A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Giffords brought to rehab centre
TUCSON– US representative Gabrielle Giffords yesterday left the Arizona hospital where she had remained since being shot in the head on January 8th and began her trip to a Texas medical facility to continue her recovery.
The congresswoman (40) was discharged from the hospital shortly after 9am local time and was taken by ambulance at the head of a motorcade through town en route to an Air Force base.
From there she will be flown to Houston, where she will be admitted to TIRR Memorial Hermann Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, which specialises in the treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries.
– (Reuters)
Jumblatt gives Hizbullah support
BEIRUT– Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said yesterday his group would support Hizbullah ahead of parliamentary talks on Monday to pick a new prime minister.
With Mr Jumblatt’s support, it is almost certain that Hizbullah and its allies, with 57 seats in parliament, will win a majority to endorse Sunni politician Omar Karami to lead a new government.
“I am announcing the right political stand . . . by assuring the steadfastness of the group [Progressive Socialist Party] alongside Syria and the resistance,” he said.
Resistance is a term used to describe Hizbullah.
Hizbullah ministers and their allies resigned from Saad al-Hariri’s cabinet last week. – (Reuters)
Three dead after protest in Albania
TIRANA– Three people were shot dead as protesters fought police outside Albanian prime minister Sali Berisha's office yesterday during a rally to demand that the government resign over corruption allegations.
“Unfortunately, three of the civilians have died,” said Alfred Gega, deputy director of Tirana’s Military Hospital. Some 33 protesters and 17 policemen were wounded. A civilian and a policeman were in a critical condition, he said.
Supporters of the opposition Socialist Party had earlier rallied outside the prime minister’s office and some had pelted the building and police with stones, sticks and umbrellas. Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannon and stun grenades. – (Reuters)