CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) – Egypt’s former anti-corruption chief was sentenced Thursday to one year in prison on charges of having exaggerated the impact of graft on the country. Hisham Geneina, head of the Central Auditing Authority until his dismissal in March by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was also ordered to pay a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds (around $2,000). The retired judge’s troubles began after he quoted a study by the authority based on 2012-2015 reports that […]
Middle East
Turkey reshuffles military after half of generals fired
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) by Stuart WILLIAMS Raziye AKKOC Turkey’s top military commanders met Thursday to replace almost half of their generals in a radical shake-up after the failed coup, as authorities shut down dozens of media outlets in a widening crackdown. The hastily-convened meeting came after the government ordered the discharge of 149 generals — nearly half of the armed forces’ entire contingent of 358 — for alleged complicity in the putsch bid. Separately, a total […]
Turkey discharges generals, shuts media outlets after coup
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) by Stuart WILLIAMS Raziye AKKOC Turkey on Wednesday said it was discharging 149 generals and ordering the closure of dozens of media outlets, in the next phase of its controversial crackdown in the wake of the failed coup. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who survived the biggest threat to his 13-year domination of the country when supporters countered the plotters on the streets, has blamed the July 15 coup on the reclusive US-based preacher […]
The ‘Gulenists’ Erdogan blames for Turkey coup
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) – by Nicolas GAUDICHET Since surviving last week’s coup attempt, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has escalated his battle against his arch-enemy, US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen whom he accuses of orchestrating the failed putsch. Once close allies, the two fell out several years ago, and Erdogan now labels Gulen’s supporters “terrorists” who run a shadowy “parallel state” in Turkey and tried to bring him down with military force. Erdogan has demanded the […]
Global alarm grows as 50,000 hit by Turkey purge
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) – by Stuart WILLIAMS with Fulya OZERKAN in Istanbul Turkey faced fresh accusations it was flouting the rule of law with its purge of 50,000 people after an attempted coup, as the president gathered security chiefs Wednesday for the first time since the putsch. Authorities have rounded up or sacked tens of thousands of police, judges, teachers and other civil servants from across the state bureaucracy in the aftermath of Friday’s failed […]
Erdogan critics glad coup failed, fearful of backlash
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) by Fulya OZERKAN Three years ago, critics of Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan rallied against him in mass protests. Last Friday they were appalled by a coup attempt against him. Now they fear what may come next. A gloomy mood pervades Istanbul’s chic, secular neighbourhood of Besiktas, a left-wing stronghold and centre of opposition against Erdogan. While most here have no taste for military rule and are grateful the putsch failed, they are […]
Muslim, Gulf leaders condemn Nice attack
CAIRO, Egypt (AFP)–Leading Muslim clerics joined Gulf Arab leaders on Friday in condemning a truck attack that killed at least 84 revellers in the Mediterranean resort of Nice on France’s national holiday. Egypt’s top Muslim cleric Shawki Allam condemned the assailant as an “extremist” who “follows in the footsteps of the devil.” “Islam never called for the spilling of blood,” Allam said in a statement. “People who commit such ugly crimes are corrupt of the earth, […]
Yemen govt threatens to boycott peace talks
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) – Yemen’s government threatened Thursday to boycott UN-brokered peace talks, on the eve of their expected resumption in Kuwait, unless Iran-backed rebels commit to the terms of a United Nations resolution. The UN said however that it still had not been informed of any boycott from any side while affirming that the talks were scheduled to resume on Friday after a two-week break. More than two months of negotiations between President Abedrabbo […]
Israel okays millions to West Bank settlements after attacks
JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) – Israel’s government on Sunday approved nearly $13 million in financing for the West Bank settlements of Kiryat Arba and within Hebron, officials said, following a wave of Palestinian attacks in the area. The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing cabinet will see some 50 million shekels ($12.8 million, 11.6 million euros) allocated to “strengthen” the communities. “Government offices, I must note, have all been recruited to assist the residents who […]
Wounded from military helicopter crash arrive at hospital
The dead and wounded from a Turkish military helicopter crash were transported to local hospitals late on Tuesday (July 5). Seven people were killed and eight injured when the helicopter, carrying Turkish military personnel, their wives and children, crashed in the Black Sea region of northeast Turkey, the Turkish armed forces said. The helicopter crashed at around 5:15 pm (1415 GMT) near Tohumluk village in the Alucra district of Giresun province, the military said. Vehicles […]
Multiple suicide blasts hit Saudi Arabia; four killed
by Ian Timberlake RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — At least four people died in suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia on Monday following attacks elsewhere in the region before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the three attacks one of which, at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, left four members of the security forces dead and others wounded. Since late 2014 Saudi Arabia has […]
Israelis bury their dead amid rising tensions, Israeli minister accuses Facebook of hindering security
Israelis in Jerusalem attended a funeral procession for an Israeli killed in a car crash on Friday (July 1) caused by Palestinian gunfire near the Jewish settlement of Ottniel in the West Bank and injured three members of his family. Since October, Palestinians have killed 34 Israelis and two visiting U.S. citizens in a wave of street attacks, mostly stabbings. Israeli forces have shot dead at least 201 Palestinians, 137 of whom Israel has said […]
