US opposes unconstitutional ouster of Philippines president suspected of vote fraud News
US opposes unconstitutional ouster of Philippines president suspected of vote fraud

[JURIST] The US has vowed to oppose any attempt to remove politically-beleaguered Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website], dogged by allegations of election fraud [IHT report], unless that is done through a constitutional process. US embassy Charge d'Affaires Joseph Mussomeli said in a Philippines radio interview [transcript] Friday that the US "supports the rule of law" and firmly opposes a military coup, martial law and anything that would weaken institutions of liberty. On Thursday Arroyo asked her entire Cabinet to resign [AP report] in an effort to deflect criticism and clear the political air. She assumed power in 2001 after a peaceful revolution that ousted then-president Joseph Estrada [Wikipedia profile] and was re-elected in 2004. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.