A round-up of other world news in brief
Carter to meet senior Hamas officials
Former US president Jimmy Carter will visit Gaza today for a rare meeting with senior Hamas officials following his criticism of a key speech by Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, on Sunday night.
Mr Carter, who has been in Israel and the occupied West Bank over the past week, will be one of the most senior western figures to meet the Hamas leadership in Gaza in recent years. He is expected to meet, among other Hamas officials, Ismail Haniyeh, the former Palestinian prime minister. – (Guardian service)
Face transplant patient dies
PARIS – A French man who underwent the world's first simultaneous face and hand transplant after suffering burns in an accident has died during a second operation. The 30-year-old, whose name has not been made public, had a heart attack while doctors tried to tackle an infection that had set in weeks after the dual transplant was carried out, the surgeon who led the transplant said. – ( Guardianservice)
EU criticises Iraq executions
PRAGUE – The European Union protested against reported executions in Iraq yesterday and called for a moratorium on the death penalty.
“The European Union is deeply disturbed at reports that in recent days further death sentences were carried out in Iraq, probably totalling number 20,” the Czech EU presidency said.
“Moreover, the European Union is severely alarmed about indications that further mass executions might be imminent,” the EU said.
– (Reuters)
Parole board to rule on Biggs
LONDON – “Great Train Robber” Ronnie Biggs will learn within weeks whether he has succeeded in his bid for early jail release after a UK parole board panel met yesterday to consider his case. British justice secretary Jack Straw will have the final say, a board spokesman said. – (Reuters)