World Sunday, September 20, 2020 07 Over 30 Taliban killed CALL FOR in Afghan air strikes MONARCHY AFP trict in Kunduz province,” the KABUL Defence Ministry said in a state- REFORM IN ment on Twitter. THE Afghan air force con- The military “intercepted THAILAND ducted multiple strikes on Tali- the attack in accordance with ban positions on Saturday that ‘active defense’ procedures,” the Anti-government protesters hold up their mobile killed more than 30 insurgent statement added, noting that phones as they take part in a pro-democracy fighters, officials said, as Presi- more than 30 Taliban fight- rally in Bangkok on Saturday. Tens of thousands dent Ashraf Ghani once again ers including two commanders of protesters massed close to Thailand’s Grand called for a ceasefire. were killed. Palace calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step The Taliban claimed the In a statement, the Taliban down and demanding reforms to the monarchy. strike had killed nearly two doz- denied its fighters were hit and The kingdom has seen near-daily gatherings en civilians including women said 23 civilians had been killed. of youth-led groups since mid-July calling for and children in the latest mass- The defence ministry said the resignation of Prayut, the former army chief casualty incident in Afghanistan it was aware of the claim and behind the 2014 coup, and a complete overhaul that came even as peace talks would investigate. Local hospi- of his administration. Some are also demanding were under way in Qatar. tal director Mohammad Naeem reforms to Thailand’s ultra-wealthy and powerful “This morning, Taliban Mangal told AFP that three dead monarchy -- a once-taboo topic in the country fighters attacked (Afghan army) and three wounded civilians had due to its tough royal defamation laws. (AFP) positions in ... Khan Abad dis- been brought to the facility. US prepares Lebanon army to reimpose Iran Guards vow Soleimani sanctions on Iran surveys 85,000 as deadline looms DPA building units revenge will target only WASHINGTON THE United States was prepar- post-Beirut blast ing to reimpose international sanctions on Iran on Satur- AFP three Lebanese, five Syrians those behind assassination day as a US-imposed deadline BEIRUT and an Egyptian -- still miss- AFP loomed, which has been met ing after the blast. TEHRAN with overwhelming opposition LEBANOn’s army said on The survey “is considered from other countries. Saturday it has carried out a to be sufficient, and there is Iran’s Revolutionary Guards “Virtually all UN sanc- survey of more than 85,000 therefore no need for further chief said on Saturday that Teh- tions on Iran will come back dwellings, businesses and ran will avenge the US killing into place” at 8 pm (0000 other building units dam- of its top commander General GMT), US special representa- aged by the massive Beirut The army had surveyed Qasem Soleimani by targeting tive for Iran and Venezuela El- port blast last month. 60,818 housing units, only those involved, in an “hon- liott Abrams said earlier in the The August 4 explosion of 19,115 businesses, 1,137 ourable” retaliation. week. hundreds of tonnes of ammo- heritage units, 962 restau- Soleimani, who headed the But other members of the nium nitrate stored at Beirut rants, 82 teaching institu- Guards elite Qods Force, was UN Security Council, includ- port killed more than 190 killed in an American air strike ing key US allies who are part people, wounded thousands tions and 12 hospitals near Baghdad airport in Janu- of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and ravaged large parts of the ary. have rejected Washington’s capital. surveys by donor countries”, A US media report, quot- move and have vowed to ig- “A total of 85,744 affected it said in a statement. ing unnamed officials, said Iran nore it. units have been surveyed,” The army said the donors, plans in retaliation to assassi- Under the nuclear deal, the army said. non-governmental organisa- nate the American ambassador formally known as the Joint It had surveyed 60,818 tions or volunteers could re- to South Africa, Lana Marks, Comprehensive Plan of Action housing units, 19,115 busi- quest access to the results. before the presidential election (File photo) Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a ‘Trump-ordered’ air strike in the early (JCPOA), Tehran limited its nesses, 1,137 heritage units, On August 9, internation- in November. hours of January 3, 2019 in Iraq. (AFP) nuclear activities in return for 962 restaurants, 82 teaching al donors pledged over 250 US President Donald sanctions relief. institutions and 12 hospitals, million euros (around $300 Trump threatened Iran this for the martyrdom of our great martyrdom of this great man,” troops, but Trump refrained The US launched