News in Brief

2m sign petition to oust Morsi

Afp, Cairo
A campaign calling for the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and for early presidential elections has gathered over two million signatures, organisers told AFP.
The "Tamarod" (Rebellion in Arabic) campaign seeks to withdraw confidence from the Islamist leader because he has failed the revolution that brought him to power, they said.
Tamarod has called for a mass protest outside the presidential palace on June 30 when Morsi marks one year in power.

'CIA agent' detained in Moscow

Afp, Moscow
Russia yesterday said it had detained an alleged American CIA agent who was working undercover at the US embassy and was discovered with a large stash of money as he was trying to recruit a Russian intelligence officer.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB, ex-KGB) identified the man Ryan C Fogle -- third secretary of the political section of Washington's embassy in Moscow -- and said he had been handed back to the embassy after his detention.
The Russian news agency reports said the suspected agent had been caught red-handed trying to recruit an employee of one of the Russian security services.

Pak ambassador to US resigns

Pti, Washington
Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman, has resigned from her post.
Congratulating the new parliament on its election, ambassador Rehman has sent in her resignation to the prime minister, saying that it is time a new envoy come in as quickly as possible so that there is no gap in the relationship, an embassy spokesman said.
A political appointee of the previous government and a close aide of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Rehman came to Washington at the time when the US-Pak relationship was at its lowest ebb in post 9/11. Rehman had succeeded in reviving the US-Pak relationship.

Saudi executions toll hits 40

Afp, Riyadh
A Saudi convicted of murder was beheaded yesterday, the interior ministry announced, raising to 40 the number of people executed in the conservative Muslim kingdom this year.
The beheading brings to 40 the number of people executed in Saudi Arabia since the start of the year, according to an AFP tally.In 2012, the kingdom executed 76 people, according to a count based on official figures.
Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia's strict version of sharia, or Islamic law.

Deadly car blast hits Benghazi

Afp, Benghazi
A deadly car bombing in the Libyan city of Benghazi on Monday has unleashed international condemnation and highlighted the insecurity still ravaging the city which was the cradle of the uprising against late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Officials gave contradicting death tolls after the devastating bomb destroyed a restaurant and damaged cars and buildings near Al-Jala hospital in the centre of Benghazi.
Deputy Interior Minister Abdullah Massoud said 15 people were killed and 30 wounded in the blast. He stressed it was a "preliminary toll".