Charges urged against Israel’s Foreign Minister

02/08/09 20:04 CET

world news

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The Israeli police’s long investigation into the affairs of ultra-nationalist foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman came to a conclusion today when they recommended he be charged with corruption.

The Moldovan-born politician and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party was appointed Israel’s foreign minister after his party took 15 seats in the March elections. According to a leading Israeli newspaper, police have recommended he be charged with receiving bribes, fraud, deception and money laundering. The recommendation is to be presented in the coming days to the state prosecutor Menahem Mazouz. He will make a decision on whether Lieberman has to answer the charges in court. Lieberman was defiant, accusing the police of conducting a 13-year campaign of persecution against him.More about: Avigdor Liberman, Corruption, Israel

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Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…