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> Fri., June 11, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
National Day of Mourning
Reagan's Legacy in Nicaragua
Foiled Coup Attempt in the DRC
Saudi Student Innocent of Terrorism
NYC Unions Protest and Rally
Control Room Hits the Theaters
FSRN Headlines
U.S. soldiers were authorized to use attack dogs to intimidate
Iraqis prisoners. Karen Mitchell has more from the D.C. coop.
The voter advocacy group is taking legal action against the
state of South Dakota for alleged voting irregularities during
the state’s special election last week. Jim Kent reports
from Rapid City.
Elections for European Union representatives are taking place
around the EU today. Yet EU voters are showing less than enthusiastic
support for going to the polls. Only 52-percent of the more
than 340-million potential voters are expected to participate
in elections that started today in some countries and will
end on Sunday in most others. In a trend pollsters say will
likely be repeated elsewhere, British voters cast their ballots
against the ruling party. Naomi Fowler reports from London.
The Cuban government released 5 people being held as political
prisoners. Joseph Mutti explains why from Havana.
The Mayor of New Palz was found not-guilty of violating the
law when he married gay and lesbian couples. Jason West of
WJFF reports.
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National Day of Mourning
The United States observed a national day of mourning today
to mark the death of Ronald Reagan – the nation’s
40th President. Funeral services were held at the National
Cathedral.
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Reagan's Legacy in Nicaragua
News of Ronald Reagan’s death last weekend made headlines
for several days in the Central American country of Nicaragua.
Reagan’s policies and actions in Nicaragua had a deep
impact on the course of Nicaraguan history. Tara Ramos reports
from Managua.
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Foiled Coup Attempt in the DRC
Government ministers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
say a commando group seized state radio in Kinshasa and declared
they were suspending government institutions. The group, apparently
led by Major Eric Lengue, also seized the national electric
company, shutting off power in the capital for several hours.
Heavy automatic weapon fire was heard in the early morning
hours in several areas of Kinshasa, including the neighborhood
of the official residence of Mr. President Joseph Kabila.
There are unverified reports at this hour that the leader
of the failed coup attempt has contacted the British Ambassador
regarding his surrender. President Kabila went on national
television after the attempt to say his government remains
in control. Last week, renegade military commanders seized
the volatile eastern city of Bukavu, but withdrew a few days
later. Jacques de Pelchin – the Director of the Otabenga
International Alliance for Peace in the Congo, joins us. Mr.
De Pelchin -- Given the events of last night in Kinshasa and
last week in Bukavu – what are the implications for
the peace process in the Congo?
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Saudi Student Innocent of Terrorism
Those concerned about the Patriot Act’s impact on
Free Speech see yesterday’s “not guilty”
verdict in the case of a Saudi student accused of aiding terrorism
in Idaho as a hopeful sign. A major question in the case was
whether allowing pro-terrorist postings on a website amounted
to aiding terrorism. In this case at least – the answer
seems to be no. Leigh Robartes has more.
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NYC Unions Protest and Rally
It’s been a busy week for New York City unions. Some
unions left the job for the picket line or staged major rallies
as frustrations escalated with their employers and Mayor Michael
Bloomberg over contract negotiations and salaries. FSRN’s
Leigh Ann Caldwell talks to union leaders in New York City.
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Control Room Hits the Theaters
A Shiite Muslim shrine has been the site of conflict today,
as loyalists of a radical cleric squared off against protestors
in the holy city of Najaf. Hundreds of protestors marched
on the Imam Ali Shrine to express their support of a peace
plan imposed to end the fighting there. And as the U.S. and
Iraqi leaders attempt to avert more bloodshed in the Sadr
City neighborhood of Baghdad that has claimed the lives of
at least 14 U.S. servicemen and over 800 Iraqi’s in
the past nine weeks, a documentary about the Arab news channel,
Al-Jazeera, is hitting theaters nationwide today and is energizing
public debate about U.S. media responsibility during wartime.
Jackson Allers reports from WBAI in New York City.
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