LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria and poses a security risk
and danger will be
regarded as a threat and treated as a military target.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Article, 1A
Militants routed from Somali town
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Hundreds of pro-government troops swept into a Somali town north of the capital Tuesday, forcing al-Shabab fighters to flee in the latest success against the al-Qaidalinked militants, witnesses and a military official said.
Troops encountered little resistance as they captured the town of Balad from al-Shabab fighters, said Somali military Col. Abdullahi Ali Anod.
“Somali troops are on every corner in the town now.
Al-Shabab fighters abandoned it a few hours ago,” resident Habiba Hassan said by phone. “Fortunately the forces came while people were sleeping, so no one felt any fear and the town changed hands peacefully.”
“I am now speaking from the town’s police headquarters and the anti-peace elements have fled to the outskirts” Anod said. “Our forces have captured the town after small gunbattles. We shall keep moving forward until we cleanse them from Somalia.”
The taking of Balad is the latest success for pro-government forces in a year of big gains against al-Shabab.
Rescuers ready to dismantle mall
ELLIOT LAKE, Ontario - Rescue crews geared up Tuesday night to start dismantling a partially collapsed mall in this northern Ontario city in an effort to rescue victims despite fading hopes of finding anyone alive.
Officials planned to use heavy equipment to clear a path from outside the building to resume rescue efforts stalled over fears the unstable structure could further collapse, leaving rescuers trapped inside the mall.
Rescuers detected breathing inside the rubble early Monday, but authorities angered local residents when they called off work later that day. One death was confirmed after part of the mall’s roof collapsed Saturday afternoon, and another person is known to be still inside.
Bill Neadles, a spokesman for the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team, said the building was not secure enough to send rescue teams back in at this point but said some heavy machinery from a private company would be employed.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered to send in the military to help with the rescue effort.
Iraq puts off move
to shutter media
BAGHDAD - Iraq has suspended orders to close 44 media operations in the country, including the BBC and Voice of America, after an outcry by press-freedom advocates, an official said Tuesday.
The Communications and Media Commission, which regulates the news media in Iraq, will give the targeted organizations more time to pay outstanding fees and renew lapsed licenses, Deputy Director Ali Nasir said.
The commission denied that its previous order to close the agencies, most of them Iraqi, represented a crackdown on a free press. No media outlets were known to have been shut down.
The order was issued last month but was made public only this week.
The Journalistic Freedoms Observatory welcomed the reprieve Tuesday, but Director Ziyad al-Aajely said media licensing is still too difficult and fees are too high.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 06/27/2012