Saif al-Islam Sentenced to Death; President Obama Speaks at African Union Headquarters.
SOARES: Welcome back to Connect the World. Now U.S. President Barack Obama is on his way back home after a five day visit to Africa. He closed out his trip a few hours ago by becoming the first American president to address the African Union. Mr. Obama told the roomful of African leaders gathered in Ethiopia's capital. They have a strong partner and friend in the United States. But he urged them to respect democracy and step aside when their term ends.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Look at Nelson Mandela. Madiba, like George Washington, forged a lasting legacy not only because of what they did in office, but because they were willing to leave office and transfer power peacefully.</s>SOARES: Now the chairman of the African Union commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma introduced President Obama ahead of his speech you saw there. Now Nkosazana, she joins us now. Madam, thank you very much for joining us. President Obama's speech touched on democracy, governance and human rights. How was it received by the African Union?</s>NKOSAZANA DLAMINI-ZUMA, AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON: Well, I think it was well received, because the African Union is not -- is in favor of democracy, a lot of our countries are now democratic. And in fact using the most as they shows the many more countries and many more people are better governed today than they were two decades ago. And Africans also are in favor of human rights. So, I think it was well received.</s>SOARES: Chairwoman, tell us a bit from your personal experience sitting there having introduced him what stood out to you, what was -- what did you find most inspiring?</s>DLAMINI-ZUMA: Well, I think first of all it was just inspiring that the president of the United States of America was at the African Union Commission at the African Union headquarters. And of course that he is also of some heritage -- African heritage. His father is African. So the combination of the two was very inspiring for us. And of course we also know that he's made it, and it wasn't easy, but obviously was very focused and became the president at a young age. And I think that inspired a lot of young people. But also the fact that he's paying some attention to Africa. As we know when he came in, he talked about agriculture and that Africa should be able to feed itself. And today he's talked at length about skilling young people, giving them job opportunities, giving them opportunities to innovate and also women, the fact that it is important to give girls equal opportunities as boys. And to allow women to reach their full potential. So that also to us was very important, because as you know in our Africa, a gender 2063 the Africa we want our most important priority is our people, investing in our people. We have decided that we need a skills revolution. So for us it was very important that he touched a lot on that.</s>SOARES: Yeah, he was very inspiring, but he also threw some almighty swings at some African leaders, in particular, it seems, of Burundi who recently won a controversial third term as president. How was that received? I mean, from seeing I remember that being the loudest applause, basically telling people that leaders have got -- have to step down when it comes to their term. Do you think that was well liked? Do you think that was important he made that point there?</s>DLAMINI-ZUMA: Well, I think it's important for Burundi because it's important to ensure that the situation in Burundi does not escalate into an open conflict. Because I don't think that people of Burundi can afford another conflict. Their government had done well for 10 years, and we hope that thy will find a solution amongst Burundians helped by the east African community to ensure that stability remains -- returns to Burundi. So, I think we, ourselves, as the AU, had not gone to the -- to monitor the elections because we felt that the environment wasn't conducive. So -- but our main concern is that there must be peace in Burundi, yes.</s>SOARES: Thank you very much. Chairwoman of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma taking the time to speak to us today. And Mr. Obama said African leaders should respect their constitutions and step down when their term ends. He said, quote, "nobody should be president for life." Madam, Chairwoman, thank you very much taking time to speak to us. I want to return you now to another one of our top stories. The son of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has been sentenced to death. This is Saif al-Islam Gadhafi four years ago parading through Tripoli in Libya. He seems confident that the regime supporters surrounding him with crush Libya's Arab Spring revolution. Here is some of that fighting that erupted after. Large parts of the country were devastated, and estimates for the death toll in the tens of thousands as government forces try to keep power amid civil war and NATO air campaigns. The International Criminal Court claims jurisdiction claims in the case against Saif al-Islam and has repeatedly demanded that he be turned over to The Hague for trial. Joining me now is Saif al-Islam's lawyer in that case John Jones. He's joining me now from The Hague. Mr. Jones, thank you very much to take the time to speak to us. Let me first get your reaction to the trial and the sentence that was handed down today.