An Egyptian court has issued death sentence to 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters accused of a role in the killing of police officers in August, 2013, during the upheaval that followed the army’s ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

This is coming a day after Egypt released Al Jazeera journalist, Peter Greste, accused of false reporting and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood,

183 out of 188 supporters of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood Movement were convicted over the killing of at least 11 policemen in August 2013.

According to state-run Al-Ahram newspaper, presiding Judge Nagy Shehata, sentenced a minor to 10 years in prison, acquitted two defendants, and dropped charges against two others as they had passed away,

The sentences came after the verdicts were sent to Egypt’s top cleric, Grand Mufti, for approval — a process that typically follows each mass trial

Their charges include participating in and funding terrorism, forming an illegal group aimed at obstructing state institutions from performing their duties, assaulting citizens and spreading terrorism.

The incident occurred in the town of Kerdasa, near Cairo at the period of intense fight between pro-Muslim Brotherhood and security forces.

In a reaction, Amnesty International has kicked against the trial which it says was held in prison complex, rather than the conventional courtroom, and that some defendants were sentenced in absentia,

It described the process as “Egypt’s disregard for national and international law.”

In a statement, its Middle East and North Africa Program Deputy Director, Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, said “These verdicts and sentences must be quashed and all of those convicted should be given a trial that meets international standards of fairness and excludes the death penalty,”

CAIRO, Egypt (1 February 2015) – Aljazeera’s Peter Greste, arrested and imprisoned by Egyptian Government has gained freedom after spending 400 days in jail.

A statement by the Egyptian Interior Ministry said it had been “decided to extradite Australian journalist Peter Greste… to his country today, 1 February (2015)… after the cabinet’s approval, in enforcement of the Presidential Decree no. 140 for the year 2014 regarding the rulings on extraditing defendants and deporting the convicts”

Fourty eight years old Greste was arrested alongside two Aljazeera journalists, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed in December 2013 on charges which included spreading false news.

Egyptian sources said Fahmy would be deported to his country Canada.

The journalists were also accused of siding the banned Muslim Brotherhood after the military overthrew the government of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

The three of them denied the charges against them and said they were only reporting the news.

In a statement, Acting Director-General of Aljazeera Media Network, Mostefa Souag, said “We’re pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited. It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity.”

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in November announced he was considering pardon to the two foreign al-Jazeera journalists.

In January, Egypt’s Supreme Court ordered the retrial of the Aljazeera journalists.

KHARTOUM, Sudan (1 February 2015) – Six aid workers kidnapped by Sudan rebels in South Kordofan region of the country have been released by their captors.

Spokesperson of Sudan’s Foreign Ministry, Betina Zhoteva announced on Sunday.

“They are in good health and are in a safe place with a team of the United Nations Food Programme,” She said.

The aid workers, all Bulgarians, were kidnapped by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) on Jan 26, when their helicopter landed in the region on emergency.

Spokesperson of the rebel group, Mubarak Ardol said the six kidnapped persons were transferred from the rebel-held territories in Sudan to Yida refugee camp in South Sudan, where they were handed over to the United Nations.

Fight between Khartoum government and SPLM-N rebels increased in the region about two months ago when peace talks failed.

From Mohammad Ibrahim

KADUNA, Nigeria (29/01/2015) – Police in Nigeria have confirmed the killing of 4 persons in Zangon Kataf Local Government of Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria in a cow rustling incidence.

Police spokesman in Kaduna, Zubairu Abubakar confirmed the incident, but an eyewitness however said the figure were as high as 9.

Reports say the incident occurred Tuesday night when attackers stormed the village to steal cows, but they were resisted by the villagers – seven of the villagers who came out to challenge the rustlers got killed alongside two of the cow owners.

A leader in the community who does not want his name mentioned told reporters on phone that the attackers escaped.

“They escaped before the arrival of the security agents. So far we lost 9 people 7 villagers who came to dare the rustlers and 2 owners of the cows,” he said.

The informant however said, solders have been deployed in the area to bring back law and other.

Government Media Aide, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the attack was an attempt to cause confusion in the state and to heighten tension among the peaceful people of the state.

“It is rather sad that some people will stop at nothing in achieving their selfish goals including shedding the blood of innocent citizens of the state,” he said.

Government has directed its Emergency Management Agency to provide support to victims of the attack.

KADUNA, Nigeria (28/01/2015) – Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked the country’s media to employ professionalism in its coverage and reporting on the 2015 general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, Haliru Tambuwal who made the plea at a one-day media training on Election Coverage, tasked the media not to compromise on their code of professional practice and principles of social responsibility.

Represented by Hajiya Fatima Bande of the Corporate Affairs Unit of INEC, the Commissioner stressed that the media was expected to exercise good sense of judgement in election coverage, adding that “fairness, accuracy and balance are key as the media strives to report only fact-based electoral information”.

He also called on the media to accommodate views and perspectives of marginalised groups, especially the youths, women and people leaving with disability.

In the key paper, a media expert, Joseph Edegbo stressed the need for truthful reportage based on factual and verifiable information – tasking the journalists to be objective while reporting electoral issues. This according to him is the role of the media which will ensure that results from the process is termed Credible.

Edegbo stressed the need for journalist to always work toward de-escalation of violence and conflicts during the elections, adding that the media must show equity by providing opportunities to all contesting parties to ensure a level playing field.

“As the watchdog of the society, we must ensure that reports are devoid of elements capable of inciting the public…. Journalists should be conscious in reporting figures and identities of casualties of violent conflicts and desist from the use of offensive images capable of raising tension and conflicts.”

Also speaking, Amina Kazaure of Vision Trust Foundation, an NGO, asked journalists to adhere to professionalism, saying journalists should not be obligated to deliver an artificial report.

She tasked journalists to be conscious of their environment while on coverage to avoid any form of harassment. she cautioned them against unguided utterances and keeping wrong company, adding that, “as journalists, your information and views are held with high esteem.”