Monday, January 31, 2011

Mimi na Tonye Patano

(Pichani mimi na mcheza sinema Tonye Patano)

Wadau, jana nilialikwa kwenda kuona mchezo wa kuigiza, RUINED hapo Huntington Theater Boston. Mchezo huo unahusu vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe huko Congo na hasa jinsi wanawake wanavyonyaswa huko.

Stelingi wa mchezo ni Dada Tonye Patano . Ameigiza katika sinema kadhaa na TV shows, kama Weeds, Law and Order SVU, na One Life to Live. Alipoigiza katika sinema, The Company Men, ambayo ilipigwa Boston nilichaguliwa kuwa stand in wake. Kazi ya stand in ni kuwepo pale set ili wapime , sauti, taa, umbali kutoka kamera na mambo mengine wakati setlingi akijiandaa kupiga scene. Ukiwa Stand in unakuwa na haki kwenye set kuliko extra, wanakuyheshimu kweli kweli! Unavalishwa nguo sawa na stelingi. Unakuwa karibu na director na wengine.

Nilibahatika kuwa Tonye alinikumuka na kunialika kuona RUINED. Tiketi ni vigumu kupata kwa vile imependwa kweli. Nimeshangaa kuona mchezo wa kuigiza inayohusu vita Afrika inapendwa hivyo na wazungu. Mengi yanasemwa katika huo mchezo kuhusu jinsi waafrika wanayotapeliwa madini kama almasi na dhahabu. Pia jinsi vijana wanavyoharibiwa na kuwa wauaji na malaya.


Friday, January 28, 2011

Mtoto wa Miaka Mitatu Abakwa Kimara

Kuna mdau kutoka Kimara, Dar es Salaam ambaye ameleta habari hizi za kusikitisha na kutisha!

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MIMI NI MKAZI WA KIMARA STOP OVER GARAGE- KUNA MTOTO WA MIAKA 3 ALIBAKWA HAPA MAENEO YA KIMARA GARAGE MBELE KIDOGO YA KIMARA STOP OVER,,,KWA KWELI MKASA WENYEWE UNASIKITISHA UWEZI AMINI KAMA WATU NA AKILI ZAO WANAWEZA KUFANYA KITENDO CHA KUSIKITISHA HIVI HASA JESHI LA POLISI,,,,STORY YENYEWE ILIANZA HIVI,,,MTOTO MDOGO KWA JINA TUNAMHUIFADHI ALIRUDI KWA MAMA YAKE MCHANA KWEUPE AKILALAMIKA MAUMIVU SEHEMU ZA SIRI.

MAMA YAKE BAADA YA KUMPEKUA AKAMKUTA AKIVUJA DAMU KIBAO ILIYOCHANGANYIKA NA MBEGU ZA KIUME,,HUKU SEHEMU ZAKE ZA SIRI ZIKIWA ZIMECHANIKA KABISAAAAA. MTOTO BAADA YA KUULIZWA NANI KAKUFANYA HIVI AKASEMA FULANI (JINA TUNAMUHIFADHI)KWA KWELI MAMA ALIPIGA UKUNGA MAJIRANI WAKAJAA PALE,,BAADA YA KUAMBIWA KILICHOTOKEA WATU WAKAKIMBILIA KWA MBAKAJI NA MAWE NA MATAIRI WAMCHOME MOTO.

JAMAA TAYARI ALIKUWA KASHATOROKA SAA NYINGI,,IKABIDI WATU WAMSAIDIE MAMA KUMBEBA MTOTO NA KUMKIMBIZA KITUO CHA POLISI CHA MBEZI KWA YUSUF(MBEZI LUIS) WAKAPATA PALE PF3 YA MATIBABU NA RB YA KUMKAMATA MBAKAJI NA KESI IKAFUNGULIWA PALE,. KWA KWELI ILIBIDI UFANYIKE MCHANGO KIDOGO KUMSAIDIA YULE MAMA MAANA ALIKUWA HANA MUME WALA UWEZO KAZI YAKE YEYE NI KUWACHOTEA MAJI MAJIRANI NA KUPATA VIJISENT ANAVYOJIKIMU YEYE NA MWANAWE,.

MTOTO AKAPELEKWA MWANANYAMALA AKALAZWA...JIONI SASA NDO IKAWA KIMBENDE MAANA YULE MVUTA BANGI AU MBAKAJI ALIRUDI NA KUANZA KUWATUKANA WATU KWAMBA HAWAWEZI KUMFANYA LOLOTE,, ALIKUWA ANATUMIA JEURI YA KAKA YAKE ANA PESA NA HATA MKIMUWEKA NDANI ATATOKA TU (KAKA YAKE ANAFANYA KAZI TBL).NA POLISI AKIENDA ATATOKA TU ATA KWA UCHAWI.

WATU WAKAPIGA SIMU POLISI DEFENDER YA POLISI IKAJA IKAMBEBA SAA 5 USIKU AKALALA KITUO CHA POLISI MBEZI KWA YUSUF,,ALILALA LITUONI SIKU MBILI BILA HATA KUPELEKWA MAHAKAMANI. ,KATIKATI YA HIZO SIKU 2 SIJUI NDO MPELELEZI WA KESI AU POLISI HATA HATUJUI (HAWAKUWA WAMEVAA UNIFORM)KUTOKA KITUO CHA POLISI MBEZI WALIENDA HOSPITAL YA MWANANYAMALA NA KUMLAZIMISHA DAKITARI ANAYESIMAMIA VIPIMO VYA UBAKAJI AWAPE FAILI WARUDI NALO KITUONI DAKTARI AKAKATAA KATA KATA KUWAPA,,(KISHERIA HAMNA DHAMANA KWA MBAKAJI NI MAGERZA TU).

CHA AJABU SIKU YA 3 KESI IKACHAKACHULIWA NA POLISI ANAYEIPELELEZA! YULE MBAKAJI AKAPANDISHWA MAHAKAMANI KWA KESI YA UKABAJI BADALA YA UBAKAJI PATAMU HAPO..CHA AJABU HATA MJUMBE WA NYUMBA KUMI KUMI NDO ALITOA KIBALI CHA DHAMANA. HIVI KWELI HII TANZANIA TUTAFIKA KWELI KWA UNYAMA HUU? NASIKIA MAMA WA WATU KAJIFUNGIA NDANI NA MWANAWE KAZI YAKE NI KULIA TU. WATU WALIPOJARIBU KURUDI KITUONI PALE MBEZI ASKARI WAKASEMA ETI WALIKOSEA BADALA YA KUANDIKA MBAKAJI WAKAANDIKA MKABAJI.

