A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
No reports of injuries in Taiwan quake
TAIPEI- An earthquake of 6.0 magnitude rattled Taiwan early today, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The epicentre of the quake was about 21 km (13 miles) north of Ilan on the east coast, the Central Weather Bureau said.
Earthquakes occur frequently in Taiwan, which lies on a seismically active stretch of the Pacific basin.
One of its worst-recorded quakes occurred in 1999. Measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, it killed more than 2,400 people.
- (Reuters)
Ahmadinejad rival wins post
TEHRAN- One of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's potential rivals in next year's presidential election secured the influential post of parliamentary speaker yesterday. Ali Larijani, who quit as Iran's nuclear negotiator last year citing differences with Mr Ahmadinejad over Tehran's atomic programme, received 237 votes in the 290-member parliament.
He was beaten in the 2005 presidential race but analysts expect him to run again in 2009.
- (Reuters)
Violence mars Macedonia poll
SKOPJE- Macedonia's parliamentary election was marred by suspected fraud and violence in ethnic Albanian areas yesterday, an electoral commission has reported.
One person was shot dead, nine were wounded and voting was halted in one town after a gun battle.
The commission noted instances of suspected fraud and irregularities such as broken or missing ballot boxes and stolen voting materials.
- (Reuters)
Man cleared over child stabbings
LONDON- A 35-year-old woman was detained under the Mental Health Act in relation to the stabbing attack that killed two children and injured a baby, Scotland Yard said last night. A man questioned by police about the stabbings had been released earlier in the day.
The 39-year-old man, believed to be the father of the three children, will face no further action, police said.
The children were found at a house in the south of London, on Friday after police and the ambulance service were called. The six-month-old baby girl is in critical condition. Her five-year-old brother and four-year-old sister died in hospital.
- (Reuters)
Three wounded by Eta bomb
MADRID- A bomb exploded in the Basque town of Zarautz yesterday, slightly wounding three people. Spanish police said they had received a warning from the armed group Eta.
The bomb was aimed at a construction company working on a high-speed train network linking the Basque Country's main cities.
- (Reuters)