Embassies, businessmen, workers welcome extended Saudi amnesty
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi businessmen, expatriates and several countries welcomed a four-month extension to an amnesty for foreign workers with visa violations on Wednesday, saying it allowed businesses to operate as usual in the world’s top oil exporte…
Egypt opposition, religious leaders meet army chief: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian liberal opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei met army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday hours before an army deadline for Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to yield to mass protests or quit, two political sources …
Saudi Grand Mufti urges Egyptians to avoid bloodshed
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, the highest religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, urged Egyptians on Wednesday to cooperate in order to avoid bloodshed as an army deadline nears to resolve the country’s political crisis.
Portugal president calls crisis talks as government teeters
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s president summoned main political parties for crisis talks over the government’s future with markets reeling on fears that a snap election could derail Lisbon’s exit from an international bailout.
Mursi’s hardline allies call on him to give ground
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi’s hardline Islamist allies in al-Gamaa al-Islamiya want him to call a referendum on early presidential elections to avoid bloodshed and a military coup, Tarek al-Zumar, a senior member of the group sai…
Egypt opposition leader El-Baradei meets army chief: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian liberal opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei met army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday, two political sources said, hours before an army deadline for Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to yield to mass protests or…
Iran’s Rouhani urges end to meddling in private lives
DUBAI (Reuters) – President-elect Hassan Rouhani called on Wednesday for the government and powerful clergy to end interference in the private lives of the Iranian people, free up Internet access and allow state media to be more open about Iran’s probl…
Analysis: Sudan’s Bashir plays to hardliners to stem succession debate
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – When Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir returned a few weeks ago from a summit in Ethiopia with his South Sudanese counterpart and former civil war foe, many people here expected him to talk of peace.
Germany confident Lisbon will stick to agreed reforms
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany is confident Portugal will stick to reforms agreed with international lenders in return for a bailout, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said on Wednesday, as the political crisis in Lisbon deepened.
Egypt’s Armed Forces General Command holds crisis meeting: military source
CAIRO (Reuters) – The general command of the Egyptian armed forces is currently holding a crisis meeting, a military source told Reuters on Wednesday.
