BAKU: Police in Azerbaijan conducted a search on Saturday at the home of Ali Karimli, the leader of one of the country’s main opposition parties, amid a widening probe into a suspected coup attempt to oust President Ilham Aliyev.
An Azerbaijani government source told Reuters the move on Karimli, who has led the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party (APFP) since 2000, was linked to an ongoing criminal case against Ramiz Mehdiyev, a longtime ally of former President Heydar Aliyev, who led Azerbaijan until shortly before his death in 2003.
Two APFP members, Faiq Amirli and Mammad Ibrahim, were detained on Saturday, Karimli’s deputy, Seymour Hazi, told Reuters. Reuters was unable to immediately contact lawyers for the three men.
Azerbaijan’s State Security Service has not commented on the search.
The government source said the authorities believed Karimli was being financed by Mehdiyev, who joined the government of Heydar Aliyev as head of the presidential administration during the first years of its tenure in 1994. Ilham Aliyev, Heydar’s son, dismissed Mehdiyev in 2019 in what was viewed at the time as a move intended to force out officials appointed during his father’s tenure.
Last month a Baku court placed Mehdiyev, 87, under four months of house arrest after charging him with crimes including attempts to seize power.
Karimli, the APFP leader, has been arrested numerous1 times in connection with organizing protests in Azerbaijan, an oil- and gas-rich nation that has come under criticism by Western governments over its human rights record.
Azerbaijani police raid home of leading opposition figure amid coup attempt probe
https://arab.news/2eg37
Azerbaijani police raid home of leading opposition figure amid coup attempt probe
- Two APFP members, Faiq Amirli and Mammad Ibrahim, were detained on Saturday
- The government source said the authorities believed Karimli was being financed by Mehdiyev
Nigeria seeks French help to combat insecurity, says Macron
- African country has witnessed violence and mass kidnappings from schools
LAGOS: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has sought more help from France to fight widespread violence in the north of the country, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday, weeks after the United States threatened to intervene to protect Nigeria’s Christians.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has witnessed an upsurge in attacks in volatile northern areas in the past month, including mass kidnappings
from schools and a church.
US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of possible military action in Nigeria, accusing it of mistreating Christians. The government says the allegations misrepresent a complex security situation in which armed groups target both faith groups.
FASTFACTS
• US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of possible military action in Nigeria, accusing it of mistreating Christians.
• The government says the allegations misrepresent a complex security situation in which armed groups target both faith groups.
Macron said he had a phone call with Tinubu on Sunday, where he conveyed France’s support to Nigeria as it grapples with several security challenges, “particularly the terrorist threat in the North.”
“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations. We call on all our partners to step up their engagement,” Macron said in a post on X.
Macron did not say what help would be offered by France, which has withdrawn its troops from West and Central Africa and plans to focus on training, intelligence sharing and responding to requests from countries for assistance.
Nigeria is grappling with a long-running insurgency in the northeast, armed kidnapping gangs in the northwest and deadly clashes between largely Muslim cattle herders and mostly Christian farmers in the central parts of the country, stretching its security forces.
Washington said last month that it was considering actions such as sanctions and Pentagon engagement on counterterrorism as part of a plan to compel Nigeria to better protect its Christian communities.
The Nigerian government has said it welcomes help to fight insecurity as long as its sovereignty is respected. France has previously supported efforts to curtail the actions of armed groups, the US has shared intelligence and sold arms, including fighter jets, and Britain has trained Nigerian troops.
