Burma’s parliament held its opening session Monday, but newly elected democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 others in her National League for Democracy party refused to take their seats in a dispute over the wording of the oath of office. An NLD party spokesperson and Aung San Suu Kyi herself have insisted they […]
Burmese Democracy Party Absent From Parliament Opening
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Official: US to Help Defend Afghanistan Past 2014
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 1:35 pm (UTC-5)
A top Afghan official says the United States is promising to help defend Afghanistan for at least the next decade after Afghan forces formally take full control of their country’s security in 2014. Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta shared the terms of the proposed U.S.-Afghan strategic deal with the country’s parliament Monday. The […]
9 Killed in Syria as UN Monitors Check Cease-fire
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian activists say government forces killed at least nine people Monday in a flashpoint city, a day after international observers visited the region. Activists say Syria’s military opened fire on civilians in the city of Hama’s Arbaeen neighborhood. They say dozens of people were wounded by the assault. The latest deaths come as U.N. monitors […]
France Holds Round One of Presidential Election
Posted April 22nd, 2012 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
Official results from France’s presidential election show Socialist candidate Francois Hollande and incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy advancing to a second round of voting. Partial results from Sunday’s poll give Hollande 28.4 percent of the vote, with Sarkozy receiving 25.5 percent. In a surprising finish, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen was in a strong third place, […]
UN Approves 300 Member Observer Mission to Syria
Posted April 21st, 2012 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council has authorized the deployment of up to 300 unarmed monitors to Syria, where deadly violence has marred a week-old ceasefire between the government and opposition forces. The council unanimously passed a resolution on Saturday authorizing the observer mission for an initial period of 90 days. The measure gives U.N. chief Ban […]
UN Set to Vote on Syria as Truce Unravels
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 9:15 pm (UTC-5)
The Security Council has reached a tentative agreement on a resolution that would expand the number of United Nations cease-fire observers in Syria from 30 to 300. French Ambassador to the U.N. Gerard Araud says the Council would meet Saturday for a vote. The U.N. action came even as the cease-fire brokered last week by […]
South Sudan Withdrawing From Heglig; Sudan Claims Victory
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 3:20 pm (UTC-5)
Tension between Sudan and South Sudan appeared to ease a bit Friday, with word that southern forces no longer occupy the Heglig oil fields, claimed by both sides. The countries gave different accounts of the withdrawal. South Sudan said it was commencing an orderly and voluntary pullout from Heglig immediately. However, Sudan’s ambassador to the […]
Pakistan Plane Crash Kills All 127 on Board
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 2:30 pm (UTC-5)
Authorities say there are no survivors of a passenger plane that crashed near the Pakistani capital with 127 people on board. The Boeing 737 was en route from the southern port city of Karachi to the capital Friday when it went down near Islamabad’s international airport during a thunderstorm. Officials say the Bhoja Air jet […]
Deposed Malian President Arrives in Senegal
Posted April 20th, 2012 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
Ousted Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure has arrived in Dakar with his family. The office of Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, had announced earlier Friday that the former president and his family were on their way to Senegal. There was no word on how long they might stay. Mr. Toure fled his home in Bamako during […]
US: Sudan and South Sudan Want to Avoid All-Out War
Posted April 19th, 2012 at 6:35 pm (UTC-5)
The United States says Sudan and South Sudan want to find a way to avoid full-scale war as fighting continues along the two countries’ border. Following talks with officials of both governments, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Princeton Lyman told reporters Thursday that the two sides realize how costly war would be. “In the discussions […]
