Political Dissent

Myanmar frees dissidents before leader's U.S. visit

2013-05-17 18:05:00

NEW DELHI — Myanmar President Thein Sein released some 20 political prisoners Friday, days before a historic summit with President Obama in Washington early next week, according to officials and prisoner rights groups. The ex-general's...

Morale hits a new low on Egypt stock market

2013-05-15 16:27:00

CAIRO — His phone doesn't ring and his charts are gloomy. But every day Mostafa Ismail, a financial broker with a hangman's demeanor, steps into the Egyptian stock exchange hoping for positive blips. They are rare in a nation where revolution...

Egyptian Cabinet shuffle strengthens Muslim Brotherhood

2013-05-07 09:43:00

CAIRO -- President Mohamed Morsi reshuffled his Cabinet on Tuesday, strengthening the Muslim Brotherhood’s hold on power and angering the opposition amid Egypt’s economic turmoil and political unrest. The naming of nine new ministers...

Thousands in Russia demand new elections, release of prisoners

2013-05-06 22:42:00

This post has been corrected. See bottom for details. MOSCOW — In the biggest show of opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin since last May, thousands of demonstrators gathered Monday near the Kremlin to demand an immediate release of...

Opposition says Syrian forces rounding up people in Tartus region

2013-05-03 15:05:00

BEIRUT — Syrian opposition groups charged Friday that government forces were continuing to round up people in a village near Syria's Mediterranean coast where an alleged massacre left scores dead. A major opposition umbrella group, known as the...

Iraqi inquiries find excessive force in Sunni protest camp raid

2013-05-02 18:03:00

BAGHDAD — Iraqi security used disproportionate force, including shooting unarmed civilians, during a raid on an encampment of Sunni Arab protesters last week that left 45 people dead, according to two government investigations and foreign diplomats....

Clashes continue in Iraq; at least 17 more die

2013-04-24 16:32:00

BEIRUT -- Battles between Iraqi government forces and Sunni fighters left at least 17 people dead Wednesday as sectarian tensions showed little sign of abating and threatened an insurrection in Sunni provinces. Dozens of people were reportedly killed...

Iraq violence sparks fears of a Sunni revolt

2013-04-23 19:33:00

BEIRUT — Security forces for the Shiite-led Iraqi government raided a Sunni protest camp in northern Iraq on Tuesday, igniting violence around the country that left at least 36 people dead. The unrest led two Sunni officials to resign from the...

Syria rebel coalition slams backers for failing to stop attacks

2013-04-20 19:41:00

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Divisions between Syrian rebels and their foreign supporters came into focus Saturday as a leading opposition group demanded international military action — including drone strikes — to halt missile attacks and alleged...

Protests and clashes as Bahrain prepares for Grand Prix

2013-04-20 03:00:00

Chanting protesters reportedly clashed with police Friday in Bahrain even as race cars began looping the tracks before the Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday. Reuters reported that dozens of young men skirmished with police firing tear gas as an...

In Egypt, a satirist facing charges remains irreverent

2013-03-31 20:02:00

CAIRO — He arrived with a prankster's aplomb. Bassem Youssef, a popular Egyptian TV satirist often compared to Jon Stewart, appeared before a prosecutor Sunday on charges of defaming President Mohamed Morsi. The mercurial comedian milled around...

Syrian opposition takes seat at Arab League, seeks Patriot missiles

2013-03-26 07:13:00

BEIRUT -- A major Syrian opposition coalition took a seat as the legitimate government of Syria at an Arab League summit Tuesday, and the group’s outgoing leader promptly pushed for the United States to use Patriot missile-defense batteries...

A protestor grimaces after being lathi charged by Delhi police during a protest against the Indian governments reaction to recent rape incidents in India, in front of India Gate on December 23, 2012 in New Delhi, India.

2012-12-23 00:00:00

in a fresh attempt to bring an end a six-month blockade on NATO supplies crossing into Afghanistan.

2012-06-10 00:00:00

Femanle anti-government protesters wearing pink caps protest to demand that Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh be deprived of immunity from prosecution in in the capital Sanaa. Veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh ceded in February power in line with a Gulf-brokered deal following months

2012-03-14 00:00:00