The world in brief

QUOTE OF THE DAY “It’s tragic and inexcusable that the situation was allowed to fall apart so that in the

end evacuation was the only way to save people’s lives.” Joanne Mariner, a senior crisis adviser for Amnesty International, on the exodus of about 1,300 Muslims who had lived in daily fear from attacks in Central African Republic’s strife-torn capital Article, this page S. Africa marks 20 years of democracy

JOHANNESBURG - South Africans on Sunday celebrated 20 years of democracy with song, prayer and praise for those who guided their country into a more peaceful, tolerant era, although some noted that economic inequality and other problems have undermined the nation’s promise since the first all-race elections ended white rule April 27, 1994.

The focus of the Freedom Day commemorations was in Pretoria at the Union Buildings, the century-old government offices where President Jacob Zuma and dignitaries, including foreign diplomats, gathered to reflect on the long struggle against apartheid and ensuing efforts to build a better country.

The anniversary precedes elections May 7 that are likely to see the ruling African National Congress return to power with a smaller majority, reflecting discontent with the movement that opposed white domination before its candidate, Nelson Mandela, became South Africa’s first black president.

In a speech, Zuma said South Africa had a good story to tell, referring to its stable electoral system, its constitutional commitment to human rights as well as advancements in health care, welfare grants, and water and electricity in the past 20 years.

Morsi supporters plan to boycott election

CAIRO - Supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist president said Sunday that they will boycott the country’s forthcoming presidential election as a court sentenced 40 people to up to 15 years in prison over charges linking them to violent demonstrations last summer.

An alliance led by the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which toppled President Mohammed Morsi hails, said in a statement that the presidency is “not vacant” and called the scheduled May 26-27 election a “farce.”

Former Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who led the overthrow of Morsi in July after millions demonstrated against him, is the front-runner in the forthcoming elections. He faces Hamdeen Sabahi, a former left-leaning presidential candidate.

On Sunday, an Egyptian court in the southern province of Minya sentenced 42 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to prison terms ranging from three to 15 years. The court found the defendants guilty of assaulting security forces, blocking roads and damaging public properties.

Australia premier: Jet search to expand

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia’s prime minister said today that the underwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet will be expanded.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters in Canberra that the U.S. Navy’s Bluefin 21 submersible vehicle has finished scouring the initial search area far off the Australian west coast and has not yet found anything.

“It is now 52 days since Malaysia Airlines Fight MH370 disappeared, and I’m here to inform you that the search will be entering a new phase,” Abbott said at a news conference.

The Bluefin’s original search area was a circle with a 6-mile radius, 2.8 miles deep around a spot where signals consistent with airplane black boxes were heard April 8.

No. 2 S. Korean resigns over ferry crisis

SEOUL, South Korea - Prime Minister Chung Hongwon, the No. 2 official in the South Korean government, apologized and offered his resignation Sunday, as the country remained angry and saddened over the sinking of a ferry that left 302 people, the vast majority of them high school students, dead or missing.

President Park Geun-hye quickly accepted his resignation but asked Chung to stay in his post until the government completes its rescue operations, said Min Kyungwook, a presidential spokesman.

The government has come under fire as early investigations revealed loopholes in safety measures and lax regulatory enforcement that investigators said contributed to the sinking of the 6,825-ton ferry, the Sewol, on April 16.

Public anger spilled onto the official website of Park’s office, where someone posted a message Sunday to say “why you should not be the president.” The post, which accused Park of failing to show leadership in the handling of the ferry disaster, attracted 200,000 views within 12 hours, as well as hundreds of supportive comments.

Front Section, Pages 8 on 04/28/2014

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