Syria compares militant onslaught to 9/11 attacks

Felipe Oct 1, 2013

Syria’s foreign minister has compared what he described as an invasion of foreign terrorists across his country to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, remarks that Washington dismissed as offensive and disingenuous.

In a speech to the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem also said that «terrorists from more than 83 countries are engaged in the killing of our people and our army under the appeal of global Takfiri jihad.»

«There is no civil war in Syria, but it is a war against terror that recognizes no values, nor justice, nor equality, and disregards any rights or laws,» Moualem said.

The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have been killed in Syria’s 2-1/2 year conflict. It began in March 2011 when the government tried to crush pro-democracy protests and eventually became a full-scale war. Now more than half of Syria’s 20 million people need aid.

«The people of New York have witnessed the devastations of terrorism, and were burned with the fire of extremism and bloodshed, the same way we are suffering now in Syria,» Moualem said, referring to the Sept. 11 attacks that brought down the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon.

«How can some countries, hit by the same terrorism we are suffering now in Syria, claim to fight terrorism in all parts of the world, while supporting it in my country?» he said.

The US mission to the United Nations responded angrily, saying Moualem’s comment was «as disingenuous as it is offensive,» adding that his statements «have no credibility.»

«The fact that the Syrian regime has shelled schools and hospitals and used chemical weapons on its own people demonstrates that it has adopted the very terrorist tactics that it today decried,» said Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for the US mission.

Assad’s government accuses Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Britain, France and the United States of arming, financing and training rebel forces in Syria.

Source: Buenos Aires Herald

Canonisation for John Paul II, John XXIII set for April 27

Felipe Oct 1, 2013

Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Catholic Church for 27 years and witnessed the fall of communism and Pope John XXIII, who called the reforming Second Vatican council, will be declared saints on April 27, Pope Francis announced today.

The announcement of the date for the canonizations had been expected since July when Francis approved a second miracle attributed to John Paul, opening the way to the fastest canonisation in modern times.

He also approved sainthood for John, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and who oversaw sweeping reforms to modernise the Church, even though he has only been credited with one miracle since his death.

Source: Buenos Aires Herald

Boca wins in Riquelme’s comeback

Felipe Oct 1, 2013

Boca beat Quilmes 2-0 at La Bombonera to boost its confidence ahead of next Sunday’s “Superclásico”. Emmanuel Gigliotti scored twice, his first from a lobbed pass by Juan Román Riquelme, making his comeback from injury after missing the last four matches.

Boca Juniors, with Juan Román Riquelme joining Silvio Marzolini as the player with most matches played at La Bombonera stadium with 194 appearances, defeated Quilmes 2-0 yesterday in a match for the ninth round of the Initial Tournament with the “Superclásico” against River Plate coming up next week.

Emmanuel Gigliotti scored both goals in the 33rd and 87th minutes for Carlos Bianchi’s side, which accumulated 16 points to be in fourth place, four points behind leader Newell’s Old Boys.

For the first time in the tournament, Riquelme, who returned to the first team after missing four matches due to a left leg injury, and Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago played together in the first team.

In the 33rd, Riquelme showed that his magic is still intact as he received the ball from Juan Sánchez Miño and assisted Gigliotti, who sent the ball home to put the host ahead. After the goal, Boca dominated the game and controlled the midfield with Gago and Riquelme.

Quilmes played a more attacking style in the second half to try to find the equalizer, while Boca played with counter attacks.

Bianchi’s team sealed the victory three minutes before the end of the match, when Gigliotti scored his third goal in the tournament with a header after Sánchez Miño’s cross.

Boca started the tournament with irregular performances, but has now accumulated three matches without defeats. It won five games out of nine.

The host played with: Agustín Orión; Jesús Méndez, Ribair Rodríguez, Claudio Pérez, Nahuel Zárate; Pablo Ledesma, Gago, Sánchez Miño; Riquelme; Juan Manuel Martínez and Gigliotti.

Quilmes’ team was: Sebastián Peratta; Luciano Abecasis, Sebastián Martínez, Alan Alegre, Leonel Bontempo; Matías Morales, Rodrigo Braña, Pablo Garnier, Lucas Godoy; Miguel Caneo; Fernando Telechea.

Next week, Boca will visit River Plate, which last night at press time was playing against Lanús, at the Monumental stadium to play the “Superclásico.”

Also yesterday, Colón had three players sent off in its 1-0 defeat at Tigre, which also had a player dismissed, and the Santa Fe club’s directors had to persuade coach Rubén Forestello not to quit after its fourth successive defeat.

Source: Buenos Aires Herald