Update: Libya’s warring sides pull out of Geneva peace talks

GENEVA, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Representatives from Libya’s warring sides have suspended their participation in United Nations-sponsored peace talks aimed at bringing an end to more than 10 months of fighting.The move came despite assurances by a spokesperson for the world governing body that negotiations would still go ahead.Ahmaida Erouhma,…

Burkina Faso ambush kills four, including three officers: police

OUAGADOUGOU, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An ambush on a police patrol in northern Burkina Faso on Monday left four people dead, three of themofficers, police said. The attack, carried out in the morning by unidentified gunmen, killed apolice lieutenant, two sergeants and a civilian, a police statement said. Another five…

Mauritius holds Italian plane amid coronavirus fears

PORT LOUIS/ROME, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in Mauritius have held Italian passengers on board an Alitalia flight arriving from Rome, and have told them that anybody coming from the northern Italian regions worst affected by coronavirus must either go into quarantine or return home. Alitalia says it’s arranging…

Ethiopia: 29 injured in ‘bomb attack’ at pro-Abiy rally

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ADDIS ABABA, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bomb attack on a rally in support of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed injured nearly 30 people, a police official said, in the latest sign of instability ahead of elections in August. The incident occurred in the town…

Togo’s president ‘tells rivals to accept defeat’

Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé LOME, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé has told his rivals to accept preliminary election results showing he has won by a landslide. Provisional results by the electoral commission showed that Gnassingbé – in power since 2005 – had received 72% of the vote,…

Libyan premier denounces Haftar as “war criminal” at UN

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj  GENEVA/BENGHAZI, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj denounced the shelling of civilian areas and airports in his country, labelling renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar a “war criminal” in a speech to the UN Human Rights Council. “Children have lost their right to…

Lesotho: PM Thomas Thabane seeks immunity over murder of ex-wife

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his wife Maesaiah appeared in court together on Monday  MASERU, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Lawyers for Lesotho’s prime minister have told a court that he cannot be charged over the murder of his estranged wife because his position makes him immune from prosecution. PM Thomas Thabane’s then-wife,…

Eastern Libya forces say 16 Turkish soldiers killed in fighting

BENGHAZI (Libya), Feb 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forces loyal to Libyan eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar said they had killed 16 Turkish soldiers in recent weeks, a day after Turkey acknowledged it had lost several “martyrs” in combat in the north African country. Khalid al-Mahjoub, a spokesman for Haftar’s self-styled Libya National Army…

Update: Togo President Faure Gnassingbe wins fourth term, according to provisional results

LOME, Feb 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Togo President Faure Gnassingbe has won a fourth term in power, according to provisional results declared by the national electoral commission.  He took 72 percent of the vote share in the first round of the presidential election, the commission said, far ahead of former prime minister…

Libya’s interior minister says armed groups obstruct security services

Libya’s UN-backed Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga TRIPOLI, Feb 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Libya’s UN-backed Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga said that armed groups obstruct and extort security services in the capital Tripoli. “Militias in Tripoli attack institutions and obstruct the government, using their powers being part of security agencies. They do not…
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