WALIPORUDI KUJA KUMKAMATA YULE MBAKAJI TAYARI ALIKUWA AMETOWEKA KUSIKOJULIKANA. KAKA WA MBAKAJI ALITOKA AKAENDA KWA MAMA WA MTOTO NA KUANZA KUMTISHA KAMA AKIFUATILIA ZAIDI HII KESI ATAMHUAMISHA MJINI. INASIKITISHA JAMANI HEBU MTUSAIDIE HATA KUISUKUMA HII MSG TAMWA HATA KWENYE VYOMBO VYA HABARI ILI HAWA POLISI WALIOCHUKUWA PESA WASHITAKIWE....NAOMBA MSINITAJE JINA MIMI NILIERIPOTI VITISHO VIMEKUWA VIKUBWA !

ASANTENI SANA

MLALAMIKAJI

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mapinduzi Misri?

UPDATE : SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2011

CAIRO (AP) - Egyptian security officials say at least 25 protesters and 10 policemen have died in this week's anti-government protests.

They say the death toll was likely to significantly rise as more reports come in from hospitals and morgues around the country. They also say that at least 750 policemen and 1,500 protesters have been wounded in clashes.
The officials were speaking Saturday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the information with the media.

The protests are the most serious challenge to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year authoritarian rule. Mubarak, in an attempt to contain the unrest, said on Friday he was firing his Cabinet and sent army troops out to the streets to restore order, but protests and a wave of looting are continuing.

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Bila shaka mmesikia kwenye taarifa ya habari kuwa dunia ya waarabu unawaka moto. Vijana wamechachamaa wakitaka mapinduzi. Tuone mambo yatakavyokuwa lakini mimi nawaombea amani.


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Ndugu Zangu,

Kuna Mapinduzi yanayoongozwa na vijana kwenye Dunia ya Waarabu. ( The Arab World). Tumeona Tunisia. Kule Yemen moto bado unawaka. Na sasa Egypt. Hali si shwari. Vijana wako mstari wa mbele; wanataka mabadiliko. Wamengia mitaani kwenye mji wa Suez. Kesho ni Ijumaa. Uarabuni, kama ni shughuli, basi huanza baada ya swala ya Ijumaa. Kuna dalili, kuwa Cairo yaweza kuwaka moto kesho. Mohammed ElBaradei katua Cairo, naye anasema ametua ili nae aingie mitaani kuandamana na vijana kushinikiza mabadiliko.Kama kivumbi kitatimka kesho Ijumaa, basi, Polisi wa Misri wanatazamiwa kutumia nguvu kupita kiasi. Je, nguvu hizo zitatosha kuzunia nguvu ya umma unaotaka mabadiliko? Tusubiri tuone.

Angalia picha za matukio: http://mjengwa.blogspot.com

Maggid
Dar es Salaam

Hii Winter ni Mbaya Mno!


Wadau, sijui huko ulipo lakini hapa Boston tunapigwa na theluji (snow) si kawaida. Sasa hatuna pa kuiweka. Wanasema kuwa snow ya mwaka huu itaingia katika vitabu vya historia. Sasa watu wanatania na kusema kuwa hali ikiendelea kama ilivyo sasa itakuwa kama wale wanaodesha magari yao pichani! Kama snow ingekuwa inayeyuka kabla ya nyingine kuanguka hali isingekuwa mbaya. Lakini sasa kuna milima ya snow kila mahala!
Kwa habari zaidi soma:

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

MTanzania Apata Kifungo cha Maisha Marekani

Kwa vile picha haziruhusiwi kupigwa katika mahakama za serikali ya Marekani (Federal Court) kuna wachoraji maalum ambao wanachora picha. pichani Ghailani akiwa mahakamani hivi karibuni.
Ghailani mwaka 1998 picha hii ilitolewa na FBI wakiwa wanamtafuta.

MTanzania Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani leo amehukuhumiwa kifungo cha maisha ma mahakama ya serikali ya Marekani huko New York. Ghailani alishiriki katika ugaidi uliyofanywa Tanzania na Kenya mwaka 1998. Katika tukio hiyo Ubalozi za Marekani Nairobi na Dar es Salaam zililipuliwa. Magari kadhaa yakiwa na mabomu yaliegeshwa nje ya Ubalozi hizo. Watu 224 walipoteza maisha yao. Ilikuwa njama ya Al Qaeda na Osama bin Laden.

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Plotter in U.S. embassy bombings sentenced to life in prison

By Geraldine Baum and Richard A. Serrano, Los Angeles Times

January 25, 2011

Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was sentenced Tuesday in New York to life in prison for his role in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa, making him the first terrorist to be plucked from the prison camp at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and successfully prosecuted in a civilian court.

The term of life without parole probably will boost the position of the Obama administration, eager to close the Caribbean military prison and move prisoners to civilian courts in the U.S. The administration argues that suspected terrorists can safely be tried, convicted and sentenced in a U.S. civilian courtroom — including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind, and other alleged plotters in the attacks.

It has been more than a year since Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. postponed plans for a New York trial for the Sept. 11 plotters, and now with the Ghailani trial over and the midterm elections done, a decision is likely to come soon on where that larger trial is held.

"Hundreds of individuals have now been convicted in federal court of terrorism or terrorism-related crimes since Sept. 11, 2001," Holder said. "As this case demonstrates, we will not rest in bringing to justice terrorists who seek to harm the American people, and we will use every tool available to the government to do so."

Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU National Security Project, said the life sentence proved that "federal courts work, military commissions don't."

The jury in the Ghailani trial, convened in the same courthouse where the Department of Justice had hoped to try the top five alleged Sept. 11 plotters, acquitted him last fall of 284 counts of murder and conspiracy, and convicted him of only a single charge of conspiracy to damage or destroy U.S. government buildings and property.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) called the case a "near disaster" in that U.S. prosecutors "barely won a guilty verdict. The trial proved what Republicans have been saying all along: that civilian trials grant foreign terrorists the same rights as U.S. citizens. This makes it harder for prosecutors to obtain a conviction."

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan cast aside suggestions that Ghailani should receive a lesser sentence, perhaps 20 years, because he was tortured by U.S. agents and acquitted of so many charges.

"Whatever Mr. Ghailani suffered at the hands of the CIA and others in our government, the impact on him pales in comparison to the suffering" of the victims, the judge said.

He called the bombings "a cold-blooded killing and maiming of innocent people on an enormous scale.... It wrecked the lives of thousands of others.... The very purpose of it was to create terror."

In all, 224 people, including 12 Americans, were killed in the August 1998 embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya.

Because the 36-year-old Tanzanian was acquitted on all but the one count, his defense lawyers had urged Kaplan to overturn the single guilty count. But with government evidence that Ghailani had purchased the TNT and the truck that carried the bomb to the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the judge refused
.

