Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 18 september 2019
Authorities: Separate attacks in Afghanistan kill 48

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Local television footage of
— Separate attacks by the attack showed twisted
suicide bombers — one wreckage and charred re-
targeting President Ashraf mains of military and po-
Ghani's election rally and a lice vehicles that were ap-
second that ripped through parently positioned near
the center of the Afghan where the powerful blast
capital — killed at least Firdaus Faramarz, spokes-
48 people and wounded man for the Kabul police
scores more Tuesday in the chief, said the attack in
deadliest single day since the heart of the Afghan
a peace agreement with capital took place near
Taliban insurgents was de- Massood Square, a deeply
clared dead. congested intersection in
The Taliban claimed re- the center of Kabul. NATO
sponsibility for both blasts, and U.S. compounds are
saying an explosives-lad- located nearby as are sev-
en motorcycle targeted eral Afghan government
Ghani's election rally be- ministries.
ing held on the outskirts Zabihullah Mujahid, a Tal-
of Charakar in northern iban spokesman, released
Parwan province. Ghani a statement to the me-
was present but unhurt, his dia saying Taliban suicide
campaign chief said. In Afghan police inspect the site of a suicide attack, in Parwan province of Afghanistan, Tuesday, bombers were behind both
that explosion, 26 people Sept. 17, 2019. attacks.
were killed, according to Associated Press In Parwan, Mujahid said the
Nasrat Rahimi, spokesman bomber targeted presiden-
for the Interior Ministry. Four more were wounded. explosives at the entrance have no will and desire tial guards who were pro-
among the dead were Af- The violence comes as Af- to the rally, according to for peace and stability in tecting Ghani and the rally,
ghan military personnel, he ghanistan faces presiden- Hamed Aziz, a spokesman Afghanistan and that all along with other members
said. Another 42 people tial elections on Sept. 28 form Ghani's campaign their movements are noth- of the security forces. Four
were wounded, many of — a vote the Taliban ve- office. But Aziz said the ex- ing but deceit," Ghani was military personnel were
them women and children. hemently oppose. The in- plosion occurred some dis- quoted as saying in a state- among the dead.
In the second bombing, surgent group has warned tance from where Ghani ment released by the presi- Campaigning for the Af-
just hours later in the heart Afghans not to vote in the was addressing a crowd of dential palace. ghan elections resumed
of Kabul not far from the election and said their about 2,200. There were many women last week after President
U.S. Embassy, the Taliban fighters would target elec- Ghani condemned both and children among the Donald Trump declared
said they were targeting tion campaigns as well as attacks. casualties in the bombing that the U.S.-Taliban talks,
an Afghan army base. They polling stations. "By continuing their crimes, near Ghani's rally, said Dr. which have been going on
killed 22 people, govern- The bomber who attacked the Taliban have once Qasim Sangin, a local offi- for months in the Gulf Arab
ment officials said. Scores Ghani's rally detonated his again proven that they cial. state of Qatar, are over.q

Arrest warrant for Lebanese-American who worked for Israel

By BASSEM MROUE southern Lebanon that was Israel's creation in 1948.
Associated Press run by an Israeli-backed Human rights groups have
BEIRUT (AP) — A Leba- militia, known as the South said in the past that Khiam
nese judge issued an ar- Lebanon Army, until Israel prison was a site of torture
rest warrant Tuesday for a ended an 18-year occupa- and detention without trial
Lebanese American who tion of the area in 2000. before it was abandoned
confessed he'd worked for Outside the court, scores of in 2000. Israel denies the al-
Israel during its occupation people gathered, includ- legations.
of Lebanon for nearly two ing former Khiam prison de- Hundreds of former Leba-
decades, Lebanese judi- tainees, some of whom de- nese members of the militia
cial officials said. manded the death penalty had fled to Israel, fearing
The officials said acting mili- for Fakhoury. reprisals if they remained
tary investigative judge Na- "First of all we want the in Lebanon. Others stayed
jat Abu Shakra postponed military court to deliver the and faced trial, receiving
the questioning of Amer death sentence by hang- lenient sentences.
Fakhoury at the Military ing for Amer Fakhoury and Fakhoury was living in Do-
Court in Beirut pending per- A former inmate of Khiam prison holds a placard in Arabic that all those like him, whether ver, New Hampshire and
mission from Lebanon's Bar reads, "no to American intervention in the Lebanese judiciary," they are inside Lebanon or local media reported that
during a sit-in near military court in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday,
Association for an Ameri- Sept. 17, 2019. outside, who are trying to the family owns a restau-
can lawyer to attend. Associated Press erase their history and to re- rant there. New Hampshire
The officials said Fakhoury turn to Lebanon," said Firyal Gov. Chris Sununu once
told the judge he wants questioning. No date has Fakhoury was detained Hammoud, former inmate went to their restaurant for
the American lawyer to been set for the next ses- after returning to his na- of Khiam prison. "We do not a grape leaves-making
be present and since she sion, said the officials who tive Lebanon from the U.S. accept less than a public contest and talked about
had no permission from the spoke on condition of ano- earlier this month. He had death sentence." their shared Lebanese heri-
Bar Association, the judge nymity in line with regula- worked as a senior war- Lebanon and Israel have tage, according to local
decided to postpone the tions. den at the Khiam Prison in been officially at war since media.q