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How one Liberian helps others speak out
Aloysius Toe has spent – and risked – his life fighting against human rights abuses.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:53+0200)

Bashir takes part in Arab League delegation to Lebanon
Foreign Minister Salah Bashir, member of the Arab League delegation to Lebanon, took part in discussions with Lebanese factions aimed at containing the Lebanese crisis and helping the country avoid civil war. In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, the delegation also met with Lower....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:49+0200)

Thousands flee north-south Sudan clashes in Abyei
By David Lewis ABYEI, Sudan, May 15 (Reuters) - Thousands of civilians fled clashes between Sudan's former north-south civil war foes in the oil-rich central town of Abyei on Thursday, local officials said. The clashes, sparked by a local dispute, have highlighted the tension in an area claimed by both Khartoum and South Sudan.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:49+0200)

Sri Lanka – ICRC Bulletin No. 04 / 2008
Latest report on ICRC activities in the field Sri Lanka: Clean water, sanitation and shelter for 125,000 displaced persons Several thousand Sri Lankans displaced by armed conflict currently need help obtaining safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and housing.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:49+0200)

Return to normal for Lebanon, Hezbollah says
Hezbollah has signalled a willingness to end its civil disobedience campaign in Lebanon after the government rescinded decisions that prompted fierce internal clashes over the last week.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:48+0200)

Animation on Beirut massacre bids for top Cannes prize
Repressed memories, the horrors of war and Israel's dubious role in a notorious Beirut refugee camp massacre are the themes of the Cannes film festival's first ever fully-animated documentary. Ari Folman's anti-war movie is premiered in Cannes as Israel celebrates its 60th year of existence and its....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:46+0200)

Cabinet climbdown a coup for Hezbolla
(AFP) 15 May 2008 BEIRUT - The Lebanese cabinet's climbdown in its latest showdown with Hezbollah marks a major victory for the Shiite Muslim militant group and a slap in the face for US policy in the region, analysts said. 'This climbdown is a major retreat, not only for the government but the US....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:43+0200)

Arab mediators expected to seal Lebanon deal
(Reuters) 15 May 2008 BEIRUT - An Arab League delegation is expected to conclude a deal to end fighting in Lebanon on Thursday after the U.S.-backed government backed down in its conflict with Hezbollah. The delegation is expected to announce talks in Qatar to resolve a broader political conflict...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:43+0200)

Arab league delegation expects to conclude a Lebanon deal
Beirut- An Arab League delegation is expected to conclude a deal to end fighting in Lebanon on Thursday after the Lebanese government backed down in its conflict with Hezbollah. The delegation is expected to announce talks in Qatar to resolve a broader political conflict that has paralyzed Lebanon....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:42+0200)

Darfur refugee overflow overwhelms Chad
Chad cannot handle Darfur's refugee overflow, says foreign minister Moussa Faki.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:41+0200)

China Death Toll Could Hit 50,000
China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to some 50,000
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:37+0200)

Ma: China unification unlikely 'in our lifetimes' (AP)
AP - Taiwan's new leader Ma Ying-jeou says that unification with longtime rival China is unlikely to happen "in our lifetimes."
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:36+0200)

Hezbollah: Lebanon to Return to Normal
Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem says the group will "return things" to normal after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of conflict. Kassem's comments Thursday came after a meeting with an Arab delegation that is trying to find a solution to Lebanon's worst crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:31+0200)

Bush denounces Mideast extremists
President Bush on Thursday criticized the deadly tactics of extremist groups like al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas and said he looks ...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:30+0200)

Report: China quake deaths could top 50,000
China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to some 50,000, while the government issued a rare public ...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:30+0200)

Rwanda: Parliament to Create Public Accounts Watchdog
The National Parliament is planning to establish a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) before the end of this year.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:24+0200)

China says quake toll could top 50,000
The death toll from China's massive earthquake could reach more than 50,000, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday, quoting rescue headquarters.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:18+0200)

