Officials say Israelis kill 3 Palestinians
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Three Palestinians, one of them a 12-year-old boy, were killed by Israeli fire Friday as thousands of protesters gathered along Gaza's perimeter fence with Israel, health officials said.
The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 80 Palestinians were wounded by live fire and that six of them were in serious condition.
The Israeli military said about 13,000 protesters massed at several points along the fence, some burning tires and hurling rocks, grenades and firebombs. An Israeli officer suffered light wounds from pipe bomb shrapnel.
At nightfall, two tank shells hit a watchtower that had been set up by Hamas, the Islamic militant group in control of Gaza. The tower was about half a mile from one of the protest camps near the fence, and protesters left in a hurry as they heard the thud of the shells.
The Israeli military said in statement that aircraft and a tank struck two Hamas positions in response to the explosives thrown at troops on the border.
Gazans have staged near weekly demonstrations near the fence since late March, in part to protest a border blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt since 2007 when Hamas seized the territory. Hamas has led and organized the protests, but turnout has also been driven by growing despair over blockade-linked hardship, including lengthy power cuts and soaring unemployment.
Iraq's premier opts out of second term
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he will not "cling to power," after the country's highest Shiite religious authority called for the appointment of a new head of government. A member of the leader's parliamentary bloc, however, said Friday that if al-Abadi gets a majority in the legislature, he will form the new Cabinet.
A member of al-Abadi's Victory List said Friday that the outgoing prime minister is still negotiating to form the largest bloc in parliament. If he succeeds, then al-Abadi will be nominated for forming the new Cabinet. The legislator spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media.
Al-Abadi's political position has weakened in the wake of rioting in Iraq's oil capital, Basra, over corruption, failed services and contaminated drinking water.
Al-Abadi, who was backed by the U.S. for a second term in office, said he would respect the directives of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who said it was time for Iraq to appoint a prime minister it has never had before. Al-Abadi made his remarks at his weekly press conference Thursday.
Political analyst Ihsan al-Ashaari said al-Abadi's statement does not mean that the outgoing prime minister is no longer trying to hang on to the post. He said this decision will be made by the largest blocs in the legislature.
Venezuelan leader seeks China's help
BEIJING -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a trip to deepen ties and seek increased financial support from one of his ailing country's biggest creditors.
The two leaders reaffirmed their ties, with Maduro saying their relationship was "a model of international cooperation," Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television reported.
Maduro later met with Premier Li Keqiang, who said China was willing to provide "whatever assistance is within our means," the broadcaster said.
China Central Television said Maduro and Xi oversaw the signing of several agreements, but gave no details. Foreign media were not given access to the meetings. Bloomberg News earlier cited Venezuela's finance minister as saying China had agreed to extend Venezuela a $5 billion credit line.
Maduro said before leaving Venezuela on Wednesday that his agenda included advancing commercial, energy and financial deals with China, whose economic backing has been crucial to his government.
China has provided Venezuela with loans, cash and investment in the past decade totaling more than $65 billion. Venezuela's inflation is expected to hit 1 million percent this year.
Maduro has just launched a sweeping economic overhaul at home aimed at turning around the plummeting economy.
Taliban blamed in deaths of 6 Afghans
KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Afghan official said Taliban insurgents attacked a security outpost in northern Samangan province, killing six members of the local security force including local police and members of a militia loyal to the government.
A gunbattle lasted several hours before reinforcements arrived and repulsed the attack, which took place late Thursday, Abdul Munir Rahimi, spokesman for the provincial police chief, said Friday.
Elsewhere, a roadside mine exploded in eastern Nangarhar province's Khogyani district, wounding five civilians, said Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Sanayee Stanikzai. He blamed the Taliban saying they were targeting security forces.
There was no claim of responsibility for either attack.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 09/15/2018