Zawahri vows Al Qaeda to free Aafia, Guantanamo inmates

DUBAI: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri said the group would spare no effort to free Aafia Siddiqui as well as the hunger striking inmates at Guantanamo Bay, according to an audio recording posted on the Internet on Wednesday.

“The (hunger) strike by our brothers at Guantanamo unmasks the true ugly face of (the United States of) America,” Zawahri said in an audio recording posted on an Islamist website and whose authenticity could not be verified.

Obama hosts Ramzan dinner at White House

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama saluted Muslim Americans on Thursday for their contributions in helping build the United States as business entrepreneurs, technology innovators and pioneers in medicine.

Obama spoke at a White House dinner he hosted to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. The meal, or iftar, breaks the day of fasting when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.

US concerned about Turkey protests, says Biden

Washington: US Vice President Joe Biden says only Turks can solve the problem of anti-government protests sowing unrest in Turkey. But he says the US is concerned and isn't indifferent to the outcome.

Thousands have joined rallies voicing discontent with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 10-year rule. The protests spread after police cracked down on a peaceful sit-in over an Istanbul park's demolition.

Syrian opposition split as peace moves forge ahead

International efforts to end the conflict in Syria accelerate on Monday with key talks in Brussels and Paris, amid a push for a new peace conference despite growing divisions within the Syrian opposition.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Russian and French counterparts in Paris to advance an initiative for an international conference on ending the more than two-year conflict.

Shooting in an apartment near Seattle kills five

Federal Way: Five people were reportedly shot dead in a firing at an apartment complex in Federal Way, south of Seattle in America on Monday.

Federal Way police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said that police was informed of the firing via an emergency call at 9.30 pm.

Reports say that the suspect was killed after the policemen rushed to the site of shooting.