Arab mediators expected to seal Beirut deal
(Reuters) - An Arab League delegation is expected to conclude a deal in Lebanon on Thursday, defusing a crisis that led to six days of armed conflict and threatened to start a new civil war . The delegation is expected to announce talks in aiming to resolve the broader political conflict that has....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:17+0200)

State TV: China quake death toll could hit 50,000
LUOSHUI TOWN, China (AP) -- China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to some 50,000, while the government issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster. Rescue workers broke through key roads to the epicenter in the race to find survivors.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:17+0200)

Dalai Lama attacks China at start of Western tour
The Dalai Lama accused China of "suppression" and demanded autonomy for Tibet as he arrived Thursday in Germany to start a Western tour ahead of the Beijing Olympics. "The Chinese political authorities' reaction, as before, was suppression. So it is very sad," he said of China's military crackdown.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:16+0200)

Quake toll could climb to 50,000: China cabinet
China's cabinet says toll could reach 50,000; government issues rare public appeal for rescue equipment
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:15+0200)

Bush vows to support Israel against 'terror and evil'
by Laurent Lozano May 15, 2008 7:03 EDT JERUSALEM (AFP) US President George W. Bush took a tough stance against Israels armed foes on Thursday, a day after a rocket fired by Gaza militants wounded 14 people and triggered warnings of retaliation.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:12+0200)

China warns quake death toll could rise to 50,000
China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to some 50,000, while the government issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster. Rescue workers broke through key roads to the epicenter in the race to find survivors.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:11+0200)

Calm returns to Lebanon after government climbdown
An Arab League delegation is expected to reach a deal on Lebanon, defusing a crisis that led to six days of armed conflict.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:11+0200)

Darfur refugee overflow overwhelms Chad
Ndjamena - Chad is overwhelmed by the refugee crisis along its border with Sudan, its foreign minister said, urging the international community to step in and resolve the Darfur conflict. Some 250 000 refugees have flooded into Chad from the civil war that has been ravaging the neighbouring Sudanese....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:07+0200)

Nonagenarian gives in ultimately...
First, they tried to kill her in 1994, she survived but lost her husband and children. Now, the killers have come back to finish the job.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:07+0200)

Rwanda genocide survivor burnt to death
A 90-year-old Rwandan genocide survivor has been stabbed and burnt to death by a gang that included four assailants who had confessed to taking part in the 1994 slaughter, a body representing genocide survivors said today.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:07+0200)

Rwanda genocide survivor burnt to death by gang (Reuters)
Reuters - A 90-year-old Rwandan genocide survivor has been stabbed and burnt to death by a gang that included four assailants who had confessed to taking part in the 1994 slaughter, a body representing genocide survivors said on Thursday.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:06+0200)

China quake toll could reach 50,000 - Xinhua (Updates)
The death toll from China's massive earthquake could reach 50,000, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday. The government issued a rare appeal to the Chinese public calling for donations of rescue equipment including hammers, shovels, demolition tools and rubber boats.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 14:00+0200)

AfDB to remain in Tunis for time being
African Development Bank is ruling out eventual return to Ivory Coast where political situation has improved.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:56+0200)

China quake death toll exceeds 19,500
China issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as the government struggled to cope with this week's deadly earthquake.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:54+0200)

China: Quake Death Toll Could Hit 50,000
Chinese state media has raised the official death toll from a devastating earthquake to 19,500, but cabinet members in Beijing are now predicting that number could quickly climb to as many as 50,000.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:54+0200)

Hezbollah welcomes government move
The group says things to 'return to normal' in Lebanon as government reverses decisions.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:49+0200)

Palestinians mark the 'Nakba'
Abbas calls for end to Israeli occupation as Palestinians mark their 1948 uprooting.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:49+0200)

Rwanda genocide survivor burnt to death by gang
KIGALI (Reuters) - A 90-year-old Rwandan genocide survivor has been stabbed and burnt to death by a gang that included four assailants who had confessed to taking part in the 1994 slaughter, a body representing genocide survivors said on Thursday.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:48+0200)

