Middle East - Africa: Egypt’s Mubarak, sons sentenced to three years in jail

An Egyptian court sentenced former president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons to three years in jail without parole on Saturday in the retrial of a corruption case.

Read more Africa - Egypt’s Mubarak, sons sentenced to three years in jail - France 24

In break with U.S., Ottawa backs gradual handover in Egypt - by Campbell Clark

The Canadian Harper government has endorsed the go-slow transition plan set out by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, signaling that Mideast stability and peace with Israel are its paramount concerns while other Western nations push for faster change.

Canada’s warnings that a rushed change in power could lead to instability – Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon insisted that “a vacuum does not mean transition” – came on a day of bloody confrontations in Cairo on Thursday.

For more: In break with U.S., Ottawa backs gradual handover in Egypt - The Globe and Mail

Muslim Brotherhood Snubs Talks Offer Extended by Egypt's VP

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the largest but outlawed opposition group in the country, has rejected an offer by Vice President Omar Suleiman for talks in a bid to end the civil unrest. "We have repeatedly said no dialogue with the current regime until Mubarak steps down. This remains our stance," Gamal Hishmat, one of the leads of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt said in a brief interview cited by international media.

For more: Bulgaria: Muslim Brotherhood Snubs Talks Offer Extended by Egypt's VP - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

U.N. to evacuate staff from Egypt

A spokesman for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus says 350 U.N. staff based in Egypt will be evacuated to the east Mediterranean island or to the United Arab Emirates.

Rolando Gomez said U.N. staff will have the option to fly either to Cyprus or Dubai. He says two U.N. chartered aircraft will each conduct two round-trip flights from Cyprus's Larnaca airport to Cairo on Thursday to ferry staff and their family who opt for the island.

Gomez says arrangements have been made to accommodate up to 600 staff and their dependants at Cyprus hotels.

For more: U.N. to evacuate staff from Egypt - USATODAY.com