QUOTE OF THE DAY “What is happening in Lebanon is that
Hezbollah is stationing thousands of
missiles and rockets in apartments, in the heart of the civilian population, and
is thus perpetrating two war crimes simultaneously.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, on violence between Israel and Lebanon, saying
he holds the Lebanese government and Hezbollah responsible for Sunday’s rocket fire Article, this page Force reportedly disbands in S. Sudan
JUBA, South Sudan - The estimated 25,000 armed fighters who the government said had been marching toward a state capital have mostly disbanded and returned home, a South Sudan government spokesman said Sunday.
Michael Makuei Lueth said Nuer leaders in Jonglei state met with the fighters over the past 48 hours and persuaded most to stand down. Only a “very few” refused to listen and are still gathering, Lueth said. An exact number was not known, he said.
Lueth on Saturday said at a news conference that more than 25,000 Lou Nuer youths were marching toward Bor, the provincial capital of Jonglei state.
South Sudan troops in Bor remain on “maximum alert” in case Nuer fighters try to attack.
The United Nations on Sunday said it was “extremely concerned” about the reports of a movement by fighters and urged them to return home. The U.N. said it was conducting an aerial mission Sunday to determine the number of fighters and their direction of travel.
New centrifuges unused, Iran chief says
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran’s nuclear chief said the Islamic Republic has not begun using a new generation of centrifuges for enriching uranium after striking a deal to ease sanctions with world powers, state television reported Sunday.
The report quoted Ali Akbar Salehi as saying that Iran decided not to put 1,000 new devices installed months ago online because of the November deal. However, Salehi reiterated statements made earlier that his engineers are building and testing newer generations of centrifuges.
“We have two types of second-generation centrifuges,” he said. “We also have future generations which are going through their tests.”
The claim appeared partly aimed at countering criticism from hard-liners over the deal, in which Iran agreed to cap its nuclear activities in return for an easing of sanctions. Talks on details of the deal will resume today.
Also Sunday, senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi said a parliamentary proposal that would force the government to increase uranium enrichment to 60 percent if new sanctions are imposed must be implemented if it is approved.
Libyan militia threatens to cut off gas
TRIPOLI, Libya - A Libyan militia that shut down most of the country’s oil terminals for months threatened Sunday to cut off natural-gas deliveries to the capital, potentially imperiling the power supply in a serious escalation of its standoff with the central government.
A spokesman for a militia in the country’s east, who did not identify himself, said in a recorded statement aired on local television stations that the government has 48 hours to resume paying salaries to the group, which was originally in charge of securing oil and gas facilities in the country’s east.
Since the summer, the group has shut down the oil terminals and also demanded greater autonomy and a larger share of oil revenues for the region. The group is leading a campaign for a federal system in which each region has some autonomy.
The government had no immediate reaction to the militia’s threat. The natural-gas supply is essential for power plants in Tripoli and the rest of the country.
Two-vehicle crash kills 18 in Indonesia
SURABAYA, Indonesia - An overcrowded pickup with dozens of mourners slammed into a truck on Indonesia’s main island of Java, killing at least 18 people and injuring 14 others, police said Sunday.
The pickup was carrying a group of 29 mourners from East Java province’s Probolinggo who were on their way to pay respects to their relative in the neighboring city of Pasuruan, said deputy police chief Capt. Mustofa.
He said the vehicle was moving uncontrollably and collided with a truck while trying to overtake three other cars late Saturday. The occupants were thrown from the pickup and 15, including two children, died instantly. The others died in the hospital.
Both drivers were among the injured. The driver of the pickup was facing charges of reckless driving, said Mustofa, who like many Indonesians uses a single name.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 12/30/2013