Saudi Arabia has turned down a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council, accusing the world body of failing to deal with the Syrian crisis. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that the UN needs to be reformed, and in particular the Security Council.

Syrian air force jets bombarded the eastern city of Deir al-Zor on Friday after heavy overnight clashes and the killing of one of President Bashar Assad’s top military intelligence officers, activists said. General Jama’a Jama’a was shot dead on Thursday by snipers in the midst of a

France will maintain around 2 000 troops in Mali to help secure the December legislative polls before further scaling down its military presence, the defence minister said  . “We’re going keep a little more than 2 000 men until the end of the year,” Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

The Pakistani envoy to United Nations, Masood Khan stressed dialogue aimed at national reconciliation in Mali, said an official press release on Friday. According to the press release, important steps have been taken recently to help restore constitutional order and stability in Mali.

Tunisian security forces have killed several terrorists in an operation against an armed group suspected of an attack this week in which two policeman died, the interior ministry said Friday. “Special forces from the interior ministry, the National Guard and the army took part in this operation. It began with air

Police in Bosnia have detained eight Serb men suspected of taking part in looting, expulsions and killing of civilians during the country’s 1992-95 war. The prosecutor’s office in Bosnia said Thursday the men were arrested in the eastern town of

Cyprus said on Friday that it has approved the establishment of a support base on the Mediterranean island for chemical weapons inspectors deployed in war-hit Syria. “The Council of Ministers has ratified the agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the UN-OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) for the

European integration is a major engine of positive change in the Balkan region, said Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev at EU-Balkan Summit. European integration has brought unprecedented peace, friendliness and understanding to the region of Southeast Europe, said Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev on Thursday at a gala-dinner for the opening of EU-

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will embark on a visit to Russia and China next week. The prime minister will visit Moscow from Oct. 20 to 22 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin

The United Nations has appealed for more troops and equipment for its peacekeeping force in Mali. The UN force, which took over security duties in July, has less than half of its mandated strength of more than 12,000 military personnel. Bert Koenders, the UN’s special representative to Mali, said recent …