a formal among other units. million) in emergency aid, week with a “thousand times commander is certain, serious he said. from any further military re- bid in August to revive the It recorded almost in a video conference jointly stronger” response in case of and real, but we are honourable “You should know, that sponse. UN sanctions under a “snap- 550,000 square metres organised by France and the any attack on his country, fol- and take revenge with fairness we will target whoever was in- Relations between Wash- back” mechanism included in (half a square kilometre) of United Nations. lowing the report. and justice,” he said, quoted volved ... and this is a serious ington and Tehran have been the JCPOA. Those sanctions glass ravaged, and well as French President Emma- South Africa’s state security by the Guard’s official website message.” tense ever since the Islamic include the indefinite extension 140,000 square metres of nuel Macron vowed in early agency said Friday it had found Sepahnews. Soleimani was killed in a revolution of 1979. of an arms embargo that would glass facades broken. More September during a second no evidence of such a plot “You think we would strike drone air strike, alongside a top They have deteriorated otherwise expire in October. than 108,000 doors had been visit to Lebanon since the against Marks. at a woman ambassador to Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi sharply since Trump unilater- But few countries believe damaged, the survey showed. blast to host a second confer- Guards’ chief Major Gen- South Africa for the blood of Al-Muhandis. ally pulled out of a landmark Washington’s move is legal, as The army said it was still ence in Paris in the second eral Hossein Salami retorted to our martyr brother? We will Days later, Iran launched a international nuclear deal with US President Donald Trump looking for nine people -- half of October. the US president. target those who were directly volley of missiles at Iraqi bases Iran in May 2018 and reim- unilaterally exited the JCPOA “Mr Trump, our revenge or indirectly involved in the housing US and other coalition posed crippling sanctions. in 2018. News Syrian govt slams Dutch legal action on rights record in brief AFP is determined to use the In- ment said that, if arbitration breaches of that treaty. Nigerians elect governor in pandemic’s DAMASCUS An attempt to refer top ternational Court of Justice failed, it would pursue ac- The United States and the first poll in The Hague to serve the po- Syrian government officials tion through an international European Union have targeted THE Syrian government lam- litical agendas of its American to the ICC for prosecution court, the most likely being the numerous figures linked to the BENIN: Nigerians in the southern state of Edo braved the coro- basted the Netherlands on master,” the ministry source ICJ, also in The Hague. Damascus government with navirus and voted on Saturday to elect a new governor in the Saturday for launching a new said. was blocked by Chinese Unlike the ICC, which economic sanctions since the country’s first poll since the start of the pandemic. bid through international bod- The source accused the and Russian vetoes in deals with cases against in- civil war erupted in 2011. The vote was held as Nigeria struggled to contain the ies to hold it responsible for Netherlands of doing so “in a May 2014 dividuals, the ICJ deals with But concerted internation- spread of the virus which has so far infected some 57,000 alleged gross human rights flagrant violation of its obliga- disputes between UN mem- al action has been blocked by people and claimed almost 1,100 lives. violations. tions and commitments as the for its human rights record. ber states and breaches of deep divisions over the con- More than 1.7 million voters in Edo were expected to elect A foreign ministry source headquarters state of this in- An attempt to refer top UN treaties, and is the world flict. a new governor amid heavy security, with police officers and quoted by state news agency ternational organisation”. Syrian government officials body’s top judicial organ. The war has killed more soldiers screening vehicles on major roads. Voting began in SANA accused the Nether- On Friday, the Dutch gov- to the International Criminal Syria signed the UN Con- than 380,000 people and driv- most polling stations around 9:30 am (0830 GMT), one hour lands of abusing its position as ernment announced that it Court in The Hague for prose- vention against Torture in en millions from their homes behind schedule due to late arrival of election personnel and host of a number of the bodies was pursuing all legal avenues cution was blocked by Chinese 2004 and the Dutch gov- since it started with the brutal materials.