In short

Today's other stories in brief

Today's other stories in brief

Pupil shot dead in US high school

SEATTLE - A gunman shot and killed a male pupil at a high school in Tacoma, Washington, before the start of classes yesterday.

Police had a suspect in custody, according to police spokesman Mark Fulghum. They were not aware of a motive for the shooting, but the suspect and victim were students at Foss High School. - (Reuters)

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Romney signals White House run

BOSTON - Massachusetts Republican governor Mitt Romney, a former venture capitalist credited with turning around the scandal-hit Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, took the first steps yesterday toward a 2008 White House bid.

Mr Romney (59) said he had filed papers to establish a presidential exploratory committee and fund-raising apparatus. - (Reuters)

N Korea's top diplomat dies

SEOUL - North Korean foreign minister Paek Nam-sun, Pyongyang's top diplomat for much of the past decade of confrontation over its nuclear ambitions, has died, the country's official media reported yesterday.

As foreign minister of one of the world's most reclusive states, he seldom engaged directly in diplomacy. "In recent years, Paek has mostly been a figurehead," said one South Korean official. - (Reuters)

Obama confused with Osama

NEW YORK - A US news channel had to apologise after accidentally confusing potential presidential contender Barack Obama with al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

A CNN package promoting a story on the search for the bin Laden aired with the headline "Where's Obama?".

The Illinois senator accepted the station's apology. - (PA)

Blair backs execution inquiry

LONDON - British prime minister Tony Blair yesterday distanced himself from the response of his deputy, John Prescott, to the manner of the execution of Saddam Hussein.

His spokeswoman in London told journalists Mr Blair backed the setting up of an inquiry by Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, into what "went wrong" during the hanging of the former dictator.

But she would not endorse Mr Prescott's assessment that the manner of the hanging was "deplorable". - (Guardian service)

Five die as rival Gaza forces clash

GAZA - Clashes erupted between forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas government in Gaza yesterday, killing five people in the worst bout of fighting since the rivals agreed a fragile truce two weeks ago. - ( Reuters)

Prisoner gives jailers the slip

OSLO - A Lithuanian held on theft charges in an Arctic Norwegian jail slipped out of custody - literally - by stripping naked and smearing himself with vegetable oil to slide through the prison bars.

The suspect remains at large. - (Reuters)