More world news in brief.
Three killed in Lebanon clashes
LEBANON:At least three people were killed and 30 wounded yesterday in sectarian clashes in Lebanon's second-largest city Tripoli.
Explosions and machinegun fire rocked the city as Sunni Muslim supporters of the government and Alawite gunmen close to the Hizbullah-led opposition battled on the outskirts of the mainly Sunni Muslim port.
Dozens of families fled the scene of the clashes that tapered off after both sides agreed a ceasefire. - (Reuters)
Immigrants start fire in centre
FRANCE: Illegal immigrants started a fire yesterday at one of France's biggest deportation centres outside Paris, burning down two buildings and injuring around 20 inmates waiting for expulsion.
The blaze began when inmates set mattresses on fire after the death on Saturday of a Tunisian immigrant detained in the centre, one inmate said.
Police said in a statement that 20 people "made uncomfortable by fumes" had been taken to hospital, but that no one had been seriously injured. - (Reuters)
Autonomy vote in Bolivian region
BOLIVIA:Bolivia's energy-rich Tarija region voted yesterday on whether to seek greater autonomy from the central government, the last of four such referendums rejected by leftist president Evo Morales.
The ballot in the southern area, home to more than 80 per cent of Bolivia's vast natural gas reserves, follows similar votes in two Amazon regions and wealthy Santa Cruz.
Mr Morales says the votes are illegal and separatist and has refused to accept them. - (Reuters)
French nuclear workers seized
NIGER:Tuareg-led rebels yesterday seized four French employees of the French nuclear group Areva.
The rebel Niger Justice Movement said the French were seized in a raid on Areva's mine. - (Reuters)