Middle East & North Africa

Veteran soldier leads Sudan's army against rival general

KHARTOUM, May 5 (Reuters) - General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan pledged to take Sudan to civilian rule, but after going to war last month with his former partner in a military coup, that looks a distant promise.

As his warplanes rain strikes on the capital and his troops battle the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of rival general Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, Burhan has shown no inclination to compromise.

2 soldiers killed in roadside bomb attack in southern Yemen

ADEN, Yemen, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A roadside bomb exploded next to a military ambulance in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Friday, killing two soldiers and wounding three others, a security official told Xinhua.

The local official asked to remain anonymous said the ambulance was blasted by the homemade bomb when it was transporting soldiers of Yemeni government forces who were wounded in sporadic fighting with al-Qaida militants.

Russian and Ukrainian delegates brawl at meeting in Türkiye

ANKARA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Russian and Ukrainian delegates had scuffles during a meeting of Black Sea countries in Ankara, the Turkish parliament speaker confirmed on Friday.

The fightings broke out late Thursday at a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in the Turkish parliament building.

When the head of the Russian delegation began to deliver a speech, people from the Ukrainian delegation started to raise banners and flags, and speak loudly, Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop told reporters on Friday.

Lebanon’s finance minister questioned in Central Bank probe

BEIRUT (AP) — A European judicial team questioned Lebanon’s caretaker finance minister on Friday in an investigation related to corruption probes of the country’s Central Bank governor, officials said.

The questioning is part of a probe by a delegation from France, Germany, and Luxembourg, now on its third visit to Lebanon to interrogate suspects and witnesses in the case. Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh is being investigated abroad over several financial crimes and the laundering of some $330 million.

Turkey’s Erdogan faces tough election amid quake, inflation

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Early in his political career, a devastating earthquake and economic troubles helped propel Recep Tayyip Erdogan to power in Turkey. Two decades later, similar circumstances are putting his leadership at risk.

The highly divisive and populist Erdogan is seeking a third consecutive term as president on May 14, after three stints as prime minister, which would extend his rule into a third decade. He already is Turkey’s longest-serving leader.

Syria return to Arab League possible: Secretary-General

04 May 2023; MEMO: The Secretary-General of the Arab League said Syria's return to the organisation is possible before its upcoming summit in Riyadh on 19 May, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Speaking to Egypt's El-Sharq TV on Wednesday, Aboul Gheit said "there is a specific legal context in the Arab League Charter for Syria's reinstatement into the Arab League.

Turkiye Parliament Speaker calls for cease-fire between Russia, Ukraine

04 May 2023; MEMO: Turkiye's Parliament Speaker, on Thursday, called for a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine, saying the war that broke out last year in February threatens security of the Black Sea region, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"The war left behind hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded, devastated cities, millions of people displaced from their homes and a completely paralysed Black Sea.

Israel: Anti-government rallies, civil disobedience continue

04 May 2023; MEMO: Mass demonstrations and civil disobedience actions have continued across Israel against the controversial judicial reform plan and right-wing policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Thousands of Israelis joined for the 18th week several rallies across Israel to protest controversial government plans to change the judicial system.

Demonstrators gathered at the protests in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Kfar Saba, and Netanya.

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