Category Archives: Near East
Egypt stages referendum to institutionalize General Sisi’s dictatorship
by Bill Van Auken
Egypt’s military-dominated dictatorship is rushing ahead with a referendum this weekend on constitutional amendments that would effectively make Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi dictator for life, while institutionalizing the bloody repression his regime has carried out against all forms of political opposition and particularly the Egyptian working class.
ANALYSIS: French-Italian scramble over Libya fuels Haftar’s offensive
A diplomatic feud between Italy and France over Libya has divided Europe’s response to Khalifa Haftar’s latest attempt to take control of the country and will only encourage further fighting, analysts say.
Fierce clashes erupt in northern Aleppo between Turkish-backed rebels and Kurdish forces
A series of intense clashes broke out in the northern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate on April 11, after the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) attacked the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) near the town of Kaljibrin.
According to reports from northern Aleppo, the Turkish-backed rebels unleashed heavy gunfire and artillery shells towards the YPG’s lines; this prompted a response from the latter.
Sudan military committed to ‘ensuring stability’ and ‘peaceful transition’ says senior diplomat, as UN rights chief appeals for protesters’ rights to be upheld
Sudan’s military has an “overarching duty” to refrain from using violence against protesters and ensure that their human rights are protected amid concerns of a further escalation, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Friday.
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir steps down from power
Government sources and a provincial minister have told the Reuters news agency that Sudan President Omar al-Bashir has stepped down from power and consultations are under way to form a transitional council.
Adel Mahjoub Hussein, the minister of production and economic resources in North Darfur, told Dubai-based al-Hadath TV that “there are consultations to form a military council to take over power after President Bashir stepped down”.
