Saudi says ‘cannot be silent’ at Iran, Hezbollah role in Syria
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia regards the involvement of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria’s civil war as dangerous and believes the rebels must be offered military aid to defend themselves, the kingdom’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Twin suicide bombs kill eight Iraqi Turkmen
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – Two suicide bombers killed at least eight Iraqi Turkmen on Tuesday when they blew themselves up at a protest by members of the ethnic minority group, police said.
Nigeria hangs four prisoners in first executions since 2006
ABUJA (Reuters) – Four prisoners have been hanged in Nigeria, an official said on Tuesday, in the first known executions since 2006 which Amnesty International described as “a truly dark day for human rights in the country”.
Brahimi sees Syria talks delay, appeals to big powers
GENEVA (Reuters) – International mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said on Tuesday that a conference on ending the war in Syria was unlikely to take place in July as he had hoped, and called on the United States and Russia to help contain the conflict.
Armed group attacks Libya oil guards HQ: official
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – An armed group attacked the headquarters of Libya’s oil protection force in Tripoli on Tuesday and three people were wounded in the violence, an official said.
Chinese businessman behind $40 billion Nicaragua canal denies special ties
BEIJING (Reuters) – The mysterious Chinese businessman behind a $40 billion plan to build a canal through Nicaragua pledged transparency on Tuesday — but refused to reveal where he attended college.
Afghan Taliban attack in Kabul throws peace talks into further doubt
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban militants attacked key buildings near Afghanistan’s presidential palace and the U.S. CIA headquarters in Kabul, a brazen assault that could derail attempts for peace talks to end 12 years of war.
Qatar’s emir hands power to son in unusual Gulf abdication
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani handed power on Tuesday to his son, Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim, in a rare abdication by a hereditary Gulf Arab ruler to try to ensure a smooth succession.
Ugandan politician arrested again as threat to stability
KAMPALA (Reuters) – Uganda’s leading opposition politician has been arrested by police for the second time in less than a week for trying to destabilize the country, the latest in a series of actions seen as aimed at silencing dissent.
EU rebukes Turkey on crackdown by delaying entry talks
LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – The European Union rebuked Turkey on Tuesday for its crackdown on anti-government protesters by postponing a new round of membership talks for at least four months, but said its path to the EU remained open.
