Tag: politics

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, […]

October 8, 2011 (AFP) – A presidential aide and his bodyguard were shot dead in a gunbattle involving opposing factions of the Sri Lankan ruling party during Saturday’s local council elections in the capital, police said. Former lawmaker and advisor to the president, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to hospital […]

October 6, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Thursday announced a new move to address human rights issues in the face of international pressure over war crimes allegations arising from the end of the island’s civil war. The government said it hoped to strengthen civil liberties and ensure better human rights compliance through the implementation of […]

September 29, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s police detained 50 failed asylum seekers flown back to the country Thursday after being expelled from Britain, police said. Eight women and 42 men — mostly ethnic minority Tamils– were deported by Britain’s Border Agency, which chartered an aircraft to return them home after they failed in a […]

UNITED NATIONS, September 26, 2011 (AFP) – States and armed groups that refuse to stop recruiting child soldiers must be subject to tougher pressure in the form of sanctions, France’s ambassador for human rights has said. Francois Zimeray will make that case on Monday at a meeting at the United Nations on the sidelines of […]