Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 26 May 2017
Greek ex-prime minister hurt as letter bomb explodes in car

By ELENA BECATOROS “I unequivocally condemn rier services. and is also a former deputy terrorism police were at the
NICHOLAS PAPHITIS the attack against Lucas There was no immediate governor of the European hospital where Papademos
Associated Press Papademos,” Greek Prime claim of responsibility for Central Bank. was being treated in order
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Minister Alexis Tsipras, who the attack, “We are saddened by to interview him on the de-
Former Greek Prime Minis- was attending a NATO but Greek politicians have the attack against our for- tails of the envelope.
ter Lucas Papademos was summit in Brussels, tweeted been targeted in the past mer colleague, Lucas Pa- A second police official
injured after a letter bomb from his official account. “I by militant far-left and an- pademos, a brave public said one of the other two
exploded inside his car in a wish a speedy recovery to archist groups. servant of Greece and wounded in the blast told
central Athens on Thursday him and the people who A statement from the Europe,” European Cen- anti-terrorism police that he
in an attack that also left accompanied him.” Greek Health Ministry said tral Bank President Mario had handed Papademos
two Bank of Greece em- Police were on alert to de- Papademos, 69, was being Draghi said in a statement. the mail earlier, and that
ployees wounded. termine whether any other treated for wounds in his A police official said the ex- before doing so he had
Authorities said all three parcel bombs might have right thigh and upper body. plosion occurred when Pa- put it through an X-ray ma-
were conscious and hospi- been sent out, and were He served as prime minister pademos opened an en- chine and nothing suspi-
talized in stable condition. checking postal and cou- for six months in 2011-2012 velope inside the car. Anti- cious showed up. q
Britons face stepped-up security after Manchester bombing

they said were uncovering bin Salem added.
key evidence and a trans- The number of arrests in the
Atlantic rift opened Thurs- U.K. ticked up to eight as
day in the aftermath of a British Transport Police said
deadly concert bombing. armed officers would be-
The investigation of the gin patrols on some trains
Manchester Arena attack because of an increased
that killed 22 people ex- threat of terrorism.
tended across Europe and Greater Manchester Police
into Libya, Chief Constable Ian Hop-
where most of the suspect- kins said, without elabo-
ed bomber’s family lived. rating, that searches of
Authorities in multiple coun- suspects’ homes brought
tries worked to determine if “very important” clues in
Salman Abedi, who died in the probe of Monday’s
the blast, acted alone or bombing at the close of an
with assistance from a so- Ariana Grande show.
phisticated cell. But leaks from the investi-
After Abedi’s mother and gation were creating a dip-
three of his siblings were lomatic mess.
brought in for questioning, Manchester police have
a Libyan official told of a stopped sharing investiga-
final phone call he placed tive information with the
An armed soldier and policeman stand guard at Parliament, in London, Thursday, May 25, 2017. to his mother and brother U.S. until they are guar-
Armed troops are guarding vital locations in the country after the official threat level was raised to just before the attack. On anteed an end to media
its highest point following a suicide bombing that killed more than 20 in Manchester. that call, he purportedly leaks, a British official told
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) told his mother: “Forgive The Associated Press on
me,” said Ahmed bin Sa- condition of anonymity be-
By JILL LAWLESS GREGORY KATZ — Britons faced stepped- lem, a spokesman for the cause he was not autho-
PAISLEY DODDS Associated Press up security, authorities Special Deterrent Force. rized to speak publicly. q
MAGGIE MICHAEL MANCHESTER, England (AP) pushed forward with raids “He was giving farewell,”

Montenegro defies Russia to become NATO member

By PREDRAG MILIC the country it considers a (5,300 square miles). Just centuries-long Turkish Otto- influence. Russian compa-
Associated Press zone of interest. Russia has over 600,000 people live man rule. nies have invested millions
PODGORICA, Montene- threatened economic and in Montenegro, mostly in Montenegro was part of in Montenegro, which has
gro (AP) — NATO is set to political retaliation. Mon- the capital Podgorica and Yugoslavia, which was dis- also become a favorite
expand for the first time tenegro says Moscow was along the coast. The econ- solved in 1992. Montenegro tourist destination.
after eight years by wel- behind a foiled coup at- omy is weak, relying largely then formed a union with Russia recently has warned
coming Montenegro into tempt in October, which on tourism. Serbia. As a Serbian ally, its citizens against traveling
the alliance. The tiny Bal- Russia denies. About 70 percent Monte- Montenegro was bombed to Montenegro and has
kan nation is attending the Montenegro — which negrins are Orthodox Chris- in 1999 by NATO which banned imports of Monte-
NATO summit in Brussels on means “Black Mountain” — tians, which partly explains launched air strikes to stop negrin wine.
Thursday practically as a is a small country in south- strong links to Russia, also a crackdown against Koso- Montenegro has an army of
member, although the en- east Europe. It is a land of a predominantly Orthodox vo Albanian separatists. just some 2,000 soldiers. But
try process formally will be stunning natural beauty, Christian country. Until re- After deciding to split with it is strategically located on
wrapped in early June. To squeezed between the cently, Montenegro had Serbia in 2006 in a referen- the Adriatic sea, between
get there, Montenegro has Adriatic Sea and tower- been a faithful ally of Russia dum, Montenegro took a NATO members Croatia
stood up against Russia, ing mountains, laced with in the Balkans. Montenegro strong turn toward Euro- and Albania, having deep-
which has sought to main- green valleys and rushing was also a rare country in Atlantic integration, de- water navy bases that
tain strong historic, political rivers. The land area is near- the region to have retained spite Russia’s bid to retain could be used for big navy
and cultural influence in ly 14,000 square kilometers a level of autonomy during political and economic ships and submarines.q