YEMEN: President again refuses deal to give up power.
A renewed effort to resolve Yemen’s political crisis collapsed Wednesday after the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, again backed away from signing an agreement to transfer power, prompting officials and analysts to warn that the stalemate could descend into factional violence.
LIBYA: Crossing to Tunisia closed as Gadhafi troops target key road, mountain positions.
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s forces intensified their campaign Wednesday to take strategic heights in a western mountain range and targeted a road that many people have used to flee the fighting, forcing the temporary closure of a border crossing to Tunisia.
EGYPT: Human-rights group criticizes authorities.
Amnesty International says authorities continue to restrict freedom of assembly, torture detainees and try civilians in military courts, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
The London-based rights group called on the military rulers to overhaul the security forces to ensure accountability and prevent human-rights violations.
In a report issued today, Amnesty said at least 840 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured during Egypt’s uprising. Thousands more were detained, many of them tortured.
Also Wednesday, the military rulers denied local media reports they plan to grant amnesty to deposed President Hosni Mubarak.
BAHRAIN: Four opposition journalists go on trial.
Bahrain pressed forward Wednesday with its campaign to crush political opposition, opening the trial of four former opposition newspaper editors on charges that could send them to prison for as long as two years. The state accuses them of “intentionally fabricating news stories with the intent to destabilize” the oil-producing Persian Gulf island during anti-government demonstrations.
TUNISIA: Soldier, two militants killed in clash near border with Algeria.
A colonel and two foreign militants were killed during a clash near the Algerian border. The attack in Rouhia, in the center-west region of Siliana, is the fourth time in less than a week that security forces have uncovered foreign fighters from neighboring countries in North Africa. A third fighter fled, firing an assault rifle at a helicopter. The official TAP news agency quoted local residents as saying the three were wearing explosive belts.
Denver Post wire services
