Nigerian political rally turns deadly
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- An enthusiastic political rally in Nigeria turned tragic Saturday when the crowd stampeded, killing at least 11 people and likely more, authorities said.
The Nation said while police confirmed 10 women and one man had died, the death toll could go higher, with at least 25 other people injured, some seriously.
Four other people -- three security personnel and a civilian -- died in a traffic accident involving a convoy carrying dignitaries.
The newspaper said the stampede happened shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan began delivering a speech at a campaign rally of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party at Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital. The mayhem occurred as some people tried to work their way out of the stadium as others tried to get in, the newspaper said.
Stadium security personnel shut larger gates, leaving only one small gate where people attempted to force their way through, The Nation said.
Vanguard newspaper reported without attribution that the chaos was fueled by police on horseback riding through the throngs, who were trying to reach money tossed into the air by an unidentified political official.
The Nigerian Tribune reported a spokesman for Jonathan, Ima Niboro, said the president had ordered an investigation into the deadly incident.
19 dead in Kandahar police station attack
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Taliban fighters and suicide bombers attacked Kandahar police headquarters Saturday and killed 19 people, mostly officers, Afghan officials said.
Afghan officials and witnesses told The New York Times the attack involved four would-be suicide bombers, three car bombs and rocket-propelled grenades. Fighting between police and the attackers went on for nearly 5 hours and also left three of the would-be bombers dead and a fourth wounded, police officials said.
Provincial Gov. Torylai Wesa called it "a big tragedy."
"Suicide bombers took shelter in a wedding hall near the police headquarters and aimed at it with rockets and grenades," Wesa said. "They have fired four rockets, and three landed in the police headquarters, and one hit a school next to the headquarters and caused the injury of nine students."
The governor said the city was back under control and security personnel were hunting for more suspects.
"Whoever carried out these attacks are the enemy of Afghanistan and Islam; they will never be forgiven," he said.
Fifteen police officers, one intelligence officer and three civilians were killed. The wounded included 25 civilians, two police officers and two members of the National Intelligence Directorate, Gen. Muhammad Salim Ehsas, the regional police director, said.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said the terrorist group took responsibility for the attack.
Paul, Romney top CPAC straw poll
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were the only candidates pulling ahead of the pack Saturday in the CPAC straw poll.
Paul, the 75-year-old Republican Texas congressman who won the straw poll at last year's Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington as well, got 30 percent of the vote, while the 63-year-old Romney got 23 percent, NBC reported. About 3,700 people, roughly one-third of attendees, voted, and organizers said almost half were under 25.
There was a loud response to the announcement Paul was the winner, Politico said, but it was a mix of applause and booing.
Paul, a libertarian who opposes the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and supports fiscal restraint and legalized drugs, has an enthusiastic following among young people. Romney is the closest thing in the crowded field to an establishment candidate.
No other candidates got more than 6 percent of the vote with former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in a tie for third place.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a senior fellow at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute since giving up his Georgia congressional seat in 1999, was fifth with 5 percent followed by Rep. Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels all at 4 percent and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at 3 percent.
Suspect in NYC killing spree caught
NEW YORK, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A man police suspect killed four people and attacked at least five others during a spree in New York City was caught in Times Square Saturday, authorities said.
Maksim Gelman, 23, was arrested at a subway station, the cable television news channel NY1 reported.
During a span of 28 hours in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Gelman allegedly fatally stabbed his stepfather, Aleksander Kuznetsov, 54; ex-girlfriend, Yelena Bulchenko; and her mother Anna, 56; and fatally struck a pedestrian, Stephen Tanenbaum, 62, while driving a car he had stolen from a man he wounded with a knife.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said police were trying to investigate Gelman's motive.
"He made a statement that 'she had to die,'" Kelly said. "There are two female victims here. We're not certain which one he's referring to that. But other than that, we know no specific reason why.
"Obviously, if he wasn't apprehended this morning, he could have injured, killed many more people."
He also allegedly stabbed a taxi driver and cut a couple before making a 40-year-old train passenger his final victim before being apprehended.
Two officers arrested him aboard the train after knocking a knife out of his hand.
The wounded victims were expected to survive.
6 dead in attack at Guadalajara bar
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- At least six people were killed Saturday and 37 wounded when attackers sprayed the entrance to a bar in Guadalajara, Mexico, with gunfire and lobbed a grenade.
The bar, called the Butler Club, is in the tourist district of Guadalajara, CNN said. Citing the Mexican news agency Notimex, CNN said gunmen opened fire outside the bar and threw at least one grenade inside.
Some news reports put the death total as high as 14.
Guadalajara, about 250 miles northwest of Mexico City, is the country's second-largest city and a major tourist destination. The city, known for its high-tech industry, large population of well-educated younger workers and low unemployment, has been selected as the host of the Pan American Games in October.
But the city has also seen a surge in violence, including kidnappings and roadblocks, since the death of Ignacio Nacho Coronel, a reputed cartel leader killed by the military last year.
The federal Attorney General's Office announced an investigation has been opened into the killings, Diario de Guadalajara reported.
