Ex-dictator's backers rally at Guatemala prison

Published May 12, 2013

Associated Press

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  Guatemala's former dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt wears headphones as he listens to the verdict in his genocide trial in Guatemala City, Friday, May 10, 2013. The Guatemalan court convicted Rios Montt on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, sentencing him to 80 years in prison. The 86-year-old former general is the first former Latin American leader ever found guilty of such a charge. The war between the government and leftist rebels cost more than 200,000 lives and ended in peace accords in 1996. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)The Associated Press

GUATEMALA CITY –  At least 500 people have protested outside a Guatemala prison against the genocide conviction for former dictator Efrain Rios Montt.

Supporters dressed in white and military garb shouted "Viva Rios Montt" on Sunday outside the Matamoros prison. That's where the ex-strongman was taken after he received a landmark 80-year sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Demonstrators say the judicial process was corrupt and are demanding a higher court nullify the verdict. Protesters say prosecutors couldn't prove the state had a motive to kill 1,771 Maya.

A tribunal ruled Friday that Rios Montt knew about the killings and didn't stop the slaughter between 1982 and 1983, the height of Guatemala's brutal civil war.

It was the first genocide conviction given to a former Latin American ruler in his own country.

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Royals rally late to top Twins in home opener

Published April 08, 2013

Sports Network

Kansas City, MO –  The Kansas City Royals rallied to score three runs in the eighth inning and defeated the Minnesota Twins, 3-1, in their home opener Monday.

Alcides Escobar, Billy Butler and Alex Gordon had an RBI apiece for the Royals, who saw starter Ervin Santana (1-1) pitch eight innings of one-run ball. Aaron Crow pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save.

Ryan Doumit drove in the Twins' lone run in the first inning. Starter Kevin Correia (0-1) allowed three runs on eight hits over 7 1/3 innings in defeat.

In the first, Doumit brought Joe Mauer home with a two-out single to left. Next up was Trevor Plouffe, and he also hit a single to left, but Doumit was thrown out at second while attempting to advance.

It was a pitching duel between the starters until the eighth inning. Gordon hit a one-out single, bringing Lorenzo Cain home. Escobar doubled in the next at-bat plating Gordon. Jared Burton entered from the bullpen and threw a wild pitch with Butler batting, allowing Escobar to reach third. Butler then singled to easily plate Escobar.

Crow came in the ninth for the Royals. He was able to strike out Plouffe. Then, after walking Chris Parmelee, he forced Brian Dozier to hit into a double play, ending the game.

Game Notes

Gordon was the only Kansas City player to strike out ... The Twins were 2- for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base ... Santana is three wins away from having 100 for his career ... The Royals celebrated 40 years of baseball at Kauffman Stadium, the sixth-oldest active park in the majors. It first opened on April 10, 1973.

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Capriles supporters rally in streets of Caracas

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  Partidarios del candidato presidencial opositor Henrique Capriles lo aplauden durante un acto de campaña en Maracay, Venezuela, 4 de abril de 2013. Venezuela elegirá al sucesor del difunto presidente Hugo Chávez el 14 de abril. (AP Foto/Fernando Llano)The Associated Press

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  Supporters of Venezuela's interim President Nicolas Maduro cheer during campaig rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 5, 2013. The presidential election to replace Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is scheduled for April 14. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)The Associated Press

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  A sign poking fun of ruling party presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro is seen during an opposition campaign rally ahead of next week end's presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, April 7, 2013. Tens of thousands of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles backers converged on a main avenue in downtown Caracas for Sunday's rally. The writting reads in Spanish "from my heart, fresh lies."(AP Photo/Enric Marti)The Associated Press

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  Opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles greets supporters as he campaigns in Maracay, Venezuela, Thursday, April 4, 2013. Capriles says he'll cut off subsidized oil to Cuba, distance his country from nations that disrespect human rights and shore up the South American country's own troubled economy with the billions it now sends abroad to socialist friends. The challenger also predicted more tough times ahead for oil-rich Venezuela if acting president and ruling party candidate Nicolas Maduro wins the April 14 election. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)The Associated Press

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  Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles cheer as they wait for the arrival of Capriles for a campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, April 7, 2013. Capriles is running against ruling party candidate Nicolas Maduro in next weekend's presidential election.(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)The Associated Press

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CARACAS, Venezuela –  A general expectation that Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor will win next weekend's presidential election didn't dim the spirits of the tens of thousands backers of challenger Henrique Capriles, who jammed the capital's center on Sunday.

Most of the people who converged by foot in the city center on a hot, sunny afternoon tried to shrug off forecasts of victory for Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn in as acting president after Hugo Chavez died March 5 following a long battle with cancer.

Chavez had defeated Capriles in October, but by the slimmest margin of his 14-year tenure as president.

Maduro, who rose from bus driver and union organizer to foreign minister under Chavez, is expected to benefit from an emotional outpouring of solidarity among Chavistas who have benefited from the generous social welfare state he created under the socialist banner.

But many critics contend that Maduro has been saddled with a fiscal hangover due to heavy Chavez spending ahead of October's vote.

