Taliban say near agreement on US withdrawal from Afghanistan
Reuters, Kabul
The Taliban said on Wednesday they were close to an agreement with U.S. officials on a deal that would see U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban promise the country would not become a haven for international militants.
Negotiations over how to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan have been held in Qatar’s capital, Doha, since late last year. The ninth round of talks began last week.
“We hope to have good news soon for our Muslim, independence seeking nation,” said Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban’s political office in Doha.
Six killed as Indonesian forces fire on Papua protesters
Reuters, Jakarta
Security forces opened fire on protesters in Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua on Wednesday, killing six people in a clash at a government office in the Deiyai region, a resident and a website citing a separatist group said.
Since last week, thousands of people have protested over perceived ethnic discrimination, leading to the torching of a market, a jail and government offices.
