news_news

MORONI (Reuters) - Opposition candidates said Sunday's presidential poll in Comoros was marred by irregularities including barring of independent monitors and marking of ballot papers before voting began, charges rejected by the government. About 300,000 voters in the Indian ocean archipelago of 800,000 people took part in the poll, with results expected to be announced by the electoral body CENI on Monday. Incumbent Azali Assoumani, a former military officer, is widely expected to be re-elected from a field of 13 contenders. "Election monitors for various independent candidates did not receive necessary accreditation documents to access the polling stations," the 12 opposition candidates said in a joint statement on Sunday. Some polling stations had opened earlier than the official time while some ballot boxes were already filled, they said. The opposition also accused authorities of arresting some of their representatives and preventing others from accessing CENI's premises. … [Read more...] about Comoros opposition say presidential vote marred by irregularities

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Sunday it would expand its ties with Lebanon in spite of the "provocative and interventionist" call by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for Beirut to choose sides, Iranian state television reported. On a regional tour to drum up support for Washington's harder line against Tehran, Pompeo said on Friday that Lebanon faced a choice - "Bravely move forward as an independent and proud nation, or allow the dark ambitions of Iran and Hezbollah to dictate your future". Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi dismissed Pompeo's remarks. "Because of the failure of its policies in the Middle East, America has turned to the outdated and disgraced weapon of threats and intimidation to impose its imperious policies on other countries," Qasemi said, state television reported. "While respecting the independence of Lebanon and the free will of its government and nation, Iran will use all its capacities to strengthen unity inside Lebanon and also to expand its … [Read more...] about Iran to cement ties with Lebanon, Hezbollah despite U.S. pressure

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey will not go back on the purchase of S-400 missile systems from Russia no matter what the United States says, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday. He made the comment in an interview with broadcaster TGRT Haber. The United States could soon freeze preparations for delivering F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, officials told Reuters, in what would be the strongest signal yet by Washington that Ankara cannot have both the advanced aircraft and Russia's S-400 air defence system. (Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen) … [Read more...] about Erdogan says Turkey will not go back on purchase of Russian S-400s

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita sacked and replaced two generals on Sunday after gunmen killed 134 Fulani herders in a surge of violence in the insurgency-plagued country. The ethnic bloodshed took place less than a week after a deadly assault by jihadists on an army post killed at least 23 soldiers, both in Mali's central region, an attack claimed by an al Qaeda affiliate. The army chief of staff General M'Bemba Moussa Keita was removed and replaced by General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, while chief of land forces General Abdrahamane Baby was replaced by Brigadier-General Keba Sangare. Malians have grown increasingly frustrated by the failure of government forces to protect them from both jihadist onslaughts and ethnic reprisals. But the massacre of civilians at the villages of Ogossagou and Welingara on Saturday, which left the charred bodies of women and children smouldering in their homes, has shocked a population long inured to gratuitous killing. "We … [Read more...] about Mali leader sacks two generals after ethnic massacre, jihadi attack

Rescue services worked into the night trying to airlift passengers off a cruise ship which saw its engines malfunction during a storm off the western coast of Norway. The crew sent a mayday signal on Saturday. Helicopters were able to get 479 of the 1,373 passengers back to safety before the Viking Sky was escorted back to the port of Molde on Sunday. The helicopters stopped taking people off the ship when it was ready for its trip back to shore with about 900 remaining passengers. “We understand 20 people suffered injuries as a result of this incident, and they are all receiving care at the relevant medical centres in Norway, with some already having been discharged,” said Viking Ocean Cruises, the company that owns and operates the ship. A "frightening experience" Passenger Alexus Sheppard told the Associated Press that people with injuries or disabilities were taken off the ship first. “It was frightening at first. And when the general alarm sounded it became … [Read more...] about ‘Frightening’ and ‘surreal’: Passengers describe ‘terrifying’ experience on Norway cruise ship