A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Turkish security forces kill nine Kurdish guerillas in firefight
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey – Turkish security forces killed nine Kurdish guerrillas in a clash in the southeast of the country on Monday, security officials said yesterday.
The firefight with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, which took place in Hakkari province near the borders with Iran and Iraq, occurred despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by the PKK in mid-August.
Turkey, which like the European Union and United States regards the PKK as a terrorist organisation, has always ignored such ceasefires. The PKK has said it called the truce because of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. However, it also coincides with a Turkish referendum. – (Reuters)
London rail service disrupted by strike
LONDON – Millions of London commuters struggled to get to and from work yesterday as a 24-hour strike by workers on the UK capital’s underground rail system disrupted much of the network.
Passengers took to bikes and buses, walked or made use of extra boat services on the Thames in a bid to beat the stoppage, called in protest against 800 job cuts driven by austerity measures.
The London Chamber of Commerce said the capital’s economy would lose £48 million for every day the underground was shut.
Normal service on the 400km underground network is expected today.
The Rail Maritime and Transport union said every underground line was suspended or running a skeleton service after “rock solid” support for the walkouts in protest at staffing cuts.
Underground operator Transport for London said over one-third of trains were running normally and contingency plans to limit the strike’s impact had worked.
“The paralysis of London predicted by the leadership of the . . . union has failed to materialise, and we are confident of running a good service tomorrow morning,” said managing director Mike Brown.– (Reuters)
John Lennon killer denied parole again
NEW YORK – John Lennon’s killer was again denied parole yesterday, nearly 30 years after gunning him down outside the ex-Beatle’s New York City apartment building.
A parole board decided not to release Mark David Chapman (55) after interviewing him at Attica Correctional Facility in New York. It was Chapman’s sixth appearance before the board since 2000. – (PA)