The Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has urged Colombia's largest left-wing rebel group, the Farc, to free all its hostages as proof that it wants peace. The call comes hours after the new Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos took office. Here is Will Grant.
Shortly after Mr Santos received the presidential sash in Bogota, President Chavez spoke of his wish to turn the page with Colombia. He's now followed that out with a call to the left-wing rebels, the Farc, to
give up
their arms and
hand over
their remaining hostages. There was no future for the Farc as an armed guerilla group, Mr Chavez said, asking on his national television program “why did the guerillas need to kidnap people”. He urged them to show a
commitment
to the peace effort, suggesting the release of the remaining hostages would be an adequate step.
Journalists in South Africa have launched a campaign against proposed legislation which, they say, would curtail the freedom of the press and threaten democracy. Marcus Elbow reports.
In a strongly-worded declaration, the editors of South Africa's major newspapers express deep concern about the proposed legislation that would allow the government to classify material that is currently not secret, and would make it an offence to publish such information.
They appeal to the governing party, the African National Congress, to abandon the planned measures. The ANC says new legislation is needed to make journalists legally