Iraq: First Images Show Battle To Retake Tikrit

Who's In Line To Become Iraq Prime Minister?

Updated: 3:24pm UK, Tuesday 01 July 2014

By Michelle Clifford, Senior News Correspondent

Iraq's parliament has convened for the first time since April's election, with current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fighting to hold onto his post.

Although his Shia State of Law coalition pulled in most of the votes, his personal currency has waned during the current crisis. 

Regarded by many as a divisive figure, his failure to halt the Sunni insurgency has left Mr al-Maliki struggling for support even within Shia ranks.

Some former political allies have turned foe and are battling to deny him a third term.

Under a de facto agreement in the years since Saddam Hussein was ousted, Iraq's prime minister is a Shia, the president a Kurd and the speaker of parliament is a Sunni.

The political factions are vying for positions and power and, in the past, the process of forming the government has taken months.

But, amid the violence, there is pressure internally and internationally to form a "unity government" as soon as possible.

Shia politicians have been in secret talks for days and, while Mr al-Maliki is a contentious choice, he is still on the list to go forward for prime minister.

But other names have leaked out.

Mr al-Maliki's current Chief of Staff, Tariq Najm, is being tipped as a favourite. He has a low profile but wields considerable power behind the scenes and knows the mechanics of government and international diplomacy like few others.

But, as a member of Mr al-Maliki's Dawa party, the close association with the PM, vilified by Sunnis and Kurds, may make him a difficult choice.

Former Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi is a leading figure in the Citizen's bloc (formerly known as the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council) - a political party seen as close to Iran.

The French-speaking economist has long been touted as a potential prime minister. He has given Mr al-Maliki a close run for his money before.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari was actually Mr al-Maliki's predecessor as prime minister and is head of the National Alliance - a Shia coalition which includes the premier's party and rival parties.

He was ousted in favour of Mr al-Maliki in 2006, when Iraq was embroiled in brutal civil conflict, because he was seen as too sectarian by a minority Sunni Arabs and Kurds.

Former deputy prime minister Ahmed Chalabi is probably the one name familiar to many outside of Iraq.

It was his faulty intelligence information which encouraged the US to invade Iraq in 2003.

He is now seen as closer to Iran, with the US military even accusing him of being "influenced" by Tehran. A seasoned politician, he has never managed to attract wide support in Iraq.

The challenge for parliament will be to choose a Shia politician who can establish a working relationship with Sunni Arabs and Kurds because their support will be needed in tackling the insurgency in the north and west of Iraq.

Mr al-Maliki was resistant to making compromises with Sunnis on the formation of federal territory.

He cut the monthly budget to the Kurdish region and reportedly even refused military help offered by the Kurds to tackle the ISIS militants.

ISIS was flaunting its military success as parliament met. In the Syrian town of Raqqa, it held a parade that included a display of military hardware. Tanks, rockets and militiamen celebrating the establishment of an Islamic state which straddles Iraq and Syria.

Fears about ISIS' high profile drawing in young radicalised recruits focused the minds of Iraqi parliamentarians today. They agreed that quelling the violence was the priority.

But, in a sign of how difficult establishing a government to do that may be, the session broke up prematurely due to lack of agreement. They will be back in parliament next week.

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'Guns Everywhere' Law Allows Firearms In Church

By Amanda Walker, US Correspondent

Sweeping new laws have come into effect in the US state of Georgia which allow guns in bars, nightclubs, libraries and even churches.

Critics have slammed the so-called "guns everywhere" legislation as the most extreme in the United States.

At a shooting range just outside Atlanta, pro-gun activists have been gathering to celebrate one of the most radical pro-gun measures in the country.

Most are white males in their 50s and for them, the new law is a triumph.

One said: "It's a victory for the second amendment rights ... the right to keep and bear arms."

"Those rights are protected by the constitution and are given to us by God," another added.

The controversial laws are welcomed by some people in Georgia

Not everyone in the state is so happy about the law.

According to the Centre for American Progress, between 2001 and 2010, Georgia saw over twice as many people killed by guns than in combat in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Athens, a pretty town with a strong literary heritage, is a liberal oasis in what has become one of the most gun-friendly states in America.

The library is a community hub popular with young families.

