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A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 5 May 2017
UN expert in Saudi denied access to imprisoned activists

AYA BATRAWY access to imprisoned blog- security legislation. In his Arabia, Emmerson said: broadly worded anti-terror-
Associated Press gers and activists. preliminary findings , Em- “The picture is extremely ism legislation.
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- Special Rapporteur Ben merson expressed concern mixed.” He said the Saudi In 2014, Saudi Arabia issued
ates (AP) — A U.N. rights ex- Emmerson said he was, about reports of the use of government has gone to a law that allows the king-
pert visiting Saudi Arabia as however, given rare access torture to extract confes- incredible lengths to hu- dom to prosecute as a ter-
part of an unprecedented to top officials overseeing sion and due process vio- manely rehabilitate Saudis rorist anyone who demands
invitation by the govern- the country’s handling of lations by the Specialized convicted in terrorism cas- reform, exposes corruption
ment to assess the coun- sensitive terrorism cases, Criminal Court, established es, while at the same time it or otherwise engages in dis-
try’s legislation and actions including those of human to try terrorism cases. has prosecuted and jailed sent by deeming these as
in fighting terrorism said rights defenders serving Speaking with The Associat- citizens exercising their acts that could undermine
Thursday he was not given sentences under sweeping ed Press from Riyadh, Saudi right to free speech under national security.q

Russia, Iran, Turkey sign on ‘de-escalation zones’ in Syria

BASSEM MROUE agreement signed in As-
ZEINA KARAM tana on Dec. 30 helped
Associated Press reduce overall violence for
BEIRUT (AP) — Russia, Iran several weeks but even-
and Turkey agreed to es- tually collapsed. Other
tablish “de-escalation attempts at a cease-fire
zones” in Syria, signing on in Syria have all ended
to a Russian plan under in failure. Sponsors of the
which President Bashar deal hope that safe zones
Assad’s air force would would bring relief for hun-
halt flights over designated dreds of thousands of Syr-
areas across the war-torn ian civilians and encour-
country. The agreement, age refugees to return. But
which a Russian delegate officials have expressed
said would go into effect skepticism,
on Saturday, is the latest stressing that safe zones
attempt to reduce vio- have not had an encour-
lence in the Arab country. aging track record.
But the full details of the Asked earlier this year to
proposal were not made comment on the idea
available and prospects of safe zones after it was
for its success appeared raised by President Don-
bleak. ald Trump, U.N. Secretary-
As officials from the three General Antonio Guterres
countries — Russia, Iran Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, as pointed to tragic examples
and Turkey — that back he leaves after their meeting in Putin’s residence in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, such as Srebrenica, a U.N.-
rival sides in the conflict Wednesday, May 3, 2017. protected enclave in the
signed the agreement at (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Bosnian war where 8,000
Syria talks in Kazakhstan on Muslim men and boys were
Thursday, some members a guarantor of the agree- the killer cannot be the government has said that massacred in 1995.
of the Syrian opposition ment, accusing it of fuel- rescuer,” said Abu Osama although it will abide by However, U.N. Syria envoy
delegation shouted in pro- ing the sectarian nature of Golani, a rebel command- the agreement, it would Staffan de Mistura de-
test and walked out of the the conflict that has killed er who attended the gath- continue fighting “terror- scribed Thursday’s agree-
conference room in As- some 400,000 people and ering in Astana. ism” wherever it exists, par- ment as a “step in the
tana, the Kazakh capital. displaced half the coun- The walkout and the com- lance for most armed rebel right direction,” expressing
The opposition is protesting try’s population. ments underline the huge groups fighting govern- hope that the deal would
Iran’s participation at the “Iran is a country that is kill- difficulties of implement- ment troops. boost U.N.-backed Syria
conference and role as ing the Syrian people and ing such a deal. The Syrian A previous cease-fire peace talks in Geneva.q

North Korea issues direct criticism of China amid nuke dispute

HYUNG-JIN KIM main benefactor, suspend- Wednesday by the state- “developing good neigh- “China should no longer
Associated Press ed imports of North Korean run Korean Central News borly and friendly coopera- try to test the limits of the
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — coal in line with U.N. sanc- Agency said that “a string tion with North Korea is also DPRK’s patience,” the
North Korea has issued a tions earlier this year and of absurd and reckless re- consistent and clear.” North Korean commentary
rare direct criticism of Chi- has recently been urging its marks are now heard from The North Korean article said, using the acronym for
na through a commentary traditional ally to stop nu- China every day only to cited recent commentar- its official name, the Demo-
saying its “reckless remarks” clear and missile activities render the present bad situ- ies by Chinese state me- cratic People’s Republic
on the North’s nuclear amid U.S. pressure to use ation tenser.” dia that it said shifted the of Korea. “China had bet-
program are testing its pa- its leverage to resolve the Asked about the KCNA blame for deteriorating ter ponder over the grave
tience and could trigger nuclear standoff. Chinese commentary during a bilateral relations onto the consequences to be en-
unspecified “grave” conse- state media have also un- regular briefing Thursday, North and raised “lame ex- tailed by its reckless act of
quences. leashed regular and harsh Chinese Foreign Ministry cuses for the base acts of chopping down the pillar
China, North Korea’s larg- criticisms on North Korea. spokesman Geng Shuang dancing to the tune of the of the DPRK-China rela-
est trading partner and The commentary released said Beijing’s position on U.S.” tions.” q