Kurdish Protesters Clash with Police in Paris

A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)
A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)
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Kurdish Protesters Clash with Police in Paris

A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)
A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)

Clashes broke out for a second day in Paris on Saturday between police and members of the Kurdish community angry at the killing on Friday of three members of their community.

Cars were overturned, at least one vehicle was burned and small fires set alight near Republic Square, the traditional venue for demonstrations in the city where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest.

Clashes broke out as some demonstrators left the square, throwing projectiles at police who responded with tear gas. Skirmishes continued for around two hours before the protesters dispersed.

A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural center and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district, stunning a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists, Reuters reported.

Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a saber attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.

Following questioning of the suspect, investigators had added a suspected racist motive to initial accusations of murder and violence with weapons, the prosecutor's office said on Saturday.

After an angry crowd clashed with police on Friday afternoon, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) organized a gathering on Saturday at Republic Square.

Hundreds of Kurdish protesters, joined by politicians including the mayor of Paris' 10th district, waved flags and listened to tributes to the victims.



Security Council Stresses Support for UN Chief after Israel Slight

FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting during the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 27, 2024.  REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting during the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
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Security Council Stresses Support for UN Chief after Israel Slight

FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting during the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 27, 2024.  REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting during the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

The UN Security Council has affirmed its full support for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel banned the UN chief from entering the country.

In several messages Thursday almost certainly aimed at Israel, the 15-member council “underscored that any decision not to engage with the UN secretary-general or the United Nations is counterproductive, especially in the context of escalating tensions in the Middle East.”

The UN's most powerful body also “underscored the need for all member states to have a productive and effective relationship with the secretary-general and to refrain from any actions that undermine his work and that of his office.”

Switzerland’s UN Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl, the current council president, read the statement to reporters late Thursday.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday that Guterres is “persona non grata” — not welcome — in the country, accusing the secretary-general of being biased against Israel.