Underdog seeks Egypt vote upset

Egyptian presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi rolls into the village of Dakarnas with a retinue of enthusiastic young supporters who are convinced their underdog candidate can surprise the nation. “The president is here, the president is here!” they chant as the silver-haired Sabbahi grins and waves, at times standing from his car seat to pop through the sun roof, the better to greet locals staring from balconies above.

Full Story

Nuclear talks:

Iran wants ‘serious intentions’

Iran’s foreign minister told his German counterpart that Tehran seeks “serious intentions” from both sides at talks with world powers on its nuclear programme, state media reported on Saturday. The Iranian delegation is going to the May 23 talks in Baghdad with “goodwill and serious intentions,” Ali Akbar Salehi told Germany’s Guido Westerwelle in a telephone call.

Full Story

Russia refuses to budge on Syria

Russia's non-intervention stance on Syria remained unchanged on Saturday as G8 leaders looked to hammer out a joint declaration to put greater pressure on President Bashar al-Assad's regime. “There cannot be any change of regime through force,” the Kremlin's Africa envoy, Mikhail Margelov said, adding that G8 leaders meeting at Camp David had yet to agree on the Syria part of their final summit declaration.

Full Story