Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 6 July 2017
Brazil’s Temer hurries defense against corruption charge

SAO PAULO (AP) — Em- line. Allies of the president in exchange for political accusation against Temer ing investigation into kick-
battled Brazilian President want a quick vote on the favors. Temer, who is also is based on “assumptions” backs and illegal cam-
Michel Temer quickly pre- issue in hopes of putting an being investigated for pos- and “fiction.” paign financing has en-
sented his legal defense end to the political uncer- sible obstruction of justice Temer’s defense also wants snared dozens of the coun-
against corruption alle- tainty this month. and criminal organization, lawmakers to disregard a try’s political elite.
gations to lawmakers on However his adversaries denies the allegations. recording of the president On Wednesday, a federal
Wednesday, a move seen favor a more drawn-out Regardless of the com- in a secret meeting with an court in Sao Paulo, how-
as a bid to reduce the like- process with ample time mission’s decision on the executive of meatpacker ever, dismissed an investi-
lihood of being suspended for any more damaging corruption count, the full JBS that triggered the ac- gation of former President
from office and tried at the information to emerge, house will vote on Temer’s cusations. Fernando Henrique Car-
Supreme Court. figuring it improves their fate with a two-thirds super Oliveira did not rule out the doso for illegal campaign
Temer’s lawyer submitted prospects of winning over majority required to sus- possibility of Temer appear- financing. The allegations
the defense on the second votes against the unpopu- pend him. ing before congress to de- dated to campaigns in the
day of Chamber of Depu- lar leader. The 98-page defense de- fend himself. 1990s, and the judge ruled
ties commission proceed- Brazil’s top prosecutor ac- livered to the commission Brazil’s president isn’t the the statute of limitations
ings to consider the matter, cuses Temer of accepting by attorney Antonio Mariz only politician facing cor- had expired, according to
eight days ahead of dead- bribes from businesspeople de Oliveira argued that the ruption charges. A sprawl- the court’s press office. q
Govt supporters storm Venezuela congress, injuring lawmakers

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ment and military officials,
— Pro-government militias for an event celebrating
wielding wooden sticks independence day.
and metal bars stormed The short appearance at
congress on Wednesday the congress by top offi-
and began attacking op- cials who have repeatedly
position lawmakers during dismissed the legislators
a special session coincid- as a band of U.S.-backed
ing with Venezuela’s inde- conspirators was seen by
pendence day. many as a provocation.
Four lawmakers were in- Standing next to a display
jured and blood was splat- case holding the found-
tered on the neoclassical ing charter, El Aissami said
legislature’s white walls. global powers are once
One of them, Americo de again trying to subju-
Grazia, had to be taken gate Venezuela. “We still
in a stretcher to an ambu- haven’t finished definitively
lance suffering from con- breaking the chains of the
vulsions, said a fellow con- empire,” he said, add-
gressman. “This doesn’t ing that President Nicolas
hurt as much as watching Maduro’s plans to rewrite
how every day how we the constitution — a move
lose a little bit more of our the opposition sees as a
country,” Armando Arias Opposition lawmaker Franco Casella is attacked by masked men in a melee with supposed gov- power-grab — offers Ven-
said from inside an am- ernment supporters who tried to forced their way into the National Assembly at the end of a cer- ezuela the best chance to
bulance as he was being emony commemorating the country’s Independence Day in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, be truly independent.
treated for head wounds July 5, 2017. Venezuela is marking 206 years of their declaration of independence from Spain. After he left, dozens of
that spilled blood across (AP Photos/Fernando Llano) government supporters
his clothes. The attack, set up a picket outside the
in plain view of national tations between security ing aside the opposition- after Vice President Tareck building, heckling lawmak-
guardsmen assigned to forces and protesters who controlled legislature and El Aissami made an unan- ers with menacing chants
protect the legislature, accuse the government of rewriting the constitution to nounced morning visit to and eventually invading
comes amid three months trying to establish a dicta- avoid fair elections. the National Assembly, ac- the legislature themselves.
of often-violent confron- torship by jailing foes, push- Tensions were already high companied by top govern- q

At least 14 reported dead in gunbattle between Mexican gangs

MEXICO CITY (AP) — At members the La Linea Another state prosecutors’ Varas, about 185 miles (300 dead were adult males,
least 14 people were killed gang and a faction of the spokesman, Eduardo Es- kilometers) northwest of the and 20 rifles were found at
in a firefight between Sinaloa cartel. But he later parza, also confirmed 14 state capital. He said inves- the scene, he said.
armed groups in northern told Milenio television that bodies had been immedi- tigators were still at the re- Esparza said gunmen from
Mexico, authorities said authorities had recovered ately recovered, but add- mote site in a mountainous the two groups were ap-
Wednesday after initially 14 bodies and that the ed that “there could be region known for marijuana parently responsible for the
putting the death toll at 26. higher toll had mistakenly more.” and opium poppy produc- killing of two state police of-
Felix Gonzalez, a spokes- included some wounded. Mexican drug cartels have tion. ficers about 10 days earlier.
man for Chihuahua state He said it was still possible been known to carry off Esparza said police and sol- Mexico is experiencing its
prosecutors, told local me- the death toll could climb their dead after clashes. diers came under fire when highest homicide total in at
dia that officials received if some succumbed to their Gonzalez said the gunfight they arrived at the scene least 20 years as splintered
initial reports of 26 dead injuries or if additional bod- occurred early Wednesday and three suspected gun- drug cartels battle over
in the gunbattle between ies were located. morning in the town of Las men were detained. All the territory.q