A roundup of today's other stories in brief.
US says talks progress on Iran sanctions
WASHINGTON -The US and other major powers have begun preliminary consultations on a new set of UN sanctions related to Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment, the state department said yesterday.
Spokesman Sean McCormack said he did not know when a sanctions resolution might be introduced in the UN Security Council but "we're talking about elements of it right now". That was part of discussions undersecretary of state Nicholas Burns had when he visited Europe last week, Mr McCormack said.
The security council has adopted two sanctions resolutions since December, raising the pressure on Tehran. - (Reuters)
Colombian leader denies drug claim
BOGOTA -Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe dismissed accusations made by a fugitive drug lord that he had received cash from paramilitaries and cocaine traffickers during his 2002 presidential campaign.
Mr Uribe brushed off the charges made in Semana magazine by Fabio Ochoa, one of the world's top suspected traffickers, who Colombian police say is on the run in Mexico with a reward of $5 million offered by the US government for his capture. - (Reuters)
Oil strike talks fail in Nigeria
LAGOS -A general strike in Africa's top oil producer will go ahead as planned today after unions rejected government concessions as too little, too late.
Unions met yesterday to consider the government offer, but said only a full reversal of the rise in fuel prices could avert the action, which may cut oil supply from the eighth largest exporter. - (Reuters)
Hope for deal in Lebanon conflict
BEIRUT -Palestinian mediators are hopeful a deal will be reached soon to end a month of fighting between Lebanese troops and al-Qaeda-inspired militants entrenched in a refugee camp, political sources said.
The Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp has been the battleground for Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war. At least 163 people have been killed, including 74 soldiers, at least 57 militants and 32 civilians.
A Palestinian political source said mediators had met Shahin Shahin, a key member of Fatah al-Islam, to discuss a truce. - (Reuters)
Islanders say ship poses threat
ATHENS -A sunken cruise ship off the Greek island of Santorini is an environmental time bomb as trapped fuel is leaking to the surface, polluting the area, islanders said.
"We want the company to pump the estimated 200 tonnes of oil still in the shipwreck and, if they do not do it, we will proceed with picking a company to raise the vessel out of the water," Santorini legal counsel Sofia Kitsou said.
The Sea Diamond, owned by Louis Cruise Lines, sank on April 6th, forcing 1,500 passengers and crew to evacuate. Two French tourists drowned. - (Reuters)