Mali’s Dembele breaks ranks, backs former PM Keita in run-off
Bamako (Reuters) – The candidate of Mali’s largest political party, who came third in the first round of the country’s presidential election, broke ranks with his own party on Saturday and said he will back former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita …
Exclusive: Egypt pro-Mursi alliance signals flexibility in talks
CAIRO (Reuters) – Allies of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi told mediators on Saturday they respected the popular will expressed in mass protests that led to his downfall, suggesting they might be backing away from a demand he be reinstated.
Iranians may have abducted Briton in Dubai: UK government source
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain is taking seriously allegations that a British-Iranian citizen who went missing in Dubai in June may have been kidnapped by “elements in Iran”, a government source in London said on Saturday.
Italy’s fragile coalition bickers over Berlusconi conviction
ROME (Reuters) – Politicians in Italy’s fragile coalition government traded increasingly heated barbs on Saturday over a tax conviction that threatens the political future of center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi.
Brazil court sentences 25 police officers for prison massacre
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A Brazilian court sentenced 25 police officers to 624 years in jail on Saturday for the killing of dozens of inmates in the country’s bloodiest prison riot in which 111 people died two decades ago.
Syrian rebels seize anti-tank missiles in raid on army base
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels captured an ammunition depot north of Damascus from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on Saturday, activists said, seizing a hoard of anti-tank missiles and rockets which will strengthen their firepower after a string …
Greek police arrest German on suspicion of spying
ATHENS (Reuters) – A 72-year-old German man has been arrested on a Greek island on suspicion of spying for Turkey, police said on Saturday.
Egyptian army chief says does not ‘aspire for authority’
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, asked by the Washington Post on Saturday whether he planned to run for president, said he did not “aspire for authority.”
Robert Mugabe re-elected Zimbabwe’s president: election commission
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has won re-election for a further five-year term, the Zimbabwe Election Commission said on Saturday.
EU concerned about lack of transparency in Zimbabwe election
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union said on Saturday it was concerned about alleged irregularities and a lack of transparency in Zimbabwe’s election, its strongest criticism so far of a poll that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has branded a “farc…