Today's other stories in brief
Mother makes pleas for missing girl
PRAIA DA LUZ, Portugal - The mother of missing British child Madeleine McCann last night made a desperate appeal for her abductors not to hurt her.
With her husband Gerry beside her, Kate McCann called for anyone holding her daughter, who has been missing for five days in the Algarve resort of where the family were on holiday, to put her in a "place of safety".
Portuguese police say they have found evidence that Madeleine was abducted, but have not disclosed any details.
There was speculation in the Portuguese media that police suspect a Briton or Britons may be behind the abduction.
Experts have put together an artist's impression of a "suspect", but it is believed the image shows only the rear view of a man - the back of his head and hair. - (Reuters)
Seven killed in clashes with Kurds
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey - Turkish troops backed by helicopters have launched an operation against Kurdish separatist rebels. Two soldiers and five rebels were killed over the weekend.
Security sources said thousands of soldiers were taking part in the operation involving Cobra and Sikorsky helicopters against rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party in the valleys of mountainous Sirnak province, near the Iraqi border. - (Reuters)
Anti-immigrant party in Russia
MOSCOW - Russian nationalists have joined forces to form a political party that will campaign for tougher limits on immigration, one of the new party's leaders said yesterday.
The new party, called Great Russia, held its inaugural congress at the weekend and said its aim was to win seats in parliament at the election in December. - (Reuters)
Saudis close stand staffed by women
RIYADH - Saudi organisers of an education exhibition in Jeddah have closed a Canadian booth because it was staffed by women, Canada's embassy in Riyadh said.
"The closure of our booth was an unjustified, unprofessional act that damages the image of Saudi Arabia internationally," a statement issued by the embassy over the weekend said. - (Reuters)
28 dead in China coal mine blast
BEIJING - Rescuers have recovered another five bodies trapped by a coal mine explosion in northern China, bringing the death toll in the disaster to 28.
A further two miners were still missing after the explosion, which ripped through the Pudeng mine in Shanxi. - (Reuters)
Clinton clues up on crosswords
NEW YORK - Former US president Bill Clinton has a new pastime far from fundraising for worthy causes - designing a crossword puzzle for the New York Times.
Mr Clinton wrote the clues for an online crossword filled with puns, pop culture references and plays on words. - ( Reuters)