Erstellt am: 13. 9. 2011 - 15:14 Uhr

Turkey as a model of Islamic democracy?

Reality Check: Erdogan in Cairo, war crimes by Libyan rebels, Greek financial crisis, Berlusconi avoids court questions, the ANC power struggle in South Africa.

Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, is on a tour of the "Arab Spring" countries, starting in Egypt. He's making a speech at Cairo University today, the same location Barack Obama chose for his landmark speech to the Islamic world in 2009, and he's likely to be better received.

So why is Erdogan so popular in the "Arab Spring" world? Well, for a start, he's a devout, pious Muslim, which endears him to the more conservative elements, but he's also the leader of the world's only Islamic democracy - that is to say, a democracy in the Western sense. Erdogan is proof that Islam and democracy can successfully go hand in hand - and that goes down well on all sides.

Erdogan says he hopes Turkey can offer support and help to Egypt, as well as, presumably, Tunisia and Libya, which are also on his tour list. Interestingly, he cancelled a trip to Gaza which had originally been on the schedule, but says he hopes he can go there soon. Maybe he is anxious to separate the two issues, or perhaps he thinks that would undermine his bridge building efforts between the west and the newly emerging Arab democracies. Perhaps, if Turkey can't get into the EU, it's looking at starting a club of its own in which it would be the senior partner.

Chris Cummins spoke to our correspondent in Cairo, Jonathan Head, about Erdogan's visit.

War Crimes accusations against Libyan rebels

A new report by Amnesty International says that while the atrocities committed by the Gadaffi loyalists are worse, there have nevertheless been offences commited by NTC fighters that amount to war crimes. They say sub-Saharan Sfricans and black Libyans have been at particular risk, and the threat continues.

Riem Higazi looks at the evidence that there have been atrocities on both sides of the conflict.

A complete economic rethink required?

The issue of a possible Greek default is once again divising politicians in Germany. In his new book, "Zahlen bitte!", economist Markus Marterbauer says that eventually we all end up paying for the financial crisis that was basically caused by the banking sector and not the Greek economy. He is calling for a fundamental policy change, especially with regard to youth unemployment, to deal with the problem on a sustainable basis.

Berlusconi dodges court questioning

While the Italian media may be reveling in the court cases surrounding the Berlusconi sex scandals, the Prime Minister himself, it seems, has more important matters on his mind. Today, he should have been questioned about allegations of extortion by an associate in connection with his infamous sex parties, but Berlusconi arranged an urgent meeting with EU commissioners in Strasbourg to discuss austerity measures. However, our Rome correspondent, Josephine McKenna, told Joanna Bostock that there is every chance Berlusconi will turn the whole thing around to win back popularity.

ANC's Malema convicted of "hate speech"

Politics in South Africa is a curious beast. There can't be many countries where a politician can face charges of rape, racketeering and corruption, and come through apparently politically unscathed to become president. But Jacob Zuma did it, and it may be that being convicted of "hate speech", and being at the centre of the banning of the "Shoot the Boer" song will have little impact on the career of ANC youth leader, Julius Malema. Any youth leader of the ANC often takes on the role of saying things the establishment would not dare, and thereby drumming up populist support. Perhaps Malema went too far - but our Cape Town correspondent, Alex Matthews, told Steve Crilley that there will almost certainly be a face saving solution.

FM4 Reality Check

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