Today's other stories in brief
US accuses Iran of arming Iraqi militants
BAGHDAD - The US military accused Iranian intelligence services yesterday of providing weapons to militants in Iraq and said gunmen were being trained in Iran in the use of lethal roadside bombs.
US military spokesman Maj-Gen William Caldwell showed journalists in Baghdad weapons that he said were made in Iran.
They included mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades, which he said were found in Baghdad this week. - (Reuters)
Congo ex-rebel Bemba in Portugal
QUINTA DO LAGO - Congolese former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba arrived in Portugal yesterday after leaving his country following the defeat of his militia fighters by government troops three weeks ago.
Mr Bemba made the journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo in a private jet after being escorted in the early hours by UN peacekeepers from the South African embassy, where he spent the last three weeks holed up with his family.
Travelling on a tourist visa, he was due to receive medical treatment in Portugal for an old leg injury. Portuguese officials have said his stay will not be a long-term exile. -(Reuters)
Founder criticises Wikipedia content
LONDON - The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia should be taken with a pinch of salt, a spokesman insisted yesterday.
Wikipedia founder Larry Sanger told the Times it contained "frequently unreliable content" and was "broken beyond repair".
But Wikipedia's UK spokesman, David Gerard, said critics took it too seriously. "The problem is that sometimes people take us to be more reliable than we are. If you read it with critical thinking you'll get value out of it." - ( PA)
Strike to disrupt French air traffic
PARIS - French air traffic is expected to be disrupted today because of strike action planned by some air traffic controllers, the Civil Aviation Authority said.
"The impact of this [ industrial action] notice, in particular on air traffic, is hard to judge but disruptions are expected and repercussions are possible across France," it said in a statement.
Human error was cause of sinking
ATHENS - Human error caused a Greek ship to sink near the Aegean island of Santorini last week, the cruise company said yesterday, without naming a culprit.
The 22,412-tonne Sea Diamond, run by Louis Cruise Lines, hit a reef on Thursday close to the scenic island, one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations, and sank early on Friday.
More than 1,500 passengers and crew were evacuated but two French tourists, a father and daughter, are still missing.
- (Reuters)
Jolie, Pitt order €200m yacht
ITALY - Movie stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are treating themselves to an Italian luxury yacht fitted with a swimming pool, a heliport - and a submarine.
The yacht will be built in the shipyard of Civitavecchia, a port town north of Rome, by luxury shipbuilder Privilege Yard, which said yesterday the couple has commissioned a 280-ft yacht for €200 million. Delivery is set for July 2009. - (Reuters)
Diving expert dies while training
NICE - French diver Loic Leferme (36), former holder of the world record for free diving, the sport celebrated in the hit film The Big Blue, has died in training, rescue officials said yesterday.
Leferme was training off Villefranche-sur-Mer, near the southern city of Nice, when he could not get back to the surface, Nice nautical club said. - (Reuters)