Top stories from DAWNS Digest.
Dozens Killed in Attacks on Christian Worshipers in Northern Nigeria
Yet another sectarian attack in Nigeria, presumably carried out by again by Boko Haram. “Gunmen attacked worship services at a university campus and a church Sunday in northern Nigeria, killing at least 21 people in coordinated assaults that saw panicked Christians gunned down as they tried to flee, witnesses and officials said. The deadlier attack targeted an old section of Bayero University’s campus in the city of Kano where churches hold Sunday services, with gunmen killing at least 16 people and wounding at least 22 others, according to the Nigerian Red Cross. A later attack in the northeast city of Maiduguri saw gunmen open fire at a Church of Christ in Nigeria chapel, killing five people, including a pastor preparing for Communion, witnesses said.” (AP http://bit.ly/JvaAaA)
ALSO: One More Attack in Nigeria: “An explosion has occurred near government buildings in the eastern Nigerian state of Taraba, killing at least seven people, witnesses and police say. The blast took place on Monday morning at a road junction near the offices of the state governor in Jalingo, the state capital, with initial reports indicating that two suicide attackers had rammed a police convoy.” (Al Jazeera http://aje.me/JpKAfa)
Chinese Activist May Be in Hiding in the US Embassy in Beijing
The rights activist Chen Guangcheng, who made a daring escape from his house arrest last week, is most likely in the protection of the US Embassy in Beijing. This has the potential to be a serious international incident between the United States and China: “‘I think in all instances the president tries to balance our commitment to human rights, making sure that the people throughout the world have the ability to express themselves freely and openly, but also that we can continue to carry out our relationships with key countries overseas,’ [Obama advisor] John C Brennan told Fox News Sunday. ‘The U.S. relationship with China is ‘very important,’ he added, ‘so we’re going to make sure that we do this in the appropriate way and the appropriate balance is struck.’ Chen’s escape comes at a politically sensitive time for the U.S. This week, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner head to Beijing for long-planned strategic and economic talks. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell began a hurried mission to Beijing on Sunday to smooth the way for the annual talks involving Clinton and Geithner.” (CBS http://cbsn.ws/Jv9Uly)