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BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi security forces have fired tear gas on protesters at one of the entrances to the Green Zone, as supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (mook-TAH'-duh ahl SAH'-dur) continue to stream into the highly fortified government compound. Associated Press reporters at the scene say thousands of protesters have entered the zone since breaching the walls and storming parliament earlier today. Cellphone video uploaded to social media shows dozens of young men running through the halls of parliament. Other videos show a group of young men slapping an Iraqi lawmaker as he tried to flee the crowd.
BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.N. mission to Iraq says it is "gravely concerned" after anti-government protesters breached the heavily-guarded Green Zone and stormed parliament. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq is headquartered in the Green Zone, along with most government ministries and embassies. After today's breach, it issued a statement condemning violence against elected officials and urging "calm, restraint and respect for Iraq's constitutional institutions."
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry is heading to Switzerland this weekend for urgent talks on Syria. His trip comes amid escalating violations of a fragile truce around the city of Aleppo. The State Department says Kerry will meet with the U.N. envoy for Syria as well as the foreign ministers of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. He'll review efforts to reaffirm the truce nationwide, broaden the delivery of humanitarian aid and restart peace talks.
NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly 4 million Nissan cars are being recalled due to major safety problems involving passenger air bags or seat belts that could fail in a crash. Nissan North America says the first problem is with a sensor that detects if the front passenger seat is occupied. Models affected include the Maxima, Altima, LEAF, Sentra, Pathfinder and some Infiniti models. A second problem affects 620,000 Sentras and their front seat child restraint system, which might cause air bags to inflate when they shouldn't.
PALESTINE, Texas (AP) — A grandmother and four young children have died in flash flooding in Texas. Authorities say it happened when a creek overflowed its banks overnight and surged into a neighborhood in Palestine (PAL'-es-teen) as people slept. One neighbor told authorities that he saw the family but lost sight of them as he waded through waist-deep water. Their bodies were found after the water receded.
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