Syria

Suicide bombers kill up to 20 people

DAMASCUS — Two suicide bombers struck close to the Syrian capital Saturday, killing up to 20 people and wounding dozens more in the latest attack to hit the predominantly Shi’ite area in recent months. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings through its Aamaq news agency. Aamaq said two attackers were wearing explosive belts while a third was in a car. Syrian State TV said the blasts in the Sayyida Zeinab area just south of Damascus killed 12 people and wounded 55 others. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 20 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the two explosions. The blasts came as US-backed fighters in northern Syria tightened their siege on the ISIS stronghold of Manbij. (AP)

Mexico

Revenge suspected in 11 family deaths

TEHUACAN — A Mexican law enforcement official said the prime suspect in the killings of 11 family members is a man who apparently sought revenge after one of the victims reported that he raped her and he was jailed. The official said authorities believe multiple attackers shot the woman and her family, including two girls. The killers also slashed a male victim believed to be the woman’s partner, and may have tried to decapitate him. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. Prosecutors said late Friday that two suspects are being sought in the Thursday night murders in San Jose el Mirador. (AP)

Italy

Eritrean denies human trafficking

ROME — An Eritrean man who says he was mistakenly jailed in Rome as an alleged migrant- smuggling kingpin is expected to be transferred soon to Palermo, Sicily, where prosecutors are investigating human trafficking rings operating from Libya, the man’s lawyer said Saturday. Sudan sent a suspect identified as Medhane Yehdego Mered to Italy, which sought his arrest abroad. But the Eritrean community abroad contends the arrested man isn’t Mered. A judge may weigh in as early as Monday. (AP)