The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has urged the Egyptian government and opposition to overcome their differences on the latest state of his first foreign tour. Mr. Kerry told business leaders in Cairo that in order to get the economy back on its feet, it was vital to establish a sense of security. He made the remarks as protests continued in a number of Egyptian cities.
“The best way to ensure human rights and strong political checks and balances in any democracy, in Egypt just like in the United States is through the broadest possible political and economic participation. Getting there requires a genuine give and take among Egypt’s political leaders and civil society groups just as we are continuing the struggle in our own country.”
Thousands of people in Zimbabwe have attended the birthday party of the president Robert Mugabe. The cake was said to weigh 89 kilogram matching the president’s age. Special gold coins were minted to mark the occasion. Reports say the party costs some 600,000 dollars. In his birthday speech, Mr. Mugabe denied he’d launched the campaign of violence to intimidate political rivals. Mr. Mugabe, who is been in power for more than 30 years, will contest the presidential election later this year.
World News from the BBC
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been granted more time to try to form a coalition government, five weeks after a general election failed to produce a decisive result. President Shimon Peres gave Mr. Netanyahu another two weeks saying democracy takes effort. Mr. Netanyahu complained that some potential partners were boycotting others. From Jerusalem, Yolande Knell