Page 10 - aruba-today-20190514

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 14 May 2019
Syrian troops capture 5 villages in last rebel stronghold

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops advancing on the rebels for
on Monday captured five nearly two weeks under the
small villages and a hill cover of Syrian and Russian
on the edge of the north- airstrikes. In turn, the rebels
western province of Idlib, have been blamed for fir-
the last major rebel strong- ing rockets into Russia's air
hold in the country, pro- base in the nearby coastal
government media said. province of Latakia.
The extremist leader of the Russia joined Syria's war in
main rebel group in the re- 2015, tipping the balance
gion also released a video of power in favor for Presi-
called on every able per- dent Bashar Assad's forces.
son to "perform his religious Opposition activists say
duty" and join the fight. Russian warplanes have
The pro-government Syrian been bombarding rebel-
Central Military Media said held areas intensely in re-
government forces had cent weeks.
captured the villages of Much of Idlib is controlled
Hawash, Jabrieh, Tawbeh, by HTS, the largest and
Sheikh Idriss, Jub Suleiman most powerful group in the
and Hawash hill on the area. Most of its fighters be-
southern edges of Idlib. The In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian army soldiers flash the vic- longed to al-Qaida's affili-
villages are near the strate- tory sign as they stand on their tank in the village of Kfar Nabuda, in the countryside of the Hama ate in Syria, formerly known
gic village of Kfar Nabuda, province on Saturday, May 11, 2019. as the Nusra Front.
which Syrian troops en- Associated Press France, Germany and
tered last week. Britain issued a joint state-
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, have suffered many losses seated under a tree, he strike at a Russian base in ment calling for an end to
the leader of the al-Qaida- while trying to advance claimed his militant group Syria because "more than the escalation of violence
linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, into rebel-held areas over was gaining more fighters 90 percent of the Rus- in northwestern Syria be-
or HTS, claimed in a video the past few days. Dressed each day. sian airstrikes are targeting tween government forces
interview with a local activ- in military uniform and hold- Al-Golani also said insur- women and children." and HTS and "other terrorist
ist that government forces ing an automatic rifle while gents have the right to Syrian troops have been groups."q

Sudan prosecutors charge al-Bashir with killing protesters

By BASSAM HATOUM mittee said, including eight
SAMY MAGDY at the ongoing sit-in area
Associated Press outside the military head-
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) quarters in Khartoum. The
— Sudanese prosecutors doctors committee is part
have charged ousted Pres- of the Sudanese Profession-
ident Omar al-Bashir with als Association , which has
involvement in killing pro- spearheaded the protests
testers and incitement to since December.
kill protesters during the up- Footage circulating online
rising that drove him from showed protesters block-
power last month, state ing roads in Khartoum with
news agency SUNA report- burning tires and trees. Oth-
ed Monday. er footage showed men
It was not immediately from the Rapid Support
clear what punishment he Forces forcibly dispersing
might face. Protest organiz- protesters. The paramilitary
ers say security forces killed RSF, which has led coun-
around 100 demonstrators terinsurgency campaigns
during the four months of in Darfur and other regions,
rallies leading to al-Bashir's is led by Gen. Mohamed
overthrow. Hamdan Dagalo, the dep-
The transitional military uty head of the military
council ruling Sudan has council.
said al-Bashir will face jus- The SPA said the road clo-
tice inside the country and sures were in response to
will not be extradited to In this April 11, 2019 file photo, Sudanese celebrate after officials said the military had forced long- the military council's delay
the Hague, where the In- time autocratic President Omar al-Bashir to step down after 30 years in power in Khartoum, Sudan. in handing over power to
ternational Criminal Court Associated Press civilians.
has charged him with The protesters had resumed
war crimes and genocide arrest warrant, was impris- strators have remained in general strike and civil dis- negotiations with the army
linked to the Darfur conflict oned in the capital, Khar- the streets, demanding the obedience. earlier Monday while also
in the 2000s. toum, days after the military dismantling of his regime At least a dozen protesters calling for more demon-
Al-Bashir, who was the only removed him from power. and a swift transition to ci- were wounded Monday strations nationwide, in-
sitting head of state to be The military ousted al-Bashir vilian rule. In recent weeks in clashes with the military, cluding another march to
subject to an international on April 11, but the demon- they have threatened a the Sudan Doctors Com- the main sit-in.q