Dutch rightist politician quits over anti-Moroccan chants
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A parliamentarian for the Dutch hard-right Freedom Party resigned from the party on Thursday amid uproar over the way leader Geert Wilders led supporters in racist chants against Moroccans during an election night rally.
First U.N. aid trucks cross from Turkey into Syria
NUSAYBIN, Turkey (Reuters) – U.N. aid trucks crossed from Turkey into Syria for the first time on Thursday, in a move relief officials hope will pave the way for greater humanitarian access to civilians hardest hit by three years of war.
Turkey’s Erdogan threatens Twitter ban as vote looms
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan threatened to shut down Twitter and other social media platforms on Thursday and said he did not care about the international response, his latest outburst in an increasingly bitter election camp…
U.N. official says ‘terrifying’ level of hatred in Central African Republic
BANGUI (Reuters) – Hatred between Christians and Muslims in Central African Republic has reached a “terrifying level”, the U.N.’s top human rights official said on Thursday, warning that atrocities were being carried out with impunity.
Special Report: Iraqi forces, images testify to atrocities in new fighting
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The video shows a male corpse lying in the dirt, one end of a rope tied around his legs, the other fastened to the back of an armored Humvee.
South Sudan rebels, government claim oil town as talks delayed
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudanese rebels and government troops both said they controlled the capital of an oil-producing state on Thursday after days of fighting, as another attempt to resume peace talks in neighboring Ethiopia fell through.
Afghanistan frees 77 prisoners despite UK, coalition warning
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan on Thursday freed 77 prisoners captured by foreign troops, despite opposition from Britain and NATO-led forces which said they could pose a security threat.
Syrian army retakes Crusader castle from rebels
BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) – Syrian soldiers have raised the national flag on the battlements of a 900-year-old Crusader castle after a three-month siege that ended on Thursday when rebel fighters fled.
Colombia’s Santos slips in poll but still election favorite
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Support for Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has slipped in a survey of voters intentions for May 25 elections but he remains the clear front runner in a race that will center on how to end the country’s five-decade conflict.
Evidence does not show British unlawfully killed Iraqi civilians-lawyers
LONDON (Reuters) – There is insufficient evidence to support allegations that British soldiers unlawfully killed Iraqis detained at an army camp in 2004, lawyers for relatives of the Iraqis said on Thursday.
