Iraq

Turkey-Iran alignment against Kurdish rebels

As nearly 10,000 Turkish troops chase down Kurdish rebels on the southeastern border and into Iraq, Turkey’s foreign minister met with his Iranian counterparti in Ankara to pledge cooperation against the guerilla forces of the PKK.

Europe

ETA announces “definitive cessation” of armed activity

The Basque armed group ETA issued a statement saying it is ending its 43-year armed campaign for independence and called on Spain and France “to open a process of a direct dialogue” to arrive at a resolution of the conflict.

Europe

Greek protests turn deadly as anarchists, communists clash

The Greek parliament approved a new austerity package after a day of street fighting in Athens that saw the death of one protester. The 53-year-old construction worker may have died in clashes between communists and anarchists.

North Africa

Qaddafi dead; Amnesty International calls for investigation

Amnesty International is calling for the NTC to give a full accounting of the slaying of Moammar Qaddafi. Reports conflict on whether he was already injured by a NATO air-strike when he was captured, or was shot while in the hands of NTC fighters.

Africa

Kenya sends troops to Somalia; populace flees border fighting

The populace of border towns have fled into the bush ahead of feared clashes, as Kenya sends troops into Somalia to hunt down Shabab insurgents. Shabab protested the “affront to Somalia’s sovereignty” and threatened retaliation within Kenya.

Europe

Athens: riots mark opening of Greek general strike

Greek protesters clashed with police in central Athens after Prime Minister George Papandreou vowed to push through a further round of austerity measures. Some 70,000 converged on Syntagma at the start of a declared 48-hour general strike.

Mexico

Mexico: 20 dead in Matamoros prison riot

At least 20 inmates were killed and 12 injured in rioting at a prison in the violence-torn Mexican border city of Matamoros. Federal and state police as well as army troops were brought in to help guards restore control of the facility.

Planet Watch

Occupy Wall Street protests go global

The Occupy Wall Street movement reports demonstrations in over 1,500 cities across the globe Saturday, including over 100 US cities from coast to coast. Scores were arrested in New York, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Sacramento and San Diego.

North Africa

Libya: oil workers flex muscle

Striking workers at Libya’s Waha Oil firm, which operates in a joint venture with US companies, agreed to return to work after the government said it will dismiss chairman Bashir Elshahab, accused of being a crony of ousted dictator Moammar Qaddafi.