ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Ivory Coast’s former first lady is appealing her conviction and a 20-year sentence for her role in the West African country’s post-election violence. More than 3,000 people were killed after former President Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept his defeat in 2010 elections to Alassane Ouattara, who …

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A U.S. official says the Embassy in Riyadh and two other diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia will remain closed for consular services due to security concerns. The diplomatic facilities in Riyadh, Jiddah and Dhahran have been closed since Sunday. A security message to U.S. citizens encouraged …

UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. special envoy for Yemen is warning an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that events are pushing the Arab country “to the edge of civil war” and is urging all parties to step back from the brink and resolve the conflict peacefully. Jamal Benomar …

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s military says Kurdish rebels launched separate attacks on military units stationed near Turkey’s border with Iraq, prompting troops to retaliate. There was no word on any casualties. The incident comes as Turkey is holding talks with the imprisoned leader of Kurdish insurgents in a bid to …

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani state TV says a high-level delegation has left for Saudi Arabia to assess whether to take part in Riyadh’s coalition battling Shiite rebels in Yemen. The TV report Tuesday says the delegation includes Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz and some military …

A Saudi Arabian blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes and ten years in jail for insulting Islam received his first 50 lashes outside a mosque in the city of Jeddah Friday. Raif Badawi—the co-founder of a now banned website called Liberal Saudi Network– was flogged 50 times after morning prayers in …

KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda’s military said Tuesday the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel commander who surrendered to American troops last week will be taken to The Hague for trial. Dominic Ongwen is now in U.S. custody in Obo, a town in eastern Central African Republic, the country where he surrendered on …

KINSHASA, Congo – The Congolese government says it’s only a matter of time before it launches a military offensive against a rebel group that has threatened the country’s east for more than two decades. In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, presidential adviser Seraphin Ngwej hinted that military …

ROME – Alitalia’s new chairman aims to make the airline profitable in 2017 following its takeover by Emirates-based Etihad Airways. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo also told reporters in Rome Tuesday: “Today there are the conditions, enthusiasm, economic and financial willingness to start the new era of Alitalia.” Alitalia’s new strategy …

BRUSSELS – Belgian authorities are looking for a man who was seen together with the chief suspect after the May terror attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels that left four people dead. A Belgian judicial official said Friday they were looking to question a bald-headed man with a sporting …