A top aide to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is visiting western Burma, where security forces are presiding over an uneasy calm following days of deadly sectarian clashes between Buddhists and Muslims. U.N. officials told VOA that Vijay Nambiar, the international body’s top envoy for Burma, arrived Wednesday in western Rakhine state. Nambiar is visiting […]
UN Envoy Arrives in Strife-Torn Western Burma
Posted June 13th, 2012 at 1:45 pm (UTC-5)
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Bombs Kill 46 in Iraq, Shi’ite Pilgrims Targeted
Posted June 13th, 2012 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
Bombs have exploded in cities across Iraq as Shi’ite Muslims gathered for annual religious processions. Iraqi authorities say at least 46 people were killed in one of the country’s deadliest waves of violence this year. They said four bombs targeted Shi’ite pilgrims in and around Baghdad, killing at least 19 people, while car bombs killed […]
Heavy Fighting Kills 34 in Syria, UN Monitors Blocked
Posted June 12th, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian rights groups say at least 34 people were killed Tuesday as government forces continued attacks on rebel strongholds and U.N. monitors reported an angry mob prevented them from reaching the embattled western town of al-Haffeh. The Local Coordination Committees, an activist group with members throughout Syria, told VOA the casualties include 14 civilians dead […]
Afghan President: Airstrikes in Civilian Areas ‘Absolutely Banned’
Posted June 12th, 2012 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the use of NATO airstrikes in civilian areas is “absolutely banned,” even when coalition forces are under attack. Mr. Karzai told reporters Tuesday that bombing of civilian homes is not allowed for any reason, and that Afghanistan considers the airstrikes a “disproportionate” and “illegitimate” use of force. His comments come […]
More Than 20 Killed in Sectarian Strife in Burma
Posted June 12th, 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
More than 20 people have been killed in western Burma’s Rakhine State, as international pressure mounts for an end to sectarian fighting between ethnic-Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. President Thein Sein has declared a state of emergency and sent army troops in Rakhine, which has been hit with a wave of rioting and arson in […]
Opposition Rally Draws Tens of Thousands in Moscow
Posted June 12th, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
Tens of thousands of Russians have marched in an opposition rally in the capital Moscow to protest the return of Vladimir Putin to the Russian presidency, despite Russian authorities forcing several protest leaders to appear for questioning as the demonstration began. Tuesday’s rally was the first to be called by the opposition since Mr. Putin […]
Yemeni Troops Recapture Southern Cities From Al-Qaida
Posted June 12th, 2012 at 9:40 am (UTC-5)
Yemeni officials say government troops have recaptured two al-Qaida strongholds in the country’s south after a month-long offensive against the militant group, which seized the areas more than a year ago. Officials said Tuesday that Yemeni troops and their tribal allies took full control of Abyan’s provincial capital, Zinjibar, and the town of Jaar to […]
US Commerce Secretary Takes Medical Leave of Absence
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 11:35 pm (UTC-5)
The Obama administration says U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson is taking a medical leave of absence to undergo tests after being involved in two separate traffic crashes near Los Angeles, California after suffering an apparent seizure. Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says Bryson was driving a car last Saturday that allegedly struck […]
UN Secretary General Demands Unimpeded Access to Besieged Syrian City
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 9:25 pm (UTC-5)
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is demanding Syrian authorities grant the U.N. “unimpeded access” to the besieged city of Haffeh, where civilians are said to be trapped. U.N. monitors report Syrian forces are using helicopters to attack the rebel-held city and that civilians are caught in the crossfire. Mr. Ban’s office said Monday that […]
NATO Orders Restrictions on Afghan Air Strikes
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 4:35 pm (UTC-5)
NATO says it has agreed to restrict the use of airstrikes in Afghan residential areas following last week’s deadly strike in the east that Afghan officials say killed 18 civilians. Coalition officials told reporters Monday that troops would continue to conduct operations against insurgents who hide in residential compounds but that “when there is concern […]
