BANGUI, Central African Republic

Attack on church compound by Muslim rebels kills dozens

Muslim rebels stormed a Catholic church compound in the capital of Central African Republic on Wednesday, killing as many as 30 people in a hail of gunfire and grenades, witnesses said.

The attack on the compound at the church, where thousands of civilians had sought refuge from the violence ravaging Bangui’s streets, is the largest blamed on Muslim fighters since their Seleka coalition was ousted from power nearly five months ago.

Wednesday’s attack marked a rare attack on a house of worship, as Catholic churches have served as sanctuaries for both Christian and Muslim civilians since the country erupted into sectarian bloodshed in December.

Fears escalated late Wednesday that the new bloodshed would spark reprisal attacks on the city’s few remaining Muslims.

BOGOTA, Colombia

U.S. envoy accused in plot against Venezuela president

Venezuela’s government is implicating the U.S. ambassador to Colombia in a plot to destabilize President Nicolas Maduro’s rule.

Leaders of the ruling socialist party on Wednesday presented what they said were emails written by ousted lawmaker Maria Corina Machado to members of the opposition. In one dated March 23 Machado describes how Kevin Whitaker offered his support to the opposition and indicated “new steps.” At the time Whitaker oversaw Andean affairs at the State Department.

Officials didn’t say how the emails were obtained.

A State Department spokesman speaking on condition of anonymity said the allegations are baseless and an effort by Maduro’s government to distract attention from grievances fueling anti-government protests.

UNITED NATIONS

Al-Qaida expanding global reach, U.N. monitor reports

Al-Qaida’s recruitment of foreign fighters has expanded the terrorist network’s global reach and could lead to new pan-Arab and pan-European networks of extremists, the chair of the U.N. committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaida said Wednesday.

Australia’s U.N. Ambassador Gary Quinlan told the U.N. Security Council that countries in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe are already grappling with the reality of returning “battle-hardened foreign fighters.”

He said there is a “trend towards ever-increasing recruitment of foreign fighters” by al-Qaida and its affiliates in “a number of theaters of operation,” particularly in Syria.

– From news service reports