A court in Burma has sentenced three U.N. staff workers to prison for their alleged involvement in recent communal violence in western Rakhine state. The government’s Rakhine Riot Information Committee chairman, Hla Thein, says Friday a district court found the three staffers, all Burmese Muslims, guilty of inciting violence, promoting hatred between Buddhists and Muslims […]
Burma Sentences Three UN Staff to Prison Over Violence
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
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Missing Turkish Cameraman Appears on Syrian TV
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
A Turkish cameraman who went missing while in northern Syria a week ago has appeared in a video aired on a pro-government Syrian news channel. In the video shown on al-Ikhbariya Monday, Cuneyt Unal talks about how he traveled into Syria and what he experienced. It is not clear when or under what conditions the […]
Taliban Beheads 17 Afghan Civilians
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
Officials in southern Afghanistan say Taliban insurgents have beheaded 17 Afghan civilians, including two women. The Interior Ministry says the civilians were killed late Sunday in the Kajaki district of Helmand province. There were conflicting reports about the reasons behind the killings. Some Afghan officials said the Taliban attacked a late-night party because insurgents disapprove […]
Republican Party Shortens Convention as Storm Skirts Florida
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Republican Party has shortened its national convention for the nomination of its presidential candidate Mitt Romney, as a tropical storm skirts the coastline of Florida, the southeastern state hosting the event. The four-day convention in the city of Tampa was due to begin Monday, but Republican party officials rescheduled most of the day’s […]
Supreme Court Gives Pakistani PM More Time in Graft Case
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has given Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf three more weeks to comply with its order to reopen corruption cases against the country’s president. The decision is seen as a rare conciliatory move in the battle between the government and the judiciary. Prime Minister Ashraf appeared before the court Monday and pledged to […]
Somali, AU Troops Capture Port Town From Al-Shabab
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Somali government and African Union troops have seized a critical port town from al-Shabab, dealing another blow to the Islamist militant group. The pro-government forces seized the town of Merca on Monday, according to a tweet posted by the African Union Mission in Somalia . Residents confirmed to VOA that al-Shabab fighters have fled the […]
Alleged al-Shabab Backer Shot Dead in Kenya
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Unidentified gunmen have killed a Kenyan Muslim cleric who was accused of supporting Somali militant group al-Shabab. Witnesses say Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot dead Monday while driving a van in the port city of Mombasa. VOA’s Swahili Service reports that protests against the killing broke out soon afterward, with demonstrators blocking off Mombasa streets. […]
Syria Helicopter Downed in Damascus
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
Syrian rebels say they shot down a military helicopter during heavy fighting with government forces in Damascus Monday. Amateur video posted online shows what activists are claiming is a government helicopter falling to the ground in a ball of fire and crashing in a plume of black smoke. The video has not been independently verified. […]
Nigeria Presidency Confirms ‘Backroom’ Talks With Boko Haram
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
A spokesman for Nigeria’s president has confirmed the government is engaged in talks with Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group blamed for killing hundreds of people. Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said “backroom” negotiations are being held to bring peace and stability, particularly in the north where most of the violence has taken place. Abati told […]
Alleged Al-Shabab Backer Killed in Kenya
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
Unidentified gunmen have killed a Kenyan Muslim cleric who was accused of supporting Somali militant group al-Shabab. Kenyan police say Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot dead Monday in the port city of Mombasa. Initial reports say the gunmen attacked the cleric as he was driving a vehicle carrying his wife and family. Aboud Rogo Mohammed […]