And prosecutors stressed that Ghailani hurriedly left Nairobi, Kenya, the site of the second bombing, carrying multiple passports and a cellphone shared by other conspirators — all signs, they said, that he was deeply involved in planning the attacks. There also was evidence indicating that he had served as a bodyguard to Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and had met with some of the men who became the Sept. 11 hijackers.

But lead defense attorney Peter Quijano, in a newly unsealed court filing, said his client deserved a lighter sentence because he provided information to U.S. agents and was repeatedly tortured "at the hands of the United States government" — shaved, stripped, diapered, hooded, strip-searched and deprived of sleep.

Ghailani did not address the court, nor did he look at any of the survivors or victims' relatives, including 11 who testified about the blasts and their shattered lives. Dressed in a light blue button-down shirt and gray slacks, the defendant simply stared down at his hands.

James Ndeda, a Nairobi embassy worker whose skull was fractured in the attack, asked for a 224-year sentence, one year for each of the dead. "I know he may not live for that 224 years," Ndeda said, "but I know if a [criminal] dies in prison in Africa, his grave is chained until the period elapses."

Yasmin Pressley and her husband, Frank, were both injured in the Nairobi bombing. He has undergone surgeries to repair his jaw and still lives in agony. She turned toward Ghailani and said, "If we are going to live with pain, also should he."

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-embassy-bombings-20110126,0,5049862.story

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Ajali ya Basi Uganda - Iligonga Ng'ombe

Huko Uganda wanasema kuwa watu 2,000 wanakufa kila mwaka kutokana na ajali za barabarani. Je, takwimu za Tanzania zinasemaje?

Leo asubui watu 15 wamepoteza maisha yao huko Uganda baada ya basi waliokuwa wanasafiria kugonga ng'ombe halafu kugonga lori. Moja ya walioponea ajali hiyo ni mtoto wa miezi minane. Mama yake alikufa.

Mungu alaze roho za waliopoteza maisha yao mahala pema mbinguni. Amen.

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KAMPALA (AP) - A Ugandan police spokeswoman says 15 people have died in western Uganda after a bus lost control when it hit a cow on the road and rammed into an oncoming truck.

Zura Ganyana says an 8-month-old baby whose mother died in the accident early Saturday is among 30 survivors from the bus crash admitted to the hospital in serious condition. Others were treated and discharged.

The bus was carrying 65 passengers traveling to the capital Kampala.

Ganyana says 10 people died at the scene of the accident at Kiryandongo while others died as they were being taken to Mulago hospital in the capital nearly 140 miles (220 kilometers) from the accident site. She says all three people in the truck died.

According to Ugandan police at least 2000 people die from road accidents every year.

Je, Sudan Kusini itakuwa Nchi?

Baada ya miaka mingi ya vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe huko Sudan, naona ni bora Sudan Kusini ijitenge na Kaskazini. Mnaonaje? Kutakuwa na uhuru na amani kweli kwa watu wa Kusini wakibaki nchi moja? Hapo mzungu aliharibu kweli alipochora mpiaka ya nchi hiyo wakati wa ukoloni.

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( pichani Ramani ya Sudan)


KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - Years before Sudan's south began casting votes for succession, the woes of Africa's largest country were defined by the ethnic bloodshed in the western Darfur region.

Now, international mediators and rights groups are calling for stronger efforts to settle the eight-year Darfur conflict, fearing that the expected breakaway of the south may push Khartoum's leaders to clamp down harder on dissent and place stricter limits on an international role in Darfur and other areas that remain under its direct control.

Human Rights Watch and other groups say violence was already increasing in the vast arid region in the lead-up to the southern referendum held earlier this month. At the same time, government restrictions are making it harder to obtain information on conditions there, they say.

On Friday there were reports of new clashes between the military and rebels in Darfur, leaving 21 dead.

As many as 300,000 people have died as a result of the fighting in Darfur - a vast region outside the secession-seeking south - between forces from the Arab-led central government and rebel factions whose demands include greater control over natural resources. At least 2.7 million people have been displaced inside Darfur and in neighboring Chad.

The roots of the breakaway movement in the south are similar, but it's also fed by a religious split between the Muslim-dominated north and the heavily Christian south.

The referendum for southern independence was part of a 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of civil war. Preliminary results show overwhelming support to create the world's newest nation.

American officials visited Darfur during the referendum to send a message that the region will not be forgotten.

U.S. Senator John Kerry reminded Sudanese officials that prospects for improved relations with the U.S. hinge on progress in Darfur. He also urged greater international efforts to reach a resolution in Darfur after more than two years of talks in Qatar have failed to reach a comprehensive peace deal.

Mediators from the African Union echoed Kerry's appeal.
Roger Middleton, a Sudan expert with the London-based Chatham House, said the impact of the referendum on Darfur is still far from clear.

"There are two possibilities. One of them is that the loss of southern Sudan and the loss of that big obstacle frees up Khartoum to really focus on winning a war - a political war, at least - in Darfur and that gives them the ability and time and the money to focus on that," he said.
The other possibility is that the Darfur rebels could take inspiration from the south "and perhaps even potentially (see) an ally in the new southern independent state," said Middleton.

In advance of the referendum, violence flared between government forces and the array of Darfur rebel groups, which pledged to unite. U.N. officials said as many as 40,000 people were displaced by the December fighting.

The government walked out of peace talks held in Qatar's capital, Doha, after failing to reach a cease-fire agreement. And a rebel leader who had signed a peace deal with the government in 2006 fled to southern Sudan, prompting the government to declare him a public enemy.
The "defection" of Minni Minawi, who was appointed a presidential adviser after signing the peace deal, has raised alarms about the potential of proxy wars between north and south.

"We don't think that it is in the best interest of the new state of south Sudan to be a sanctuary" for rebel groups, the head of the U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission, Ibrahim Gambari, told The Associated Press.

He has held recent talks with the U.N. mission in Sudan over tightening security cooperation along the 286-mile (460-kilometer) border between Darfur and breakaway south Sudan. U.S. officials said President Barack Obama also raised the issue with the southern Sudan president, Salva Kiir, before the referendum.

But despite a public promise from Kiir to deny Darfur rebels a home in southern Sudan, Minawi is still in the south. He was quoted by Sudanese papers as saying there has been no progress in talks with Khartoum officials over his return.

Mediators say the Doha peace talks are not dead. Shuttle diplomacy between rebel groups and the government have already began and a small delegation from the main rebel faction, the Justice and Equality Movement, is currently in Qatar.

"Now with the referendum and maybe in July the separation, I think the attention of the international community will be focused ... to have a success story like with the north-south," Gambari said, adding that sanctions against rebel groups refusing to join the talks are also being considered.