Suicide blast kills 18 Afghan police, civilians
HERAT, Afghanistan, (Reuters) - A suicide bomber disguised in a burqa detonated a blast in a bazaar in western Afghanistan on Thursday, killing 18 police and civilians, in the bloodiest suicide attack
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:47+0200)

A house under cancer's shadow
There is something eerie about a sprawling VIP bungalow in Tughlaq Lane. Many of its high-profiled occupants succumbed to cancer and even their recourse to Vastu Shastra could not ward off the 'evil', reports Sarat C Das .
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:41+0200)

Bomber kills 15 in crowded Afghan market
KABUL, Afghanistan - A suicide bomber wearing a burqa blew himself up at a crowded market in western Afghanistan on Thursday, killing 15 people and wounding 22 others, an official said.The bomber stru...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:40+0200)

Suicide blast kills 18 Afghan police, civilians
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A suicide blast killed 18 police and civilians on Thursday in Afghanistan's western province of Farah, officials said.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:40+0200)

Chavez tells Colombia not to build base for US
CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday warned Colombia not to allow a U.S. military base on its border with Venezuela, saying he would consider such an act an "aggression." Chavez s...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:40+0200)

Bush visits Masada, will speak to Knesset
But it remains one of Israel's most revered sites, and Bush decided to spend some time learning about the area and reflecting on what happened there, said spokeswoman Dana Perino. "The courage and bra...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:40+0200)

Deforestation - MNCs, Militants, Soldiers, Farmers Blamed
NABUNTURAN, Mindanao, May 15 (IPS) - Outside the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Compostela Valley province sits a pile of confiscated, milled hardwood -- a mon...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:40+0200)

Rescuers at China quake epicenter, digging by hand
HANWANG, China (AP) -- Soldiers rushed to shore up a dam cracked by this week's powerful earthquake, and rescuers came by helicopter and ship Wednesday into the isolated epicenter but still were force...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:40+0200)

UN: Foreign agents behind spate of Afghan killings (AP)
AP - A U.N. rights official alleged Thursday that foreign intelligence agents were acting with impunity in Afghanistan and have taken part in secret raids that have killed civilians.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:36+0200)

State TV: China quake death toll could rise to 50K (AP)
AP - China's Cabinet says the death toll could hit 50,000 from this week's powerful earthquake in Sichuan province alone.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:36+0200)

Afghan army units ready for bigger security role: commander
Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche said development of Afghan National Army units has come along quicker than he expected
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:30+0200)

Hezbollah says it will return Lebanon to normal
Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem says the group will "return things" to normal after the government reversed key decisions ...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:29+0200)

China earthquake death toll exceeds 19,500
China issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as the government struggled to cope with this week's deadly earthquake. ...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:29+0200)

Thousands flee north-south Sudan clashes in Abyei
By David Lewis ABYEI, Sudan, May 15 (Reuters) - Thousands of civilians fled clashes between Sudan's former north-south civil war foes in the oil-rich central town of Abyei on Thursday, local officials said. The clashes, sparked by a local dispute, have highlighted the tension in an area claimed by both Khartoum and South Sudan.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:29+0200)

Calls for Afghan anti-drug belt
CHINA, India and Russia called today for the creation of a security belt around Afghanistan to halt the spread of heroin. 9:15pm (AEST)
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:25+0200)

Hizbullah: We will return normalcy to Lebanon
Hizbullah's deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem said Thursday that the group will "return things" to normal after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of conflict. Kassem's comments came after a meeting with an Arab delegation that is trying to find a solution to Lebanon's worst crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:24+0200)

Liberia: Firestone Continues Rubber Stumps Distribution
The Management of Firestone Liberia is continuing the distribution of free rubber stumps to Liberian rubber farmers.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:24+0200)

Hezbollah announces end to crisis after Lebanon reverses crackdown
Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem said Monday that the Lebanon-based militant group was willing to return to a state of normalcy, after the government decided to reverse crackdown measures that had triggered days of conflict. ...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:24+0200)

