EGYPT: Court orders release of three detained U.S. students.
An Egyptian court has ordered the release of three American students arrested during a weekend protest in Cairo, a lawyer in Philadelphia confirmed Thursday.
Derrik Sweeney, Luke Gates and Gregory Porter, who attend American University in Cairo, were arrested on the roof of a university building near Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square on Sunday. Officials accused them of throwing firebombs at security forces fighting with protesters.
Lawyer Theodore Simon, who represents Porter, a 19-year-old student at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said his client remained in custody at a police station as of Thursday afternoon Eastern time.
LIBYA: Transitional leaders sworn in.
The nation’s transitional leaders swore on a Koran to uphold the ideals of the revolution that toppled Moammar Gadhafi as they took their oaths of office Thursday, another key step in the country’s hoped-for march toward democracy.
Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib took his vow before the transitional council’s leader, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil. He then placed his hand on an ornately decorated Koran and swore to “remain loyal to the goals” of the revolution.
SYRIA: Arab League issues ultimatum.
An Arab League committee on Thursday gave Syria 24 hours to agree to allow an observer mission into the country or it could face sanctions that include stopping financial dealings and freezing assets.
The bloodshed in the country continued, with activists reporting at least 15 people killed, including civilians and security forces.
BAHRAIN: Officials say evidence links Iran to unrest.
In a 500-page report detailing widespread abuses in Bahrain’s crackdowns, the Persian Gulf kingdom suggested it has classified evidence that Iran was linked to Shiite-led protests, despite an independent commission that said it found nothing to back the claims.
The allegations of Iranian involvement in the kingdom’s 10-month-old unrest have been central to gulf policies during the region’s largest Arab Spring uprising, including the decision to send a Saudi-led military force to reinforce Bahrain’s embattled Sunni monarchy.
Denver Post wire services