There are fears, however, that Khartoum could move to limit access to Darfur and the rest of its territory to international groups, like those providing crucial humanitarian aid to the displaced.
The Small Arms Survey, a research project that monitors armed violence, said in a January report that the northern ruling party has made it clear "it would set the price of southern secession very high, and part of that price would be limitations on the international community's role in and access to the north."

The report said mediators have expressed concern that a Darfur deal - if reached - may be impossible to "implement in the shrinking political space that is expected to follow the referendum."

Government officials said they hope a peaceful settlement with the south would open the door to settle Darfur. Khaled Musa, Foreign Ministry spokesman, insisted armed revolt will get the rebels nowhere.

"When the government signed (the southern peace deal) it was not in its weakest political or military position. We had the upper hand," Musa said. "The only possible way to resolve Darfur is through political negotiations."

But the rebel Justice and Equality movement accused government forces of capturing some of its senior military commanders this week. It also condemned government efforts to open dialogue with Darfur residents as an attempt to sideline the rebel groups.

A Sudanese army spokesman said clashes erupted between army forces and JEM fighters a week after the referendum, killing 21 people, including 13 rebel fighters.

"Our priority is to work within a united Sudan. But if the suffering and crimes continue without a resolution, all options are open," said Ahmed Hussein, a spokesman for the rebel group. "For now the focus is on working within a united Sudan and we don't demand a separation for the time being."

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

In Memoriam - Reverend Douglas Gregory Whitlow

Wadau, ni mwaka moja tangu mume wangu afariki dunia.


Rev. Douglas Gregory Whitlow (12/11/51 -1/18/10)
Wow ! Time flies. It was one year ago today that you left us. I miss you, your stepsons miss you. You are missed by your parents, Brothers, Sister, nephews, nieces, cousins and Congregation members.
REST IN ETERNAL PEACE

Monday, January 17, 2011

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

(pichani Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968)

Leo ni sikuukuu ya shujaa Martin Luther King, Jr. Alipuwawa akiwa anagombea haki za waMarekani. Kutokana na juhudi zake na za wengine, weusi na watu waote wasio wazungu wanafaidi usawa. Yaani haki ya kukaa, kula, kusoma, kwenda madukani na kufanya vitu sawa na wazungu.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Clip From Maangamizi the Ancient One



Hii ni clip ktuoka sinema Maangamizi the Ancient One. Ni sinema ya kwanza ambayo Tanzania ilietua katika Academy Awards (Foreign language category). Ingawa haikuchaguliwa kuwa katika sinema tano bora za mwaka huo 2000 ilikuwa hatua kubwa sana kwa Tanzania kujulikana katika dunia ya sinema.

Je, sinema gani kutoka Tanzania itakuwa ya pili kutueliwa? Kwa wasiojua mimi niliigiza kama Nesi Malika katika Maangamizi, ilikuwa sinema yangu ya kwanza. Ilipigwa Bagamoyo mwaka 1994 kabla mji haujajengwa kama ilivyo sasa.

Rais wa Tunisia Akimbia na Kuacha Madaraka!!

Rais Ben Ali

Duh! Yaani zamani ilikuwa kawaida kusikia rais kapinduliwa na damu imemwagwa. Yule Sylvanus Olympio wa Togo aliruka geti ya ubalozi fulani kabla ya kupigwa risasi. Thomas Sanakara wa Burkina Faso alipiwa risasi usingizini. Sasa inaelekea kuna mtindo mpya, kupanda ndege na kutangaza hutarudi nchini kwako.

Rais Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, aliyeongoza Tunisia katika siasa za Chama Kimoja kwa miaka 23, hivi sasa yuko Saudi Arabia ambako inasemekana amepokelewa kwa shangwe na mfalme wa huko. Awali alikimbilia Ufaransa lakini walimrudisha wakisema hawamtaki. Tunisia ilikuwa koloni ya wafaransa.

Siku za hivi karibuni wananchi wa Tunisia walichachamaa kutokana na hali mbaya ya uchumi na ukosefu wa ajira. Walichochewa baaada ya mwanaume ambaye alikuwa msomi lakini kashindwa kupata kazi, alijichoma moto baada ya polisi kumnyang'anya kigari chake ambacho alikuwa anatumia kuuza matunda.

Tunisia iko Afrika Kaskazini. Wananchi wake wanajiita waarabu.

Kwa habari zaisi someni:

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/15/tunisia.protests/

Statement by the Tanganyika Law Society on the Arusha Incident of 5th January

9th January, 2011

DAR ES SALAAM

The Tanganyika Law Society (“TLS”) is the National Bar Association for mainland Tanzania, which was established under The Tanganyika Law Society Act, Chapter (CAP) 307 R.E. of 2002. Under the said Act, the TLS has the mandate to, among other things, assist the Government in matters affecting legislation, the administration and practice of law, as well as to protect and assist the public in all matters touching, ancillary or incidental to the law – in short, the observance of rule of law and good governance.

Following media and individual reports on the clashes in Arusha between the Police Force of the United Republic of Tanzania (“Police Force”) and Chama Cha Demokrasia (Chadema) supporters in Arusha Municipality, the TLS communicated with several sources in Arusha, including its members, members of the media and victims of the violence to confirm the veracity of the reports. Our attempts to communicate with or contact the police officers in charge of Arusha Municipality were not successful.

It was brought to our knowledge that on 5 th January, unarmed Chadema leaders and supporters staged a peaceful procession in Arusha Municipality, pursuant to a notification of the same delivered to the Arusha Municipality Officer Commanding District (OCD) on 31 st December, 2010 and in furtherance of a 4th of January letter from, and consultative meeting with, the OCD confirming the security detail for the procession and assembly. We know that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on national news at 8PM (that is, less than twenty four hours before the intended procession) on 4th January issued a verbal warning stopping the procession but allowing the public assembly. We also know that despite the warning, the procession took place as planned.

We are informed that subsequent to this, the Police Force used force to stop the procession and to disperse the assembly, which resulted in at least two (2) deaths and injuries to several unarmed civilians. We are further informed that during the fracas, journalists conspicuously identified as such were targeted by the Police Force for simply covering the unfolding events, and that after the fracas the Police Force did not initially allow advocates to gain access to the people who were in police custody.

Article 20 of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977 (“the Constitution) guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of association and assembly.

