Syria - Finger-pointing after deadly Damascus bombings

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ It remains unclear who carried out the double-bombing in Damascus on Saturday, but accusations continue to be levelled at both sides.

Al-Baath newspaper, mouthpiece of Syria's ruling party of the same name, is blaming the attacks on 'terrorists supported by foreign powers which finance and arm them'.

State television shows a rally in the capital held by President Bashar al-Assad's supporters.

At the same time, the rebels say the government carried the explosions that killed 27 people in a bid to get international support.

The unrest appears to be spreading eastwards, with more reports of protests and violence in the city of Raqqa.

Unverified amateur film on a social media website is said to show security forces brutally cracking down on anti-government protesters in Raqqa.

A group of opposition activists called the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, or LCC, are reporting the death of an 11-year-old boy there.

More protests may happen today as many consider March 18 to be the anniversary of the beginning of the uprising one year ago.

USA - 'Occupy' protesters return to New York's Zuccotti Park

Uploaded by telegraphtv on Mar 18, 2012

Occupy Wall Street protesters clash with police in New York as they mark the movement's six-month anniversary by camping in the city's Zuccotti Park.

Yemen - An American working as a teacher has been shot.

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ An American working as a teacher in Yemen has been shot. He was killed in an attack by two men on a motorcycle in the city of Taiz, 200 kilometres south of the capital Sanaa.

Governor of Taiz province Hamoud al-Sufi says the killers and motive are unknown, but an investigation is being carried out.

There has been an increase in violence, particularly linked to al-Qaeda, since the uprising in Yemen.

Following 33 years in charge, Ali Abdullah Saleh handed power over to new president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has vowed to be tackle al-Qaeda.

Militant groups took advantage of the leadership problems, seizing control of some of the country's provinces.

Germany - 25,000 people gathered in Bochum to protest against an award to be given to Turkish prime minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan

Published on Mar 18, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ Up to 25,000 people gathered in Bochum in West Germany to protest against an award meant to be given to Turkish prime minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan. 

The demonstration was organised by Germany's Alevi community, who claimed Erdogan's cancelled trip was a victory.

However, Erdogan officially did not visit Germany because of the Turkish helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Saturday.

One demonstrator described her feelings: "Here in Germany we are foreigners, we are foreigners in our own country. We do not know where to go as Kurds and as Alevites," she said.

Gathered at a local football stadium, the minority groups displayed banners showing why they did not think Germany should award Erdogan a prize for tolerance.

Posters accused Erdogan of being anti-democratic and portrayed him with a Hitler moustache.