A round-up of today's other world news, in brief ...
More suspect letters sent to US embassies
WASHINGTON - The US embassies in Prague and Tokyo received envelopes with white powder that is being tested for toxins, the US state department said yesterday, one day after it disclosed receiving similar letters at 16 missions in Europe that were later found to be harmless.
State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the other 16 embassies were in Dublin, Berlin, Bern, Brussels, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Luxembourg, Madrid, Oslo, Paris, Reykjavik, Riga, Rome, Stockholm, Tallinn and The Hague.
He declined to comment on who may have sent the letters, noting an FBI investigation was under way. - (Reuters)
Belgian PM under pressure to quit
BRUSSELS - Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme is facing mounting pressure to quit over his handling of the state-led dismantling of stricken financial group Fortis.
Key cabinet ministers were yesterday holding an emergency meeting over accusations that Mr Leterme's office had sought to influence an appeal court ruling that froze the October break-up of Fortis.
The French-speaking Socialist Party confirmed Mr Leterme's possible resignation was under discussion, newspaper De Standaard said on its website. - (Reuters)
Cuba may release political prisoners
BRASILIA - Cuban president Raul Castro said yesterday Cuba could release political prisoners as one of the "gestures" needed to pave the way for talks with incoming US president Barack Obama.
It was Cuba's most specific offer of a way to ease ties with the US since Mr Obama, who takes office on January 20th, was elected in November.
"Let's do gesture for gesture," Mr Castro told reporters during a visit to the Brazilian capital Brasilia. - (Reuters)
India's 180-day detention law
NEW DELHI - The Indian government has rushed a new law through parliament that will allow police to hold suspects for up to 180 days, a move legal officials say is an attempt to allay public anger over the Mumbai attacks.
But the Congress Party-led government, facing an election by May, could also be courting trouble by making the bill similar to an old law that it had repealed.
The law was proposed amid barely contained public anger over last month's attacks in Mumbai which killed at least 179 people, exposing glaring holes in India's security and intelligence network and which led to the security minister's resignation. - (Reuters)
13th day of unrest in Greece
ATHENS - Greek marchers hurled firebombs and stones at police outside parliament yesterday while unions grounded flights and shut down public offices in a 13th day of anti-government protests since police shot dead a teenager.
Protesters waving red flags jostled with police, who formed a cordon around parliament, and attempted to burn down a Christmas tree in the square outside.
Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd. - (Reuters)
Man jailed over Madrid bombings
RABAT - A Moroccan man was jailed for 20 years yesterday for links to the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people, state news agency Map reported.
Abdelilah Hriz (29) was found guilty of forming a criminal gang and of a series a terrorism-related offences including helping to destroy public property using explosives, Map said. - (Reuters)