ALGIERS, Algeria (AFP) — Thousands of Algerian students marched on Tuesday in protest at ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s determination to stand for re-election, brushing aside his pledge not to serve a full fifth term. The country’s army chief meanwhile delivered a speech slamming unnamed parties he said want to return to the “painful years” of Algeria’s civil war, and pledged to guarantee the country’s “security and stability”. Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 and is […]
Tag: Protest
Venezuela border tensions turn violent amid aid distribution bid
President Nicolas Maduro’s security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday on a crowd awaiting the distribution of humanitarian aid at the Venezuela-Colombia border as tensions spiked ahead of an opposition deadline to bring in food and medical aid. “We want to work!” people chanted as they faced Venezuelan National Guard riot police blocking the crossing at the Urena border bridge to Colombia, one of several ordered closed Maduro late Friday. In the confusion, […]
Swedish teen leaves adults trailing with global school strikes for climate
by Amélie BOTTOLLIER-DEPOIS Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — “Strike for climate”. With that simple plea, 16-year-old Swede Greta Thunberg has inspired children worldwide to boycott classes under the anxious gaze of adults who don’t quite know how to react. Every Friday since August, Greta, as she is known to all, has staked out a spot in front of parliament in Stockholm, demanding that her government step up the fight against climate change. In […]
Four Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir battle with militants: police
SRINAGAR, India (AFP) — At least four soldiers died Monday in a fierce gunfight with rebels in Indian-administered Kashmir just four days after a suicide bomber killed 41 paramilitaries in the troubled territory, officials said. One soldier and one civilian were also critically wounded in the shootout as troops launched a search operation in Pulwama district where the suicide bomber struck on Thursday. “Four soldiers were killed during the shootout and another one is injured,” […]
Haiti president breaks silence after week of violent unrest
by Amelie BARON Agence France Presse PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Thursday broke his silence after a week of violent protests demanding his resignation as the US announced it was pulling “non-emergency personnel” from the country over the deadly unrest. “I will not leave the country in the hands of armed gangs and drug traffickers,” Moise said in a pre-recorded address broadcast on state television, speaking in Creole in the aftermath […]
Facing cronyism and no work, young Haitians protest or flee
by Amelie BARON Agence France Presse PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — Whether using social media to fight corruption or marching in protests that have brought the country to a halt, the anger of Haiti’s youth at their lack of prospects is boiling over in increasingly dramatic ways. Marco Beausejour, a graduate who struggles to make ends meet driving a motorbike-taxi, said that embattled President Jovenel Moise “launched clean-up programs which he said would create 50,000 jobs.” […]
No word from Haiti’s president as fear paralyzes capital
by Amelie BARON Agence France Presse PORT-AU-PRINCE, Sporadic gunfire echoed through the streets of Port-au-Prince on Monday as the government remained silent in the face of protests that have paralyzed the Haitian capital and triggered rising violence. The normally traffic-clogged streets were largely empty as schools, shops and municipal offices were shuttered for fear of more violence that has already left several people dead and an air of uncertainty hanging over the government of President […]
‘Yellow vest’ injuries spark legal challenge to French police
by Clare BYRNE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — A rights group and a major trade union went to France’s top administrative court Wednesday seeking a ban on riot police using rubber bullets, blamed for injuring dozens of “yellow vest” protesters. Activists have denounced the police for their use of the projectiles during two months of anti-government protests, which have repeatedly ended in rioting. A government spokesman told the court that police had opened […]
Venezuela protests a ‘fight for freedom:’ Trump
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated strong US support for Venezuela’s opposition and said protesters demanding the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro were fighting for freedom. “Large protests all across Venezuela today against Maduro. The fight for freedom has begun!” Trump tweeted. Trump said that earlier he’d spoken with self-declared acting president Juan Guaido, who has been recognized by Washington, to reinforce “strong United States support for Venezuela’s fight to […]
Honduras police clash with students demanding president’s ouster
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AFP) — Police in Honduras fired tear gas at hundreds of student protesters who blocked a major road in the capital Tegucigalpa as they called for the resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who just finished the first year of his second term. “Get out, JOH,” shouted the students, who threw rocks and burned tires to block the road in front of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, in the eastern part of […]
Venezuela’s Guaido calls for protests Wednesday, Saturday
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido called for a new round of protests Wednesday and Saturday against elected leader Nicolas Maduro and for free elections. In a video posted on Twitter, the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly called for a “peaceful” strike Wednesday to paralyze the country followed by a “big national and international rally” Saturday. © Agence France-Presse
10,000 ‘red scarf’ protesters march against ‘yellow vest’ violence
by Marc PRÉEL and Katy LEE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 10,000 people wearing red scarves marched through Paris on Sunday in protest at “yellow vest” violence during the anti-government demos that have drawn tens of thousands of people to the streets over the past 11 weeks. Since mid-November President Emmanuel Macron has offered concessions and debates seeking to quell the weekly rallies that often end in violent clashes with police […]





