Labour launches 2010 manifesto

Violent uprising in Kyrgyzstan

Protests have led to bloodshed on the streets of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where 180 have been wounded and at least 21 killed.

In the grips of what appeared to be a violent revolution, Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, has seen a day in which riot police shot protestors dead. Demonstrators demanding the resignation of president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, seized key buildings across the city including the Parliament and TV station. An attempt to take control of the nation's security service headquaters was repulsed, however, the prosecutor's office was set ablaze.

The opposition claim that security forces have killed more than 100 anti-government protestors and hospitals have been inundadated with casulties. From Bishkek, a Reuters photographer reported seeing 5 dead bodies and Associated Press said that doctors were unable to cope, as casulaties lined the corridors. The news agency reported that nurses wept over dead bodies in hospitals, whose floors were drenched with blood.

Initial reports said that the Kyrgyzstani interior minister had been beaten to death by a mob of protestors, later it was reported he had survived, and a house of the president's family looted by rioters.

The apparently spontaneous uprising began outside the offices of the social democratic opposition parties, where around 200 people gathered on Wednesday morning. From there the congregated protestors marched towards the city centre, avoiding police attempts to stop them. Police cars were overturned and set alight and roads blockaded as they made their way towards government buildings.

Omurbek Tekebayev of the opposition speaking on a national TV station, now under the control of protestors, said "Our only objective is that they [the authorities] resign".

The uprising may be of concern to the US, for whom Kyrgyzstan is a key ally in Central Asia. The country is home to a US airbase and the countries' relationship is a source of growing friction with Moscow. The Kremlin, troubled by the US-Kyrgyzstan relationship, has becoming increasingly irritated with President Bakiyev. In light of this, Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has denied any Russian involvement in initiating the protests.

Outside the capital, anti-government mobs seized control of local government buildings in many areas. In the central town of Naryn, 3,000 protestors took over the local administration buildings, throwing documents and a flag from the windows. Demonstrators then moved to seize regional police headquaters.

Once seen as a progressive nation, Kyrgyzstan has recently become increasingly authoritarian. However, experts say that it was the non-political factor, an increase in water and gas tarrifs, that triggered the protests.

Peaceful protests in Egypt met with violence

Peaceful protests calling for political reform in Egypt have been met with a violent response from security forces.

Around 90 demonstrators were arrested in the Egyptian capital for participating in protests against a 29 year state of emergency imposed by the government. The state of emergency allows protests to be stopped, curbs freedom of expression and removes other Human Rights.

Main gathering points in the capital, Cairo, had high numbers of security forces deployed, as did a number of universities. The numbers participating, or those trying to participate, in the protests is unclear. Many demonstrators were beaten and kicked as the tried to converge on Cairo's Tahrir Square. Reports say that plain clothes security forces beat protestors with sticks, whilst other were threatened with knives. Many people were arrested as they sought to travel to Cairo from Alexandria's train station.

The authorities prevented journalists from reporting on the protests, including the confiscation of their equipment. Journalists from Al-Jazeera, Egyptian Dream TV, al-Karama newspaper and a photographer from al-Masry al-Youm newspaper were affected by the media blackout.

Amnesty International condemned the crackdown on the peaceful protests, saying "This intimidation of opposition activists and government critics must end immediately...The Egyptian authorities should demonstrate their commitment to human rights by allowing and protecting peaceful protests."

The protests follow a 29 year period of human rights abuses, including torture and ill-treatment in detention, detention without trial and the use of unfair legal proceedings.

Brown promises electoral reform

Gordon Brown has announced his plans for reform of the electoral system on the first full day of the election campaign.

Brown said that changes needed to be made to the way politics works after the MP's expenses scandal last year caused a "fundamental rupture" between Parliament and the people it represents.

The Prime Minister said that the key issues that Britain will need to deal with, will not be tackled unless "democracy is fully restored". He said that his plans would make MPs "more accountable to and fully representative of the ordinary men and women of this great country."

Brown said that under Labour plans for electoral reform, MPs would be banned from working for lobbying companies, prior approval from an independent body would be needed for MPs to take up outside employment and would give the public the right to recall MPs who were guilty of misconduct.

He also said that the public would be given the right to petition the House of Commons, to have issues discussed that are of public concern.

Brown announced that the Labour manifesto would include a commitment to the creation of a written constitution, to allow a free vote of MPs on the lowering of the voting age to 16 and a commitment to the creation of fixed term Parliaments. The Prime Minister said that following a Labour victory, a referendum on electoral reform would be held next August. He said that matters of voting reform and the establishment of an elected Upper House would be put to the public vote.

Brown criticised Conservative resistance to the removal of the heriditary principal from the House of Lords, saying that the party "likes to talk about change, but never delivers it".

