U.S. & World News Digest

— France wants EU help in Syria, Iraq missions

BRUSSELS (AP) — France invoked a never-before-used European Union "mutual-defense clause" to demand today that its partners provide support for its operations against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq and other security missions in the wake of the Paris attacks.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said all 27 of France's EU partners responded positively.

"Every country said: I am going to assist, I am going to help," he said.

Speaking at an EU defense ministers' meeting, Le Drian noted France's military burden in northern Africa, the Central African Republic and Lebanon, and the need to provide national security while a state of emergency is in place.

He said EU partners could help "either by taking part in France's operations in Syria or Iraq, or by easing the load or providing support for France in other operations."

Article 42.7 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty states that if a member country "is the victim of armed aggression on its territory," other members have "an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power."

The clause is similar to, but less far-reaching than, NATO's Article 5, which designates an attack on one ally as an attack on them all, and was invoked by the U.S. after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. It's the only time Article 5 has been used.

Nonetheless, the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said Tuesday that "France has been attacked, so the whole of Europe has been attacked."

"We're in a new situation in Europe. This is Sept. 11 for Europe," Greek Defense Minister Panagiotis Kammenos told reporters today in Brussels.

Officials: Russia has

attacked IS stronghold

MOSCOW (AP) — Two U.S. defense officials say Russia has attacked Raqqa, the Islamic State group's self-declared capital in Syria, with cruise missiles and bombs today.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss non-U.S. military operations. They provided no details on targets or the scale or outcome of the attacks.

One of the officials said the Russians gave the U.S. prior notification of the attacks by communicating with the U.S.-led coalition's air operations center at al-Udeid air base in Qatar. The official said this was in accordance with protocols worked out by U.S. and Russian officials in October.

Today, Russia's security service said a homemade explosive device brought down a passenger plane over Egypt last month that killed 224 people, calling it a "terrorist" act. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for downing the airliner.

Cops: 51 arrested in Minn. during protests

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — More than 50 people were arrested during the second day of protests in Minneapolis over the shooting of a black man by a police officer during an apparent struggle.

Hundreds of people protesting 24-year-old Jamar Clark's shooting blocked Interstate 94 on Monday night, shutting down the northbound lanes for about two and a half hours. Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Tiffani Schweigart said 43 adults and 8 juveniles who refused multiple orders to disperse were arrested.

Authorities have released few details about the shooting, which has angered some community members after witnesses said the man was handcuffed when he was shot. Police said their initial information showed the man, a suspect in an assault, was not handcuffed. He was taken to a hospital after the shooting, and his family says he is on life support.

The demonstrations came after the mayor of Minneapolis earlier in the day asked for a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting.

Mayor Betsy Hodges said she wrote to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and to the U.S. attorney for Minnesota seeking the investigation in the "interest of transparency and community confidence." The state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is already conducting a criminal investigation, but Hodges said the city needs "all the tools we have available to us."

Two officers are on paid leave, standard practice after such an incident. Police Chief Janee Harteau said the officers were not wearing body cameras, but declined to say whether squad car or surveillance video was available, citing the ongoing investigation.

The incident sparked protests Sunday and an overnight encampment at the north Minneapolis police precinct near the site of the shooting. Protesters on Monday applauded the request for a federal investigation but said they would continue the precinct sit-in until authorities release any video they have of the incident as well as the officer's identity.

"We're still not moving until we get that footage," said Michael McDowell, a member of Black Lives Matter.

Later, the crowd of hundreds blocked I-94.

Woman pleads guilty

to stabbing with a pen

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A northeast Ohio woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend after yelling at him for eating all of the salsa has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

Ronnie Buckner told officers 50-year-old Phyllis Jefferson yelled at him in March at his apartment for finishing off the salsa.

Buckner said Jefferson then picked up a pen and jammed it in the left side of his pelvis.

The 61-year-old Buckner said he tried to catch a television that Jefferson had knocked over when she grabbed a small kitchen knife and stabbed him in the stomach.

Jefferson's attorney, however, says the stabbing happened because she just learned her boyfriend was a registered sex offender.

Cleveland.com reports Jefferson pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on Monday. She'll be sentenced later.

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