QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We didn’t go to them, they came to us - so they could use what happened for political gain.”
Egyptian Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim, blaming pro-Mohammed Morsi supporters for stoking deadly violence Saturday Article, 1A
1,000 mourn fire deaths in Quebec town
LAC-MEGANTIC, Quebec - An overflow crowd attended a memorial service Saturday at a church in the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic for the 47 people who were killed there when a runaway oil train derailed and exploded.
About 1,000 people packed Ste-Agnes Church for the morning Mass presided over by Luc Cyr, the archbishop of Sherbrooke. Among the dignitaries attending were Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Pauline Marois and the town’s mayor, Colette Roy-Laroche.
“This has been an emotional day followed by a very emotional period,” Harper said outside of the church. “It is very difficult to absorb all this when you see all of these families who have been affected.”
The town is near the U.S. border, and Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who is of French-Canadian descent, also attended Mass.
The service was held three weeks after a runaway train carrying 72 carloads of crude oil hurtled down an incline, derailed and slammed into downtown Lac-Megantic. Several train cars exploded and fireballs rained down on the town, destroying 40 buildings.
Iraq detains security chiefs in jailbreak
BAGHDAD - Iraq’s prime minister said he has ordered the detention of several senior security officials in connection with a jailbreak that saw hundreds of inmates escape last week, including members of al-Qaida.
The statement from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s office Saturday said those detained included the chief of staff of the federal police’s 4th Division, as well as other police, prison and intelligence officials.
The statement called the escape of inmates from the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad July 21 a “grave matter.” It said those who are found to be involved or to have neglected their duties should be punished.
Al-Qaida’s Iraq arm has claimed responsibility for the attack and a simultaneous raid at Taji prison on the outskirts of Baghdad that left dozens dead.
Israeli premier to free 104 Palestinians
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel announced Saturday that he had agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom have served 20 years or more for attacks on Israelis, to pave the way for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in Washington in the forthcoming days.
Netanyahu issued what he called “an open letter to the citizens of Israel” to explain the contentious move, which many Israelis oppose, ahead of a Cabinet vote today.
Reports of a prisoner release had been circulating for weeks, but this was the first confirmation by the prime minister of the number expected to be freed. Netanyahu’s letter did not give any details regarding the identities of those to be released or the timing, but said the release would be carried out in stages after the start of negotiations and in accordance with their progress.
The talks were expected to begin Tuesday after months of intense shuttle diplomacy by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Over the years, thousands of Palestinian prisoners have been exchanged for Israeli soldiers who had been taken captive, or for the bodies of abducted soldiers.
Kuwaiti voters choosing new parliament
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait - Kuwaiti voters braved searing heat in the middle of the dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fast to cast ballots Saturday in parliamentary elections.
Leaders in the oil-rich Persian Gulf nation hope the contests can restore some stability after years of escalating confrontations between its Western-backed rulers and an Islamist-led opposition.
Polls closed Saturday night. Elections officials expect results to be announced today.
Kuwait’s 50-seat parliament has some of the strongest powers of any elected body among the Gulf Arab states.
The vote was called after a court invalidated the parliament picked in December elections. The court found technical flaws in the election, but let stand new voting rules ordered by Kuwait’s ruler that brought one-vote per person.
The former system allowed four votes per person, which could be spread among various candidates. Critics say it encouraged vote buying and pressures by tribal leaders to keep the votes within their clan.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 07/28/2013