INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2014 News 43 die as Libya ex-general in brief ‘Executed’ N Korean battles Benghazi Islamists singer alive and well SEOUL: A North Korean singer said to be leader Kim Jong-Un’s ex-girlfriend and rumored to have been Libyan forces vows to flush out ‘terrorists’ executed last year has appeared on state television, apparently alive and well. Pyongyang’s state TV BENGHAZI: Libyan forces loyal to a rogue said it took in four bodies and 27 wounded. wave of abductions and attacks targeting for- showed Hyon Song-Wol, the head of a band known as general, vowing to flush “terrorists” out of The fighting subsided in the afternoon, an eign diplomats, was taken in coordination Moranbong, delivering a speech at a national art Benghazi, clashed with former rebel Islamist AFP journalist said, as witnesses reported that with Libyan authorities. There was no men- workers rally in Pyongyang on Friday. She expressed groups in the eastern city, killing 43 people Haftar’s forces were pulling back south to Sidi tion of the violence in Benghazi. But the gratitude for Kim’s leadership and pledged to work and wounding some 150. The violence in Fradj. Haftar heads a group calling itself the clashes in the Mediterranean city underscore harder to “stoke up the flame for art and creative what was the cradle of Libya’s 2011 revolution “National Army” which launched “a large- the government’s struggle to rein in former work”. Her appearance came after months of specula- comes weeks after the government acknowl- scale operation to flush terrorists out of rebels who helped topple Kadhafi nearly tion about whether or not she was alive. Japan’s Asahi edged for the first time the existence of “ter- Benghazi”, said a spokesman, Mohammed Al- three years ago. The city has been rocked by Shimbun and South Korean media said in September rorist groups” in the country and said it was Hijazi. “This is not a civil war. It’s an operation almost daily attacks that have killed dozens of that Hyon, members of the Unhasu Orchestra and mobilizing against them. Authorities have against terrorist groups,” said Hijazi, who like members of the security forces, judges and other state musicians had been executed by firing been avoiding a full-blown confrontation with Haftar was a former officer in Kadhafi’s army foreigners. There have been no claims of squad for taping themselves having sex. South the heavily armed ex-rebels who have bas- before defecting. responsibility but Islamists have been blamed Korea’s spy chief Nam Jae-Joon added weight to the tions in Benghazi and other eastern regions, Libya’s armed forces chief of staff, for the bloodshed. reports when he said in October that he was “aware” until they can bolster the army and police. Abdessalam Jadallah Al-Salihin, denied any In March, the government issued a state- of the alleged execution. “We are aware of the execu- The clashes erupted after a group led by army involvement in the Benghazi clashes. ment blaming “terrorists” for dozens of dead- tion of some 10 people associated with the Unhasu Khalifa Haftar, a retired general who led “The (regular) army has nothing to do with ly attacks and vowed to eradicate these Orchestra”, two lawmakers quoted Nam as saying at a ground forces in the 2011 uprising that top- the clashes. The army did not give any orders groups. Its pledge came after Haftar, in a closed door parliamentary session, according to pled dictator Muammar Gaddafi, pounded a for any sort of operation” in Benghazi, he said. video posted on the Internet, announced an Yonhap news agency. The Asahi said the rare execu- barracks of the “February 17 Brigade”, witness- Salihin admitted, nevertheless, that some offi- “initiative” under which the interim govern- tion of state performers had been ordered to prevent es said. Warplanes backed up the attack on cers and units from the regular army had ment and parliament would be suspended rumours spreading about the supposedly decadent the Islamists who responded with anti-aircraft joined Haftar’s group. Prime Minister in preparation for elections. That video lifestyle of North Korean first lady Ri Sol-Ju while she fire. The two groups also fought pitched bat- Abdullah al-Thani denounced Haftar’s forces sparked rumors on social media that a coup tles in Sidi Fradj, south of Benghazi, an AFP as “outlaws” and told a news conference in might be in the offing. The government, was an entertainer. journalist said, and witnesses said Haftar’s Tripoli that the army was “in control on the TRIPOLI: Libya’s interim premier Abdullah Al- which has come in for criticism for failing to men seized the headquarters of Rafallah Al- ground”, urging restraint in Benghazi. Amid defeat lawlessness in Libya, was quick to Thani, speaks during a press conference in Myanmar rally calls