Syria
1) Syria's Interior Ministry announced that voters had approved a new Constitution by a margin of almost 9-to-1 in a referendum, the New York Times reports. The ministry said 89 percent of the voters had voted in favor of the Constitution. The turnout exceeded 57 percent of eligible voters, according to the ministry. [Thus, if these numbers are correct, 50.7% of eligible voters participated and voted yes - JFP.] Although the government controlled the voting and the count, it was possible the authorities did not need to manipulate the results, since they still enjoy some support and the opposition mostly boycotted the balloting, the NYT notes.
The new Constitution's most important changes include ending the political monopoly of the Baath Party and introducing presidential term limits, the Times says. The president would be limited to two terms of seven years each, but the clock would start only when Assad's current term expires in 2014.
Haiti
2) Garry Conille, the prime minister of Haiti, who had been backed by international donors, resigned on Friday in a series of disputes with President Martelly, the New York Times reports. More international aid to Haiti is unlikely unless a stable government is in place, the Times says.
Colombia
3) The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia announced Sunday it was giving up kidnappings in a policy reversal that could be a step toward peace talks after decades of conflict, the Washington Post reports. The FARC's commander, Rodrigo "Timochenko" Londoño, has said the FARC hoped to become a social movement.
1) Syria's Interior Ministry announced that voters had approved a new Constitution by a margin of almost 9-to-1 in a referendum, the New York Times reports. The ministry said 89 percent of the voters had voted in favor of the Constitution. The turnout exceeded 57 percent of eligible voters, according to the ministry. [Thus, if these numbers are correct, 50.7% of eligible voters participated and voted yes - JFP.] Although the government controlled the voting and the count, it was possible the authorities did not need to manipulate the results, since they still enjoy some support and the opposition mostly boycotted the balloting, the NYT notes.
The new Constitution's most important changes include ending the political monopoly of the Baath Party and introducing presidential term limits, the Times says. The president would be limited to two terms of seven years each, but the clock would start only when Assad's current term expires in 2014.
Haiti
2) Garry Conille, the prime minister of Haiti, who had been backed by international donors, resigned on Friday in a series of disputes with President Martelly, the New York Times reports. More international aid to Haiti is unlikely unless a stable government is in place, the Times says.
Colombia
3) The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia announced Sunday it was giving up kidnappings in a policy reversal that could be a step toward peace talks after decades of conflict, the Washington Post reports. The FARC's commander, Rodrigo "Timochenko" Londoño, has said the FARC hoped to become a social movement.
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