Video of shooting released

CHARLOTTE: Police have released body camera and dashboard videos showing the fatal shooting of a black man that triggered protests, but the footage did not show whether the victim was holding a gun.

A dashboard camera from a police car showed Keith Scott, killed last Tuesday, exiting his car and backing away from it. Police shout to him to drop the gun, but it is not clear that he has anything in his hand. Then shots break out and Scott drops to the ground.

A second body camera video from an officer does not show the moment of shooting. It shows Scott outside his vehicle before he is shot, but it is not clear whether he has something in his hand. Then the officer moves and Scott is out of view until he is seen on the ground.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney announced the release of the video after days of demonstrations at which protesters demanded authorities allow the public to see clips of the shooting.

Putney said before releasing the footage that the videos were “insufficient” to prove that Scott held a gun. But the totality of evidence did, he said.

“There is no definitive visual evidence that he had a gun in his hand. But what we do see is compelling evidence that when you put all the pieces together supports that.”

Police also released pictures, one of a handgun they said was recovered at the scene and an ankle holster that police said Scott was wearing.

On Saturday demonstrators mounted a fifth day of protests. – Reuters

Prisoner hunger strike

JERUSALEM: Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails announced a three-day hunger strike after a Palestinian inmate died yesterday.

The Israel Prison Service confirmed Palestinian Yasser Dhiab Hamdouneh was pronounced dead after he collapsed during morning workout.

Palestinian prisoners often go on hunger strikes to protest against their harsh imprisonment conditions. – Xinhua

Fatal floods, landslides

JAKARTA: Rescuers discovered 36 bodies yesterday and were still looking for 22 others who were missing after floods and landslides hit West Java province in western Indonesia, authorities said.

In Garut district, rescuers found 33 bodies and were searching for the missing people, said the provincial disaster agency.

About 6 361 displaced people remain in government buildings and military stations. – Xinhua

Iran reveals new missile

MOSCOW: Iran has launched the production of its first indigenous-designed long-range missile dubbed Zolfaqar.

The solid-fuel missile, which was first unveiled just days ago, has a range of 700km and has a highprecision guidance system.

The Zolfaqar missile carries a multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle payload, enabling each missile to hit a group of targets. – Sputnik

France’s dark chapter

PARIS: French President Francois Hollande has acknowledged the state’s culpability in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria’s war for independence.

Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were massacred as traitors after the French retreat in 1962.

Those who made it to France were placed in camps. – ANA-AP