A roun-up of today's other world news in brief ...
WASHINGTON – A US federal judge yesterday angrily threw out a jury’s corruption verdict against former Republican senator Ted Stevens and has ordered a criminal contempt probe into what he called shocking misconduct by the US justice department.
Judge Emmmet Sullivan said the Stevens prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence. – (Reuters)
Man kills himself after shooting spree in court
LANDSHUT, Germany – A 60-year-old cook shot his sister-in-law, seriously wounded two other people and killed himself in a courthouse shooting spree in the southern German town of Landshut yesterday.
The man was embroiled in a legal battle with his in-laws over an inheritance and opened fire with a revolver during a break in proceedings in the hallway of the court, state prosecutor Christoph Stroetz said. – (Reuters)
Legionnaire kills three soldiers
PARIS – A French member of the Foreign Legion has killed three soldiers in Chad and is on the run, a spokesman for the French armed forces said. Two of the dead soldiers were French and the third was Togolese, said Christophe Prazuck. “A French soldier who appears to have gone a bit mad killed two of his comrades and then a Togolese comrade before escaping,” Mr Prazuck said.– (Reuters)
Saudi police arrest 11 militants
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia says it had arrested 11 al-Qaeda-linked militants, seizing arms and breaking up a cell that planned to carry out attacks and kidnappings.
Police made arrests in several areas, including near the border with Yemen. – (Reuters)
Boys on attempted murder charge
LONDON – Two boys aged 10 and 11 were charged yesterday with attempted murder after two other youngsters were left with serious injuries following an alleged attack near Doncaster at the weekend.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it had given police the go-ahead to charge the boys who were arrested after the assaults in Edlington, South Yorkshire, on Saturday.
One of the victims of the alleged attacks, aged 11, was left with life-threatening injuries.
He is said to be in a stable condition in hospital. – (Reuters)
Castros talks to US delegation
HAVANA – Members of a US congressional delegation met yesterday with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in his first known meeting with US officials since he underwent surgery in July 2006.
A spokeswoman for the US Interests Section in Havana said the meeting took place shortly before the Americans were to leave for Washington, ending a five-day visit in which they also met with President Raúl Castro. – (Reuters)