A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Deputy secretary of state appointed
WASHINGTON – Bill Burns, a career US diplomat, has been chosen to replace Jim Steinberg as deputy secretary of state, secretary of state Hillary Clinton has said.
As undersecretary of state for political affairs, the number three US diplomat, Mr Burns has been Washington’s lead negotiator in the unsuccessful effort to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear programme.
He has served as US ambassador to Russia and Jordan and as assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs. – (Reuters)
$5.8m reward for information
WASHINGTON – The US and Mexican governments have announced multimillion dollar rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting of two US immigration agents.
The US issued a statement saying it was offering a reward of up to $5 million, while the Mexican government offered 10 million pesos ($839,000). Both countries have set up telephone hotlines.
In February, two unarmed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were driving in an armoured vehicle on a highway from San Luis Potosi to Mexico City when they were ambushed in broad daylight by suspected drug gang members.
One agent, Jaime Zapata, was killed and another, Victor Avila, was wounded in one of the more brazen attacks by drug cartels as they battle with authorities who are trying to crack down on drug and weapons trafficking.
Mexican authorities have already detained more than 30 people in connection with the shooting, including a suspected money man for the Zetas drug cartel who was arrested earlier this month.
– (Reuters)
Kosovo president resigns to run again
PRISTINA – President Behgjet Pacolli of Kosovo has resigned after the constitutional court ruled that his election by parliament a month ago was not constitutional, but he will run again for the office, according to an aide.
The resignation of Mr Pacolli, who was elected to the largely ceremonial job in a power-sharing deal with prime minister Hashim Thaci, might force early parliamentary elections unless ruling and opposition parties co-operate to end the deadlock. – (Reuters)
Pro-Quattara forces take Ivory Coast’s official capital
ABIDJAN – Forces loyal to Ivory Coast’s presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara have taken the official capital and advanced to within 130 km of the cocoa port of San Pedro, according to witnesses.
Forces loyal to Mr Ouattara have launched offensives from the east, west and centre of the country in recent days in a southward push to dislodge incumbent Laurent Gbagbo.
Resisting pressure from the African Union and the West, Mr Gbagbo has refused to leave since a disputed election last November which UN-certified results said he lost.
The UN says 472 people have been killed since the standoff began and a humanitarian crisis is worsening, with a million people displaced from the commercial capital, Abidjan, alone. Pro-Ouattara forces now control areas growing about 600,000 tonnes of cocoa a year, half of national output in the world’s biggest producer. – (Reuters)