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Sunday, 4 December 2011

NEWS

Arrest Bush during Africa trip

Amnesty International called on Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia on Thursday to arrest former U.S. President George W. Bush for human rights violations when he visits Africa this month. As president from 2001 to 2009, Bush authorized the use of water boarding and other interrogation techniques that Amnesty and other human rights groups consider torture.


"International law requires that there be no safe haven for those responsible for torture; Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia must seize this opportunity to fulfill their obligations and end the impunity George W. Bush has so far enjoyed," Matt Pollard, senior legal adviser, said in a statement.

In February, rights groups said Bush cancelled a visit to Switzerland because of the threat of legal action against him for alleged torture. Organizers of that event said they were cancelling Bush's participation on security grounds, not because of the criminal complaints.

Bush has defended the use of water boarding - which simulates the sensation of drowning - on captured extremists as key to preventing a repeat of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The U.S. Department of State had no immediate comment.

Zambia visit

FORMER United States of America (USA) President, George W. Bush, arrives in Zambia Friday for a two-day visit meant to help raise awareness around health issues which included breast and cervical cancers as well as HIV/Aids.

Mr Bush will be accompanied by his wife, Laura and their two daughters. Mr Storella said the US was committed to working with Zambia in combating HIV/Aids, breast and cervical cancers.

Zambia is among several other sub-Saharan countries that will benefit from US$75 million that has been set aside by the American government to assist in curbing cervical and breast cancers.

The former US president will also be accompanied by representatives from some US pharmaceutical companies who have remedies for breast and cervical cancers.

He will then travel to Tanzania and later to Ethiopia to attend the ICASA HIV/Aids Conference.

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