Sudanese urge protests on crackdown

Berlin (AFP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande called Monday for a unified response to Europe's biggest migrant crisis since World War II, as the German leader condemned "vile" protests against refugees.

JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty ImagesThis picture taken on November 28, 2013 shows Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Vilnius. KYIV, Ukraine — In the midst of Ukraine’s unen

Pro-democracy activists who spearheaded the mass rallies that ousted Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak were poised for a new protest Friday on the eve of a referendum on the military's transition plans.The Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution called the rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square to urge voters to reject an amended constitution intended to underpin fresh presidential and parliamentary elections this year and a swift return to civilian rule.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned Belarus for its handling of the presidential election and crackdown on activists and political leaders.The comments came after the top US diplomat met human rights activists from Belarus in a further signal of its opposition to the crackdown in Minsk."The secretary condemned the conduct of Belarus's presidential election and crackdown on political leaders and activists, civil society representatives and journalists," a statement from her office said.

It is unclear if the most recent crackdown on synthetic drugs was prompted by today's Yellen testimony, but according to AP, the US government - seemingly in desperate need to find new things to spend money on - has decided to take its vendetta with sellers of drugs, just synthetic drugs, personal, and starting this morning, "broadened its national crackdown on synthetic drug manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers as federal agents served hundreds of search and arrest warrants in at least 25 states....

Yemen's human rights minister Huda al-Baan said she has resigned in protest from the government and ruling party after at least 52 people were killed in a sniper attack on demonstrators.Baan said in a statement late Saturday that her resignation was to protest the "massacre" of demonstrators demanding the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power since 1978.

KIEV, Ukraine — Some demonstrators arrested in the massive protests sweeping Ukraine’s capital will be released, embattled President Viktor Yanukovych promised Tuesday, trying to defuse a political standoff that is threatening his leadership. Yanukovych also vowed to renew talks with the European Union on concluding a much-awaited trade and political agreement. His refusal to sign the deal last month prompted a wave of large protests, some drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the streets of Kiev, the capital.