Kenya

Abuses of civilians, aid workers on rise

NAIROBI — Civilians and aid workers in South Sudan have seen an alarming rise in attacks and harassment in the past week, the United Nations said Saturday, as the East African country faces both civil war and famine. The top UN humanitarian official in South Sudan, Eugene Owusu, said both government and opposition forces in the Upper Nile region beat aid workers in separate incidents. ‘‘Humanitarians are in this country to save lives. It is beyond reckoning that they continue to be killed, harassed, and abused despite our repeated calls for action,’’ Owusu said. He called an attack by government forces on the town of Pajok that killed several dozen people ‘‘reprehensible.’’ (AP)

Indonesia

6 militant suspects die in police clash

TUBAN — Indonesian police said they killed six suspected Islamic militants in a gun battle Saturday that followed a failed attack in East Java. The men were cornered in a village of Tuban district after attempting a drive-by shooting of a police officer who was patrolling a busy road in the area. Police said the six had refused appeals to surrender during a standoff that lasted several hours, and sparked the gun battle with mobile brigade and counterterrorism police by throwing explosives. Muslim-majority Indonesia has carried out a crackdown on militants since the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people. (AP)

Venezuela

Maduro opponents mount new protest

CARACAS — Venezuela’s government responded with light armored vehicles and tear gas Saturday as opponents of President Nicolas Maduro poured into the streets of Caracas as part of a protest movement that began a week ago and shows little sign of losing steam. The demonstration occurred a day after Maduro’s government barred top opposition leader Henrique Capriles from running for office for 15 years, the latest in a series of official actions that critics and foreign governments warn are bringing Venezuela closer to dictatorship. (AP)

Moldova

17 detained in plot to kill top politician

CHISINAU — Moldovan prosecutors said 17 people have been detained in Moldova and Ukraine on suspicion they were planning to kill one of the country’s most powerful politicians. Senior organized crime prosecutor Vitalie Busuioc said Saturday that authorities knew of orders from two unnamed people to assassinate Vladimir Plahotniuc, a businessman and chairman of the Democratic Party, the biggest party in Moldova’s pro-European governing coalition. Authorities detained eight in Moldova and nine in Ukraine, and seized grenade launchers. (AP)