South Sudan rebel leader wants detainees freed before ceasefire deal: envoys
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar’s demand for the release of detainees remains a stumbling block to a ceasefire deal aimed at halting violence in the world’s youngest state, a U.S. envoy said on Sunday.
Egyptians set to vote on army-backed post-Mursi constitution
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptians vote this week for the first time since Mohamed Mursi’s downfall in a constitutional referendum that will likely give a final push to a presidential bid by the man who deposed him, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
U.N. watchdog eyes increased Iran presence to verify nuclear deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. atomic watchdog is considering increasing its presence in Iran to better handle an extra workload in verifying Tehran is carrying out a deal with world powers to curb its nuclear program, diplomats said.
Yemen tribes kill six soldiers, tell Norway DNO to end oil work
ADEN (Reuters) – Yemeni gunmen killed at least six soldiers in stepped up attacks on army installations in the southeastern Hadramout province, a local official and residents said on Sunday, after tribesmen warned Norway’s DNO to stop operations in the…
Syria donor meeting aims to raise over $1.5 billion, U.N. aid chief says
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – United Nations aid chief Valerie Amos said on Sunday the world body hoped a humanitarian donor conference for Syria hosted in Kuwait this week would raise more than last year’s $1.5 billion.
Ukraine’s anti-government protesters stage first mass rally of 2014
KIEV (Reuters) – At least 50,000 opponents of Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich rallied in a central Kiev square on Sunday, reviving the protest movement after a Christmas and New Year lull.
Campaigners ask ICC to investigate alleged UK war crimes in Iraq
LONDON (Reuters) – Human rights lawyers and campaigners have asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate allegations of torture by British troops in Iraq, a move which the UK government dismissed as unnecessary on Sunday.
Gunmen assassinate Libyan deputy industry minister
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Gunmen killed Libya’s deputy industry minister as he drove home from shopping in the coastal city of Sirte late on Saturday in an attack security officials blamed on hardline Islamist militants.
Demoralized Cairo slum longs for army chief as president
CAIRO (Reuters) – When an uprising ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, Egyptians in the impoverished Cairo neighborhood of Imbaba rejoiced.
In war or withdrawal, Sharon marched to his own drum
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A maverick in war and politics, Israel’s Ariel Sharon reshaped the Middle East in a career marked by adventurism and disgrace, dramatic reversals and stunning rebounds.