He said that the country had been "through the turbulence of a global recession...and a political corosion that knew no party lines, but we weathered the storm. Britain was not broken." Summing up his commitment to electoral reform he said "our democracy belongs to you, not just at election times but all the time."

Election Timetable

6th April 2010– Prime Minister asks the Queen to dissolve Parliament and announces election date

7th April 2010 – PMQs continue as normal

12th April 2010 – Parliament is dissolved and writs are issued for elections in each constituency

15th April 2010 – 1st TV Leaders debate
ITV’s Alistair Stewart hosts this debate in the North West of England on the topic of domestic affairs

20th April 2010 – Deadline for nomination, withdrawal of candidature and appointment of election agents at 16:00 and nominations will be announced at 17:00 This is also the last day to register to vote and apply for a postal vote

22nd April 2010 – 2nd TV Leaders debate
This debate from the South West of England is hosted by Sky’s Adam Boulton, discussing the theme of foreign affairs

29th April 2010 – 3rd TV Leader’s debate
The final debate hosted by the BBC’s David Dimbleby will be broadcast from the Midlands on the topic of the economy

6th May 2010 – Polling day, stations open at 07:00 and close 22:00

12th May 2010 – Parliament is reformed

"Let's go to it!"

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has, today, announced the date for the General Election.

Following a meeting with the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament, the Prime Minister announced on the steps of 10 Downing Street, alongside cabinet colleagues, that the election will be held on Thursday 6th May. Describing the election timetable as the worst kept secret of recent years, he set out his plans if re-elected next month.

Brown was keen to stress the skill and experience of his cabinet team saying "I am not a team of one, I am one of a team." He also spelled out his election pledges, asking the public to give him a mandate to ensure an economic recovery, preserve public services and to reform of the political system.

Leaders of the other main parties also started their official election campaigns today. David Cameron, speaking on the banks of the Thames, criticised Labour's 13 years of "big government" and called for a new era of "big society". Nick Clegg emphasised that this election was not a "two horse race" but that the Liberal Democrats were a real alternative.

Haitian earthquake relief effort

100,000 dead in Hatian earthquake

The UN says that between 50,000 and 100,000 people may have been killed in Haiti's 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

The UN has launched an appeal to raise $562m (£364m) for the victims of the disaster. The head of the the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , John Holmes, said that the money would be used to help support 3 million people for 6 months. So far $360 million has been donated, half of which, Holmes says, will be spent on food. The chief of OCHA, also said that a further amount of between $20 and $50 million would be needed for "health, water and sanitation, nutrition, emergency shelter, early recovery and agriculture."

Aid has been pouring in to the capital, Port-au-Prince's airport but is not able to be distributed to all who need it. The lack of essential supplied has angered many Haitians and let to reports of looting in the capital. US defence officials have said that around 10,000 US troops will arrive in on the ground or off Haiti's coast by Monday.

The US has led to the relief effort and US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, will visit the country on Saturday. In a statement President Obama said that "The scale of devastation is extraordinary" and that the United States should "do what it takes to save lives and help people get back on their feet".


Meanwhile Amnesty International has urged the UN to ensure that human rights are protected along side the humanitarian efforts. Amnesty commended the UN for its rapid relief effort, stressing that Haiti's vulnerable must be protected. A statement from Gerardo Ducos, Haiti researcher at Amnesty International, said "“The current situation of lawlessness in Haiti and the increased vulnerability of women and children creates the perfect environment for human rights abuses and crimes such as rape and sexual abuse to take place undetected and go unpunished".

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In the UK, the DEC has launched an appeal for the victims of the earthquake, you can give by visiting the DEC website or by phoning 0370 60 60 900

Silent rush hour after heavy snow

Heavy snow causes UK travel chaos

Heavy snow and ice has caused widespread travel disruption across the UK.

Many roads across the country are treacherous and even some main roads have not be gritted and are now impassable. Airports across the North of England, including Leeds-Bradford and Manchester, have closed while runways are cleared. Rail travel has also been affect with delays on many lines.

Hundreds of thousands of school children have been sent home as hundreds of schools close in the worst hit areas.

So far Northern England has seen the heaviest snow fall but the wintry weather will move South to the Midlands, Wales and the South-West. Snow began falling in Scotland, which saw overnight temperatures dip to -15C. A further 10cm of snow is forecast over most of the UK with heavier snow on elevated ground.

Local councils have said they have sufficient grit supplies to keep main roads open, however, reports from some areas say that many main roads have been left untreated. Roads in North Worcestershire were covered with snow, ice and slush this morning as many drivers attempted to get home early. The untreated surfaces caused treacherous driving conditions and left roads gridlocked.