Berber tribes with Al Qaida ties in southern Algeria near Mali threaten revolt

Berber tribes with Al Qaida ties in southern Algeria near Mali threaten revolt

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Algeria faces the prospect of a tribal revolt in the south. Algerian sources said powerful non-Arab tribes in the southern region were demanding autonomy amid accusations that the central government failed to provide basic services. They said the tribes were attacking police in the southern Sahara Desert town of Ghardaia […]

Human, geopolitical impact of Syrian war expanding to an international crisis

Human, geopolitical impact of Syrian war expanding to an international crisis

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The raging civil war in Syria has dominated headlines as well as both the debate and emotions at the UN General Assembly. But beyond the grisly statistics with over 100,000 people killed as well as the toxic political aftermath of chemical weapons use, there remain three other glaring, but […]

How the Obama administration’s Syria reversal looks in Seoul

How the Obama administration’s Syria reversal looks in Seoul

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL, South Korea — The pattern is distressingly familiar. Russia doesn’t want anyone to believe that its friends and allies are capable of wrongdoing. Remember the Russian experts who examined the sinking of the Cheonan and came up with a report that was never quite released? The reason […]

Afghan civilians suffer as clock to U.S. pullout ticks down

Afghan civilians suffer as clock to U.S. pullout ticks down

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — As the clock ticks down to an American military pullout from Afghanistan in late 2014, civilian deaths in the troubled country have ticked up as Taliban insurgents focus on “soft targets” and set the scene for wider intimidation in the wake of a Western pullout. The number of Afghan […]

Egypt scrutinizing Morsi’s ties with Hamas as U.S. calls for his release

Egypt scrutinizing Morsi’s ties with Hamas as U.S. calls for his release

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Egypt’s military has been interrogating ousted President Mohammed Morsi over his ties to the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip. Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency said Morsi has been detained for 15 days amid interrogation of the ex-president’s relations with Hamas. The United States and Turkey have called on […]

Drones seen going where peackeepers can’t to monitor Sudan border

Drones seen going where peackeepers can’t to monitor Sudan border

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United Nations has been urged to procure unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor the disputed border area between Sudan and South Sudan. UN special envoy to South Sudan Hilde Johnson said UAVs could help help international peacekeepers monitor the Sudanese border. Ms. Johnson told the Security Council that UN and […]

UN scrambles to salvage Golan Heights force

UN scrambles to salvage Golan Heights force

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United Nations is working urgently to save its depleted and embattled peacekeeping force at the Golan Heights. The UN has been examining the prospect of replacing several of the contingents that withdrew from the UN Disengagement Observers Force in 2013. Over the last six months, Austria, Canada, Croatia and […]

Into the breach: UN peacekeepers mostly succeed in a dangerous game

Into the breach: UN peacekeepers mostly succeed in a dangerous game

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Peacekeeping is fraught with risk, but it is also filled with promise, stated UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. “Our Blue Helmets bring hope to millions of people in some of the most troubled parts of the world,” advised the Secretary General in a somber ceremony honoring fallen peacekeeping troops, […]

Syrian rebels with Al Qaida ties capture UN peacekeepers

Syrian rebels with Al Qaida ties capture UN peacekeepers

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Sunni rebels have again attacked United Nations peacekeepers in Syria. On May 7, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon reported that Sunni rebels captured four members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force in Syria’s Golan Heights. The rebels were identified as members of the Al Qaida-aligned Yarmouk Martyrs Brigades, which operates in […]

New focus of UN peacekeepers on Syria-Israel border: Stay alive

New focus of UN peacekeepers on Syria-Israel border: Stay alive

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The United Nations observers force along the Israeli-Syrian frontier has revised its strategy. Diplomatic sources said the UN Disengagement Observer Force has severely restricted operations in Syria and focused on protection of its 1,000 members. They said the UN force was reorganizing after the abduction of 21 officers by Syrian […]