The News Review:

- Sierra Leone: Most Prisoners Have Not Been Tried – Survey
- Kenya: Man Who Wears Annan Shoes is a Top-Notch Peacemaker
- Côte d’Ivoire: American Embassy’s National Daily Press Review
- UN Staff Union calls for release of investigations into UN helicopter…

Sierra Leone: Most Prisoners Have Not Been Tried – Survey
AllAfrica.com – Mar 4, 2008
"There are prisoners who have been on remand for more than three or four years all over the country," Prison Watch official Namsana Coker told IRIN in the capital, Freetown. "There is a major problem of access to justice in prison. " GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); According to the Prison Watch report, released in February and covering September 2006 till September 2007, of the 1,899 prisoners in the system at the end of September 2007, 698 were on remand and a further 321 had trials pending. Benedict Sannoh, chief of human rights and rule of law at the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone, agreed that the length of remand and adjournment of cases in the country was "excessive".

Kenya: Man Who Wears Annan Shoes is a Top-Notch Peacemaker
AllAfrica.com – Mar 4, 2008
Ambassador Adeniji’s last high-profile diplomatic engagement involved warring parties in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, which led to the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); Earlier, he was involved in peace talks between feuding factions in the Sierra Leone that culminated in the signing of the Lome Peace Agreement. The 74-year-old career diplomat will lead the PNU and ODM negotiating teams through agenda four – long-term solutions. Adeniji will lead the PNU and ODM mediation teams through agenda 4: finding long term solutions. He took over from former UN secretary-general, Dr Kofi Annan, who flew out of the country on Sunday after brokering a power-sharing agreement between President Kibaki and ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga. Adeniji’s career as a diplomat spans almost five decades and he is at the moment the Internal Affairs Minister for Nigeria.

Côte d’Ivoire: American Embassy’s National Daily Press Review
AllAfrica.com – Mar 4, 2008
According to the paper, Hilary is playing her political future today in Texas and Ohio as her challenger Obama has an advantage of 45% versus 43% of votes for her. The paper also reported that the Republican candidate, John McCain is winning and is sure to have the necessary numbers of delegates to be the Republican candidate to the elections. On sub-region developments, Notre Voie (a pro-FPI daily) reported on the visit the Sierra Leone’s President Koroma. According to the paper, Koroma arrived yesterday in Abidjan to have some discussions with President Gbagbo and exchange experiences. In its front page, Soir Info (an independent daily) said "Disarmament, former Minister Joel N’guessan replies to Soro; the debate about disarmament is not stupid". According to the paper, the former Minister of Law stated in an interview that disarmement is paramount for the return to a normal situation.

UN Staff Union calls for release of investigations into UN helicopter…
International Herald Tribune – Mar 4, 2008
The worst crash, in Sierra Leone in June 2004, killed 24 U. peacekeepers and other personnel.