US President Barack Obama on Friday praised the courage of dissidents fighting for democracy in Muslim countries, in a message marking the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Tunisia's tourism revenues, a key earner for the Arab country which were hammered by last year's political turmoil, jumped 36 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, the government said on Friday.

Romania's ruling coalition filed a legal complaint on Thursday accusing 15 opposition leaders of defaming the ex-communist state that has been mired in political turmoil.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble called on opposition parties Wednesday to vote in favour of the rescue package worth up to 100 billion euros ($123 billion) for beleaguered Spanish banks.

Thousands of Pakistani activists shouted "death to America" on Tuesday at the latest rally protesting the lifting of a seven-month blockade on NATO supplies into Afghanistan.

Thousands of Pakistani activists marched towards the Afghan border on Tuesday, condemning the government's decision to end a seven-month blockade on NATO supplies into Afghanistan.

The Maldivian opposition has hijacked the tourism slogan "sunny side of life" to highlight alleged rights abuses after failing to secure a boycott of the luxury destination, an official said Sunday.

Angolan opposition parties complained on Saturday that official campaign funding ahead of an election to be held late next month is not enough.

The Cuban government broke 11 days of silence Saturday on the country's first cholera outbreak in 130 years, noting the number of cases has risen to 158, though no new deaths were reported.

The United States said on Saturday it was "deeply concerned" by the conviction and sentencing of Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega, who was jailed for 18 years on "terrorism" charges.

Police in the Maldives arrested at least 55 anti-government protesters following violent clashes with security forces in the capital Male.

Police in the Maldives arrested at least 55 anti-government protesters Friday following violent clashes with security forces in the capital Male.

An Ethiopian court on Friday jailed a journalist for 18 years for "terrorism" and 23 other reporters and activists for between eight years and life, in sentences condemned by rights groups.

An Ethiopian court on Friday jailed a journalist for 18 years for "terrorism" and 23 other reporters and activists for between eight years and life, in sentences condemned by rights groups.

Police in the Maldives arrested at least 55 anti-government protesters Friday following violent clashes with security forces in the capital Male.

Hong Kong activists on Friday said they rejected an official investigation which found a Chinese dissident had died of suicide, in a case which has sparked public protests.

Sudanese security forces are using live ammunition and increasingly aggressive tactics against unprecedented anti-government demonstrations sparked by inflation, a senior opposition figure alleged on Wednesday.

A decision by Egypt's new president to reinstate parliament was a bold challenge to the military that dissolved the house, but some politicians slammed it as a constitutional coup that shows no regard for the judiciary or democracy.

Pakistani Islamists opposed to the country's anti-terror alliance with Washington announced on Monday plans to march on the Afghan border to pressure the government into closing NATO supply routes.

A decision by Egypt's new president to reinstate parliament was a bold challenge to the military that dissolved the house, but some politicians slammed it as a constitutional coup that shows no regard for the judiciary or democracy.