It’s 15:30 Universal Time. I’m Howard Newburg in Washington.
Delegates at an international conference supporting Syria’s opposition say several (gulf states) have agreed to pay the salaries of rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. The delegates at Sunday’s Friends of Syria conference in Turkey said the small groups of gulf nations will provide millions of dollars to the Syrian National Council. They said the move is aimed at getting more members of Mr. Assad’s military to (join the opposition). American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the conference that the United States was providing (communication equipment) to opposition activists to help them organize. She said the equipment will also help rebels avoid government attacks.
Supporters of Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi say she has won a seat in Burma’s Lower House of parliament. Her National League for Democracy Party announced the victory shortly after voting centers closed late Sunday. If confirmed, the victory will (mark a major moment) in the history of that country. Burma was under military rule for almost 50 years until what it is said to be a civilian government came to power last year. It was not immediately clear when the government would announce the results. The voting took place as a small number of observers from the European Union watched.
Seven Yemeni soldiers were killed in a surprise early morning raid Sunday when militants attacked their (base) near the city of Shibam in the southern part of the country. The Yemen’s Defense Ministry said the attack came a day after at least 20 troops were killed in a (similar raid) by Islamist linked to al-Qaeda. The defense minister is expected to report to parliament on Sunday. He will tell them about a series of attacks that have killed almost 200 soldiers since President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi took office in February under a gulf Arab deal. Observers say the attack on army bases show the weakness of Yemeni military that is (split in) its loyalties after a year of disorder. Many Yemenis accused ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh of placing security operation in danger.
The man who led the overthrow of the democratically-elected government in Mali says he has (reestablished) the country’s constitution. The move comes one day before severe economic restrictions were to be placed on Mali if constitutional order was not returned. During a news conference, Captain Amadou Sanogo read a statement in which he also promised to organize the return of power to civilians. But the captain did not say when elections will be held. The Economic Community of West African States has promised severe (financial restrictions) by Monday if power was not given back to the people.
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