Kenya: Weapons Ship Freed by Somali Pirates Heads for Port

The Ukrainian ship carrying heavy weapons and artillery which was freed by Somali pirates last week is expected to dock on the Kenyan coast Thursday.The Kenyan government has claimed that the weapons on board the MV Faina are for its armed forces.According to The Financial, a Ukrainian financial news web site, a delegation from Ukraine has already left in a special presidential plane for Kenya. The delegation, which is “headed by deputy president’s Chief of Staff Andriy Honcharuk and head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Mykola Malomuzh” will work to relieve the freed crew members with a new crew.The Ukrainian government faces skepticism over the true destination of the ship’s cargo. When the ship was hijacked in September 2008, some observers speculated the arms were headed to Sudan, in violation of a 2005 United Nations arms embargo.

Sudan: Africa Urges Suspension of Bashir Arrest Warrant

African and Arab governments are expected to press the United Nations Security Council to defer the indictment of Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir on war crimes charges on the grounds that it could disrupt peace processes in the country.The current president of the council, Japanese ambassador Yukio Takasu, confirmed to UN correspondents in New York on Wednesday that a meeting was being arranged between the council and a delegation from the African Union and the Arab League for Thursday.

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai to Pay Civil Servants in Foreign Currency

Newly-inaugurated Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has pledged to pay health workers, teachers, soldiers, police officers and civil service professionals in foreign currency from the end of this month. In return, he has asked that schools be re-opened and civil servants return to their desks by next Monday.In the text of his inaugural address, released by his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after he was sworn in on Wednesday, Tsvangirai said his top priorities were: