Monthly Archives: March 2011

PARIS – French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s ousted adviser on diversity called the president’s conservative party the “plague of Muslims” amid a growing furor over its plans to debate Islam’s role in France. Even Prime Minister Francois Fillon, a prominent member … Continue reading →

The stage is set for a final showdown in Ivory Coast after the army chief of staff abandoned strongman Laurent Gbagbo. General Philippe Mangou sought refuge with his family in the South African ambassador’s home on the night of March … Continue reading →

DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, facing a wave of protests demanding greater freedoms, took steps on Thursday toward addressing grievances including lifting emergency law and granting disenfranchised Kurds rights. Assad, who drew international criticism for failing to spell … Continue reading →

ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Heavy weapons fire rang out in central Abidjan on Thursday after Alassane Ouattara’s forces marched to the gates of Ivory Coast’s main city, and his camp said incumbent Laurent Gbagbo had just hours left in power. Residents … Continue reading →

LONDON (Reuters) – Scottish authorities said on Thursday they wished to interview the former Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. “We have notified the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that the Scottish prosecuting and investigating authorities wish … Continue reading →

TOKYO (Reuters) – France called for new global nuclear rules as Japan’s atomic crisis reached three weeks on Friday with widening radiation from its crippled power plant but scant hope of a quick resolution. President Nicolas Sarkozy — whose nation … Continue reading →

NEAR BREGA/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Rebels massed for a counter-attack against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in eastern Libya on Thursday, encouraged by news of covert U.S. support and the defection of Tripoli’s foreign minister. “We are beginning to see the Gaddafi … Continue reading →