A round-up of today's other stories in brief
German minister pulls out of rally
BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel's heir-apparent pulled out of an election rally yesterday amid a plagiarism scandal that could cost him credibility, his PhD title and even his job.
On Wednesday, a newspaper reported Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg had lifted passages of his law dissertation without correctly attributing them in footnotes or bibliography.
Yesterday, more media outlets came forward with further parts of the thesis which they said were of questionable origin. An aristocratic politician with a pop-star image, Mr Guttenberg rose to political fame at lightning speed and had emerged unscathed from a number of setbacks. – (Reuters)
Two dead, 47 hurt in Iraq protest
BAGHDAD – Two people were killed and 47 wounded during a protest in the northern Iraqi city of Suleimaniya yesterday, sources said, as prime minister Nuri al-Maliki called for demonstrations to be kept peaceful.
Protests also hit the southern city of Kut, the oil hub of Basra, the northern oil city of Kirkuk and other towns – the latest in a series of demonstrations against local governments and demanding an end to food and power shortages.
Unlike uprisings in other parts of the Middle East, the Iraqi protesters usually have not demanded the overthrow of their government – an elected one formed less than two months ago. But some have voiced direct anger at Mr Maliki. – (Reuters)
Ex-Tunisian leader 'in grave condition'
DUBAI – Former Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali is in grave condition in a hospital in Saudi Arabia, a Saudi source said yesterday.
Ben Ali (74) was ousted in a popular revolt last month and fled Tunisia after 23 years in power. He has been in exile in Saudi Arabia since then.
“He is in a grave condition,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, who said he was unsure which hospital was treating the former ruler.
The source did not say what Mr Ben Ali was suffering from. He was seen as a leader who ensured political stability and economic growth but rode roughshod over human rights and democratic values.
He denies the allegations. – (Reuters)