WHO reports rise of rare disorder in Zika outbreak
BERLIN – A rare neurological disorder is on the rise in several Latin American countries that are also seeing an outbreak of the Zika virus, the World Health Organization said Saturday.
The UN health body in Geneva said in a weekly report that Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis, has been reported in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Suriname and Venezuela.
The increase in Guillain-Barre cases is appearing in conjunction with the spread of the Zika virus to 34 countries and also with increasing cases of microcephaly, a rare condition in which infants are born with abnormally small heads.
Protesters urge Spanish puppeteers’ acquittal
MADRID – Protesters marched through Madrid and the southern Spanish city of Granada Saturday calling for charges to be dropped against two puppeteers jailed for allegedly praising terrorism.
The puppeteers were detained without bail Feb. 6 for using a sign during a performance in Madrid saying “Long Live Alka ETA,” a word-play reference to Spain’s armed Basque group ETA and al-Qaida. A court released them Wednesday, but a judicial probe into their satirical show continues. Praising terrorism is a crime in Spain.
More than 2,000 protesters marched through the rain from Madrid’s downtown Puerta del Sol square to the Ministry of Justice carrying a gagged theatrical mask and placards demanding “Puppeteers’ freedom.”
Syrian troops capture village near Aleppo
BEIRUT – Syrian government forces on Saturday captured another village near Aleppo, tightening the noose around rebel-held parts of the northern city, Syrian state TV and an opposition activist group said.
The ground attack in Aleppo province sparked artillery shelling by Turkish troops at Kurdish positions as Ankara appears to be worried that Syrian Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces might reach the northern town of Azaz that is home to a major border crossing point that has been controlled by militants since 2012.
Syrian state TV reported late Saturday night that Turkish troops fired five shells at the mountains of the coastal province of Latakia that recently witnessed intense clashes between government forces and Turkish-backed gunmen.
Associated Press
