Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) turned in its final report on last year's unrest in Oaxaca May 24, blaming both authorities and protesters for "excesses," and urging the government to investigate its finding that federal police tortured detainees. The independent governmental commission also blamed the government for not intervening to stop the crisis before it escalated to bloodshed. CNDH president José Luis Soberanes said the administration of then-President Vicente Fox had "unjustifiably delayed, for more than a month and a half, in complying with its constitutional duty to help restore order and peace in Oaxaca."

Bolivia's lower house Chamber of Deputies has approved a measure calling for incorporation of indigenous languages into the educational system. Warning that "every langauge represents a unique vision of the world," UNESCO recently found that 35 indigenous languages in Bolivia are in danger of extinction. The measure, Supreme Decree 25894, recognizes as official languages the indigenous tongues of Aymará, Baure, Besiro, Canichama, Cavineño, Cayubaba. Chácobo, Chimán, Ese Ejja, Guaraní, Guarasuwe, Guarayu, Itonoma, Leco, Machineri, Mojeño, Trinitario, Mojeño Ignaciano, More Mostén, Movida, Pacawara, Quechua, Reyesano, Sirionó, Tacana, Tapiete, Toromona, Uru Chipaya, Weenhayek, Yaminawa, Auki and Yuracaré. (La Epoca, Bolivia, via Quechua Network, May 29)

Libya announced May 29 it will sign a $900-million exploration deal with BP, marking a return by the UK oil giant to the North African country after a 33-year absence. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Tripoli by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is starting a tour of Africa before he leaves office next month. "BP will be announcing that they're going back into Libya," a spokesperson for Blair said, confirming that the outgoing premier was due to hold talks with Libyan leader Moammar Qadaffi.

The Philippine government and the country's largest Islamic rebel group are moving closer to a deal on defining Muslim ancestral, leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have announced. "It's almost in the bag," said Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman. "The two sides are prepared to resume negotiations right after the dust of the elections settles. We're close to an agreement on the territory issue." The nearly 40-year-old conflict has killed more than 120,000 people and displaced 2 million in the southern island of Mindanao.

From the New York City environmental group Time's Up, May 29:

NYPD Issues "Parading Without a Permit" Summons on City-Advertised Critical Mass Ride
Ride was listed on Bike Month Calendar financed by Department of Transportation
Last Friday, May 25th, NYPD issued at least 7 tickets for parading without a permit to cyclists at the Critical Mass ride. The majority of the tickets were issued to cyclists even before they left Union Square, the meeting point of the ride. Tickets were also issued to cyclists just walking their bikes out of the park. The May 25th Critical Mass ride was advertised in the Bike Month calendar financed by the NYC Department of Transportation.

At least 16 were killed and 67 injured in two attacks in the eastern Ethiopia towns of Jijiga and Degah Abur May 28. Up to 11 were killed when a hand grenade was thrown as hundreds of people gathered at a stadium in Jijiga. Regional president Abdullahi Hassan was wounded as he spoke at a ceremony to mark the 1991 overthrow of Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam. The Ethiopian government blamed the attack on the separatist Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). Adurahmin Mohammed Mahdi, the ONLF's spokesman in London, denied the claim. "Our policy is not to attack civilian targets or Jijiga," he told Reuters. "The ONLF attacks military targets only." (AlJazeera, May 28)

At least 13 people were killed and more than 32 wounded in Shiberghan, capital of Afghanistan's northern Jowzjan province, when police opened fire to break up a protest against governor Juma Khan Hamdard on May 28. Provincial spokesmen said protesters hurled stones and police fired to stop them from raiding government offices. Provincial authorities also said the casualties were caused by the protesters, who were armed supporters of supporters of northern warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum. (AlJazeera, May 28)

From Reporters Without Borders via AllAfrica, May 25:

Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of Abdel Fettah Ould Ebeidna, managing editor of the daily newspaper "Al-Aqsa", who was sent to prison in Nouakchott on 24 May 2007 because of a libel complaint against him by a businessman.