ISLAMABAD – New murder charges have been registered against Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, officials say. Mr Musharraf, who is currently under house arrest, already faces murder charges over the deaths of Benazir Bhutto and a Baloch tribal leader. He also faces charges over his attempt to sack Pakistan’s higher judiciary in 2007 and…
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the US to present to the UN evidence that Syria attacked rebels with chemical weapons near Damascus. Mr Putin said it would be “utter nonsense” for Syria’s government to provoke opponents with such attacks. US President Barack Obama says he is considering military action against Syria after…
PARIS – The French president has said a vote by UK MPs against involvement in military strikes on Syria has not changed France’s resolve to take firm action. Francois Hollande said all options were being considered, and that a strike within days was not ruled out. His comments came after US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel…
LONDON – British Prime Minister David Cameron opened an emergency session of the House of Commons on Thursday by saying the debate on Syria is about “how to respond to one of most abhorrent uses of chemical weapons in a century” — not about regime change or invasion. “Put simply, is it in Britain’s national…
LONDON – The UK is to put a resolution to the UN Security Council later on Wednesday “authorising necessary measures to protect civilians” in Syria. The resolution will be put forward at a meeting of the five permanent members of the council, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter. Earlier a team of UN…
WASHINGTON – American forces are “ready” to launch strikes on Syria if President Barack Obama chooses to order an attack, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says. “We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfil and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take,” Mr Hagel told the BBC. US Secretary of…
DAMASCUS – Unidentified snipers have opened fire on a convoy of UN experts investigating suspected chemical weapons attacks in Syria’s capital, the UN has said. One car was shot at “multiple times”, forcing the convoy to turn back. The UN promised to continue with the inquiry as soon as it could replace the car. Syrian…
DAMASCUS – Chemical weapons attacks have killed hundreds on the outskirts of Damascus, Syrian opposition activists say. Rockets with toxic agents were launched at the suburbs of the Ghouta region early on Wednesday as part of a major bombardment on rebel forces, they say. State-run news agency Sana said the claims were “baseless” and an…
LONDON – The police will be asked to justify the detention of a journalist’s partner under terror laws, the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee has said. Keith Vaz said the full facts of David Miranda’s nine-hour detention at Heathrow must be established quickly. Mr Miranda’s partner is the Guardian’s Glenn Greenwald, who has…
WASHINGTON – Old wounds appear to be opening between Russia and the US over Moscow’s decision to grant asylum to Edward Snowden. Relations between the US and Russia have hit a new low, with Barack Obama, the US president, openly stating that their partnership just is not working. Washington is still fuming at Moscow’s decision…
