MANILA, Philippines – A man strafed several houses during a shooting spree early today in a town south of Manila, killing eight people and wounding six others.
Five of the dead were children aged 4 to 12 years old who were sleeping in their homes in Calamba town when the unidentified attacker opened fire with an M-16 rifle and escaped, said the Laguna provincial police chief, Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas. He said a family feud may have been responsible. Police were investigating.
“When we interviewed the wounded, they said they just woke to the sound of gunfire and that they were hit,” said nurse Rey Enriquez, who was treating the victims at a nearby hospital.
Associated Press
Bin Laden issues new Palestinian message
CAIRO, Egypt – Osama bin Laden released a new message yesterday denouncing Arab leaders for sacrificing the Palestinians and saying the head of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah did not really have the strength to take on Israel.
In his second audio message in three days focusing on the Palestinians, the al-Qaeda leader said the only way to liberate the Palestinians is to fight the Arab regimes that are protecting Israel. And he called on Muslim militants in Egypt to help break the blockade of Gaza.
Bin Laden said Muslims should ignore the Islamic prohibition against raising arms against fellow Muslims, claiming it was legitimate to rise up against leaders who are not governing according to Islamic law. Those leaders, he said, came to power “either by a military coup or with backing from foreign forces.”
Associated Press
Hard-liners advance in Kuwait voting
KUWAIT CITY – Muslim hard-liners made strong gains in Kuwait's parliamentary elections while female candidates failed again to win any seats, official results showed yesterday.
Religious conservatives, both Sunnis and Shiites, gained two seats to hold 24 – nearly half of the 50-member parliament, according to results read on state-owned Kuwait Television.
Westernized liberals kept their four seats, and came close to sending the first woman to the parliament of this small, oil-rich U.S. ally. Aseel al-Awadi, 39, a philosophy teacher, came in 11th in her district. The first 10 were declared winners.
Elections were held after relations between the Cabinet and parliament broke down and Kuwait's ruler dissolved the legislature in March. The outcome of Saturday's polls doesn't bode well for ending those tensions.
Associated Press
S. African violence targets Zimbabweans
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Gangs of men armed with guns, clubs and threats have chased thousands of Zimbabweans and other foreigners from their homes in this nation's poor townships over the past week, leaving at least 12 people dead and scores injured, according to news reports.
The nighttime rampages have turned police stations in several townships in the Johannesburg area into virtual refugee camps, with makeshift tents, portable toilets and clusters of terrified people, many displaying wounds from the attacks.
The Washington Post
Suicide bomber kills 11 at Pakistani base
PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of an army base in Pakistan's militancy-plagued northwest, killing at least 11 people, including four soldiers, officials said.
The attack yesterday was the deadliest in more than two months and could complicate efforts by the new government to reach peace agreements with militants. The talks have already been buffeted by a suspected U.S. missile strike that left several dead in a nearby tribal areas.
Associated Press
