[JURIST] Sudanese police raided the El-Geer refugee camp near Nyala Wednesday morning, just one day after the signing of a peace accord between the government and rebel forces. The assault took place in front of African Union officials present to monitor the humanitarian conditions of the camp and only hours before official UN inspectors arrived to survey the camp. The Sudanese government has begun harassing and attacking the camps composed of internally displaced persons (IDPs), individuals that are protected under international law from forcible movement, and has resorted to rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the camps and the international humanitarian workers that offer medical aid and shelter there. Sudanese Humanitarian Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said Tuesday that over 270,000 IDPs had 'voluntarily' returned to their homes, while Manuel Aranda da Silva, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, stated that the UN had found evidence of movement only in the low thousands. JURIST's Paper Chase has background on Sudan. BBC News has more on Wednesday's attack. The Sudan Tribune has more on Hamid's statement…. The Russian Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament, announced Tuesday that it intends to offer amendments to Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct appointment of regional governors. The current bill, approved by the Duma (official site in Russian), the lower house of the Russian Parliament, plans for direct appointment of the regional governor subject to approval by the regional assembly. However, if the assembly refuses the president's selection twice, they may be dissolved at the president's discretion. The Council amendments include limiting that option to require more discussion between the office of the President and the regional assembly before a dissolution would occur. Other amendments include a proposal to allow regional assemblies to make suggestions to the president prior to his selection of a candidate. JURIST's Paper Chase has background on the proposed legislation. Itar-Tass has more…. Manuel Fajardo, the lawyer for Shining Path leader Abimael Guzman, claimed Wednesday that he was denied access to his client by Peruvian officials. The trial began hearings last week, but these were suspended until Friday when Guzman and several other individuals began shouting and chanting in court. Recent speculation suggested Judge Dante Terrel would step down following the debacle at last week's hearing, but Terrel announced Wednesday that he will remain on the case. JURIST's Paper Chase has background on the case. The Washington Times has more on Fajardo's claims. El Comercio has more on Terrel (article in Spanish)…. The Zimbabwian Parliament passed the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Bill on Tuesday, following weeks of tense debate and controversy. The bill tightens the country's already strict press laws and imposes a two-year sentence, fine, or both on journalists operating without a state-issued license. The bill also prevents foreign journalists from operating in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said the amendments are intended to "protect the state from attacks by enemies of the country." Africa's News 24 has more.