Michael Holman.com

Ugandan police beat protestors at summit

24 November 2007

By George Parker and Michael Holman in Kampala

Human rights demonstrators were on Friday beaten by Ugandan police in Kampala, during an Commonwealth summit dominated by talk of upholding civil liberties and democracy. David Miliband, Britain's foreign minister, promised to raise concerns about Uganda's human rights in Kampala, but governments ignored opposition calls for a summit boycott. 

Sharif to end exile before poll deadline

24 November 2007

By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad and George Parker in Kampala

Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's former prime minister, will return home in the next few days, opposition leaders and Pakistani officials said last night. The move comes as general Pervez Musharraf, the country's military ruler, faces mounting international pressure to lift the state of emergency and restore democracy. The Commonwealth became the first international body to suspend Pakistan since Gen Musharraf imposed a state of emergency on November 3, prompting opposition within the country and abroad. 

Obituary: Ian Smith, architect of white-minority rule in Rhodesia

20 November 2007

By Michael Holman

Ian Smith, the former prime minister of Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe - has died at the age of 88, convinced that history had vindicated his decision to break with Britain to preserve white-minority rule. He made an unilateral declaration of Rhodesia's indepence from Britain, UDI, on 11 November 1965. 

Dizzy worms in Zimbabwe

19 March 2007

Take all predictions about the end of Robert Mugabe's regime with a pinch of salt. No one has a clue as to how the man will go; or when; or who will succeed him. Indeed, I doubt that President Mugabe himself can provide the answers to these questions