Section 43 (1) of The Police Force Auxiliary Services Act, CAP 322 R.E. 2009 prescribes a procedure for anyone desirous of convening, collecting, forming or organizing any assembly or procession in any public place pursuant to their constitutional right to assembly, which only requires notifying the Police Force in the area of the place and time at which the meeting will take place and the purpose of the meeting. It is our understanding that the requirement of notification is prescribed by 2 law to ensure that the Article 20 constitutional right is preserved and protected - and not infringed upon - by the Police Force. It is our view that the verbal warning issued by the IGP, in effect, banned the procession by Chadema because it did not provide for a clear alternative to when Chadema could hold its procession. But where there is a right, there is a remedy and Chadema should have sought recourse within the confines of the law. However, we are not certain that the IGP’s verbal warning afforded Chadema with adequate opportunity to pursue any means prescribed in law to either overrule the IGP’s warning or to stop the procession from physically taking place. That notwithstanding, the Police Force should neither be the cause of nor cause violations of constitutionally protected rights.

Article 18 of the Constitution guarantees every person the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely express ideas and opinions as well as the right to communicate and be informed. This right serves to protect expressions, information and communications, including that of media personnel. From the reports we received, it seems that this right was abridged by the Police Force.

Section 54 of The Criminal Procedure Act, CAP 20 R.E. 2009 obligates a police officer to cause reasonable facilities to be provided to enable a restrained person to communicate with a lawyer, a relative or friend of his choice. From the reports we received, it seems that this right was – at least initially - infringed upon by the Police
Force.

Firmly committed to upholding and strengthening the rule of law and good governance by the State, knowing that when properly upheld, rule of law and good governance protect people from the arbitrary powers of the State; ascribing to the notion that impunity always leads to greater crimes; and believing strongly that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done:

I. The TLS calls upon civilians and the State and its organs to observe and abide by the laws, the rule of law and good governance; and

2. The TLS strongly condemns the actions taken by the Police Force in denying the constitutional rights of association and assembly and of expression; and

3. The TLS strongly condemns the use of excessive force by the Police Force in dispersing the crowd of unarmed, peaceably processing and assembled civilians; and

4. The TLS calls on the Government of Tanzania to probe into the cause of and to investigate this unfortunate incident, to bring those accountable to task in accordance with the laws, and to continue using peaceful means of upholding rule of law and securing democracy for the national good.

Submitted by and on behalf of the Tanganyika Law Society


PRESIDENT

Bibi Mississippi Winn Afariki Dunia. Alikuwa na Miaka 113!

(Pichani Hayati Bibi Mississippi Winn)

Bi Kizee Mississippi Winn amefariki dunia huko Louisiana akiwa na umri wa miaka 113. Unajiuliza ni nani? Ni bibi aliyekuwa na umri mkubwa kuliko waMarekani weusi wote. Hakuolewa wala kuzaa mtoto katika maisha yake marefu. Alipenda kusema "Nitaondoka dunia hii siku Mungu Akipenda"

Wazazi wake walizaliwa katika utumwa Marekani amabayo uliisha mwaka 1864. Ajabu, Bibi Winn alikuwa na akili zake na afya njema hadi hivi karibuni. Hivi Tanzania si kuna wazee wenye umri mkubwa pia? Tungewapa heshima na kuwatuza kama wanavyofanya hapa USA.

Kwa habari zaidi someni:


REST IN ETERNAL PEACE

Kwa habari zaidi someni:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iBdLIQRxQqEghsDu8536YKOuQjBg?docId=fc753d0075d240bba11838be6f5dc9a6


http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/15/2017207/group-oldest-living-african-american.html

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Tunapambana na Theluji na Barafu!






Ni msimu wa winter (Baridi) hapa Marekani. Tunatamani joto la Dar. Hizi picha nilipiga hapa Cambidge, Massachusetts leo asubuhi.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Ujumbe Muhimu Kwa Wahamiaji Kutoka Afrika Massachusetts

Dear MM::MessageTweak,

The federal government under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiated a program called Secure Communities (SC) and in 2006 ICE started a pilot program of SC in Boston.

Secure Communities is a program that allows state and local police to check the fingerprints of an individual they arrest against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration databases. The program, which is likely to be mandatory for all US States by 2013, is supposed to target the worst offenders and people who have committed national security crimes although current data indicates majority of those arrested have no criminal records or have minor offences.

The State is currently considering how SC will be implemented in MA and this has caused great concern among many communities, including the African community. In seeking to understand how the issue would affect our community and to voice the concerns we were receiving, members of T.A.C attended a community organizations, leaders & advocates meeting with State officials - Undersecretary of Forensic Science and Technology – John Grossman and Director of the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants - Richard Chacon.

During the aforementioned meeting, we learned that Massachusetts is yet to enter any agreement with the Federal government regarding SC implementation and that they would review data, which they have invited community participation in, from the SC pilot program in January 2011 as they consider how to move forward on the issue.

It is in this regard we are inviting you to be part of one of the urgent action meetings on either January 15th, 16th or 29th (RSVP and see below for more info) that will seek to provide more information, lend our voice to this discussion and help us outline our position as a community on this matter. We have also invited other community advocates and state officials to this meeting so that we can have a comprehensive and informed discussion on the matter.

T.A.C came into being in order to strengthen the African voice in Massachusetts and ensure that our voice was heard on issues that mattered and affected our community - Secure Communities is definitely such an issue. Unless we are involved in having a say on how SC is, or even if it should be, implemented in MA, we will be bear the consequences of a matter that affects us but one that we did not have a say in.
Make sure our voice counts! RSVP here for one of our meetings which will be held in Boston, Worcester and Lowell.

Thank you and we look forward to you being a part of strengthening the African voice in MA.

Sincerely,
The African Council
Action Committee

Meetings Particulars
January 15th, 2:00pm - 4:30pm: Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St, Waltham MA. 02451
January 16th, 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Worcester, (Location TBA)
January 29th, 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Lowell, (Location TBA)

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Zilipendwa - Shauri Yako na Orchestra Super Mazembe



Wadau mnakumbuka huu wimbo...SHAURI YAKO!!!!

TAMKO LA CUF KUHUSU MAANDAMANO YA CHADEMA ARUSHA

THE CIVIC UNITED FRONT (CUF – Chama Cha Wananchi)

VYOMBO VYA DOLA VINAHATARISHA AMANI YA NCHI.

CUF - Chama Cha Wananchi kimeumizwa sana na kitendo cha kinyama kilichofanywa na jeshi la polisi na serikali ya chama cha mapinduzi kuwapiga na kuwaumiza viongozi, wanachama na wafuasi wa Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo(CHADEMA) na wananchi mbalimbali wapenda demokrasia na haki ndani ya nchi yetu waliokuwa wakiandamana kwa amani jijini Arusha jana tarehe 05 Januari 2011. Tunalaani vikali kukamatwa na kwenda kuhojiwa kwa Wabunge wa CHADEMA akiwemo Mwenyekiti wa Taifa Mhe. Freeman Mbowe, Mbunge wa Hai , Mhe. Godbless Lema Mbunge wa Arusha Mjini, Mhe. Joseph Selasini Mbunge wa Rombo na Mhe. Philemon Ndesamburo, Mbunge wa Moshi Mjini.

