Egyptian police have arrested several members of the country’s main opposition group, al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper website reports.

About 50 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, returning from Friday Prayers, staged rallies in five major Egyptian cities to protest the decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex Muslim holy sites to the Jewish heritage.

Protesters, carrying placards, gathered in front of mosques in Ismailia (near Suez Canal), Sharqiya, Menoufia, Dakahlia in Niger Delta, and Giza in southern Cairo.

They chanted slogans against the Tel Aviv regime and condemned the silence of Arabs towards “the Zionist aggression.”

Death toll from the latest clashes between government forces and Somali fighters has climbed to around 80 as the bloodshed continues in the violence-blighted nation.

Three days of clashes in the capital Mogadishu has also left an estimated 200 people, A Press TV correspondent reported.

Many of the victims are said to be civilians caught in the fighting over the control of the capital.

The exact total number of fatalities on either side remains unknown as both claim success in the deadly conflict.

The latest round of fighting began after Somali government forces backed by the African Union peacekeepers engaged al-Shabab fighters on Wednesday.

The government has urged Mogadishu residents to leave the hotspots as it plans to reclaim al-Shabab-controlled areas ‘once and for all.’

The violence has forced many residents to flee the capital as government forces claim to have recaptured three capital districts overnight.

An estimated 19 government troops and 30 al-Shabab fighters are said to have died in Thursday clashes as heavy fighting continues in the capital.

Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi has said that Iran is prepared to supply Zimbabwe with crude oil and refurbish its refineries.

Mir-Kazemi made the remarks in a Tuesday meeting with Zimbabwean Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa in Tehran.

“Zimbabwe is eager to utilize Iran’s expertise for refurbishing of one of its refineries and to buy crude oil (from Iran),” Mir-Kazemi said.

He added that Iran has expressed its readiness to train the work force in the Zimbabwean oil industry in order to enable them to run and manage the country’s oil operations in the future.

Mutasa, on his part, expressed optimism that Iran could supply the oil needed by Zimbabwe.

On Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran will help Zimbabwe as much as possible in view of the sanctions imposed on Harare by the West.

The Islamic Republic will stand by Zimbabwe against “illegal pressures,” he said during a meeting with Mutasa.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran will help Zimbabwe as much as possible in view of the sanctions imposed on Harare by the West.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks during a meeting with Zimbabwean Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa in Tehran on Monday.

The Islamic Republic will stand by Zimbabwe against “illegal pressure,” he added.

Ahmadinejad said Iran has always condemned the illegal pressure imposed by hegemonistic powers meant to force the Zimbabweans to surrender.

He praised the African nation for its resistance against the odds and predicted that independent nations would have a bright future.

Ahmadinejad also called for the implementation of all the agreements signed by the two nations.

Mutasa relayed Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s message to the Iranian president.

He also asked Iran to increase cooperation with Zimbabwe and to invest more in the country.

Over 200 people have been killed and several others injured in the latest round of violence in central Nigeria.

Witnesses say clashes broke out between pastoralists and villagers near the city of Jos before dawn on Sunday.

The pastoralists reportedly used machetes to attack the villagers.

Jos lies between the mainly Muslim north and the more Christian south.

The town of Jos has been a hotbed of religious violence in recent years.

In January, more than 550 Muslims, including many children, were killed in ethnic clashes near Jos.

Previous clashes killed at least 1,000 people in 2001, 700 people in 2004, and 200 people in 2008.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has kicked off his visit to Kenya by highlighting the importance of finding a solution to the Somali crisis.

Mottaki arrived in Nairobi on Saturday morning after a trip to Uganda. The Iranian foreign minister, who is on a two-day tour of Africa, met with his Kenyan counterpart Moses Wetangula.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mottaki said that he hoped to see the four-way meeting between Iran, Kenya, Somalia and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) raise regional and global awareness about the problem in Somalia.

IGAD is a seven-country regional development organization of East African nations, with headquarters in Djibouti.

Other than the gathering, Mottaki’s visit to Africa is also expected to include trade talks.

Commenting on that aspect of the Iranian foreign minister’s trip, Wetangula said that Nairobi was eager to multiply its trade with Iran by tenfold by passing the annual one-billion-dollar mark.

He said Iranian companies were already active in Kenya, especially in road construction projects, but added that removing bureaucratic restrictions, such as visa requirements, could further facilitate business transactions between the two sides.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says the former chief of the UN nuclear agency Mohamed ElBaradei must follow the constitution if he intends to run for presidency in the authoritarian country.

