Afghanistan’s parliament has voted to sack the country’s five most senior judicial officials, a move that deepens the nation’s ongoing political crisis. The vote comes after a special tribunal set up by President Hamid Karzai on Thursday disqualified about one quarter of the winners of last year’s parliamentary election after an investigation into allegations of […]
Russian Billionaire Elected Head of Pro-Business Political Party
Posted June 25th, 2011 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov has been elected to lead the pro-business Russian political party Right Cause. Members of the party voted in the 46-year-old billionaire on Saturday. Prokhorov is one of Russia’s richest men and owns a U.S. professional basketball team. He heads the Onexim Group, an investment firm that has interests in mining, banking […]
Zimbabwe Arrests Another Tsvangirai Ally
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
For the third time this year, Zimbabwe police have arrested a Cabinet minister from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change. The MDC said police arrested Jameson Timba in Harare Friday on allegations he had undermined the authority of President Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF. A police spokesman in Harare confirmed the arrest but said […]
Senegal Drops Bid to Change Constitution After Protests
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 6:55 pm (UTC-5)
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has abandoned efforts to change the constitution as clashes erupted between riot police and opposition supporters in the capital, Dakar. Thousand of protesters, some throwing stones, gathered outside Senegal’s parliament, where lawmakers were meeting Thursday to debate the proposed changes. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. […]
Afghan Tribunal Disqualifies Quarter of Parliament
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
A special Afghan court set up by President Hamid Karzai has disqualified about one quarter of the winners of last year’s parliamentary election after an investigation into allegations of massive voter fraud. The tribunal said Thursday a recount of valid votes from the September election led it to overturn results for 62 seats in the […]
Senegalese Violence Spreads, Opposition Gaining Ground
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Senegal’s ruling party has abandoned efforts to change the constitution after riots by opposition supporters in the capital, Dakar. The protesters clashed with riot police on Thursday and demanded the constitution remain unchanged. Opposition supporters said a proposed amendment would make it easier for President Abdoulaye Wade to stay in power. The current constitution says […]
Son of Former Bangladeshi PM Jailed for Bribery
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
A Bangladeshi court has sentenced the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to six years in prison for money laundering. Arafat Rahman Koko was convicted of laundering through banks in Singapore $2.7 million in bribes from foreign companies. He was accused of accepting the money in exchange for helping the firms obtain government contracts. […]
Senegalese Violence Spreads, Opposition Gaining Ground
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Fierce clashes are spreading through the Senegalese capital, where demonstrators are taking to the streets to protest proposed changes to the country’s election laws. VOA’s correspondent in Dakar said Thursday hundreds of demonstrators took control of the main square in front of the National Assembly building, assaulting riot police with stones. Riot police fought back, […]
Iran Arrests Former Deputy Foreign Minister
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
Iranian media report the arrest of the former deputy foreign minister who resigned this week in a political spat. The Fars news agency says Mohammad Sharif Malekzadeh, an ally of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was taken into custody on Thursday. The report did not detail the charges. The ex-deputy foreign minister quit Tuesday as his boss […]
Somalia Names New Prime Minister
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
Somalia’s president has named former economics professor Abdiweli Mohamed Ali as the country’s new prime minister. Mr. Ali has been serving as acting prime minister following the resignation Sunday of his popular predecessor, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. Previously, the U.S.-educated appointee had served as Somalia’s minister for planning and international cooperation. President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed […]
