206 killed in blasts

206 killed in blasts

brazzaville, republic of congo

Homes and buildings collapsed in the Congolese capital after an arms depot exploded Sunday, killing at least 206 people and entombing countless others in crushed structures including inside two churches that buckled while parishioners were celebrating Mass, officials and witnesses said.

The shock waves shattered windows in a three-mile radius surrounding the barracks storing the munitions, including across the river that separates Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, from Kinshasa, the capital of the larger Central African nation of Congo.

Government spokesman Bienvenu Okyemi blamed a short-circuit for the fire that set off the successive blasts.

Police find body of child in hole

carlsbad, n.m.

A search for a 4-year-old New Mexico boy led authorities Sunday to a deep, narrow hole in a neighbor’s backyard where a police spokeswoman says a detective found the body of a child.

Carlsbad police said they are fairly sure the body is that of 4-year-old Samuel Jones, who was reported missing from his home next door Saturday. An Amber Alert that was issued for him late Saturday was to stay in place until late Sunday, when it would be re-evaluated, New Mexico State Police said.

Mass grave of 157 bodies is unearthed

bin jawwad, libya

Libyan government officials said Sunday they have unearthed a mass grave with 157 bodies of rebel fighters and civilians in an eastern town that was a major battleground during the country’s 2011 civil war.

It is the largest grave yet to be discovered from the conflict that began as a popular uprising and ended with the capture and killing of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi last October.

Yemen fighting kills 36 troops, 25 others

sanaa, yemen

Yemeni officials say at least 36 soldiers and 25 al-Qaida fighters have been killed in fighting in the southern province of Abyan.

A military official said Sunday’s fighting was taking place at a military base west of Abyan’s provincial capital of Zinjibar, held by militants since May. The fighters overran the base and captured heavy weapons that were turned on the soldiers, he says.

A health official confirmed the toll. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Dog survives 53 days in desert after crash

reno, nev.

Barbara Bagley says she never gave up hope that her dog would be found alive in the Nevada desert after the animal bolted from the scene of a crash that critically injured her and killed her husband.

But the Salt Lake City woman endured plenty of frustration until her beloved 4-year-old Shetland sheepdog, Dooley, was tracked down Feb. 18 after surviving 53 days in the wild on roadkill and scattered water sources.

Extradition sought of Kim Dotcom

wellington, new zealand

U.S. federal prosecutors have filed papers seeking the extradition from New ZealandSFlbof Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom and three colleagues.

New Zealand justice officials say papers were filed Friday in Auckland’s North Shore District Court. U.S. prosecutors accuse the four men of breaching copyright by facilitating millions of illegal downloads through their website, enriching themselves at the expense of movie makers and song writers.

Associated Press