Silence Falls in Libya
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It's not easy to talk in Tripoli; Palestinian anger over Nizar Banat's death; the MH17 trial in the Netherlands; Rwandan forces in Mozambique; a number plate dispute in the Balkans\\nIn Libya, the promise of a new dawn after the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime a decade ago now seems to ring hollow. After its revolution came civil war \\u2013 as militias proliferated and fought for control. For more than six years the country was split between rival administrations in the east and west. There\\u2019s been a ceasefire since last year, and an internationally-brokered unity government is now installed. Elections are planned for December. Daily life for Libyans hasn\\u2019t got much easier though. There are still frequent electricity blackouts, high unemployment \\u2013 and regular street protests. But Tim Whewell was more struck by a sense of creeping silence.
In Ramallah, a military trial has begun this for 14 members of the Palestinian security forces, charged in connection with the death of a prominent critic of the president. Nizar Banat \\u2013 who was known for his outspoken Facebook posts alleging corruption among the Palestinian political elite \\u2013 was badly beaten and died shortly after he was taken into custody in June. The official line was that he\\u2019d died of natural causes. But his death sparked some of the biggest protests against the Palestinian Authority in years.. Yolande Knell reports on the case - and the public anger it's triggered.
Since 2017, Mozambique has been trying to stop a shadowy insurgency in its northern province, Cabo Delgado. The rebels there claim to be affiliated to the Islamic State \\u2013 but little is known about the group. It started with small-scale, isolated attacks, but the conflict escalated last year, driving hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. It is estimated that 2,500 people have died in the fighting so far. This March the militants gained the world\\u2019s attention when they launched attacks in the gas-rich area of Palma, forcing French petroleum giant Total to shut down its operations there. To fight back, Mozambique has called on help from military forces from Rwanda \\u2013 who now say they\\u2019ve retaken 90% of the province in a month-long operation. The rebels have now been pushed deep into the area\\u2019s forests - but Mozambique says it is not claiming victory yet. Anne Soy has been to the region with the Rwandan forces.
A court in the Netherlands has been hearing emotional testimony from those whose relatives died aboard flight MH17, which was brought down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in 2014. Dutch prosecutors have brought charges against three Russians and a Ukrainian citizen: they are all suspected of having key roles in transporting the missile system used to launch the rocket which hit the plane. None of the men have appeared in court; only one has appointed a team of lawyers. Two-thirds of MH17's passengers were Dutch citizens, and the Netherlands\\u202fblames Moscow for the attack. Anna Holligan has seen and heard some of the evidence submitted by the bereaved.
Armed conflict can break out for all kinds of reasons. But a row over car number plates seems one of the more unlikely flashpoints. Yet in the Balkans this summer, that\\u2019s exactly what prompted Serbia to put its troops on high alert, Kosovo to deploy its special police \\u2013 and NATO to step up its peacekeeping activities in the area. As Guy De Launey knows from long experience \\u2013 it\\u2019s always important to consider what\\u2019s on your number plate before you set off on any journey in the region.
Producer: Polly Hope
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