World Briefs

MALAYSIAN police said yesterday that they have detained 12 men with suspected links to the Islamic state group who are believed to be plotting attacks on strategic government targets in the country.

KAZAKHSTAN Voters turned out in abundance at polling stations yesterday for a presidential election guaranteed to overwhelmingly reconfirm the incumbent, Nursultan Nazarbayev, 74, who has ruled over the former Soviet republic for more than 25 years.

INDONESIA notified nine foreigners and a local man convicted of drug trafficking that their executions will be carried out within days, ignoring appeals by the U.N. chief and foreign leaders to spare them. The 72-hour notice indicates the executions by firing squad in Besi prison on Nusakambangan Island will be carried out at the earliest tomorrow or Wednesday. The pending executions have caused an international outcry, particularly in Australia, France and the Philippines, which are opposed to the death penalty.

SOUTH AFRICA Nigeria is recalling its top diplomats in South Africa because of “ongoing xenophobia targeting foreigners,” said a government statement. Seven people have been killed in the attacks in South Africa that began three weeks ago. Property has been destroyed and the violence “created fear and uncertainty in the minds of African migrants,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement.

CHILE Authorities downgrade the likelihood of a major eruption at the Calbuco volcano, although the mountain remains active and the ash clouds it already ejected causes cancelations of more airline flights.

VENEZUELA The jailed mayor of Venezuela’s capital has been taken from prison to a hospital where he will undergo emergency surgery for a groin hernia. Antonio Ledezma was transferred early Saturday after a court granted prosecutors’ request to permit his release on medical grounds, according to his lawyer Omar Estacio.

USA Thousands of protesters take to the streets to demand answers in the case of Freddie Gray, the largest rally since the 25-year-old black man died in police custody. After hours of peaceful demonstrations, pockets of protesters smash police car windows and storefronts. More on p15