WXEL NewsRoom

Iran to hold drills for protecting atom facilities

(2009-11-21) TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will stage large-scale air defense war games next week to help protect its nuclear facilities against any attack, a senior commander was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Rwanda genocide survivors may boycott U.N. court

(2009-11-21) KIGALI (Reuters) - Survivor groups from Rwanda's 1994 genocide say they may stop sending witnesses to the U.N. tribunal in Tanzania, in protest at the court's recent acquittals of two genocide suspects.

Azerbaijan says Karabakh talks last chance for deal

(2009-11-21) BAKU (Reuters) - Azerbaijan said talks with Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on Sunday would be "decisive" and warned Azeri troops were ready to use force to take back the rebel region if they fail, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said.

China mine explosion kills 31, traps 78

(2009-11-21) BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 31 miners were killed and 78 remain trapped 500 meters (yards) underground following a gas blast at a mine in China, state media said on Saturday.

Putin to continue stimulus as Russia moves out of crisis

(2009-11-21) ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday vowed to continue Russia's anti-crisis program as the economy moves out of one of the deepest recessions in post-Soviet history.

Honduras de facto leader says will step aside

(2009-11-21) TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's post-coup de facto leader said on Friday he would give up his presidential duties for a week, a step Washington welcomed as a way to help ease a five-month-old political crisis.

Italy arrests Pakistanis suspected of Mumbai links (2009-11-21) MILAN (Reuters) - Italian anti-terrorist police have arrested two Pakistanis suspected of helping to finance the Islamic militant group responsible for the attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, that killed 166 people.

Russia's Medvedev raps ruling party over elections (2009-11-21) ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday criticized regional officials in Russia's ruling party for failing to ensure fully democratic local elections last month.

Karabakh talks will be "decisive": Azeri leader (2009-11-21) BAKU (Reuters) - Azerbaijan sees talks on Sunday with Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as "decisive" and retains the right to use military force if negotiations continue to produce no result, Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev said.

Afghan government would fall if NATO withdraws: UK minister (2009-11-21) LONDON (Reuters) - The Afghan government would quickly be overthrown if NATO troops pulled out of the country now, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Friday.