Hollande says France expelling Syrian ambassador
French President Francois Hollande has said Syria's ambassador is being expelled amid continuing violence by Syrian government forces against civilians and opposition. The ambassador will leave “today or tomorrow,” Hollande said in Paris on Tuesday, as cited by AP. The Syrian Embassy in Paris has not commented on the announcement.
Israel frees Palestinian activist Tamimi
Palestinian activist Bassem Tamimi, convicted of dispatching stone-throwers and protesting illegally, was freed by an Israeli court on Tuesday. He was sentenced to 30 months jail for sending youths to throw stones. Tamimi has already served 13 months, and the remaining 17 months was suspended for five years, AFP said. The activist also received a two-month suspended sentence for taking part in an illegal demonstration.
Most of those killed in Syria ‘were executed’ – UN
Most of the victims of the massacre in Syria last week were shot at close range, the UN said on Tuesday. The conclusions were based on accounts gathered by UN monitors and corroborated by other sources, Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, as cited by AP. UN monitors found that fewer than 20 of the 108 people killed in the west-central area of Houla were killed by artillery fire. “Most of the rest of the victims were summarily executed in two separate incidents,” Colville said. “At this point it looks like entire families were shot in their houses.” Witnesses blamed pro-government thugs known as shabiha for the attacks.
NATO kills Al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader in Afghanistan – coalition
The NATO force in Afghanistan has killed Al-Qaeda's second-highest leader in the country, the coalition said on Tuesday. Sakhr al-Taifi was killed in an air strike in eastern Kunar province, according to the alliance. Also known as Mushtaq and Nasim, he was responsible for commanding foreign insurgents in Afghanistan, AP reports. Al-Taifi also reportedly directed attacks against NATO and Afghan forces and frequently traveled between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Lebanese hostages alive - Free Syrian Army
Eleven Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria last week are alive and still in the country, Free Syrian Army deputy commander Malek al-Kurdi said on Tuesday. “The kidnapped Lebanese are in Syria and have not entered Turkish territory,” he told pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. The 11 men were kidnapped in the Syrian province of Aleppo last Tuesday after crossing the border from Turkey. Their release scheduled for Friday was postponed for unknown reasons. The Lebanese government has temporarily banned overland pilgrimages following attacks against pilgrims in the region.
FBI assisting investigation into Kenyan blast
FBI agents are assisting Kenyan officials in the investigation into an explosion in downtown Nairobi, the country’s officials said on Tuesday. A Kenyan official confirmed the FBI's involvement in the probe. The blast ripped through a building with small shops on Monday, injuring at least 33 people. A woman blamed the blast on a “bearded man” who left behind a bag shortly before the detonation, AP said.
Syria’s Assad meets Annan
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday received UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan for a meeting in Damascus, Syria's state news agency SANA said. The former UN chief arrived in Syria on Monday. He expressed “horror” at the Houla massacre of more than 100 people, AFP reports. Annan is on a visit aimed at salvaging his peace plan for Syria. He met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in Damascus on Monday.
Australia expels Syrian diplomat
Australia on Tuesday expelled Syria's most senior diplomat in response to the massacre of civilians in Syria’s Houla. Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he expected other nations would take similar action against Syria over the next 24 hours. “In doing this we are more or less moving with our friends around the world,” Reuters quoted the minister as saying.
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi embarks on first trip abroad in 24 years
Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi heads to Thailand on Tuesday for her first trip abroad in more than two decades. She will meet the Thai prime minister, attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia and meet Myanmar communities, AFP said. The former political prisoner, who spent 15 of the past 22 years under house arrest, was elected to parliament in April by-elections.
Two Danish brothers arrested in terror plot
Two Danish brothers were arrested on suspicion of plotting a terror attack, Denmark's security service said Tuesday. The men, aged 18 and 23, originally from Somalia, were arrested late Monday, the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) said, as cited by AP. They are suspected of “being in the process of preparing an act of terror.” They had been overheard talking about methods, targets and weapons. One of the brothers reportedly visited a training camp in Somalia run by the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militant group al-Shabab.
Quebec students and authorities trying to settle tuition dispute
University and college students in the Canadian province of Quebec have returned to the negotiating table with the provincial government to try to settle a dispute over tuition hikes, AP reports. The months-long bargaining has already led to a series of clashes with police. Students have called for a tuition freeze, but the government has ruled it out as a possibility. The two sides are meeting in Quebec City. More than 2,500 students have been arrested since the onset of demonstrations.
Egyptian protesters set fire to presidential candidate’s headquarters
Protesters in the Egyptian capital have attacked the campaign headquarters of presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, a former prime minister in the government of Hosni Mubarak, local media report. A group of demonstrators set the building on fire following an announcement that Shafiq qualified for the presidential run-off and will compete with Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi. The second round of the presidential elections will take place on June 16-17.
Damascus close to Houla massacre probe announcement
Syrian authorities will soon announce the results of an investigation into the events in the town of Houla, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after a Monday meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Syrian Ambassador in Moscow Riayd Haddad, Itar-Tass reports. More than 100 people, including many children, were the victims of a massacre in Houla on Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Damascus blames the violence on terrorist groups. "The Ambassador of Syria stressed that within the next few days the authorities would announce the results of the investigation of this and other criminal acts aimed at inciting an inter-confessional conflict in Syria," the ministry said.
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