Hizbollah Make Promises in Lebanon
Hizbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem says the group will "return things" to normal after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of conflict
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:21+0200)

Thousands flee north-south Sudan clashes in Abyei
ABYEI, Sudan (Reuters) - Thousands of civilians fled clashes between Sudan's former north-south civil war foes in the oil-rich central town of Abyei on Thursday, local officials said.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:18+0200)

Bouthaina Shabaan
A leading member of the Syrian government says her country has had no involvement in the recent violence in West Beirut.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:17+0200)

Hezbollah says it will return Lebanon to normal
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem says the group will "return things" to normal after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of conflict....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:16+0200)

Police Kill 6 Maoist Rebels In Eastern India
Police found the bullet-riddled bodies of the six men near their forest hideout in Bihar state as the sun rose after a night-long gunbattle.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:11+0200)

China earthquake death toll exceeds 19,500 (AP)
AP - China issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as the government struggled to cope with this week's deadly earthquake. Rescue workers broke through key roads to the epicenter in the race to find survivors, as the death toll soared to more than 19,500.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:05+0200)

Climate ripe for military budget overhaul
The West's generals, as ever, are still fighting the last war - and still pouring funds into weapons systems that are as outdated, even as climate change poses a bigger threat than any hostile forces. New submarines can't be used to fight terrorism - or climate change. The need now is for a climate-orientated industrial complex.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:03+0200)

Corruption, looting cloud Kashmir's gemmed future
Kashmir sapphires have been cherished for more than a century, yet corruption and looting that is entwined with their beauty have prevented their full exploitation. The latest attempts to attract international investors to mine the gems may succeed. History suggests otherwise. - Haroon Mirani
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:03+0200)

NATO primes cyber defence centre in Estonia
Seven NATO countries have backed the establishment of a new cyber warfare defence centre in Estonia. The Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (COE) is expected to swing into operation in August. The centre will run research and training on cyber-warfare.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:01+0200)

Hezbollah says it will return things to normal in Lebanon after government reversed decisions
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem says the group will "return things" to normal after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of conflict. Kassem's
(Posted on 2008-05-15 13:00+0200)

Rwanda: Foreign Minister Fails to Travel to Belgium
The official visit of new Rwandan Foreign Minister, Rosemary Museminali, last week to Belgium was cancelled because of the presence in her delegation of Joseph Nzabamwita, number two of exterior security wanted by Spanish justice, according to reports in the Belgian media.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:54+0200)

Rwanda: Financial Motive Likely Source for Mysterious Disappearance of Protected Witness
The spokesman of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Roland Amoussouga, said Wednesday that the possible motive for the sudden disappearance of a protected witness from a safe house about a week ago might be linked to finance.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:54+0200)

Blah links Taylor to Sierra Leone's civil war at The Hague trial
Former interim president Moses Blah on the first day of his testimony at the Special War Crimes Court in The Hague, has directly linked his former comrade-in-arms, Charles Taylor to the decade-long bloody civil war in Sierra Leone. Mr. Blah confirmed prosecution's allegation that Mr.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:54+0200)

Bullies of the Caucasus
If you're deep in the trenches, stop digging. Both Russia and Georgia darkly warned last week of the danger of war over the Black Sea territory of Abkhazia, but they both keep digging. Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili said Moscow and Tbilisi have come "very close" to a military confrontation.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:53+0200)

Black college's first white valedictorian
His popularity got him elected dorm president as a freshman. His looks and physique made him a fashion-show favourite. His intellect made him a Rhodes Scholar finalist. His work ethic landed him a job at the prestigious investment banking firm Goldman Sachs in New York City. But it's his skin that has made all of this an anomaly.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:21+0200)

Former Liberian president testifies against Charles Taylor
Moses Blah briefly served as Liberian president in 2003, taking leadership of the war-ravaged country after Taylor was forced into exile. He is the 27th and highest-ranking witness to take the stand against Taylor since his trial began early this year. The 61-year-old Blah had previously served as vice president under Taylor.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:21+0200)

