[JURIST] Leading Monday's international brief, Sudanese Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmad Ibrahim al-Tahir has announced that the Sudanese Parliament will approve the draft interim constitution scheduled for final reading on Wednesday, July 6. The Sudan Parliament [government website] adopted a resolution Sunday presented by Chairman Ismail al-Haj Musa of the Interim Constitution Formulation Committee calling for the approval of the Draft Interim Constitution at the general features stage. The approval of the Sudanese Parliament Wednesday will open the document to suggested amendment and changes in the legislative bodies of both the Khartoum government [official website] and the newly formed, autonomous South Sudan government [official website], before being approved for implementation. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Sudan [JURIST news archive]. The Sudan Tribune has local coverage.

In other international legal news …

• Leading South African human rights lawyer George Bizos [Wikipedia profile] has criticized the current mass evictions [JURIST report] taking place in Zimbabwe as a demonstration of that country's complete lack of respect for the rule of law. Bizos, who represented Zimbabwean opposition party leader Morgan Tsvangirai [party profile] in his recent criminal case [JURIST report] concerning charges of the attempted assassination of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe [Wikipedia profile], was responding to questions by South African citizens concerned that the events in Zimbabwe could be repeated in South Africa. Bizos observed that South Africa's respect for the rule of law would limit even the government from demolishing private property without a court order. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Zimbabwe [JURIST news archive]. ZimOnline has local coverage.
  
• Narahari Acharya, the leader of the human rights group Nepali Congress, was released Monday by order of the Nepal Supreme Court [government website] following a writ of habeas corpus petition filed on his behalf last week. Acharya, along with human rights activist Krishna Pahadi, were released after five months of detention by the government on allegations of posing a serious security risk. Acharya had previously opposed the use of the courts to obtain his release, as he maintains that the judicial system is being manipulated to lend legitimacy to the autocratic power of King Gyanedra [official profile]. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Nepal [JURIST news archive]. Kantipur Online has local coverage