A short look at what is happening in the world this morning.
Israeli officer feared arrest in Britain
JERUSALEM - A retired Israeli army general said yesterday he narrowly escaped an attempt by pro-Palestinian activists to have him prosecuted on war crimes allegations while on holiday in Britain.
Doron Almog, former commander of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, said he flew to London with his wife on Sunday but decided not to disembark after Israel's ambassador to Britain boarded and warned him that he could be arrested.
"I think there is a basic, fundamental problem here, in that any soldier who has taken part in the fight against Palestinian terrorism over the past five years can find himself accused of war crimes," Mr Almog said. - (Reuters)
Suspicious tourists halt airline flight
NICOSIA - Frightened British tourists stopped an airliner taking off from Cyprus on Sunday after a Muslim passenger triggered a security scare by spending a long time in the toilet.
Passengers forced the aircraft to turn back while it was taxiing for take off to Manchester. There were 230 people on private carrier XLA's aircraft.
"The appearance and behaviour of two individuals roused suspicion and then the pilot refused to continue with them after the reaction from the other passengers," police said.
State radio reported they were Pakistani in origin.
"What became suspicious is one went to the toilet and went for a long time," one British passenger said.
The men were questioned and nothing was found against them. - (Reuters)
US bars Cuban from UN meeting
UNITED NATIONS - Cuba complained to UN secretary general Kofi Annan yesterday that the US had barred its national assembly speaker from attending a meeting of parliamentarians at UN headquarters in New York.
Washington denied a visa request from Ricardo Alarcon of Cuba to attend last week's second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. - (Reuters)
Rwanda criticised for arresting cleric
KIGALI- The US-based Human Rights Watch criticised Rwanda yesterday for arresting a Belgian priest and charging him with inciting people to participate in the 1994 genocide on the basis of "hearsay and emotionalism".
Rwandan authorities arrested Guy Theunis, a member of the Catholic order of the "White Fathers". - (Reuters)
Ban on poverty campaign's ads
LONDON - Make Poverty History was banned yesterday from television and radio advertising in Britain. Advertising watchdog Ofcom said the goals of its campaign were political and therefore outlawed. - (Reuters)