A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Bird flu outbreak in north Cyprus
BRUSSELS/NICOSIA - EU authorities have confirmed the presence of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu in a sample taken from poultry from northern Cyprus. It was the latest sign that the virus, found mostly in Asia, was spreading west to infect birds in Europe and humans on the continent's doorstep. Turkey has reported 21 human cases of H5N1, including four deaths.
"The European Commission and the Turkish authorities have been informed . . . of the high pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a sample taken from the area not under the effective control of the government of Cyprus," the commission said in a statement.
The EU's executive said it had banned the import of live animals or animal products from the Turkish Cypriot enclave into the EU, and added that it would be sending two experts to the area to investigate.
"The EU would be ready to assist with surveillance if needed. In accordance with a European Commission decision, the Cypriot authorities have taken all necessary measures, including placing poultry indoors," it added. A commission spokeswoman said she did not expect the EU to take any further emergency action at this stage. - (Reuters)
Second term for Finnish president
HELSINKI - Finland's left-leaning President Tarja Halonen won a second six-year term in a run-off against conservative challenger Sauli Niinisto yesterday.
Ms Halonen, Finland's first woman president, won 51.8 per cent of the vote with 98 per cent of ballots counted. - (Reuters)
Four killed in Iraq church blasts
BAGHDAD - Two car bombs targeting churches in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk killed at least four people yesterday. The blasts at the two churches also wounded nine people.
In August, a wave of bomb attacks at churches killed 11 people. - (Reuters)
No sex before poll for Berlusconi
ROME - Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is famous for his ambitious promises, but he is unlikely to be called to task if he breaks his latest pledge: not to have sex before the April 9th general election.
At a party rally in Sardinia on Saturday, the media tycoon received the blessing of television preacher Massimiliano Pusceddu, who thanked him for opposing gay marriage and defending family values.
"Thank you dear Fr Massimiliano, I'll try not to let you down and I promise you two-and-a-half months of complete sexual abstinence until April 9th," Berlusconi replied, in comments reported by the daily Il Giornale. - (Reuters)
Blast at state agency in Bilbao
MADRID - A bomb exploded outside an office of the Spanish state employment agency in the Basque country early yesterday, causing extensive damage and injuring a policeman.
A Basque police statement blamed Eta for the blast which occurred at about 2am at the Employment Institute office in the Bilbao suburb of Santutxu.
Police received no warning of the explosion, but a passer-by alerted them to a suspicious bag outside the office 20 minutes before the blast, giving them time to cordon off the area. - (Reuters)