Insight: As Obama blinks on Syria, Israel, Saudis make common cause
JERUSALEM/RIYADH (Reuters) – If President Barack Obama has disappointed Syrian rebels by deferring to Congress before bombing Damascus, he has also dismayed the United States’ two main allies in the Middle East.
Belarus accuses Uralkali’s Kerimov of abuse of power
MINSK (Reuters) – Belarus said on Monday it had formally accused the top shareholder in Russia’s Uralkali of abuse of power on Monday, deepening a diplomatic and trade dispute between the ex-Soviet states after the collapse of a potash sales alliance.
Former Cypriot minister to be extradited to Greece in graft inquiry
NICOSIA (Reuters) – A court in Cyprus ordered the extradition of a former Cypriot interior minister to Greece on Monday for questioning related to corruption charges against a once-powerful Greek politician who is now in jail.
Merkel’s Germany Necklace’ clear winner of debate on Twitter
BERLIN (Reuters) – Never mind the euro crisis or the war in Syria – what seems to have generated most comment among Germans who tuned in to a live TV debate between Angela Merkel and her election rival Peer Steinbrueck is the German chancellor’s neckla…
Soldier tells British side of story at Iraq killings inquiry
LONDON (Reuters) – A British army officer told a public inquiry on Monday that allegations that soldiers in his company tortured and executed Iraqis after a battle in 2004 were baseless rumors spread by insurgents who wanted to discredit U.S.-led coali…
France unlikely to allow lawmaker vote on Syria: senior Socialist
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s government should not bow to calls from opposition figures to have lawmakers vote on whether to take military action in Syria, the senior government Socialist who heads parliament’s foreign affairs committee said on Monday.
Turkish generals go on trial over 1997 ‘post-modern coup’
ANKARA (Reuters) – The first of more than 100 senior Turkish army officers began testifying in court on Monday over their alleged role in ousting Turkey’s first Islamist-led government 16 years ago, a trial that could see them facing life imprisonment….
Croats tear down signs put up for Serb minority
ZAGREB (Reuters) – Several hundred Croat protesters on Monday tore down signs in Serb Cyrillic script put up in a Croatian city devastated during the independence war with Serb-dominated Yugoslavia, state radio said.
Mine unions, bosses in war of words before South Africa gold strike
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African union leaders warned on Monday, a day before a strike in the gold sector, that mine owners’ handling of pay talks could provoke violence, and bosses said wage hikes would force mine closures and cost thousands of …
Dozens escape from Tunisian prison in sign of insecurity
TUNIS (Reuters) – Forty-nine inmates escaped from a Tunisian prison after overpowering guards, a senior official said on Monday, in a further sign of faltering security as a political crisis over popular discontent with Islamist rule festers.
