The World in Brief

As protesters mill, Pakistani urges talks

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's powerful army chief called Wednesday for the country's civilian government to negotiate with thousands of protesters surrounding parliament who are demanding the prime minister step down over allegations of fraud in last year's election.

Gen. Rasheel Sharif made the request during a meeting with Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani officials said. The premier earlier sneaked into parliament through a back exit after the protesters tore down barricades late Tuesday and entered the so-called Red Zone housing key government buildings and diplomatic posts.

The two Pakistani security officials and a government official who confirmed the meeting took place spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.

The protests against Nawaz Sharif's government by opposition politician Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri have virtually shut down Pakistan's capital and raised fears of unrest, but the demonstrations remained peaceful Wednesday.

14 tried in ’12 attack on two CIA agents

MEXICO CITY — Fourteen former federal police officers have gone on trial on charges of using excessive force in a 2012 shooting attack that wounded two CIA agents, Mexico’s national security commissioner said Wednesday. Monte Alejandro Rubido said there was no evidence the police officers had acted on orders from an organized crime gang, saying the attack on the diplomatic vehicle was a case of mistaken identity. “We identified the motive in the attack and it was a regrettable error on the part of the people there,” Rubido said. “The only legal evidence the investigation found was the use of excessive force on the part of the colleagues in the federal police.” He did not say when the trial process began for the defendants, who he said were being held in jail. Trials in Mexico are not public and can last for years. Mexican officials have long said the federal police group was investigating a kidnapping when it encountered the U.S. agents and a Mexican marine captain and opened fire on their U.S. Embassy armored sport utility vehicle. Officials said the plainclothes officers reported they thought they were pursuing kidnappers on a rural road.

Iran lawmakers oust science minister

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's parliament dismissed the country's science minister Wednesday over his alleged support for pro-Western voices at universities.

The no-confidence vote against Science, Research and Technology Minister Reza Faraji Dana was a blow to moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who was elected last year on promises of greater openness and diplomatic engagement with the West.

The vote also was the first time a minister in Rouhani's Cabinet was impeached. Out of 270 lawmakers who were present at the session, 145 voted to oust Dana, 110 voted to keep him on and 15 abstained. The chamber has 290 seats.

Ahead of the vote, Rouhani -- who was on a provincial tour in northwestern Iran -- called on lawmakers to reaffirm their confidence in the science minister.

The conservative lawmakers were irked by Dana's support for teachers seen as pro-Western or those who were involved in opposition rallies after the disputed 2009 presidential election that gave Rouhani's predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term in office. They also accused Dana of tolerating student publications that question Islamic teachings.

Afghans order Times reporter to leave

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan on Wednesday ordered a New York Times correspondent to leave the country in 24 hours and barred him from returning after he wrote a story saying a group of officials was considering seizing power because of the impasse over who won the recent presidential election.

The attorney general's office asked Matthew Rosenberg, 40, to reveal his sources Tuesday, which he refused to do, the Times reported. On Wednesday, the attorney general's office said the story threatened Afghanistan's stability and security and announced Rosenberg was being expelled.

President Hamid Karzai's spokesman, Aimal Faizi, said Rosenberg's ejection came from the "clear fabrication" in his story, which amounted to an attempt to undermine the security and stability of the country. He said the government had complained to the newspaper over previous stories.

The newspaper said on its website that it was "appalled" by the government's decision to expel Rosenberg and stood by his story.

A Section on 08/21/2014

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