Yemeni forces bomb Shiite rebel stronghold near Saudi border, killing dozens

SAN’A, Yemen — Government forces bombed Shiite rebels in northern Yemen Wednesday, killing dozens and escalating a conflict along the Saudi border that could further destabilize the U.S.-allied country as it faces a resurgent threat from al-Qaida.

Yemeni government forces bomb Shiite rebel stronghold near Saudi border killing dozens

SAN’A, Yemen — Yemeni government forces used artillery and aircraft to attack Shiite rebels near the border with Saudi Arabia killing dozens in an escalation of the five-year-old conflict, rebels and local officials said Wednesday.

Yemeni government forces bomb Shiite rebel stronghold near border with Saudi Arabia

SAN’A, Yemen — Yemeni government forces used artillery and aircraft to attack Shiite rebels near the border with Saudi Arabia in an escalation of the five-year-old conflict, rebels and local officials said Wednesday.

Shiite rebels battle Yemeni army near border post with Saudi Arabia in widening conflict

SAN’A, Yemen — Shiite rebels battled Yemeni government troops Tuesday near a key border crossing with Saudi Arabia in a widening conflict that threatens to further destabilize this key U.S. ally in the battle against al-Qaida.

Iran’s police and judiciary acknowledge prison abuse as Revolutionary Guard wants more trials

TEHRAN, Iran —Police and judiciary officials sought on Sunday to calm public outrage in Iran over the deaths of detained protesters in prison, acknowledging abuses and calling for those responsible to be punished.

Arrest of new Tamil Tiger leader a major blow to beleaguered Sri Lankan rebels

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The arrest of the Tamil Tigers’ new leader has dealt a major blow to the rebels’ efforts to regroup and push on with their separatist struggle after being routed by Sri Lankan forces, the government said Friday.

Tamil Tigers say new leader was captured in Malaysia, sent to Sri Lanka for interrogation

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan authorities questioned the new leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels Friday after he was arrested in Southeast Asia and flown to this island nation.

Northern Yemen rebels seize key post on highway linking capital to Saudi Arabia

SAN’A, Yemen — Shiite Muslim rebels in northern Yemen have seized a key control post on a strategic highway linking the capital San’a with Saudi Arabia, overcoming an army brigade after 12 hours of intense combat, local officials and the rebels said Thursday.

Cuban state media portrays outcome of street protest as victory for Fidel Castro

HAVANA — Cuba’s Communist Party newspaper Granma published a front-page story Wednesday marking the 15th anniversary of street protests that Fidel Castro himself had to quell, an unusual public reference to one of the few serious internal threats to his nearly half-century of rule.

Ahmadinejad sworn in as president in midst of election crisis that has polarized Iran

TEHRAN, Iran — Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in to a second presidential term Wednesday with a call for the divided nation to “join hands,” but it was greeted by protests in the streets and snubs inside Iran’s parliament.

Police beat protesters in Iran as memorial held for victims of election violence

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian police fired tear gas and beat protesters to disperse thousands chanting “Neda lives!” Thursday at a memorial for victims of post-election violence held at the gravesite of the woman whose death made her an icon of the pro-reform movement, witnesses said.

Iranian police fire tear gas, beat protesters with batons to disperse graveside memorial

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian police fired tear gas and beat anti-government protesters with batons to disperse thousands at a graveside memorial Thursday for victims of post-election violence, witnesses and state television said.

Turkey says it wants to see concrete action by Iraq against Turkish Kurdish rebels

ANKARA, Turkey — Iraq must do more to stop Kurdish rebels using hideouts in its territory to launch deadly attacks in Turkey, a Turkish minister said Tuesday after meeting with Iraqi and U.S. officials to discuss the issue.

Police: Bus blast kills 6 paramilitary soldiers in insurgency-hit eastern India

NEW DELHI — Suspected Maoist rebels in eastern India blew up a bus with a roadside bomb, killing six paramilitary soldiers, police said Monday.

Revolutionary Guard tightens its hold on Iran during post-election crisis

CAIRO — The Revolutionary Guard tightened its already powerful hold over Iran during the post-election turmoil, raising alarm among some Iranians that it is transforming the Islamic Republic into a military state.

US Vice President Biden pledges to stand behind Georgia, in message mixed with tough love

TBILISI, Georgia — A year after Georgia’s disastrous war with Russia, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden assured the small country on Thursday that the United States stands behind it in their continuing conflicts with their region’s dominant power.

US Vice President Biden pledges to stand behind Georgia, a year after its war with Russia

TBILISI, Georgia — In a speech interrupted by several standing ovations, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told somber Georgian officials on Thursday that Washington stands behind them a year after their army was routed in a war with neighboring Russia.

Biden to Georgia, Ukraine: US will not recognize Russian ’sphere of influence’ claim

TBILISI, Georgia — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday pledged support for efforts by Ukraine and Georgia to break free of Russia’s orbit, saying Washington would not recognize Kremlin claims to an exclusive sphere of influence over former Soviet states.

Defeated Tamil Tiger rebels name new leader after top guerrillas killed by Sri Lankan forces

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s defeated Tamil Tiger rebels have named a man accused of running a vast arms smuggling operation as their new leader, two months after government forces crushed the separatist movement.

Ex-Liberian leader Charles Taylor denies looting funds, blood diamonds from Sierra Leone war

AMSTERDAM — Former Liberian President Charles Taylor on Monday challenged anyone to find a bank account of his holding illicit funds or “blood diamonds” from the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Former Liberian leader challenges anyone to find booty from the war in Sierra Leone

AMSTERDAM — Former Liberian President Charles Taylor issued a challenge at his war crimes trial Monday to find any bank account owned by him holding illicit funds or “blood diamonds” from the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Mauritania seeks to take one more step on democracy’s long road

LEMDEN, Mauritania — At the end of a long road that disappears in a scrub-brush desert where camels trek across orange ribbons of sand, the first freely elected president in Mauritania’s history believes he is watching a democratic revolution unfold.

Interim Honduran leaders reinstate overnight curfew, citing threat of armed rebellion

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras’ interim government suggested that backers of ousted President Manuel Zelaya were taking up arms to return him to power and itreinstated an overnight curfew it had lifted only days earlier.

Honduras’ interim government reinstates curfew, citing groups trying to create disturbances

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras’ interim government has reinstated a curfew, citing threats by groups looking to provoke disturbances.

Nigerian rebels call cease-fire but say troop movements threatens peace in oil region

ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian militants called a halt Wednesday to their campaign of attacking oil installations and kidnapping foreigners, then said military gunboats and troops were heading toward a rebel camp in a move that could upend the deal.

Nigerian rebels: troop movement threatens 12-hour cease-fire in oil-rich south

ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s main militant group claimed Wednesday that military gun boats and troops were heading toward one of their camps in the oil-rich south, threatening a rebel cease-fire just 12 hours after it was called.

Venezuelan official warns state oil workers to support socialist model

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s oil minister says workers at the state oil company must support President Hugo Chavez’s endeavors or be suspected of conspiring against his socialist revolution.

Muslim rebels claim killing hundreds of Filipino troops; military denies it

MANILA, Philippines — Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines said Thursday they have killed more than 500 government troops in 10 months of fighting since the collapse of peace talks, a claim the military dismissed as propaganda.

Plan for Revolutionary War museum project moves from Valley Forge to Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — A group that for years has been trying to build a Revolutionary War museum within the boundaries of Valley Forge National Historical Park is moving the multimillion-dollar project to downtown Philadelphia.

Former Iranian president: election outcome ‘velvet coup’ against democracy

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is calling the outcome of disputed elections a “velvet coup” against democracy.