CUF inaamini kuwa CHADEMA kama chama cha siasa kilichosajiliwa kihalali ndani ya nchi yetu kilikuwa na haki ya kikatiba na kisheria ya kufanya maandamano yao ya amani ambayo mwanzoni tayari jeshi la polisi jijini Arusha kupitia kwa kamanda wa polisi wa mkoa lilishaahidi kutoa ulinzi wa kuyaweka maandamano hayo salama.

Jeshi la Polisi na Serikali ndiyo wanaostahili kulaumiwa kwa uvunjifu wa amani uliotokea Arusha. Ushahidi wa kimazingira unaonyesha wazi kuwa amri ya kusitisha maandamano iliyotolewa na IGP saa chache kabla hayajafanyika ilitokana na shinikizo za kisiasa. Hoja iliyotolewa kuwa taarifa za kiintelijensia zinaonyesha kutakuwa na uvunjifu wa amani na ndiyo maana maandamano yanazuiliwa ni usanii mtupu. Kama kweli polisi wana taarifa za kiintelijensia kuwa kuna watu watavunja amani basi wazitumie taarifa hizo kuwadhibiti watu hao na siyo kuyasitisha maandamano na kuwanyima wananchi uhuru wa kisheria wa kufanya maandamano.

Nchi hii inapaswa kuongozwa na katiba na sheria na Watanzania tusikubali Serikali iliyoko madarakani kutumia vyombo vya dola kuua uhuru na demokrasia ya nchi yetu.

Hivi sasa jeshi la polisi limekuwa mstari wa mbele kuzuia kila aina ya madai yanayotolewa na vyama ili mwisho wa siku jeshi lifanye kazi yake kuu ya kulinda CCM na utawala wao kijeuri na kisanii. Haiwezekani kila watu wakitaka kuandamana jeshi la polisi lianzishe hoja ati “kwa sababu za ki-intelijensia” maandamano hayo yanafutwa. Hizi taarifa za ki-intelijensia ni zipi?

CUF inaamini kuwa polisi na serikali ya CCM wanataka kutumia kitisho cha ugaidi kilichozikumba Kenya na Uganda kama sababu ya kupinga mikusanyiko mikubwa ya kisiasa kwa lengo la kuitetea Serikali. Lazima tujiulize,hivi magaidi wakitaka kulipua Tanzania mbona kuna sehemu nyingi sana ambazo wanaweza kufanya hivyo bila kusubiri maandamano ya CHADEMA au CUF au vyama vingine?

Hivi tujiulize kama kweli pana tishio la ugaidi iweje mechi za mpira ziendelee bila kuzuiwa na polisi? Mikusanyiko yote inafanyika isipokuwa maandamano ya vyama vya siasa tu? Hawa magaidi walio tishio kwa jeshi la polisi wanaotaka kulipua maandamano peke yake wametokea wapi? Kwa nini nchi hii iendeshwe kisanii na kiujanja ujanja namna hii? Kwa nini serikali inaogopa maandamano?

CUF inalaani ukatili waliofanyiwa wakazi wa Arusha katika maandamano ya CHADEMA na kuwa ukatili huo hauvumiliki na unahatarisha amani na utulivu wa kweli wa nchi yetu.

Ukatili huu hauna tofauti na ule tuliofanyiwa CUF – Chama cha Wananchi tarehe 28/12/2010 ambapo maandamano ya amani yaliyokuwa yaongozwe na Kaimu naibu katibu mkuu Julius Mtatiro yalipigwa marufuku ghafla na kisha mamia na mamia ya polisi wakisheheni silaha za kila aina wakaanza kuwapiga na kuwakamata wafuasi wa CUF na wananchi wengine walioshiriki katika maandamano yale. Kitendo kile ambacho polisi walikifanya kimetia doa kubwa sana jeshi la polisi linaloongozwa na kiongozi tunayemheshimu IGP Said Mwema.

Kitendo hiki cha pili kilichofanyika Arusha kinazidi kuharibu kabisa sifa na uaminifu ambao vyama vya siasa vilikuwa nao juu ya IGP Mwema. Ni muhimu sana kwa taifa letu kwa IGP Said Mwema kulinda heshima yake na asikubali kutumiwa kisiasa kukandamiza demokrasia ndani ya nchi.

Chama cha wananchi CUF kinaamini kuwa ustawi wa demokrasia, utawala bora, usawa, maendeleo ya nchi yetu na amani ya nchi havitaletwa kwa mtutu wa bunduki wala mabomu wala kila aina ya nguvu, hata kama CCM wataendelea na mbinu zao za kuwadhibiti wapinzani hatutokaa kimya na wala hatutoacha kutumia fursa za kikatiba kutoa maoni yetu kwa njia ya amani kama walivyofanya CHADEMA tarehe 05/01/2011 na CUF tarehe 28/12/2011.

Tunaamini walichokuwa wakipigania CHADEMA jijini Arusha ni kitu cha msingi sana,walikuwa wakipinga kitendo cha kukiuka demokrasia katika uchaguzi wa Meya wa Jiji la Arusha. CHADEMA hawakuwa na budi kutumia njia za kidemokrasia kuonyesha kutokukubali na kutotambua utaratibu huo wa kinyemela ulioendeshwa na Mkurugenzi wa Jiji la Arusha kwa manufaa ya CCM.

CUF inawapa pole wahanga wote waliopigwa na kuumizwa na mabomu, risasi, maji ya kuwasha n.k katika tukio hilo la kihistoria la kudai haki ya wanyonge jijini Arusha. CUF iko pamoja nao katika kuendelea kupigania haki. CUF inawapa pole viongozi wote wa CHADEMA waliokamatwa katika maandamano ya Arusha na tunawataka waendelee na juhudi za kupigania ukombozi kama inavyofanya CUF.

CUF inamtaka Rais Jakaya kikwete kutumia busara za hali ya juu sana katika kuendesha nchi katika kipindi hiki ambacho anamalizia miaka yake mitano ya mwisho. Rais Kikwete ana fursa ya kujenga misingi imara ya demokrasia ili akitoka madarakani akumbukwe kwa mambo ya heri na siyo kwa mambo ya shari.

Kukaa kimya kwa Rais wakati polisi wanatumia nguvu kubwa kuua demokrasia ndani ya nchi kunaashiria kuwa wanatimiza amri ya Rais.

Pamoja na mambo yote hayo CUF inawataka Watanzania kuendelea kutuunga mkono ili tuweze kuendeleza mapambano ya kudai demokrasia na maendeleo ya kweli ya nchi yetu kama chama mbadala kitakachomkomboa Mtanzania.

