The world in brief

Correction: Enrico Letta resigned as Italy’s prime minister Friday. A brief below based on a New York Times report misstated the timing of his resignation. The brief also gave an incorrect age for Matteo Renzi, the 39-year-old mayor of Florence who is Letta’s successor as Democratic Party leader.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“We’re now carrying our information to our allies on foot.”

Peter Henzler, vice president of the Bundeskriminalamt, speaking about methods used to counter U.S. surveillance programs Article, 6A

Bomb targets Pakistan police, killing 12

KARACHI, Pakistan - A parked car bomb targeting Pakistan’s elite police commando force killed at least 12 officers and wounded 55 people in the southern city of Karachi on Thursday, police said.

Hours after the attack, Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the bombing, which took place as a bus with the officers was leaving a training complex.

As the bus drove by a parked van, the van exploded, police Officer Rao Anwaar said. Karachi Police Chief Shahid Hayat said the initial investigation suggested there was a remotely detonated bomb on the van.

Nearly 50 officers on board the bus were from the Rapid Response Force, a special anti-terrorist police squad, Anwaar said. Most of the wounded also were officers on the bus.

The wounded were rushed to nearby hospitals, and 12 of them were in critical condition, said Dr. Seemi Jamali at the city’s Jinnah Hospital.

Shahid said the militants carried out the bombing to avenge the killing of their associates at the hands of police and paramilitary rangers. He said that until there was a formal cease-fire in place with the government, the Taliban would continue such attacks.

Belgians extend euthanasia law to kids

Belgian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to extend the country’s euthanasia law to children under 18.

The law empowers children with terminal ailments who are in great pain to ask to be put to death by their doctor if their parents agree and a psychiatrist or psychologist certifies they are conscious of what their choice signifies.

It has wide public support, but was opposed by some pediatricians and the country’s Roman Catholic clergy. As House of Representative members cast their ballots, a lone protester in the chamber shouted “Assassins!”

The 86-44 vote in the House, with 12 abstentions, followed approval by the Senate in December.

All 13 proposed amendments seeking changes in the bill were defeated.

The law will go into effect when signed by King Philippe.

The Belgian monarch is not expected to oppose the measure, said Jean-Jacques De Gucht, a co-sponsor.

Italian premier resigns after party coup

ROME - Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta resigned Thursday night, after his Democratic Party staged an insurrection and voted to replace him with the party’s new leader, Matteo Renzi.

The Democratic Party is the largest member of Italy’s coalition government, and the party’s decision to dump Letta will likely have to be put to a confidence vote in Parliament.

Letta will meet with his Cabinet this morning and then present his resignation letter to Italy’s president, making way for Renzi, 38, to become Italy’s youngest prime minister.

Renzi, the mayor of Florence who recently won a nationwide primary to become leader of the Democratic Party, has a reputation for boldness. He has spoken repeatedly about the need for sweeping political and economic changes.

“Italy is living in a moment of difficulty,” Renzi said during a televised emergency meeting of the Democratic Party on Thursday afternoon. “We need to offer the possibility to emerge from this morass with a radical program to relaunch the country.”

Italy is suffering through a prolonged recession, even as some other European countries are starting to emerge from a devastating downturn.

U.K. says package bombs from N. Ireland

LONDON - The British government said Thursday that crude but viable package bombs sent to seven British army recruitment offices appear to be the work of Northern Ireland militants.

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said the suspicious packages contained “small, crude, but potentially viable devices bearing the hallmarks of Northern Ireland-related terrorism.”

Cameron was briefed on the finds at a meeting of the government’s crisis committee.

Police said suspicious packages were found Thursday at army career offices in the towns of Oxford, Slough, Canterbury and Brighton, while similar packages were discovered earlier this week in Aldershot, Reading and Chatham.

Irish Republican Army dissidents opposed to the peace process have mounted gun and bomb attacks in Northern Ireland in recent years, killing two soldiers, two policemen and one prison officer since 2009.

Front Section, Pages 8 on 02/14/2014

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