Entire Iowa Town Evacuated by Fertilizer Plant Fire

A fertilizer plant fire outside of Northwood, Iowa has forced the evacuation of the entire town.

The fire began Thursday morning, burning through materials that contain such chemicals as sulfuric acid.

Over two thousand residents were forced to evacuate as a precaution due to the toxic fumes.

Four people were hospitalized after breathing in the smoke.

Firefighters are attempting to knock out the blaze, but conditions are extremely dangerous due to the volatile nature of the burning fertilizer.

At this time, it is unclear what started the fire, but an investigation is planned, once it is safe.

Fighting in Kiev Leaves Nearly 100 Dead

A declared truce failed to stop violence, on Thursday, in Kiev. Nearly one hundred people were killed and more than five hundred injured as police and protesters fought.

The casualties came from both sides. Witnesses, including members of the international media, state that at least sixteen of the dead protesters were shot by snipers. Thursday also marked the first time the opposition responded with guns of their own.

Sixty-seven police were captured by protesters and Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko vowed to rescue them and ordered the issuing of "combat weapons" to police. At this point, the military has taken no involvement in the crisis, though Colonel Genera Volodymyr Zamana, the head of Ukraine's military, was replaced and forced to retire, on Wednesday.

In Lviv, a western region of Ukraine, the regional assembly declared itself no longer under the government of President Viktor Yanukovych. It is yet unclear how the national government will react to Lviv's announcement.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland met with opposition leaders and President Yanukovych attempting to bring some sort of reconciliation. However, the EU is backing the protesters and has put sanctions in place against the government. The US government has blocked travel visas for members of the Ukrainian government and is considering sanctions.

Russia accuses the opposition of trying to stage a bloody cue. They also condemn the EU and US decisions as attempts to influence the situation from the outside.

Protests began in November, when the president backed away from a deal to join the EU, and instead turned to Russia. Things had seemed to be calming down, with both sides make gestures of conciliation. Then on Tuesday, the violence began again and became the worst seen.

Violence Keeps Turnout Low in Libya's Constitutional Assembly Vote

On Thursday, Libyans voted to elect a constitutional assembly.

Explosions rocked several polling stations, before dawn, destroying them, but causing no injuries.

Other locations were forcibly closed by gunmen, who declared that "voting is forbidden" and that "there is no constitution but Islamic law".

Around three hundred and sixty thousand Libyans voted despite the violence.

However, that only makes up about twelve percent of registered voters, showing that most Libyans were afraid to even attempt to vote.

Despite the low turnout, a sixty member assembly was chosen, and they will now have four months to draft a constitution.

17 Killed by Mortar Attack in Iraq

Seventeen people were killed when a series of mortar rounds struck a market in Musayyib, Iraq.

Thursday's attack injured another thirty-five people.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A source with the Iraqi government tells us that they believe it to be the work of foreign fighters, possibly members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.