The former Prime Minister al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi appeared in court with two co-defendants, who are managers of a company overseen by one of the late Colonel's most prominent sons, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. The judge announced several charges against the three men. They included acts that led to the unjust killings of Libyans as well as the abuse and funneling of almost $25 million in public funds to personal accounts in Tunisia. But it’s alleged that some of these transfers provided logistical supports for Colonel Gadaffi's forces during the war.
The British Bank Standard Chartered is to pay $327 million to settle (the) claims that it violated American sanctions on Iran, Burma, Libya and Sudan. The bank has been fined by the US Federal Reserve. Ben Thompson reports.
The bank is accused of breaching sanctions for more than a decade and hiding over 60,000 transactions worth more than $250 billion. Regulators say the bank traded with several countries including Iran and Sudan that are subject to sanctions that prohibit the transfer of money to and from the US. The bank has admitted sidestepping those regulations by removing vital information that would have flagged up the pavements for investigation.
BBC news.
The former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlosconi has reacted angrily to perceived criticism from foreign politicians and the media about his decision to seek another term as an Italian leader. Mr. Berlosconi said he had always been a convinced supporter of Europe and comments about him were offensive, not so much to him personally but to the free choice of Italians. Fresh elections were expected early next year after the current Prime Minister Mario Monti said he would resign.