Militants abduct dozens of men from Sunni village in Iraq: reportSeptember 4, 2014 - 22:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Residents say militants affiliated with the extremist Islamic State group have kidnapped dozens of men from a Sunni village north of Baghdad, the Associated Press reported. The militants took some 50 men from Tal Ali village, around 240 kilometers (170 miles) north of Baghdad, on Thursday, Sept 4, residents said. The men were loaded onto trucks and driven away, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. The militants had retreated from the village the day before, fearing an attack by the Iraqi army. When they left, residents set fire to an Islamic State flag. The Islamic State group spearheaded an offensive in June, seizing vast swaths of northern Iraq. The group has published grisly photos of the mass killing of captives in areas under its control in Iraq and neighboring Syria. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |