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World Digest: Feb. 7, 2014 World Digest: Feb. 7, 2014
(7 months later)
IRAQ
Politician is among
7 killed in attacks
Gunmen killed a Shiite politician running for parliament in elections in April, one of seven people killed Friday in attacks across Iraq, officials said.Gunmen killed a Shiite politician running for parliament in elections in April, one of seven people killed Friday in attacks across Iraq, officials said.
Hamza al-Shimmari, who was on the list of the Ahrar party — which is loyal to firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr — for the April 30 vote, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Baghdad’s western Ghazaliyah neighborhood, police said.Hamza al-Shimmari, who was on the list of the Ahrar party — which is loyal to firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr — for the April 30 vote, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Baghdad’s western Ghazaliyah neighborhood, police said.
The attack came as militants battle for control of mainly Sunni areas to the west of the Iraqi capital in a key test of the Shiite-led government’s ability to maintain security.The attack came as militants battle for control of mainly Sunni areas to the west of the Iraqi capital in a key test of the Shiite-led government’s ability to maintain security.
— Associated Press— Associated Press
TURKEY
Hijacking attempt by Ukrainian thwarted
Turkish security forces detained a Ukrainian air passenger suspected of making a bomb threat Friday in an attempt to hijack a flight to Sochi, Russia, where the Winter Olympics were opening.Turkish security forces detained a Ukrainian air passenger suspected of making a bomb threat Friday in an attempt to hijack a flight to Sochi, Russia, where the Winter Olympics were opening.
As soon as the pilot of the Pegasus Airlines flight from Kharkiv, Ukraine, signaled authorities that there was a hijacking attempt, an F-16 fighter jet was scrambled and escorted the plane to Istanbul, its original destination, NTV television reported.As soon as the pilot of the Pegasus Airlines flight from Kharkiv, Ukraine, signaled authorities that there was a hijacking attempt, an F-16 fighter jet was scrambled and escorted the plane to Istanbul, its original destination, NTV television reported.
Authorities snuck onto the plane and subdued the suspected hijacker while the other 109 passengers were being evacuated, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the Istanbul governor, told reporters at Sabiha Gokcen airport. The man was slightly injured during the struggle, but no weapons were used, he said. The man did not have a bomb on him, the governor said.Authorities snuck onto the plane and subdued the suspected hijacker while the other 109 passengers were being evacuated, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the Istanbul governor, told reporters at Sabiha Gokcen airport. The man was slightly injured during the struggle, but no weapons were used, he said. The man did not have a bomb on him, the governor said.
The man’s motive was unclear, but Mutlu said he had “requests concerning his own country” and wanted to relay a “message concerning sporting activities in Sochi.”The man’s motive was unclear, but Mutlu said he had “requests concerning his own country” and wanted to relay a “message concerning sporting activities in Sochi.”
— Reuters— Reuters
LIBYA
Protesters oppose extension of congress
Several thousand Libyans marched in Tripoli and Benghazi on Friday to demand the dissolution of the interim national parliament, whose mandate was due to run out with the country divided over its future.Several thousand Libyans marched in Tripoli and Benghazi on Friday to demand the dissolution of the interim national parliament, whose mandate was due to run out with the country divided over its future.
Elected in 2012, the General National Congress (GNC) was to end its term Friday. But its members have extended its mandate to give a special committee time to draft the constitution seen as a key step in Libya’s political transition.Elected in 2012, the General National Congress (GNC) was to end its term Friday. But its members have extended its mandate to give a special committee time to draft the constitution seen as a key step in Libya’s political transition.
Waving Libyan flags and posters reading “No to the extension,” protesters filled Martyrs’ Square in the capital and the main square in the eastern city of Benghazi in peaceful rallies.Waving Libyan flags and posters reading “No to the extension,” protesters filled Martyrs’ Square in the capital and the main square in the eastern city of Benghazi in peaceful rallies.
Afifa Ahmed, a human resources worker in Tripoli, said the GNC had done nothing in the more than two years since the fall of former dictator Moammar Gaddafi.Afifa Ahmed, a human resources worker in Tripoli, said the GNC had done nothing in the more than two years since the fall of former dictator Moammar Gaddafi.
— Reuters— Reuters
Violence in Egypt leaves two dead: Clashes between Egyptian security forces and Islamist protesters killed two people Friday, including an 11-year-old boy, and a pair of homemade bombs targeting policemen wounded six people on a bridge in Cairo, officials said. The violence came as protesters supporting ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets yet again in the Egyptian capital and several provinces to denounce the July military coup that toppled him. Clashes erupted as security forces moved to disperse the demonstrations. The 11-year-old died after being shot in the head and chest in the village of Dalga in the southern province of Minya, a security official and an eyewitness said.Violence in Egypt leaves two dead: Clashes between Egyptian security forces and Islamist protesters killed two people Friday, including an 11-year-old boy, and a pair of homemade bombs targeting policemen wounded six people on a bridge in Cairo, officials said. The violence came as protesters supporting ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets yet again in the Egyptian capital and several provinces to denounce the July military coup that toppled him. Clashes erupted as security forces moved to disperse the demonstrations. The 11-year-old died after being shot in the head and chest in the village of Dalga in the southern province of Minya, a security official and an eyewitness said.
Italian marines won’t face death penalty in India: The government of India acceded to Italy’s request and said Friday that it will not invoke an anti­-piracy law carrying the death penalty when it tries two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen. A Home Ministry official said the government had decided against invoking the law. The Italians were on anti-pirate duty aboard a cargo ship in 2012 when they fired at the fishermen, saying they mistook them for pirates.Italian marines won’t face death penalty in India: The government of India acceded to Italy’s request and said Friday that it will not invoke an anti­-piracy law carrying the death penalty when it tries two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen. A Home Ministry official said the government had decided against invoking the law. The Italians were on anti-pirate duty aboard a cargo ship in 2012 when they fired at the fishermen, saying they mistook them for pirates.
Toronto’s mayor opposes flying of rainbow flag: Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto, wants to remove a rainbow flag at City Hall that protests Russia’s law restricting gay rights activities, and he hoisted a Canadian flag in his office window Friday. Some city halls across Canada flew the rainbow flag as the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics began in Russia. “It’s not about someone’s sexual preference,” Ford said. “I do not agree with putting up the rainbow flag. We should put our Canadian flag up.”Toronto’s mayor opposes flying of rainbow flag: Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto, wants to remove a rainbow flag at City Hall that protests Russia’s law restricting gay rights activities, and he hoisted a Canadian flag in his office window Friday. Some city halls across Canada flew the rainbow flag as the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics began in Russia. “It’s not about someone’s sexual preference,” Ford said. “I do not agree with putting up the rainbow flag. We should put our Canadian flag up.”
— From news services— From news services