The international community is condemning the Aug. 6 military ouster of Mauritania's President Sidi Mohamed ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya ould Ahmed Waghf. The coup started just hours after a presidential decree that declared the dismissal of Mauritania's top four military leaders. By the morning, soldiers had barricaded and occupied the presidential palace. Coup leaders announced the creation of a state council to be led by head of the presidential guard, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz—who told the reporters the takeover was not a coup, but rather an attempt to restore security. He cited security problems, including terrorism, that only the army is capable of eradicating.

Georgia declared a cease-fire following an outburst of heavy fighting with separatist forces in the breakaway region of South Ossetia Aug. 7. Georgia is blaming Russia for the escalation of violence. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said in televised remarks: "The Russian peacekeeping forces told us several hours ago that they have totally lost control over the separatist forces. We are in permanent contact with the Russian Foreign Ministry, but it fails to convince the separatist[s] to cease fire." Moscow has not yet responded to the claim.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez signed 26 new laws regulating the armed forces, public administration, social security system, banks, agricultural production, and the tourism industry on July 31—the final day of the 18-month period during which the National Assembly granted Chávez the power to pass laws by decree. The government says the laws seek to increase state management of "strategic" sectors and public institutions considered vital for progress toward "21st Century Socialism."

A meeting between presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia, Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Cristina Fernández of Argentina was called off because of violent opposition protests in the southern Bolivian city of Tarija. The leaders had planned to sign energy integration agreements and launch a project for construction of a natural gas plant in Tarija. The ceremony was also to include the delivery of housing to poor families, built with financial support from the Venezuelan government. Tension is running high in the last week before Bolivia's Aug. 10 recall referendum that will decide the fate of Morales, his vice president and eight of the country's nine regional governors. (IPS, Aug. 7 via Upside Down World)

Bolivian national authorities are investigating a clash between miners and police that left two dead and 30 wounded in the region of Huanun Aug. 4, Government Minister Alfredo Rada confirmed. Rada said the incident was sparked when the police moved to break up a roadblock by workers demanding a new pension law. Rada told reporters that the workers' demands are being debated in the National Congress, and accused the opposition of trying to disrupt the Aug. 10 recall vote. Rada refuted media accounts alleging use of firearms by the police. He said police intervened when they learned the miners planned to blow up a bridge in the town of Caihuasi, in the central department of Oruro.

Our switch to a new server has proved far more complicated than we had bargained for—in large part due to some problems with our Drupal program, it seems. We are running out of time, and need to somehow make the transition within the next few days. If there is anyone out there with the technical skills who can rise to the occasion, please contact us immediately.

Salim Hamdan was convicted Aug. 6 by a panel of six US military officers at Guantánamo Bay of "providing material support for terrorism," but acquitted of "conspiracy." The sentencing hearing is due to begin immediately. He faces a maximum term of life imprisonment. However, the Pentagon confirmed beforehand that Hamdan would remain in indefinite detention as an "enemy combatant" regardless of the verdict.

Four Tibetan youth in Drokshog township, Nangchen county, Qinghai province, were arrested July 26 by the Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) agents for protesting against the local Summer Festival planned by the government to celebrate the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games. The four shouted slogans in the presence of a large number of local government officials at the festival's opening. Slogans included "We want freedom," "Dalai Lama return to Tibet" and "this is not the year to celebrate as Tibetans have suffered untold repression under the Chinese regime, rather it is time to mourn and offer prayers" for those killed and imprisoned. Following their detention, Drokshog residents wrote a letter to the county authorities calling for their immediate release, and an ongoing vigil was launched at the detention center. As of now, there is no further information on the four arrested Tibetans. (TCHRD, July 30)