Russia, China, India seek Afghan anti-drug "belt"
YEKATERINBURG, Russia (Reuters) - China, India and Russia called on Thursday for the creation of a security belt around Afghanistan to halt the spread of heroin.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:48+0200)

Quake death toll exceeds 19,500
In Luoshui town — on the road to an industrial zone in Shifang city where two chemical plants collapsed, burying hundreds of people — troops used a mechanical shovel to dig a pit on a hilltop to bury the dead. Two bodies wrapped in white sheets lie near the pit.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:45+0200)

On Colombia, Jewish refugees, currencies, Cuba, John McCain, Macedonia
Colombia's past and present SIR It is not right to suggest that Colombia's President Álvaro Uribe had originally planned to give an amnesty to demobilised paramilitaries (“ The Uribe temptation ”, April 19th). The “justice and peace law”, as initially defined, sought to give the opportunity to all....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:44+0200)

Hezbollah says it will return Lebanon to normal (AP)
AP - Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem says the group will "return things" to normal after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of conflict.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:35+0200)

China Death Toll Exceeds 19,500
China ordered dozens more helicopters to drop aid into remote areas of quake-hit Sichuan province
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:35+0200)

New Taiwan leader eyes peace with China
Taiwan's incoming President Ma Ying-jeou says the earthquake that struck China earlier this week provides a "good opportunity" ...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:28+0200)

Suicide blast kills 18 Afghan police, civilians
(Adds details) By Sharafuddin Sharafyar HERAT, Afghanistan, May 15 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber detonated a blast in a bazaar in western Afghanistan on Thursday, killing 18 police and civilians, in the bloodiest suicide attack in weeks, officials said.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:27+0200)

Taylor 'ignored rebel protests'
Liberia's Charles Taylor rejected Sierra Leone rebel complaints about his troops' behaviour, an ex-ally says.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:24+0200)

China: Almost 20,000 Killed By Quake
Chinese state media has raised the official death toll from a devastating earthquake to 19,500 amid calls by the government for rescue equipment as it struggles to cope with the disaster.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:24+0200)

Taylor 'ignored rebel protests'
Liberia's Charles Taylor rejected Sierra Leone rebel complaints about his troops' behaviour, an ex-ally says.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:23+0200)

Fatah al-Islam threatens fighting against "humiliation" in Lebanon
BEIRUT, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Fundamentalist Sunni group Fatah al-Islam, defined by Lebanese government as a terrorist group, has vowed to confront those "bowing the heads of the Sunni in Beirut" with "bloodshed," pan-Arab Al-Hayat daily reported Thursday.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:18+0200)

Israel able to stop Gaza rocket fire in near future
JERUSALEM, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel would be able to obliterate rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in the near future, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday. "The government will work toward an absolute end to Qassam rocket fire, and we are not talking about a prolonged period of months," he was quoted by local daily Ha'aretz as saying.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:18+0200)

Seven people killed in Iraqi Shiite bastion clashes
BAGHDAD, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Overnight clashes between U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces and Shiite militia in Baghdad's eastern neighborhood of Sadr City killed at least seven people and wounded some 20 others, medical officials said on Thursday. Imam Ali and al-Sadr hospitals in Sadr City have....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:18+0200)

Nearer to overcoming
Mr Fryer now applies his supple mind to the touchy, tangled issue of racial inequality. Why are African-Americans so much less prosperous than whites? Why do so many black children flounder in school? Why do so many young black men languish behind bars? Why are stories like Mr Fryer's considered so....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:13+0200)

Bush vows to support Israel against "terror"
Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush has vowed to support Israel in battling "terror" groups. It comes a day after a rocket fired from Gaza wounded 14 people and triggered warnings of retaliation.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:16+0200)

Bush denounces extremists in the Middle East
JERUSALEM (AP) -- President Bush on Thursday criticized the deadly tactics of extremist groups like al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Hamas and said he looks toward the day when Muslims "recognize the emptiness of the terrorists' vision and the injustice of their cause."...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:15+0200)

