Throngs of somber, weeping mourners marched Monday through the streets of the North Korean capital, carrying flowers and offering prayers for Kim Jong Il, their reclusive leader whose death was announced earlier in the day. Television footage from the closed communist state showed thousands of mourners in Pyongyang gathered at the foot of a giant […]
North Korea Mourns Death of Kim Jong Il
North Korea Mourns Death of Kim Jong Il
Throngs of somber, weeping mourners marched Monday through the streets of the North Korean capital, carrying flowers and offering prayers for Kim Jong Il, their reclusive leader who died Saturday at age 69. Television footage from the closed communist state showed thousands of mourners in Pyongyang gathered at the foot of a giant statue of […]
IMF Chief Praises Nigeria’s Economic Reforms
The head of the International Monetary Fund held talks with Nigerian officials as she began her first official trip to Africa. IMF chief Christine Lagarde met with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Monday following a meeting with finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the capital, Abuja. The French news agency quotes her as saying she was “extremely […]
DRC Opposition Leader Calls for Kabila’s Seizure
Congolese opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi says he is the country’s rightful leader and has called for the seizure of President Joseph Kabila. Election officials say Mr. Kabila easily won last month’s presidential poll in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But Mr. Tshisekedi has rejected the results as fraudulent and declared himself president, saying he will […]
Germany Urges Serbia, Kosovo to Institute Joint Border Controls, Ease Tensions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Serbia and Kosovo to reach agreement on joint border controls to help ease tensions in northern Kosovo. During a brief visit to Pristina Monday for talks with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Mrs. Merkel made it clear that Serbia cannot be a candidate for European Union membership until it improves […]
Violence Continues in Cairo, Military Says Protesters Provoked Soldiers
Egyptian officials say at least one person has been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces, as unrest in the capital, Cairo, continues for a fourth day. Egypt’s military rulers, meanwhile, say the use of force against protesters was justified. A spokesman for the military council, General Adel Emara, told reporters Monday protesters were […]
World Leaders Guarded after Death of Kim Jong IL
The United States and Europe are reacting with caution to the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, with Washington reaffirming its commitment to stability on the Korean peninsula and European leaders voicing guarded hope for change. A White House statement says President Barack Obama spoke by telephone early Monday with South Korean President […]
South Korea: North’s Missile Test Not Related to Kim’s Death
A South Korean Defense Ministry official has confirmed to VOA that North Korea test fired a short-range missile Monday, hours before announcing the death of Kim Jong-IL. But the official says the test was probably not related to the North Korean leader’s death. The missile test confirmation came shortly after South Korea’s Yonhap news agency […]
DRC Opposition Leader Calls for Kabila’s Seizure
Congolese opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi says he is the country’s rightful leader and has called for the seizure of President Joseph Kabila. Election officials say Mr. Kabila easily won last month’s presidential poll in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But Mr. Tshisekedi has rejected the results as fraudulent and declared himself president, saying he will […]
Thousands Mourn Former Czech President Havel
Thousands of Czech mourners have gathered to remember former president Vaclav Havel, who died in his sleep of respiratory problems Sunday at the age of 75. Mourners stood in a long line Monday at a church in Prague, and lit candles in cities and towns across the country and in Slovakia for the man who […]