Guatemala calls fires 'terrorist acts'
GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemala's government called fires set by protesters at Congress "terrorist acts," while the Inter-American Human Rights Commission on Sunday condemned what it called an "excessive use of force" by police against demonstrators opposed to a new budget that slashes social spending.
Protesters broke into the Congress building and set an office afire Saturday, and they tossed rocks at police. Flames poured out of the building's neoclassical facade.
Police used tear gas and nightsticks to push demonstrators back, attacking not only about 1,000 demonstrators in front of Congress but also a much larger protest at the country's National Palace. Some protesters also damaged bus stations.
The commission said in its Twitter account that it "condemns the excessive use of force by authorities against demonstrators" but also asked for an investigation into "the acts of vandalism against Congress, after which State agents indiscriminately suppressed the protest."
It said governments "must respect peaceful demonstration," but when faced with violence, they "must identify persons -- protesters or third parties -- who risk rights or infringe State property. "
Demonstrations are growing against President Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving a budget that cut educational and health spending. Lawmakers approved $65,000 to pay for meals for themselves, but cut funding for coronavirus patients and human-rights agencies.
Al-Qaida's N. Africa unit has new chief
DAKAR, Senegal -- Al-Qaida's North African branch said it has appointed a new leader after confirming the death of its former chief, who was killed in June by French forces, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
The Washington-based group, which monitors jihadi sites, said in a video published Saturday that al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb showed the body of its former leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel, for the first time. Droukdel was killed in Mali after being hunted in the Sahel region for years.
The al-Qaida branch also said that Yazid Mubarak, also known as Abu Ubaida Yusuf al-Annabi, is the new leader.
The branch also confirmed the death of Swiss missionary Beatrice Stockly, who was captured in January 2016 from Mali's northern city of Timbuktu. The group attributed her death to a failed attempt by "French crusaders" to free her, and also held the Swiss government responsible for "delaying the issue and making 'futile efforts,'" according to SITE.
Israeli panel to probe purchase of subs
JERUSALEM -- Israel's defense minister Sunday appointed a committee to investigate the government's controversial purchase of German submarines several years ago -- a step that further strained his already poor relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The $2 billion purchase of the submarines and warships made by Thyssenkrupp is the focus of a sweeping corruption scandal in which seven businessmen, including confidants of Netanyahu, have been named as suspects.
Netanyahu, who is on trial in three other corruption scandals, is not a suspect in the submarine case. But critics, including his defense minister at the time of the purchase in 2015, have said Netanyahu behaved improperly and may have had a conflict of interest.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who is Netanyahu's main coalition partner, said he had decided to appoint the committee after weeks of consultations with legal and defense officials. He said the committee, to be headed by a retired judge, would release its findings within four months.
Gantz and Netanyahu formed a power-sharing deal in May after battling to a deadlock in three consecutive elections. But their government, ostensibly aimed at confronting the coronavirus crisis, has been plagued by infighting and paralysis.
Netanyahu's Likud party accused Gantz of acting out of political considerations, saying he is "scouring for votes" at a time when his Blue and White party is plunging in opinion polls.
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Taiwan protesters focus on U.S. pork
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Thousands of people marched in Taipei's streets Sunday demanding the reversal of a decision to allow U.S. pork imports into Taiwan, alleging food safety issues.
President Tsai Ing-wen's administration lifted a long-standing ban on U.S. pork and beef imports in August, in a move seen as one of the first steps toward possibly negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the U.S. The ban is due to be lifted in January.
That decision has met with fierce opposition, both from the opposition Kuomintang party and individual citizens. The new policy allows imports of pork with acceptable residues of ractopamine, a drug added into animal feed that promotes the growth of lean meat that some farmers use in pigs.
The drug is banned by the European Union but is legal in the United States.
Demonstrators marched in front of the Presidential Office Building as part of an annual labor march.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