Before, guns would not be allowed anywhere near it.

Now, because it is classed as an unsecured government building, people can walk in with their weapon on display.

Lawyer John Timmons is worried about the impact of the new measures

John Timmons, a lawyer who sits on the library's board, said: "This is a place of learning - it's a place for peace, not a place for firearms.

"If someone were to walk in right now with a shotgun, we'd really have to ask ourselves - why? How is that reasonable?"

In the storytelling class, parents with their toddlers said firearms and nursery rhymes do not mix.

"It would make me nervous," one woman said. "If someone comes in with a gun, I'm leaving."

Another mother added: "You come to feel safe here ... now everybody you look at, you're concerned about what they could possibly be carrying with them."

However, local activist Bob Thornton welcomed the bill - unsurprising when you learn his motto: "If you see me with pants on, my pistol's in my pants."

Sky's Amanda Walker speaks to concerned parents at a library in Athens

"If the library doesn't want people to come into the building armed, all they have to do is get the city council to put in (metal detectors) and have someone stationed there to prevent armed people from entering," he said.

The worry for many Georgians is that things will go the way of Texas, where activists have been brazenly flexing their open carry rights by parading their assault rifles.

Opposition to gun-friendly laws is simmering but people are not taking to the streets to protest.

Public disdain has not reached the political sphere - even the democratic candidate for Georgia governor voted for the new law.

They know blocking it is a sure-fire way to lose votes.

In the face of continued mass shootings, the so-called Safe Carry Protection Act is proof that the all-powerful gun lobby's influence is as strong as ever.

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American Hails Tim Howard's World Cup Heroics

Tim Howard's World Cup heroics have seen him put forward as a mock presidential candidate, called the new US defence secretary and depicted as a dinosaur-saving superhero.

Now, US soccer fans are calling for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to be renamed in honour of his record-breaking achievements against Belgium in Team USA's last-16 match.

The 35-year-old Everton player made the most-ever saves in a World Cup match, stopping 16 shots at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

He was named man of the match for the second time this tournament, despite his side going down 2-1 to two extra-time goals.

Tim Howard has been hailed a "national treasure"

His performance prompted one person to set up a petition on the White House website demanding the airport name change.

"Howard has shown himself to be a national treasure," the petition reads.

"We politely request that we rename the airport to recognise his accomplishments and meritorious service to the United States of America."

More than 4,000 people have already signed the petition, which needs to reach 100,000 signatures to earn a reply from officials.

Howard's one-man show received plenty of praise on Twitter, even earning the respect of Belgian captain Vincent Kompany.

After the match, the Manchester City star tweeted: "Two words ... Tim Howard."

US Vice President Joe Biden wrote: "Proud that our guys, just like our country, never gave up. Tim Howard - most valuable player in the World Cup."

Another tweet featured a picture of the goalkeeper with the words: "Tim Howard for President 2016."

"#Howard2016, #Howard2020, #Howard2024, #Howard2028, #Howard2032," the caption read.

Meanwhile, hundreds of fans posted pictures of Howard intervening in unlikely situations, with the hashtag #ThingsTimHowardCouldSave one of the most-used of the past day.

Memes showed him leaping into action to divert the meteorite that is thought to have killed off the dinosaurs, as well as keeping the Titanic afloat and saving a stranded Bambi.

The hilarity even spread to Wikipedia, where the entry for US defence secretary was altered to list Howard as the incumbent.

Belgium's late win set up a quarter final clash with Argentina on Saturday.

The winners of that match will play either the Netherlands or Costa Rica for a coveted place in the final.

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The 'Heroes' Fighting Africa's Deadly Virus

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, In Liberia

Sky News talks to the Ebola "heroes" fighting the virus in Foya, Liberia - the epicentre of the latest outbreak.

:: The District Health Officer 

Philip F Azumah conducts daily emergency meetings of about a dozen key local professionals from the backyard of his house in the centre of Foya, desperately trying to collate the latest information and planning fresh action to take that day to combat the spread of the virus and educate the population.

He organises samples to be taken of suspected cases and even personally transports these samples to the Guinea border a few kilometers away where the samples are received by a representative from Medecins Sans Frontiers and taken over the border by canoe boat to their testing lab twenty minutes away.

