A roundup of today's other world news in brief
Opposition in Egypt agrees new alliance
CAIRO– About 30 Egyptian opposition politicians and activists have agreed to form a coalition for political change led by former UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei, who has said he might bid for president.
Members of some of Egypt’s long marginalised opposition parties and protest movement leaders met Mr ElBaradei on Tuesday and yesterday to launch a campaign for constitutional change before 2010 parliamentary and 2011 presidential elections.
Several involved in the talks said the group agreed to form a “national coalition for change”, headed by Mr ElBaradei (67), the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. – (Reuters)
Military officers charged over plot
ISTANBUL– A Turkish court yesterday remanded five more military officers in custody after they were charged with involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow the Islamic-rooted government, broadcaster CNN Turk reported.
Seven senior officers had already been charged at the start of the day in an investigation which has eroded investor confidence and fuelled fears of political instability in the European Union-candidate country.
Turkey’s president and prime minister are to hold a meeting with the country’s top military commander today. – (Reuters)
Van Rompuy insulted by Ukip
BRUSSELS– A British Eurosceptic MEP branded the new president of the European Council a "damp rag" from a non-country yesterday in a personal attack that shocked the European Parliament.
To gasps and heckling from other members of the parliament, Nigel Farage of the United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) said Herman Van Rompuy had “all the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance . . . of a bank clerk”.
Ukip won the second largest share of the vote in Britain’s European elections last June. – (Reuters)
Berlusconi warns of 'invasion'
ROME– Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday accused the left of seeking an "invasion of foreigners" to enlarge its voter base, raising pressure on the opposition ahead of regional elections next month.
A crackdown on illegal immigration has proved popular with Italians and Mr Berlusconi is expected to focus on the issue before the vote. “The left wants to throw open the doors to foreigners,” he told a campaign rally. “It does not want immigration but an invasion of foreigners to change the voter base.” – (Reuters)