site.news_by_theme Middle East & Africa
Pro-Islamist elected Libya assembly chief
Libya's new national assembly late Thursday elected as its president Mohamed al-Megaryef, a staunch opponent of Moamer Kadhafi's overthrown regime who is seen as being pro-Islamist.
13 August 2012
Clinton arrives in Turkey for key Syria talks
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived Saturday in Istanbul for talks on the conflict in Syria with Turkish leaders after Washington slapped fresh sanctions on Bashar al-Assad's regime and its allies.
12 August 2012
Warning shots, tear gas fired to disperse Tunisia demos
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets late Thursday to disperse a second anti-government protest in the central Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid, birthplace of last year's revolution.
10 August 2012
Syria rebels out of Aleppo district, new envoy due
Rebels retreated from the key Aleppo district of Salaheddin under a deadly rain of shellfire Thursday, as a veteran Algerian diplomat was set to be named the new international envoy to Syria.
10 August 2012
New US study finds diverse beliefs in Muslim world
The global Muslim community of 1.6 billion people agree on the core principles of their faith, but differ widely in religiosity and religious tolerance.
10 August 2012
Defections harry Syria regime, but core intact: analysts
The defection of Syria's prime minister was a boon for the opposition, heightening regime paranoia, but as rebels and their allies await mass defections, analysts say the ruling core remains intact.
09 August 2012
S. Korea firms in talks to resume Iran oil imports
South Korean oil refiners are in talks with Iran to resume oil imports, officials said Thursday, potentially by using Iranian tankers as a way to circumvent EU sanctions.
09 August 2012
Libya council hands power to new assembly
Libya's National Transitional Council on Wednesday handed power to a new assembly, in a symbolic move marking a peaceful transition following the overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi's 40-year dictatorship.
09 August 2012
Assad vows to crush Syria rebellion
President Bashar al-Assad vowed on Tuesday to crush the 17-month rebellion against his regime and to cleanse Syria of "terrorists", as his troops engaged rebels in key battleground city Aleppo.
09 August 2012
Iranian woman leaves US prison after Oman mediation
An Iranian woman, jailed by the United States for attempting to export military equipment to Tehran, has been freed and arrived in Oman on Tuesday.
08 August 2012
Reliant on Ethiopia, Somali officials struggle to fill void
Standing in front of the rag-covered tent that has been her family's home for 18 months, grandmother Halbo Maow says that while the men with the guns might have changed, life still remains tough.
08 August 2012
Syria PM defects, accuses Assad regime of genocide
Syria's prime minister joined the rebels and accused President Bashar al-Assad of carrying out "genocide" against his own people, prompting Washington to say the regime was "crumbling".
08 August 2012
Egypt army promises to avenge Sinai attack
The Egyptian army on Monday promised to "avenge" the deaths of 16 border guards in an assault the previous day on a post near the border with Israel, in a statement issued by state news agency MENA.
07 August 2012
At 13, youngest Olympics competitor keeps it simple
Togo's 13-year-old swimmer Adzo Kpossi, the youngest competitor at the London 2012 Olympics, trains in a hotel pool and wears costumes bought on sale at the market.
06 August 2012
Libya's interim rulers to hand over power
Libya's interim authorities said they will hand over power to a newly elected congress on Wednesday, less than a year after its fighters overthrew the regime of Moamer Kadhafi.
06 August 2012
Olympics: Kazakhstan boxer Volnova reached quarterfinals
23-y.o. Kazakhstan boxer Marina Volnova won over Kenyan Elizabeth Andiego in London Olympics.
06 August 2012
Obama aide accepted fee from company with Iran links: report
Senior White House adviser David Plouffe, who managed President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, accepted a $100,000 speaking fee from an affiliate of a company doing business with Iran.
06 August 2012
Clinton arrives in S.Africa for meeting with Mandela
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to meet with South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela on Monday, the State Department said, hours after her arrival on the latest leg of her Africa tour.
06 August 2012
US Senate confirms Obama's new envoy to Kabul
The US Senate late Thursday confirmed career diplomat James Cunningham as President Barack Obama's new ambassador to Afghanistan.
06 August 2012
US stands firm against arming Syrian rebels
The US is stepping up support for the Syrian rebels but, despite the failure of UN envoy Kofi Annan's mission, is sticking to its refusal to pour arms into a complex conflict.
05 August 2012