Iraqi prime minister says victory certain as Falluja assault looms
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed to eradicate al Qaeda in Iraq and predicted victory as his army prepared to launch a major assault against the Sunni Islamist militants who have taken over parts of the city of Falluja.
Tunisia’s assembly appoints key electoral council
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s national assembly appointed an electoral council on Wednesday to oversee elections this year, a key step in the country’s transition to democracy three years after its “Arab Spring” uprising.
Venezuela president and opposition leader in rare handshake
CARACAS (Reuters) – After months of insults, Venezuela’s president and opposition leader on Wednesday shook hands for the first time since their bitter election standoff last year – at a meeting about chronic violent crime prompted by the roadside murd…
Iran, big power nuclear talks hit snag on centrifuge research
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Negotiations between Iran and six world powers on implementing a landmark November deal to freeze parts of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing some sanctions have run into problems over advanced centrifuge researc…
New president of Somalia’s Puntland vows to fight insecurity
GAROWE, Somalia (Reuters) – Parliament narrowly elected former prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali as president of Puntland on Wednesday, backing his campaign against corruption and insecurity in the relatively peaceful Somali region.
Panama Canal refuses to pay $1 billion more for expansion work
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – The Panama Canal on Wednesday rejected a proposal that it pay $1 billion to continue work on expanding the waterway, and warned the building consortium behind the project that it could bring in others to finish the job.
Former SS soldier, 88, charged over 1944 village massacre in France
BERLIN/COLOGNE (Reuters) – German prosecutors have charged an 88-year-old former member of Hitler’s elite Waffen SS with taking part in a World War Two massacre of hundreds of French villagers, nearly 70 years after one of the most infamous Nazi atroci…
South Sudan rebels reject government plan to unblock peace talks
ADDIS ABABA/JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudanese rebels rejected a government plan on Wednesday to end a dispute over detainees and unblock peace talks aimed at halting violence that has killed at least 1,000 people in the world’s youngest state.
Central African leader faces pressure to quit at Thursday summit
N’DJAMENA/PARIS (Reuters) – Central African Republic’s interim President Michel Djotodia will face pressure to step down at a summit of regional leaders on Thursday amid frustration at his failure to quell his country’s religious violence.
Libya’s PM warns may sink oil tankers nearing east ports
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya may sink tankers trying to load at eastern ports seized by armed protesters in an escalating confrontation over control of oil exports, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said on Wednesday.
