Initial talks with Mali rebels may begin next week: PM
PARIS (Reuters) – Mali’s prime minister said on Friday he could begin initial talks as early as next week to try and end recurrent revolts by mainly Tuareg rebels trying to carve out an independent state in the desert north.
Czech police arms report defuses tension with Palestinians
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech police said on Friday that unregistered weapons found at the Palestinian mission in Prague last month were decades old and had not been smuggled into the country, defusing diplomatic tensions over their origin.
Kenya president says will not allow radicalization in places of worship
NAIROBI/MOMBASA (Reuters) – Kenya’s president said he would not allow places of worship to be used to radicalize young people, in the wake of a police raid on a mosque in the port of Mombasa that triggered renewed clashes with Muslim protesters on Frid…
U.S.-Iran spat mars Tunisia constitution party
TUNIS (Reuters) – A U.S. delegation walked out of celebrations for Tunisia’s new constitution in protest on Friday after an Iranian official criticized the United States and Israel in his address to guests in Tunis.
Iran says ready to answer U.N. nuclear agency’s questions
ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran is ready to answer the U.N. atomic agency’s questions about its nuclear program, a senior official was quoted as saying ahead of talks on Saturday expected to broach sensitive military-related issues.
South Africa to hold elections in May, ANC set for reduced majority
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa will go to the polls on May 7, President Jacob Zuma announced on Friday, with his African National Congress likely to easily extend its two-decade rule, despite rising discontent among its poverty-stricken grassroo…
Police clash with students in Kosovo, dozens reported injured
PRISTINA (Reuters) – About 30 police officers were injured in the Kosovo capital Pristina on Friday in clashes with students protesting over suspicions of fraud in the state university, police said.
Turkish paper says journalist expelled for criticizing Erdogan
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish newspaper said on Friday one of its journalists had been ordered to leave the country for criticizing Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter, raising concerns about media freedom a day after Turkey tightened internet co…
International court to look into Central African Republic crime allegations: prosecutor
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court will open a preliminary examination into crimes allegedly committed during the conflict in the Central African Republic, the court’s prosecutor said in a statement on Friday.
Inter-ethnic fighting in north Mali leaves 30 dead
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Around 30 ethnic Tuaregs were killed in northern Mali’s Gao region in localized fighting with ethnic Peuls, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.