Jesus Barroso, a 52-year-old retiree, said he believes Maduro will win handily next Sunday. But he predicted Maduro would not be able complete the six-year term because economic and social woes would prompt Venezuelans to remove him through a recall.

"I don't think he'll last very long in the presidency," Barroso said.

Supporters of Capriles chanted anti-government slogans and waved red, yellow and blue Venezuelan flags as they converged on a main avenue in downtown Caracas, where the 40-year-old governor of central Miranda state, was scheduled to speak.

Upbeat demonstrators danced to music sound trucks, which blasted "Fresh Lie," a newly composed song by Puerto Rican salsa musician Willie Colon that pokes fun at Maduro.

Capriles has repeatedly accused Maduro of failing to resolve pressing problems including frequent power outages, crumbling infrastructure, shortages of basic foods and double-digit inflation, and supporters say Capriles can do better.

"He's capable of offering opportunities to get us out of this disaster," said Maria De Llano, noting that she has difficulty finding some medicines and foods due to sporadic shortages.

Meanwhile, Maduro invoked Chavez yet again during a rally in the southern state of Apure, telling his backers that "El Comandante" is watching over them from Heaven.

"He's protecting us," Maduro said. "Chavez, we are with your love ... We are not going to let you down."

A recent poll by the independent polling firm Datanalisis showed Capriles trailed Maduro 49 percent to 35 percent in a sampling of 800 voters from March 11-13. The poll, with 16 percent of respondents undecided, had a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

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Christopher Toothaker on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ctoothaker

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Mass rally in Pyongyang in support of Kim Jong Un

Published March 29, 2013

Associated Press

PYONGYANG, North Korea –  Thousands of North Koreans have turned out for a mass rally at the main square in Pyongyang in support of their leader's call to arms.

Chanting "Death to the U.S. imperialists" and "Sweep away the U.S. aggressors," soldiers and students marched through Kim Il Sung Square in downtown Pyongyang on Friday during a 90-minute rally.

State media reported early Friday that leader Kim Jong Un called an emergency military meeting to order the army's rocket unit to prepare to strike the U.S. and South Korea in case of a "reckless provocation" by Washington or Seoul.

A full-blown North Korean attack is unlikely, though there are fears of a more localized conflict. Pyongyang has railed against the U.S. decision to send B-2 bombers for military drills with South Korea.

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California Chick-fil-A gives free food to gay marriage supporters at rally

A California Chick-fil-A surprised gay marriage supporters at a rally by passing out free meals coupons, despite the fast food chain's COO's outspoken stance against same-sex marriage.

The Los Angeles Daily News reports Corey Braun, the owner and operator of a franchise in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., says he felt the gathering was an opportunity to show hospitality to members of his community, regardless of their beliefs. 

"I wanted to show that Chick-fil-A doesn't discriminate against anybody," Braun told the Los Angeles Daily News. "We serve everyone. We're happy to serve the community and this was an opportunity to have this group come in and show them our hospitality regardless of their beliefs, sexual orientation, or whatever."

Eden Anderson, who is a board member for a local LGBT rights group, called Braun's actions "surreal."

"What I experienced with the community, is when people are open and apologetic and accepting, it's touching to us," Anderson told the Los Angeles Daily News. "It feels like acceptance and we just want to be accepted and engaged in society, so when it's confirmed, I think the overall reaction was, yes, certainly that Chick-fil-A in Rancho Cucamonga is welcoming to us."

Chick-fil-A's COO Dan Cathy drew outrage from LGBT groups nationwide last year after he voiced opposition to same-sex marriage, with many gay marriage supporters calling for a boycott of his restaurants.

In turn, supporters of the fast food chain held "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." The Los Angeles Daily News reports hundreds turned out to Braun's franchise on "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" to show their support.

Braun says he feels Cathy's comments were taken out of context.

"Chick-fil-A has never been about hate," he said.

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Huge rally lifts Heat to 24th straight win

Published March 20, 2013

Sports Network

Cleveland, OH –  Once again, LeBron James broke the hearts of the city of Cleveland.

The ex-Cavalier recorded a triple-double that helped trigger a huge second- half comeback and extend the Miami Heat's winning streak to 24 consecutive games with a 98-95 decision over Cleveland at a charged-up Quicken Loans Arena.

Visiting his former city for only the fourth time since leaving the Cavs for Miami as the most sought-after free agent in NBA history during July of 2010, James racked up 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in sparking the Heat's rally from a 27-point third-quarter deficit. Nineteen of those points came after halftime.

Five other Miami players finished in double figures to aid in the Heat's lengthening of the second-longest winning run in league annals. Mario Chalmers contributed 17 points, with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Shane Battier all netting 11 on the evening.

Despite being without its top two scorers in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, Cleveland was in front by a wide margin for much of the way before wilting down the stretch and being dealt its fourth straight loss and eighth and 10 outings.

Wayne Ellington paced the Cavs with 20 points, while Tristan Thompson had 18 and Tyler Zeller compiled 12 points and 11 rebounds.

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