Afghan President Hamid Karzai is again urging Taliban fighters to lay down their weapons and join the political process. Speaking to reporters Thursday in Kabul, Mr. Karzai said the two sides could start peace talks based on common ground. He called on fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar to come to Afghanistan and open a political […]
Karzai Urges Taliban to Join Afghan Political Process
Opposition: Civilians Massacred in Syrian Village
Syrian opposition activists say government forces with tanks and helicopters have massacred more than 150 people, mostly civilians, in a village in Hama province. The activists and witnesses say troops shelled the village of Treimsa Thursday before storming the area. A rebel leader put the death toll at more than 200. State-run Syrian media say […]
Opposition: Hundreds of Civilians Massacred in Syrian Village
Syrian opposition activists say government forces have massacred more than 200 people, mostly civilians, inside a village in Hama province. The activists and witnesses say troops shelled the village of Treimsa with tanks and helicopters before storming the area. State-run Syrian media say troops battled an armed group in the area and, as in previous […]
Rights Groups Criticize Indonesia’s Prison Term for Shi’ite Cleric
Rights groups are criticizing an Indonesian court for sentencing a Shi’ite cleric to two years in prison for blasphemy. They call the verdict a setback for religious freedom in the predominantly Sunni Muslim nation. In Thursday’s ruling, the court in Madura island’s Sampang district convicted Tajul Muluk of insulting Islam in his religious teachings. Citing […]
Opposition: New Massacre in Syrian Village
Syrian opposition activists say government forces have massacred more than 200 people, mostly civilians, inside a village in Hama province. The activists and witnesses say troops shelled the village of Treimsa before storming the town. Thursday’s reported massacre comes as the United Nations Security Council debates imposing tough new sanctions on the Syrian government if […]
Opposition: New Massacre in Syrian Village
Syrian opposition activists say government forces have massacred at least 100 people in a village in Hama province. The activists and witnesses say troops shelled the village of Treimsa before storming the town. Thursday’s reported massacre comes as the United Nations Security Council debates imposing tough new sanctions on the Syrian government if it keeps […]
Pakistan’s Supreme Court Orders New PM to Pursue Corruption Cases
Pakistan’s highest court has ordered the country’s new prime minister to pursue corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. In a ruling Thursday, Judge Asif Saeed Khosa also ordered Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to submit a report on his findings by July 25. The government has long refused to pursue the corruption claims against […]
Russia Threatens Veto of New UN Sanctions on Syria
Russia says it will block a Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolution that would impose tough sanctions on Syria. Britain, France, Germany and the United States have introduced a resolution that would give Syria 10 days to stop using heavy weapons against the opposition and civilians after the resolution passes. If it fails to heed the […]
US Slaps More Sanctions on Iran
The United States is imposing more sanctions on Iran and taking steps to stop Iran from using front companies and banks to evade sanctions. Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism David Cohen says the United States will keep ratcheting up the pressure on Iran as long as it refuses to address the global concern about […]
Officials: 12 Militants Killed During Attack On Pakistani Village
Pakistani officials say 12 militants were killed Thursday in clashes between security forces and Taliban fighters who crossed the border from Afghanistan. Officials say Taliban militants attacked a village in the northwestern tribal district, apparently targeting local anti-Taliban militia. Two militia members also were killed and some Pakistani troops were wounded in the clashes. Separately, […]