Gambia refuses entry to ECOWAS head amid election dispute
DAKAR (Reuters) – Gambian authorities have refused entry to the chair of regional body ECOWAS, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, Senegal’s foreign minister said on Saturday, dampening hopes for a political solution after President Yahya Jammeh rejected the result…
Russia says more than 20,000 civilians left eastern Aleppo on Saturday
MOSCOW (Reuters) – More than 20,000 civilians have left eastern Aleppo on Saturday and over 1,200 rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have laid down their arms, Interfax news agency cited the Russian Defense Ministry as saying on Saturda…
Car bomb kills 2 policemen at checkpoint near Somali capital
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A car bomb killed at least two policemen when it exploded at a checkpoint near the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, police and militants fighting to topple the government said.
Death toll rises as cargo train explodes in Bulgaria
SOFIA (Reuters) – At least five people were killed and 25 injured when a cargo train derailed and exploded in the northeastern Bulgarian village of Hitrino, demolishing around 20 buildings, police said on Saturday.
Turkey seeks to arrest 55 people suspected of financing Gulen – NTV
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for 55 people, including businessmen, suspected of giving financial support to the network of the U.S.-based cleric Ankara accuses of orchestrating a failed military coup in July, broadcaste…
Gambia President’s rejection of poll results “null and void”- African Union
DAKAR (Reuters) – The African Union on Saturday called a statement by Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh rejecting his loss in December 1 polls “null and void” since he had already conceded defeat.
Russia says Syrian government controls 93 percent of Aleppo
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Syrian government now controls 93 percent of Aleppo, Russian news agencies cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying on Saturday.
France seeks to extend state of emergency until July – PM Cazeneuve
PARIS (Reuters) – The French government will propose extending the country’s state of emergency until July 15, 2017 due to presidential and parliament elections in spring next year, Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Saturday.
Egypt denies rift with Saudi, drift toward Iran
MANAMA (Reuters) – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri on Saturday hailed a “special relationship” with Saudi Arabia, denying reports that the two powerful Arab nations had fallen out after Egypt expressed support for the Russian intervention in Syri…
Syrian army rushes forces to historic Palmyra in IS battle
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army said it has sent reinforcements to Palmyra, where Islamic State fighters have advanced to its outskirts in some of the heaviest fighting since the group lost the historic city earlier this year.
