Thursday, October 28, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
7
Nation/World
Armenian officials murdered
Prime minister among seven killed during parliament
The Associated Press
YEREVAN, Armenia — Gunmen seized Armenia's parliament in a torrent of automatic weapons fire yesterday, killing the prime minister and at least six other people. The attackers were still holed up in the building early today with dozens of hostages.
With the bodies of Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian and Parliament Speaker Karen Demirchil still on the podium where they fell, the attackers demanded to see the president. The human released three
The gunmen released three
hostages about 10 hours after the Wednesday afternoon assault, but continued to demand talks with President Robert Kocharian, the country's leader.
In a televised statement early today, Kocharian promised to take "all measures to control the situation and free the hostages." But there no immediate signs of a resolution to the standoff.
The three freed hostages — two parliament deputies and Agriculture Minister Gagig Shakhbazian — apparently were released for medical concerns. All were taken to hospital after the release, reportedly suffering from heart attacks.
Police said up to five gunmen held dozens of hostages in the main chamber of the parliament building. The gunmen claimed they were
holding about 50 hostages.
"They said it was a coup and called on the journalists to inform people about it. They said they were going to punish the authorities for what they did to the nation," said one reporter who was in the chamber during the attack.
A man identified as the gunman's leader, Nairi Unanian, spoke in a telephone interview with a local television station.
"This is a patriotic action," he said. "This shake-up is needed for the nation to regain its senses."
He said the deaths were unintended except for Sarkisian, who he claimed had failed to serve the nation.
Armenian television broadcast footage of the attack, showing at least two men firing automatic weapons in the parliament chamber.
--credited it to his economic policies.
U.S. nets consecutive budget surpluses the first since Eisenhower presidency
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON— Declaring the "book on deficits is closed," President Clinton said yesterday that the federal government posted a budget surplus of $123 billion last fiscal year, recording the first back-to-back surpluses since Dwight Eisenhower was president.
The surplus for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 followed a $69.2 billion surplus in 1998, the first time the government had finished in the black since 1969. Almost all the surplus is from Social Security taxes. Clinton said the surplus was the largest in American history, and
credit it to his economic policies. "We have closed the book on deficits and opened the door on a new era of economic opportunity," he said. "If we seize this historic moment, we can now create a generation of prosperity."
Despite the surpluses, the government still has a $5 trillion debt.
Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, called the surplus a victory for GOP fiscal strategies.
"This is what happens when Republicans take care of the government checkbook and hold the line against tax hikes and more spending," Archer said.
Joe Lockhart, White House representative, called the 1999 surplus the largest in U.S. history in total dollar terms. As a percentage of the total economy, it is the largest surplus since 1951. Lockhart said.
Lockhart said the president also would note that the national debt had been reduced by $138 billion, the largest debt reduction on record. He said Clinton would use the occasion to appeal for further fiscal discipline in order to eliminate the debt.
"We have done an enormous amount of work to turn this economy around,turn our fiscal picture around,"Lockhart said. "But there is still a lot of work to do."
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Leadership for the year 2000
Editor/Business Manager The University Daily Kansan
Application Deadline:
Submit applications to 200 Stauffer-Flint by noon Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999
Sign up in Tom Eblen's office,
116 Stauffer-Flint, the week of
Oct. 27-Nov. 3.
Business Manager
& Editor interviews will begin
Nov. 4. 4:15 p.m.
Interviews:
- Completed Application
- Resume
You Should Turn In:
A statement detailing your experience and qualifications for the job and a proposal of your goals and ideas for changes in the position for which you are applying.
Announcements:
The Kansan Board will vote immediately after all the interviews on Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999.
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