Mwisho tunawataka wakazi wote wa Arusha, Dar es salaam na mikoa mingine wazidi kuungana na CUF na wadau wengine wote muhimu katika madai mazito ya kudai katiba mpya.

CUF inaamini suluhisho la sehemu kubwa ya ukatili unaofanywa sasa ni kukosekana kwa katiba mpya itakayotoa mwongozo sahihi wa taifa letu. Tofauti na sasa ambapo jeshi la polisi na vyombo vingine vya dola vinaweza kufanya lolote wanalotaka juu ya maisha ya watanzania huku katiba ikiwalinda au wanaivunja na hakuna mwenye mamlaka ya kuwauliza.

Tanzania inahitaji Katiba Mpya ya Wananchi wenyewe na Tume Huru ya Uchaguzi. Tamko la Rais la kuunda Tume Maalum ya Katiba na ishara nzuri ukilinganisha na matamko ya awali ya Waziri wa Sheria na Katiba. Hata hivyo ni muhimu Rais akawafafanulia Watanzania kuwa lengo la mchakato mzima ni kupata Katiba Mpya yenye misingi imara ya demokrasia itakayotokana na ushiriki wa wadau wote. CUF inawaomba na kuwasisitiza Watanzania watuunge mkono sana ili tuhakikishe kwa pamoja tunapata katiba itakayoandikwa upya na kubeba matumaini ya Watanzania na siyo kuwekwa viraka kwa katiba iliyopo.

Imetolewa na

Prof Ibrahim Haruna Lipumba
Mwenyekiti - CUF.
06 Januari 2011.
Dar es salaam.

Warsha ya Filamu Tanzania



Habari Wadau wa Tasnia ya Filamu nchini.
Karibuni katika warsha ya kuzungumzia filamu za Kitanzania....
ni Bure kwa kila mtu.
Karibuni wote

Monday, January 03, 2011

Mashine Inayokamata Wezi




A Machine That Catches
Thieves ......

In the U.S. they invented a machine that catches thieves; they took it out to different countries for a test.

In the U.S.A, in 30 minutes, it caught 20 thieves;

UK, in 30 minutes it caught 500 thieves;

Spain, in 20 minutes it caught 25 thieves;

Ghana, in 10 minutes it caught 6,000 thieves;

Nigeria in 5 minutes it caught 9,000 thieves

Tanzania, hata dakika tatu hazikupita wajanja waliishaidaka!

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Oscar Kambona, James Mapalala, Augustine Mrema na Siasa

Vijana wengi hawajawahi kusikia jina la Oscar Kambona na James Mapalala. Hao walikuwa wazito katika siasa za Tanzania kipindi fulani. Mimi nilikuwepo Uwanja wa Ndege Dar siku Mzee Kambona alivyorejea kutoka kwenye Exile Uiingereza. Mamia ya wakazi wa Dar walienda kumpokea. Airport walimnyanganya Fax machine aliyokuja nayo kama hand luggage. Mbu walijaa kibao pale uwanjani na nyumbani na jirani kwa Mzee Kambona.

Kuhusu James Mapalala na CUF, yule Mzee ni kweli alipotea kipindi fulani.

Soma Alivyoandika Kaka Maggid Mjengwa.
***********************************************
Ndugu Zangu,

Historia ni mwalimu mzuri. Bado kuna umuhimu wa kukumbushana tulikotoka. Huko nyuma nimeuliza kama kuna wanaokumbuka alichotamka Bw. Augustino Mrema. Ni mrema huyu aliyepata kuwa Waziri wa Mambo ya ndani katika kipindi cha Mzee wetu Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

Katikati la vuguvugu lile la mageuzi ya kisiasa miaka ya 90 mwanzoni, Watanzania zikatufikia habari; kuwa Oscar Kambona, aliyekosana na Nyerere na aliyekimbila uhamishoni Uingereza alikuwa njiani kurudi nyumbani. Ujio wa Oscar Kambona ukawa gumzo la mjini na nje ya jiji. Kuna waliojiandaa kwenda uwanjani kumpokea.

Usiku mmoja ikasikika sauti ya Bw. Mrema redioni. Sauti ya Waziri wa Mambo ya ndani. Mrema alitamka, kuwa kama Kambona angekanyaga mguu wake Dar es Salaam, basi, angekamatwa kujibu mashtaka ya uhaini.

Ni hofu ile ile ya Serikali hata wakati huo. Hofu ya kuimarika kwa fikra za upinzani na kukua kwa upinzani. Mrema akatumika au akajituma kuwatisha Watanzania. Kambona alikanyaga Dar, hakuwa na mashtaka ya kujibu. Ulikuwa ’ mkwara’ tu, kama wanavyosema mitaani.

Na Mrema, akiwa Waziri wa Mambo ya ndani, alifanya kweli kazi ya kuwa ’ Mbwa wa Serikali’. Na alibwaka kweli. Nakumbuka usiku mmoja mwanzoni mwa miaka ya tisini nilimsikia Mrema akitoa ’ mkwara’ redioni kutishia maandamano ya CUF. Maandamano yale yalikuwa yahitimishwe kwa mkutano viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja. Mwenyekiti wa CUF, ( Tanzania Bara) Bw. James Mapalala ndiye alikuwa aongoze maandamano hayo na kuhutubia.

Augustino Lyatonga Mrema akaaunguruma redioni usiku ule. Alirusha ’ mkwara’ mzito. Kuwa maandamano hayo si halali na yangekutana na nguvu za dola. Kesho yake CUF waliingia mitaani. Ndio, Ungangari wa CUF ulianza siku nyingi.

Pale mnazi mmoja FFU wakamwagwa, na farasi wao pia. Virungu vilitembea. James Mapalala, Mwenyekiti wa CUF hakuonekana. Kukawa na taarifa kuwa anatafutwa na polisi.

Dar ilikuwa ndogo wakati huo, lakini James Mapalala hakupatikana siku hiyo.
Ninazo taarifa za kuaminika za kibalozi, kuwa James Mapalala alikuwa amejificha kwenye moja ya makazi ya rafiki yake, balozi wa nchi moja ya Kimagharibi. Ni balozi gani huyo? Na nini hasa kilitokea miaka 20 iliyopita?

James Mapalala yungali hai. Huu ni wakati kwa waandishi vijana kuwatafuta wazee veterani wa harakati za mageuzi ya kisiasa hapa nchini kama akina Mzee James Mapalala.

