Other stories from around the world in brief
On trial for sale of nuclear arms parts
BERLIN - A German man went to trial yesterday on charges he equipped Libya with atom-bomb technology - the first trial of a suspected member of the "Khan network", which also supplied nuclear technology to Iran and North Korea.
Gotthard Lerch (63), an engineer, is accused of helping Libya acquire atomic weapons technology in violation of German arms and export laws. - (Reuters)
No debate poll boost for Prodi
ROME - Italian centre-left leader Romano Prodi's victory over Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in a television debate this week failed to boost the opposition's lead ahead of April's general election, a poll showed yesterday.
The first survey conducted after Tuesday's head-to-head, in which most pundits said Mr Prodi had unexpectedly come off the better, showed support for the two blocs was unchanged compared with a poll by the same agency four days earlier.
The new IPR survey showed 52 per cent of voters planned to back the centre-left in the April 9th and 10th general election, with the centre-right 4.3 points behind on 47.7 per cent - the same as in a March 12th poll.- (Reuters)
Israel reports case of H5N1 bird flu
BEERSHEBA - Israel detected its first cases of H5N1 bird flu yesterday, saying the virus had killed thousands of turkeys and chickens on two farms.
The Israeli authorities also treated three people in hospital on suspicion of having the virus. - (Reuters)
Bomb kills five Afghan policemen
KANDAHAR - A blast killed five Afghan policemen yesterday as they were bringing back the bodies of four Macedonians kidnapped and killed by the Taliban and dumped in a valley in the southern province of Kandahar.
Several police vehicles were returning with the bodies when one was hit by a blast, apparently caused by a mine, killing five policemen and wounding three others. - (Reuters)
Congo to send warlord to court
KINSHASA - Congo is handing a militia leader suspected of ordering the killing of nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers last year to the International Criminal Court, making him its first prisoner, a UN source said yesterday.
The suspect, Thomas Lubanga, leads the Union of Congolese Patriots, an ethnic militia now registered as a political party and accused of widespread human rights abuses. - (Reuters )
Life is suite for slim hotel guests
BERLIN - A hotel in Germany has started charging its guests by the kilo for an overnight stay.
... In the town of Norden, close to the Dutch border, guests have to step on to the scales before moving into their rooms and fork out 61 cents a kilogram (2.2lb).
"I had many guests who were really huge and I told them to slim down," said hotel owner Jürgen Heckrodt. "When they came back the year after and had lost a lot of weight they asked me what are you gonna do for me now?"
He said he hoped his initiative would inspire Germans to become leaner and healthier - (Reuters).
Met officer faces leak inquiry
LONDON - A senior London police officer is facing an investigation into claims he briefed media about the inquiry into the shooting of an innocent Brazilian man suspected of being a suicide bomber.
The Metropolitan Police Authority said it was considering taking action against Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick over media reports on the ongoing inquiry into the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. - (PA)