Cyprus minister says Sevan oil-for-food extradition unlikely News
Cyprus minister says Sevan oil-for-food extradition unlikely

[JURIST] Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou [official website] told reporters Wednesday that he is unaware if former UN Oil-for-Food chief Benon Sevan [BBC profile] is in the country, but if he is, any extradition request from abroad will likely be met with opposition. Several reports indicate that Sevan, a Cyprus national, traveled to Cyprus following his resignation [JURIST report] from his honorary position with the UN just before a report released by the Independent Inquiry Committee investigating the UN Oil-for-Food scandal charged him with taking almost $150,000 in bribes [JURIST report]. Under Cyprus law, the extradition of Cypriot nationals to other jurisdictions is prohibited. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Dreyfus convicted of treason

On December 22, 1894, Jewish French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial trial that prompted worldwide allegations of anti-Semitism. Dreyfus was later cleared. Learn more about the case of Alfred Dreyfus and read an English translation of the famous public letter J'Accuse...! by novelist and Dreyfus partisan Emile Zola.

US passed Embargo Act, banning foreign trade

On December 22, 1807, the Embargo Act was passed at the urging of US President Thomas Jefferson. The act barred trade with any foreign nations in an effort to avoid American entry into the Napoleonic Wars of Europe. However, the act proved unenforceable and was replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act, which barred trade with France and Great Britain. Learn more about the Embargo Act of 1807 from Monticello.org