A roundup of today's other world news in brief
Talks may resume next week – Israel
JERUSALEM – Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas “intends” to renew stalled peace negotiations, suggesting a breakthrough was possible after months of deadlock.
In a speech to his right-wing Likud faction in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu said talks with the Palestinians, which the United States has sought to convene, may resume as soon as next week.
Mr Netanyahu also said he would visit Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel, for talks with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on Monday. – (Reuters)
Tunisian journalist released from jail
TUNIS – A Tunisian journalist whose six-month jail sentence for assault was condemned by international rights groups said after his release yesterday he was unbowed and would write a book about his experiences.
Taoufik Ben Brik was found guilty of attacking a woman motorist during an argument in the street.
He and his supporters said the charges were concocted to punish him for his criticism of Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
Officials denied there was any political motive behind the trial, but Ben Brik’s case focused international scrutiny on human rights in Tunisia. – (Reuters)
UN shuts mission in Kandahar
KANDAHAR – The United Nations said yesterday it had shut its mission in Kandahar and evacuated many foreign staff from the southern Afghan city, in a sign of worsening security before a major US offensive.
Hours after the announcement, suspected Taliban infiltrators blew up tankers at a fuel depot outside the city, near the airfield that serves as the biggest Nato base in the province, killing four people and wounding at least 30.
A spokesman for Kandahar province Zalmai Ayoubi said there were several blasts and that one of them could have been caused by a suicide bomber. – (Reuters)