Other world stories in brief
Liberals hail Portugal move on abortion
LISBON- Portugal's decision to join most European countries and allow abortions has shaken the country's conservative establishment but was hailed by liberals as a victory for modernity.
Socialist prime minister José Socrates said he would use his majority in parliament to legalise abortion after a referendum on the issue failed because too few people turned out to vote. More than half the traditionally Catholic nation's 8.7 million electorate abstained, but of those who voted in Sunday's referendum, 59.3 per cent voted to lift the abortion ban and 40.8 per cent voted to keep it. - (Reuters)
Earthquake off Algarve coast
LISBON- An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 occurred off the coast of Portugal's tourist destination of the Algarve yesterday, the country's meteorological institute said.
It caused minor tremors in the capital, Lisbon. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. - (Reuters)
Eta prisoner has term reduced
MADRID- A convicted Eta murderer who went on hunger strike to protest at his 12-year sentence for making terrorist threats has had his term slashed to three years by Spain's Supreme Court, official sources said.
Inaki de Juana Chaos, a former leading member of the guerrilla group, has already served a 20-year sentence for the murder of 25 people in attacks during the 1980s. - (Reuters)
Paternity suit over Smith baby
Prince Frederic von Anhalt, the husband of actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, said yesterday he plans to file a paternity challenge to gain custody of Anna Nicole Smith's infant daughter. "If the court rules in my favour, I will go to the Bahamas and pick up the child." He will join two other men already claiming they fathered the child, Dannielynn. - (AP)
Netanyahu makes attack on Olmert
JERUSALEM- Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu accused prime minister Ehud Olmert yesterday of allowing Hamas to consolidate its Palestinian power base and erode a Western embargo aimed at prodding it into peace talks.
The broadside came after Hamas signed an alliance with Fatah that Palestinians hope will make their government fully acceptable abroad.
Palestinians spoke of respecting past accords with
Israel but there has been no sign that Hamas will yield to Western demands and recognise Israel's right to exist. - (Reuters)