Opposition | Common News Update

Feb62018 by adminNo Comments

The Latest: Opposition leader Gayoom arrested in Maldives

World

The Latest on turmoil in the Maldives after the Supreme Court ordered the release of political prisoners (all times local): 11.15 a.m. Former dictator and opposition politician Maumoon Abdul Gayoom can be seen on a cell phone video shot by his daughter being quietly escorted from his home by Maldives security forces, hugging friends and family and waving to supporters before being driven away. Shortly before his arrest on Monday night, he sent a message on Twitter saying a large deployment of police had surrounded his house: "To protect me or to arrest me? No idea." His lawyer, Maumoon Hameed, said Gayoom faced charges including bribery and attempting to overthrow the government. Gayoom was president from 1978 to 2008, when Maldives became a multiparty democracy. The government arrested t...

Aug12017 by adminNo Comments

Police take 2 Venezuela opposition leaders from homes

World

Two of Venezuela's leading opposition figures were taken from their homes in the middle of the night by state security agents on Tuesday, in President Nicolas Maduro's first moves against his enemies since a widely denounced vote giving his government nearly unlimited powers. The wife of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez posted what appeared to be video of him being taken from their home after midnight. "They've just taken Leopoldo from the house," Lilian Tintori wrote on Twitter. "We don't know where he is or where they're taking him." Allies of former Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma posted video online of a man who appeared to be the opposition leader being taken by state security as a woman screams for help for neighbors. "They're taking Ledezma!" she cries. "It's a dictatorship!" Lopez w...

Jun252017 by adminNo Comments

Venezuelan opposition lays siege to air base

World

Young protesters broke down a metal fence guarding an air base in Caracas on Saturday before being repelled by security forces firing tear gas in another day of anti-government protests in Venezuela's capital. Demonstrators threw stones, and some protesters were injured. The clashes took place after a peaceful mass demonstration next to La Carlota base where a 22-year-old protester was killed this week when a national guardsman shot him in the chest at close range with rubber bullets. Protesters also fought with security forces outside the base Friday, and activists burned some vehicles during the confrontation. President Nicolas Maduro said in an address to troops Saturday that he had managed to break up a U.S.-backed plot to oust him. Like his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, Maduro f...

Jun122017 by adminNo Comments

Russia protests: Opposition leader Alexei Navalny sentenced

World

Russia's opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 30 days' administrative arrest for repeatedly violating the law on staging rallies.He was detained at his home in Moscow earlier on Monday, ahead of anti-corruption demonstrations in Russia.Hundreds of people were held during the gatherings across the country. Riot police in central Moscow were picking protesters out of the crowd at random, a BBC correspondent at the demonstration has said.Media playback is unsupported on your deviceA court in Moscow announced its verdict late on Monday, rejecting demands by Alexei Navalny's defence lawyers to drop the case.The 41-year-old opposition leader later confirmed this in a tweet on his Twitter page (in Russian).Mr Navalny, who intends to stand for the Russian presidency next year, ha...