Sahati militia. Medical sources at Al-Marj hos- the violence, air traffic was suspended in quash the rumors and insist it was in control. Tripoli on the security situation in the coun- for charter change pital, east of the city, where Haftar’s casualties Benghazi during the day while in the evening, try’s eastern coastal city of Benghazi. — AFP Weeks later it declared a “war against terror- were taken, said four bodies and 70 wounded an official said the city’s airport would be ism”. However, no concrete measures have YANGON: Thousands of people joined a rally in were brought in. closed for 24 hours due to security reasons. embassy and consulate in Tripoli, saying it been taken. Attacks against the army have Myanmar’s main city yesterday to call for changes Benghazi hospitals gave a toll of 16 dead had received a “real and imminent threat” to spurred tribesmen, soldiers and some ex- to a military-drafted constitution that bars opposi- and 49 wounded, without identifying them. Algeria closes embassy its diplomats and staff. The foreign ministry in rebels to join forces with Haftar against the tion leader Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming presi- And Al-Abyar hospital south of the restive city As the fighting raged, Algeria closed its Algiers said the decision, which comes after a jihadists. — Agencies dent. The former political prisoner-turned-politi- cian has been campaigning to amend the charter since she became a lawmaker two years ago. The 2008 constitution blocks anyone whose spouse or children are overseas citizens from leading the country-a clause widely believed to be targeted at the Nobel laureate, whose two sons are British. It also ring-fences a quarter of the seats in parliament for unelected military personnel, leaving the army with a significant political role despite the end of outright junta rule. Addressing a crowd at the rally in Yangon, Suu Kyi urged the military top brass as well as rank-and-file soldiers to support a petition campaign to amend the charter. “I would like you all to consider whether getting more opportunities than ordinary citizens is really fair,” Suu Kyi said. “The main strength of the military forces is weapons. So I would like you to consider whether getting special opportunities because of the power of arms is dignified or good for yourself,” she said. Parliamentary elections due to be held in 2015 are seen as a definitive test of whether the military is willing to loosen its grip on power. BOUFARIK: Illegal migrants from Niger stand next to their tents after settling, some of them for Illegal migrants from Niger hang clothes on a string near the fruit market in the Algerian town Lao military plane with more than one year, near the fruit market in the Algerian town of Boufarik, 35 km south of the of Boufarik. defense chief crashes capital Algiers in the Blida province. — AFP photos BANGKOK: A Laos air force plane carrying about 20 people including the country’s defense minister and other senior officials crashed yesterday, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said. There was no immediate word Despite deaths, crackdown, on casualties, said the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Sek Wannamethee. The plane took off from the capi- tal, Vientiane, early yesterday morning and crashed in the northeastern province of Xiangkhoung, about Sahara migrant trail thrives 470 kilometers away. The aircraft was carrying Lao Defense Minister Douangchay Phichit, who is also a AGADEZ: After 92 people died of thirst attempt- slung mud brick houses perched on the south- Given the nature of the trade, statistics on We were able to go after the chain of corruption deputy prime minister, and several other high-rank- ing to cross the Sahara in late September, the ern rim of the Sahara. For years it has served as a the numbers of those who try to cross the that operated the business.” At the entrance to ing officials, including the governor of Vientiane. They government of Niger moved to shut down its hub in the networks that smuggle people, guns, Sahara are sketchy. At least 34,800 people have one Agadez transit house a gate now sits pad- were heading to an official ceremony for the Ministry decades-old desert migrant routes. “We cannot drugs and food across the desert. Although made the treacherous crossing from North locked. Next door, the “Restaurant African”, previ- of Defense, said Sek, who was informed of the crash remain indifferent in the face of this tragedy,” home to some of the continent’s fastest growing Africa to Europe so far this year, compared to ously a favourite of migrants, has been aban- by authorities in neighboring Laos. He did not imme- Colonel Garba Maikido, the governor of the economies, West Africa is struggling to generate 43,000 in all of 2013, according to figures from doned.