News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Amnesty accuses Russia over civilian deaths

The human rights group Amnesty international says Russian air strikes in Syria have killed at least 200 civilians in attacks that could constitute war crimes. In a report based on eyewitness accounts, Amnesty accuses Russia of using cluster munitions and unguided bombs on civilian areas. Director of the Middle Eastern programme at Amnesty, Philip Luther: “The Russian airforce appears to have targeted residential areas where there has been no military target. That would be direct attacks against civilians. Those would constitute war crimes.” The spokesman for Russian president Putin, Dmitry Peskov, has said the defence ministry would be looking into the accuracy of the Amnesty report.

Iraqi forces ‘advancing in Ramadi’

Iraqi forces are advancing toward the center of the city of Ramadi on the second day of an offensive against Islamic State militants who captured the city in May this year. Army officials say around 300 militants remain inside the city centre, many of them foreign fighters.

Taliban besiege Sangin HQ

Afghanistan’s government has said reinforcements have arrived in the town of Sangin in Helmand province where the Taliban are besieging district headquarters. Britain has announced that it is sending troops to Helmand for the first time in 14 months.

French terror suspect dead

A French terror suspect who beheaded his boss and tried to blow up a chemicals plant in June, has been found dead in his prison cell near Paris. Authorities said Yassin Salhi had hanged himself. Salhi had claimed he acted out of a grudge against his employer but prosecutors regarded him as an Islamist militant.

Khodorkovsky faces arrest warrant

A Russian court has issued an international arrest warrant for the former oil tycoon and critic of the Kremlin Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Khodorkovsky says accusations he was involved in the murder of a Siberian mayor are politically motivated.

Austrian Greens pioneer dies

One of the founders of Austria’s Greens party Freda Meissner-Blau has died at the age of 88. Meissner-Blau played an important role in the Greens entering parliament for the first time in 1986, and was previously party candidate for the presidency.

Polish law ‘undermines democracy’

Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice party has passed a controversial law that regulates the Constitutional Tribunal. Top legal and opposition figures say the move undermines the country's democratic foundations.

Migrants drown in Aegean

Greek authorities say a boat carrying migrants from Turkey to Europe has sunk in the Aegean and at least 13 people, mostly children, have drowned. Another 15 people had been rescued, and a search is underway for one missing person

The Weather

Generally sunny, some fog in the east and south. Top temperatures 5 to 16 degrees.

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