World in brief: Opposition leader elected president of Venezuela national assembly
CARACAS, Venezuela – An outspoken opposition leader known for embracing confrontation was chosen Sunday to head Venezuela’s new congress when it opens in two days as a counterweight to the socialist administration.
The newly elected opposition majority voted to make Henry Ramos Allup the president of the National Assembly when it is seated Tuesday. The new session will be the first time foes of the administration have had control of any government institution in more than a decade.
Ramos, 72, is a divisive figure whom government supporters love to hate as much for his acerbic tongue as for his leadership in the once-hegemonic Democratic Action party that co-governed Venezuela for decades before the late President Hugo Chavez won power in 1998 and began his leftist program.
Ramos’ rival for the legislative presidency was Julio Borges, 46, a member of the Justice First party, a newer, moderate movement that won the biggest bloc of opposition seats.
Although Ramos hasn’t joined in street protests against the government, he won with the help of opposition hard-liners who favor such demonstrations and other confrontation with President Nicolas Maduro’s administration. Borges’ party advocates a focus on negotiation and elections.
Ramos said the new National Assembly will show Venezuelans a more democratic way forward.
“We ask the people to watch us, to demand more of us, and keep an eye on what we do to make sure that we honor our commitment,” he said.
The opposition won a crucial two-thirds legislative supermajority by a single seat in the Dec. 6 elections.
India tracking down remaining gunmen after attack on base
PATHANKOT, India – After saying all the gunmen who attacked an Indian air base near the Pakistan border were dead, Indian officials said at least two attackers remained and vowed to kill them Monday to end a more than 48-hour siege.
At least seven troops and four gunmen have been killed in the fighting so far.
On Sunday, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told reporters that the last two gunmen had been cornered and would be “neutralized” soon.
The attack on the Pathankot air force base started before dawn Saturday and is seen as an attempt to undo recent improvements in the relationship between archrivals India and Pakistan. It comes a week after Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister in 12 years to visit Pakistan.
Mehrishi said Indian authorities were alerted about a potential attack in Pathankot, and that aerial surveillance at the base spotted the suspected militants as they entered the compound. He said they were engaged by Indian troops and were kept away from the base’s aircraft and military equipment.
Since Saturday morning, the base has been swarming with air force commandos, troops from India’s elite National Security Guard and local police.
Air Marshal Anil Khosla told reporters in New Delhi that the base will not be declared fully secured until the entire area is checked by troops.
Woman, man, minor in custody after Mexican mayor’s slaying
MEXICO CITY – Three people, including a minor, were being held Sunday in the slaying of a newly inaugurated mayor just hours into her term in a gang-troubled central Mexican city.
Morelos Gov. Graco Ramirez ordered flags on state buildings flown at half-staff and called for three days of mourning following the killing of Temixco Mayor Gisela Mota.
He blamed organized crime for killing the 33-year-old Mota, a former federal congresswoman who had been sworn in as mayor the day before she was gunned down in her home Saturday morning.
Ramirez ordered security measures for all of the state’s mayors, though he gave no details on what that involved.
Following Mota’s killing, two suspects were killed in a clash with police and three others arrested. Officials said those taken into custody were a 32-year-old woman, an 18-year-old man and a minor. They gave few other details, though state Attorney General Javier Perez Duron said the suspects had been tied to other crimes.