Kurdish rebels promote hawk as peace process falters
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Kurdish rebels have named a veteran senior militant as co-head of their political wing, replacing a relative moderate and clouding the future of a peace process with the Turkish state that has been disrupted by renewed violence.
South Sudan backs plans to boost press freedom, reporters wary
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s parliament has passed two bills to improve press freedom, an official said on Wednesday, a move reporters in the African country hope will strengthen their rights in the face of regular harassment by the authorities.
Syrian rebels disperse food protest with gunfire
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels fired into the air to disperse a protest by civilians in a rebel-held district of Aleppo against a blockade preventing food and medicine reaching government-held areas of the northern city, residents said on Wednesday.
Risk of chemical catastrophe if Syria’s Assad goes: UK lawmakers
LONDON (Reuters) – Syria’s huge array of chemical weapons could fall into the hands of militants if President Bashar al-Assad was toppled, with “catastrophic” consequences, according to a report by senior British lawmakers published on Wednesday.
Egypt’s interim rulers name new prosecutor
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s interim authorities named a new prosecutor general on Wednesday, completing a contentious legal process that removed the man appointed by deposed President Mohamed Mursi.
Israel strengthens Syria border with an eye on Hezbollah
BOOSTER MILITARY OUTPOST, Golan Heights (Reuters) – Israel is bolstering its forces on the once-quiet frontier with Syria where it believes Lebanese Hezbollah militants are preparing for the day when they could fight Israel.
Egypt’s Brotherhood looks back, Islamist rivals look ahead
CAIRO (Reuters) – While Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood looks back in anger at its military removal from power, an ultra-orthodox Islamist party is looking forward in hope to replacing it in voters’ favor.
French judges seize Tapie assets in arbitration case
PARIS (Reuters) – Judges have ordered a Mediterranean villa and other assets to be seized from a French businessman at the center of a fraud investigation that could weigh on ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy’s hopes of a comeback, legal sources said.
Czech president swears in cabinet in showdown with parliament
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech President Milos Zeman swore in a cabinet led by a longtime ally on Wednesday that faces almost certain rejection by parties in parliament, raising the prospect of prolonged political uncertainty in the central European nation.
Portugal President Cavaco Silva to make statement late Wednesday
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s President Anibal Cavaco Silva will make a televised statement at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday after concluding meetings with political parties and lobby groups to end a political crisis in the ruling coalition, a presidency …
