NATION & WORLD
Sunday, July 28, 2013 THE NEW MEXICAN
A-3
Dozens of Morsi backers killed in Egypt bloodshed By Aya Batrawy and Tony G. Gabriel The Associated Press
CAIRO — Security forces and armed men clashed with supporters of Egypt’s ousted president early Saturday, killing at least 65 people in mayhem that underscored an increasingly heavy hand against protests demanding Mohammed Morsi’s return to office. In chaotic scenes, pools of blood stained the floor and bodies were lined up under white sheets in a makeshift hospital near the site of the battles in eastern Cairo. Doctors struggled to cope with the flood of dozens of wounded, many with gunshots to the head or chest. It was the deadliest single outbreak of violence since the military ousted Morsi on July 3 and one of the deadliest in over two
years of turmoil in Egypt. It was not immediately clear if all the 65 killed were all protesters or if residents who joined the fight against the march were among the dead. The Brotherhood said that 66 Morsi supporters were killed in the Cairo violence. The extent of the bloodshed pointed to a rapidly building confrontation between the country’s two camps, sharply divided over the coup that removed Egypt’s first freely elected president after widespread protests against him. Authorities talk more boldly of making a move to end weeks of protests by Morsi’s largely Islamist supporters. At the same time, the Islamists are growing more assertive in challenging security forces as they try to win public backing for their cause. Saturday’s clashes were sparked when pro-Morsi pro-
testers sought to expand their main Cairo sit-in camp by moving onto a nearby main boulevard, only to be confronted by police and armed civilians — reportedly residents of nearby neighborhoods. Police initially fired tear gas but in ensuing clashes, the protesters came under gunfire. Officials from Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and their allies decried what they called a new “massacre” against their side, only weeks after July 8 clashes with army troops in Cairo that left more than 50 Morsi supporters dead. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that he spoke to Egyptian authorities, saying it is “essential” they respect the right to peaceful protest. He called on all sides to enter a “meaningful political dialogue” to “help their country take a
step back from the brink.” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also asked security forces to “act with full respect for human rights” and demonstrators to “exercise restraint.” But neither side has shown much taste for reconciliation. Islamists staunchly reject the new leadership and insist the only possible solution to the crisis is to put Morsi back in office. Meanwhile, the interim leadership is pushing ahead with a fasttrack transition plan to return to a democratically elected government by early next year. The military-backed authorities appear confident of public support for a tougher hand after millions turned out for nationwide rallies Friday called by army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as a mandate against “terrorism and violence.” Interior Minister Mohammed
Gunman kills 6 in Florida apartment shooting rampage Hialeah, a working-class suburb a few miles northwest of downtown Miami, at 6:30 p.m. Friday. HIALEAH, Fla. — A man livThe first calls reported a fire, but ing with his mother in a South when firefighters arrived, they Florida apartment complex set heard shots and immediately their unit on fire and went on a notified police, Zogby said. shooting rampage throughout Vargas, who has no known the building, killing six people criminal record, set a liquid on before being shot to death by fire in his fourth-floor apartment. police. As the eight-hour standoff Building manager Italo Pisciotti, unfolded, horrified residents 79, and his wife, Camira Pisciotti, hunkered down in their homes, 69, saw smoke and ran to the at times so close to the action unit, Zogby said. When they they could feel the gunfire or arrived, Vargas opened the door hear negotiations between the and fired, killing both. gunman and police, authorities Detectives were investigating and witnesses said Saturday. whether Vargas had any ongoing In the final hours, Pedro Vardisputes with the building mangas, 42, held two people hostage ager, as some residents believed. at gunpoint for up to three hours His mother was not home at the in their apartment until a SWAT time. team entered and killed him, After gunning down the buildpolice said. The hostages were ing managers, Vargas went back not hurt. into his burning apartment and “The crime scene is the whole fired 10 to 20 shots from a 9mm building,” said Lt. Carl Zogby, pistol into the street. One of the a spokesman with the Hialeah bullets struck 33-year-old Carlos Police Department. Javier Gavilanes, who was parkPolice were called to the aging, ing his car after returning home five-story apartment building in By Christine Armario The Associated Press
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Egyptians mourn supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi who were killed Saturday in overnight clashes with security forces. HASSAN AMMAR/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ibrahim, who is in charge of police, took an uncompromising stance in a news conference after the violence. He accused the pro-Morsi side of provoking
bloodshed to win sympathy. “We didn’t go to them, they came to us — so they could use what happened for political gain,” he said.
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LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE PUEBLO RATE RIDERS! Dear Members and Customers,
As you may know, the Cooperative is a non-‐profit corporation with the only source of revenue being the sale of electricity to its customers. When the cost of providing electricity increases, the customers must necessarily pay more. The current Board of Trustees inherited the problem of expired pueblo easements and had to solve these problems in the exercise of due diligence. Renewing and paying for the easements is expensive and adds to the cost of electric service. However, before the Cooperative can pass additional costs along, the Cooperative must receive approval from the Public Regulation Commission. The Public Regulation Commission approves the rates charged to consumers and determines the methodology and formula for the rates, not the Board of Trustees!
Unfortunately, some candidates for Trustee and other members of the community are misleading and misinforming customers by claiming that the Board has made decisions to pass on costs for the pueblo easements using a formula that would be unfair to certain communities. These individuals have been fully informed as to the facts but continue to mislead the public in order to gain political advantage, and once again, the Board is forced to take corrective action, costing everyone. The Board has not developed a formula for how to charge customers the added expense of the easements for those living within the pueblo boundaries -‐-‐-‐ the Public Regulation Commission made the decision and ordered the implementation of the formula.
In fact, the Board of Trustees does not support the current PRC formula as applied to certain communities and will continue to work with the PRC to achieve a fair result for all. Sincerely,
Kenneth Borrego President, Board of Trustees Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Inc.