Tripoli's market bustles in spite of war

By James Reynolds BBC News, Tripoli

The government keeps a close eye on the foreign reporters who report from Libya's capital. We all stay in the same hotel, we're not allowed to go into town on our own.

We're often taken by our escorts/translators to pro-Gaddafi rallies, where we're free to interview the colonel's supporters. But getting an idea of what ordinary daily life is like is much more difficult.
On the Friday before the start of Ramadan, we're driven to the Abu Saleem part of town and given an hour to walk around the marketplace. We do so free from escorts and translators.
Even so, those who oppose Col Gaddafi may still feel too intimidated to speak freely - in this city, public criticism of the leader is unwise.

The marketplace is busy with shoppers getting ready for the start of the Islamic holy month. Many stalls sell clothes - including Chelsea and Arsenal football shirts. One shop sells mugs with pictures of Col Gaddafi and his family (about $3 each).
Umm Ahmed is shopping for clothes at a stall on the edge of the market.
"Happy ... very happy ... because our Guide is very good," she says in English. The "Guide" is one of the titles Libyans use for Col Gaddafi.
Further inside the market, Ramadan Fitouri sits on a stool opposite his shop. He sells evening dresses for women to wear at weddings (he doesn't sell actual wedding dresses - there are special bridal shops for those).
Mr Fitouri used to get his new dresses delivered once every two weeks from Turkey and Syria. Now, because of Libya's conflict, he gets his deliveries only once a month.
"It takes longer and it's more expensive," he explains.
Mr Fitouri has put up his prices by 20%. A glittery blue dress on a mannequin outside the stall now costs the equivalent of $60.
Plenty of choice
But right now, he has few shoppers. The country is at war - so weddings get put off.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

We're happy all the time... I love clothing”

End Quote Hada Shaban

"People feel afraid, not ready to do their ceremony - they postpone," he says quietly.

Further along, the Shaban sisters are doing their pre-Ramadan shopping. Huda, 19, has bought a shirt and jeans and is looking to buy a pair of shoes to match her new outfit. Her younger sister Hada, 16, has bought a headscarf.
The sisters have plenty of choice in the market. The stalls are full of goods - a sign that shopkeepers are still able to get hold of supplies, even if it costs them a bit more.
"Prices have gone up 15% but we can handle it," said Huda, who is a medical student.
"We love Muammar Gaddafi," adds Hada unprompted. She is still in secondary school.
"Is it possible to be happy when there is a war going on?" I ask them.
"We get used to it - it's been six months now," laughs Huda.
"We're happy all the time... I love clothing," agrees Hada.

"We want our leader," says Huda enthusiastically, "We die for him, I love him so much."
This feeling is so strong that Huda, the 19-year-old medical student, even signed up for a two-week military training course in Sirte, the hometown of Col Gaddafi. Her course included weapons training.
"It's fun - it's like the movies," she says.
"Do you ever think you will really have to shoot a gun?" I ask her.
"For my leader, yes, I can do anything."
Across the road from the main market, Amir Maeza works as a pharmacist. He says that male chemists in Libya work at night so that their female colleagues can work during the day. I ask him about the effects of the war on his business.
"There is no war as you see in the capital. Nothing has happened. Everything works okay until now," he replies. The shelves behind the counter are filled with packets of pills and medicines.
Mr Maeza's familiy lives with his family in Tripoli. He says that he has no contact with Libyans in the rebel-held east of the country.
"I feel so sorry because in the final we are all Libyans," he says, "What is wrong, what is right - it doesn't matter. In the last we are Libyans. That's what really hurts."

Is Algeria immune from the Arab spring?

The Algerian government is working to prevent North Africa's revolutionary tide from reaching its shores. Political analyst Hamoud Salhi considers for the BBC's Focus on Africa magazine its chance of success.

For months now, Algerian authorities have been busy pre-empting a potential threat of revolution.
The success of popular movements in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt sent alarming signals to government circles that Algeria was next in line to experience revolutionary change.
The effect has been so strong that local governments in the eastern part of Algeria have instructed police to relax street regulations, including allowing motorists to drive without a proper vehicle tax document.

 Police have also been told to ignore illegal street traders and refrain from collecting taxes from shopkeepers if they claim their business has been affected by the activities of such traders.

So far the policy of appeasement and concession has worked well for the Algerian government. But for how long?
There are severe housing shortages in Algeria, accompanied by high consumer prices and low salaries. According to the International Monetary Fund, unemployment rates have reached 25% among 24 year olds, widening gaps between social classes.

Large revenues generated from favourably high prices of oil have enabled the government to divert people's anger and win their silence - at least for now.

Pleasing the people

The Algerian government, led by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, has embarked on a series of initiatives to win over the public.

In early May, the government revised this year's national budget, allocating 25% of the total to pay for public sector workers' salaries and subsidies on flour, milk, cooking oil and sugar.

This is on top of a 34% increase in salaries for civil servants given earlier this year.

