Children and others killed in Taliban's infighting - Detroit Free Press

Headlines

EXPLOSION IN PAKISTAN

A Taliban suicide car bomber attacked a rival militant commander's compound in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 10 people, including five children, as heavily armed assailants killed eight members of the coast guard in the southwest.

There has been significant infighting over turf and leadership positions within the Pakistani Taliban, an umbrella organization set up in 2007 to represent roughly 40 insurgent groups, many of whom are waging a bloody campaign against the government.

STABBING OF HOMELESS PEOPLE

Suspect sees self on flyers, calls 911

Police arrested a suspect in the stabbings of three Los Angeles-area homeless people this month, a man they say goes by a name signed on death warrants found with the wounded victims.

Courtney A. Robinson, 38, called 911 Friday and said it was his face on flyers around the city, Cmdr. Andrew Smith said Saturday. Officers found Robinson inside a fast food restaurant in Hollywood and took him into custody.

He was charged with attempted murder and is being held on a half-million dollars bail.

FIGHTING IN AFRICA

U.S. cuts military aid to Rwanda

The U.S. government said Saturday it has cut this year's planned military assistance to Rwanda amid concerns that the government in Kigali is supporting rebel movements in neighboring Congo.

"The United States has been actively engaged at the highest levels to urge Rwanda to halt and prevent the provision of such support, which threatens to undermine stability in the region," State Department spokesman Darby Holladay said in a statement.

Rwanda has denied reports by the United Nations and rights groups that it is supporting the M23 rebel movement in East Congo, which has sparked new fighting in the area that has forced more than 200,000 civilians from their homes since April.

MOTIVATIONAL EVENT

21 burned walking across hot coals

Fire officials said 21 people at an event hosted by motivational speaker Tony Robbins were burned while walking across hot coals.

The injuries took place Thursday during the first day of a four-day event at the San Jose Convention Center in California called Unleash the Power Within. Most of those hurt had second- and third-degree burns.

Walking across hot coals provides attendees a chance to understand there's nothing they can't overcome, Robbins' website says.

MISSING COUSINS

Authorities believe Iowa girls alive

Investigators said they have evidence that leads them to believe two Iowa cousins who vanished last week are still alive.

FBI spokeswoman Sandy Breault would not say Saturday what led authorities to conclude that 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins have not been killed.