MOSCOW - The Moscow city court sentenced a former Russian policeman to 11 years in a prison camp for his role in the killing of anti-Kremlin journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006. Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, who was accused of tracking Politkovskaya so she could be assassinated and providing the murder weapon, had concluded a plea bargain and confessed his guilt. The verdict was criticised for shedding no light on who masterminded the killing. AFP
CAIRO - Egypt's mainly secular opposition gathered for last-ditch protests against a new constitution it slams as divisive, but on the eve of a referendum it held back from urging a boycott. The opposition National Salvation Front expressed "deep concern" over the vote called by Islamist President Mohammed Mursi, which is intended to complete the transition from veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak's rule. But while again protesting against the spreading of polling over two successive Saturdays, the opposition refrained from urging supporters to stay away from the plebiscite. AFP
