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Kerry, Lavrov confident on Syria peace talks plan

May 16, 2013 02:01
By Patricia Zengerle KIRUNA, Sweden (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday they believed they could pull off peace talks on Syria, where their nations back opposing sides in a war that may have cost 120,000 lives. Differences between Russia, a main ally of President Bashar al-Assad, and the United States, which supports those trying to topple him, have long obstructed United Nations action on the turmoil convulsing Syria for more than two years.

'Small amount' of chemical arms used twice in Syria

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 17:16
Small amounts of chemical weapons have been used at least twice in Syria, but Washington is seeking more information as it mulls its response, a top US official said Wednesday. "The intelligence community has agreed with varying levels of confidence that chemical weapons were used in small amounts in at least two instances in Syria," Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told US lawmakers.

Tired of economic crisis, Sudanese pack up to try their luck abroad

May 15, 2013 15:34
By Ulf Laessing KHARTOUM (Reuters) - In a cramped government office in Khartoum, engineer Ahmed Taha and dozens of other Sudanese, lured by local newspaper adverts for jobs in the Gulf, sit waiting to get a permit to leave the country and work abroad. "I've had enough of Sudan and will go to Saudi Arabia," said Taha. "I am so tired of this country, the (economic) crisis, the corruption."

Kuwait court ruling may threaten economic recovery

May 15, 2013 15:30
By Sylvia Westall KUWAIT (Reuters) - A ruling by Kuwait's top court next month could end a period of relative political stability, jeopardizing government plans to push ahead with long-delayed economic projects. One of the world's richest countries per capita, Kuwait has struggled for years to get big infrastructure projects off the ground because of bureaucratic red tape and political turmoil. A parliamentary election in December was the fifth in six years.

UN assembly slams Assad 'escalation' in Syria war

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 14:24
The UN General Assembly condemned President Bashar al-Assad's "escalation" of the Syrian war on Wednesday as rebels battled to free inmates from a prison in the key city of Aleppo. But, in a move that underlined the diplomatic divisions that have hampered international efforts to end the crisis, Syria's key ally Russia fiercely opposed the resolution passed by 107 votes to 12 at the 193-member assembly.

Booze and bikinis are welcome in Egypt, says tourism minister

May 15, 2013 13:59
By Amena Bakr DUBAI (Reuters) - Islamist-ruled Egypt is open to visitors who drink alcohol and wear bikinis as it sets out to boost numbers by at least a fifth this year, the tourism minister said on Sunday. Tourism is a pillar of the Egyptian economy but has suffered since a popular uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and set off two years of periodic rioting and instability.

Turkey police clash with students protesting car bombings

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 13:53
Turkish police on Wednesday fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse hundreds of students demonstrating in Ankara against government policies they say resulted in last weekend's deadly twin bombings. Some 300 students hurled stones at the police as they vowed that those behind the car bombs in Reyhanli, near the Syrian border, "will pay a price" and demanded the resignation of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Fatah, Hamas agree to form Palestinian unity government

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 08:47
Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have set a three-month timetable to form a unity government and organise elections, officials from both sides said on Wednesday. The agreement came during a meeting late Tuesday between Fatah's official in charge of reconciliation affairs, Azzam al-Ahmed, and his Hamas counterpart Mussa Abu Marzuq, held at Egyptian security services headquarters in Cairo.

Syria rebels vow to punish atrocities amid video outrage

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 05:30
The Free Syrian Army pledged Wednesday to punish atrocities amid outrage over a video showing the mutilation of a corpse, as the regime ruled out discussing President Bashar al-Assad's departure in negotiations. The mainstream rebel group made the statement after a gruesome video of an alleged rebel fighter cutting out and apparently eating the organs of a regime soldier emerged online.

Syria regime to refuse 'dictate' at peace meet

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 05:30
The Syrian regime and its allies will refuse any "dictate" at an international peace conference, particularly concerning the departure of President Bashar al-Assad, a minister said. The Syrian opposition and several of its allies have repeatedly demanded the departure of Assad in order to end the bloody conflict roiling Syria for more than two years. "Syria will not accept any dictate and its friends will not accept it either," deputy foreign minister Faisal Muqdad said in an interview with Syrian state television Al-Ikhbariya late Tuesday.
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