Syria requests help protecting ruins
DAMASCUS, Syria – A Syrian official on Thursday called on the international community to protect the 2,000-year-old ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra, now threatened by advancing Islamic State militants.
Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s director-general of antiquities and museums, told The Associated Press that the U.S.-led coalition, which has been striking the extremists in Syria since September, should expand its raids to hit IS fighters battling government forces at the gates of Palmyra.
Charity group reports mass rapes in Congo
DAKAR, Senegal – Members of an armed militia raped women en masse in Congo earlier this month after attacking and looting an eastern town, the Doctors Without Borders charity group said Thursday.
The group said it had treated 127 rape victims between the ages of 14 to 70 who came forward after a May 1 attack on the town of Kikamba in South Kivu province. The victims said they were raped about 60 armed men looted homes, assaulted men and women and forced 30 children to help them load up stolen goods.
Serbian cleared in WWII treason case
BELGRADE, Serbia – To the cheers of supporters, a Serbian court on Thursday voided the treason conviction of Gen. Draza Mihailovic for his collaboration with Nazis during World War II, politically rehabilitating the controversial Serbian guerrilla commander almost 70 years after he was sentenced and shot to death by communists.
The Higher Court of Belgrade said Thursday the verdict from July 1946 is now “null and void” a ruling met with a thunderous applause by dozens of Mihailovic’s supporters who filled the courtroom.
Associated Press
