Israel still in limbo after third election in a year
Jerusalem: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted he is “not going anywhere” after falling short of a parliamentary majority along with his hard-line allies yet again in the country’s third election in less than a year.
Convening what he called an “emergency conference”, Mr Netanyahu accused his opponents of trying to “steal the elections” by aligning with Arab-led parties he said were hostile to the state.
The election results will weaken the longtime leader as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges later this month.
Mr Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest party, with 36 seats, ahead of 33 seats for the rival Blue and White Party. But with his smaller allies, the rightwing bloc captured just 58 seats, but needs 61.
While Mr Netanyahu’s opponents control a majority of seats, they are deeply divided, with a hardline nationalist party and the predominantly Arab Joint List among them.
The Joint List won 15 seats, making it the thirdlargest party in parliament – its best ever performance.
Mr Netanyahu is scheduled to go on trial March 17 on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He is accused of accepting expensive gifts and offering favours to powerful media moguls in exchange for positive press coverage.
Sakow: An air strike in Somalia has killed a senior commander of militant Islamist group al-shabab, state radio reported.
The US issued a reward of $5 million (£3.8m) in 2008 for information on the whereabouts of Bashir Mohamed Qorgab.
The US carries out frequent air strikes in Somalia to target militants. It has not yet commented on the report. Mr Qorgab’s family confirmed his death.
He was in charge of attacks on military bases and was also involved in operations in Kenya, the report said.
Mr Qorgab was killed on February 22 in the southern Somali town of Sakow, following a joint operation by the Somali army and US military, Somali state radio reported.
It did not explain why the news had emerged only now.
Asuncion: Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho and his brother appeared in court on Saturday over allegations the pair used fake passports to enter Paraguay.
Prosecutors say the brothers were given the false documents when they landed in the capital Asuncion on Wednesday.
The pair were taken into custody on Friday, just hours after a judge refused to uphold a proposal by defence lawyers for an alternative punishment.
The Brazilian brothers’ counsel said they had been tricked. They deny any wrongdoing.