A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
Two killed and 50 injured in Greek quake
ATHENS- An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck southern Greece yesterday, killing two villagers, injuring 50 people, and damaging homes and a military base. Residents ran out into the streets and jumped from balconies when the quake, felt as far away as Italy, struck 54km (33 miles) south of the western port city of Patras.
- (Reuters)
Fathers protest on politician's roof
LONDON- Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman was forced to leave home yesterday as two protesters camped out on her roof to demand that divorced fathers be given better access to their children. The protesters were from the Fathers 4 Justice group, which has staged high-profile stunts in the past, including pelting Tony Blair with condoms full of flour in the House of Commons in 2006. Police surrounded Ms Harman's London house and waited for the costumed men to come down.
- (Reuters)
Spanish truckers reject aid offer
MADRID- The Spanish government offered aid to truckers yesterday to ward off an imminent strike over high fuel prices, but it was rejected as insufficient.
The president of the National Federation of Transport Associations (Fenadismer), Julio Villaescusa, said the government merely offered repackaged existing measures and would not stop the strike, due to start at midnight local time yesterday.
- (Reuters)
Scholars criticise law on children
CAIRO- Muslim scholars in Egypt yesterday criticised aspects of a new law on children approved by parliament on Saturday against the opposition of the socially conservative Muslim Brotherhood. The scholars said the legislation went against Islamic law by allowing women to register children under their own family names and by setting 18 as the minimum age for marriage. Children previously had to take their name from their father, even if his identity was in doubt.
- (Reuters)
Bombs at railway station kill 12
ALGIERS- Two bombs exploded yesterday at a railway station east of Algiers, killing 12 people, including eight soldiers, and wounding two others. The bombs went off at close intervals in the town of Beni Amrane in Boumerdes province. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
- (Reuters)
Gay bishop enters civil union
BOSTON- Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay US Episcopal bishop at the centre of the Anglican Church's global battle over homosexuality, entered into a civil union with his partner of more than 19 years at the weekend in a ceremony described by his spokesman as "absolutely joyful".
- (Reuters)