<B>Protests after ruling on mosque.</B>

Judge Paul Lam Shang Ling?s ruling is causing trouble throughout the country. He found Gavin Glover right in his complaint against the municipality of Quatre-Bornes aiming to prevent the mosque from calling the faithful to prayer through loudspeakers ? known as the ?Azaan?. A platform made up of politicians of the Muslim faith said it would make an appeal against the judgment. However, in the meantime, a group of about 800 people held protests in front of Gavin Glover?s house last Wednesday evening and another group has threatened to protest in front of Parliament next month.

<B>Iron bar leader closes down.</B>

Desbro International, the leader in the field of steel in Mauritius with 75% of the market shares, decided to close its factory down last Monday, following on the heels of Consolidated Steel a few weeks ago. Its 181 employees were made redundant but the government announced that it would negotiate with the company that is taking over Desbro International to enable them to get back their jobs. Some companies have expressed a desire to take over Desbro but discussions are reported to have reached an advanced stage with the South African firm Murray & Roberts. Meanwhile, a shortage of iron bars is looming ahead.

<B>Conflict between head of MT and employees? association.</B> The conflict between Mauritius Telecom and the Mauritius Telecom Employees Association (MTEA) is intensifying. After the MTEA president, Raj Rughoonath made allegations of attempt at corruption at the Independent Commission against Corruption (Icac) against MT Chief Executive Officer, Sarat Lallah, the association now intends to take legal action to contest some promotion exercises. However, the MT management made it clear that it is not the first time Raj Rughoonath is disputing the restructuration plan. The MTEA president also alleged that he was transferred from the Telecom Tower to Cassis as a punishment because of the accusations made against the MT CEO but the latter has denied this so far.