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Madagascar: Coup Attempt Clouds Upcoming Elections

Alice Backer · 23:31

French-language Malagasy bloggers have been relatively quiet about an alleged coup attempt by General Andrianafidison (a.k.a. General “Fidy”) over the weekend. Those who have blogged about the event seem uncertain about what happened and have relied on the local or international press.

Harinjaka, unsure of what happened, links to a local article and writes:

Enfin, je ne peux pas faire semblant de ne pas voir l’annonce de ce putsch militaire par le Général Andrianafidison à la Une de La Gazette aujourd’hui .J’ai veillé toute la nuit pour avoir des news (pour le boulot) et RFI confirme que c’est calme. … mais wait and see ihany.

‘

I cannot act like I haven't heard of the military coup by General Andrianofidison that made the front page of the Gazette today. I stayed up all night to get news (for work) and Radio France International confirms that things are calm. But wait and see…

The Gazette article in question states:

Sombre et inquiétante atmosphère de putsch militaire hier depuis midi, à Antananarivo. Une douzaine d'officiers de l'Armée en treillis, sous la houlette du général Randrianafidisoa, ont annoncé devant la presse la mise sur pied d'un Directoire militaire qui prend en main les affaires de l'Etat, la formation d'un gouvernement de transition et la constitution d'une Assemblée constituante qui prend la place de l'Assemblée nationale et du Sénat. Déclaration confuse car ces opérations ne prennent pas effet immédiatement mais ont été citées…au futur. Après la lecture de ce communiqué … les “mutins” … se sont retranchés à la caserne de la Base Aéronavale d'Ivato (BANI).

Somber and worrisome military coup atmosphere yesterday since noon in Antananarivo. A dozen army officers, under the command of General Randrianafidisoa, have announced in front of the press the launching of a military council that will take government in its own hands, as well as the formation of a transition government and of a constituant assembly that will supplant the national assembly and the senate. Confusing declaration since these operations will not take effect immediately but are cited … for the future. After reading the declaration … the “mutins” … retreated to the Aeronaval Base of Ivato.

Coup Attempt Failed but Disrupts Electoral Process

Blogger Ivoarana pointed to a Reuters article stating that (Fr) the General was a candidate to the upcoming December 3rd election until he was disqualified for a formality. The article also suggests that the coup attempt failed and the General's proclamation was quelled.

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China: Put the E back in APEC

John Kennedy · 17:27

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum came to a harmonious enough end this Sunday with all twenty-one member nations agreeing to renew calls for North Korea to put an end to its nuclear plans and key player China putting its weight behind the pledge. Chinese bloggers, however, seem to have assumed a broader focus.

Perhaps anticipating a debate on (re)distribution of regional representation, Phoenix Television blogger Distant Horizon sets the tone [zh] for discussion on China's increasingly heavy and faceted presence in the region:

亚太经合组织(APEC)首脑会议11月18日在越南首都河内举行，美国总统布什和中国国家主席胡锦涛的高峰会晤已倍受国际媒体关注。而将陪同布什一起参加高峰会晤的美国国务卿赖斯11月17日在接受采访时，却对中国的崛起发表了一番不太多见的”忧心忡忡”的评论。

The APEC leadership conference was underway this weekend in the Vietnamese capitol Hanoi and American President Bush and Chinese Chairman Hu Jintao's summit has received international media attention. American Secretary of State Rice, accompanying Bush in attending the conference, in interviews given on November 17, made a seldom-seen comment regarding ‘deep worries' over China's rise.

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The Week That Was in Bahrain

Amira Al Hussaini · 02:38

For a small constitutional monarchy, with a population of about 700,000, Bahrain's blogosphere is sure never short of new topics for discussion and debate.

This week's new topics include the arrest of two activists, a rally to push authorities to probe what is now commonly referred to in Bahrain as the Bandargate scandal, the launch of Al Jazeera's English language channel and last but not least some rain in the kingdom to help the dust to settle!

When it comes to the arrests, Bandargate and the rally, my guess is as good as yours as to whether those issues are connected or not but who cares what I think, let's head to the blogs and see what Bahrain's bloggers have to say.

Let's start with the arrests, which Mahmood Al Yousif says could signal the end of belief in democratic reforms initiated in the Kingdom in 2001.

“The various things happening here are not helping this country and its people in the slightest; the parliamentary elections gerrymandering attempts, the direct and indirect support extremist Salafis and other Islamists are getting from the government against national figures, the iniquitous distribution of land, wealth, opportunities and electoral districts, the marginalisation of the Shi’a, the abject refusal of the government and the ruling family to face the consequences of the Bandargate scandal or even honestly initiate a thorough and impartial investigation into its claims, the continuation of those implicated in the scandal to continue to roam the Earth with impunity and their continuing employment in sensitive government positions unmolested, the restrictions exerted by law on freedoms of speech and assembly, the closure and/or blockage of websites, and various other ills which have surfaced over the last four years,” wrote Mahmood.

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