LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We don’t want to see militias in the city anymore.We only want to see army and police.”
Farag Akwash, a 22-year-old protesting in Benghazi, Libya, against the presence of armed militias Article, 1A
6 million due at 179th Oktoberfest
BERLIN - The world’s largest beer festival opened Saturday in Germany as Munich’s mayor tapped the first keg to kick off the 16-day Oktoberfest, known for its oompah music and traditional costumes.
With only two blows of his hammer and a cry of “O’zapft is” - “It’s tapped” - Mayor Christian Ude inserted the tap into the first keg, opening the 179th Oktoberfest to the cheering of thousands waiting to be served their first beers.
More than 6 million guests from around the world are expected to descend on the beer tents of Munich to celebrate the extravaganza.
Last year’s visitors consumed almost 8 million 1-liter mugs (about 34 ounces) of beer. This year a mug, called “mass” in German, of the malty pale beer made exclusively by Munich’s breweries will cost up to $12.30.
Iranian says navy to have global reach
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran plans to expand its naval presence in international waters as part of efforts to boost its military and extend its reach as far as Antarctica, the head of the country’s navy said Saturday.
The comments from Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari reflect Iran’s aspirations to transform its navy into a force capable of sustained operations in the open ocean. They also are seen as a response to America’s beefed-up naval deployment near the Islamic Republic’s coasts in the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain - across the Persian Gulf from Iran.
“We have the capability to hoist Iran’s flag in different regions from the North Pole to the South Pole and we are preparing plans for a presence near the South Pole,” state Press TV quoted Sayyari as saying. “However, we will never enter the maritime borders of others and we will not allow anybody to enter even a centimeter into our territorial waters.”
Earlier this month, Sayyari said Iran aims to put warships in international waters off the U.S. coast “within the next few years.” He also said Iran’s navy would be “present anywhere in international waters in order to safeguard the Islamic Republic’s interests.”
Roadside bomb kills 5 Iraqi soldiers
BAGHDAD - Five Iraqi soldiers were killed Saturday in a roadside bomb explosion north of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said, as suspected Sunni militants seeking to undermine the Shiite-led government continue to target the country’s security forces.
A police official in Salahuddin province said the attack on a two-vehicle military convoy occurred early in the afternoon near the predominantly Sunni town of Duluiyah, 45 miles north of Baghdad. Four other soldiers were wounded in the blast, the official said.
Doctors in the town’s hospital confirmed the death toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Iraqi government, Ali al-Moussawi, said authorities will conduct random searches of Syrian-bound Iranian planes on suspicion that they might be carrying weapons to the war-torn nation.
Iran is an ally to Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose military has battled opposition forces during an 18-month-old uprising that has become a civil war.
MTV venue full, Spaniards get unruly
MADRID - Fans rioted outside a free concert hosted by MTV at a Madrid theater early Saturday after they were denied entry because the venue was full, officials said. About 60 people suffered minor injuries, and 11 others were arrested.
Thousands of people had turned up at the venue late Friday for the lineup of Spanish indie music acts, police said.
Once the theater was full, scuffles broke out in the streets outside and people began throwing bottles.
Riot police, some on horseback, were deployed to the area after garbage containers were set ablaze. Several parked cars were damaged in the unrest and blazing objects were placed in the road to obstruct the arrival of police vehicles.
Hundreds of youths ran away from the scene as police vans began to arrive, according to video footage on the website of news agency Europa Press.
MTV said a second free concert planned for Saturday night with a lineup of Spanish pop-music acts would go ahead as planned “in agreement with local police who have volunteered to provide additional security.”
In reaction to the riot, MTV said in a statement that “unfortunately, the evening was marred by a riot that occurred outside the venue” and added that it condemned all acts of violence.
Front Section, Pages 10 on 09/23/2012