A roundup of today's other world stories in brief:
Mayor of Nagasaki shot dead
TOKYO- The mayor of the Japanese city of Nagasaki died yesterday after being shot by a member of a criminal syndicate, police said.
Itcho Ito (61), seeking re-election for a fourth term on Sunday, was shot at least twice in the back outside his campaign office.
Police arrested Tetsuya Shiroo (59), a senior member of a local gang affiliated with Japan's largest crime syndicate, the Yamaguchi Gumi, and seized a revolver he had with him.
The motive for the shooting remained unclear, but public broadcaster NHK said Mr Shiroo was upset at the city's handling of a traffic accident four years ago in which his car was damaged as it passed a public works construction site.
- (Reuters)
Three acquitted on secrets charges
GENEVA- A Swiss military tribunal yesterday acquitted three Swiss journalists on charges of violating state secrets for publishing a document revealing the existence of secret CIA-run prisons in Europe.
- (Reuters)
Charges over Iraq deaths dropped
CALIFORNIA- Charges have been dropped against one of the eight US marines accused of the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha and he has been granted immunity for his testimony, the US Marine Corps said yesterday.
One count each of premeditated murder and making a false report against Sgt Sanick Dela Cruz (24), were dismissed.
- (Reuters)
Peace move in Sudan dispute
TRIPOLI- Chad and Sudan have formed a joint military committee to try to end a border conflict, a Libyan mediator said yesterday following talks between officials of the two countries in the Libyan capital.
Libyan leader Muammar Gadafy has taken the lead in trying to broker peace between the two countries, which have traded accusations for months about turmoil on their desert frontier.
- (Reuters)
Mexico drug gang leader arrested
MEXICO CITY- Mexican police have arrested the local head of the notorious Gulf Cartel drug gang in a city on the US border as part of President Félipe Calderón's nationwide crackdown on organised crime. Juan Oscar Garza was the cartel's leader in the city of Reynosa and was sought in Mexico for smuggling drugs, guns and people.
- (Reuters)
Israelis kill senior Palestinian militant
JENIN- Israeli troops disguised as Palestinians ambushed and killed a senior Palestinian militant in the occupied West Bank yesterday, a Palestinian security source said.
Elsewhere in the territory, four Israelis were wounded in a Palestinian shooting attack outside the Jewish settlement of Naaleh.
- (Reuters)