Other stories from around the world in brief.
White House does not dispute claims
WASHINGTON - The White House has chosen not to challenge a prosecutor's disclosure that President Bush authorised top official Lewis "Scooter" Libby to disclose intelligence on Iraq in 2003, as Mr Libby alleges.
Spokesman Scott McClellan noted that the White House released declassified portions of an intelligence report at around the same time, in July 2003.
That was part of an already known public release of information in the face of criticism of Mr Bush's grounds for invading Iraq from former ambassador Joe Wilson.
According to court papers filed on Tuesday, Mr Libby, vice-president Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, told a federal grand jury that Mr Cheney told him that Mr Bush authorised him to disclose information from a secret report to then- New York Times reporter Judith Miller. - (Reuters)
Six dead in Gaza blast
GAZA - Israeli aircraft fired missiles on a car carrying Palestinian militants in southern Gaza yesterday and possibly a second car with civilians inside, killing six people including a small girl, witnesses and medics said.
At least 12 people were wounded, medics said.
The Israeli army said a car carrying several "terrorists" was struck as it left a training base near the town of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
"The vehicle was coming out of a training camp in which both training and weapons training were being conducted," an army spokesman said.- (Reuters)
Stones asked to exclude songs
SHANGHAI - Chinese censors have asked the Rolling Stones to exclude five of their racier numbers from their weekend concert in Shanghai, frontman Mick Jagger said yesterday, but he did not seem too upset.
"It's not really an issue," Jagger said, "but I'm pleased that the ministry of culture is protecting the morals of the expat bankers and their girlfriends." The band are set to play their first China gig tonight. - (Reuters)
Polish diplomat released in Belarus
MINSK - A former Polish ambassador, one of hundreds of people jailed after rallies against Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko's re-election, walked free from a prison yesterday but said he had been beaten up in detention.
The arrest of Mariusz Maszkiewicz sparked outrage in Warsaw, prompting the prime minister to demand his immediate release. Belarussian authorities said this week they were ready to set him free as a gesture of goodwill. - (Reuters)
Nazi overtones to Russian shooting
ST PETERSBURG - A Senegalese student was shot dead by a gun emblazoned with a Nazi swastika yesterday as he came out of a nightclub in Russia's second city, St Petersburg.
"Six of us were going home together when there was a shot from behind us," a Cameroon student said. "One of us turned round and saw a man with a gun. One of us collapsed and the rest of us were frightened and went to the police." - (Reuters)
NY detectives hitmen for mob
NEW YORK - Two highly decorated former detectives have been convicted of moonlighting as hit men for the Mafia in one of the most sensational cases of police corruption in New York history.
Louis Eppolito (57) and Steven Caracappa (64) could get life in prison for their roles in eight murders committed between 1986 and 1990 while they were on the payroll of both the city police and crime family under-boss Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso.
Prosecutors said the two carried out two hits and delivered some victims to the Mafia to be killed. - (AP)