Colombia, rebels say making progress in talks over drug trade
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Colombian government and FARC guerrilla negotiators said on Thursday that they had made progress toward an agreement on combating illegal drug trafficking, a sign that peace talks were making headway before elections.
Venezuela seeks protest leader’s arrest after unrest kills three
CARACAS (Reuters) – A Venezuelan court ordered the arrest on Thursday of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on charges including murder and terrorism linked to street protests that resulted in the deaths of three people the day before.
Drug policy must change in U.S., Europe: Uruguay president
MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – The United States and Europe need a new strategy in the war on drugs and should look at alternatives such as the regulated sale of marijuana, says Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, whose country recently legalized the production a…
Amid political turmoil, Thailand’s election body takes center stage
BANGKOK (Reuters) – As Thailand tries to resolve a debilitating political stalemate, five unelected officials have been armed with the power to over-rule its government in key areas and chart a route out of the mess left by this month’s disrupted elect…
Karzai rejects U.S. warnings over freed Afghan detainees
ANKARA/KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday rejected criticism of his government’s release of 65 detainees viewed by Washington as dangerous militants, further fanning tensions with the United States as the international mission …
Attack on prison in Yemeni capital kills 11
SANAA (Reuters) – Eleven people were killed when attackers mounted a bomb, grenade and gun assault on the main prison in Yemen’s capital on Thursday to try to free inmates, security sources and witnesses said.
EU force to create ‘safe haven’ in Central African Republic
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The small military force the European Union plans to send to violence-torn Central African Republic will focus on swiftly creating a safe haven in part of the capital Bangui, its French commander said on Thursday.
Exclusive: U.N. monitors warn of ‘systematic’ Somali arms diversion
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A confidential U.N. monitors’ report warns of “systematic abuses” by Somalia’s government, which the monitors say has allowed the diversion of weapons that Somali authorities purchased after the U.N. Security Council eased an…
U.N. Security Council renews Burundi mission amid political crisis
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council on Thursday extended a U.N. political mission in Burundi until the end of the year, despite initial government opposition amid the worst political crisis in the East African country since a 12-year c…
Britain links suspect parcels to ‘Northern Ireland terrorism’
LONDON (Reuters) – Seven suspicious packages sent to army recruitment offices in England contained “viable devices” bearing the hallmarks of “Northern Ireland terrorism”, a spokeswoman from Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said on Thursday.
