From Washington,this is VOA NEWS.
In Egypt, death (tolls) outside the prison increase after the court announces death sentences for some inside. And in Mali,more fighting. I'm Marti Johnson reporting from Washington.
Egyptian officials say twenty two people were killed today outside a prison in Port Said after the aftermath of death sentences being handed down in the country's deadliest football riot. Fighting broke out again today between relatives of those sentenced to death and police guarding the prison where the convicted are being held. Scores of people were reported injured in the fighting. Earlier, a court in Cairo handed down death sentences to twenty one people accused of taking part in the violence at a football game last year in Port Said that killed seventy four people. Relatives of the (deceased) in the courtroom at the announcement shouted "God is great!".
Meantime, Egypt's armed forces deployed troops to the city of Suez early today after at least six people died there in fighting between police and protesters. On Friday, the second anniversary of the revolt that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak. Violence (erupted) across Egypt Friday in the day of nationwide protests marking the anniversary uprising. In addition to the six killed in Suez, another person died in Ismailia.The Health Ministry says more than four hundred people were injured across the country. VOA' s Elizabeth Arrott has more from Cairo.
Early-morning clashes between and protesters and police in Cairo gave way to prayers and rallies later in the day. The mood was less (joyous) than two years ago when Egyptians seemed to surprise even themselves with the show of popular power against an entrenched leadership. Protesters who have taken the square on countless occasions in the intervening time spoke with resignation of the struggle that continues.
We are here on the twenty 5th of January not to celebrate, not to support any party, movement, but to (resume) our uncompleted revolution.
Elizabeth Arrott, VOA NEWS, Cairo.
United Nations says it will set up a peacekeeping unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a stronger mandate to take on armed groups. UN officials say the force which they refer to as an intervention brigade with number of 2550 soldiers. A UN peacekeeping official declined to be named said the troops would be able to have quick reaction capabilities to take on rebels and eventually (disarm) them.
The African Union Peace and Security Council says more troops are needed for the force being deployed in Mali as VOA's east Africa correspondent Gabe Joselow reports from Addis Ababa the AU Security Council called on African countries to deploy the soldiers quickly.
The move comes as African troops have begun to arrive in Mali to assist the country's national army to quell a (rebellion) by al Qaida-linked militants in the north. Security Council Commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, speaking to reporters after the meeting , said he cannot put an exact figure on the number of new soldiers needed, but that would be substantial.
We definitely know, based on the first (assumption), assumptions on which they are working, that the force size will have to be significantly augmented, increased.
The AU will host a (donors') conference January 29th to raise funds for African nations and other international partners for the Mali intervention. Gabe Joselow, VOA NEWS, Addis Ababa.
The United States has withdrawn from a joint rights working group with Russia supporting (civil) society organizations amid tensions over human rights and freedoms. A State Department spokeswoman said Friday the decision was made in light of the Russian government's recent restrictions on civil society. She said the working group is no longer effective.
President Barack Obama in his weekly address today discussed his nomination of Mary Jo White to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission and the need for Richard Cordray to continue a second year as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Mary Jo White has decades of experience (cracking) down on white collar criminals and bringing mobsters and terrorists to justice. At the SEC, she help complete the task of performing Wall Street and keep going after irresponsible behavior in the financial industries so that tax-payers don't pay the price. Richard Cordray is a champion for American consumers.After the Senate refused to allow Richard an upper-down vote when I nominated him in 2011, I took action to appoint him on my own.
The president appointed Cordray to the post after the Senate refused to vote. In a Republican address, US Senator John Thune from South Dakota said it is time for Washington to draft a (budget) and create jobs and opportunities for American families and workers.
Meantime, a US appeals (court) has ruled that President Barack Obama violated the US Constitution when he made recess appointments to fill a labor board. The court ruled Friday that the Senate was not actually in recess when the president appointed three members to the NLRB in January 2012.
I'm Marti Johnson, VOA NEWS in Washington.