Albanian leader concedes defeat, soothes fears of poll dispute
TIRANA (Reuters) – Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha conceded defeat on Wednesday after losing a parliamentary election at the weekend, ending three days of public silence and soothing fears of a messy handover of power in the volatile NATO country….
Three Madagascar candidates could face sanctions over vote row
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The European Union, the United States and the African Union proposed on Wednesday imposing sanctions such as travel bans on Madagascar’s president and two other presidential candidates unless they withdrew from a planned electio…
Car bomb kills army intelligence officer in Libya’s Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – A Libyan military intelligence officer was killed when a bomb exploded in his car on Wednesday in the latest attack on security forces in the eastern city of Benghazi, officials said.
NATO head urges Georgia to hold democratic presidential race
TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia must ensure presidential elections in October satisfy democratic standards, NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Wednesday told Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili who is locked in a bitter political dispute with the outgoing p…
Prominent militant arrested in blow to Somali Islamists
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – One of Somalia’s most prominent Islamist rebel commanders has been arrested and is in the hands of a regional administration, local and government officials said on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the country’s al Shabaab insurgents….
Italy government coalition averts split over F-35 jet purchase
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s ruling coalition averted a split over a motion to scrap its purchase of 90 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets on Wednesday by agreeing to seek parliament’s approval before going ahead with further spending on the program.
New emir: Qatar will pursue its ‘independent behavior’
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar’s new emir said on Wednesday the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state would not “take direction” from anyone, in an accession speech suggesting the young leader would pursue the assertive, independent-minded foreign policy pioneered by hi…
At least three dead in Somali port clash: witnesses
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – At least three people were killed in a brief skirmish between rival militias in southern Somalia, witnesses said, the second deadly flare-up so far this month in the disputed strategic port of Kismayu.
Video of kidnapped Czechs demands release of jailed Pakistani
PRAGUE (Reuters) – A video message on Wednesday purporting to show two Czech women hostages in Pakistan demanded the release of a Pakistani national jailed in the United States in return for their freedom.
Italy passes bill to ease overcrowded prisons
ROME (Reuters) – Italy moved to ease critically overcrowded prisons on Wednesday, passing a decree to reduce pre-trial detention and encourage alternatives to jail time for minor offences.
