EU rescue may tilt Cyprus from Moscow in regional power shift

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Supporters of the extreme-right Golden Dawn party hold Greek flags, during a rally over the crisis in Cyprus, outside the German embassy Athens March 22, 2013. (Reuters) On a hot morning in July last year, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias sat with a group...

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Lebanon's PM Najib Mikati resigns

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati may step down from office leaving Lebanon in political turmoil. (Reuters) Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced his resignation on Friday after Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its allies blocked the extension of Internal Security Forces chief's term in office and the creation of a body to supervise parliamentary elections. "I announce the resignation of the government, hoping that this will open the way for the major political blocs to take responsibility and come together to bring Lebanon out of the unknown," Mikati said. Mikati was appointed premier in 2011 after the Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its...

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Obama announces $200 million in aid for Jordan

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Jordan's King Abdullah speaks during a joint news conference with U.S. President Barack Obama at Al-Hummar Palace in Amman, March 22, 2013. (Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama announced in Amman on Friday an aid package of $200 million for Jordan to help...

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Lebanon Cabinet deadlocked over security chief’s term extension

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati may step down from office leaving Lebanon in political turmoil. (Reuters) Lebanon's Cabinet met Friday afternoon to discuss the possible extension of the Internal Security Forces Chief's term in office amid reports of a...

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Israel apologizes to Turkey, ending diplomatic rift

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } An Israeli flag flutters in the wind as a naval vessel (not seen) escorts the Mavi Marmara, a Gaza-bound ship that was raided by Israeli marines, to the Ashdod port, in this May 31, 2010 file picture. (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized...

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Tunisia camp for Libya refugees to close in June

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } According to the U.N. refugee agency, refugee camp in southern Tunisia for people who fled the conflict in Libya is to close in June, despite protests by residents who have failed to win shelter elsewhere. (Reuters) A camp in southern Tunisia for people who...

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Musharraf confirms return to Pakistan despite ‘peril’

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf speaks during an interview with AFP at his residence in the Gulf emirate of Dubai on March 22, 2013. (AFP) Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf said Friday he would definitely return home Sunday...

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Obama lands in Jordan for talks focusing on Syria’s crisis

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman March 22, 2013. (Reuters) President Barack Obama arrived in Jordan Friday evening in the final stop on his four-day visit to the Middle East.Obama will hold meetings with King...

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U.N. prolongs probe into Syrian rights violations

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } U.N. prolongs probe into Syrian rights violationsThe 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council adopted with an overwhelming majority a resolution extending the mandate of a commission of enquiry created by the council in 2011 for another year. (AFP) The U.N. on Friday...

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Five killed in Iraq deadly attacks

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Violence has declined dramatically across Iraq since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was mired in a brutal sectarian war, but attacks are still common, especially in Baghdad and north of the capital. (AFP) Attacks in Iraq on Friday killed five people,...

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Egypt Bedouin kidnap Israeli, Norwegian tourists: police

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } A picture dated on October 11, 2004 shows empty bungalows in an empty beach resort on the Red Sea coastal strip in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. (AFP) Armed Bedouin tribesmen in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Friday kidnapped two tourists, an Israeli man and a Norwegian...

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Erdogan spoke with Netanyahu in breakthrough talks: Obama

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Turkish Prime Minister Rejeb Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in breakthrough talks. (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish Prime Minister Rejeb Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone on Friday,...

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Assad loyalists hack BBC Twitter account

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } The Twitter account belonging to the BBC's weather service was hacked on Thursday, the public broadcaster said. (Reuters) A group of online activists and hackers siding with the Assad regime infiltrated the Twitter feed account of BBC Weather on Thursday. ...

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Egypt activists, Islamists clash outside brotherhood HQ

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi clash with anti-Mursi protesters outside the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 5, 2012. (AFP) Egyptian opposition protesters clashed with Islamists on Friday near the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters...

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Pope wants church to ‘intensify’ dialogue with Islam

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Pope Francis celebrated his inaugural mass on Tuesday among political and religious leaders from around the world and amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church. (AFP) Pope Francis on Friday called for the Roman Catholic...

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Russia holds back on Cyprus aid, uncertain of Turkey’s role

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Medvedev said that Russia was taking this approach "for very obvious economic reasons" that he did not spell out. (AFP) Russia said Friday it would wait for Cyprus and the European Union to strike a deal before pitching in to any possible bailout for the debt-ridden...

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We will defend property ‘by all means’: Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Muslim Brotherhood's Secretary General Mahmoud Hussein speaks at a news conference in Cairo regarding an attack by protesters on the Brotherhood headquarters. (Reuters) Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said on Thursday that it would defend its headquarters against...

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Cyprus says in ‘hard negotiations’ with troika of lenders

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Cypriot shop owners chat about the dire financial situation of their country in Nicosia's shopping district March 22, 2013. (Reuters) Cyprus is locked in "hard negotiations" with a troika of lenders to save the Eurozone member's banking system and economy in...

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Hezbollah slams Obama’s call for “terror” listing

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Hezbollah slam U.S. President Barack Obama's demand that nations list it as a "terrorist organisation." (AFP) Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Friday slammed U.S. President Barack Obama's demand that nations list it as a "terrorist organisation," saying...

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Refugees and wounded flee Syria into Lebanon’s Shebaa

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Syrian refugee children queue as they wait to receive aid from humanitarian agencies. (Reuters) Syrian refugees used donkeys to flee fighting near the Golan Heights and cross rugged snow-capped terrain into Lebanon. A rebel brigade claimed on Thursday to...

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Oman’s Sultan pardons all jailed activists

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Oman's Sultan Qaboos pardons prisoners who were jailed under any technology defamation crimes. (Reuters) Oman's Sultan Qaboos pardoned on Friday all dissidents jailed for defaming the ruler or taking part in protests, in the latest effort to defuse unrest inspired...

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Syrian opposition envoy asks UK MPs to arm rebels

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Walid Saffour, the London-based president of the Syrian Human Rights Committee, speaks during a meeting in Istanbul April 26, 2011. (Reuters) The Syrian National Council's representative in London, Walid Saffour, accused the regime of Bashar al-Assad of using...

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Bodies in streets of riot-hit Myanmar town

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } The central Myanmar town declared a curfew for a second night on Thursday after clashes killed 10 people, including a Buddhist monk, and injured at least 20, authorities said. (Reuters) Charred bodies lay unclaimed on the streets of a riot-hit town in central...

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Assad vows to "cleanse" Syria of extremists

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vows to cleanse Syria of Muslim extremists. (AFP) Syria's president has vowed to rid the country of Muslim extremists whom he blamed for a suicide bombing that killed 42 people, including a top Sunni preacher. Friday's statement...

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Obama to face Syria scrutiny in Jordan

body { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; } body, p, ol, ul, td { font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; } pre { background-color: #eeeeee; padding: 10px; font-size: 12px; } a { color: #000; } a:visited { color: #666; } a:hover { color: #fff; background-color:#000; } U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Friday evening. (Reuters) A day after challenging Israelis to embrace peace with Palestinians, U.S. President Barack Obama Friday will face scrutiny over his strategy on Syria...

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