Car bomb kills 4 near U.S. consulate
At least one car bomb exploded today outside the U.S. Consulate and a luxury hotel in Pakistan’s largest city, killing at least four people and wounding dozens just days ahead of a visit to Pakistan by President Bush, police said.
Two blasts ripped through vehicles in the parking lot of the Marriott Hotel, about 20 yards from the consulate gate, shattering windows at both locations and other nearby buildings.
Police initially said two car bombs had gone off, but provincial Police Chief Jahangir Mirza said a single bomb by a suspected suicide attacker may have triggered a second explosion when a burning car’s fuel tank caught fire.
The bombing occurred two days before Bush was to visit the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Gaza City, Gaza Strip
Islamic Jihad leader killed in explosion
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.
Those released Wednesday included Macon Hawkins of Kosciusko, Texas; two Egyptians; two Thais; and a Filipino.
Hawkins and the other workers were seized Feb. 18 by militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
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.