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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Islamic Jihad leader killed in explosion

The Spokesman-Review

Islamic Jihad’s top military commander in Gaza died Wednesday when his car exploded. The militant group blamed an Israeli missile, but Israel denied involvement.

The militants pledged revenge for the death of 45-year-old Khaled Dahdouh.

Violence also hit the West Bank, where one Israeli was killed and another seriously wounded in shooting attacks claimed by an offshoot of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement.

The deadly explosion in Gaza City and attacks on Israelis came as another militant group, Hamas, prepared to take over the Palestinian Cabinet after sweeping parliamentary elections.

Warri, Nigeria

Militants release foreign oil workers

Militants released six foreign oil workers, including a diabetic Texan celebrating his 69th birthday Wednesday, taken captive last month to press fighters’ demands for a greater share of oil revenues generated in this restive southern state.

But three other hostages – two Americans and a Briton – were kept by militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. A militant spokesman said all “low-value” hostages taken Feb. 18 had been freed.

Those released Wednesday included Macon Hawkins of Kosciusko, Texas; two Egyptians; two Thais; and a Filipino. They were taken to the offices of James Ibori, governor of the Delta State.

Hawkins and the other workers were seized Feb. 18 by militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

Amman, Jordan

Inmates riot over al-Qaida killers

Inmates rioted at three Jordanian prisons Wednesday over the fates of two convicted al-Qaida killers and a would-be suicide bomber, raising new concern about increasing sympathy for the terror network in Mideast prisons.

The prisoners took a high-ranking official hostage and injured several other police officers before the 14-hour standoff ended without major bloodshed.

Jordan later announced that it had arrested two Iraqi men and a would-be Libyan suicide bomber who belonged to al-Qaida and plotted an attack on an unspecified “vital civilian facility” in the capital, Amman.

Mexico City

Threats to close U.S. hotel dropped

Mexico City officials on Wednesday dropped threats to close a major U.S.-owned hotel that had expelled Cuban guests, easing federal government concerns that a shutdown would hurt investment and cost hundreds of jobs.

The announcement to allow the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel to stay open came at a joint news conference by city and hotel officials and followed negotiations aimed at avoiding embarrassment for all sides.

The issue arose after the hotel kicked out 16 Cuban officials attending a Feb. 2 meeting with U.S. oil executives, citing pressure from the U.S. Treasury Department, which said that housing the Cubans violated the longstanding U.S. embargo against the communist-ruled island.