Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 17 June 2019
Saudi crown prince accuses rival Iran of tanker attacks

By AYA BATRAWY said the incident "confirms
Associated Press the importance of our de-
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- mands of the international
ates (AP) — Saudi Arabia's community to take a deci-
Crown Prince Mohammed sive stance" against Iran's
bin Salman said in remarks behavior.
published Sunday that the "The kingdom does not
kingdom will not hesitate seek war in the region," the
to confront Iranian threats prince said, speaking with
to its security. He joined the the Arabic-language news-
U.S. in accusing its bitter ri- paper Asharq al-Awsat.
val Iran of being behind the "But we will not hesitate to
attacks on two oil tankers deal with any threat to our
traveling near the Strait of people, sovereignty and vi-
Hormuz, a vital trade route tal interests."
for Arabian energy exports. The prince claimed Iran
Tensions in the Persian Gulf had planned the attack's
have escalated since the timing to undercut the Jap-
U.S. sent an aircraft car- anese prime minister's dip-
rier strike group and other lomatic efforts, during his
military assets to the region visit to Tehran last week, to
in what it says is defensive A fishing boat speeds past an oil tanker in the distance in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, reduce regional tensions.
posturing against alleged June 15, 2019. He did not offer any evi-
Iranian threats. The crisis Associated Press dence to back up the al-
takes root in the Trump Ad- legation.
ministration's decision to re- The U.S. alleges Iran used unexploded mine from the as having targeted the ves- "The problem is in Tehran
impose punishing econom- limpet mines to target the Japanese-operated tanker sel. and not anywhere else,"
ic sanctions on Tehran and tankers on Thursday, point- Kokuka Courageous. In his first public comments he added. "Iran is always
its oil exports, after unilat- ing to black-and-white The Japanese tanker's regarding the attacks, the the party that's escalating
erally withdrawing the U.S. footage it captured that crewmembers appeared powerful Saudi prince, who in the region, carrying out
from the 2015 nuclear deal American officials describe to contradict the assertion is also defense minister and terrorist attacks and crimi-
between Iran and world as an Iranian Revolutionary that mines were used. They oversees all major levers nal attacks either directly
powers. Guard vessel removing an described "flying objects" of power in the country, or through its militias."q

Libya's Sarraj calls for elections in 2019 to end war

CAIRO (AP) — The head of has turned into a haven for
Libya's U.N.-supported gov- armed groups, and a major
ernment on Sunday pro- conduit for migrants bound
posed holding nationwide for Europe. His opponents
elections to end the war in view him as an aspiring au-
the North African country, tocrat and fear a return to
as the forces of the rival one-man rule.
military commander Khali- Al-Sarraj said all Libyans
fa Hifter continue their two- who "call for a peaceful
month-long battle to take and democratic solution"
the capital, Tripoli. would take part in his pro-
Prime Minister Fayez al- posed talks. There would
Sarraj told a news confer- be "no place for those who
ence in Tripoli, the seat of seek tyranny and dictator-
his administration, that he is ship," he added, while call-
proposing a "Libyan forum" ing on the U.N. to support
aimed at finding a peace- the forum and to oversee
ful solution to the conflict. elections. He did not say
The talks would draw up a whether Hifter or his repre-
roadmap for parliamentary sentatives would be includ-
and presidential elections ed. The two sides last held
to be held before the end talks in the United Arab
of 2019. Emirates in February.
There are fears that the In this Jan. 30, 2019 file photo, Prime Minister of Libya Fayez al-Sarraj addresses media during a Al-Sarraj also demanded
battle for Tripoli could ig- press conference in Prague, Czech Republic. an international probe into
nite a civil war on the scale Associated Press alleged "war crimes and
of the violence after the crimes against humanity,"
2011 uprising that toppled whose self-styled Libyan skirts and clashing with mi- cent years, his campaign since Hifter launched his
and killed longtime dictator National Army holds the litias loosely affiliated with against Islamic militants offensive. The fighting for
Moammar Gadhafi. east and much of the the U.N.-recognized gov- across Libya has won him Tripoli has killed over 650
Libya is divided between south. Hifter opened a mili- ernment. growing international sup- people, including com-
the weak government of tary offensive on the capi- Hifter has presented him- port from world leaders who batants and civilians, ac-
al-Sarraj in the west, and tal in early April, advancing self as a strong hand who say they are concerned cording the World Health
Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, on the city's southern out- can restore stability. In re- the North African country Organization.q