Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

RFE/RL Headlines 3/1/2011 10:26:08 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.

 

Features Father & Son: The Unusual Childhood Of Kolya Lukashenka Meet Alyaksandr Lukashenka's number-one sidekick -- his 6-year-old son, Kolya. Is this fatherly love, or a political ploy? More   Bahrain's Blogfather Says Arab World Shares 'Same Anger' Prominent blogger and online activist Ali Abdulemam, jailed by Bahrain's royal family in September and just released last week, talks to RFE/RL about the unrest unfolding in the small Persian Gulf country. More   Khimki Activists Complain Of Harassment Activists who have waged a high-profile campaign to prevent the destruction of the Khimki forest outside Moscow say the Russian authorities are waging a coordinated campaign of intimidation against them. In the latest tactic, the authorities are targeting their children. More   News Iranian Security Forces Clash With Demonstrators Iranian security forces have reportedly fired tear gas and clashed with opposition supporters in Tehran, after opposition supporters said they planned to hold a march in the capital to demand the release of opposition figures Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi. More   More Libya Fighting As Qaddafi Laughs Off Pressure More fighting is reported in Libya between progovernment troops and opposition forces after Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi rejected international calls for his resignation. More   German Minister 'Googleberg' Exits Germany's defense minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, has resigned amid allegations he plagiarized parts of his doctoral thesis. His resignation is a blow for Chancellor Angela Merkel, but ends a humiliating episode for the popular minister. More   Clashes Follow Reports Of Musavi, Karrubi Jailings In Iran Iranian security forces have reportedly fired tear gas and clashed with opposition supporters in Tehran gathered to demand the release of two major opposition leaders thought to have been shepherded last week from house arrest into prison. More   From Our Bureaus Armenia Gov't Given 'Last Warning' Armenian opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian has ramped up pressure on that country's leadership, again rallying thousands of supporters in Yerevan and telling authorities to hold snap elections or face a popular revolt. More   Aliyev Claims Economic Success Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev says the country's economy grew at a high rate the past two years despite the world economic crisis. More   Iran Family Appeals Over Jailed Son The families of several Iranian political prisoners have written an open letter to judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani saying their loved ones are being denied basic rights, including phone calls and visitations. More   Self-Mutilation Reported In Kazakh Prison Eight inmates in a maximum-security prison in the central Kazakh town of Atbasar have maimed themselves by slashing their abdomens. More   Belarusian Activist Summoned For Questioning A Belarusian opposition activist was summoned by police today for commenting on charges of torture made by a former presidential candidate. More   Travel Restricted In Armenia Ahead Of Rally Public transport between Yerevan and nearby regions ground to a halt today ahead of a rally to be held by the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK). More   Ethnic Tensions Flare In Kyrgyzstan Ethnic tensions in southern Kyrgyzstan flared today after police said around 500 people gathered to set fire to the house of a man they blame for the murder last week of a Kyrgyz inspector. More   Tajik Doctor Kidnapped In Yemen A Tajik doctor has been kidnapped by armed tribesmen in south-central Yemen. More   Armenian Opposition Walks Out Lawmakers representing the Armenian opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party walked out of parliament after accusing President Serzh Sarkisian of seeking to illegally prolong his rule. More   Transmission Russian Renegades Make Out Like Bandits -- With Cops Members of renegade Russian art group "Voina" have decided to shower the police with affection, literally. More   The Rundown - March 1 A review of news and opinion on RFE/RL's broadcast region. More   The Power Vertical Coming Soon: The Power Vertical Podcast! More   Caucasus Report Whose Man Is New Karachayevo-Cherkessia Leader? While the new head of the Karachayevo-Cherkessia Republic, Rashid Temrezov, reportedly enjoys "very good relations" with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, he also has ties to former republic leader, Mustafa Batdyev, who first promoted Temrezov to a senior post. More   Outpost Washington Psyched Out More   Commentary Coalition Collapse Sets A New Political Stage In Pakistan No one can say for certain what will happen, but it is clear that the mounting pressure from the PML-N, the Pakistan People's Party's key political adversary, will further paralyze the Pakistani government's ability to make decisions. Whether or not the situation produces early elections, any persistent crisis could pave the way for forces ready to resort to extra-constitutional measures. More