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WORLD NEWSSaturday 23 January 2016
Internal army spat threatens to derail Libya peace process
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) late Thursday, spokesman alist militia have been bat- Benghazi. Saqr al-Joroushi, In a televised interview
— New divisions have Mohammed Hegazy ac- tling Islamic militants for an aide to Hifter and Lib- on Friday, Al-Joroushi also
emerged in Libya’s east- cused General Khalifa nearly two years. ya’s air force commander, lashed out at Hegazy, say-
ern army after a military Hifter of corruption. He said He even accused Hifter said there was no truth to ing he should have sent
spokesman accused its top Hifter had seized funds and of selling weapons to ri- the spokesman’s allega- his reports to prosecutors
commander of corruption deposited them in his sons’ val groups, including local tions. He said the sons were rather than go public with
and treachery, calling into bank accounts in neigh- al-Qaida affiliate Ansar entrusted by Hifter to use his accusations. He said the
question the country’s abil- boring countries. al-Shariah. The U.S. has ac- the funds to buy weapons, spokesman holds no real
ity to reach a lasting peace He also alleged that Hifter cused the group of killing its and added that Hifter had position in the air force.
settlement following the re- was a traitor, who had de- ambassador, Christopher given the orders for a swift Libya’s eastern parliament,
cent announcement of a liberately postponed vic- Stevens, as well as three crackdown on any group the House of Representa-
new unity government. tory in the city of Benghazi, other Americans in a 2012 found to have sold weap- tives, says it has launched
In an angry TV interview where army units and loy- attack on the U.S. mission in ons to rival militias. an investigation into the
claims.q
Dozens killed in Yemen airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition
AHMED AL-HAJ Smoke rises after a Saudi-led airstrike hit an army base in Sanaa, Yemen. and crew members Abdu-
JON GAMBRELL (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) laziz al-Sabri and Moneer
Associated Press al-Sabai were last seen
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — The strikes that targeted the condition of anonymity be- been killed and over 80 Monday night in Taiz, a city
Saudi-led military coali- mountain of Nahdeen be- cause they were not autho- percent of Yemen’s pop- in southern Yemen that has
tion carried out a series lieved to house weapon rized to speak to the press. ulation is in dire need of been the scene of heavy
of airstrikes across Yemen caches. In Dhamar, Taiz, Yemen’s civil war began food, water and other aid, fighting for months now,
Friday, killing dozens and and Jawf, similar airstrikes when the Houthi rebels, al- according to the United the Qatari broadcaster
striking an ambulance for targeted gatherings of lied with a former Yemeni Nations. said.
a hospital supported by Houthis and allied army president, overran the Meanwhile, three Al- In a statement late Thurs-
the international medical units. In the port city of Ho- capital in September 2014. Jazeera journalists working day night, Al-Jazeera’s
charity Doctors Without deida, at least 10 civilians In March 2015, a coalition in the war-ravaged city of acting Director-General
Borders, according Ye- were killed when airstrikes of countries led by Saudi Taiz who went missing this Mostefa Souag called for
meni officials, rebel media targeted trucks carrying Arabia began airstrikes and week were most likely kid- the men’s immediate re-
and a statement by the smuggled oil from the port, later, a ground operation napped, the satellite news lease.
charity. according to officials. to retake the country. More network said. “Our colleagues were sim-
The intense wave of air- The officials all spoke on than 5,800 people have Reporter Hamdi al-Bokari ply doing their job of report-
strikes came as the Qatari- ing the story and informing
based Al-Jazeera network the world on what is taking
said three of its journalists place in Yemen,” Souag
had been kidnapped in said. “It is tragic to see that
southern Yemen. in times of conflict, news or-
The charity, also known by ganizations continue to be
its French acronym MSF, targeted. Journalists should
said the ambulance driver have the freedom to do
was killed in an airstrike on their work without the fear
the northern town of Da- of intimidation, abduction
hyan on Thursday. Dahyan or unlawful arrest.”
is part of Saada province, The network said al-Bokari,
the stronghold of Shiite a Yemeni national, has
rebels who control much worked for Al-Jazeera’s
of the country including Arabic channel since 2006.
the capital, Sanaa. The Al-Sabri is also a reporter
rebels, known as Houthis, for Al-Masdar newspaper,
announced that airstrikes while al-Sabai works as a
in Dahyan killed 26 people. driver, according to the
In Sanaa, officials said that New York-based Commit-
22 people were killed in tee to Protect Journalists.q
Iraqi PM: 3 Americans were abducted by ‘criminal gangs’
S. GEORGE ing the World Economic Fo- we are going to find out.” has confirmed only that thorized to talk to reporters.
Associated Press rum, Haider al-Abadi said The Americans were ab- an unspecified number of If a Shiite militia does prove
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s that no ransom demand ducted in Dora, a mixed Americans are missing. to be responsible for the ab-
prime minister said Friday have been received and neighborhood that is home Separately, Iraqi and ductions, it could fuel long-
that there appears to be that authorities were look- to both Shiites and Sun- Western security officials standing accusations that
no political motivation be- ing for the men. nis, on Saturday. Baghdad claimed two powerful Shi- al-Abadi’s government is
hind the recent abduc- “I don’t believe there’s any authorities said the Ameri- ite militias — Asaib Ahl al- unable to control these
tion of three Americans in political thing out of this be- cans were kidnapped from Haq and Saraya al-Salam state-sanctioned paramili-
Baghdad, saying the men cause what political gain a “suspicious apartment,” — are the top suspects in tary squads — which have
seem to have been taken would anybody get,” al- and provided no other the abduction. grown in strength as Iraqi
by “criminal gangs.” Abadi said. details. There has been no Both officials spoke on con- security forces battle the Is-
Speaking from Davos, Swit- “I think it’s mainly ... criminal claim of responsibility. The dition of anonymity be- lamic State group.q
zerland, where he is attend- gangs, unfortunately, but U.S. Embassy in Baghdad cause they were not au-
