Egypt’s justice minister has granted the military the power to arrest civilians, sparking fears it will lead to the return of emergency laws. The move will take effect on Thursday and remain in place at least until the new constitution is written. Previously, the army had had the right to arrest civilian citizens, but it was ended as decades-old emergency laws were lifted on May 31. The measure comes as tensions escalate in the country.
Clinton claims US provides ‘no military support’ to Syrian opposition
Washington provides “no military support” to the Syrian opposition, US State Secretary Hillary Clinton has said at a joint press conference with the PM of India. “All of our support has been medical and humanitarian,” she added. Clinton has also clarified her recent comments regarding the relationship between Moscow and Damascus by saying it is clearly a concern for Washington. “The US has repeatedly urged the Russian government to cut these military ties completely and to suspend all further support and deliveries,” she said.
Russian football association fined $150,000 for fan violence at Euro 2012
UEFA has fined the Russian Football association $150,000 dollars following charges of “improper conduct” leveled at its supporters. Russian football fans were filmed fighting with stadium stewards after a Euro 2012 match. They were also accused of crowd disturbances which included setting off and throwing fireworks and displaying vulgar banners. UEFA is also investigating allegations that Russian fans hurled racist epithets at a Czech player during a match between the two countries on Friday.
Red Cross aid workers injured in Syria blast
Three aid workers have suffered minor injuries in northwest Syria as an explosion hit their convoy, says the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The incident took place on Wednesday, when the two Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers and one ICRC staff member were traveling among aid workers from Aleppo to Idlib. This is the first time Red Cross staffers have been injured since violence broke out in Syria over 12 months ago. The ICRC does not know if the convoy was targeted or who was responsible for the blast.
Plot by military exiles foiled in Cote d’Ivoire – officials
The authorities have foiled a plot by military exiles loyal to the former president to overthrow the country's government, Cote d’Ivoire's interior minister has announced. Hamed Bakayoko said in television statement that a group of officers in exile in Ghana had planned a military operation with the objective of destabilization, AP reports. He also showed a video late Tuesday that allegedly was seized from the plotters. The video reportedly was planned to broadcast on national television after a coup. The video, in particular, criticizes the extradition of former President Laurent Gbagbo to The Hague on war crimes charges.
Demand for Russia to put pressure on Syria a ‘provocation’ – Lavrov
The demand by some countries for Russia to put pressure on the Syrian government to end the violence is a provocation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday. “The violence should be stopped by everyone,” he said after talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. “If one part of the world community perceives the Kofi Annan plan only as the demand that Russia somehow make the Syrian authorities stop shooting…this attempt is a provocation,” Lavrov stressed. He said the Annan plan was not being implemented. But he added that most of those who are saying the plan does not work “are largely inciting the irreconcilable opposition to continue their armed provocations.”
Iran to prepare its nuclear proposals for Moscow talks
Proposals from both Iran and the group of six world powers will be considered at the next round of talks in Moscow next week, Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Wednesday. Saeed Jalili stressed that not just the West's demand to halt Iran's highest level uranium enrichment will be on the table. He added the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has agreed the negotiations will include Iranian proposals, AP reports. The new round of talks is scheduled to begin on Monday.
Syria ‘in civil war’ – French FM
Syria is in a state of civil war, France's new Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday. He told reporters at a Paris news conference that “if you can’t call it a civil war, then there are no words to describe it,” AP reports. To stop “this civil war from worsening,” President Bashar al-Assad must leave power, Fabius said. After that, Syrian opposition groups must start a new government, the minister noted, adding that he will be in personal contact with the opposition inside Syria.
UNSC should react to detention of ICC official in Libya - Russian FM
Detaining officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Libyan authorities are violating a UN Security Council’s resolution, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday. He noted that the new authorities in Libya have yet to strengthen central power. This is not the case so far, and foreign citizens sometimes find themselves in a difficult situation. Lavrov mentioned Russian military contractors who were convicted for assisting the former regime, and an official of the ICC who was detained in Libya. The UNSC 1940 resolution demands that the Libyan authorities should cooperate with the ICC, Lavrov said, as cited by Interfax.
Yemen military kill 30 militants in air strikes
Three air strikes have targeted areas held by militants in the town of Azzan, killing at least 30 fighters and wounding dozens more, Yemeni military in Shabwa province said on Wednesday. The attacks came after the army recaptured the cities of Jaar and Zinjibar on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of Islamist fighters to flee. Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, said US drones had launched five attacks in Azzan on Wednesday morning, Reuters said. The group denied any of its fighters had been killed or wounded.
More than 160 detained after Tunisia riots
At least 162 people have been arrested after days of rioting across Tunisia, the country’s officials said on Wednesday. Ultra-conservative Islamists known as Salafis attacked an art exhibition they deemed insulting to Islam in the Tunis suburb of La Marsa on Sunday. They also attacked police stations earlier this week. Fehmi el-Aouini, 22, died of wounds sustained during the protest pitting Salafis against police in the eastern city of Sousse. On Wednesday, the heads of the state, the constituent assembly and the government made a joint statement, condemning both “extremist groups that threaten freedoms” and “attacks on religion.”
Suu Kyi embarks on first Europe visit in 24 years
Leader of Myanmar's National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday began her first European trip since 1988. She will address the annual meeting of the UN's International Labor Organization in Geneva on Thursday. In Oslo on Friday, Suu Kyi is formally to receive the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to her 21 years earlier, when she was detained by the military. The Myanmar democracy leader will also visit France, Ireland and Britain.
Syria regains control of Haffa - state TV
Syrian government forces have retaken control of a rebellious mountainous village, the state TV said on Wednesday. Security and order to the region of Haffa was restored after it had been "cleansed" from the "armed terrorist groups," the report said. The rebels had pulled out of the area overnight after intense fighting there and in nearby villages, AP reports. Haffa, 30 kilometers from President Bashar al-Assad's hometown of Kardaha in Latakia province, is one of areas where government forces are battling rebels for control.
Turkey to probe ex-President Ozal’s death
Turkey's presidential palace has said that the 1993 death of then-President Turgut Ozal was “suspicious” and should be probed. There has been no satisfactory investigation into allegations by some family members and lawmakers that Ozal might have been poisoned, the State Auditing Board’s report said on Wednesday, as cited by AP. The board is under the direct supervision of President Abdullah Gul. Doctors at the time said Ozal, who is of Kurdish origin, died of heart failure. Ozal pushed pro-Western policies and a moderate approach in an attempt to end a war by Kurdish rebels.
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