News In Brief

Guatemala genocide trial rescheduled for 2015
Afp, Guatemala City

The genocide trial of Guatemala's former dictator Efrain Rios Montt has been scheduled to resume January 5, 2015, authorities said due to crammed schedule of the court.
Rios Montt, now 87, went on trial in March on charges of ordering the massacre of indigenous Ixil Maya people in the 1980s as part of a scorched-earth policy in the most brutal chapter of a 36-year civil war that ended in 1996. He was convicted on May 10, 2013 of genocide and war crimes in a historic ruling and got an 80-year sentence.

Lieberman acquitted on graft charges
Afp, Jerusalem

An Israeli court yesterday acquitted Avigdor Lieberman on corruption charges in a move welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who hailed his anticipated return to government as foreign minister.
The verdict, reached by a panel of three judges at Jerusalem Magistrates Court, means the outspoken hardliner is free to return to a commanding position within the coalition - in a move which could have implications for Israel's peace talks with the Palestinians.

Greek protests against IMF, EU
The Guardian Online

In scenes not witnessed since the beginning of Greece's economic crisis, auditors from the European Union and International Monetary Fund came face-to-face with the full force of anti-austerity anger as protesters in Athens jeered, heckled and stopped them from leaving the finance ministry.
Held back by riot police brought in to guard the department, furious demonstrators screamed "take your bailout and get out of here" as the officials left a first round of talks with the finance minister, Yannis Stournaras.

Arafat death probe: Palestine gets results
Afp, Ramallah

Palestinian authorities have received the reports of Swiss and Russian forensic investigations into the 2004 death of Yasser Arafat, an official said Tuesday, without disclosing the findings.
Some 60 samples were taken from the remains of the late Palestinian leader in November last year for a probe into whether he was poisoned by polonium. Arafat died in hospital in France on November 11 2004 at the age of 75, but doctors were unable to specify the cause of death.

Thaksin denies amnesty for him
Afp, Bangkok

Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday denied that a controversial amnesty bill pushed by his allies was for his personal benefit, accusing political opponents of "distortions and lies".
There have been daily protests in Bangkok since the politically charged legislation was approved by the lower house last week, raising fears among Thaksin's foes that he could return from self-imposed exile.