Iran’s Ahmadinejad steps aside, divisive to the end
DUBAI (Reuters) – Vilified abroad for his blistering attacks against the West, blamed at home for Iran’s economic woes and isolated from the supreme leader who groomed him for power, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leaves the presidency with few friends and an unc…
Muslim Brotherhood criticizes Kerry’s endorsement of Mursi overthrow
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood on Friday criticized U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for saying the Egyptian military had been “restoring democracy” when it toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi.
Senior U.S. diplomat due in Cairo: Egyptian foreign ministry
CAIRO (Reuters) – U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns is to visit Egypt late on Friday, a spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said, with fears rising of an imminent security crackdown on supporters of the country’s deposed Islamist pre…
Ex-PM Keita to face Cisse in Mali election run-off
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita came first in Mali’s presidential election but will face ex-finance minister Soumaila Cisse in a run-off after he failed to secure an outright majority, the government said on Friday.
Italy’s Letta says convinced interests of country will prevail
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said on Friday he was sure the best interests of Italy would prevail over partisan politics following a court’s confirmation of a conviction of ex premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Portugal’s main ruling party gains, partner punished for crisis: poll
LISBON (Reuters) – The junior partner in Portugal’s coalition government has been punished in an opinion poll for provoking a political crisis last month while the main ruling party has gained in popularity despite its austerity drive.
Iran as determined as ever to threaten Israel: Netanyahu
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday Iranian president-elect Hassan Rouhani had shown his true face after he was quoted as saying Israel was a “wound” that must be removed.
Syrian Kurds take fragile steps towards autonomy
CEYLANPINAR, Turkey (Reuters) – Looking back over the border at the Syrian hometown he fled, Adil is circumspect when he sees a Kurdish flag hoisted over its low-rise, breeze block buildings.
SADC says Zimbabwe election ‘free and peaceful’
HARARE (Reuters) – Observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) described Zimbabwe’s elections on Friday as “free and peaceful”, giving qualified praise for a poll dismissed by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as a “huge farce”.
Defiant Hun Sen says to form government despite Cambodia poll row
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Friday he would press ahead with forming a new government even if the main opposition party tried to block the process, after both sides claimed victory in last Sunday’s gene…
