UNITED NATIONS, June 18, 2013 (AFP) A daughter and son of late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi have moved from Algeria to Oman in breach of UN sanctions, a UN ambassador said Tuesday. The United Nations and international police organization Interpol may soon issue a global alert over members of the Kadhafi family and other Kadhafi associates who are on the run and face UN sanctions. Aisha Kadhafi and Mohamme ...

PARIS, June 18, 2013 (AFP) Two survivors of a 2011 boat tragedy which killed 63 people off Libya filed suits Tuesday in France and Spain, accusing defence forces of the two countries of failing to assist people in danger. The incident dates back to March 26, 2011, when 72 African migrants left the Libyan capital Tripoli on a boat destined for Italy, their planned departure having been brought forward by the ...

TUNIS, June 18, 2013 (AFP) Six people belonging to Tunisia's hardline Salafist movement have each been handed five year jail sentences for torching an important Sufi shrine, the country's Sufi union said on Tuesday. "It's the first time such a sentence has been pronounced. It shows that the law can be applied in Tunisia when the political will exists," Mohamed El Heni, one of the union's leaders, told AFP. ...

TUNIS, June 18, 2013 (AFP) Three European activists with the women's topless protest group Femen, jailed for four months for baring their breasts in Tunis, will appeal their sentence on Friday, their lawyer said. "The appeal hearing will take place on June 21," Souheib Bahri told AFP on Tuesday. The three young women, two French and one German, were handed the four-month jail sentences last Wednesday for th ...

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2013 (AFP) Tunisia, which recently garnered an IMF loan, faces risks linked to its political transition and the global economy but will not be a "new Greece," the International Monetary Fund said Monday. In early June, the IMF approved a two-year standby loan for about $1.75 billion to support the government's economic reforms after the overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in J ...

TRIPOLI, June 17, 2013 (AFP) Seif al-Islam, the son of slain Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, and other former top regime officials will stand trial in August for crimes committed during the 2011 uprising, an aide to the prosecutor said on Monday. Former spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi will be among those whose trial will begin in the first half of August, said Al-Seddik Al-Sur, a member of the prosecutor's of ...

BEN AROUS, Tunisia, June 17, 2013 (AFP) A Tunisian court on Monday charged two musicians and a journalist implicated in violence that erupted last week at the trial of a rapper who was controversially jailed for two years for insulting the police. Aymen Feki and Moustapha Fakhfakh, and French-Tunisian journalist Hind Meddeb, who was not in court having fled the country on Sunday, are to be tried on October ...

TRIPOLI, June 17, 2013 (AFP) A Libyan court acquitted two former aides of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi on Monday of charges connected to the deadly 1988 bombing of a US airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland. "On behalf of all people, the court decides to acquit Abdelati al-Obeidi and Mohamed Belgassem al-Zwai of all charges against them," the judge said to shouts of "Long live justice!" from the defendants' fa ...

BENGHAZI, Libya, June 16, 2013 (AFP) Libya's premier was due to meet local authorities in Benghazi on Sunday, a government source said, as special forces units patrolled the city a day after clashes with gunmen killed six soldiers. Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was due to travel to the eastern city with members of his government to discuss the security situation, the source said on condition of anonymity. An on ...

PARIS, June 16, 2013 (AFP) French actor and new Russian national Gerard Depardieu said Sunday he was applying for an Algerian passport and possibly others, describing himself a "world citizen". The 64-year-old star, one of the world's most prolific actors, acquired Russian nationality in January after getting into a fight with the French authorities over a new 75-percent tax on the super-rich. "I would like ...

BENGHAZI, Libya, June 15, 2013 (AFP) Clashes between Libyan elite forces and gunmen Saturday killed five soldiers in Benghazi, the army said, in the latest bout of unrest as the government struggles to control rebels from the 2011 uprising. The interim leader of Libya's army warned of the danger of a "bloodbath" as the unrest in Benghazi flared again a week after violence killed more than 30 people in the e ...

BENGHAZI, Libya, June 15, 2013 (AFP) At least three soldiers were killed as special forces clashed with armed activists in the eastern port city of Benghazi early Saturday, the Libyan army reported. Earlier, the army's acting chief warned of the danger of a "bloodbath" in the flashpoint city as the unrest flared up again, a week after clashes there killed more than 30 people. At around 4:00 am (0200 GMT) he ...