</s>JOHN JONES, SAID AL-ISLAM'S LAWYER: Well, the trial was clearly show trial from start to finish. It's really a kangaroo court, which lacks any legitimacy, which has passed these sentences. And that's been clear for a long time. And indeed Libya's own minister of justice has condemned the trial as being utterly unlawful. So, it comes as no surprise that the court has preemptorally (ph) handed out death sentences to several accused who had not even a semblance of a fair trial.</s>SOARES: Let me ask you this, John. I mean, I know you represent Saif al-Islam at the International Criminal Court, but do you know speaking to your client how testimonies were conducted here or how evidence was obtained? How difficult it was to just kind of follow proceedings? Can you give us a bit of color on that?</s>JONES: Well, I should say as you've said I represent him in relation to the International Criminal Court proceedings. And I wasn't involved. And I would not be involved in the proceedings in Tripoli because of that - - lack of legitimacy. And I'm not in contact with Saif Gadhafi because he's being held in solitary confinement incommunicado detention. But nonetheless, I'm following the proceedings -- have been following proceeings in Tripoli to the extent that independent monitors have been able to follow parts of it. And what emerges is a very clear picture of abuses across the board. First of all, the detainees have complained of being tortured, Abu Zaib Doda(ph) said in open court at obvious risk to himself that he had been tortured. The court didn't look into it. Another detainee General Karabi (ph) died recently of -- as result of inadequate medical treatment. In terms of the actual evidence which has lead, the prosecution hasn't brought any witnesses who could be cross examined and have their evidence tested. The prosecution has relied on confessions, clearly obtained by torture or certainly under duress. It's a sort of Medieval approach to trials that you rely rather than on evidence of witnesses you extract confessions. And for the defense, they don't have any adequate legal representation. There are lawyers who have been appointed, but then they come and go seemingly between each hearing. They were only allowed, each defendant, to call two witnesses. And there were no measures for witness protection. So, in circumstances where in Tripoli there are killings every day, there's -- the trial themselves being held at gunpoint under the Libya Dawn militia who control the whole thing, no chance really of the defense putting any sort of case forward. So really it was a fore ordained conclusion that there would be these convictions and these death sentences.</s>SOARES: OK, let me ask you this in that case John, you call it a show trial, a kangaroo court I believe is what you said in the last few minutes. Where does this leave -- what options are there left for Saif al-Islam, because you have Libya in a state of chaos split between two rebel governments, which much of the country controlled by local militia groups. So where does this leave Saif al-Islam?</s>JONES: Well, I should say fortunately for him he's in Zintan, not in Tripoli. And Zintan, like the Tobruk government, doesn't recognize Tripoli as having any legitimacy and they've made clear that they are not going to deliver him to Tripoli. And indeed during the proceedings they put a sign up at one video link hearing to say that they didn't recognize the court. So fortunately for him, he's not at risk currently of being delivered to the militia in Tripoli and therefore not risk of being executed. But obviously for those there, there is that real risk. I see it as a major setback not just for the defendants, but for ordinary Libyan people who have the right to live under the rule of law, that the country is, as you say, entirely divided between the international recognized government in Tobruk and Libya Dawn in Tripoli. And so really it's for the international community to make plain that these verdicts are not accepted, that this is not the way that you transition to a new society. But as you say, Libya is in a state of chaos, and until that's resolved nothing can be resolved.</s>SOARES: John Jones, thank you very much. He is Saif al-Islam's lawyer in the case. They've been following the case in The Hague. Thank you very much. Important to point out, too, the International Criminal Court, the ICC, had wanted to try Saif al-Islam in The Hague, but in 2013 granted Libya the right to do so. Now, we've been covering every angle, as you can see, of Libya's uprising since the very beginning for you. We're going to keep following that very story. You can find the latest on Gadafhi and what's happening in Libya by heading over to our website, as you can see there, CNN.com. Well, Live from London, this is Connect the World. Coming up in 10 minutes, outrage in the West Bank as another Palestinian teenager dies after an altercation with Israeli forces. But first we are off to Argentina where an industrial zone in Buenos Aires is getting a new lease on life. That's on One Square Meter next.