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…
Former Cyprus defense minister given jail term for blast
NICOSIA (Reuters) – A former Cypriot defense minister was given a five-year jail term on Friday over a munitions blast two years ago which killed 13 people and crippled the island’s electricity grid.
China rights scenario deteriorating, says United States
BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States got few answers to questions about detained activists during its annual rights dialogue with China, and believes the situation in the country continues to deteriorate, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.
Ghana’s navy intercepts suspected pirate ship and arrests crew
ACCRA (Reuters) – Ghana’s navy has intercepted a ship and arrested its crew on suspicion of involvement in the hijacking of an oil products tanker off Gabon last month, Ghana’s government said.
