Gunmen Attack Yemen Presidential Palace

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
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Officials in Yemen's second-largest city say gunmen have killed four soldiers near the presidential palace. Officials say one of the attackers was also killed in the violence Sunday in Taiz.

The assault comes a day after Yemen's authoritarian president left the country to receive medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Thousands of anti-government protesters in Sana'a on Sunday celebrated President Ali Abdullah Saleh's departure. They are hoping that Mr. Saleh's departure is permanent, bringing an an end to his 33-year reign.

Yemeni Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi met with U.S. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein Sunday, a strong indicator that Hadi is in charge since the president's departure. U.S. officials also say President Barack Obama's national security adviser, John Brennan, spoke with Hadi Saturday.

President Saleh, along with at least four other high-ranking officials, flew to neighboring Saudi Arabia Saturday after they were wounded in an attack Friday on the presidential compound in Sana'a.

However, several things remain unclear in the rapidly changing situation in Yemen – the extent of Mr. Saleh's injuries and whether he intends to return, and if any of his sons or nephews stayed behind to try to keep a grip on power.

Yemeni government officials and rebel tribesmen agreed to a new cease-fire Saturday brokered by Saudi Arabia.

Representatives of both sides said they will accept the plan. Just a week ago, a similar truce quickly collapsed in renewed fighting between President Saleh's forces and loyalists to an opposition tribal leader, Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar.

Nearly 400 people have been killed since the popular uprising against Mr. Saleh began in January.

Gates Says Goodbye to Troops in Afghanistan

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring at the end of the month, arrived in southern Afghanistan Sunday to say goodbye to American troops fighting to defeat Taliban insurgents.

Gates visit comes at the same time U.S. President Barack Obama considers the scale and pace of troop withdrawals planned to start next month.

Shortly before the defense secretary's arrival in Kandahar Sunday, NATO announced one of its service members was killed in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan. In a separate incident, NATO said a coalition helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing two on board.

As Gates arrived in the capital, Kabul, Saturday to begin his visit to the country, the international coalition announced that four service members were killed in an explosion in eastern Afghanistan.

The defense secretary warned Afghan President Hamid Karzai that his country needs to step up security, and that failure to do so would put the smooth withdrawal of U.S. forces at risk.

Earlier Saturday at a security conference in Singapore, Gates said there could be peace talks with the Taliban within a year. Gates said the talks would be a result of NATO's ground advances in Afghanistan that have put pressure on the insurgents.

It has been nearly 10 years since U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban government and go after al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

U.S. special forces killed bin Laden last month during a raid in neighboring Pakistan. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Afghan relationship has become more tense, with Afghan President Karzai repeatedly criticizing the U.S. and NATO for killing civilians during attacks on militants.

Israeli Soldiers Kill Two Demonstrators in Golan Heights

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 5:50 am (UTC-5)
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Syrian media say Israeli soldiers shot and killed at least two pro-Palestinian demonstrators and wounded several others Sunday in the Golan Heights area.

The crowd had gathered at a fence at the Syrian border to mark the anniversary of the Arab defeat in the 1967 Middle East war.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the conflict, also claiming the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

UN Secretary-General Expected to Seek Re-Election

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
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U.N. diplomats say Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is likely to announce his plans to seek another five-year term as early as Monday.

Mr. Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, is poised to get another term pending a recommendation from the Security Council and a vote by the 192 members.

There has been no public announcement on a possible challenger for his job.

Mr. Ban, who succeeded Kofi Annan in 2007, has a reputation of extensive travel around world taking on sensitive issues, including Sudan's controversial recent takeover of the oil-rich Abyei region bordering southern Sudan.

Mr. Ban recently called on the African Union to stress to both sides a military showdown over Abyei is not an option.

Voting Begins in Portugal Elections

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 4:15 am (UTC-5)
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Voting began in Portugal Sunday in an election that will choose a new government to implement the country's $110 billion bailout programs.

Latest opinion polls indicate that the opposition center-right Social Democrats have the backing of about 36 percent of voters, while the ruling center-left Socialist Party would collect about 31 percent of the vote.

If the survey numbers are correct, the Social Democrats will oust the Socialists, but will fall short of an absolute majority in the 230-seat Parliament.

The elections are taking place following the resignation of Prime Minister Jose Socrates in March after parliament rejected his economic austerity measures.

Portugal later asked the European Union and International Monetary Fund for a $110 billion bailout. EU finance ministers approved the measure on May 16.

Portugal became the third troubled EU economy after Greece and Ireland to need a bailout.

