revolution, Badie called on him to continue in his outstanding efforts as the new Arab League Chief. He stated that the role would have a new purpose following the Arab uprisings which were witnessed worldwide and that it was imperative that the Arab states moved forward, citing that the process of healing must begin now.

Badie ended his statement thanking the former Arab League chief Dr. Amr Mousa for his past efforts, wishing him all the best in whatever role and capacity he would be given.

Source: Ikhwanweb.
Link: http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=28579.

Qatar withdraws candidate to head Arab League - TV

CAIRO | Sun May 15, 2011

CAIRO May 15 (Reuters) - Qatar has withdrawn its candidate to head the Arab League, Al Arabiya television reported on Sunday, leaving Egypt's foreign minister, Nabil Elaraby, as the sole candidate to head the Cairo-based organization.

The next secretary-general will take over from Amr Moussa, who led the League for 10 years. (Writing by Edmund Blair)

Source: Reuters.
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/15/arabs-league-qatar-idUSLDE74E0J720110515.