There is no Ebola testing laboratory in Foya itself and the capital Monrovia is nine hours drive away so this is the quickest route.

He says one of the main ways the virus is being spread is because the traditional way of dealing with the dead.

The dead person is often kept in the house for a week while relatives wash them, plait their hair, eat with them, weep and pray for them.#

This means if the person has died of Ebola, the virus is very easily spread through this close contact.
 

:: The Liberian Red Cross Worker

Henry T Nyorka

Henry T Nyorkor spends his time calming fears and concerns amongst a terrified population many of whom are ignorant of the basic facts about how Ebola is spread.

He works hard at trying to spread information about how the virus is passed on and also at integrating those who miraculously survive (there's a ten percent survival rate) or those who test negative for the disease.

Even if people are cleared of having the virus, such is the fear of getting the disease, they are often outcasts in their communities.

This has also led to a general reluctance to notify the authorities of any symptoms - and some of those with Ebola have been hidden and buried secretly to avoid the relatives being ostracised.
 

:: The Hospital Administrator 

Francis Forndia

Francis T Forndia is struggling to maintain morale at the tiny Foya-Borma hospital, the only hospital in the area and where three of the medical staff have already died.

They contracted the disease after treating a patient they did not realise had the virus. The deaths caused fear and panic amongst the medical staff and several fled the hospital and have not returned.

He urgently wants the Liberian Government to help out with a compensation package for the staff who are being asked to treat Ebola patients.

Right now should any of them contract the illness or even die, there is no help for the families and loved ones they leave behind so little incentive for them to risk their lives tackling one of the globe's most virulent diseases.
 

:: The Nurse 

Adeyami Babatunde

Adeyemi Babatunde works in the High Risk Ebola Infection Unit set up on the edge of Foya town. He takes extraordinary risks treating and caring for those who have the disease and most of whom will die.

He is traumatised after the death of two of his nursing colleagues. He has to don extraordinary protective kit to ensure he doesn't catch the virus - including two layers of clothing, two gloves, rubber boots, head gear and a mask - every time he enters the infection ward.

In temperatures of nearly 40 degrees, the temperatures once kitted-up are stifling and the sights inside the ward are often frightening and traumatic.

Whilst we were there we saw him trying to treat another nurse who was bleeding heavily and was clearly very weak and dazed from the virus.

He does this in the knowledge that 90 per cent of all those confirmed as having Ebola end up dying. There is no cure or treatment for the virus.
 

:: The Survivor 

Harrison Sakilla

Harrison Sakilla is in a very select group of Ebola survivors - one of only ten percent of those who catch the virus who have ended up living.

He caught it from tending to his dying mother in Sierra Leone who - unbeknown to him - had the disease. He brought the disease back over the border to Liberia with him and was struck down ill within three days of returning.

He informed the authorities and they managed to rehydrate him and care him back to health. He knows he is astonishingly lucky and credits the dedication of the medical nurses and Allah for saving him from an almost certain death.

The medics around the Ebola treatment have encouraged him to stay around the tented area as an example of someone who has survived and is back to good health.

"I feel strong," he told us when we spoke to him.

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Africa Battles To Stop Deadly Spread Of Ebola

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, In Liberia

The worst Ebola outbreak ever is spreading and will almost certainly extend across West Africa unless there is cross-country co-operation and urgent international assistance.

The porous borders between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has meant the disease is not being contained and now risks spreading even further.

Health workers at the epicentre, where the borders of the three countries meet, have made an urgent appeal through Sky News for immediate international help to try to control the virus.

The latest outbreak has spread to three countries

Philip Azumah, the Foya district health officer, said: "We need help now, or the virus will spread and kill more people."

It is difficult to determine exactly how many people have already died from the disease given the cross-border contamination and lack of accounting.

But it is already clear there are many more deaths than any previous outbreak.

Aid organisation Doctors Without Borders has already said it is the largest outbreak on record, with the highest number of deaths.

Across the three countries, more than 400 have died in this latest outbreak, with no sign of the disease being halted.

And for the first time the disease has spread to highly populated areas including cities such as Guinea's capital, Conakry.

