From Washington, this is VOA News. Western and Arab nations are demanding that Syria end its attacks on opposition strongholds. More die amid Muslim protests in Afghanistan. I’m Dave Deforest, reporting from Washington.
A group of Western and Arab-led nations began a meeting today in Tunisia in a renewed effort to curb the violence in Syria. Representatives of more than 70 nations and international organizations gathered to demand that Syrian authorities (pledge) to immediately end all violence and allow the delivery of foreign humanitarian aid to hard-hit areas within days.
American apologies are apparently falling on (deaf ears) in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where anger over the inadvertent burning of Qurans by NATO forces is boiling over. Anti-American protests (erupted) in Afghanistan for a fourth day today. Thousands of Afghans poured into the streets following Friday prayers, chanting "Death to America." The death toll from four days of protests has been put at about 20.
A U.S. envoy said today he has made some progress with North Korea on restarting nuclear (disarmament) talks, but there has been no breakthrough. Glyn Davies, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, told reporters two days of discussions in Beijing had covered nuclear (non-proliferation), humanitarian aid and other issues at the heart of regional tension. “The mere fact-- and I said this when I first came here -- that relatively soon after the political change in North Korea, the DPRK was willing to sit down with us and go over all of these issues in some depth, I think in and of itself is positive and demonstrates a degree of progress.” He said time is needed to evaluate statements by North Korean negotiators.
Former Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd announced today he will challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard for leadership of their Labor Party in a ballot on Monday. Rudd told a news conference the prime minister had lost the trust of the Australian people. “That's why I've decided to contest the leadership of the Australian Labor Party at the ballot at the Caucus of the Australian Labor Party on Monday.” Ms. Gillard called for her party to vote on its leadership, seeking to resolve a (dispute) with Rudd, whom she ousted as prime minister in June of 2010. “I have decided that at 10 a.m. Monday morning a ballot for the Labor leadership will be conducted. Following Kevin Rudd’s (resignation) yesterday, I have formed this view that we need a leadership ballot in order to settle this question once and for all.” Ms. Gillard told reporters she wants to put an end to speculation that Rudd was planning an internal party coup.
The secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian nations says Burma appears committed to reforms but needs to prove it to meet international expectations. Daniel Schearf takes a look.
The secretary-general of ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan, on Friday said he thinks Burma’s leaders are committed to further economic and political reforms as long as they can control the process. "Just like any government that has been (centralized) and authoritarian would like to open up.” Surin made the comments at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand during a (stopover) in Bangkok on day three of a four-day visit to Burma. During his visit he met with President Thein Sein and other government leaders who he says recognize the challenges and opportunities of reforming the country. Daniel Schearf, VOA News, Bangkok.
Witnesses say an (airstrike) has killed seven members of the rebel group al-Shabab in southern Somalia. The air attack occurred today in a rebel-controlled area known as Kilometer 60, south of the capital, Mogadishu.
Ethiopian and Somali soldiers seized control of the town of Baidoa in central Somalia this week, as we hear from Gabe Joselow.
Ethiopian forces working alongside troops from Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, or TFG, met very little (resistance) on the road to Baidoa. TFG field commander Adan Ahmed Omar told VOA his forces fought a series of small battles on the way to Baidoa, killing 12 al-Shabab fighters and capturing five. He says the town was empty by the time they got there. Omar said his forces have now liberated the Bay and Bakool regions of central Somalia, with the exception of a few districts. The victory in Baidoa also opens up a (pathway) to the biggest al-Shabab stronghold, Kismayo. Gabe Joselow, VOA News, Nairoboi.
Taking a brief look at markets, on Wall Street, U.S. stock indexes are up at this hour.
I’m Dave Deforest. More news on the Internet at voanews.com.