Rights group accuses Central African Republic rebels of abuses
BANGUI (Reuters) – Rebels in Central African Republic have razed villages, torched homes and murdered civilians in violence across neglected rural areas that began before they seized power in March and continues today, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on …
Somalia may accept former Islamist warlord in port city
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s government may recognize a former Islamist warlord it had opposed as interim leader of a strategic port city in a bid to defuse tensions, diplomats said, although a new clash between rival militias erupted there on Frida…
Guinea charges minister over 2009 massacre of demonstrators
CONAKRY (Reuters) – A court in Guinea has charged a government minister over his alleged role in a stadium massacre in which some 150 people were killed in 2009, a human rights group and a justice ministry official said on Friday.
Turkish security forces fire on protest in southeast, one dead
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – Turkish security forces killed one person and wounded seven on Friday when they fired on a group of people protesting against construction of a new gendarmerie outpost in Kurdish-dominated southeastern Turkey, security so…
French prosecutor recommends dropping Sarkozy funding probe
BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) – A French public prosecutor recommended on Friday dropping an investigation into ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and seven other people over allegations of duping L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt into handing over cash for e…
Mandela showing ‘great improvement’, ex-wife Winnie says
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Former South African President Nelson Mandela is showing a “great improvement” in his health compared to a few days ago, his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, said on Friday.
Senior Vatican cleric arrested in money smuggling case
ROME (Reuters) – A senior Catholic cleric with connections to the Vatican bank was arrested on Friday for plotting to help rich friends smuggle tens of millions of euros in cash into Italy from Switzerland, in the latest blow to the Vatican’s image.
Renamo says it laments Mozambique economic disruption, seeks talks
MAPUTO (Reuters) – Mozambique opposition party Renamo, suspected of killing two civilians last week in a nascent guerrilla campaign, said on Friday it regretted disruption of the economy and called for more dialogue with the government.
Ex-Murdoch editors lose bid to have UK hacking charges dropped
LONDON (Reuters) – Two former editors of a British tabloid newspaper shut down by owner Rupert Murdoch over a phone-hacking scandal lost a legal battle on Friday to have criminal charges against them dropped.
Berlusconi associate admits ‘excess’ at ‘bunga bunga’ parties
MILAN (Reuters) – A close associate of Silvio Berlusconi said on Friday he agreed with descriptions of “bunga bunga” parties at the former prime minister’s palatial residence as “excess, abuse of power and degradation.”
