In Short

A round-up of today's others stories in brief.

A round-up of today's others stories in brief.

Islamic Jihad says it will kill Israeli leaders

GAZA - Islamic Jihad threatened yesterday to target Israeli leaders after a series of Israeli air strikes and raids killed key members of the Palestinian militant group.

"Leaders of the enemy should know that they personally are targets," Islamic Jihad said in a statement faxed to the Reuters office in Gaza.

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The statement said the group had ordered all its cells to launch attacks inside Israel. It was unclear from the statement which Israeli leaders might be targeted. - (Reuters)

US says N Korea tested missiles

GAUTIER - The White House said yesterday that North Korea apparently had conducted a missile test and its programme posed a threat to the region.

"Indications are that North Korea launched two short-range missiles. The regime has conducted similar tests in the past," a statement from White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. - (Reuters)

21 dead in church roof collapse

KAMPALA - At least 21 people were killed and more than 20 others injured when a church roof collapsed during torrential rains in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, yesterday, police said.

A spokesman said 21 bodies had so far been recovered from the wreckage of the City of the Lord church in the northern suburb of Kalerwe. - (Reuters)

Hungarians polled on communism

BUDAPEST - Almost a quarter of Hungarians still believe communism is better than democracy, a survey published yesterday says.

Among new EU members which were formerly communist, support for communism was higher only in Slovakia, at 31 per cent, the 11-nation poll showed. - (Reuters)

Warning over Turkey's EU effort

VIENNA - Turkey's efforts to join the EU could face "negative repercussions" unless it opens its ports to EU member Cyprus, the unions's enlargement commissioner said yesterday. - (Reuters)

Three found shot dead in suburb

PARIS - Three people were shot dead yesterday in a wealthy Paris suburb, rescue workers said.

Two victims were found dead in a restaurant in the town of Levallois-Perret in the Hauts-de-Seine region, officials said. A third was found dead nearby. - (AP)

Jowell cleared over shareholding

LONDON - Culture secretary Tessa Jowell was cleared yesterday of failing to declare a shareholding involving her estranged husband. She was also told she will not face a fresh inquiry into his business practices. - (Reuters)