21 detainees treated in Guantanamo hunger strike

Star news services
Sep. 16, 2005

San Juan, Puerto Rico -- Three other detainees have been hospitalized after refusing meals at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, bringing to 21 the number being treated from a hunger strike that involves a quarter of the camp's prisoners, an official said Wednesday.

All 21 detainees are being tube-fed through their noses, up from 13 a day ago, said Sgt. Justin Behrens, a spokesman at Guantanamo. The military has said it views a hunger strike as a form of suicide and will take steps to prevent it.

All striking detainees were in stable condition, Behrens said.

The military has said the hunger strike began Aug. 8 with 76 detainees refusing meals. The military said the number rose to 128 before three dropped out.

Aruba court lifts curbs on suspects in disappearance

Oranjestad, Aruba -- A court ruled Wednesday that three suspects in the disappearance of a U.S. teenager can remain free without conditions -- overturning an earlier decision that restricted their travel.

The appeals court ruled there was a "lack of sufficient grounds and serious suspicions" to keep the restrictions on Joran van der Sloot and two Surinamese brothers, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, the Aruban prosecutor's office said.

The three young men remain suspects in the May 30 disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Chilean high court clears way for trial of Pinochet

Santiago, Chile -- The Supreme Court stripped Gen. Augusto Pinochet of immunity from prosecution Wednesday, paving the way for a trial of the former dictator for his alleged role in the disappearance and killing of 15 dissidents during his 1973-90 regime.

The court voted 10-6 to strip the 89-year-old of the immunity from prosecution he enjoyed as former president and authorize his trial in the "Operation Colombo" case, Chief Justice Jose Benquis said.

That case involved the slaying of 119 dissidents whose bodies were found in neighboring Argentina in 1975, but Pinochet would face charges for only 15 victims whose relatives filed a criminal suit against him.

Thousands protest hikes in fuel prices in Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria -- Police watched from open-backed trucks Wednesday as thousands of Nigerians marched in a peaceful protest of steep increases in fuel prices in Africa's largest oil producer.

The rally, the first in what unions say will be two weeks of protests throughout Nigeria, ended with demonstrators presenting their grievances in a petition to the Lagos governor.

More than 20,000 protesters were on the streets. Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka, who is an outspoken government critic, labor union leader Adams Oshiomhole and Catholic Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie addressed the crowd at the governor's office.

In other world news:

Banda Aceh, Indonesia -- Indonesian police pulled out of Aceh province in a goodwill gesture Wednesday as rebels prepared to hand over hundreds of weapons -- the most delicate phase in a landmark accord to end one of Asia's longest-running wars.

Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro -- The wife of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Mirjana Markovic, faces a new arrest warrant if she fails to turn up for her corruption trial in Belgrade scheduled to start today, a court official said Wednesday.

Katmandu, Nepal -- Police fired tear gas and beat protesters with batons Wednesday as 7,000 people poured into the center of the Nepalese capital in continuing pro-democracy rallies.