VOA News for 06 May 2013 - 20130506

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VOA NEWS
May 6th, 2013
Now, the news from the Voice of America. Military target in Damascus hit by Israeli missiles, and new Libyan law could force prime minister from office. I'm Christopher Cruise reporting from Washington.
Israeli missiles hit a military target near the Syrian capital, Damascus, Sunday. Robert Berger reports from Jerusalem.
Loud explosions rocked Damascus. A Syrian news agency says Israeli missiles blasted a military research center near the capital.
Foreign intelligence sources say Israel hit sophisticated Iranian-made missiles believed to be headed to the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. These are said to be extremely accurate guided missiles, unlike anything Hezbollah has in its arsenal.
There is no official comment from Israel on Sunday's pre-dawn attack. But cabinet minister Uzi Landau dropped a strong hint.
He said Israel's policy is It will not allow the transfer of sophisticated Syrian weapons to terrorist groups.
Robert Berger for VOA news, Jerusalem.
In an interview Saturday, President Obama said Israel has the right to protect itself from shipments of advanced weapons to terrorist groups like Hezbollah. The group is allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Some Libyan officials and lawmakers may be forced out of office by a new law approved by the National Assembly Sunday. The law says officials who served in the government of former ruler Moammar Gadhafi cannot be part of the new Libyan government.
Former rebels who helped oust Gadhafi surrounded the Foreign and Justice ministries in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, last week. They were demanding the law be approved.
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan could be forced from office because he was a diplomat in Gadhafi's government before he joined the opposition.
Eight Somalis were killed in the capital, Mogadishu, Sunday when al-Shabab suicide bomber rammed his car into a group of Interior Ministry vehicles. Al-Shabab controlled most of the city before being forced out by the military two years ago. VOA's East Africa correspondent Gabe Joselow reports.
A medic at the scene of the attack, Mohamoud Yarow, said the damage was extensive.
"Some people were killed and others were injured," he said. The al-Qaeda linked militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Despite losing ground to a concerted military operation by regional forces, the militants have continued to launch sporadic attacks.
Al-Shabab still controls towns and villages in southern Somalia, while the new government is working to strengthen national institutions weakened after two decades of civil war.
Gabe Joselow, VOA news, Nairobi.
And on that note, Somali officials will be in London this week to meet with officials from countries that want to help Somalia rebuild.
Rescue workers in Bangladesh have found more bodies in the rubble of a clothing factory that collapsed last month. The death toll has now risen to more than 600.
Officials released the new count Sunday. They said they believe more bodies will be found.
The building collapsed April 24th with more than 3,000 people inside.
At least nine people have been arrested, including the building's owner, the owners of several factories housed inside the building and engineers responsible for the building's construction.
The coalition that has governed Malaysia for 56 years has survived the closest elections since it took power when the country gained its independence from Britain in 1957.
Voters went to the polls on Sunday.
The country's Election Commission said the three-party alliance that made up the opposition won 57 of 222 parliamentary seats. The ruling coalition won 112.
Election officials said voter turnout was about 80 percent, or about 10 million people.
The ruling coalition had been accused of arrogance, abuse of public funds and racial discrimination.
The opposition kept control of northern Penang state and kept strong support in Kuala Lumpur, the country's largest city.
North Korea says it will not invite well-known Americans like former presidents, Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton, to come to the country to seek the release of a jailed American as they have in the past.
And the North said it will not use the man as a bargaining chip in any political negotiations.
Korean-American tour operator Kenneth Bae was arrested in November. He was charged with plotting to overthrow the state. Last month, he was convicted and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.
And that's the news at this hour from the Voice of America. For more on these and other stories anytime from around the world, go to voanews.com. I'm Christopher Cruise, VOA news, Washington.