health: Lincoln Tribune

الاثنين، 12 مارس 2012

Lincoln Tribune

UPDATE 1 — U.S. soldier goes on shooting spree, kills 16 Afghan civilians
Pre-Columbian cemetery discovered in southern Mexico
Suicide bomber kills 14, injures dozens at Pakistani funeral
Rick Santorum wins Kansas caucuses, Romney takes Wyoming

UPDATE 1 — U.S. soldier goes on shooting spree, kills 16 Afghan civilians

Posted: 11 Mar 2012 06:02 PM PDT

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (BNO NEWS) -- A U.S. service member was arrested on early Sunday morning after going on a shooting spree in southern Afghanistan, killing sixteen civilians in their homes and injuring several others, officials said.

The attack happened at around 3:45 a.m. local time when a U.S. soldier opened fire in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. "A U.S. Army soldier, at around 3 o'clock, came out [of his base] and turned his gun at the people," a spokesman for the governor said, adding that the soldier entered at least three houses.

Provincial officials confirmed sixteen civilians, including nine children and three women, were killed while five others were wounded. "There were some who were wounded, of course, and those wounded are being treated at a coalition medical facility now," said Major Jason Wagner, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Locals described the shooting as a 'barbaric act' and demand the perpetrator to be given a heavy punishment, raising fears of widespread protests next week and retaliation attacks by insurgent groups such as the Taliban. Afghan President Hamid Karzai also strongly condemned the incident, calling it a 'terrorist act' and demanding an explanation.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta spoke with Karzai on late Sunday, offering his 'deepest condolences and profound regret' for the shooting incident. "A full investigation is already underway. A suspect is in custody, and I gave President Karzai my assurances that we will bring those responsible to justice," Panetta said. "We will spare no effort in getting the facts as quickly as possible, and we will hold any perpetrator who is responsible for this violence fully accountable under the law."

Panetta emphasized that the incident does not reflect its values or progress made in Afghanistan. "I condemn such violence and am shocked and saddened that a U.S. service member is alleged to be involved, clearly acting outside his chain of command," he said. "I told President Karzai that the American people share the outrage felt by President Karzai and his fellow citizens. This tragic incident does not reflect the commitment of the U.S. military to protect the Afghan people and help build a strong and stable Afghanistan."

U.S. President Barack Obama was briefed on the incident by his senior national security staff and later called Karzai to express his shock and sadness. "This incident is tragic and shocking, and does not represent the exceptional character of our military and the respect that the United States has for the people of Afghanistan," Obama said in a statement. "I fully support Secretary Panetta's and General Allen's commitment to get the facts as quickly as possible and to hold accountable anyone responsible."

Sunday's incident comes after weeks of violence after U.S. troops were accused of burning Qurans at the Bagram Airbase. The accusations triggered a series of violent protests across Afghanistan which have left more than 30 people killed, including six U.S. soldiers who insurgents said were killed in revenge.

The shooting incident is likely to increase already high anti-American sentiment in Afghanistan, and Sunday's news immediately drew a harsh response from the Taliban which labeled it an 'act of genocide' and accused ISAF and Afghan government forces of deliberately carrying out the attack.

"The so-called American peace keepers have once again quenched their thirst with the blood of innocent Afghan civilians in Kandahar province," a Taliban spokesman said in a statement. "Witnesses from the scene say that during the raids, the American terrorists and their puppets shot the household members at point blank range. The unsuspecting innocent victims have been sprayed with hundreds of bullets and have been cold-bloodedly martyred."

Pre-Columbian cemetery discovered in southern Mexico

Posted: 11 Mar 2012 05:27 PM PDT

FRONTERA COMALAPA, Mexico (BNO NEWS) -- Authorities in southern Mexico have discovered the remains of at least 167 people in a cave which was apparently used as a cemetery in the pre-Columbian era, officials said on Sunday.

The remains were found on Friday in a cave at a remote ranch in Frontera Comalapa, a town in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Forensic experts initially believed the skeletons may have been from the early 20th century, triggering an investigation by state prosecutors and other departments.

But a later analysis revealed the skeletons date back to the pre-Columbian era, between 700 AD and 1200 AD, although it was not immediately known who they were. There were no obvious signs of violence, leading investigators to believe that the cave had been used as a cemetery.

