Iraq to oppose US travel curbs
Reuters, Baghdad
Iraq plans to lobby against new restrictions on travel to the United States by Iraqis, arguing the two countries need to preserve their alliance against ISIS, two members of the Iraqi parliament, who declined to be identified, said on Sunday.
The Iraqi government itself has so far declined to comment on an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on Friday.
5 Ukrainian soldiers killed in new clashes
Reuters, Kiev
Five Ukrainian soldiers were killed and nine wounded as a result of an offensive by pro-Russian separatists over the weekend, the Ukrainian military said on Monday – the deadliest fighting in eastern regions since mid-December. The toll included three servicemen whose deaths were reported on Sunday, when Ukraine said it had repelled an attack by rebels in the frontline town of Avdiyivka. The separatists reported heavy shelling of their positions in the area, with one rebel fighter killed.
Turkey reopens embassy in Libya
Reuters, Ankara
Turkey reopened its embassy in Libya on Monday, 2-1/2 years after closing it due to the security situation, the Turkish foreign ministry said, as diplomatic missions begin to reopen in the divided country. Turkey closed the embassy in Tripoli in 2014 as rival factions battled three years after rebels toppled long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. Italy reopened its embassy earlier this month.
AU to choose new leader
Reuters, Addis Ababa
The African Union is due to choose a new leader on Monday in a vote more likely to expose differences over the International Criminal Court and other issues than reaffirm the continent’s solidarity and common purpose.
In a clear split, three of its four major regions – the south, the east and the largely Francophone west – are supporting their own nominees to head the bloc, making deadlock followed by horse-trading likely.
