THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Nigerian troops rescue 338 people held by Boko Haram

LAGOS: Nigerian troops have freed 338 jihadists and seized a cache of arms and International anger The air force said in a statement on bus stations in recent months. people, almost all of them women and ammunition in the area. Boko Haram is believed to be holding Tuesday it had launched strikes on the Nearly 170 people have been killed children, held by Boko Haram Islamists Pictures released by the army follow- the abducted Chibok girls in its Sambisa group’s vehicle and fuel depots “in a this month and more than 1,420 since near the group’s Sambisa forest strong- ing the operation showed mostly forest stronghold. Their audacious kid- renewed drive to further degrade” its Buhari came to power, according to an hold in the volatile northeast, the army women with some of them carrying napping on April 14 2014 sparked inter- assets. Air force chief Sadique Abubakar AFP tally. Boko Haram has also carried out said yesterday. “The (army) unit ... res- babies. The freed hostages have been national anger, with strong condemna- was quoted as saying the strikes were deadly cross-border attacks in neighbour- cued 338 persons that were held captive moved to a camp for displaced persons tion of then president Goodluck Jonathan helping “pave the way for the final ing Cameroon, Chad and Niger. A multi- by the terrorists,” the army said of the in Mubi in nearby Adamawa state, the for his slow response to the girls’ plight. onslaught” by ground forces. national regional force from Nigeria, Tuesday operation, adding that 192 of army said. Army claims successes against Islamists. President Muhammadu Buhari, who Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin is try- the survivors were children and 138 The army also said four Boko Haram The Nigerian military has in recent came to power in May on a pledge to ing to deploy to fight the insurgents. women. suspects on a suicide bombing mission months claimed a string of successes crush Boko Haram, has given his military Boko Haram, which wants to carve out It was not clear if any of the around to Gubula town in Adamawa state were against Boko Haram in its quest to end commanders until the end of December a hardline Islamic state in Nigeria’s north- 200 schoolgirls seized last year in north- ambushed and killed by government the hardline Islamist group’s six-year to defeat the rebels. Boko Haram violence east, has threatened to move south to eastern Chibok were among those res- troops. insurgency. has killed at least 17,000 people and spread its six-year-old insurgency in the cued. The raid targeted “suspected Boko Some weapons, unexploded ord- In early August, the army said it had forced more than 2.5 million to flee their country. Nigeria’s secret police said at the Haram terrorist camps at Bulajilin and nances, mortar bombs and some cash freed 178 people, including more than homes since 2009. But the hardline sect weekend they had arrested and charged Manawashe villages” on the edge of the were recovered from the suspects, it 100 children, following an operation near has stepped up its bomb and suicide 45 suspects over an alleged Boko Haram Sambisa forest, the army said. said. There was no independent confir- Aulari town, about 70 kilometers south of attacks on so-called “soft” civilian targets plot to attack the country’s financial hub, It said troops also killed 30 suspected mation of the army claims. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. such as markets, mosques, churches and Lagos. —AFP Police storm TV stations linked to Erdogan rival ‘A dark day for Turkish democracy and freedom’

ISTANBUL: Riot police firing tear Officers smashed through the ing no dissent since becoming ing its 23 companies as part of a gas and water cannon stormed gates of the media compound president in August 2014 after crackdown on Gulen’s followers. two opposition-linked Turkish tele- with chainsaws, according to more than a decade as prime min- The Ankara chief prosecutor’s vision stations and forced them off images broadcast live on the ister. Sunday’s election is crucial office said the seizure was linked air yesterday, stoking deep con- group’s television stations, Bugun for the AKP, which lost its majority to an investigation into the con- cerns about media freedom just and Kanalturk. in a June vote thanks to a strong glomerate on suspicion of “terror four days before a pivotal election. Brawls erupted outside the performance by a pro-Kurdish par- financing”, “terror propaganda” “A dark day for Turkish democracy offices, prompting police to use ty, scuppering Erdogan’s hopes of and other offences related to and freedom,” declared the banner tear gas and batons against changing the constitution to Koza-Ipek’s support for Gulen’s headline on the websites of the demonstrators, including lawmak- expand his presidential powers. Hizmet (Service) movement. Koza- : In this Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 file photo, Iranian Foreign