WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Rwandan genocide memorial in Nyamata (Fanny Schertzer) German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of complicity in genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. The suspect, identified only as Innocent S. under German privacy rules, was arrested in the central German state of Hesse on Wednesday. According to Reuters,…

Morsi to be investigated over links with militant groups

Egypt's deposed President Morsi is to be investigated over his escape from prison in the lead-up to the uprising which forced predecessor Hosni Mubarak from power.

The inquiry, a move which follows allegations that militant groups including Hamas and Hezbollah had helped in the escape, signals Egypt's new rulers' intention to legally pursue Morsi.

Peacekeepers killed in Sudan

At least seven international peacekeepers have been killed and 17 wounded after coming under heavy fire from a large group of armed personnel in Sudan’s Darfur region.

The incident took place in a region where Tanzanian forces hold responsibility for keeping peace. Events in Darfur are very hard to verify as Sudan continues to severely restrict travel by journalists, aid workers and diplomats in the region.

Second night of riots in Belfast

Riots continued for a second night in North Belfast, with petrol bombs being thrown at police, as hundreds more police officers being drafted in from the UK mainland and water cannon was deployed.

Violence broke out after the Orange Order march was banned from the nationalist Ardoyne district. Whilst the move was welcomed by nationalist politicians, the Orange Order deemed the decision "absurd", and accused The Parade's Commission of "rewarding those who engage in violence and go out of their way to be offended by our traditions".

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said:

Rwandan genocide suspect arrested in France

A former Rwandan colonel was arrested in France over his alleged role in the 1994 genocide earlier this week, his lawyers announced on Saturday.

75-year-old Laurent Serubuga was caught near the northern French city of Cambrai on Thursday, having had an international warrant for his arrest over his alleged role in the genocide that left 800,000 people dead. Serubuga was the deputy chief of staff of the Rwandan Army.

Genocide charge reinstated for Karadzic

Appeals judges at the United Nations Yugoslav war crimes tribunal have reinstated a charge of genocide against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić, after it was dismissed last year.

The count of genocide being reinstated means that Karadzic will now face 11 charges in total, including for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that saw more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys slaughtered by Serb forces.

Appeals judges found that evidence "could indicate that Karadzic possessed genocidal intent".

Worrying clampdown in freedoms ahead of Zimbabwean elections: Amnesty

According to a new report, ‘Walk the Talk’ by Amnesty International, Zimbabwean police are continuing to target and intimidate human rights defenders ahead of elections later this month.

Syrian base for Pakistani Taliban

The Pakistani Taliban have set up a base in Syria to assess "the needs of the jihad", according to a spokesperson.

Mohammed Amin, coordinator of the base, said to the BBC that it was set up six months ago to monitor the “jihad”.

"They were facilitated by our friends in Syria who have previously been fighting in Afghanistan.”

FSA military commander killed by rival rebel group

A senior military commander within the Free Syrian Army, Kamal Hamami has been killed by a rival rebel group, reports the BBC.

According to an FSA spokesperson, Hamami had attended a meeting with other rebel groups to "discuss battle plans" when he was ambushed. The FSA is accusing the al-Qaeda linked rebel group of the assassination.

The spokesperson, Qassem Saadeddine, told Reuters: "The Islamic State phoned me saying that they killed Abu Basir and that they will kill all of the Supreme Military Council."

UK PM marks 18th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide

The British Prime Minister David Cameron, marked the 18th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in a statement published on Thursday after meeting survivors of the genocide.

See here for full statement, extracts published below:

"It is important that we don’t forget these events. Srebrenica was a stark demonstration of what can happen when hatred, discrimination and evil are allowed to go unchecked. I am pleased that the government has been able to work with Remembering Srebrenica, an initiative dedicated to commemorating and honouring the victims of Srebrenica, to organise a remembrance ceremony in London this year for the very first time."

US urges halt to Muslim Brotherhood arrests in Egypt

The US has called on the current Egyptian leadership to stop “arbitrary” arrests of members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

"The only way this is going to work successfully... is if all parties are encouraged and allowed to participate and that's why we've made clear that arbitrary arrests are not anything that we can support,'' White House spokesman Jay Carney said.