A round-up of other stories in brief
Brown tells Iraq UK set to return control
BASRA -British prime minister Gordon Brown made an unannounced visit to Iraq yesterday and said his country would hand responsibility for the last province it controls to Iraqi security forces within weeks.
After almost five years, Mr Brown is winding down Britain's mission in support of the US-led war in Iraq.
His brief stop at an airbase outside the southern city of Basra marked Mr Brown's second visit to British forces in Iraq since taking over as prime minister in June. - (Reuters)
Israel responds to US over criticism
JERUSALEM -Israel's deputy prime minister responded yesterday to US criticism of plans to build homes on occupied land in the Jerusalem area by saying parts of the city must be given to the Palestinians to avoid losing US support.
But Haim Ramon told Israeli radio that Israel would not give up the Jewish settlement where the building plan announced last week sparked Palestinian anger and a warning from US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice that it risked harming a peace process she helped relaunch last month at the Annapolis conference. - (Reuters)
Cleric cuts up his collar live on TV
London -The Archbishop of York dramatically cut up his dog collar during a live television interview yesterday and vowed not wear it again until Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe is out of office.
Dr John Sentamu made the gesture on the BBC's Andrew Marrshow.
He removed his dog collar, saying: "As an Anglican this is what I wear to identify myself, that I'm a clergyman. Do you know what Mugabe has done? He's taken people's identity and literally, if you don't mind, cut it to pieces. In the end there's nothing." - (Guardian service)
Farmer convicted over serial killings
BRITISH COLUMBIA -A Canadian pig farmer was convicted yesterday of the serial killings of six women whose bodies were butchered like animals in the farm's slaughterhouse.
But the jury convicted Robert "Willie" Pickton of a lesser charge of second-degree murder, not the first-degree murder he was originally charged with.
The verdict still carries a life sentence, but the reduced charge makes it easier to get parole.
The verdict wraps up the first of two trials for Pickton, who is accused of killing 26 Vancouver prostitutes. - (Reuters)
Five killed in Ukraine air crash
KIEV -A chartered passenger aircraft flying from the Czech Republic to Kiev crashed near the Ukrainian capital yesterday killing five people,
Ukraine's emergency ministry said.
The aircraft crashed near Kiev's second-largest airport, Zhulyani, about a 20-minute drive from the city centre and close to residential areas, the ministry said. - (Reuters)
Bosnian Serbs vote for president
BANJA LUKA -Bosnian Serbs voted yesterday for the mainly ceremonial post of the Bosnian Serb Republic's president after the sudden death of president Milan Jelic.
About 35 per cent of 1.1 million eligible voters had cast their ballots two hours before the polling stations closed at 7pm, the election commission said. - (Reuters)
Changes approved despite boycott
ORURO, Bolivia -An assembly boycotted by the rightist opposition to Bolivian president Evo Morales approved most of a controversial new constitution he supports during an all-night session guarded by miners and peasant farmers. - (Reuters)