General Politics

EXTRA: Prosecutor accuses Hezbollah of plotting attacks in Egypt

Prosecutor accuses Hezbollah of plotting attacks in Egypt Cairo  - A public prosecutor in Cairo on Wednesday accused Hezbollah of plotting attacks in Egypt, the Interior Ministry said.

Egypt's domestic intelligence agency, State Security Investigations, supplied the prosecutor with information indicating that leaders of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist group, sent members to Egypt to gather recruits for its organisation, a source in Egypt's Interior Ministry told the German Press Agency dpa on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Thai police say plot to assassinate royal advisor uncovered

Thai police say plot to assassinate royal advisor uncoveredBangkok - Thai police have arrested three men who they claim were plotting to assassinate an advisor to King Bhumibol Adulyadej at a time of rising political tension in the country, a news report said Wednesday.

The suspects allegedly told investigators that some military officers wanted to create turmoil ahead of Wednesday's mass rally by supporters loyal to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Nation reported.

Bangladesh to seek ICC role to try alleged Pakistan war criminals

Bangladesh to seek ICC role to try alleged Pakistan war criminals Dhaka  - Bangladesh may request the International Criminal Court to put on trial Pakistani forces for alleged war crimes, a top official said Tuesday.

"We will take the matter to the International Criminal Court and seek the trial of the members of the Pakistani occupation forces who committed crimes against humanity during our liberation war," State Minister for Liberation War Affairs, AB Tajul Islam, told German Press Agency dpa.

EXTRA: Rights group calls Fujimori guilty verdict a "major advance"

Rights group calls Fujimori guilty verdict a "major advance" Washington/Lima  - The international rights organization Human Rights Watch called Tuesday's conviction of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori on human rights abuses a "major advance for human rights accountability."

The court in the Peruvian capital of Lima found that prosecutors had proven their case that Fujimori had ordered the killings of 25 people in two massacres at La Cantuta and Barrios Altos and two kidnappings in 1991 and 1992.

German president signs bank takeover bill into law

German president signs bank takeover bill into lawBerlin  - Germany's President Horst Koehler signed a controversial bill into law Tuesday enabling the state to seize control of troubled mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate (HRE).

The measure, described as a last resort to stabilize the German financial market, marks the first time in modern-day Germany that bank shareholders face possible expropriation.

The approval followed adoption by both chambers of the German federal parliament and comes after the government took an 8.7-per- cent stake in the shaky lender as a first step to gaining full control.

Yemen won't yield to demands of Dutch couple's hostage-takers

Yemen won't yield to demands of Dutch couple's hostage-takers Sana'a, Yemen  - Yemeni authorities have no intention of yielding to demands made by tribesmen holding a Dutch couple hostage east of the capital Sana'a since last week, the government spokesman on Tuesday.

"The government firmly rejects yielding to any conditions or dictations," Hassan al-Lawzi, the information minister and government spokesman, told reporters after the Cabinet weekly meeting.

"What is sought is the handover of the hostages unhurt," al-Lawzi said.

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