Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 18 noveMber 2019

Leaked Russian interference report raises UK vote questions

By DANICA KIRKA ment.
Associated Press Security Minister Brandon
LONDON (AP) — Questions Lewis dismissed such criti-
about the British govern- cism and in turn accused
ment’s failure to release a Labour leader Jeremy
report on Russia’s interfer- Corbyn of failing to back
ence in the country’s poli- the government in the af-
tics continued to dog Prime termath of a Russian-spon-
Minister Boris Johnson on sored nerve agent attack
Sunday as critics said leaks against a former spy on the
from the document raised streets of an English city.
concerns about the securi- Asked about Russian do-
ty of next month’s election. nors to the campaign, Lew-
The report from Parlia- is told Sky television on Sun-
ment’s intelligence com- day that all contributions
mittee concludes that Rus- are reported to the proper
sian interference may have authorities and the donors
affected the 2016 referen- in question have British citi-
dum on Britain’s departure zenship.
from the European Union, “We should not prevent
though the impact is “un- British citizens from taking
quantifiable,” the Times of and playing their full part in
London reported without Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks to the media, in London, British political life,” he said.
saying how it got the infor- Saturday Nov. 16, 2019, following a Labour Party meeting to finalise the party manifesto for their Former special counsel
mation. policy ahead of the upcoming General Election. Robert Mueller's investiga-
The committee said Brit- Associated Press tion into the 2016 U.S. presi-
ish intelligence services sition Labour Party’s foreign est opportunity,’’ she told be released after the elec- dential election found that
failed to devote enough affairs spokeswoman, said the Times. “If not, people tion. Critics have alleged Russia interfered in the vote
resources to counter the the leaks raise questions will rightly continue to ask: the report is being withheld in a "sweeping and system-
threat and highlighted the that deserve answers. what is he trying to hide because it shows Russians ic" fashion. While President
impact of articles posted “Boris Johnson therefore from the British public and have made large dona- Donald Trump dismissed
by Russian news sites that needs to clear up the con- why?” tions to the Conservative the findings, the U.S. inves-
were widely disseminated fusion, spin and speculation Johnson's government has Party, which is seeking to tigation put Russia at the
on social media, the news- around this (intelligence said it needs more time to win a majority that would center of worries about
paper reported. committee) report by pub- review the security implica- allow Johnson to push his the integrity of elections
Emily Thornberry, the oppo- lishing it in full at the earli- tions of the report, but it will Brexit deal through Parlia- worldwide.q

Algeria kicks off presidential campaign, 5 candidates to run

By AOMAR OUALI Bouteflika. Big crowds took that was in the governing
Associated Press to the streets Friday for a coalition, Azzedine Mihou-
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Al- 39th consecutive week to bi; and Belaid Abdelaziz,
geria’s presidential cam- demand an end to Alge- who heads the small El
paign officially kicked off ria's post-colonial political Moustakbel (Future) party
Sunday with five candi- system. Protesters say they that’s close to the FLN, both
dates vying to replace the don't trust those currently in of which remain part of the
country’s longtime leader, power to ensure democrat- ruling coalition.
who was pushed out in April ic elections, citing their past In some neighborhoods
amid sustained protests. links to Bouteflika. The oth- of Algiers, protesters have
Two former prime ministers, er candidates are: former hung black trash bags on
The five candidates for the upcoming Dec. 12, presidential elec- Ali Benflis and Abdelmad- tourism minister and mod- billboards featuring the
tion, from left to right, Azzedine Mihoubi, Abdelmajid Tebboune, jid Tebboune, are among erate Islamist Abdelkader candidates’ portraits, of-
Abdelkader Bengrina, Ali Benflis and Abdelaziz Belaid pose pri- those running in the Dec. Bengrina; former culture ten sprayed with the words
or to a media conference in Algier, Algeria, Saturday, Oct. 17,
2019. 12 election to succeed minister and current interim “election of shame” and
Associated Press former President Abdelaziz secretary of the RND party “traitors.” q