RFE/RL Headlines
2/2/2011 8:43:58 PM
A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty RFE/RL is looking for guest bloggers, preferably writing from and about our broadcast region. If you're interested, drop us a line at webteam@rferl.org. |
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Features
Syria Next Up For 'Age Of Rage'
As in Egypt and Tunisia, Syrian opposition activists are said to be organizing a "Day of Rage" in Damascus to voice opposition to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. It raises the prospect of the contagion of mass dissent spreading from Western-backed Arab states to a country noted for internal repression as well as staunch opposition to the policies of the United States and Israel. More 
Oil Prices Rise On Egypt Unrest
Egypt is not a big oil producer. But the crisis in Cairo has sent global oil prices sharply higher. Elsewhere around the region, stock prices have mostly fallen. Economic experts weigh in on why this is happening. More 
Kyrgyz Cops On Trial For 'Doing Duty'
Being a law-enforcement officer is never an easy job. Being a member of an elite unit tasked with maintaining order during unrest or combating terrorists is even more difficult. Besides the personal risk, there is the possibility of severe consequences if events turn out unexpectedly. We look at one such serviceman in Kyrgyzstan who gave his life for a state that was prepared to put him in jail. More 
Lukashenka Releases Critics From Minsk Prison, With Just One Little Catch
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has agreed to release two of his staunchest critics from jail, where they had spent more than a month for participating in mass protests against his disputed re-election, and place them under house arrest. The release, however, has one catch: they must now share their homes with KGB officers. More 
The West Steps Up Aid To Belarusian Civil Society
The international community is stepping up its support for Belarusian civil society and pro-democracy activists as it toughens sanctions against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's authoritarian regime. More Mayhem has erupted on the streets of Cairo after antigovernment demonstrators were confronted by supporters of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. More 
Moldova Bans Wheat Exports
The Moldovan government has banned all wheat exports until the next harvest in an effort to prevent a large increase in bread prices. More A Kazakh parole board today refused "a conditional release" for an opposition activist, Aidos Sadykov, jailed on hooliganism charges. Sadykov was found guilty in July of hooliganism and resisting arrest and sentenced to two years in jail. He says the case against him is politically motivated. More 
Protests Call For Bakiev's Release
Some 30 people in the southern Kyrgyz city of Jalal-Abad are demanding the immediate release of Sanjar Bakiev, the jailed nephew of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev. More 
Egypt May Affect Baghdad Arab Summit
Iraqi lawmakers say the political crisis in Egypt and unrest in other Arab countries could affect the Arab League summit scheduled for March in Baghdad, More 
More Christians Leaving Iraq
Representatives of Iraq's embattled Christian community are concerned that an ongoing exodus of Christians may result in the disappearance of one of the country's oldest religious communities. More 
Iranian Opposition Emboldened By Egypt
Iranian opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi have called on officials to allow the opposition movement to hold street protests, saying that even in Egypt people are able to demonstrate. More 
'We Won't Burn Down Their Homes Like They Do In Chechnya'
Kabardino-Balkaria Republic President Arsen Kanokov recently convened a press conference in Nalchik at which he outlined proposals for cracking down on the Islamic insurgents who since last May have killed dozens of police and local officials, including the republic's mufti. More 
Despairing Georgian Displaced Persons Seek Political Asylum In Europe
Several hundred IDPs have approached the French and German embassies in Tbilisi to enquire about the formalities for applying for political asylum in those countries, while others plan to submit similar requests to the United States. More |
