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- TEHRAN: 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 Mohammad Javad Zarif 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- Iran 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 Abbas Araghchi 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.