A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Bosnia begins talks on EU membership
SARAJEVO - Bosnia has begun the first round of official talks on an association agreement with the European Union, the first step to eventual membership of the 25-member union.
The EU formally opened the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) talks in November to reward the country for its reform efforts since 2003, when it was given a list of requirements by Brussels.
It was a symbolic gesture meant to mark a break with the past ahead of the 10th anniversary last December of the Dayton peace agreement that ended the 1992-95 war, which left the country ethnically divided and impoverished. - (Reuters)
Freezing weather claims more lives
ATHENS - Freezing weather has killed scores of people in eastern Europe and snowstorms have forced the closure of the Acropolis in Athens and blanketed parts of Sicily and Turkey as the Arctic air pushed south.
Ukraine said 66 people had died there since the freeze set in last week. Neighbouring Russia has asked it to restrict gas usage as demand has soared during the coldest winter in a generation in the region.
The Romanian health ministry said extremely low temperatures in the country had caused 27 deaths in the past three days. In a statement it said the victims, aged between 33 and 86, died of heart attacks and hypothermia caused by temperatures of about -20 degrees. - (Reuters)
Pinochet daughter held on tax charge
WASHINGTON - The older daughter of former Chilean dictator Gen Augusto Pinochet was detained yesterday on arrival in Washington after failing to obey a summons by a Chilean judge who indicted her on tax-evasion charges, the government reported.
Lucia Pinochet "was the target of an international arrest warrant issued by a Chilean judge" and "was held at an airport in the city of Washington", said presidential spokesman Osvaldo Puccio.
Ms Pinochet apparently travelled by land to neighbouring Argentina on Sunday, hours before she was due to appear with other relatives to be served notice of her indictment on charges of tax evasion and for using a false passport. - (Reuters)
Reprisals over oil attacks feared
WARRI - Villagers fled Nigeria's lawless delta yesterday amid fears of military reprisals after a wave of attacks on foreign oil companies by ethnic Ijaw militia.
The army deployed more troops to key installations and oil companies tightened security around their offices, a day after heavily armed men stormed the headquarters of Italian oil firm Agip, robbing a bank on the premises and killing eight policemen and one civilian. - (Reuters)
Brother of Sean Penn found dead
SANTA MONICA - Actor Chris Penn (40), brother of Sean Penn, has been found dead at an apartment complex in Santa Monica, California, police said yesterday. They discovered the body at about 4pm yesterday. Lt Frank Fabrega said there were no obvious signs of foul play. Police were called by someone from within the building, he added.
Penn's film credits included Mulholland Falls, Rumble Fish, All The Right Moves and Footloose. - (PA)