U.N. envoy says no preconditions for Syria peace talks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United Nations envoy to Syria said on Friday there would be no preconditions for long-delayed peace talks, an assertion likely to anger an opposition movement that says it will only attend if the goal is to remove President Basha…
U.N. officials see risk of genocide in Central African Republic
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Central African Republic is at risk of spiraling into genocide as armed groups incite Christians and Muslims against each other in the virtually lawless country, senior U.N. officials told the Security Council on Friday.
Israel vows to deny Hezbollah weapons as details of Syria raid emerge
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said it would not allow advanced weapons to fall into the hands of Hezbollah, after a raid on Syria that opposition sources said had hit an air force garrison believed to be holding Russian-made missiles destined for the mi…
Violent protest in Mali’s Gao over talks to heal north
GAO, Mali (Reuters) – Thousands of residents in Mali’s northern city of Gao fought street battles with the police on Friday and torched the mayor’s house during a protest over talks aimed at healing divisions in the north.
Guinea-Bissau postpones election until 2014
BISSAU (Reuters) – Guinea-Bissau will postpone an election planned for November until early next year due to a lack of funds, officials said on Friday.
Shared concern over Syria brings thaw between Turkey and Iran
ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and Iran said on Friday they had common concerns about the increasingly sectarian nature of Syria’s civil war, signaling a thaw in a key Middle Eastern relationship strained by stark differences over the conflict.
Greenpeace says Russia to move 30 detained activists
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is preparing to move 30 Greenpeace activists who were arrested over a protest against Arctic drilling from the far-north city of Murmansk to St. Petersburg, the environmental group said on Friday.
Syrian army captures strategic town at approaches to Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s armed forces said on Friday they had captured a strategic northern town at the eastern gates of Aleppo, the former commercial hub long the scene of fierce fighting between government and rebel fighters.
Uganda calls for Congo ceasefire as peace talks progress
KAMPALA/RUMANGABO, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov 1 (Reuters) – Uganda called on the Congolese army and M23 rebels to cease fire on Friday as peace talks progressed in Kampala to end a 20-month conflict.
Iranian Kurd leader says West shouldn’t be fooled by Rouhani
BERLIN (Reuters) – The leader of an armed Iranian Kurdish group says new President Hassan Rouhani is taking advantage of the West’s wary optimism towards him to step up pressure on citizens at home, particularly Kurds, and has markedly increased execut…
