Top stories from DAWNS Digest
Pakistan Election Results: Nawaz Sharif, FTW
Despite the horrific violence, this is the first time in Pakistani history that power has been transferred peacefully from one civilian government to another. “The conservative party of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif has taken a commanding lead as votes continued to be tallied Sunday for crucial parliamentary elections marred by Taliban intimidation. As unofficial results continued to pour in, state television estimates showed Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League having easily secured enough seats to form a government and close to the majority needed to rule outright. In a dramatic showing, former cricket player Imran Khan’s Tehrik-i-Insaf, or PTI, holds second place overall and will likely control the important provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along the Afghan border.” (Voice of America http://bit.ly/13chhEG)
Kidnapped UN Peacekeepers Released in Golan
The second abduction of peacekeepers by Syrian rebels in two months finally comes to an end. “Syrian rebels on Sunday released four Filipino U.N. peacekeepers they abducted last week in a dramatic incident that prompted warnings from the Philippines that the nation might pull out its contingent from the Golan Heights. A statement by the rebel group holding the peacekeepers — the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade — said the four were handed over to a U.N. delegation in the border area on Sunday, but provided no other details.” (AP http://yhoo.it/13chzvc)