Baghdad airport shut

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

BAGHDAD: A dust storm shut Baghdad airport on Tuesday, an Iraqi Airways official said, a day ahead of key talks between world powers and Iran on the Islamic republic’s controversial nuclear programme. “There are no take-offs or landings ... because of bad weather,” the official said. It was unclear when the airport would reopen, or if attendance of the nuclear talks would be impacted by the closure. Iran’s chief negotiator Saeed Jalili arrived in Baghdad Monday. The talks, set for Wednesday, are to be held between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.

Cops convicted

CAIRO: An Egyptian court sentenced five policemen on Tuesday to 10 years each in prison for their role in killing protesters in the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, the first such convictions against a force that was blamed for hundreds of deaths. One of the driving forces behind demonstrations that have erupted since Mubarak was ousted in February last year has been anger that no officials or police have been held accountable for the deaths of more than 850 people during the uprising. For many the failure to convict anyone indicates just how much of the old order is still in place and is still protecting its interests

Rocket hits Red Cross

TRIPOLI: A rocket-propelled grenade struck the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi overnight, the organisation’s spokeswoman said on Tuesday. “The premises of our delegation were hit by an RPG rocket but there were no casualties,” Soaad Messudi said, adding that the organisation was in contact with the authorities for details on the incident. Messudi said the ICRC has been present in Libya since the popular uprising that toppled Gadhafi erupted in February 2011, and has since carried out humanitarian operations without taking sides in the North African country. Also in Benghazi, a branch of the Sahara Bank was targeted in a rocket attack.