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A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 7 March 2020

Officials say gunmen kill 32 at ceremony in Afghan capital

By TAMEEM AKHGAR targeted people, there
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) were casualties, dead and
— Gunmen opened fire wounded," said witness
Friday at a ceremony in Ghulam Mohammad, ac-
Afghanistan's capital at- cording to Associated Press
tended by prominent po- video.
litical leaders, killing at least Another survivor, Noor Mo-
32 people and wounding hammad, said: "Everyone
dozens more before the was running. Three casu-
two attackers were slain by alties were on the ground
police, officials said. in front of me. I ran out of
The Islamic State group there to save my life."
claimed responsibility for After opening fire, the two
the attack in a statement gunmen holed up in a half-
on its website. finished apartment build-
Militants from IS have de- ing, leading to a five-hour
clared war on Afghani- standoff with security forc-
stan's Shiites, and many es. They were eventually
of those at the ceremony killed and security forces
were from the minority cleared the building, Ra-
Shiite sect. The ceremony himi said. The area was
commemorated the 1995 cordoned off by dozens of
slaying of Abdul Ali Mazari, An injured man is carried into an ambulance after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, March security forces.
the leader of Afghanistan's 6, 2020. U.N. Secretary-General An-
ethnic Hazaras, who are Associated Press tonio Guterres condemned
mostly Shiite Muslims. the violence and reiter-
The Taliban said they were the Dasht-e-Barchi neigh- nent political officials who Afghanistan's high peace ated "that attacks against
not involved in the attack, borhood of Kabul. The attended the ceremony council, was delivering a civilians are unacceptable
which came less than a Health Ministry gave the but left before the attack speech when the gunfire and those who carry out
week after the U.S. and the same death toll but said 58 and were unhurt. interrupted him. He was not such crimes must be held
group signed an ambitious were wounded. All of the Several TV journalists were hurt and later went on TV to accountable," according
peace deal that lays out a casualties were civilians, covering the ceremony in- denounce the violence. to U.N. spokesman Stepha-
path for the withdrawal of Rahimi said. side a walled compound Several witnesses said that, ne Dujarric.
American forces from the Opposition leader Abdullah when the gunmen began amid the panic, members "The United Nations stands
country. Abdullah, who is the coun- shooting, and a reporter of the security forces at the with all Afghans in solidarity
Interior Ministry spokes- try's chief executive and and a cameraman for a event had fired on civilians and remains committed to
man Nasrat Rahimi said 32 was a top contender in last local broadcaster were in the crowd. an Afghan-led peace pro-
people were killed and 81 year's presidential election, among the wounded. "Individuals with military cess that will end the con-
wounded in the attack in was among several promi- Karim Khalili, the chief of uniforms who were there flict," Dujarric said.q

South Korea, Japan trade travel restrictions in virus row

By KIM TONG-HYUNG He said Japan's move was fection with the new coro-
Associated Press based on a misunderstand- navirus, but its numbers of
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — ing of South Korea's active new cases have been de-
South Korea announced it efforts to fight the virus, clining in recent days.
will end visa-free entry for which he insisted were in South Korean Foreign Min-
Japanese citizens starting contrast to Japan's "non- ister Kang Kyung-wha ear-
Monday in retaliation for transparent and passive lier on Friday summoned
a two-week quarantine quarantine activity" re- Japanese Ambassador Koji
imposed by Japan on all flected by its much smaller Tomita to protest Japan's
visitors from South Korea number of virus tests. move and described it as
because of its surging viral "Our government once "unscientific," citing prog-
outbreak. again expresses our deep ress in the country's quar-
South Korea's first vice regrets over Japan's mea- antine efforts.
foreign minister, Cho Sei- sures that it unilaterally an- Tomita replied that Japan
young, also announced nounced without prior con- is facing a "critical period"
Friday that it will strengthen sultation or notification," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, right, meets that will determine whether
travel entry restrictions on Cho told reporters. He did with Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koji Tomita at the it can successfully stem the
all foreign citizens com- not take any questions. Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 6, 2020. spread of the virus. Japan
ing from Japan and could Relations between South Associated Press counts more than 1,000
reduce the number of air- Korea and Japan sank to cases, including about 700
ports at which flights from their lowest point in de- nations that have banned government in Beijing is- from a cruise ship.
Japan can land. cades last year as they or restricted visitors from the sued a softer response, with Japanese Chief Cabinet
Cho's announcement feuded over trade issues, country. foreign ministry spokesman Secretary Yoshihide Suga
came hours after South wartime history and military The 14-day quarantine an- Zhao Lijian saying that Ja- said the country's strength-
Korea expressed "extreme cooperation. nounced by Japanese pan's measures were "un- ened border controls will
regret" over Japan's travel South Korea has not tak- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe derstandable." also apply to Japanese citi-
restrictions and warned of en any countermeasures on Thursday also will apply South Korea has confirmed zens returning from South
countermeasures. against more than 90 other to visitors from China. The more than 6,500 cases of in- Korea or China.q