Briefly

NIGER

Military vows to prosecute Bazoum

Niger's military vowed on Sunday to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country, reported local media. Bazoum would be prosecuted "for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger", said Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, a member of the country's Defense and Security Forces and the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. The Economic Community of West African States has approved the deployment of a "standby force to restore constitutional order" as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis, reported local media.

IRAN

Terror attack on religious site kills 1

At least one person was killed and eight others were injured on Sunday in a "terrorist" attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in Iran's southern Fars province, the official news agency IRNA reported. In the evening, several staff members and worshippers were caught under the gunfire of an armed assailant who attempted to break into the shrine at the main gate, IRNA reported, citing Deputy Governor of Fars Province Esmail Qezel Sofla. He said the "terrorist" has been arrested and is under interrogation, adding that all the injured have been transferred to the hospital.

AFGHANISTAN

3 die, 7 hurt in blast at hotel

An explosion ripped through a hotel in Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding seven others, police said. The blast occurred at a city hotel frequented by Afghan people and refugees from Pakistan's North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan, The Associated Press quoted Mustaghfir Gurbaz, a police spokesperson in Khost, as saying. He said officers were investigating to determine what caused the blast and who was behind it. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Xinhua - Agencies