Egypt’s supreme court ruled on Thursday to dissolve the Islamist-led parliament, plunging a troubled transition to democracy into turmoil just two days before an election to replace ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. Islamists who gained most from Mubarak’s overthrow decried what they called a “coup” by an army-led establishment still full of Mubarak-era officials. They
The Yemeni army entered the southern city of Shuqra on Friday after al-Qaeda militants pulled out, the third bastion of the extremist group to fall in the south of Yemen in one week, a local official said. “The army has entered Shuqra after al-Qaeda fighters fled towards Azzan,” some 110 kilometers (70 miles) northeast
Hundreds of Egyptians marched to the iconic al-Tahrir Square on Thursday night in preparation for mass protests on Friday after a top court ruled the parliament illegal, but kept an ex-prime minister in the presidential race. The flow of traffic was disrupted in Tahrir amid anticipation that the number of protesters would increase.
Egypt’s ruling military council said on Thursday that the presidential election run-off will continue as scheduled this weekend, the state news agency reported as Washington called for a full transfer of power to elected civilians in Egypt. “The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has assured that the presidential run-off will take place on
The Syrian town of Haffa was smoldering and nearly deserted on Thursday after days of clashes between government forces and rebels, while activists reported more army assaults on pro-opposition areas across the country. At least 60 people have been killed by Syrian forces across the country, Al Arabiya reported citing activists at the Local
The Muslim Brotherhood’s presidential candidate Mohammed Mursi said on Thursday that foul play in Egypt’s election run-off that pits him against Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, would be met by “a huge revolution.” Mursi also said at a news conference that a court ruling that overturned a law that would have prevented
Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq was given the green light on Thursday to run for president when Egypt’s constitutional court ruled against a law that would have thrown him out of the race, judicial sources said. “The Supreme Constitutional Court has ruled that the political isolation law is unconstitutional,” the state MENA news agency
German police raided dozens of buildings across the country early on Thursday in a crackdown to “turn up the pressure” on “radical” Salafi Islamists suspected of plotting against the state, officials said. The homes of members belonging to three ultra-conservative Muslim organizations were targeted in the raids, which around 1,000 officers carried out, a
Tunisia’s interior ministry on Thursday banned demonstrations after calls by Islamists for protests to uphold sacred values after Friday prayers, ministry spokesman Khaled Tarrouche told AFP. “No march has been authorized by the ministry of the interior,” Tarrouche said, adding that “the law will be applied against all acts of violence... Some calls for
The Algerian prosecutor general filed a complaint with the Algiers court against young blogger Tareq Memari for inciting violence and calling for mass protests. Memari was arrested shortly thereafter. Memari, who could face up to three years in jail if found guilty, had posted a video on You Tube right before the recent parliamentary
