Taliban attacks Afghan parliament
KABUL, Afghanistan – A Taliban suicide bomber struck the entrance to the Afghan parliament Monday, and gunmen tried to storm the heavily guarded compound, setting off a gun battle with police that left two people dead as lawmakers were meeting inside to vote on the appointment of a new defense minister.
Afghan security forces managed to repel the attack, killing all seven gunmen and ensuring that no members of parliament were harmed. But the audacious assault came as the Taliban captured two districts in as many days in the country’s north, displaying their ability to operate on multiple fronts.
Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the attack began with a car bomb explosion near the entrance to parliament. Gunmen then attempted to storm the compound but were pushed back by security forces and eventually corralled into a nearby building that was under construction.
30 killed in Nigeria by 2 girl bombers
BAUCHI, Nigeria – Two girls blew themselves up Monday near a crowded mosque in northeast Nigeria’s biggest city, killing about 30 people, witnesses said.
It is the fourth suicide bombing this month in Maiduguri, which is the birthplace of the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group.
Fishmonger Idi Idrisa said one teenager exploded as she approached the mosque crowded with people from the nearby Baga Road fish market, performing afternoon prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
The second teen appeared to run away and blew up further away, killing only herself, he said.
Civilian defense fighter Sama Ila Abu said he counted at least 30 corpses as he helped collect the dead.
Both men said there were many injured.
Boko Haram has kidnapped hundreds of girls and women, and the numbers of female suicide bombers has raised fears that it is using the captives in its campaign.
Deadline looming, Iran, EU hold talks
LUXEMBOURG – Iran’s foreign minister dropped in on a meeting of his EU counterparts Monday, predicting intense and difficult days ahead before a June 30 deadline to strike a deal with world powers over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamad Javad Zarif held private talks with counterparts from Germany and France before meeting with a group of EU leaders on the sidelines of a meeting of top EU diplomats in Luxembourg.
“We discussed how we can expedite the discussions in Vienna for the next few difficult days that we have ahead of us,” Zarif told reporters after his meetings.
U.S. weapons, aircraft headed to Europe
TALLINN, Estonia – The U.S. committed Monday to contribute weapons, aircraft and forces, including commandos, as needed for NATO’s new rapid reaction force, to help Europe defend against potential Russian aggression from the east and the Islamic State and other violent extremists from the south.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the specifics of American contributions to the rapid reaction force a year after President Barack Obama made a commitment to such assistance at the NATO summit last year in Wales.
Carter said the U.S. will provide intelligence and surveillance capabilities, special operations forces, logistics, transport aircraft and a range of weapons support that could include bombers, fighters and ship-based missiles. It would not provide a large ground force.
Associated Press
