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In Libya's east, a former rebel commander tests Tripoli

2013-10-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Tweet Share this EmailPrintReprints Related Topics World » Libya » By Ulf Laessing and Ghaith Shennib

Blasts kill five at rally for Indian opposition candidate Modi

2013-10-28T17:51:00.000-07:00

"Smoke rises after a bomb exploded near a public ground where Gujarat's chief minister and Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was to address a rally in the eastern Indian city of Patna October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Krishna Murari Kishan" /

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Analysis: Chile's Bachelet set to return to power, but obstacles await

2013-10-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

"Former Chilean President and current presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet delivers a speech during a ceremony to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the military coup, at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago, September 9, 2013. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado" /

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Czech Social Democrat chief defies party call to resign

2013-10-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

"Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) leader Bohuslav Sobotka arrives at a news conference at their election headquarters after the country's early general election in Prague October 26, 2013. REUTERS/David W Cerny" /

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Somalia radio stations shut down, ordered out of government building

2013-10-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

An on-air sign is seen at a radio station in Mogadishu December 8, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/AU-UN IST Photo/Tobin Jones/Handout

By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU

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Egypt seeks to lure Gulf investors amid turmoil

2013-10-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

"A boat passes buildings under construction and the two towers of the Bank of Egypt building (R), overlooking the river Nile in Cairo June 7, 2013. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih" /

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Two decades on, Suu Kyi finally collects Rome citizenship

2013-10-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

"Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to pupils at Wellington Park College in Belfast on her visit to the United Kingdom October 24, 2013 REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton" /

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German paper says Obama aware of spying on Merkel since 2010

2013-10-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

"Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a news conference during a European Union leaders summit in Brussels October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir" /

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As Iraq seeks U.S. arms, bombs kill another 55

2013-10-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

1 of 5. People stand at the site of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's al-Shaab district, October 27, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Thaier Al-Sudani

By Kareem Raheem and Ahmed Rasheed

BAGHDAD

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Israel to free more Palestinian prisoners for peace talks

2013-10-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

"Israeli Prisons Authority vans carrying Palestinian prisoners due for release to help underpin peace talks drive out of Ayalon prison near Lod, on its way to the crossing between Israel and Gaza, August 13, 2013. REUTERS/Amir Cohen" /

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Iran sends out feelers for any return to oil markets

2013-10-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

Tweet Share this EmailPrintReprints Related Topics World » United Nations » By Dmitry Zhdannikov, Peg Mackey and Alex Lawler

LONDON

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Kurdish militants tighten grip on Syria's northeast

2013-10-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

Tweet Share this EmailPrintReprints Related NewsMain Syrian rebel groups declare opposition to Geneva peace talks3:43pm EDT Related Topics World » Syria » Iraq »

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Former South African politician Sexwale arrested in New York: SABC

2013-10-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

Businessman Tokyo Sexwale addresses journalists in Cape Town October 25, 2007.

Credit: Reuters/Mike Hutchings

JOHANNESBURG

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Billionaire PM cements grip in Georgia, ally elected president

2013-10-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

"REFILE - CORRECTING BYLINE Georgia's Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (R), presidential candidate Georgy Margvelashvili (L) and Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili celebrate Margvelashvili's victory in Sunday's presidential election at the Georgian Dream coalition's headquarters in Tbilisi, October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor" /

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Colombia's FARC frees ex-U.S. marine after four months in jungle

2013-10-28T04:51:00.000-07:00

Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:53pm EDT

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's FARC guerrillas have freed a former U.S. marine who was kidnapped in June while he trekked through the jungle in a known guerrilla area, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the U.S. government said on Sunday.

Kevin Scott Sutay, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, had been backpacking through several Central and South American countries before he was captured by the FARC. He had ignored police warnings against hiking through a "red zone" for rebel activity in the southeastern province of Guaviare.

"We are pleased about the liberation today of U.S. citizen Kevin Scott Sutay who was in the hands of the FARC," said a statement from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in which he expressed profound gratitude to the Colombian government and President Juan Manuel Santos for their efforts.

Sutay was handed over in Guaviare to a delegation of the governments of Colombia, Cuba and Norway and members of the International Committee of the Red Cross before being delivered to U.S. embassy officials at the airport in the capital Bogota.

An ICRC doctor had deemed Sutay to be in good health and fit to travel, said ICRC spokeswoman Patricia Rey. An official of the U.S. embassy in Bogota said it was working to send Sutay home but could not confirm when he would leave.

Sutay's release may help peace negotiations the FARC has been engaged in with the government for the past year in Cuba. Progress in the talks has been slow with just partial agreement on one of the five points on the agenda.

The FARC had shown willingness to release Sutay in July but hardened its stance, accusing him of being a mercenary, soon after President Juan Manuel Santos refused to allow a high profile left-wing politician to oversee the liberation.

