Headlines for Monday, July 26, 2010

Karzai says NATO forces killed as many as 52 civilians in Helmand Province
Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued a statement today saying that NATO rockets did kill dozens of civilians Friday in an air strike in Helmand Province. According to witnesses, as many as 52 people, including women and children, sought refuge from nearby fighting – but died when the house in Regey where they hid was bombed by helicopter fire. NATO's initial report on the incident found no “indication of mass casualty” – however after eyewitness accounts were reported, NATO officials announced an ongoing investigation.

Drones kills dozens over weekend in Pakistan
In Pakistan, pilot-less aircraft killed as many as 35 people over the weekend in both North and South Waziristan. Officials say militants were targeted in the attacks -- there's no word on civilian casualties. There’s no statement on the attacks from US officials – they do not publicly acknowledge the secret CIA spy plane program.

Mexican prison guards accused of letting inmates out to commit murder
Federal police investigators in Mexico have found that a recent massacre was perpetrated by prisoners released specifically to commit the crime. Shannon Young has more.

Seventeen people died in the early hours of July 18th when gunmen attacked a birthday party in a hotel in the northern city of Torreón. Investigators from the Mexican Attorney General's Office say those who committed the crime were supposed to be locked up in a prison across the Durango state line at the time of the massacre. Federal authorities allege that not only were dangerous criminals released from their cells, but that prison guards lent them high-caliber firearms and official vehicles. Investigators traced the weapons back to the prison from crime scene shell casings. The same weapons were allegedly used in at least 2 other massacres this year. This isn't the first time prison officials in the state of Durango have been accused of colluding with inmates tied to the region's powerful drug trafficking interests. Four prison officials are currently under investigation. Many of Mexico's overcrowded prisons are microcosms of the drug violence that has claimed more than 24 thousand lives here since President Felipe Calderón launched his military approach to the Drug War in December of 2006. Shannon Young, FSRN, Mexico.

BP may oust CEO Tony Hayward
BP’s Board of Directors meets this evening to discuss who will lead the company – and if ousted, where current CEO Tony Hayward will go next. The White House says it doesn’t really matter – because the company is ultimately responsible for the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP got back to work in the Gulf today after Tropical Storm Bonnie forced recovery crews out of the area over the weekend.

Tancredo makes third party bid in Colorado’s gubernatorial race
Former Republican Congress member Tom Tancredo says he’ll jump into the gubernatorial fray in Colorado. FSRN’s Conrad Wilson has more.

Tancredo will run as a third-party candidate with the American Constitution Party. The former Congressman entered the race after a plagiarism scandal and shady campaign finance reports rocked both Republican gubernatorial campaigns. Tancredo gave the two GOP candidates until today to drop out of the race, but they refused. Tancredo is known nationally for his strong stance regarding undocumented immigrants. During his brief presidential bid in 2008, Tancredo opposed all immigration reform, preferring the far right border security approach. And Republicans here say that Tancredo will split support among conservatives, nearly guaranteeing the seat goes to Denver’s Democratic Mayor John Higgenlooper. Conrad Wilson, FSRN, Carbondale, Colorado.

US and South Korea continue military maneuvers
The US and South Korea continued joint military exercises today in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. The exercises were scheduled after a South Korean Navy vessel was torpedoed – 46 sailors died. North Korea still denies involvement. The exercises will continue for two more days.

Former Khmer Rouge official convicted of crimes against humanity
A UN backed court convicted a former Khmer Rouge prison commander today for his role in the killing fields of Cambodia.

“The chamber finds Kaing Guek Eav guilty of crimes against humanity, persecution on political grounds, subsuming the crimes against humanity of extermination, encompassing murder, enslavement, imprisonment, torture – including one instance of rape – and other inhumane acts.”

The man known as Comrade Duch admitted that he ran the S21 prison – where thousands of men, women and children were viciously tortured and executed.  Duch is the first of five former senior Khmer Rouge members to face trial. Duch was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but with credit for time served and a further reduction because he was illegally detained – Duch could be free in 19 years.