Associated Press

Assad: Syria transition talks are internal matter

Assad: Syria transition talks are internal matter Syrian President Bashar Assad said in a newspaper interview Saturday he won't step down before elections and that the United States has no right to interfere in his country's politics, raising new doubts about a U.S-Russian effort to get Assad and his opponents to negotiate an end to the country's civil war.

Attacks kill 16 in Iraq, 8 police kidnapped

Attacks kill 16 in Iraq, 8 police kidnapped A string of attacks killed at least 16 people in Iraq on Saturday, while gunmen abducted eight policemen guarding a post on the country's main highway to Jordan and Syria, the latest in a wave of violence to grip the country.

Union leads march in Rome calling for job creation

A union of Italian metal workers has led thousands of people in a march through the heart of Rome to press the new government for measures to spur job creation.

Afghan lawmakers block law on women's rights

Afghan lawmakers block law on women's rights Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation on Saturday aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience.

Top officials call to overhaul euro institutions

Top officials call to overhaul euro institutions Engineering a financial bailout for Cyprus in March was such a chaotic process that top European officials say it is time to rethink how the region manages its crisis _ and who should be involved.