The 81-year-old Egyptian president made the remark Thursday after ElBaradei called for a partial readjustment of the constitution in order to enable potential candidates to ‘freely’ challenge Mubarak in the country’s 2011 presidential election.

“If he wants to join a party, he could choose whichever one he wants,” Mubarak told journalists in Germany, where he is scheduled to undergo medical examinations for abdominal pains.

“The only thing is that he must respect the constitution,” he went on to say, adding that Egypt “does not need a new hero,” AFP quoted him as saying.

ElBaradei, who has gained prominence over his tenure as the chief of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has reportedly said, however, that he would run for his country’s presidency provided that the constitution is amended.

The former IAEA chief has formed the National Association for Change in Egypt and described the ruling government as ‘undemocratic.’

He has also said that it would not take long before the country finds ‘real’ democratic changes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has left Tehran for Kampala for an official visit to Uganda.

During his two-day visit, Mottaki will discuss “most important international and regional issues as well as ways to boost bilateral ties” with senior Ugandan officials, the Islamic Students News Agency (ISNA) reported.

Iran and Uganda, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, will confer on ways to resolve issues such as the violent civil conflict in Somali.

Somalia has been grappling with a deadly civil war that began after the ouster of former dictator Mohammed Siad Bare in 1991.

Millions of Somalis are dependant on humanitarian aid for their survival.

Mottaki will also travel to Kenya on Saturday to follow up on agreements reached between Tehran and Nairobi.

Voters in the West African state of Togo are going to polls on Thursday amid fresh efforts to prevent the 2005 post-election violence being repeated.

Togo’s incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe, who is seeking a second term, will be challenged by six opposition candidates, with the economist, Jean-Pierre Fabre, 58, as the main rival.

The 43-year-old Gnassingbe came to power in a controversial election in 2005 to continue his father’s 38 years of ruling. Dozens of civilians were killed in the violence following the allegedly rigged vote.

The voting will begin at 7:00 am and close at 5:00 pm with more than three million people going to polls.

Contrary to the previous electoral race, the campaigns for the polls were finished Tuesday midnight peacefully.

Some 15,000 opponents of Togo’s existing government gathered in Lome’s stadium late Tuesday calling for an end to the tyrannical regime.

The current president has urged voters to remain calm and to keep the peace on polling day and during the vote-counting period.

The United Nations spokesperson Martin Nesirky also urged all those involved in the elections to ensure that the vote is free and fair.

“The Secretary General calls on all political leaders and institutions and calls on all leaders and institutions to ensure that the election is credible and peaceful and reflects the will of the people of Togo,” Nesirky said.

Some 40 international observers from the African Union, 130 from the European Union, 150 civilians and 146 soldiers from the Economic Community of West African States have been deployed to the African state to ensure that Thursday’s vote goes smoothly.

The Lecture on the fifth day was supposed to be delivered by Sheikh Sayyid Abubakar from Niamey, Niger Republic but could not attend due to illness. However, he sent his disciple Mallam Muhammad Ashiru to speak on his behalf.

Mal Ashiru spoke on the necessity of Unity amongst Muslims where he said it is made incumbent upon Muslims by Allah the creator upon Muslims. The fruits of unity are many, he said, adding that it is only through it the Ummah can achieve its goals and objectives. Most importantly Muslims unity will lead to God’s favour and acceptance whereas lack of it will lead to loss, he expressed

While speaking on the causes of disunity, the speaker explained that the Prophet of Islam(SAWA) warned the Ummah against disarray as the former nations did, but after the demise of the messenger not long ago the Ummah became divided for leadership aim. He noted that Jews and Christians opposed their Prophet but the Prophet warned his Ummah against following the path of Jews. However the Ummah did not pay heed and created divisions after him; they even killed and maimed Prophet’s son after him something not recorded in the case of former nations.

Regarding the successors after him, the Prophet described them as Noah’s ark who ever boards it is save and who declined is destroyed; they are endowed with knowledge, wisdom and fear of God all at highest level, Mal. Ashiru says, adding that after the Prophet those who raised to the position of leadership changed and followed their wishes. Mallam Ashiru further noted it was the beginning of divisions amongst the Ummah which still persists to this date in addition to millions of dollars being spent by the enemies of Islam to further create discord and division.

