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A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 24 November 2018
4 killed in brazen attack at Chinese consulate in Pakistan

By ADIL JAWAD prints.
Associated Press Geng, the Chinese spokes-
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — man, said the attackers
Armed separatists stormed did not get into the consul-
the Chinese Consulate in ate itself, and that the ex-
Pakistan's southern port city change of fire took place
of Karachi on Friday, trig- outside the building. The
gering an intense hour-long discrepancy with the Paki-
shootout during which two stani officials' reports could
Pakistani civilians, two po- not be immediately recon-
lice officers and all three ciled.
assailants were killed, in- Pakistan's Foreign Minister
cluding one who was wear- Shah Mahmood Qureshi
ing a suicide vest, Pakistani spoke to his Chinese coun-
officials said. terpart Wang Yi by phone
The brazen assault, claimed and assured him that a
by a militant group from "thorough investigation will
the southwestern province be carried out to appre-
of Baluchistan, reflected hend the perpetrators their
the separatists' attempt to financiers, planners and
strike at the heart of Paki- facilitators" linked to the at-
stan's close ties with major tack on consulate, accord-
ally China, which has in- ing to a foreign ministry
vested heavily into road Pakistani troops move in the compound of Chinese Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. statement. It quoted Yi as
23, 2018.
and transportation projects Associated Press saying that the attack was
in the country, including in an attempt to impact Paki-
Baluchistan. at the mission. after 9 a.m. when the con- diplomats and other staff. stan China relations and
The Baluch Liberation Army Authorities said the dead sulate was open for busi- Multiple blasts were heard to harm the two countries'
said it was fighting "Chinese civilians were a father and ness. The militants fired soon afterward but Sheikh economic pact.
occupation" and released a son who were picking at consulate guards and could not say what they Pakistani Prime Minister Im-
photos of the three attack- up their visas for China. hurled grenades, breach- were. The shootout lasted ran Khan condemned the
ers. The consulate's diplomats ing the main gate and for about an hour. attack and praised the Ka-
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry and staff were unhurt and entering the building, said "Because of a quick re- rachi police and the para-
spokesman Geng Shuang were evacuated to a safe Mohammad Ashfaq, a lo- sponse of the guards and military rangers for their
said China would not wa- place, senior police official cal police chief. police, the terrorists could courage. He ordered an
ver in its latest big project in Ameer Ahmad Sheikh said. Pakistani security forces not" reach the diplomats, investigation and vowed
Pakistan — the China-Pak- A spokeswoman at the Jin- quickly surrounded the Sheikh said after the fight- that such incidents would
istan Economic Corridor — nah Hospital said a consul- area. Local TV stations ing ended. "We have com- never be able to under-
and expressed confidence ate guard was wounded broadcast images showing pleted the operation." mine relations with China,
that Pakistan could ensure and was being treated smoke rising from the build- He added that authorities which are "mightier than
safety. Still, China asked there. ing, which also serves as would try to identify the the Himalayas and deeper
Pakistan to beef up security The attack began shortly the residence of Chinese assailants through finger- than the Arabian Sea."q

Orban says Hungary to evaluate Gruevski extradition request

By PABLO GORONDI donia for its fugitive former ki, who fled Macedonia made an asylum request political battles and games
Associated Press prime minister who has last week to avoid serv- at a Hungarian diplomat- going on in Macedonia
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) been given asylum in Hun- ing a two-year prison term ic mission in Albania last and the justice system is
— Hungarian authorities gary, the Hungarian prime for corruption, is an ally of week. Later, he traveled part of it," Orban said. "I
will evaluate and give an minister said Friday. Hungary who deserves fair through several Balkan myself don't know what is
opinion on the extradition Viktor Orban said on state treatment.Orban, who had countries in Hungarian dip- true and what is not true
request made by Mace- radio that Nikola Gruevs- anti-migrant border fences lomatic vehicles, escorted because it is practically im-
built in 2015, said that with- by Hungarian diplomats. possible to decide."
out similar policies from Orban described Gruevski's Like with much of the criti-
Gruevski, who was prime journey through Balkans as cism coming his way on
minister between 2006 and an exciting "thriller" and in- any issue, Orban sourced
2016, "it would have been sisted that the matter was it in this case also to Hun-
much more difficult, if at a legal one, not a political garian-American billionaire
all possible, to protect the one and that his govern- and philanthropist George
Hungarian border." ment was not involved in Soros, whom he consid-
"He was the first Balkan poli- the asylum decision. ers an ideological foe and
tician who built a fence," Orban said it was "impor- blames — despite repeat-
Orban said. "That is why we tant" that the Hungar- ed denials from Soros — for
always thought of Mace- ian government refrain the migrant surge in Europe
donia and of his person as also from commenting on of recent years.
an ally. One treats one's al- Gruevski's conviction and Orban said the strongest
lies fairly." the several other judicial criticisms of the Hungarian
In this picture taken April 2, 2018, former Macedonian Prime After making his way out of cases pending against him government in the Gruevski
Minister Nikola Gruevski, left, arrives at the criminal court in Macedonia in still unclear in his homeland. case were coming "all from
Skopje, Macedonia.
Associated Press circumstances, Gruevski "There are complicated Soros organizations."q