A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
Cyprus leader contacts UN over talks
Newly elected Cyprus president Demetris Christofias says he has contacted the United Nations to seek a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, aimed at new reunification talks on the divided island.
"The very first step will be an exploratory meeting with [Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali] Tatat," he said yesterday. Mr Christofias's victory on Sunday has raised hopes of ending the Mediterranean island's ethnic division.
- (Reuters)
Three aid workers killed
Gunmen have killed three employees of a British aid agency in northwest Pakistan in an attack that sparked fears of further violence against foreign organisations.
Up to a dozen armed men burst into the offices of Plan International in Mansehra, 72km north of Islamabad, opening fire indiscriminately before setting off three explosions.
- (Guardian service)
NY police 'careless'
New York police who killed an unarmed black man with 50 shots on his wedding day were careless and desperate to make an arrest because their vice unit was about to be disbanded, a prosecutor said yesteday.
Two officers went on trial for manslaughter and a third for reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell (23), who was killed in 2006 following a stag party in a case generating outrage in much of New York's black community.
- (Reuters)
Lebanon poll delay again
Lebanon's presidential election was postponed yesterday to March 11th from today, parliament speaker Nabih Berri said, declaring the 15th delay of a vote blocked by a bitter political conflict.
The Western-backed governing coalition and an opposition alliance backed by Syria and Iran have been unable to agree a political deal on how to share seats in a new cabinet, holding up the election of a new president.
- (Reuters)
Czech talks on defence shield
The Czech Republic expects to hammer out final details of a plan to host part of a US missile defence shield this week in Washington, prime minister Mirek Topolanek has said.
Mr Topolanek is due to meet US president George W Bush tomorrow to discuss the shield, which has drawn strong criticism from Russia. Mr Bush and Mr Topolanek will also discuss a plan to drop a US visa requirement for Czechs.
- (Reuters)
Paws for a walking break
Police dogs in the German city of Düsseldorf are being fitted out with blue rubber shoes to protect their paws while walking the beat.
Andre Hartwich, a spokesman for police in the western city yesterday said shards of glass and sharp objects got stuck between the cobbles of Düsseldorf's old town and were dangerous for the canine squad.
- (Reuters)