Hawa ni watu muhimu sana watakaotusaidia kupokea simulizi zao. Kisha ziwekwe kwenye maandishi na iwe kumbukumbu za kihistoria. Ni historia yetu, tusiionee aibu. Ni urithi tutakaowaachia wajukuu zetu ili nao waweze kujitambua na kujenga mioyo ya uzalendo.
Huu wangu ni mchango mdogo tu.
Maggid

http://mjengwa.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Zilipendwa - WOMAN na Barrabas



Huu wimbo ulipigwa sana Radio Tanzania miaka ya 70!!!

Zilipendwa - Wild Safari na Barrabas

WaKristo Wauwawa Misri

Doh! Waumini wa Kikristo wameuwawa huko Misri wakitoka kanisani kwenye misa ya kusherekea mwaka mpya. Habari zinasema kuwa watu 21 wamekufa na watu zaidi ya 79 wameumia. Mwaka umeanza vibaya huko Misri.

Wadau, Misri ni Afrika. Huo ushenzi wa kidini usifike kwetu.

*******************************************************************
BY MAGGIE MICHAEL
Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (AP) - A powerful bomb, possibly from a suicide attacker, exploded in front of a Coptic Christian church as a crowd of worshippers emerged from a New Years Mass early Saturday, killing at least 21 people and wounding nearly 80 in an attack that raised suspicions of an al-Qaida role.

The attack came in the wake of repeated threats by al-Qaida militants in Iraq to attack Egypt's Christians. A direct al-Qaida hand in the bombing would be a dramatic development, as Egypt's government has long denied that the terror network has a significant presence in the country. Al-Qaida in Iraq has already been waging a campaign of violence against Christians in that country.

Police initially said the blast came from an explosives-packed car parked outside the Saints Church in the Mediterranean port city. But the Interior Ministry later said it was more likely from a suicide bomber who blew himself up among the crowd.

Both tactics are hallmarks of al-Qaida and have been rarely used in Egypt, where the government crushed an insurgency by Islamic militants in the 1990s. Though the government of President Hosni Mubarak denies an al-Qaida presence, Egypt does have a rising movement of Islamic hard-liners who, while they do not advocate violence, adhere to an ideology similar in other ways to al-Qaida. There have been fears they could be further radicalized amid growing sectarian tensions between Egypt's Muslim majority and Christian minority.

Nearly 1,000 Christians were attending the New Year's Mass at the Saints Church, said Father Mena Adel, a priest at the church. The service had just ended, and some worshippers were leaving the building when the bomb went off about a half hour after midnight, he said.
"The last thing I heard was a powerful explosion and then my ears went deaf," Marco Boutros, a 17-year-old survivor, said from his hospital bed. "All I could see were body parts scattered all over - legs and bits of flesh."

Blood splattered the facade of the church, as well as a mosque directly across the street. Bodies of many of the dead were collected from the street and kept inside the church overnight before they were taken away Saturday by ambulances for burial.

Some Christians carried white sheets with the sign of the cross emblazoned on them with what appeared to be the blood of the victims.

Health Ministry official Osama Abdel-Moneim said the death toll stood at 21, with 79 wounded. It was not immediately known if all the victims were Christians. It was the deadliest violence involving Christians in Egypt since at least 20 people, mostly Christians, were killed in sectarian clashes in a southern town in 1999.

Mubarak vowed to track down those behind the attack, saying "we will cut off the hands of terrorists and those plotting against Egypt's security."

"This terrorist act has shaken the conscience of the nation," he said in a statement, adding that "all Egypt was targeted, and terrorism does not distinguish between Copt and Muslim."

The blast enraged Christians and stoked already strong sectarian tensions. Soon after the explosion, angry Christians clashed with police and Muslim residents, chanting, "With our blood and soul, we redeem the cross," witnesses said. Some broke in to the mosque across the street, throwing books into the street and sparking stone- and bottle-throwing clashes with Muslims, an AP photographer at the scene said.

Police fired tear gas to break up the clashes. But tempers remained high: In the afternoon, hundreds of Christians remained massed inside the church and outside on the street, where they jostled with lines of riot police, chanted, and waved crosses and pictures of Jesus.

In a reflection of the deepening mistrust between Egypt's communities, many in the crowd believed police would not fully investigate the bombing, reflecting Christians' suspicions that authorities overlook attacks on their community.

Archbishop Arweis, the top Coptic cleric in Alexandria, said police want to blame a suicide bomber instead of a car bomb so they can write it off as a lone attacker. He denounced what he called a lack of protection.

"There were only three soldiers and an officer in front of the church. Why did they have so little security at such a sensitive time when there's so many threats coming from al-Qaida?" he said, speaking to the AP.

Police initially said the blast came from an explosives-packed vehicle parked about four meters (yards) from the church. But the Interior Ministry said later in a statement that there was no sign that the epicenter was a car. That "makes it likely that the explosives ... were carried on the person of a suicide attacker who died with the others," it said.

Around six severely damaged vehicles remained outside the church, but there was little sign of a crater that major car bombs usually cause. Bits of flesh were stuck to nearby walls.
Alexandria governor Adel Labib immediately blamed al-Qaida, pointing to recent threats by the terror group to attack Christians in Egypt.

He offered no evidence to support his claim, but a recent spate of attacks blamed on al-Qaida against Christians in Iraq have an unusual connection to Egypt.

Al-Qaida in Iraq says it is attacking Christians there in the name of two Egyptian Christian women who reportedly converted to Islam in order to get divorces, prohibited by the Orthodox Coptic Church.

The women have since been secluded by the church, prompting Islamic hard-liners to hold frequent protests in past months, accusing the Church of imprisoning the women and forcing them to renounce Islam.

Al-Qaida in Iraq says its attacks on Christians would continue until Egyptian Church officials release the two women. The Church denies holding the women against their will.

Egypt faced a wave of Islamic militant violence in the 1990s, that peaked with a 1997 massacre of nearly 60 tourists at a pharoanic temple in Luxor. But the government suppressed the insurgency with a fierce crackdown, and militant violence all but stopped until a series of bomb attacks against tourist resorts in the Sinai Peninsula between 2004 and 2006.

Those attacks in the resorts of Dahab, Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh, which included suicide bombers and killed a total of 125 people, were blamed by the government on local extremists in an attempt to deflect concerns that al-Qaida had established a presence in Egypt.

Egypt has seen a string of attacks on Christians in recent years, most notably, in January 2009, when seven Christians were killed in a drive-by shooting on a church in southern Egypt during celebrations for the Orthodox Coptic Christmas.

Christians, mainly Orthodox Copts, are believed to make up about 10 percent of Egypt's mainly Muslim population of nearly 80 million people, and they have grown increasingly vocal in complaints about discrimination. In November, hundreds of Christians rioted in the capital, Cairo, smashing cars and windows after police violently stopped the construction of a church. The rare outbreak of Christian unrest in the capital left one person dead.