The speaker further explained that the solution lies in going back to the sources as everything is contained in the book of Allah and authentic sayings of the prophet if properly understood. This is because, he said, even the Mazahibs that exist nowadays were politically motivated after the demise of the prophet(SAWA) to support the ruling class of that time. He warned that selfish interest should not prevent Muslims from following the truth when they found it.

The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky thanked the Speaker for his contribution and reiterated that the aim of the gathering is to foster unity among Muslims of different Schools of Thought. He therefore advised that when discussing tough issues it is better to guide people towards inculcating habit of research than openly speaking about a people whose others respect.

He further explained the Prophet faced steep opposition from the Quraysh, however ,those who opposed him later embraced Islam in Madina and some of them brought about problems in the Ummah.

He added that now there are over one billion Muslims globally with majority of them following politically motivated Mazahibs , therefore, the only solution is for Muslims to accept one another despite the different Schools without calling a group to leave their Mazhab for another. This is the time of coming to together for the service of Islam especially on matters of necessity, the Sheikh pointed out.

The history of School of Thoughts originated when early Muslims who adhered to a particular School, migrated to different parts of world and spread that Mazhab in the environment. The leader added that this era is different from the former due to easy communication and transportations and as such Muslims can share their various understandings among themselves for the benefit of all; there should be no problem in this as Islam will greatly benefit.

He further added that Mazhab is similar to a language which disappears or change with change of environment. A person speaking particular language may find himself speaking in another due to change of environment, this also applies to School of Thought, The Sheikh noted

He concluded by stressing that what the Ummah need is Unity.

The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria delivered the second lecture due to inability of the second speaker to attend the program. He started by explaining the importance of unity gathering which he said the enemies realizes it and therefore they are doing their best to stop it. A lot of people, among the Ulema and the government workers, want to attend the program but are warned mostly by the authority to shun away. This is known from their confessions and excuses they offer. Some of them even expressed that they are warned not to attend.

Various forms of threats are being deployed to drive away some invited guests, speakers and Ulema from attending unity week program. The enemies are doing everything to paralyze the lectures as it poses danger to their interest. However , going by human nature, not every person may like to take any responsibility which may cause problem in his ambition or an investment which he toils for many years. Such investment may be wealth, job or positions.

Those who attained to high positions in Government work including those who amassed wealth may be excused based on this. However, scholars and clerics don’t have such investment or positions in offices and therefore should not entertain any fear, intimidation or threat when undertaking Islamic duties. Youths are mainly the agents of change as they don’t have such investments. Even the threat of harassment may not work because this can make some Clerics to submit, to the struggle, Sheikh Zakzaky expressed.

Another way employed by the enemies of Islamic re-awakening is to make sure scholars are prevented from associating with Islamic Movement by given them wealth and money. Sometimes a security agent is attached to a Cleric as student without the knowledge of the Cleric and in this way his activities or movements are known, so he remains detracted. However, this tactic may not work in future.

The enemies will do everything to make sure Muslim unity is not achieved and they cooperate with any group of Muslims that called others infidel to promote their evil agenda of disuniting the ummah. So, any one that promotes disunity among the Ummah,in any manner, works for the enemies of Islam weather he knows that or not. Loss awaits such people, they will lose everything including followership and they will face their consequences in the Next World, if they don’t desist, sheikh Zakzaky concluded.

Prof. Bugaje delivered his speech on the ways to counter the enemies’ Plots. In his lecture he outlined steps to be taken by the generality of the Ummah to counter the plots adding that America, the Zionist Jews and some Christians in collaboration with some Muslims are hatching out plots to disunite Muslims. This Is because, he said, unity of Muslims will pose danger to their selfish interest. He added that a document tilted ‘Civil Democratic Islam’ containing the plots by America to divide Muslims can be searched on CIA website.

Prof. Bugaje outlined the following as some of the steps taken by the enemies of Islam:-

1- 1. Killings and maiming of Muslims and turning them into refugees in their own land like what happened recently in Jos. So, Muslims must protect themselves since Government cannot give them protection of their lives and properties. Muslims must keep to the teachings of Islam, they must know how to live together with non-Muslims.

2- 2. Abject poverty being imposed upon Muslims. Poverty index is much greater in Muslim areas, eg Jigawa state of Northern Nigeria has poverty index of 95% which means people live under one dollar a day. So, Muslims must fight poverty by inventing programmes without depending on government poverty eradication programmes which don’t yield positive results. Muslims must also find ways to deal with looters holding various positions in government.

