Egypt: Main Opposition Leaders Accused of Treason
Egypt’s Attorney General’s Office ordered an investigation today against the main opposition leaders of this country, accused of treason for encouraging the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi.
The accused, Amr Musa, Hamdeen Savahi and Mohamed el Baradei, former candidates for the presidency in the May and June elections and who are now part of the National Salvation Front (FSN), are demanding the overturning of the recently approved Constitution through a referendum.
The Constitution was approved by 63.8 percent of the valid votes in a two-round vote with an abstention rate of nearly 32 percent.
The opposition believes the document ignores women’s, children’s and minorities’ rights and paves the way for imposing the political hegemony of the Muslim Brotherhood.
President Morsi emphasized that the Constitution was approved by a majority of Egyptians and guarantees the basic rights of people while providing a foundation for reviving the national economy.
The allegations against opposition leaders, confirmed by Egypt’s Attorney General, were presented by the Freedom Committee of the Union of Attorneys based on slogans used during the protests convened by the FSN in this capital and in other cities, where 17 people have died according to unofficial estimates.
Judge Orders Arrests in Singer Victor Jara’s Murder
Judge Miguel Vasquez of Chile’s Court of appeal has issued an order to process 8 former military as perpetrators and accomplices of the murder of Folk singer Victor Jara, after the military coup which overthrew the democratically elected socialist government of Salvador Allende.
Among those involved are former officers Hugo Sanchez and Pedro Barrientos, as perpetrators of murder, along with former officers Roberto Souper, Raul Jofre and Edwin Dimter and Jorge Eduardo Smith Gumucio as accomplices.
The judge also ordered the international arrest of Barrientos, who lives in the state of Florida in the United States, and who previously denied any connection with the horrific crime.
According to judge Vasquez, between the 13th and 16th of September 1973 Jara was arrested and held at Estadio Chile (which now is called Estadio Victor Jara) and consistently interrogated and tortured by guards who knew him to be a popular singer and supporter of the overthrown president Salvador Allende.
On September 16th, all the prisoners were transfered out of the Estadio Chile , except Jara, who was taken to the basement and murdered in cold blood with 44 bullets, according to the autopsy report, after this his body is dumped near the Metropolitan Cemetery.
The judge also ordered the arrest of Pedro Barrientos Nuñez International, identified as “The Prince”, who lives in Florida, United States, and who has denied any link with crime.
In the decision (In Spanish) , released today, it was found that Vicor Jara was tortured and executed in the Estadio Chile on September 16, 1973, so that in addition to Nuñez, Hugo Sanchez indicted Marmonti as co-author of murder; and Roberto Souper Onfray, Raul Jofre González, Edwin Dimter Bianchi, Nelson Hasse Mazzei, Luis Bethke Wulf, as accomplices to this murder.
Egyptian Former President Faces Health Complications
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has several broken ribs and fluid in his lungs, physicians attending him in the military hospital in the capital district of Maadi said today.
Mubarak was transferred yesterday to hospital by order of the Attorney General after doctors at the Tora prison determined that he required specialized care, due to effects of a fall in the bathroom that caused a head injury and abrasions to his chest.
The doctors based their diagnosis on x-rays that showed fluid in his lungs and several broken ribs, according to a report from the official news agency MENA, wich also added that Mubarak will return to prison as soon as his health improves.
The former president, 84, is serving a life sentence for failing to prevent the deaths of more than 850 protesters during demonstrations in early 2011 that forced his resignation after more than 30 years in office.