LA Times News

LA Times News

Kadafi's government proposes he stay as a figurehead

Posted: 25 May 2011 05:26 PM PDT

The idea apparently aims to play on fears of long-term instability and the possibility that if Kadafi cannot be ousted, war-weary Western nations may start looking for a way out of Libya.

As President Obama and Western allies reaffirm their resolve to force Moammar Kadafi from power, the government here is promoting an alternative: The embattled Libyan leader remains as a figurehead who would ensure a transition to democracy.

Obama pushes Europe not to support Palestinians' U.N. statehood bid

Posted: 25 May 2011 06:08 PM PDT

British Premier David Cameron is noncommittal on the Palestinians' statehood bid at a joint news conference in London. The U.S. is deeply worried support for the unilateral step would isolate Israel.

A week after ratcheting up pressure on Israel's government to restart peace talks with Palestinians, President Obama launched a campaign to persuade European leaders not to endorse a separate Palestinian bid for statehood. But his appeal to Britain's prime minister, David Cameron, won only a noncommittal response.

France's Christine Lagarde makes it formal: She wants to head the IMF

Posted: 25 May 2011 05:37 PM PDT

The International Monetary Fund is seeking a chief after Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned amid scandal. If chosen, Lagarde, France's finance minister, would be the first woman to head it.

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde launched her formal bid to become the next head of the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday as an opposition group of countries attacked Europe's "obsolete" grip on the position.

Star witness in Chicago terrorism trial 'pleased' by Mumbai attacks

Posted: 24 May 2011 11:13 PM PDT

David Coleman Headley, who pleaded guilty to scouting for targets in India, shows little emotion as he testifies against a childhood friend.

After spending two years scouting out targets for Pakistani terrorists who unleashed the deadly Mumbai attacks in 2008, David Coleman Headley watched the carnage unfold from about 1,000 miles away on his television in Pakistan.

Nuclear report on Syria may augur punitive action

Posted: 25 May 2011 02:27 AM PDT

IAEA findings that Syria 'very likely' pursued a secret program may add to foreign pressure on Damascus amid a government crackdown on protesters. A separate report says Iran has expanded its nuclear capacity and stockpile.

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog released a detailed report saying Syria "very likely" pursued a clandestine nuclear program, an assertion that is expected to add pressure on a regime already reeling from protests at home and sanctions imposed abroad.

Gas leak, not sabotage, caused blast at Iran oil refinery, state media say

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:39 PM PDT

The blast at a new refinery unit killed up to four people and hurt up to 25. But it did not halt a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who some suggested launched the facility too soon.

A gas leak and not sabotage caused an explosion Tuesday at a newly inaugurated section of an oil refinery in Abadan just before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, state media reported.