The News Review:

- Belgium takes Senegal to world court in Chad case
- f Senegal from IGLHRC
- ICJ begins hearing injunction against Senegal
- Senegal defends mediation role in Mauritanian political crisis

Belgium takes Senegal to world court in Chad case
The Associated Press
Belgium claims Senegal breached international law by failing to put former Chad President Hissene Habre on trial for alleged widespread human rights abuses during his eight-year reign. But Senegal rejected Belgium’s suit and insisted it is working to bring Habre to trial. “This hasty action can only hinder the efforts undertaken by Senegal for several years to fulfill its international obligations by ensuring.
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f Senegal from IGLHRC
Tips-Q GLBT News
  Background   n December 19 2008 police officers raided the apartment of Mr. Diadji Diouf an important leader in the Senegalese lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and arrested him and eight other men. Mr Diouf who heads AIDES Senegal an organization providing HIV prevention services to men who have sex with men (MSM) and his guests were taken to the SICAP Mbao police station where they were detained until December 24 before being transferred to the Maison D’arrêt et de détention de Rebeuss.   n January 8 2009 the nine men appeared in court to respond to charges of criminal conspiracy and engaging in acts against the order of nature. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) was informed that lawyers for the defence had had limited access to case files and little time to prepare for the court hearing. The men were condemned to a sentence of 8 years in jail although the prosecutor had asked for a sentence of 5 years which is the maximum penalty provided by Senegalese law in sodomy cases.   Under Article 3.

ICJ begins hearing injunction against Senegal
Radio Netherlands
In 2006 the African Union ruled that Mr Habré should face trial but Senegal has not yet begun proceedings. Belgium has called on Senegal to either begin proceedings or extradite him to Brussels. In September the Senegalese authorities said the trial would only take place when sufficient funds have been raised. Dakar says it expects the trial to cost around 28 million euros.

Senegal defends mediation role in Mauritanian political crisis
Le Mali en ligne
In a press statement here the Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio on the second day of his visit to Mauritania said he had met with the relevant officials and representatives of the political parties opposed to the 6 August 2 008 putsch. Explaining the involvement of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade in efforts to resolve the crisis Gadio said his country had to wade into the problem because of ?very strong relations? between Senegal and Mauritania. He said “Given the history geography culture and the blood ties between the peoples of the two countries? Senegal had no choice other than to seek a settlement to the crisis based on the involvement of all the political stakeholders with a view to achieving lasting peace and cohesion.