Category: Politics

LONDON, October 14, 2011 (AFP) – British Defence Secretary Liam Fox resigned on Friday, forced out over his links to the best man at his wedding who posed as a government adviser while foreign donors funded his trips with the minister. “I mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to […]

LONDON, October 12, 2011 (AFP) – British defence minister Liam Fox rejected calls to resign Wednesday over his links to the best man at his wedding, while facing fresh trouble over claims of a cover-up over a burglary at his house. Fox has been under pressure for days over his former flatmate Adam Werritty, who […]

Oct 13, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa said firearms kept by private ‘guards’ of politicians will be recovered in a special operation starting Thursday, in the wake of a deadly clash among rival factions of his party. “A special operation aimed at disarming them has been launched from today by the police […]

LONDON, October 13, 2011 (AFP) – Britain’s defence minister faced renewed pressure Thursday over claims that rich backers paid for the best man at his wedding to travel the globe with him despite not being a government official. Liam Fox again rejected calls to resign over his links to his close friend Adam Werritty, who […]

LONDON, October 10, 2011 (AFP) – British Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday his defence minister had made “serious mistakes” in allowing a close friend to operate as his advisor despite having no official government role. He nevertheless has a key role in the coalition government in pushing through defence spending cuts, as part of […]

LONDON, October 11, 2011 (AFP) – British officials interviewed a close friend of defence minister Liam Fox Tuesday to ask why he had joined the politician on many overseas trips despite having no government role, a source said. Adam Werritty, Fox’s former flatmate and best man at his wedding, was questioned by civil servants a […]

LONDON, October 10, 2011 (AFP) – British Defence Secretary Liam Fox’s political career hung in the balance on Monday as he prepared to face a parliamentary grilling over his friend’s reported involvement in government affairs. Fox on Sunday responded to accusations that he had an inappropriate working relationship with friend Adam Werritty, saying he was […]

LONDON, October 8, 2011 (AFP) – British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday demanded an urgent report into claims his defence minister allowed a close friend to influence government business involving Afghanistan and Libya. Cameron’s office at first said that minister Liam Fox had the premier’s “full confidence” despite the allegations about Adam Werritty, who […]

Oct 09, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition of President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a a series of local councils except the capital Colombo and an eastern town, following polls marred by a deadly shootout among party rivals. The ruling United National People’s Alliance won 21 out of 23 city councils with the main opposition […]

October 9, 2011 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan president’s party won 22 out of 23 local councils in elections, results showed Sunday, as police investigated a gun battle between political rivals in which three people were killed. Two factions within the national ruling alliance clashed shortly before polling closed on Saturday, leaving a presidential aide […]

October 9, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police launched an investigation on Sunday into an election-day gunfight between political rivals in which three people were shot dead, including one adviser to the president. Police said Premachandra, 55, died of multiple gunshot wounds along with the two bodyguards in the short but bloody fight after a […]

October 8, 2011 (AFP) – Voters in Sri Lanka’s capital went to the polls Saturday to elect a local municipal council, in a contest widely seen as a mid-term test for President Mahinda Rajapakse. Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition, the United People’s Freedom Alliance, is fielding candidates for the prestigious Colombo municipality as well as 22 others, […]