Constable Ronan Kerr, the police officer who was killed in a car bomb in Northern Ireland on Saturday, was probably targeted by Catholics… for being Catholic. It used to be that most of the Northern Irish police force were Protestants, but over time, more and more Catholics have been joining in order to balance things out. It is generally seen as a good thing and a step towards the two camps getting along.
Dissident Republicans however (hardcore Catholics who are against getting along) don’t like it, which is probably why this young police officer was targeted.
The fighting in Ivory Coast continues, as up to 1,000 civilians have now ended up dead. Leader Laurent Gbagdo still refuses to give up power despite being voted out, and his rival Outtara has been pushing forward with his efforts to force him out. The UN are on Outtara’s side and have now stepped in to attack Gbagdo’s forces.
In Libya, most of the East is now in rebel hands and most of the West in back under Gaddafi’s thumb – which has resulted in an eerie silence.
Riots and protests have momentarily stopped and Gaddafi has released footage, to state TV, of his loyalist’s celebrating on the streets. Insiders claim they have been paid to do so and that he is now clutching at straws.
Meanwhile, quite disturbingly, al-Qaeda are said to be having a bit of a party; posing as Libyan rebels in order to get their hands on free weapons. Hardly surprising.
It doesn’t get any better, I’m afraid, in Pakistan – where a 14 year old boy who tried to blow himself up at a festival failed to do so properly and has been taken into custody. The severely injured teen was heard to shout: “Let me go, I want to be a martyr!” as he was taken away by police. Sadly, it seems to have become common for Islamist extremists to talk young people into taken part in suicide attacks.
Finally, Obama has announced that he fully intends to run for re-election next year in America. It’s big news but no great surprise. Tomorrow I’ll be giving you the lowdown on the state of American politics – and it’s not nearly so boring as it sounds. I promise.
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