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WORLD NEWS Friday 7 december 2018

2 US warplanes crash off Japan; 1

dead, 5 missing

By MARI YAMAGUCHI The Marines said in a state- crew from the fighter jet in
Associated Press ment that the two planes stable condition. The Ma-
TOKYO (AP) — One of two were involved in routine rines said the crew mem-
crew members recovered training, including aerial ber was taken to a hospital
after two U.S. warplanes refueling, but that it was on the base in Iwakuni and
collided and crashed off still investigating what was was in fair condition, but
Japan's coast early Thurs- happening when the acci- did not provide any other
day is dead and five others dent occurred. details.
remain missing, the U.S. mili- The crash took place 320 ki- Japan's coast guard also
tary said. lometers (200 miles) off the joined the search. In this aerial photo, Japan's Coast Guard ship is seen at sea
during a search operation for U.S. Marine refueling plane and
The Marine Corps said coast, according to the President Donald tweet- fighter jet off Muroto, Kochi prefecture, southwestern Japan,
the other recovered crew U.S. military. Japanese offi- ed on Thursday that his Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018.
member was in fair condi- cials said it occurred closer thoughts and prayers are Associated Press
tion. to the coast, about 100 kilo- with the Marine Corps crew
It said an F/A-18 Hornet meters (60 miles), and that's members involved in the ployed to and near Japan. Seahawk also belong-
fighter jet and a KC-130 where the search and res- collision. He thanked the Last month, a U.S. Navy F/A- ing to the Ronald Reagan
Hercules refueling aircraft cue mission found the two U.S. Forces in Japan for 18 Hornet from the aircraft crashed off the Philippine
collided during training at crew members. their "immediate response carrier USS Ronald Reagan Sea shortly after takeoff,
about 2 a.m. after taking Japan's Maritime Self- and rescue efforts" and crashed into the sea south- causing non-fatal injuries to
off from their base in Iwaku- Defense Force, which dis- said "Whatever you need, west of Japan's southern a dozen sailors.
ni, near Hiroshima. The sev- patched aircraft and ves- we are here for you." island of Okinawa, though More than 50,000 U.S.
en crew members included sels to join in the search The crash is the latest in re- its two pilots were rescued troops are based in Japan
two in the F/A-18 and five in operation, said Japanese cent series of accidents in- safely. under a bilateral security
the KC-130. rescuers found one of the volving the U.S. military de- In mid-October, a MH-60 pact.q

Rwandan court drops all charges against opposition figure

BY IGNATIUS SSUUNA, Asso- run in last year's election, unpredictable and lacking
ciated Press and is the rare person to independence.
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — publicly criticize the gov- Kagame is praised for lead-
Rwanda's high court on ernment from inside the ing Rwanda's recovery
Thursday acquitted the country. from the 1994 genocide
country's most promi- "I will continue my cam- and for advances in eco-
nent opposition figure paign to fight for the rights nomic development and
of all charges related to of all Rwandans," a sur- women's rights, but critics
her election challenge of prised but happy Rwigara say he does not tolerate
President Paul Kagame, as told reporters after cel- criticism. His government
judges said the prosecution ebrating. "This is the begin- rejects such accusations.
failed to provide proof of ning, because there's still a The government in Septem-
insurrection and forgery. lot that needs to be done ber pardoned thousands of
Diane Rwigara's case has in our country." prisoners, including an op-
drawn global attention as She said she will move position party leader and
Kagame again faces pres- ahead with her People Sal- a political activist, and sev-
sure to give more space vation Movement, an ac- eral analysts said Kagame
to critics in this highly con- tivist group launched short- was loosening the country's
trolled East African country. ly before her arrest to en- political space.
Rwigara's mother, Adeline, courage Rwandans to hold Rwigara last year acknowl-
59, also was acquitted of their government account- Diane Rwigara, the country's most prominent opposition figure, edged the risks of running
inciting insurrection and able. And she thanked ev- is hugged by a wellwisher after being acquitted of charges re- against Kagame, one of
lated to her election challenge of President Paul Kagame, at the
promoting sectarianism. eryone who pressured the high court in Kigali, Rwanda Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Africa's longest-serving
Both women had denied government to free her. Associated Press leaders. Soon after she an-
the charges. U.S. senators in recent days nounced her intention to
The courtroom, packed urged Rwanda's govern- tors to inappropriately influ- shocked by the court's de- run, nude photos purport-
with diplomats and sup- ment to drop the charges ence judicial processes in cision. "I thought the gov- edly of her that she said
porters, erupted in ap- against her, with Sen. Dick Rwanda." ernment was angered by had been manipulated
plause as Diane Rwigara Durbin noting "what ap- The three-judge panel Rwigara's criticism and she were published on social
and her mother were over- pears to be highly ques- said there was no proof would be convicted," said media in what her support-
come with tears. Excited tionable charges against that Rwandans had been Moses Hirwa, a mechanic. ers called an effort to un-
relatives who had prayed Rwigara for seemingly run- incited against the state Speaking to The Associ- dermine her credibility.
before the hearing for pro- ning for office peacefully." after Rwigara's remarks to ated Press ahead of her Rwigara later was disquali-
tection swarmed them with Rwanda's justice minister the media, and that inter- court appearance, Rwi- fied from running, with the
hugs. and attorney general in a cepted WhatsApp audio gara remained defiant, government saying she
The 37-year-old Rwigara, statement said the govern- files of her mother did not saying no amount of pres- lacked enough supporting
who had denounced the ment respects the verdict incite insurrection and in- sure will silence her. "I hope signatures and had forged
charges as politically moti- and "will carefully study its stead were private conver- to be cleared of all these some of them. Kagame
vated, had faced 22 years implications." sations. made-up charges but I am won a third term with more
in prison if convicted. She But it added: "We condemn Some Rwandans in the cap- ready for any outcome," than 98 percent of the
was arrested after trying to all attempts by external ac- ital, Kigali, said they were she said, calling the courts vote.q