Today's other stories in brief
Group admits deadly Somali suicide attack
MOGADISHU - A militant Islamist group has admitted responsibility for a suicide bomb that killed seven people at the home of prime minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, vowing to continue attacks until "occupiers" left Somalia.
The claim came yesterday several hours before Ethiopian soldiers allied to Mr Gedi's government shot dead a would-be suicide bomber targeting their headquarters in the chaotic Somali capital.
The would-be attacker was racing toward the command base in western Mogadishu and had already run two blockades when Ethiopian and government soldiers fired at his car, a security official said.
- (Reuters)
Zimbabwe assault inquiry ordered
HARARE - A Zimbabwe court has ordered police to launch a fresh investigation into charges that 30 members of the opposition were beaten in custody after an initial investigation suggested they were not assaulted, a lawyer has said.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change activists were arrested in March on links to petrol-bomb attacks against police, government and ruling party targets. They have been in custody since then. - (Reuters)
JFK suspects in Trinidad court
PORT OF SPAIN - Two suspects in a foiled plot to blow up New York's John F Kennedy International Airport appeared in court in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday and were accused of conspiring to commit terrorism.
Abdul Kadir, a citizen of Guyana and former member of its parliament, and Kareem Ibrahim, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, are among four suspects in the case. - ( Reuters)
Greek media offices attacked
ATHENS - A group of self- proclaimed anarchists has attacked a Greek media group's headquarters, smashing windows at its entrance and damaging cars parked nearby. No one was hurt, police said.
Police said the youths claimed their attack yesterday was in response to a report by Sunday's To Vima newspaper, which blamed left-wing fringe groups for several robberies in southeast Athens. - (Reuters)
Violent crimes increase in US
WASHINGTON - More murders and robberies in 2006 sent US violent crimes higher for the second straight year, according to the FBI, with the increase blamed on gangs, youth violence, gun crimes and fewer police on beats.
- ( Reuters)
Pfizer trial in Nigeria delayed
KANO - A Nigerian court has delayed until July two court cases in which Pfizer Inc stands accused of harming Nigerian children by testing them with an unapproved drug.
Pfizer denies the allegations and says it acted ethically when it tested the antibiotic Trovan on children in the northern state of Kano in 1996.
- (Reuters)
Hamas members held without trial
RAMALLAH - An Israeli general has ordered two jailed Hamas cabinet ministers and a legislator from the Islamist group to be held without trial for six months, according to one of their lawyers. - (Reuters)