A roundup of today's other stories in brief.
Further US inquiry into Iraqi killings
BAGHDAD - US soldiers may have raped an Iraqi woman and then murdered her and three members of her family, including a child, US army officers said yesterday.
Confirming another major inquiry into the alleged killing and abuse of Iraqi civilians by at least three US soldiers, an official said insurgents had initially been blamed for the incident south of Baghdad in March.
This inquiry is the latest in a series in recent weeks since the revelation of investigations into the killings of 24 people in Haditha in November. - (Reuters)
Iran's plea for time rejected
BRUSSELS - The US yesterday rejected Iranian calls for more time to study an offer of incentives to curb its nuclear fuel programme, insisting Tehran must respond by a G8 deadline next week.
The Group of Eight industrialised nations told Iran on Thursday it wanted a "clear and substantive response" on July 5th to an offer of incentives to stop enriching uranium.
But two Iranian officials immediately said more time was needed to find a solution. - (Reuters)
Pope to open Vatican archives
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict has decided to open all Vatican archives from 1922 to 1939, giving new insight into what the Catholic Church knew and did as Europe saw the rise of Nazism in Germany and the Spanish Civil War.
The Vatican said yesterday it would open its central files, known as the Secret Archives, and files of its Secretariat of State for the pontificate of Pope Pius XI on September 18th. - (Reuters)
Italians to stay in Afghanistan
ROME - Prime minister Romano Prodi's government agreed yesterday to keep Italian troops in Afghanistan despite opposition from pacifists in his coalition threatening to vote against the mission in parliament.
The cabinet unanimously adopted a decree that extends financing for Italy's overseas military operations, including for its some 1,300 troops on a Nato-led mission in Afghanistan. - (Reuters)
Slovak president to name cabinet
BRATISLAVA - Slovak president Ivan Gasparovic said yesterday he would name a new government next week as the proposed cabinet of leftist Smer and two fringe parties came under attack from several sides.
Populist Smer leader Robert Fico, whose party won an election on June 17th, is expected to form a coalition with the centre-left party of former authoritarian prime minister Vladimir Meciar and the far-right Slovak National Party. - (Reuters)
Merkel reform wins approval
BERLIN - German legislators yesterday approved a much anticipated reform of the complex federal system which aims to speed up political decision-making by limiting the upper house's veto powers.
The overhaul is one of three key pieces of legislation which chancellor Angela Merkel needs to push through to prove the cohesion of her seven-month-old grand coalition. - (Reuters)
US nun charged with theft
NEW YORK - An American nun has been accused of spending more than $300,000 (€237,000) of church money on casino trips, presents and flights.
Sr Barbara Markey, the co-author of a popular Catholic marriage preparation programme used in Britain as well as the US, was fired in January as the director of the Omaha Archdiocese's family life office over alleged financial irregularities. - (PA)