Mali’s main political parties have rejected a call by military junta leaders for a “national convention” to sort out the country’s political and security problems. The FDR coalition of 50 political parties and civil society groups released a statement Wednesday, saying such a convention is not compatible with a return to constitutional order. Junta leader […]
Mali Parties Reject Junta’s Call for Convention
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
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Elderly Turkish Coup Leaders Face Trial
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
Turkey’s landmark trial of retired generals Kenan Evren and Thasin Sahinkaya opened Wednesday, more than three decades after they led a coup that brought torture, executions and disappearances. The 94-year-Evren and the 87-year-old Sahinkaya are both in poor health and did not attend. They are charged with crimes against the state and could face life […]
Suicide Bomber Attacks NATO Troops in Afghan Park
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has killed at least 13 people, including three NATO troops, in northern Afghanistan. The attacker riding on a motorcycle detonated his explosives Wednesday at a park in the city of Maimanah, the capital of Faryab province. At least 26 people were wounded in the blast. Afghan police earlier said […]
Pakistani Militant Leader Mocks US Bounty
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
The founder of the Pakistani militant group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks publicly taunted the United States Thursday, a day after Washington posted a $10 million bounty on him. During a news conference near the country’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed said that America should give the reward money to him. He […]
ASEAN Chief Defends Stance on N. Korea, Burma
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
The head of a grouping of Southeast Asian nations says his organization is not pressing North Korea to abandon plans for an upcoming rocket launch because it wants “to leave a window open” for future nuclear talks with Pyongyang. Surin Pitsuwan, who heads the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, spoke Wednesday to VOA — […]
Wen Calls Chinese Banks a ‘Monopoly’ That Needs to Be Broken Up
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says the country’s biggest state-owned banks are a monopoly that must be broken up. Wen said the banks — with guaranteed profits on loans — are making too much money. In remarks published Wednesday on the website of the state-run radio, the Chinese leader said the banks’ control of lending is […]
North Korean Defector Sees Signs of Chinese Policy Shift
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
A research organization in Seoul says it is hopeful of better treatment for North Korean defectors in China following signs that the Chinese policy of forcing them to return home has eased. Kang Chul Hwan, a founding director of the North Korea Strategy Center in Seoul, spoke to VOA Wednesday about media reports that a […]
Mogadishu Blast Kills Sports Chiefs; Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Militant group al-Shabab says it was behind a suicide bombing in Somalia’s capital Wednesday that killed at least eight people, including the country’s football and Olympic chiefs. The attack occurred at Somalia’s newly-reopened national theater. Witnesses say a female blew herself up as Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali addressed a crowd gathered to celebrate the […]
Malaysian Activists to Rally for Electoral Reform
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 8:15 am (UTC-5)
Malaysian activists have called for a mass demonstration later this month to demand further voting reforms before general elections scheduled for next year. The Bersih coalition says it will hold the rally on April 28th in Kuala Lumpur. It has accused the ruling National Front of engaging in various acts of electoral fraud in order […]
Suicide Bomber Kills 10 in Northern Afghanistan
Posted April 4th, 2012 at 7:30 am (UTC-5)
Officials in northern Afghanistan say a suicide bomber has killed at least 10 people and wounded 26 others. The attack happened Wednesday near a park in the city of Maimanah, the capital of Faryab province. Police officials say four police officers and six civilians were killed. NATO said Wednesday that a bombing in northern Afghanistan […]