U.S. civil rights campaigner, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, then became involved in September, meeting with the FARC's negotiators in Cuba and asking them to release Sutay. However Santos refused FARC's demand that Jackson be allowed to head a delegation to oversee the release.

It was not immediately clear what had prompted the FARC to release Sutay on Sunday.

The FARC and their smaller counterpart, the ELN, have been fighting the government in a bloody five-decade conflict that has killed more than 200,000. Both are listed as terrorist organizations by the United States and European Union.

The FARC is believed to have around 8,000 fighters according to government data and the ELN around 3,000. Their numbers were roughly halved by a decade-long military offensive with the support of the U.S. government.

(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra, Luis Jaime Acosta and Peter Murphy; Writing by Peter Murphy; Editing by Christopher Wilson and David Brunnstrom)

U.S.World Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this EmailReprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/Comments (2) purplehaze77340 wrote: they may be, and probably are terrorists, but in this instance they did the right thing.

Oct 27, 2013 3:19pm EDT -- Report as abuse Doc62 wrote: Sutay had NO business in any red zone. I smell CIA/Intelligence activity. The three young hikers in Iran were just stupid kids. This is very different. Politics too? I see Cuba had a hand in it.

Oct 27, 2013 3:30pm EDT -- Report as abuse See All Comments » Add Your Comment
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Power struggle in Czech election winner hits coalition talks

2013-10-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

Britain braced for hurricane-force 'St. Jude' storm

2013-10-28T02:51:00.000-07:00

People with their dog walk on Towan Beach, in Cornwall, south west England October 27, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/John Voos

LONDON

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China to hold first trial of anti-graft activists

2013-10-28T01:51:00.000-07:00

"China's President Xi Jinping waves as he and Premier Li Keqiang (behind) arrive for a reception marking the 64th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing September 30, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee" /

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Argentine opposition leader Massa wins Buenos Aires mid-term

2013-10-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

"Sergio Massa, mayor of Buenos Aires' Tigre, accompanied by his children Milagros and Tomas (R) prepares to vote for the legislative election in Tigre October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian" /

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Chile's Bachelet pitches $15 billion plan, vows to back labor unions

2013-10-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

"Chilean presidential candidate and former President Michelle Bachelet, of Nueva Mayoria (New Majority), takes part in a live radio debate in Santiago October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado" /

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Incoming Georgian president is no 'superman'

2013-10-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

"Presidential candidate Georgy Margvelashvili greets supporters as he celebrates his victory in Sunday's presidential election at the Georgian Dream coalition's headquarters in Tbilisi, October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor" /

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Bomb kills 18 people on way to wedding in eastern Afghanistan

2013-10-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:58pm EDT

GHAZNI (Reuters) - A roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed 18 people, including at least five women, who were travelling to a wedding party by minibus, a local government official said on Sunday.

Violence has risen in Afghanistan this year as most foreign combat troops prepare to leave by the end of 2014.

"They were going to attend a wedding party when their minibus was hit by a roadside bomb... which killed 18 mostly females, including children," said the governor's spokesman, Shafiq Nang Safai.

The Taliban did not immediately claim responsibility, although it usually denies having a hand in attacks that kill civilians. The local government said, however, it believed the insurgency was to blame.

Improvised explosive devices, like the latest bomb that struck the wedding party, are the single biggest killer in the Afghan conflict, causing over a third of civilian casualties in the first six months of the year, according to a U.N. report.

Although roadside bombs kill civilians almost daily in Afghanistan, Sunday's death toll was unusually high.

(Reporting by Mustafa Andalib in Ghazni and Mirwais Harooni in Kabul; editing by Maria Golovnina and Mike Collett-White)

World Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this EmailReprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/Comments (4) JRTerrance wrote: More death and destruction brought to you by Islam, the religion of peace and love.

Oct 27, 2013 11:22am EDT -- Report as abuse AZ1811 wrote: JRT – couldn’t have said it better myself.

Oct 27, 2013 11:53am EDT -- Report as abuse chekovmerlin wrote: Another marvelous Islamic “state.” Isn’t it grand to have such a peaceful religion?

Oct 27, 2013 2:26pm EDT -- Report as abuse See All Comments » Add Your Comment
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Fernandez coalition loses clout but keeps majority in midterm

2013-10-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

"Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez speaks at the 2009 World Leaders Forum at Columbia University in New York September 21, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Thayer" /

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Congo army says it captured rebel stronghold; peacekeeper killed

2013-10-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

"A Congolese army tank moves into position as they advance against the M23 rebels in Kibumba, north of Goma October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Kenny Katombe" /

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Fernandez coalition loses clout but keeps majority in midterm

2013-10-27T18:51:00.001-07:00

"Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez speaks at the 2009 World Leaders Forum at Columbia University in New York September 21, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Thayer" /

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