InT'l news in brief

Former gov't minister denies sexual assault allegations

PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

Sacked government minister Dr Glen Ramadharsingh has denied allegations that he had a woman perform sexual acts on him when she went for assistance to fast-track an application with the Housing Development Corporation.

The Sunday Express newspaper, in a front-page story, said that Patricia Singh, 47, accompanied by her attorney, Nizam Mohammed, had gone to the police last Friday to report the matter.

The paper said the alleged sex acts occurred at the office of the then minister in 2011 and eight weeks ago.

But in a brief statement, Ramdharsingh, who was fired last month by Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar over his disorderly conduct onboard a domestic Caribbean Airlines flight, said the allegations made in the article were untrue.

"I wish to categorically and unequivocally refute all allegations contained in the aforementioned article and to further state that such a report is misleading, baseless, and without any merit whatsoever."

Top-ranked official quits after ongoing public criticism

BERLIN (AP):

The number-two ranked official in Germany's biggest far-right party has quit his post after being criticised for attending a birthday celebration featuring a penis-shaped cake.

German media previously reported that Peter Marx also faced criticism in far-right circles for his contacts to a party supporter who fell out of favour after she allegedly appeared in a pornographic film with a black man.

The National Democratic Party confirmed yesterday that Marx resigned as general secretary Sunday because of the "ongoing public debate about him".

The party is aiming to gain its first seat in the European Parliament next month after Germany's constitutional court nixed a requirement that parties must get at least three per cent of the vote.

Germany's 16 states are seeking to ban the party for its racist ideology.