Greek far-right leader, other legislators arrested
ATHENS, Greece – The leader of Greece’s extreme-right Golden Dawn party and four other of its parliamentarians were formally charged Saturday with membership in a criminal organization with intent to commit crimes, in an escalation of a government crackdown after a fatal stabbing blamed on a supporter.
It was the first time since 1974 that sitting members of Parliament have been arrested. The arrests underline the Greek government’s efforts to stifle the fiercely anti-immigrant party, which has been increasingly on the defensive since the killing.
Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos, party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris and Yannis Lagos, Nikos Michos and Ilias Panayiotaros were arrested by counterterrorism police. The last two gave themselves up voluntarily. A sixth parliamentarian, Christos Pappas – described in a prosecutor’s report as the Golden Dawn’s No. 2 – remains at large.
Another earthquake hits southwest Pakistan
QUETTA, Pakistan – A major earthquake rocked Pakistan’s southwest Saturday, killing at least 15 and sending panicked people running into the street just days after another quake in the same region killed hundreds, officials said.
The U.S. Geological Survey said on its website that a 6.8 magnitude quake was felt in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province.
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department measured the earthquake at 7.2 magnitude, saying its epicenter was about 90 miles west of the town of Khuzdar.
Baluchistan government spokesman Jan Mohammad Buledi said those killed Saturday died in the Mushkay area of Awaran. The death toll from Tuesday’s disaster was 359, he said.
Sudan security fires on funeral march
KHARTOUM, Sudan – Sudanese security forces in pickup trucks opened fire Saturday on hundreds of mourners marching after the funeral of a protester killed a day earlier, the latest violence in a week of demonstrations calling for the ouster of longtime President Omar al-Bashir.
The man killed was a pharmacist from a prominent family, suggesting the heavy security crackdown could deepen discontent, spread unrest and upset the complex network of power centers al-Bashir relies on to stay in power.
Syria vows to abide by UN resolution
BEIRUT – Syria’s prime minister says Damascus will fully cooperate with U.N. inspectors charged with destroying the country’s chemical weapons stockpile.
Wael al-Halqi’s comments Saturday come a day after the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to purge Syria of its chemical weapons program.
Al-Halqi said in an interview with Lebanon’s Al Manar TV that Syria “welcomed the resolution” and “will fulfill its international duties.” He also said the government “will facilitate the work of the inspectors.”
The U.N. resolution that passed Friday allows the start of a mission to rid Syria’s regime of its estimated 1,000-ton chemical arsenal by mid-2014. It also calls for consequences if Syria fails to comply, but those will depend on the council passing another resolution in the event of noncompliance.
Associated Press
