LA Times News

LA Times News

Clashes continue between Israel and Gaza militants; 9 Palestinians killed

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 04:12 PM PDT

Israel's military launches air attacks against targets throughout Gaza, saying it's retaliating for continuing rocket and mortar strikes against southern Israeli cities over the preceding 48 hours.

Clashes between Israel's military and Gaza Strip militants continued for a second day Friday, killing nine Palestinians — four civilians and five militia fighters accused by Israel of launching rocket attacks, officials said.

13 more bodies found in Mexico mass graves

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:25 PM PDT

The bodies were found in a different spot in the state of Tamaulipas than graves where 59 corpses were found earlier. Authorities found those bodies while investigating kidnappings of bus passengers.

Mexican authorities announced Friday the discovery of 13 more bodies in the violence-torn border state of Tamaulipas, where 59 bodies were unearthed in eight pits earlier this week.

U.N. says 100 more bodies found in Ivory Coast

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:05 PM PDT

The African nation's western region has been one of the most violent in the struggle for power between newly elected President Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to give up control.

A U.N. team in Ivory Coast has discovered about 100 additional bodies in the western part of the country, after forces loyal to the internationally recognized new president swept through last month in an effort to wrest control from the previous leader. The discovery brings the total of confirmed deaths in the region to 344.

No apology but NATO statement of regret after airstrike hits rebels

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:30 AM PDT

The deputy commander of NATO's operation in Libya says warplanes may have mistakenly hit rebel forces near Brega but offers no apology, though the NATO secretary-general says, 'I strongly regret' the fatalities. Meanwhile, a ship arrives in besieged Misurata bringing relief supplies.

NATO Rear Adm. Russell Harding, the deputy commander of the alliance's operation in Libya, said Friday that NATO warplanes may indeed have hit rebel forces near the town of Brega on Thursday but offered no apology for what was apparently a deadly mistake.

Syrian protesters met with gunfire; clashes leave 13 dead, hundreds wounded

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 09:24 AM PDT

Tens of thousands of protesters hit the streets of several Syrian cities on Friday. In Dara, gunfire erupts, according to witnesses and human rights activists reached by telephone. State media acknowledges the bloodshed but blames it on unknown gunmen.

Tens of thousands of protesters returned to the streets of several Syrian cities on Friday, drawing gunfire from security forces that killed at least 13 people and wounded hundreds more, according to witnesses and human rights activists reached by telephone.

Mike Campbell dies at 78; white Zimbabwean challenged seizure of lands

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:25 AM PDT

Campbell fought President Robert Mugabe's taking of white-owned farms in the region's highest court, which found the actions illegal and racist. In 2008, Campbell was savagely beaten by Mugabe loyalists.

Mike Campbell, the white Zimbabwean farmer who won a landmark case in southern Africa's highest court challenging the seizure of his farm by President Robert Mugabe's government, died Wednesday. He was 78.

Japan nuclear crisis ebbing, U.S. experts say

Posted: 07 Apr 2011 08:17 PM PDT

Although the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is far from stabilized, evidence suggests that a complete meltdown is unlikely, Obama administration experts say. Meanwhile, a 7.1 aftershock rattles Japan, killing two and injuring more than 130.

Although the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has not yet been stabilized, there is no evidence that overheating during the last month has resulted in any melting of the reactor vessels or their containment structures, Obama administration officials said Thursday.