Constitutional tweaks may empower Mubarak-era politicians in Egypt
CAIRO (Reuters) – Changes suggested by Egypt’s army-backed rulers would scrap Islamic additions to a constitution forced through under deposed President Mohamed Mursi and revive a voting system dating back to his predecessor Hosni Mubarak.
Iran’s Rouhani acknowledges chemical weapons killed people in Syria
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday for the first time that chemical weapons had killed people in ally Syria and called for the international community to prevent their use.
Merkel ally fuels Greek aid row before election
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s commissioner to the European Commission said on Saturday he expects a new bailout for Greece to amount to a little more than 10 billion euros, fuelling a debate that could hurt Chancellor Angela Merkel in next month’s elect…
South Africa says Mandela showing ‘great resilience’, still critical
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who has been in hospital since early June with a lung infection, is showing “great resilience” although he remains in a critical but stable condition, the presidency said on Saturd…
Ukraine leader ignores Putin warning on EU path
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Saturday re-affirmed his commitment to signing key agreements with the European Union, including on trade, despite a threat by Russia’s Vladimir Putin of possible retaliatory measures.
Syrian soldiers enter rebel tunnels, find chemical agents: state TV
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian state television said government soldiers found chemical agents in rebel tunnels in the Damascus suburb of Jobar on Saturday and some of the troops were suffocating.
Pakistan releases Indian prisoners as it strives to improve ties
WAGAH, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan released 337 Indian prisoners, most of them fishermen, on Saturday in the latest sign that Pakistan’s new government wants to improve rocky ties between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Afghanistan’s Karzai says no rush to sign U.S. security pact
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan is in no rush to sign a pact with the United States setting out how many U.S. troops will stay after a NATO mission ends next year and may even delay a decision until after a presidential election, President Hamid Karzai s…
Al Qaeda blames Hezbollah for Lebanon bombings
DUBAI (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s North African branch blamed Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim militant group Hezbollah for twin bombs that hit the northern city of Tripoli on Friday and threatened retribution, a U.S.-based intelligence monitoring website reported o…
U.N. official arrives in Syria to push for chemical experts’ access
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane arrived in Syria on Saturday to push for access to a suspected chemical weapons attack site for U.N. inspectors, who are already in Syria to investigate previous accusati…
