Eight arrested in Sabbath demo

15/08/09 22:53 CET

world news

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At least eight ultra-Orthodox Jews have been arrested in Jerusalem during a protest against the opening of the city’s municipal car parks on the Jewish Sabbath. The decision taken by Jerusalem’s secular mayor Nir Barkat has infuriated the city’s ultra-Orthodox population.

It is the latest in a series of demonstrations which began in June. Two weeks ago a policeman was injured and 15 men arrested as protests took an ugly turn. The authorities say the decision to open the car parks was taken to accommodate the thousands of visitors to the Old City. The ultra-Orthodox community believe to violate the Sabbath is a direct challenge to the word of god.More about: Israel, Protest, Religion

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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)…