Minister media companies targeted in the ers from the main opposition “Today is a shameful day... Ipek CEO Akin Ipek denounced it listens to a question during a press conference with early morning raids in Istanbul. Republican People’s Party (CHP). Everyone who made this decision as “politically motivated”, saying his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. —AP Critics accuse the government Several arrests were made, and an and those who implemented it will the government had failed to find of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan AFP photographer was punched have to answer for their crimes,” any illegal activity during inspec- of trying to silence opponents by a plain-clothes police officer as said CHP lawmaker Baris Yarkadas. tions of the company, whose busi- to attend int’l talks on Syria nesses range from media to min- ing, insurance to healthcare and TEHRAN: Iran said yesterday it will attend the realities in Syria,” Abdollahian told state tourism to food. the international talks on Syria’s future later TV yesterday. “Assad ... has the necessary this week in Vienna, following an invitation readiness for talks with insurgents who are Shares tumble from the Russian envoy that would mark committed to a political path.” Iran’s semi- Shares in its listed companies, Tehran’s first appearance at such a gather- official ISNA news agency also quoted the which include Turkey’s biggest ing. The invitation to the talks came after the foreign ministry spokeswoman as saying the gold miner, sank on the Istanbul United States declared itself ready to Islamic Republic would attend. Earlier in the bourse yesterday, wiping several engage long-time foe Iran if it might help day, she said Tehran was considering hundred million dollars off their halt Syria’s four-year civil war. whether to join the gathering in Vienna. market value. Rights groups have Iran is a key ally of Syrian President One round of talks have already been expressed growing alarm about Bashar Assad and has provided his govern- held in Vienna between Russia and the the state of press freedom under ment with military and political backing for United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, all Erdogan, with about 20 journalists years. Tehran admits that its Revolutionary backers of Syria’s opposition. In addition to detained on a variety of charges. Guard officers are on the ground in Syria in pro-Assad Iran, pro-rebel Arab states have Ahead of the election, the gov- an advisory role, but denies the presence of been invited to the new round, including ernment is taking “exceptional any combat troops in the country. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, as well measures to silence critical media Iranian state TV quoted Foreign Ministry as diplomats from Britain, France and and crack down on perceived spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham, as saying Germany. The foreign minister of Egypt - opponents,” said Emma Sinclair- yesterday that Foreign Minister Mohammad which has taken an anti-terrorism stance Webb of Human Rights Watch in Javad Zarif will attend the talks. It didn’t pro- that has made it less critical of Assad - also Turkey. “Not since the days of the vide details but said Zarif discussed the said he would attend. 1980 military coup have there Syrian crisis with his Russian counterpart, Syrian opposition activists said inviting been such dramatic moves to Sergey Lavrov, on Tuesday night and yester- Iran will only prolong the conflict because close down and prevent scrutiny day morning. The TV also said Deputy Tehran would reflect the Syrian govern- of power,” she said in a statement. Foreign Ministers Hossein Amir Abdollahian, ment’s position. “The international commu- There have also been a string of and Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi nity should not accept that the problem be ISTANBUL: Turkish police (left) clash with supporters and employees of Bugun newspaper and prosecutions against journalists, would accompany Zarif on the trip. the solution,” said Bebars al-Talawy, a Homs- Kanalturk television station holding up umbrellas during a protest yesterday against the artists and even schoolboys based activist who reports on the fighting in Turkish government’s crackdown on media outlets. —AFP accused of “insulting” the head of ‘Political solution’ his hometown in central Syria. He said Iran state. “We believe the solution for Syria is a was the source of the “knot” in the Middle before Sunday’s vote, in which his scuffles continued throughout The European Union described the Erdogan accuses Gulen of oper- political solution. Americans and foreign East and “will only complicate the situation Justice and Development Party the day. developments as “worrying”. “We ating a “state within a state” in players in Syria have no choice but to accept and increase the bloodshed.” —AP (AKP) is widely expected to fail to “We will not be silenced,” want to reiterate the importance Turkey and trying to topple him by regain the parliamentary