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German rivals in last push for votes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24185348

Syria 'lesson' for Iran - Obama September 15, 2013 6:35 PM US President Barack Obama says Iran should draw "a lesson" from the deal reached over Syria's chemical weapons. Iran's nuclear programme is a "far larger issue" for the US than chemical weapons, Mr Obama told the ABC network. Mr Obama said despite the fact that the US had not used force against Syria, a "credible threat of force" could lead to a deal. Mr Obama also confirmed that he had exchanged letters with new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Although the fact that the two leaders have communicated at all will be seen as a step forward, Mr Obama said: "I think this new president is not going to suddenly make it easy." Mr Obama was referring to the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, which Western countries suspect is aimed at acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran denies this and says the programme's aims are purely peaceful. 'Credible threat' Mr...

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Death penalty for Xinjiang attackers September 13, 2013 4:49 AM Security in Lukqun was tight following the riots, with many journalists denied access A Chinese court has sentenced three men to death over violence in Xinjiang that left 35 people dead, state media say. The court called the violence on 26 June in Turpan's remote township of Lukqun, about 200km (120 miles) south-east of the region's capital, Urumqi, a "terrorist attack". A mob armed with knives attacked police stations, leading police to open fire, state media said at the time. A fourth man was jailed for 25 years for his involvement, reports said. There are sporadic outbreaks of violence in Xinjiang, where there are ethnic tensions between Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities. The court in China's western Xinjiang region gave Ahmatniyaz Sidiq, Urayim Eli and Abdulla Esrapil the death penalty, describing Ahmatniyaz Sidiq as the leader, state-run news agency Xinhua said. The men "spr...

http://m.spiegel.de/international/world/a-916921.html Egypt cabinet to hold crisis meeting August 18, 2013 8:37 AM Egypt's cabinet is set to discuss the crisis in the country, where hundreds have died in clashes in recent days. The interim prime minister has put forward a proposal to legally dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood. Its members are key supporters of Mohammed Morsi, whose ousting as president sparked Egypt's stand-off. The interim government is continuing to crack down on protests by the Brotherhood, but more demonstrations are planned around Cairo on Sunday. Many Egyptians support government efforts to quash Brotherhood protests Overnight, television pictures showed protesters on the streets of Egypt's second largest city, Alexandria, and in Helwan and Minya to the south of Cairo, in defiance of an overnight curfew. On Saturday Egypt's security forces cleared the al-Fath mosque in Cairo after a long stand-off with Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricade...

Coptic Christian churches, buildings targeted in Egypt for second straight day Published August 15, 2013 | FoxNews.com ADVERTISEMENT Attacks on Coptic Christian churches in Egypt continued for a second day Thursday, the country’s state-run news agency said, as Muslim Brotherhood supporters torched a church in a province outside of Cairo. Egypt's MENA agency said supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi set fire to the Prince Tadros church in the province of Fayoum, where three similar attacks occurred on other churches the day before. Ishaq Ibrahim from The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights group, documented as many as 39 incidents of violence against churches, monasteries, Coptic schools and shops in different parts of the country on Wednesday. Violence across Egypt in the past two days has left at least 638 dead and 4,200 injured, according to Health Ministry figures. Looking to crack down on church-related attacks, Egyptian authorities on Thursday referred 84 ...

Bloodshed as Cairo camps cleared August 14, 2013 10:11 AM Egyptian security forces have moved in to clear two protest camps occupied by supporters of deposed president Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, with reports of many killed. The Muslim Brotherhood said more than 100 died, but the authorities put the death toll much lower. State TV showed armoured bulldozers moving deep into the main camp outside the eastern Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. Authorities say the Nahda Square camp in western Cairo has been cleared. Tear gas was fired as armed bulldozers moved in The interior ministry said a mopping up operation in the streets surrounding Nahda Square was under way. Pro-Morsi activists were chased into the nearby zoo and Cairo University, Nile TV said. Witnesses at Rabaa al-Adawiya spoke of seeing dozens of bodies on the ground, and the Muslim Brotherhood described the security forces' intervention as a massacre. A spokesman told the BBC he had been told in a field hospital used by Morsi ...