LA Times News

LA Times News

As cries for revolution fade, Bahrainis wonder what went wrong

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 06:25 PM PDT

The demonstrations demanding democracy began with great promise, but they fizzled amid harsh crackdowns, leaving increased tension between Sunnis and Shiites.

When thousands of protesters spilled into Bahrain's streets in February, Dr. Mohammed Al-Muharraqi, a self-professed pessimist, thought his country might change for the better.

16 Mexico police officers held, accused of aiding cartels in massacres

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 04:33 PM PDT

The federal attorney general's office identifies the 16 as municipal police in the Tamaulipas town of San Fernando, near where more than 120 bodies have been found in the last week in mass graves.

 

Berlusconi reportedly won't seek reelection

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 06:25 PM PDT

In an off-the-record talk, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is said to have indicated a possible successor. He also reportedly said he didn't intend to run for president. Colleagues downplay the musings.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told a group of foreign journalists this week that he does not plan to seek reelection after his term ends in 2013, Italian and foreign news reports said Thursday.

Suicide bombers in Afghanistan kill 3 police officers

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 04:46 PM PDT

The three separate bombings targeting police and the government also injure seven people. The Taliban claims responsibility, saying scores were killed. Afghan police foil one attempted suicide bombing in Kandahar.

Suicide bombers targeted Afghan police and government officials in three attacks Thursday, killing three police officers and injuring seven people.

Syria leader makes conciliatory gestures in bid to end protests

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 05:32 PM PDT

President Bashar Assad revamps his Cabinet to include new figures and orders the release of most prisoners arrested in the last month. But activists are far from mollified. Clashes are reported near a key southern city.

Syrian President Bashar Assad made conciliatory gestures Thursday in an attempt to quell the outrage fueling anti-government protests across the country, but as night fell witnesses reported clashes near a key southern city as activists renewed their call for widespread protests on Friday.

Kadafi forces kill 20 in key Libyan city

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 05:27 PM PDT

The strongman's army continues its barrage of rockets into Misurata, the country's third-largest city as rebels send boats with aid and arms.

A barrage of rocket fire from forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi killed at least 20 people Thursday in the besieged city of Misurata as rebels continued to send boats with humanitarian aid and weapons to try to tip the battle in their favor.

No debt restructuring for Greece, finance minister says

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 05:32 PM PDT

Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou says Greece may have fallen short of the deficit-reduction target for 2010, but it is moving in the right direction and on track in terms of fiscal reforms.

It was nearly a year ago that Greece became an unwilling trendsetter by deciding to accept a $159-billion bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund because it could no longer pay its bills.

A wary drive up to the gate of Fukushima

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 04:28 PM PDT

Two journalists, their interpreter and their driver set out to see the damaged Japanese nuclear plant the world has been watching. Along the way, the radiation gauge kept ticking upward.

The radiation gauge beeped, signaling that isotopes were in the atmosphere.

Suicide bombers kill 3 Afghan police

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 02:05 AM PDT

Bombers target a police training center in eastern Paktia province and a government office south of Kabul. Taliban militants take responsibility for both attacks.

In three separate attacks Thursday, suicide bombers targeted Afghan police and government officials, killing three Afghan police and injuring a half dozen bystanders.