majority chanted demonstrators. CHP law- of respect of the rule of law and persuading allies in the police and it lost in June. Police in riot hel- makers and Bugun TV editor-in- media freedom,” said Catherine judiciary to launch a vast probe mets were acting on a controver- chief Tarik Toros were seen negoti- Ray, spokeswoman for EU foreign into government corruption in Israel arrests Islamic cleric sial court ruling ordering the ating with police in the TV control affairs head Federica Mogherini. December 2013. Turkey’s authori- seizure of companies belonging to rooms before the plug was later “We expect this election to be ties responded by purging both for inciting Aqsa violence the Kozi-Ipek conglomerate linked pulled on both stations.”This is an in line with international and dem- the police force and judiciary of to US-exiled preacher Fethullah operation to silence all dissident ocratic standards.”The US State pro-Gulen elements and arresting JERUSALEM: An Israeli court on Tuesday Earlier at the Etzion junction just north Gulen. voices that the ruling party does Department voiced a similar senti- editors and businessmen. The cler- ordered the jailing of a firebrand Islamist of Hebron, two Palestinians attacked a sol- not like, including media outlets, ment, saying: “We continue to urge ic, who left for the United States in cleric whose group has been accused of dier, one of them stabbing him in the face ‘We will not be silenced’ opposition parties and business- Turkish authorities to ensure their 1999 to escape charges of anti- inciting a wave of violence over Jerusalem’s and moderately wounding him before Turkish authorities have men,” Toros said. actions uphold universal demo- secular activities by the govern- Al-Aqsa mosque compound. forces shot the pair dead. Palestinian secu- launched a “terrorism” probe into cratic values.” ment of the day, denies the allega- Fresh violence erupted in the evening, rity officials named the two men as the 74-year-old cleric, a one-time ‘A shameful day’ An Ankara court on Monday tions. with three Palestinians attacking Israeli sol- Ezzedine Abu Shahdam, 17, and Shadi Erdogan ally now regarded as his Critics say Erdogan has become appointed a board of trustees to He is set to be tried in absentia diers before being shot dead in two sepa- Dweik, 22, both from Hebron. arch-nemesis, and his followers. increasingly authoritarian, brook- manage the Koza-Ipek group, seiz- on January 6. —AFP rate incidents in the southern West Bank. Amnesty International accused Israel of Raed Salah, the head of the radical a series of “unlawful killings of Palestinians northern wing of the Islamic Movement in using intentional lethal force without justi- Israel, was found guilty on appeal of incit- fication” in east Jerusalem and the West Prosthetic eye maker brings ing violence at the holy site in a 2007 Bank. The rights group said that, in at least speech. He has also been on the govern- four cases, “Palestinians were deliberately ment’s radar for stoking current tensions shot dead... when they posed no imminent over the compound that have led to a threat to life, in what appear to have been respite to wounded Gazans wave of anti-Israeli knifings, shootings and extrajudicial executions.” violent protests. Israeli Prime Minister Israel’s legal system had already been Benjamin Netanyahu promised last week dealing with claims of excessive use of GAZA CITY: Imad Abu Wadi barely slept girls,” said Hussein, who was an Europe, cover the costs for those Abu Wadi visited the clinic on a to ban the Islamic Movement for “wild force. Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein after losing his right eye during the optometrist before completing a 10- unable to pay. recent afternoon for a regular checkup. incitement” of the current attacks. stressed Monday that “using firearms... is summer 2014 war between Israel and month course in prosthetics in Jordan. Since 2013, Hussein said he has fitted The ocularist, took out the new eye and In 2007, Salah urged “all Muslims and permissible only when there is a real threat Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The 26-year- eyes for about 150 Palestinians, 45 per- examined it, holding it carefully Arabs (to) start an intifada (uprising) to sup- to the lives or security of police or others, old, then engaged, was waiting eagerly Islamic charities cent of whom were injured by Israeli fire. between his thumb and index finger as port holy Jerusalem and the blessed Al- and there is no other way to prevent that for his wedding. But with a red, hollow Designing and installing a pros- Most of the rest were covered by donors the newlywed lay on the bed in the Aqsa mosque.” His prison term is to begin damage.” Writing in response to claims eyeless socket, he imprisoned himself at thetic eye costs between $1,000 and and a few paid out of their own pockets. small room. Abu Wadi then stood to November 15. The mosque compound is in raised by Adalah, an NGO defending the home. “I was really suffering. I didn’t go $1,500. In