In advance of the financial assistance, Portugal has raised taxes and imposed the deepest spending cuts in three decades.

In addition, the government has suspended its funding of a new airport and a high-speed rail link in the capital of Lisbon.

Gates Says Goodbye to Troops in Afghanistan

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 4:10 am (UTC-5)
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The U.S. defense secretary, who is retiring at the end of the month, has arrived in southern Afghanistan where he is saying goodbye to American troops fighting to defeat Taliban insurgents.

Robert Gates arrived in Kandahar Sunday to begin his farewell tour of military bases in the south.

Gates visits Afghanistan at the same time U.S. President Barack Obama considers the scale and pace of troop withdrawals due to start next month.

Shortly before the defense secretary's arrival in Kandahar, NATO announced one of its service members was killed Sunday in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.

As Gates arrived in Kabul Saturday to begin his visit to the country, the international coalition announced that four service members were killed in an explosion in eastern Afghanistan.

The defense secretary warned Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday that his country needs to step up security, and that failure to do so would put the smooth withdrawal of U.S. forces at risk.

Earlier Saturday, at a security conference in Singapore, Gates said there could be peace talks with the Taliban within a year. Gates said the talks would be a result of NATO's ground advances in Afghanistan that have put pressure on the insurgents.

It has been nearly 10 years since U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban government and go after al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

U.S. special forces killed bin Laden last month during a raid in neighboring Pakistan. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Afghan relationship has become more tense, with Afghan President Karzai repeatedly criticizing the U.S. and NATO for killing civilians during attacks on militants.

Hundreds of Vietnamese Stage Anti-China Protest

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 3:45 am (UTC-5)
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Hundreds of demonstrators in Vietnam gathered at the Chinese embassy in Hanoi Sunday, demanding that China stay out of waters claimed by Vietnam.

Police allowed the mostly young demonstrators to protest peacefully for awhile before dispersing them.

The rare demonstration came after Vietnamese officials said a Chinese patrol vessel intentionally cut a submerged cable last month, towed by a ship operated by the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group. The survey ship was conducting seismic tests in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Vietnam's Foreign Affairs Ministry accused Beijing of violating Vietnam's sovereignty right to its continental shelf, while China responded that it opposes Vietnam's exploration for oil and gas in what Beijing called China's jurisdictional area.

China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all claim South China Sea territories, which are thought to hold untapped oil and gas reserves.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been seeking a peaceful solution to the competing claims amid increasingly assertive actions by China.

Raging Arizona Wildfires Force Thousands to Evacuate

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 3:00 am (UTC-5)
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U.S. authorities say one of the largest fires in Arizona history is raging on, consuming at least 57,000 hectares in the eastern part of the state.

The Wallow Fire has forced the evacuation of 2,500 people near White Mountains in the southwestern U.S.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer toured the scorched landscape by helicopter Saturday, calling it “a frightening sight and a terrible thing to see happen”.

Several hundred firefighters are struggling to contain the fires that are threatening properties in two communities .

The U.S. Forest Service says some rental properties have been burned since the fires started a week ago, but there are no reports of casualties.

As of Saturday, a second huge wildfire in southeastern Arizona had destroyed property and consumed at least 36,000 hectares.

Arizona authorities are considering seeking federal aide in battling the fires.

Macedonia Holds Snap Elections

Posted June 5th, 2011 at 3:00 am (UTC-5)
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Polls opened in Macedonia Sunday for snap elections that many hope will speed up reforms necessary for membership in the European Union.

About 1.8 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots to elect deputies for the 123-seat parliament, which will have a four-year mandate.

The main contenders are the ruling 24-party coalition led by conservative Prime Minister Nicola Gruevski, and the leftist SDSM of Branko Crvenkovski.

The latest surveys gave Mr. Gruevski's coalition the lead, but many believe it will fall short of winning an outright majority.

Voting will be monitored by around 3,500 local and 330 international observers. Early results are expected Monday.

Tanzanian Opposition Leader Jailed

Posted June 4th, 2011 at 11:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Tanzanian police arrested the leader of the largest opposition party Saturday on charges stemming from his role in a political demonstration earlier this year.

Freeman Mbowe, a legislator and chairman of the opposition group, Chadema, remains in custody pending his arraignment Monday.

Mbowe and several others are accused of multiple charges including holding an illegal rally against election fraud in Arusha in January.

A judge issued an arrest warrant for Mbowe on Thursday, because he failed to make his initial court appearance last month.

The opposition party said in a statement Mbowe was taking part in parliamentary commission meetings at the time of his scheduled court appearance.

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