Egypt Today’s morning international news

CAIRO – 8 November 2017: Egypt Today briefs top stories of the past 12 hour on Wednesday for political issues.

Guatemalan protesters block roads to demand president step down

Hundreds of protesters blocked roads in Guatemala on Tuesday to demand that President Jimmy Morales steps down due to corruption charges over his 2015 election campaign.

The demonstrators were mostly from rural and indigenous communities. The national roads authority said main roads in the Central American country were blocked at at least seven locations, according to AFP.


Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales (C), seen here at the swearing in last month of new Defense Minister Luis Ralda (L), is the target of street protests demanding he resign - AFP

AFP reported that Demonstrators wanted Morales to resign "for corruption" and facilitating organized crime, a purge of Congress, and graft investigations against Guatemala City's mayor and a former president, Alvaro Arzu.

EX-Catalan leader slams EU for 'helping' Spanish PM

The ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont on Tuesday slammed the European Union for supporting what he termed Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's "coup d'etat".

"Will you accept the result of the Catalan referendum or will you continue to help Mr Rajoy in his coup d'etat?" Puigdemont said to the presidents of the European Parliament and European Commission at a meeting with Catalan mayors in Brussels, according to an AFP report.


Catalonia's sacked leader Carles Puigdemont delivers a speech during a meeting with Catalan mayors in Brussels

Puigdemont was freed on bail on Sunday by a court in Belgium, where he fled after he was dismissed by Madrid when his government declared independence from Spain.

Puigdemont and four other former ministers could wait for a judge to decide on a Spanish arrest warrant against them in Belgium, while Catalonia holds regional elections on December, AFP reported.

U.S. lawmakers signal plan to comply with Iran nuclear deal

U.S. lawmakers signaled they plan to ensure the United States complies with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal despite Trump’s misgivings about the pact, the EU’s foreign policy chief said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.


EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini arrives at an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium - REUTERS

"I got clear indications that the intention is to keep the United States compliant with the agreement," Reuters quoted EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini telling reporters at a news conference.