Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
US negotiates while heavy fighting roils Armenia, Azerbaijan
STEPANAKERT, Nagorno-Karabakh — Heavy fighting raged Friday over Nagorno-Karabakh as top diplomats from Armenia and Azerbaijan visited Washington for negotiations on settling the neighboring countries’ decadeslong conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met separately with the foreign ministers of both countries for talks after two failed Russian attempts to broker a cease-fire in the worst outbreak of hostilities over the region in more than 25 years. There was no immediate comment from either side about the meetings.
The warring sides accused each other of shelling residential areas Friday. Authorities in NagornoKarabakh said the town of Martakert and several villages in the Martuni region were hit by Azerbaijani rockets overnight. Later, they said Martakert and Martuni were also struck by Azerbaijani warplanes.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied the claim and accused Armenian forces of targeting the Terter, Agdam and Agjabedi regions of Azerbaijan overnight.
Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war there ended in 1994. The current fighting started last month.
According to NagornoKarabakh officials, 927 of their troops have been killed, and more than 30 civilians also have died. Azerbaijan hasn’t disclosed its military losses, but says 63 civilians have been killed and 292 have been wounded. Armenia officially isn’t engaged in the fighting.
Libya cease-fire: The rival sides in Libya’s conflict signed a permanent ceasefire Friday, a deal the United Nations billed as historic after years of fighting that has split the North African country in two. But skepticism over whether the agreement would hold began emerging almost immediately.
The breakthrough, which among other things orders foreign mercenaries out of the country, sets the stage for political talks in November to find a lasting solution to the chaos unleashed after a 2011 NATObacked uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Previous diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict have repeatedly collapsed — but the U.N.-brokered deal aims to cement a monthslong lull in fighting and gives a boost to the political process.
“I am honored to be among you today to witness a moment that will go down in history,” Stephanie Turco Williams, the top U.N. envoy for Libya who led mediation talks this week, said at the signing in Geneva. She did, however, express some caution, noting that a “long and difficult” road remains ahead.
It’s not clear how the cease-fire will be enforced — given the patchwork of militias in Libya — but Williams said armed groups and military units had agreed to return “to their camps” and that the deal would take effect immediately.
Foreign mercenaries will depart “from all Libyan territories land, air and sea” within three months, she added, referring to the thousands of Syrian fighters deployed by Turkey and Russia on opposite sides of the war. The agreement also involves the formation of a joint military force and a way to monitor violations, Williams said.
The deal will be sent to the U.N. Security Council.
Unrest in Nigeria: At least 51 civilians have been killed in Nigeria’s unrest following days of peaceful protests over police abuses, the president said Friday, blaming “hooliganism” for the violence while asserting that security forces have used “extreme restraint.”
President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments are expected to further inflame tensions in Africa’s most populous country after Amnesty International reported that soldiers shot and killed at least 12 demonstrators Tuesday. sparking international condemnation.
In a statement, Buhari also said 11 policemen and seven soldiers had been killed by “rioters” as of Thursday, and “the mayhem has not stopped.” He said another 37 civilians were injured in some of Nigeria’s worst turmoil in years.
The president said the well-intentioned protests were hijacked by thugs.
Buhari in a national address Thursday didn’t mention the shootings, instead warning protesters against “undermining national security and law and order.” On Friday he said the government “will not fold its arms and allow miscreants and criminals continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism.”
Michigan kidnap plot: A judge on Friday slashed bond from $10 million to $100,000 for a man accused of assisting in a scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and commit other violence against state government.
A defense attorney argued that Pete Musico was kicked out of the group in the early summer because he was too “soft” and wouldn’t commit to violence after participating in armed but legal spring rallies at the Capitol.
Jackson County Judge Michael Klaeren reduced Musico’s bond, clearing the way for him to be released from jail. He must wear a GPS monitor.
Authorities allege members of two anti-government paramilitary groups took part in plotting the kidnapping of Whitmer, a Democrat, before the election. Six men are charged in federal court. Eight others are charged in state court with providing material support for terrorist acts.
Halloween at White
Ghosts, goblins and House: other costumed kids are welcome to trick or treat at the White House on Sunday during a Halloween event with coronavirus precautions.
The gates to the South Lawn will be opened to children from military families, frontline workers and others, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Melania Trump announced Friday.
President Donald Trump and the first lady — both recently recovered from COVID-19 — will welcome guests at some point during the event.
Guests older than 2 are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing. The same goes for all White House personnel working the event, while any staff handing out candy will also wear gloves.
Nazi auction: Handwritten notes by Adolf Hitler sold at auction in Munich on Friday despite concerns from Jewish groups they could encourage neo-Nazis.
The Hermann Historica auction house defended the sale of the manuscripts, all dated before the outbreak of World War II, saying they were of historical significance.
The documents were all sold to anonymous bidders.
A nine-page manuscript by Hitler outlining his speech to new military officers in Berlin in 1939 — about eight months before the war began — fetched the top price of $40,300.