Swiss billionaire to leave Parliament
GENEVA – The Swiss billionaire industrialist behind the nation’s recent anti-immigration vote said Friday he is leaving parliament to concentrate on ensuring Switzerland never joins the European Union.
Christoph Blocher, a former justice minister, said he will step down at the end of May but remain as vice president of the nationalist Swiss People’s Party, which sponsored the anti-immigration referendum.
Switzerland has suffered a backlash from the EU since voters narrowly backed a referendum Feb. 9 to cap immigration. That vote went against the grain of free movement treaties between the EU and Switzerland.
In a video on his “Teleblocher” website, the controversial politician said he no longer wants to “waste” his time in parliament.
British in Nigeria to aid search for girls
BAUCHI, Nigeria – British security experts Friday joined the Nigerian and American search for at least 276 girls being held by Islamic militants in northeastern Nigeria as an international effort began taking hold.
The British team, which arrived in Lagos Friday, is expected to work closely with U.S. officials and agents in the search for the missing girls, the British government said as Boko Haram militants continued to stage attacks in northeastern Nigeria. China and France have also promised help, and the deputy prime minister of Spain, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, told reporters in Madrid on Friday her government had decided to make available a specialist police team to assist, if Nigeria approves.
Syrian troops take over rebel-held Homs
HOMS, Syria – Bulldozers cleared rubble Friday from the streets of battle-scarred districts in the central Syrian city of Homs after government troops entered the last rebel-held neighborhoods as part of an agreement that also granted opposition fighters safe exit.
The government forged ahead even as another aspect of the negotiated deal hung in the balance. The departure of a last batch of some 300 fighters waiting to leave for rebel-held areas north of Homs had been delayed after opposition fighters in northern Syrian prevented aid from reaching besieged pro-government villages.
Associated Press