At one of the high-risk infection centres set up in Foya, in Liberia, the medics insisted we, like them, took extreme precautions.

This included wearing two layers of protective head-to-toe clothing featuring one waterproof all-in-one outfit, face and head masks, double gloves, thick plastic aprons, sturdy goggles and rubber boots.

Among the victims was a nurse who contracted Ebola after caring for a person who later died from the virus.

Nurse Elizabeth Smith was lying on a bed next to another nurse who had contracted Ebola from the same patient they had both treated.

But Ms Smith was significantly weaker than her co-worker. She did not raise her head as we entered and her bed was soaked in blood.

Neither woman had realised they were treating a patient with Ebola, so had taken none of the precautions their colleagues were now taking.

Two of them sprayed Ms Smith with disinfectant, down her legs, her feet, her hands and arms as they stood arms-length away in their head-to-toe protective clothing and visors. Gingerly, they took her arms and helped her to her feet, before escorting her down the tent corridor to the high-risk area.

Elizabeth Smith was too weak to raise her head

Here, every patient is a confirmed Ebola case and the odds are that 90% of them will die.

The frightening deadliness of Ebola, plus the ignorance around it and the lack of a cure, has thrown the medical staff in this area into a panic.

Francis Forndia, administrator for Foya-Borma Hospital, where medical staff have died after treating victims, told us his workers simply fled after nurses began dying.

"It is hard to get them to return, but we have managed to persuade some to come back by explaining to them how needed they are," he said.

Mr Azumah is co-ordinating the health battle against Ebola in this area. He tells me the first recent outbreak in Liberia was in March, when an infected woman travelled to Foya from Guinea.

She died two days after being admitted to the sole and tiny hospital in Foya. By the time of her death, she had infected eleven people in hospital alone.

Two of them were nurses who went on to die. The remaining nine somehow managed to survive.

Officials say cultural traditions have helped spread the virus

Then Liberia went a solid three weeks without an incident and believed they were clear - until the end of May.

This time, a woman from Sierra Leone, probably out of fear, gave misleading information about where she had come from.

She told investigators she was local, which was true, but did not mention she had in fact spent some time in an infected area of Sierra Leone.

This time the consequences were much more widespread. She had infected a stream of people, six of whom died.

They are still trying to trace all those she may have been in contact with.

There have since been other outbreaks in Voinjamma and the Liberian capital, Monrovia, while Guinea and Sierra Leone continue to register deaths, too.

Mr Azumah said: "In our culture, it is the habit to wash the dead body, look after it for a week in the home, kiss and touch it, even eat meals with the dead body - and we believe this has led to the virus spreading.

"Also people are keeping the illnesses and deaths secret if they suspect Ebola."

By alerting the authorities to possible Ebola, people risk being ostracised by their communities.

There is even a fear among these poverty stricken communities that the visiting health workers are spreading the virus.

But what seems significant is that, in Liberia at least, one of the poorest countries in the world, they are largely coping with this virulent disease on their own - with very little outside help evident.

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'Superhuman' Bends Car Door To Save Driver

A man has used his "superhuman strength" to bend the door of a burning car and pull the driver to safety.

Robert Renning was driving along the I-35 near New Brighton, Minnesota, when he noticed another vehicle on fire.

He flagged down the motorist, Michael Johannes, but as he rushed to help, the electronic locks and windows on the other car failed.

As smoke filled the car, Mr Johannes frantically tried to kick out the windows.

Firefighters extinguish the blaze on the I-35. Pic: Minnesota State Patrol

When he was unable to free himself from the burning wreck, Mr Renning grabbed the top of the door and pulled it towards the ground, causing glass in the window to shatter.

He then grabbed hold of Mr Johannes and pulled him clear of the flames.

Trooper Zachary Hill, of Minnesota State Patrol, said: "He did an extraordinary deed, bending a locked car door of a burning car in half to extricate a trapped person.

The car was completely destroyed in the fire. Pic: Minnesota State Patrol

"He deserves any and all commendation for his extraordinary life-saving measure that kept another man from burning alive."

Speaking to the Minnesota Star Tribune, he said Mr Renning had shown "superhuman strength", adding: "I don't think I could take a crowbar and fold the door like he did."

