Other world stories in brief:
Two ABC journalists killed in Iraq
NEW YORK- Gunmen have killed two ABC employees in Iraq, the US news organisation said yesterday.
The men were identified as cameraman Alaa Uldeen Aziz (33) and soundman Saif Laith Yousuf (26), ABC News said in a statement.
Three US soldiers were killed in Diyala province when a device exploded near their vehicle yesterday, US military sources said. Two US soldiers were killed and nine wounded in attacks in southern Baghdad on Thursday. - (Reuters)
Guerillas kidnap Swedish citizen
BOGOTA- Colombian leftist guerrillas have kidnapped a Swedish citizen and his female companion in a northern province, authorities said yesterday.
Six gunmen took the man from his home in Cordoba province, where he had lived since working on the construction of a hydroelectric plant in the area, said Manuel Jimenez, an official at the Cordoba governor's office. "It appears that it was a group from the Farc," he said.
- (Reuters)
Ruling parties win Algerian election
ALGIERS- Algeria's ruling coalition won a reduced majority in an election largely shunned by voters.
Announcing the results yesterday, interior minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said poor participation and a large number of spoiled ballots in Thursday's poll led to the lowest ever turnout of 35 per cent.
- (Reuters)
BBC to drop 'Neighbours' soap
LONDON- Neighbours, the Australian soap opera that helped launch Kylie Minogue's career, is to be dropped by the BBC after more than 20 years, the BBC said yesterday.
The broadcaster blamed an "unrealistic" price of £300 million (€438 million) for an eight-year contract - three times the current rate - from the show's owners, Fremantle Media, for its decision. - (Reuters)
Russian reporters quit radio network
MOSCOW- Journalists at a Russian radio news network said yesterday they had quit their jobs after a new editor stopped them reporting on anti-Kremlin protests.
Russia's independent media complain they are being silenced under President Vladimir Putin. Since he became president in 2000, most major broadcast media have fallen under Kremlin control.
Now staff at the Russian News Service - which feeds news to the country's most popular radio stations - have walked out. - (Reuters)
Gorilla attacks woman
AMSTERDAM- An 11-year-old male gorilla caused panic when it burst out of its enclosure at the Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam yesterday, attacked a woman and went on a rampage in the cafeteria before being captured.
The woman was treated in hospital after being bitten by Bokito, leader of Blijdorp zoo's gorillas, but her wounds were not said to be serious. - (Reuters)