Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has kept silent since the nationwide protests started 10 days ago. On Thursday, he addressed the protests during 4 1/2-hour long telephone call-in show. During the marathon session, Putin signaled that he will allow the protest movement to continue, but repeatedly heaped ridicule on the protesters. He said some protesters [...]
Tag: opposition
December 16, 2011
December 15, 2011
US Congressional Panel Seeks to Aid Syrian Opposition
A congressional subcommittee panel on Wednesday examined U.S. policy toward Syria, asking what lawmakers can do to help the opposition as the Damascus government crackdown on the Syrian people continues. Some lawmakers questioned whether the Obama administration should continue to advocate for a peaceful resolution in Syria in the face of widespread violence. Members of [...]
December 15, 2011
Yemen’s Noncompetitive Presidential Election Draws Wide Support
As Yemen transitions towards democracy, it is organizing a presidential election with only one likely candidate: Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. And that idea is drawing wide support from opposition parties and Yemen’s diplomatic partners. For months, they have been pushing for the replacement of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who recently agreed to end his [...]
December 14, 2011
‘Kommersant’ Firings Over Russian Election
The owner of Russia’s Kommersant Publishing has fired an editor and a senior manager over what he described as a breach of ethics for its coverage of alleged voting fraud during parliamentary elections earlier this month. Alisher Usmanov criticized the Kommersant Vlast weekly magazine, saying its coverage of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party [...]
December 14, 2011
East Congo Protesters Arrested
Congolese authorities arrested protesters in the eastern city of Goma Tuesday after breaking up a demonstration against the re-election of President Joseph Kabila. Local authorities say they don’t want opposition rallies in town for security reasons. It appears to be business as usual Tuesday in most of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The [...]
December 14, 2011
Medvedev Announces First Session of Russia’s New Duma
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has announced the first session of the country’s newly elected parliament, despite protests against alleged fraud during parliamentary elections earlier this month. Medvedev on Tuesday told a meeting of the leaders of parties that won seats in the State Duma, or lower house, that the first session will be held December [...]
December 13, 2011
East Congo Opposition to Protest Kabila Election
Opposition leaders in eastern Congo are planning to protest the disputed re-election of President Joseph Kabila beginning Tuesday morning. And while organizers say the protests will be peaceful, some opposition supporters say they fear rallies will spark violence. Protesters around the world, and in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, have been holding rallies since before the [...]
December 12, 2011
Defectors Fight Syrian Troops As Opposition Begins General Strike
Syrian opposition sources say nearly to 20 people were killed across the country Sunday as bitter fighting erupted in several parts of the country. The fighting occurred as many towns and cities appear to have observed a call for a general strike. Rebel soldiers fought Syrian government troops near the Turkish border and outside [...]
December 11, 2011
Defectors Fight Syrian Troops in South
Army defectors in southern Syria battled loyalist forces backed by tanks in a major armed confrontation Sunday near the Jordanian border, as at least eight people were killed in nationwide violence. Residents and activists said government troops from Syria’s 12th Armored Brigade stormed the southern town of Busra al-Harir overnight. The British-based Syrian Observatory for [...]
December 11, 2011
Yemen’s VP Calls for United Cabinet
Yemen’s national unity government was sworn in in the capital, Sana’a, Saturday as part of a deal for the country’s embattled president to step down after nearly a year of anti-government protests that have killed hundreds. The new 35-member Cabinet is headed by veteran opposition politician Mohammed Basindwa. The ministerial posts are equally divided between [...]
December 10, 2011
Syrian Forces Kill At Least 24 as Protests Spread
Syrian activists say security forces have killed at least 24 people, including several children, as anti-government protests spread nationwide. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says three boys, ages 10, 12, 14, were shot and killed Friday in and around the restive city of Homs. Meanwhile, a 12-year-old girl was shot in the southern [...]
December 10, 2011
Pro-Democracy Protests Put Putin, Russia at Turning Point
Is the Arab Spring moving North to become the Russian Winter? With democracy demonstrations to take place across Russia on Saturday, the world’s largest nation may be at a crossroads. From his prison cell near the Arctic Circle, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the jailed Russian tycoon, captured the core of Russia’s political impasse when he predicted a [...]
December 9, 2011
Congo Election Results Delayed Again
Election officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have again delayed the results of presidential and legislative elections. Opposition supporters are rejecting partial returns that show President Joseph Kabila heading for reelection. Electoral Commission head Daniel Ngoy-Mulunda says results will be postponed for a third day because officials have not completed comparing vote totals sent [...]
December 8, 2011
Congo Voters Await Final Results From Presidential Election
Electoral officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to release complete results of presidential and legislative voting Thursday. Opposition supporters are rejecting partial returns that show President Joseph Kabila heading for re-election. When these results were first expected Tuesday, Congolese security was out in force. Shops were closed. The streets of the capital [...]