3- 3. Lack of Qualitative Education in Muslims areas as designed by the enemies. Muslims must put effort in Education as depending on Public schools will not solve the problem, while private schools are expensive.

4- 4. Corruption in University Education. Good moral behavior is fast disappearing in Universities nowadays. So Muslim should take to preaching moral values.

5- 5. Media. The enemies always attack Islamic values through their various media outlets, therefore Muslims must set up media outlets like radio, satellite TVs and websites to counter the enemies attack.

6- 6. Economic hardship, lack of security and Power. These are the major problems which need urgent solutions.

He concluded by saying that the solution to the problems facing people is Islamic Revolution as it is the only way out, following the corrupt leaders will never help; the prophet’s foot step is the only solution.

Hundreds of Libyan students have protested outside the Swiss embassy in Tripoli against a recent referendum on the minaret ban in Switzerland.

Gathering in front of the Swiss Embassy on Monday, the protesters held pictures of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, chanted anti-Swiss slogans and called for a boycott of Swiss goods.

They also called for the respect of religions throughout the world.

Some 200 police in riot gear formed a cordon around the embassy, preventing the protesters from reaching the task force.

The protest comes just days after Gaddafi called for a holy war against the Swiss minaret vote.

Switzerland’s government declined to comment on Gaddafi’s remarks.

Libya’s relations with Switzerland broke down in 2008 when Gaddafi’s son Hannibal was detained in Geneva over his alleged abuse of domestic servants.

Four days after the brief July arrest, two Swiss businessmen Max Goeldi and Rashid Hamdani were charged with visa violations and illegal business activities and were initially sentenced to 16 months in jail.

A Libyan court later overturned Hamdani’s sentence and allowed his departure while reducing Goeldi’s jail term to four months.

Bern believes the businessmen’s arrest to have been a retaliatory move which Tripoli denies.

Libya has also canceled flights to and from Switzerland, cut off oil supplies to the European state and withdrawn billions of dollars from Swiss banks.

Tensions have been ratcheted up another notch by Switzerland’s alleged decision to blacklist 188 high-ranking Libyans, denying them entry permits.

During the night session of the unity Week lecture, Sheikh Sharif Adam El-Yaqoub from Minna delivered a lecture on Steps towards Attaining unity of the Ummah. Sheikh Sharif is a renown scholar, a lawyer and presently the Chairman of Sharia Implementation Committee in Minna, Niger state.

Sheikh Sharif started by expressing the issue of unity as stated in the holy Quran ‘and holdfast to the covenant of God, and do not be disunited amongst yourselves’ stressing that unity is a command from Allah and therefore is a necessary duty upon Muslims.

Sheikh Sharif Adam delivering lecture on steps towards attaining unity.

He outlined the following points:-

1. 1. A Muslim shall practice Islam according to his understanding without condemning other people’s views.

2. 2. Muslims must imbibe the habit of telling the truth without prejudice adding that though there are external forces in causing disunity amongst Muslims, the internal forces, which come through Clerics by condemning others, are much more dangerous.

3. 3. Muslims must avoid calling other Muslims as unbelievers.

4. 4. Clerics must speak the truth to the people about any matter, even if it goes contrary to their previous teachings or understandings.

5. 5. Islam is testifying the two Shahada (Laílah Illallah, Muhammad Rasululla), five daily prayers, Zakat, fasting, and Hajj. Whoever believes in the above and stand by them is a Muslim.

Sheikh Sharif concluded by calling on Muslims to go into further readings and research and thanked the leader of the Islamic Movement for organizing such a gathering.

Sheikh Zakzaky also expressed his appreciation for honouring the invitation. He further highlighted that part of the enemies plot on Muslims is to cause disunity through poverty, poor sanitation due to inadequate water supply and moral decadence. They also want to give Islam a different meaning, example they want to change the meaning of Jihad to different thing.

They enemies also, the Sheikh added, always try to remove values of Quran, Ka’aba and Friday Congressional prayers. People read Quran without practicing its teachings, Hajj should serve a forum for discussing problems amongst Muslims from all nations and to strengthen unity, but Muslims during Hajj are kept far away from their brethren of other countries. Many mosques are built in one city just to disunite the Ummah.

Sheikh Zakzaky also called on Muslims to read books of other Schools of Thought as that will help in proper understanding of the message of slam and would strengthen unity amongst Muslims.

