Russia to boycott nuclear arms summit

VIENNA – Russia has informed the United States that it will boycott the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, diplomats told The Associated Press on Tuesday, potentially stripping the meeting of one of its key participants and hurting efforts initiated by President Barack Obama to reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Officials already had told the AP on Monday that Moscow was absent from last week’s initial summit planning session in Washington but had left it unclear whether Russia planned to attend the summit itself.

On Tuesday, two diplomats said the boycott applied to the 2016 meeting as well. They cited as their source a diplomatic note from Moscow to the U.S. and other nations planning to participate.

One of the diplomats said the note expressed opposition to the summit because of its alleged political nature.

Envoys try to ease crisis in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – International envoys tried on Tuesday to resolve Burkina Faso’s political crisis, with the specter of a power vacuum looming after the country’s longtime president fled last week.

Opposition protesters forced President Blaise Compaore to resign and flee to Ivory Coast. Confusion ensued, with different factions of the military and the civilian opposition all vying for control.

Order has been restored in Ouagadougou, the capital, with business appearing to return to normal and no unusual presence of police or military on the streets.

Associated Press