 RFE/RL Headlines 3/31/2010 A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Features  Russian Authorities Warn of Possible New Attacks Authorities in Russia have vowed to track down the organizers of the deadly March 29 metro blasts, saying they have video footage of the alleged bombers and are on the trail of their accomplices. But critics blame the security services for failing to prevent the bombings and say they're skeptical law enforcers can prevent future terrorism, amid warnings of possible new attacks. More  As Regime Turns Up The Heat, Iran's Rafsanjani Abides Attacks on the former Iranian president and his family are the latest measure of how deeply Iran's establishment has split over the Green Movement. More  Iran's Opposition Abroad Swells But Lacks Direction Iran's Green Movement and the postelection crisis have revitalized the Iranian opposition abroad. But the new influx of members and ideas -- supporters range from liberal-minded democrats to monarchists to communists -- has also revealed deep divisions about the movement's ideology and tactics. More  Belgian Ban On Full Veil Clears Hurdle Belgium is the latest European country where Muslim women's use of the full veil has become a political and social issue. More  Serbian Parliament's Srebrenica Apology Hailed, Criticized The Serbian parliament's condemnation of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre has been welcomed by the European Union and rights activists -- but dismissed by some survivors. More  Twin Bombings Kill 12 In Daghestan At least 12 people have been killed by twin bombs in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan, including a top police official. More  Obama Says He Wants Iran Sanctions 'In Weeks' U.S. President Barack Obama said today that he wants to see a tough new round of sanctions against Iran taken up in the UN Security Council 'within weeks.' Speaking at a joint press conference at the White House with French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Obama said he and the French leader are "united" in their determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. More  Umarov Purportedly Claims Moscow Blasts In New Video In a new video, Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov appears to claim responsibility for two suicide bombings on the Moscow metro system that killed at least 39 people. More  Iraqi Blocs Work To Form Coalition Iraqi politicians say the parties that placed second and third in the March 7 parliamentary elections are in advanced talks on forming a broad ruling coalition. More  Belarusian Journalist 'Loses Citizenship' Independent Belarusian journalist Paval Sharamet says he has been stripped of his Belarusian citizenship. More  Vladivostok Police Detain Demonstrators Police in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok have detained at least 20 protesters who were demonstrating for their constitutional rights. More  Baha'is Barred From Leaving Iran The Baha'i representative to the United Nations says that 50 Baha'is in southern Iran have been barred from leaving the country. More  Ex-Karabakh Military Leader's Warning A former military leader of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh has warned of the growing threat of another Armenian-Azerbaijani war, which he said could break out "at any moment." More  Romania Eases Entry For Some Moldovans Romania today started issuing special travel documents to Moldovans living along its eastern border that allow them to spend up to 90 days in the EU country without applying for a visa, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports. More  Falsely Accused Chechen Paid A Moscow City Court ruled today that the Finance Ministry must pay the equivalent of $4,700 to a man falsely accused of attempting to assassinate Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. More  Bashkir Extremist Suspect Detained Another suspected member of an extremist group was detained in Bashkortostan today, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports. More  HRW: Ban Must Push Rights In C. Asia Rights advocates hope UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will put human rights issues high on the agenda when he arrives on his first trip to Central Asia. More  Azerbaijan Constructing Film Complex Azerbaijani officials announced that foreign companies have invested some $5 million in the construction of a major film complex in Baku. More  Feline Friend Goes Mr. Trololo The Mr. Trololo (aka Eduard Khil) meme continues as this cat hits all the right notes. More  Rapper Detained For ‘Repulsive’ Dance Moves Iranian media reports that Sasi Mankan, an underground rapper, was arrested over the weekend during a trip to Kish Island in southern Iran, but the rapper himself has denied the news of his arrest. More  Daghestan's Laks Plan Protest Meeting Representatives of Daghestan's Lak population have formally requested permission from the Makhachkala municipal authorities to stage a meeting in the city on April 3 to protest the dismissal of their co-ethnic, Amuchi Amutinov, who heads the Daghestan branch of the federal Pension Fund. More  Georgia's Armenian Minority Looks Ahead To Local Elections The NGO Javakhk, one of several that seek to represent the interests of the prominently Armenian population of the southern Georgian region of Javakheti, has convened a congress in the regional center, Akhalkalaki, on to discuss priorities and demands in the run-up to the Georgian local government elections scheduled for May 30. More |