Unity Week lecture enters the second day. With a lecture by the Chief Imam of Tudun Wada Jumaá mosque Mallam Abubakar , who delivered a speech on the Love of the Prophet (SAWA). Despite his old age the Chief Imam attended the gathering and spoke on the importance of the Love of the prophet and his household. He also stressed the importance of unity of the Ummah. He added that due to the importance of the program he had to honour the invitation even if what he was going to say is little.

The Leader of the Islamic Movement thanked the Chief Imam for attending the gathering despite his old age and tight schedule and added that Islamic re-awakening poses great danger to the enemies of Islam especially America and its cohorts , so they are doing all they can to disunite the Ummah. They also take Muslims’ weak points to their advantage and also create and support Islamic groups against others.

The Evening lecture was delivered by Sheikh Saleh Ahmad Lazare from Niger Republic. He delivered his lecture on the Love of the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt(AS). Sheikh Lazare started by expressing profound gratitude to Allah for sending best of His servants to guide mankind. This is the greatest blessing to Muslims he added.

No body can get Allah’s acceptance except one who follow the Prophet’s foot steps in all his endeavor, Sheikh Lazare expressed, adding that despite the guidance and the mercy brought by the messenger, the only reward we can offer to him, according to Quran, is to love his household and progeny.

Thus, the Sheikh noted, the Prophet in one of his sayings commands the Ummah to train a child on three important things. They are: – Love of the Prophet, Love of his Progeny and Recitation of the holy Quran. He further noted that true love cannot be attained unless the knowledge and good understanding about the prophet is fully obtained and appreciated. He therefore called on Muslims to double effort in trying to know the holy Prophet and his Household so that true love can be expressed to them.

He added that imitating the Prophet and his progeny is a necessary duty upon all Muslims. he called the attention of the gathering about some bad things attributed to holy Prophet and a lot of people don’t pay heed to those issues which are mainly found in Sunni books of Hadeeth. He added that those sayings attributed to the Prophet, as found in Books, are not truly his sayings, they are purely fabrications by the enemies of Islam who raised to power in the name of Islam.

He therefore recommends further readings and research in other to have proper understanding of the status of the holy Prophet(AS).

In his speech, Sheikh Zakzaky commanded the effort the Speaker who made intensive research into Sunni books to get clear picture adding that during the advent of Islam some men accepted Islam with hope that when it leads the world, as they have heard about it, they can gain to leadership status. Others became Muslims when they were overpowered while some embraced Islam willingly. He expressed that after the demise of the prophet, those who became Muslims out of love of leadership, became leaders and changed Sunnah of the prohet to suit their agenda or to hide their defects.

Sheikh further noted that, despite all the effort the Suunah of the Prophet remains intact with some few people. They are the custodian of the Islam- the household of the Prophet(AS).

Ahlul bayt(AS) are the custodian of religion of Allah up to the Last Hour without them Islam would have been lost. He called on people to go into further readings and research.

Professor Dahir Yahya of Bayero University, Kano delivered a lecture to hundreds of people during the ongoing Unity week program. He started by thanking the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria for organizing such a gathering where issues regarding Muslims Unity is discussed.

The Professor spoke generally on Political Systems in many Muslim countries where he said the politics can be grouped in two:

The first group is the type of Politic which is based on oppression and injustice which aims at controlling people and their resources. Politicians in this group want to squander people wealth for themselves and their children. The second type of politics , which is lacking, is based on Justice.

He further lamented that despite the fact that 4/5 of world resources is under the control of Muslims, yet they are being controlled by foreign countries which make Muslim backward while their citizens suffer.

Speaking on Islamic System of governance Prof Dahiru explained that it is only Iran, among Muslim nations, which established a system of governance base on ‘La’ilah ilallah Muhammad Rasulullah’, It established a System base on Islamic Principle as taught by Ahlul Bayt(AS) which shook world.

The world of kufr headed by America ,expressed their hatrage for Islam and imposed various sanctions on Iran with aim of crippling it, yet despite the sanctions on Iran and troops stationed at all corners, the enemies are fearful of Iran. A nation established on the Islamic Principle of Justice as taught by Prophet’s household(AS) cannot be crippled, expressed the Prof..

Muslims countries like Saudiya, should not be concerned with only Crude Oil deals but issues of unity and Islamic system of governance, added Professor Dahiru.

