ISLAMABAD: A team of Polish mountaineers attempting the first winter summit of K2, the world’s second highest peak, have called off their bid citing bad weather, after a drama-filled expedition which made international headlines.
The decision means that K2, in northern Pakistan on the border with China, remains the only peak in the world above 8,000 meters that has never been climbed in winter.
“Based on a deep analysis of the situation in agreement with the team I decided today to end the mountain action on K2,” wrote the team leader Krzysztof Wielicki on their Facebook page.
The expedition spokesman confirmed to AFP that the bid has been called off due to bad weather.
The announcement comes days after one expedition member, a Russian-Polish climber called Denis Urubko, broke away from the team after a dispute and launched what others called a “suicidal” bid to make the climb solo.
The high-altitude drama put the team in the international spotlight. Within days Urubko had also called off his attempt, and is currently en route to the capital Islamabad.
The Polish team arrived at the K2 base camp late last year, enduring sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds.
But Urubko had become increasingly frustrated with their pace after a series of delays, including the night-time rescue of French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol on another Pakistani mountain, Nanga Parbat, in January.
Urubko had volunteered to go to Nanga Parbat as part of that rescue team, which saved Revol but left another climber, fellow Pole Tomasz Mackiewicz, on the mountain.
The K2 team’s part in that high-profile rescue also drew attention to their winter summit bid.
Everest has been summited by thousands of climbers young and old, but K2 is a much lonelier place. Around 300 have made it to the top since the first ascent 60 years ago. Many climbers have died trying, and on the descent.
Northern Pakistan is home to some of the world’s tallest mountains, including K2 in the territory of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Nestled between the western end of the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush mountains and the Karakoram range, Gilgit-Baltistan has 18 of the world’s 50 highest peaks.
Polish mountaineers call off winter K2 summit bid
Polish mountaineers call off winter K2 summit bid
Benin jails around 30 people, mostly soldiers, over foiled coup attempt
- Several people were killed and the alleged coup leader lieutenant-colonel Pascal Tigri and other mutinous soldiers remain on the run
- Around 30 accused appeared in front of a special prosecutor for the court for economic crimes and terrorism
COTONOU: Benin jailed on Tuesday around 30 people, most of them soldiers, accused of links to a thwarted coup attempt this month, legal sources told AFP, while several mutineers are still on the run.
Soldiers appeared on national television on December 7 to announce President Patrice Talon had been deposed but the attempted putsch was swiftly defeated by loyalist army forces with the help of the Nigerian air force and French special forces.
Several people were killed and the alleged coup leader lieutenant-colonel Pascal Tigri and other mutinous soldiers remain on the run.
On Monday, the around 30 accused appeared in front of a special prosecutor for the court for economic crimes and terrorism in the city of Cotonou, the sources said.
They were placed in pre-trial detention the following day at the end of their hearing, they added.
They are being prosecuted for “treason,” “murder” and “endangering state security,” the sources said.
A heavy security deployment could be seen around the court, an AFP journalist saw.
Separately, Chabi Yayi, son of former Beninese president and current opposition figure Thomas Boni Yayi, was released on Monday after being questioned.
However, he remains under prosecution in connection with the coup bid for reasons that are not known as the authorities step up questioning of opposition figures.
He is a member of the opposition party led by his father.
Chabi Yayi has been granted freedom of movement, several of his relatives told AFP by phone on Tuesday. But he is expected to present himself anew to police on Thursday, according to judicial sources.
Monday also saw the Cotonou Court of Appeal confirm a two-year prison sentence for Steve Amoussou, an online activist accused of running a social media account very critical of the government.
The former Beninese defense minister and prominent opposition political figure, Candide Azannai, was also arrested on Friday. It is unclear whether his arrest was related to the coup attempt, which he condemned.
Also on Friday, Benin issued an international arrest warrant against Pan-Africanist and anti-Western influencer Kemi Seba for backing the attempted coup.
In his absence, he is being prosecuted for “advocating crimes against state security and inciting rebellion.”
On social media, Seba has vowed that “we shall see this fight through to the end.”
Although hailed for spurring economic growth, Talon is accused by critics of authoritarianism in a country once praised for its democratic dynamism.
He is due to hand over the reins of power in April after the maximum-allowed two terms leading Benin, which in recent years has been hit by jihadist violence in the north.
His likely successor is Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, who appears to have a clear path to the presidency, with the main opposition party excluded from the ballot due to a shortage of sponsors to put up a candidate.