Gaza’s poor economy, these Majed Abu Ramadan, president of the pose in front of one of the many before- a mostly Palestinian area that was captured rights of Israeli Arabs and Palestinians, out to avoid running into someone who sums are not within everyone’s reach. Palestinian Ophthalmological Society, and-after photos that hang on the wall. by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Six Day Weinstein said he ordered an examination might say something to me,” Abu Wadi When he took off his sunglasses, the War, and is a powder-keg for tensions in of a number of instances the group men- said. artificial eye glittered slightly. the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. tioned. A year after the injury caused by an “I now look good,” he beamed. Clashes erupted there in September as an Meanwhile on Tuesday, 76-year-old airstrike near his home, Abu Wadi is now Hussein said they create the artificial increase in Jewish visitors to the site American Israeli Richard Lakin succumbed married and feeling confident, thanks to eyes from acrylic plastic, which gives a alarmed Palestinians, who fear Israel is to his wounds two weeks after he was shot an artificial eye he received two weeks normal look to the eye and decreases seeking to change rules that forbid Jews in the head and stabbed in the chest on a before the wedding. The ocular prosthe- discharges. Most of the materials are from praying there. Netanyahu has repeat- Jerusalem bus. His son Micah Avni Lakin sis was designed and made by Al- available in Gaza, but he said the central edly denied such claims. said he had been a big fan of social media, Radwan medical center, which is run by circle that makes the artificial iris is where young Palestinians have incited the Gaza-based charity Merciful Hands. sometimes delayed as it is imported ‘Three Palestinians killed’ attacks, uploading videos and sharing the The group, which is not connected to a through Israel. Clashes there spiraled into a wave of stab- hashtag #Jerusalemintifada. British charity with the same name, Several patients sat in the waiting bings and shootings that have killed nine “To be able to put on Facebook or receives funding from Muslim countries room. Among them was 17-year-old Israelis since October 1. Fifty-nine Palestinians- Twitter specific instructions on how to slice that include Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Yara Fatayer, accompanied by her moth- around half of them attackers-and one Israeli somebody’s chest straight open and cut Malaysia and the Gulf Arab states. er. A rock thrown by a boy hit her when Arab have also been killed. And an Israeli Jew their intestines, just like was done to my Established in 2013, the center she was 2 years old, costing her left eye. and an Eritrean have also been killed after father... is just completely and utterly unac- assists those who lost an eye to illness, Her family took her to hospitals in being mistaken for attackers. ceptable,” said Lakin. Before he died Lakin’s congenital defects or injury, including in GAZA CITY: In this Tuesday, Oct 6, 2015 photo, Louai Abu Jerusalem and Egypt for an artificial eye, In the latest incident, the army said a family put his name on a petition of 20,000 conflicts. Yousef Hussein, an ocularist at but gave up after realizing they needed Moussa, 19, who lost his left eye when he was child, waits as an Palestinian in the southern West Bank city Israelis backing a lawsuit an Israeli NGO Al-Radwan, says the center is the first in to replace it often because she was of Hebron “approached a crossing and as filed against Facebook for failing to remove Gaza to design and fit artificial eyes. oculist fits him with an artificial eye at Al-Radwan Clinic. —AP growing so quickly at that age. The high soldiers checked his ID he drew a knife, pages that encourage the killing of Jews. Prosthetic eyes used to be imported school student normally wears sunglass- attempting to stab an IDF soldier,” with The company said the suit was “without ready-made, which in many cases But help is often available. As a war says thousands of Gazans need pros- es to hide her injury. When her prosthet- forces shooting him dead before he merit” and urged people to “use our report- caused unwanted excretions in the eye casualty, Abu Wadi got the costs cov- thetic eyes. He said it is especially impor- ic eye is ready and fitted, “the first thing I wounded any troops. Palestinian sources ing tools if they find content that they socket. “I felt people are very interested ered by the Health Ministry. Various tant to have the service available locally will do is to remove the glasses, go out identified him as Homan Isid, 22, from believe violates our standards so we can in this issue, including old people, and local and foreign donors, including because the prosthesis often needs to like any girl and do everything I could Hebron. investigate and take swift action.” —AFP even more among married women or Islamic charities from Gulf states and be changed as the body grows. not do,” she said. —AP