Clashes hit Libya after militia attack
TRIPOLI, Libya – Soldiers and government-affiliated militias stormed a military base occupied by gunmen in Libya’s capital Saturday, sparking fresh fighting that left four dead a day after a deadly militia attack on protesters.
Armed residents and pro-government militiamen have set up checkpoints across Tripoli, as thousands of protesters gathered in the city center to mourn the 43 killed in Friday’s attack when militias fired on a crowd urging the dissolution of unlawful armed groups.
Friday’s demonstrations had been the biggest show of public anger over militias in months. About 500 people also were wounded there, health officials said. On Saturday, some residents of Tripoli have said they will go on strike until unlawful militias are disbanded.
Toronto council to make Ford mayor in name only
TORONTO – The Toronto City Council moved a step closer to making Rob Ford a mayor in name only after months of publicity surrounding his excessive drinking and drug use and will look to complete those efforts this week when council resumes.
Ford vowed to take City Council to court after it voted overwhelmingly Friday to strip him of some of his powers over his admitted use of crack cocaine, public drinking and increasingly erratic behavior.
The motion, approved in a 39-3 vote, suspends Ford’s authority to appoint and dismiss the deputy mayor and his executive committee. The council, which lacks the authority to force the mayor from office unless he is convicted of a crime and jailed, also voted to give the deputy mayor authority to handle any civic emergency.
The effort will continue Monday when the council moves to strip the mayor of most of his remaining powers, including his office budget.
Syrian army launches offensive near Lebanon
BEIRUT – Syrian troops clashed with rebels in a mountainous western region Saturday in what appeared to be an offensive to cut an opposition supply route from Lebanon, forcing hundreds to flee for safety across the border, activists and officials said.
The fighting was concentrated in the rugged Qalamoun region around the towns of Qara, Rima and Nabak, activists and state media said. The battle has been expected for weeks as troops and opposition fighters reinforced their positions ahead of winter, when much of the area is covered with snow.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting had closed the highway linking Damascus with the central city of Homs. It said Syrian warplanes struck rebel-held areas around Qara and nearby mountains.
Afghanistan: Bomber kills 6 ahead of talks
KABUL, Afghanistan – A suicide car bomber tore through the Afghan capital Saturday, just hours after President Hamid Karzai announced U.S. and Afghan negotiators had agreed on a draft deal allowing U.S. troops to remain in the country beyond a 2014 deadline.
The blast killed six people near where thousands of tribal leaders will discuss the deal this week.
The suicide bomber attacked security forces protecting the Loya Jirga site, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. He said the blast killed six people and wounded 22.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though blame is likely to fall on the Taliban, who have adamantly opposed the presence of any foreign soldiers in Afghanistan.
Brother of ex-strongman elected Maldives leader
MALE, Maldives – Voters in the Maldives have chosen the brother of the archipelago nation’s former strongman to be their new president over the country’s first democratically elected leader in a closely fought runoff election on Saturday.
With just four out of 475 ballot boxes to be counted, Yaamin Abdul Gayoom had 51.39 percent of the total vote. Gayoom is the brother of former autocrat Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled this Indian Ocean nation for 30 years.
Mohamed Nasheed, who was elected president in the first multiparty election in 2008 but resigned last year amid protests, received 48.61 percent of the vote.
Nasheed led with 47 percent in last week’s first round to Gayoom’s 30 percent. The runoff was required because no candidate got 50 percent.
After his victory became apparent, Gayoom told reporters that Maldivians have decided what’s best for them and asked the international community to respect their choice.
Associated Press