China earthquake death toll exceeds 19,500
LUOSHUI TOWN, China (AP) -- China issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as the government struggled to cope with this week's deadly earthquake. Rescue workers broke through key roads to the epicenter in the race to find survivors, as the death toll soared to more than 19,500....
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:15+0200)

Arab mediators expected to seal Beirut deal
BEIRUT, (Reuters) - An Arab League delegation is expected to conclude a deal in Lebanon on Thursday, defusing a crisis that led to six days of armed conflict and threatened to start a new civil war. The
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:13+0200)

Bush criticizes Mideast extremists, says US, Israel oppose Iran's nuclear ambitions
JERUSALEM (AP) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday criticized the deadly tactics of extremist groups like al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Hamas and said he looks toward the day when Muslims "recognize
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:13+0200)

Make Sudan ‘see reason’: Chad
Already-strained ties between Sudan and Chad worsen as the two countries continue slinging accusations at each other over the crisis in strife-torn Darfur. AFP NDJAMENA - Chad's foreign minister has risked alienating his country even further from Sudan by urging the international community to arm-twist Khartoum into resolving the Darfur crisis.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:07+0200)

Arab mediators to clinch deal to defuse Lebanon crisis (AFP)
AFP - Arab mediators are set to unveil a deal on Thursday towards ending a crisis that has pushed Lebanon to the brink of civil war, after the US-backed cabinet, in a major climbdown, cancelled controversial measures against its Hezbollah rivals.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:05+0200)

Biafra leader in Nigeria re-arraigned for treason (AFP)
AFP - Biafran separatist leader Ralph Uwazuruike, released for three months to attend his mother's burial, has been re-arraigned on treason charges after a new judge was assigned to his case, court officials said Thursday.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:05+0200)

Russia, China, India seek Afghan anti-drug "belt" (Reuters)
Reuters - China, India and Russia called on Thursday for the creation of a security belt around Afghanistan to halt the spread of heroin.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:05+0200)

State media: China quake death toll exceeds 19,500 (AP)
AP - China issued a rare public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as the government struggled to cope with this week's deadly earthquake. Rescue workers broke through key roads to the epicenter in the race to find survivors, as the death toll soared to more than 19,500.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:05+0200)

18 dead in Afghanistan suicide blast
A suicide blast has killed 18 police and civilians in Afghanistan's western province of Farah, officials said.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:05+0200)

McCain envisions how first term will go
John McCain, looking through a crystal ball to 2013 and the end of a prospective first term, sees "spasmodic" but reduced violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden dead or captured and government spending curbed by his ready veto pen.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 12:02+0200)

Bush tours Israel's ancient fortress of Masada
(Adds Abbas speech, White House comment) By Tabassum Zakaria MASADA, Israel, May 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday toured the Roman-era desert fortress of Masada, a national symbol in Israel of Jewish fighting spirit and self-sacrifice against powerful enemies and overwhelming odds.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:57+0200)

Rwanda: Parliament Set to Create Public Accounts Watchdog
The National Parliament is planning to establish a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) before the end of this year. The decision was made by the Lower House of Parliament to harmonize the system with the other East African Community (EAC) member states and will take effect after Parliamentary elections slated for September.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:54+0200)

Iraq Orphans Neglected, Abused
BAGHDAD — Fadel Mohammad Ra’ad, 10, is one of thousands of children who have lost their parents to the endless violence that has been gripping Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion. "My parents were killed in an explosion at the center of Baghdad last year, leaving me and my sister to no one," the kid told IslamOnline.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:53+0200)

Suicide Bomber Kills 15 In Afghanistan
A suicide bomber wearing a burqa has killed 15 people in a crowded market in western Afghanistan as the U.N. accuses American special forces of taking part in "absolutely unacceptable" raids in which civilians have been killed.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:39+0200)