The Chief Host Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky thanked the Professor for his contribution and warned people to be careful not fall into the trap set by America and Zionists to devide Muslims. He added that they have planned on how to create divisions in Muslims as obtained in a document titled ‘Civil Democratic Islam’. In the document, they plan to categorise Muslims into Fundementalists, Traditionalists, modernists and Secularists. The aim is to create disunity among Muslims as Unity pose danger to their interest and hegemony.

The Sheikh further expressed that the world cannot progress on the right track without involvement of Muslims.

The annual Unity Week lecture starts on Friday the 12th of R/Awwal 1431 (26/2/2010). Unity week was set by the late Imam Khomeini(QS) with aim of bringing unity and understanding amongst Muslims. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria as usual organises such programme annually. On the first day of the Programme a lecture titled ‘The Prophet as a symbol of Change’ was delivered by Dr. Sadiq Abba of Political Science Department University of Abuja, Nigeria.

In his lecture the, the Speaker spoke on the importance of unity stressing that it is of utmost necessity in other to bring about change in the society. He explained how the Prophet of Islam changed a society highly characterized by ignorance and lack of civilization. He noted that despite the fact that the Prophet (SAWA) possessed all special qualities endowed to him by Allah, he fought and struggled in the defense of Islam.

He added that Islam is not only confine to daily rituals like prayers, rather, Islam it is a complete way of life and as such bringing about a change to have an Islamic society is a duty bound upon all Muslims pointing out that Change shall exist even if majority of people refused to carry it out.

Dr Sadiq further accused the Clerics of not standing by the course of Justice and truth; they are only after their selfish interest which prevents them from telling the truth to their followers. He concluded by saying that the true of the matter is that there is a dare need of change of System in Nigeria and only Muslims can bring about such a change because they have the Book of Allah with them.

The Chief host Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky thanked the lecturer and said that the Dr. Sadiq will be invited again in future programmes so that people can benefit from his vast knowledge in Politics.

The leader further added that the enemies of Islam are always devising ways to sow the seed of discord among Muslims; they print books and distribute freely to many Muslim countries with aim of disuniting Muslims in addition to hiring of some so called Ulema to promote disunity. Sheikh said whoever is paid for such duty will face the consequence in the Next World.

While thanking Dr. Sadiq, Sheikh Zakzaky highlighted some points raised by the Speaker where he said the Pre-Islamic society was characterized by idol worshipping but the Prophet, through excellent preaching and wisdom, was able to change it within a short period of time. Islam brought civilization and knowledge to the Arabian society which spread to the Europe which was in Dark Ages.

He added that the Nigerian society nowadays, contrary to Arab Pre-Islamic society in which a person of upright manner enjoyed respect, does not respect a trustworthy person. Sheikh Zakzaky concluded that to Change requires hard work even by a few people.

Niger’s coup leader says no member of the military junta will be allowed to stand in the country’s presidential election.

Junta leader Salou Djibo says the decision has been taken to ensure an impartial transition of power to civilian authority.

“To ensure a serene and impartial transition, we pledge that no member of the Supreme Council or of the transition government will be a candidate in the coming presidential elections,” Djibo said on state radio on Sunday.

However, the date of the presidential election has not yet been announced.

The junta seized power on February 18, overthrowing long-time president Mamadou Tandja.

President Tandja had remained in office by amending the part of the Constitution that had barred him from running for re-election.

Former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, a potential candidate for presidency in Egypt, says the country will only change through the young, report says.

“If Egypt were going to change, it is going to change through the young people,” he told Reuters.

“I believe the current system is not free and fair, and, whoever would run under the current system, I would make it very clear that this is not democracy as it should be,” he added in the report published Saturday.

ElBaradei said that he would run for 2011 presidency “only if people coalesce around me.”

The 67-year-old former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director, said that the advocacy of the so-called ’silent majority’ held the key to success for his coalition of opposition parties in the next presidential race.

“The key is the silent majority of the Egyptians, and if the silent majority subscribes to this National Front. I think that will make a very big difference,” he noted.

“I have tried to make the connection between economic and social development and political reform. If you move into a democratic system everything else will fall into place,” he went on to say.

“It is going to take a long time to switch Egypt into a democracy,” ElBaradei said in the interview, holding that many Egyptians were “intimidated” against speaking their minds.

Egypt’s current President Hosni Mubarak has been in power for around 30 years.