The new budget law extended a tax waiver on cooking oil and sugar imported from abroad until the end of the year. Previously, the government had introduced several programmes to benefit the youth, including low-interest loans for opening a business and affordable housing.

* Nine people were injured when riots broke out in the Algerian capital, Algiers, in May



But in a recent interview, an Algerian official described the government's actions as "a circus", saying it is "doing everything to avoid angering the people".
In early February, the government also lifted a 19-year-old state of emergency law that forbade demonstrations and restricted the formation of political associations.
This month the president is expected to release 4,000 Islamists from prison. Most of them have been held since 1992 when a conflict erupted between Islamists and the military.
President Bouteflika has also launched an ambitious reform agenda that would culminate next year with an amended constitution, new electoral laws and a press code, along with several other key changes aimed at curtailing corruption and easing bureaucratic hurdles.
To ensure the participation of all political forces, Mr Bouteflika nominated his former adviser General Mohammed Touati and Mohammed Ali Boughazi, the former cabinet minister, to organise and lead a national dialogue on reforms.

Zambia elections set for September 20

Zambia's President Rupiah Banda has put this year's general vote on Tuesday September 20, this year. Zambia is expected to organize presidential, parliamentary and local government votes this fall, three years after the death of then head of state Levy Mwanawasa who died of ill health while in office in August 2008.

 

Incumbent Zambian President and top contender under the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) stable, Rupiah Banda announced the Election Day Thursday during a live broadcast to the nation.

“I have today 28th July, 2011 signed the Electoral General Elections Date of Poll Declaration Order – Statutory Instrument no. 76 of 2011. Further, I have also signed the Local Government Elections Date and Times of Poll Order – Statutory Instrument no. 77 of 2011.

This means the Local Government elections will be held together with the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. I can now announce to the nation that the elections will be held on Tuesday 20th September, 2011,” said Banda.

The announcement of the September 20 polls comes after prolonged calls from the opposition and civic organisations that have repeatedly accused Banda of delaying the announcement of the polling date in order to suit his campaign trail.

Banda also announced the immediate dissolution of the National Assembly. “Today, 28th July, 2011, I have signed the Proclamation of the Dissolution of the National Assembly - Statutory Instrument No. 75 of 2011 - pursuant to Article 88, of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia. This means Parliament stands dissolved as of today.”

He further added: “The Dissolution of Parliament consequently means that Cabinet is equally dissolved. All Cabinet and Deputy Ministers no longer occupy their positions. I, as President, and his honour the Vice-President will continue to hold office until a new government is sworn in and assumes office. This is what our Constitution provides.”

Noting that Zambia’s Constitution dictates that from the date of dissolution of Parliament a general election must take place within 90 days, he said:

“During the interim period the organs of state will continue to function. I, as President will exercise the executive powers directly with the assistance of the Vice-President and other Government officials. The civil service will continue its work to ensure that all services are maintained. The permanent secretaries shall assist me in running Government during this period”.

He added, “The police and the armed forces will continue to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the Republic of Zambia. Essential workers, including doctors, nurses and teachers will still deliver their vital services”.

Banda’s main challengers in the September 20 votes are leaders of the Patriotic Front (PF) Michael Sata and United Party for National Development (UPND) Hakainde Hichilema.

Both top contenders lost to Banda in the 2008 polls but this year, political analysts predict a tougher race amongst the top three contenders.

Regional, continental and international observers will monitor Zambia’s vote.

Libyan rebels celebrate British recognition

Anti-Gaddafi Libyans have celebrated Britain’s recognition of the rebel-led National Transitional Council as their country’s legitimate government.
Britain also expelled Gaddafi’s diplomats, giving them three days to leave the Libyan embassy in London. Officials in Tripoli said Britain’s expulsion of its diplomats was illegal.
However recognition of the Council follows similar moves by France and the US, potentially freeing up billions of dollars in frozen funds. Rebel leaders promptly withdrew their offer to allow Muammar Gaddafi to stay in Libya if he gives up power.

A Royal Air Forces plane crashes near Guelmim

81 died in the crash of a C-130

Tragedy struck the brunt of the Royal Air Forces. Yesterday around 9 am, a C-130 Hercules, liaising Agadir, Laayoune, Dakhla, on board with nine members'équipage, 60 military and 12 civilians, s''est crashed 10 km north-is Guelmim, said in a statement relayed by FAR the MAP, adding that the crash that has killed 81, is due to bad weather.
  The last plane crash in Morocco which the press had reported in 1994. It was a Royal Air ATR liaising Casablanca Morocco-Agadir to Amskroud crashed, causing 44 casualties.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules which the Royal Air Forces have a few copies is a military transport aircraft developed by the United States in the late 1950s. He met with remarkable success with more than 2,200 copies built for fifty user countries, and is widely used in 2011.
Experts say it is a device out of the ordinary built in 45 variants and sold in sixty countries.