Many of the skulls and other bones which were recovered from the site were mostly intact, but some were deformed due to cultural practices at the time, Chiapas state prosecutors said. Several pieces of clay, dating back to the same era, were also recovered at the site.

Forensic experts are examining the remains to determine the gender, age and possible causes of death.

Suicide bomber kills 14, injures dozens at Pakistani funeral

Posted: 11 Mar 2012 07:49 AM PDT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (BNO NEWS) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up on Sunday at a funeral on the outskirts of the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least fourteen people and injuring more than 30 others, police said.

The funeral was taking place in the Budh Bher area on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and one of the most populous cities in Pakistan. Deputy speaker of the provincial assembly, Khushdil Khan, was at the funeral and is believed to have been the target.

Khan, who opposes the Taliban and has faced death threats in the past, escaped unhurt. Police said at least fourteen people were killed in the powerful explosion while 37 others were injured and rushed to Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar. Some of the injured were in a critical condition.

Officials said the attack was believed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber in his 20s who approached the funeral gathering on foot before detonating his explosives. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Islamist militants have regularly attacked members from the anti-Taliban Awami National Party.

Rick Santorum wins Kansas caucuses, Romney takes Wyoming

Posted: 11 Mar 2012 06:03 AM PDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum won a convincing victory in the Kansas caucuses on Saturday in the race to become the U.S. Republican presidential candidate. Front-runner Mitt Romney won in Wyoming and several U.S. territories.

Santorum won 51.21 percent of the votes in the strongly conservative state of Kansas, where his rivals Romney and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich did not campaign. Kansas Republican party Chair Amanda Adkins said Santorum received 15,290 out of more than 30,000 votes.

"Today 30,000 Kansas Republicans showed their enthusiasm and support for a new leader in the White House," Adkins said. "Congratulations to Rick Santorum for his significant victory in our state. On behalf of Kansas Republican voters, I would also like to express sincere appreciation to Cong. Ron Paul for coming to Kansas this week."

According to initial caucus results which will be verified next week, Santorum picked up 33 of the state's 40 delegates at stake. The other seven delegates went to Romney who received 6,250 votes, although 975 provisional ballots are still be ruled and counted which could bring some minor changes.

"Decisive! Kansas voters sent a clear message today: I'm the true conservative candidate to stop Romney and beat Obama," Santorum, who was under pressure to catch up on Romney after trailing him on Super Tuesday, said in a message on the social networking website Twitter. "Thank you [Kansas]!"

Romney congratulated his rivals but said he is proud to have the support of 'so many' in the state. "The road to the Republican nomination has already had twists and turns and no doubt there will be more to come," he said. "I have no doubt that with the progress I've made today that I will be the Republican Party's presidential nominee. I thank all the voters who participated in the Kansas caucuses and look forward to winning Kansas in November."

Results on Saturday from Wyoming and several U.S. territories added to Romney's growing delegate count, which is more than all his rivals combined. Officials at the Wyoming Republican Party said Romney picked up seven delegates in the state, which held its caucuses in February but did not allocate delegates until Saturday.

In the United States Virgin Islands, a group of islands in the Caribbean which can participate in primary but not general elections, Romney won seven out of nine delegates. "The message from the people of the Virgin Islands is clear, and it's the same message I hear all over the country," Romney said. "They do not want to send a career politician to Washington. Rather, they want to send a career businessman."

Romney also picked up all nine delegates in the Northern Mariana Islands, which consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. "The Northern Mariana Islands may be far away from the mainland, but one of the great things about our democracy is that every voice has a chance to be heard in selecting a presidential candidate," Romney said, thanking the residents of the islands.

Romney further won all nine delegates in Guam, where his son Matt campaigned on behalf of his father. "The people of Guam have always stood bravely for America and the values we hold dear," Romney said. "I am honored to have won the Guam caucuses, an important milestone in my quest to restore America to the principles and practices that made us great."

A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win the Republican presidential nomination. According to a CNN count, Romney is currently leading with a total of 458 delegates. Santorum has 203 delegates, Gingrich has 118 and Paul has 66. The winner will face incumbent President Barack Obama on November 6.

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الاثنين، 12 مارس 2012

Lincoln Tribune

Lincoln Tribune

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