Burma’s main opposition party says it will boycott parliament over a dispute regarding the constitutional oath of office, just weeks after the party won a landslide victory in the once-isolated country’s by-elections. The National League for Democracy’s Executive Committee member Ohn Kyaing tells VOA’s Burmese service that none of its newly elected members will attend […]
Burma’s NLD to Boycott Parliament over Oath of Office Dispute
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
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Americans Feared Dead in Afghan Helicopter Crash
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 2:30 am (UTC-5)
U.S. officials said Friday the four people aboard an American Black Hawk helicopter that crashed in southwestern Afghanistan were likely Americans. Military officials say all four people are believed to have died in the crash Thursday during bad weather. Officials say the helicopter crashed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold. NATO coalition spokesman Lt. […]
Panetta: China Has Assisted North Korea Missile Program
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 2:25 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says China has provided “some help” to North Korea with its ballistic missile program, even as Beijing insists that it has not violated U.N. sanctions prohibiting such activity. Panetta made his comments Thursday after being asked during a Congressional hearing if China had supported North Korea’s missile program through “trade […]
North Korea Vows to Keep Launching Satellites ‘One After Another’
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 1:00 am (UTC-5)
North Korea has vowed to launch satellites into space “one after another,” a week after it defied international protests by launching a long-range rocket that failed just after taking off. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency on Thursday quoted space agency officials as saying Pyongyang will continue conducting the launches, which it says are […]
Mali Military Junta Says 22 Detainees Released
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 12:55 am (UTC-5)
Mali’s renegade soldiers said late Thursday they have released 22 political and military leaders from detention. The arrests earlier this week drew international condemnation. Last month, the soldiers seized power in a military coup, but later agreed to the return of civilian rule in Mali. After the economic regional bloc known as ECOWAS imposed harsh […]
Guinea Bissau’s Foreign Minister Seeks Peacekeepers Help After Coup
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 12:05 am (UTC-5)
Guinea-Bissau’s Foreign Minister is calling on the United Nations Security Council to authorize the deployment of peacekeepers into the country to help restore security following last week’s military coup. Foreign Minister Mamadu’ Jalo’ Pires is urging the15-nation council to send a peacekeeping force to the tiny West African nation until civilian rule is re-established. However, […]
Clinton Advocates Tough Approach to Syria if Peace Plan Fails
Posted April 19th, 2012 at 10:20 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for tough U.N. sanctions to be imposed on Syria if it fails to implement a U.N.-backed peace plan aimed at resolving the country’s year-long uprising. Clinton made the call Thursday at a Paris meeting of top diplomats of more than a dozen nations who call themselves the […]
US Black Hawk Helicopter Crashes in Afghanistan
Posted April 19th, 2012 at 8:40 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. officials say an American Black Hawk helicopter with four people on board has crashed in southwestern Afghanistan. The officials say the crash happened Thursday during bad weather and it was not known if any of the four crew members survived. NATO coalition spokesman Lt. Commander James Williams told VOA it is “unlikely” that the […]
UN, Syria Agree to New Framework for Peace Plan
Posted April 19th, 2012 at 6:50 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for tough U.N. sanctions to be imposed on Syria if it fails to implement a U.N.-backed peace plan aimed at resolving the country’s year-long uprising. Clinton made the call Thursday at a Paris meeting of top diplomats of more than a dozen nations who call themselves the […]
UN Tribunal Transfers First Genocide Suspect to Rwanda
Posted April 19th, 2012 at 6:40 pm (UTC-5)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has for the first time transferred a genocide suspect back to the central African country to face trial. Genocide suspect Jean Uwinkindi arrived in Kigali late Thursday from Arushu, Tanzania, where the U.N. tribunal is based. The transfer came after ICTR judges denied a motion blocking his transfer. Uwinkindi’s […]
