Top story: Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, a Salafist preacher who has gained considerable support as a candidate in Egypt's presidential election, may be disqualified from running because his mother received U.S. citizenship before her death. Egyptian law bars candidates with a parent who held another nationality, even if they also had Egyptian citizenship.
According to California public records and a Los Angeles voter registration website, Abu Ismail's mother became a U.S. citizen before she passed away in the past few years. Egyptian Interior Ministry officials also said they received copies of the mother's "travel documents" that showed she had taken U.S. citizenship. Abu Ismail's campaign staff sent a team to California to investigate the report, and announced that it was filing a lawsuit to force the Interior Ministry to disclose its evidence.
Abu Ismail's ouster from the race could help unite the fractured Islamist vote. Khairat el-Shater, the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, would likely attract many of his supporters.
Syria clashes intensify: Activists said that Syrian troops launched new offensives across the country in advance of an April 12 ceasefire negotiated by U.N. and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
Asia
- The United States will ease some sanctions on Myanmar following its election.
- India's army chief rejected claims that two army units had moved toward the capital without the government's knowledge.
- U.S. officials believe that Iran is fomenting violence in Afghanistan.
Middle East
- A rocket fired from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula struck the Israeli resort city of Eilat.
- The International Criminal Court demanded that the Libyan government hand over Saif al-Islam, the son of Muammar al-Qaddafi.
- Iraq's Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, currently a fugitive, accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of waging a campaign against Sunnis.
Europe
- Pope Benedict XVI delivered a stern homily that criticized reform-minded priests for a lack of obedience.
- Greek protesters clashed with police after a 77-year-old man committed suicide outside parliament.
- The Bank of England kept its interest rate at a record-low 0.50 percent.
Africa
- Mali's Tuareg rebels declared an end to their military operations, saying they had seized enough land to form a state.
- Senegalese musician Youssou Ndour was appointed minister of tourism and culture in the new president's cabinet.
- Sierra Leone described a multi-million dollar arms purchase as routine after U.N. officials had raised concerns.
Americas
- Mexico extradited Jesus Zambada, allegedly one of its biggest drug lords, to the United States.
- Chile's Supreme Court ruled that construction of a massive dam could continue.
- Suriname's president was granted immunity by the parliament for violations committed during his previous military rule.
GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images
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