Croatia lifts blockade along its border
BUDAPEST, Hungary – Croatia lifted its blockade of the border with Serbia on Friday, as southeastern Europe’s squabbling governments took steps to ease tensions that had been rising because of a surge of people seeking to cross their territories en route to Western Europe.
Croatia’s move came only hours after Hungary’s prime minister pledged to seek support from other nations in the region before shutting down its border with Croatia. The moves suggest that regional leaders have recognized that tit-for-tat moves were hampering efforts to control the chaos resulting from the influx of tens of thousands fleeing their homelands.
The main crossing with Serbia is to be reopened.
Iranians protest disaster in Mecca
MINA, Saudi Arabia – Iran ratcheted up blame on archrival Saudi Arabia on Friday over the disaster at the hajj the previous day that killed more than 700 pilgrims, as Muslims solemnly resumed the final rites of the annual pilgrimage in the kingdom.
Thousands protested in the streets of Tehran as a senior cleric demanded Saudi Arabia hand over control of the annual pilgrimage to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the world’s largest body of Muslim nations.
Iran’s state TV says the Foreign Ministry summoned Riyadh’s envoy to Tehran for the second time in as many days to hear the Shiite powerhouse’s protests over alleged “Saudi mismanagement” that purportedly led to the deadly hajj stampede.
Putin says Obama requested meeting
MOSCOW – A foreign affairs adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin says it was U.S. President Barack Obama who wanted to meet with Putin, not the other way around.
Moscow and Washington on Thursday put an end to weeks of speculation and announced that the two leaders would be meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Monday.
Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov on Friday blasted White House press secretary Josh Earnest for saying it was Putin who approached Obama. Ushakov insisted the invitation came from the Obama administration.
Associated Press
