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World Digest: Feb. 17, 2014 World Digest: Feb. 17, 2014
(35 minutes later)
PakistanPakistan
Soldiers’ slayings put peace talks at riskSoldiers’ slayings put peace talks at risk
The peace talks between Pakistan’s government and Taliban insurgents were on the brink of collapse Monday after a faction of the militant group executed 23 paramilitary soldiers who had been held captive since 2010.The peace talks between Pakistan’s government and Taliban insurgents were on the brink of collapse Monday after a faction of the militant group executed 23 paramilitary soldiers who had been held captive since 2010.
The killings come three weeks after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government began preliminary peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, which is waging a bloody insurgency to install Islamic law in the country. A meeting between the two sides was abruptly canceled Monday, and Sharif issued a statement saying the latest “heinous crime” will “have a very adverse impact on the dialogue process.”The killings come three weeks after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government began preliminary peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, which is waging a bloody insurgency to install Islamic law in the country. A meeting between the two sides was abruptly canceled Monday, and Sharif issued a statement saying the latest “heinous crime” will “have a very adverse impact on the dialogue process.”
“We launched the talks with the utmost sincerity,” he said. “However, when we reached some encouraging point, the dialogue process was sabotaged. This is a very unfortunate situation and the whole nation is grieved over it.” “This is a very unfortunate situation and the whole nation is grieved over it,” he said.
Analysts said the killings cement the deep skepticism in the country over whether a negotiated peace deal with the increasingly splintered Pakistani Taliban was ever possible.Analysts said the killings cement the deep skepticism in the country over whether a negotiated peace deal with the increasingly splintered Pakistani Taliban was ever possible.
Omar Khalid Khurassani, a commander of the group’s Moh­mand wing, said Sunday that the troops were killed because 16 militants thought to have been in prison had been found dead in Pakistani cities in recent weeks.Omar Khalid Khurassani, a commander of the group’s Moh­mand wing, said Sunday that the troops were killed because 16 militants thought to have been in prison had been found dead in Pakistani cities in recent weeks.
A Pakistani military official called Khurassani’s statement a “baseless allegation and mere propaganda to justify their dastardly acts of terror.”A Pakistani military official called Khurassani’s statement a “baseless allegation and mere propaganda to justify their dastardly acts of terror.”
— Haq Nawaz Kan and Tim Craig— Haq Nawaz Kan and Tim Craig
AfghanistanAfghanistan
Changes ordered in abuse legislationChanges ordered in abuse legislation
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday ordered changes to a draft of new criminal legislation in response to an international outcry warning that it would severely limit justice for victims of domestic abuse, his spokesman said.Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday ordered changes to a draft of new criminal legislation in response to an international outcry warning that it would severely limit justice for victims of domestic abuse, his spokesman said.
Afghanistan’s parliament had passed a new criminal procedure code that would ban relatives from testifying against alleged abusers. Human rights organizations and several of Afghanistan’s Western allies — including the United States and European Union — voiced strong concerns that it would effectively curb prosecutions involving violence against women, in which relatives are often the only witnesses. Afghanistan’s parliament had passed a new criminal procedure code that would ban relatives from testifying against alleged abusers. Human rights groups and several of Kabul’s Western allies — including the United States and European Union — voiced strong concerns that it would effectively curb prosecutions involving violence against women, in which relatives are often the only witnesses.
Karzai spokesman Aimal Faizi said the president was “well aware” of the criticism and decided at a cabinet meeting that the legislation must be changed.Karzai spokesman Aimal Faizi said the president was “well aware” of the criticism and decided at a cabinet meeting that the legislation must be changed.
— Associated Press— Associated Press
Netanyahu calls boycotters ‘anti-­Semites’: It is time Israel fought back against those who boycott the Jewish state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, dubbing the boycotters “anti-­Semites.” Support for a Palestinian-led movement of boycott, divestment and sanctions has grown, mainly in Europe, where some businesses and pension funds have cut investments or trade with Israeli firms they say are tied to West Bank settlements. Speaking to visiting Jewish-American leaders, Netanyahu said: “In the past anti-Semites boycotted Jewish businesses, and today they call for the boycott of the Jewish state. . . . I think that it is important that the boycotters be exposed for what they are; they are classical anti-Semites in modern garb.”Netanyahu calls boycotters ‘anti-­Semites’: It is time Israel fought back against those who boycott the Jewish state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, dubbing the boycotters “anti-­Semites.” Support for a Palestinian-led movement of boycott, divestment and sanctions has grown, mainly in Europe, where some businesses and pension funds have cut investments or trade with Israeli firms they say are tied to West Bank settlements. Speaking to visiting Jewish-American leaders, Netanyahu said: “In the past anti-Semites boycotted Jewish businesses, and today they call for the boycott of the Jewish state. . . . I think that it is important that the boycotters be exposed for what they are; they are classical anti-Semites in modern garb.”
Egypt bus blast was suicide bomb: A suicide bomber was behind a blast that tore through a bus carrying South Korean tourists, killing at least four people, Egyptian security officials said. The bus was waiting to cross into Israel in the resort town of Taba on Sunday when the Egyptian driver and two South Koreans stepped out and went to the cargo hold. As they reboarded, the bomber pushed into the bus and detonated his explosives, an official said. The driver and three South Koreans were killed.Egypt bus blast was suicide bomb: A suicide bomber was behind a blast that tore through a bus carrying South Korean tourists, killing at least four people, Egyptian security officials said. The bus was waiting to cross into Israel in the resort town of Taba on Sunday when the Egyptian driver and two South Koreans stepped out and went to the cargo hold. As they reboarded, the bomber pushed into the bus and detonated his explosives, an official said. The driver and three South Koreans were killed.
Blasts kill 23 in Iraq: A wave of explosions rocked mainly Shiite areas in Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 23 people and wounding dozens, officials said. The three car bombs and a separate bomb hit crowded commercial areas near Shiite mosques. The deadliest blast was in the eastern Ur area, where a car bomb killed at least 10 people and wounded 23, police said. South Korean roof collapse kills 10: The roof of a gymnasium at a South Korean resort collapsed late Monday, killing 10 people and injuring more than 100 at a welcoming party for college freshmen. The roof collapse at Kolon Corp.’s Mauna Ocean Resort in Gyeongju occurred after days of heavy snowfall in the area. The dead included nine students from Busan University of Foreign Studies, school official Ryoo Chang Won said, and 103 people were injured, South Korea’s National Emergency Management Agency said.
— From news services— From news services