Afghanistan suicide attacks kill at least 23
KABUL, Afghanistan – Suicide bombers targeted an anti-Taliban tribal leader in eastern Afghanistan and the Defense Ministry compound in the capital, Kabul, killing at least 23 people on Saturday and wounding dozens more, officials said.
A suicide bomber on a motorcycle attacked tribal leader Khan Jan in the eastern Kunar province, killing him and 10 other civilians, said Gen. Abdul Habib Sayedkhaili, the provincial police chief.
Jan was a vocal public opponent of the Taliban and was leading local fighters against the insurgents.
More than 40 other civilians were wounded in the attack, which took place in the provincial capital, Asadabad, said Sayedkhaili.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but provincial officials said they suspected the Taliban.
Washington gunman, 3 victims identified
SEATTLE – A coroner in Washington state on Saturday released the identity of a gunman and three of his four victims in what authorities described as a mass shooting and suicide.
David Wayne Campbell, 51, shot and killed himself Friday in front of police who said they tried for more than three hours to get him to surrender, said Mason County Coroner Wes Stockwell.
In an outbuilding on the remote, wooded property near Belfair, southwest of Seattle, authorities found four bodies, including those of his wife of six years, Lana J. Carlson, 49, and her sons, Quinn and Tory Carlson, who were 16 and 18, respectively.
Stockwell said he was withholding the identity of the fourth victim pending notification of relatives.
Early Iranian election positive for moderates
TEHRAN, Iran – Partial election results in Iran on Saturday point to major gains by reformists and moderates who favor expanding freedoms and engaging with the West, and who defended the recently implemented nuclear deal with world powers against opposition from hard-liners.
Friday’s election was the first since last summer’s agreement was finalized, lifting international economic sanctions in exchange for Iran curbing its nuclear program.
U.S. officials had hoped the deal would strengthen President Hassan Rouhani and other moderates, paving the way for greater cooperation on other regional issues.
Partial results released by the government showed 26 reformists among the 30 front-runners and just one hard-liner.
Associated Press
