Bangkok, AP—Thailand’s military seized power Thursday in a bloodless coup, dissolving the government, suspending the constitution and dispersing groups of protesters from both sides of the country’s political divide who had gathered in Bangkok and raised fears of a violent showdown. The
The results of the Iraqi elections did not come as a surprise to me, not do I believe they would have surprised any shrewd observer of the Iraqi political scene. The regional project that these results betray is clear to see, and Iraq’s politicians are playing the game openly: the Shi’ites vote for
Tripoli, AP—Islamist-led militias on Thursday streamed into the Libyan capital amid a standoff with fighters loyal to a renegade general whose offensive has won support from officials, diplomats and army units, but has also threatened to fragment the country further. The militias, known as Libya Cen
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Members of the main Western-backed Syrian National Coalition has called on all opposition factions to sign a Revolutionary Honor Code, after the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front categorically rejected it earlier this week. The honor code has been signed by a number of what
Blahodatne, AP—At least 11 Ukrainian troops were killed and about 30 others were wounded Thursday when pro-Russian insurgents attacked a military checkpoint, the deadliest raid in weeks of fighting in eastern Ukraine. The attack came three days before the country’s presidential vote. AP journa
Manila, Reuters—Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said his government was considering various “defence options” against China, including legal action, following the deployment of a Chinese oil rig to waters in the South China Sea that Hanoi also claims. Dung’s comments, giv
Shanghai, AP—China signed a landmark 400 billion-dollar deal Wednesday to buy natural gas from Russia, binding Moscow more closely to Beijing at a time when President Vladimir Putin’s relations with the West have deteriorated to the lowest point ever. China’s president also called for an
London and Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Lebanon’s parliament is scheduled to hold a fifth round of voting to choose the country’s next president on Thursday, as the May 25 deadline to choose a successor to outgoing president Michel Suleiman approaches. The two main political factions remain s
One discussion panel at the Arab Media Forum in Dubai, which ended yesterday, revolved around a single question: ‘Sectarianism and Arab media: Who is to blame?’ There are those who see the Arab media as being responsible for escalating sectarian tensions and spreading, nurturing and spon
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar denied being motivated by power in a broad-ranging interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, but stressed that his forces are on their way to the capital Tripoli. The former Libyan army chief, who announced an unsuccessful coup against the central
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Although the end of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman’s term on May 25 is looming ever nearer, the country’s fractious political parties have been unable to agree on a successor. As on many other issues, Lebanon’s two main political movements, the rival March 8 and March 14
“Shall I take off my boots so the stretcher won’t get dirty?” These poignant words symbolized the terrible mining tragedy that struck Turkey last week. Every breath of that injured miner—rescued from 437 yards underground—was of enormous importance for the Turkish people. It was a miracl
Cairo, AP—A Cairo court on Wednesday convicted ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of embezzlement, sentencing him to three years in prison. The graft case against the 86-year-old Mubarak, who is kept in custody at a military hospital, is one of two against the former president who was ousted in
Moscow, Reuters—Russia said on Wednesday that troops deployed for exercises near the Ukrainian border had now dismantled equipment and were moving to train stations and airfields in preparation for a return to their permanent bases, but NATO said it saw no sign of a pullout. The Kremlin said on Mond
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Libya’s military and government forces appear increasingly divided over renegade general Khalifa Haftar’s unsanctioned assault on Benghazi amid fears that the clashes could spread to the capital, Tripoli. Local and international media reported heavy fighting involving anti-air
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki has called for the formation of a majority government under the leadership of his Shi’ite political bloc, signaling a bid for a third term in office, amid opposition from major Shi’ite rivals. The State of Law coalition led by Maliki won t
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Arab Media Forum opened in Dubai yesterday to a keynote speech from Egyptian prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab that highlighted the rapid expansion of Arab media in recent years. “We find ourselves witnessing a revolution in technology and information which continues to shape
An old proverb urges us to remember that it is the winds and not the sails that move the ship. The winds that have moved Egypt after January 25, 2011, have not blown in the direction expected by Western analysts. Rather the opposite happened: most developments came by surprise, which created a state
United Nations, Reuters—Nigeria has formally asked the UN Security Council Al-Qaeda sanctions committee to blacklist the Islamist militant group Boko Haram after the kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls, UN diplomats said on Tuesday. If there is no objection by the 15-member council committee, whic
Cairo, Asharq al-Awsat—If the referendum on Egypt’s constitution in January was anything to go by, some of the polling stations in the presidential elections scheduled for May 26–27 will witness carnival-like scenes of singing and dancing. This time, however, the singing will be to the tune of
