A roundup of today's other international stories:
Weather halts Nasa shuttle lift-off again
CAPE CANAVERAL - The space shuttle Discovery is set to make an Independence Day launch tomorrow after thunderstorms in Florida last night caused the lift-off to be scrubbed for a second consecutive day.
Nasa launch director Mike Leinbach called off the attempt with two hours 11 minutes left when it became obvious the heavy black clouds hanging over the Kennedy Space Centre all weekend were not going to clear.
- (Guardian service)
Prodi stands firm over strike threat
ROME - Italian prime minister Romano Prodi stood firm against strike threats yesterday, vowing to drive through market reforms he says are needed to kickstart the economy.
Mr Prodi's fledging centre-left government on Friday unexpectedly announced a deregulation programme, putting some of Italy's most protected service industries - including lawyers, pharmacists and taxi drivers - on a war footing.
Taxi drivers were the first to announce a national strike with other groups promising to follow, raising the prospect of unrest at the height of Italy's tourist season.
- (Reuters)
Apologise, Chavez tells colonisers
BANJUL - Europe and the United States should apologise to Africa for the cruelties of slavery, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said yesterday, calling on African states to resist modern day US colonialism.
Attending a summit of African leaders in Gambia, Mr Chavez said both Africa and Latin America had been blighted by slavery and colonialism for centuries, to the benefit of Europe and North America.
- (Reuters)
Murder inquiry after bodies found
LONDON - British police launched a murder inquiry yesterday after the bodies of two women were found in a building in Shropshire, a spokesman said.
The women, who had suffered "significant head injuries", were found on the floor of a health studio early yesterday in the town of Shrewsbury.
Det Supt Andy Rowsell, leading the inquiry, said he was investigating claims from local people that the shop was being used as a brothel.
- (Reuters)
Mexicans vote for new president
MEXICO CITY - Mexicans voted for a new president yesterday, torn between joining a resurgent left-wing camp in Latin America or sticking to pro-business policies and a close alliance with the United States.
- (Reuters)