Mr Johannes suffered only slight smoke inhalation and minor cuts from where he was pulled through the window.

Mr Renning, who was unhurt, told the Star Tribune he had "no clue" how he managed to prize open the door.

"I'm just a slightly overweight Air Force First Sergeant, for crying out loud," he joked.

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'Traumatised Pistorius At Risk Of Suicide'

Oscar Pistorius has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and needs to continue being treated to avoid the risk of suicide, a court has heard.

The findings of a psychiatric report have been read out during the athlete's murder trial in Pretoria.

It ruled Pistorius is not mentally ill, but has been "severely traumatised" by the events of Valentine's Day last year.

Pistorius has no history of mental instability or violence, said his defence lawyer Barry Roux, who read out sections of the report.

The athlete's relationship with Ms Steenkamp was loving and normal, he added.

Earlier, Pistorius's manager, Peet van Zyl, was challenged by State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel over his assertion Ms Steenkamp was the first girlfriend the athlete asked to accompany him on trips abroad.

An email from Pistorius to Mr van Zyl was read out by Mr Nel, in which the athlete sent his manager a copy of ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor's passport.

Mr van Zyl said he could not remember receiving such a message.

The trial was adjourned while Pistorius underwent tests on his mental state

A letter from Pistorius to Ms Taylor in which he asked for her to go to the 2012 Olympics in London with him was read out by Mr Nel.

It said: "That is not fair on you, you have never given me a reason not to trust you.

"When I asked you to join me, I was so excited to tell you. I had asked Peet to find you a ticket last week.

"I don't even feel like going to London if you cannot go with me."

Pistorius would cower at fireworks, the court heard

Again, Mr van Zyl said he did not know if Pistorius asked for a ticket for the Olympics for Ms Taylor.

When asked how much he knew about Pistorius's relationships with his girlfriends, Mr van Zyl said: "I was not part of Mr Pistorius's private life."

Sports medicine academic Professor Wayne Derman, who worked with the South African Olympic team, described Pistorius as being "hyper vigilant", scanning his environment and cowering when he heard fireworks.

He told the court the levels of stress, anxiety and depression are greater in disabled athletes, and it is possible for them to have a heightened "fight or flight" response.

Pistorius leaves court at the end of another day of evidence

The last communication Professor Derman had with the athlete was early in February 2013, when Pistorius told him he was suffering from an upper-respiratory infection.

Professor Derman told him to go to a pharmacy, and added: "I asked him how life was treating him after the competition and he responded 'he was lying next to the most amazing woman (Ms Steenkamp)'."

After a lengthy debate and a break for lunch, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled an email from Sue Kent, a disabled massage therapist at London 2012, should not be allowed as evidence.

Pistorius denies murdering Ms Steenkamp

In the message she said it was important people realised Pistorius would have had a heightened "fight or flight" response before the shooting.

Pistorius denies murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he shot her after mistaking her for an intruder.

The trial continues.

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Kenya: Four Killed In Drugs Plane Crash

Four people were killed when a cargo plane crashed moments after taking off at the main airport in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Soldiers at the scene of the crash

The Fokker 50 aircraft, which was loaded with the stimulant Khat, plunged into a residential building.

The pilot, flight engineer and two passengers were killed but police say no-one on the ground was hurt.

It's thought the plane may have hit an electrical pole

The plane took off from Joshua Nkomo International Airport at 4.15am and two minutes later radioed the control tower to say it was struggling to gain height.

Preliminary investigations found it may have hit an electrical pole before coming down in the Embakasi area.

Police and firefighters sift through the wreckage

No other details were immediately available on the possible cause of the crash.

The plane was transporting the Khat to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

An inquiry has begun to find out the cause of the crash

Khat is popular in parts of the Middle East and Africa but is banned in the UK and most other EU countries.

In the US it is classified as a dangerous narcotic. Users chew the leaf to produce a mild high.

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Clashes Erupt As Teen Found Dead In Jerusalem

Palestinian protesters have clashed with police in Israel after the discovery of the body of an Arab teenager who is suspected to have been killed in retribution for the deaths of three Israeli youths.