From Beirut to Teheran
Hizbullah's recent takeover in West Beirut and its in attacks in the central Lebanese mountains could lead to regional escalation and a broader confrontation with Iran if efforts to resolve the crisis are unsuccessful, a Lebanese expert told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:35+0200)

Bush vows to support Israel against 'terror' (AFP)
AFP - Visiting US President George W. Bush vowed on Thursday to support Israel in battling "terror" groups, a day after a rocket fired from Gaza wounded 14 people and triggered warnings of retaliation.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:34+0200)

Bush denounces Mideast extremists (AP)
AP - President Bush on Thursday criticized the deadly tactics of extremist groups like al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Hamas and said he looks toward the day when Muslims "recognize the emptiness of the terrorists' vision and the injustice of their cause."
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:34+0200)

Mid East: Bush Denounces Extremists
President Bush criticized the deadly tactics of extremist groups like al-Qaeda, Hizbollah and Hamas
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:33+0200)

Bush vows to support Israel against 'terror'
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Visiting US President George W. Bush vowed on Thursday to support Israel in battling "terror" groups, a day after a rocket fired from Gaza wounded 14 people and triggered warnings of retaliation.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:30+0200)

Official: Suicide bomber kills 15 in Afghanistan
A suicide bomber wearing a burqa killed 15 people and wounding 22 others when he blew himself up Thursday in a crowded market in western Afghanistan, a provincial official said.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:28+0200)

Bush tours Israel's ancient fortress of Masada
MASADA, Israel (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday toured the Roman-era desert fortress of Masada, a national symbol in Israel of Jewish fighting spirit and self-sacrifice against powerful enemies and overwhelming odds.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:24+0200)

Bush to tell Knesset: U.S. will not abandon Israel
In his address to the Knesset on Thursday, U.S. President George W. Bush will reiterate that Washington remains Israel's closest friend and ally, according to a preview of the speech provided by the White House. ...
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:23+0200)

Gordon Brown admits: yes, many people could take over, but I'm still best man
Gordon Brown today defended his leadership, claiming that although 'many people could take over' he was 'probably' still the best person to lead Britain.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:22+0200)

Bush vows to support Israel
US President George W. Bush has once again expressed his unwavering support for Israel on a tour of the Middle East. By Laurent Lozano, AFP JERUSALEM - US President George W. Bush took a tough stance against Israel's armed foes today, a day after a rocket fired by Gaza militants wounded 14 people and triggered warnings of retaliation.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:22+0200)

Sudan clashes prompt UN pullout
The UN withdraws non-essential staff after clashes in oil-rich Abyei which straddles Sudan's north and south.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:17+0200)

Sudan clashes prompt UN pullout
The UN withdraws non-essential staff after clashes in oil-rich Abyei which straddles Sudan's north and south.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:16+0200)

Official: Suicide bomber kills 15 in Afghanistan
Date : May 15, 2008 Category : General Sources : BNA KABUL Afghanistan - A suicide bomber wearing a burqa killed 15 people and wounding 22 others when he blew himself up Thursday in a crowded market in western Afghanistan , a provincial official said. Three policemen, including a district police chief, and 12 civilians were among the dead.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:15+0200)

Gordon Brown admits: yes, many people could take over, but I'm still best man
Gordon Brown today defended his leadership, claiming that although 'many people could take over' he was 'probably' still the best person to lead Britain.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:10+0200)

Violence flares as Bush marks Israel's anniversary (The Christian Science Monitor)
The Christian Science Monitor - President Bush landed here Wednesday to join the Jewish state in its 60th anniversary gala – part of his drive to propel Israelis and Palestinians toward a landmark peace deal.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:04+0200)

IRAQ: Nature Adds to Occupation Blows
BAQUBA, May 15 (IPS) - Farmers in the Diyala province in Iraq have been hit by just about every crisis possible. First the security disaster dried up supplies and markets, then lack of electricity cut irrigation, and now comes a drying up of water resources.
(Posted on 2008-05-15 11:04+0200)