Sky News' Middle East Correspondent Sherine Tadros said violence erupted in the Arab suburb of Shuafat in Jerusalem after news of the discovery spread.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for calm on all sides as video footage showed protesters throwing rocks at police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Special forces have been sent in and all roads in the area have been closed.

The body is believed to be that of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khudair, 16, who was reported missing in the early hours of the morning.

Violence started after reports a Palestinian youth was abducted

Witnesses said they saw him being forced into a vehicle outside a supermarket in the Shuafat area.

Israeli police are yet to formally the identity of the body, which was found in the Jerusalem Forest in West Jerusalem.

Israel's Ynet website reported that it was charred and showed signs of violence.

Palestinian news reports have blamed Israeli settlers for the abduction.

One Israeli security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said officials suspect the youth was killed in retribution for the deaths of three Israeli teenagers whose bodies were found in the West Bank on Monday.

Police are investigating whether the body was that of the missing teen

Israel has accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of abducting and killing Gilad Shaar, 16, Eyal Yifrach, 19, and Naftali Frenkel, 16.

They went missing while hitchhiking home from the Jewish seminaries where they studied near Hebron.

Naftali Frenkel's family has spoken out against acts of retribution.

His uncle, Yisahi Frenkel, said: "If the Arab youth was murdered because of nationalistic motives then this is a horrible and horrendous act.

The three Israeli teens were buried on Tuesday

"There is no difference between (Arab) blood and (Jewish) blood. Murder is murder. There is no forgiveness or justification for any murder."

Prime Minister Netanyahu has issued a statement urging all sides "not to take the law into their own hands".

Overnight police in Jerusalem arrested 47 Israelis overnight who attended a hardline "anti-Arab" protest in the city. Chants of "death to Arabs" were heard among the several hundred protesters.

Mr Netanyahu had earlier pledged to find those responsible for the Israeli youths' deaths.

Speaking to reporters, he said: "Whoever was involved in the kidnapping and the murder will bear the consequences. We will neither rest nor slow down until we reach the last of them and it does not matter where they will try to hide."

Jewish youths mourn next to the graves of the three boys

Mr Netanyahu also warned Israel's response would include stepping up military activity in Hamas-controlled Gaza if rocket fire from the territory continues.

"The Israeli Defence Force has been active in recent days against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, and here as well we are still active," he said.

"If need be, we will expand the operation as much as is needed."

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California Protesters Turn Back Migrant Buses

Anti-immigration protesters have blocked the arrival of three buses carrying undocumented migrants to a US Border Patrol station in California.

Authorities had to reroute the Central American families after the mayor of Murrieta, a town just north of San Diego, rallied residents to demonstrate.

Shouting "Go home - we don't want you here", the protesters prevented the vehicles from reaching the Border Patrol facility.

Murrieta Mayor Alan Long said the migrants posed a public safety threat

More than 52,000 unaccompanied children fleeing poverty and violence have been detained crossing the Texas-Mexico border since October in what President Barack Obama has called a humanitarian crisis.

On Tuesday the authorities brought a group of around 140 adults and children in unmarked buses from Texas to be processed at the Californian centre.

Most were expected to be released under limited supervision pending deportation proceedings, US immigration officials said.

The protesters held signs saying "Illegals out!"

But Murrieta Mayor Alan Long said the migrants posed a public safety threat.

Some 150 protesters blocked the buses from reaching an access road to the Border Patrol station, waving American flags and holding signs saying "Illegals out!" 

After a standoff lasting about half an hour, the buses drove away

The demonstrators ignored orders from police to leave, but officers did not attempt to use force to disperse them.

One protester, Roger Cotton, 49, told the Los Angeles Times he feared the migrants would be a burden on an already strained system.

"Who's going to pay for them?" he said. "What kind of criminality will happen?"

News crews trailed the three buses during the journey

After a standoff lasting about half an hour, the buses turned around and drove away.

The undocumented migrants were reportedly transferred to a Border Patrol station in the San Diego area.

A number of news crews trailed the three buses during the journey.

The migrants are expected to be released pending deportation proceedings

Juan Silva, 27, a welder, told AP news agency he thought the reaction to the migrants was harsh.

"We're not talking about rapists," he said. "We're talking about human beings. How would they feel if it was their kids?"

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