A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Zuma buoyant after acquittal on rape charge
JOHANNESBURG - Former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma said he was willing to run for election as South Africa's next president, wasting no time launching a comeback attempt after his acquittal on rape charges.
Zuma said he was immediately resuming his duties at the ruling African National Congress, which alone would decide whether to nominate him to succeed President Thabo Mbeki in 2009. - (Reuters)
Italian left stands by Napolitano
ROME - Italy's incoming government said it was ready to go it alone and push through its candidate, an ex-communist, for head of state despite opposition from most of Silvio Berlusconi's conservative bloc.
Prime minister in waiting Romano Prodi vowed to stick by his man following a third, inconclusive ballot in parliament yesterday and hours after his archrival Berlusconi said there was "no room for agreement" on the candidate, Giorgio Napolitano. - (Reuters)
German cannibal gets life sentence
FRANKFURT - A German cannibal whose killing and eating of a willing victim shocked the nation received a life sentence for murder after a court overturned a previous manslaughter conviction.
In delivering the decision, Judge Klaus Drescher threw out the defence team's argument that Armin Meiwes had acted on his victim's request in a crime similar to euthanasia, which in Germany carries a maximum prison term of five years. - (Reuters)
Nine held over stamp investment
MADRID - Spanish police arrested nine people in an anti-fraud swoop on two companies that invested up to 350,000 people's money in postage stamps, coins and art.
The people under investigation were suspected of pocketing a "substantial" amount of the money that investors put into guaranteed-return funds run by Forum Filatelico and Afinsa Bienes Tangibles, the police said. - (Reuters)
Somalian factions declare truce
MOGADISHU - Islamic militia and a self-styled anti-terrorism alliance of warlords in Somalia's capital declared an apparent truce after fighting that has killed around 60 people, both sides said. The battle is the third this year between the two sides. - (Reuters)
Jordanian fights deportation order
LONDON - A hardline Islamic cleric believed to have close links with al-Qaeda has launched a legal challenge against efforts to deport him to Jordan. The case of Abu Qatada, who came to Britain in 1993, is a key test of efforts to allow deportations to countries accused of torture by securing promises deportees will not be ill-treated. - (Reuters)
Blaine fails to break record
NEW YORK - Stuntman David Blaine has failed to break the world record for holding his breath under water, falling nearly two minutes short of the record.
Blaine blacked out after seven minutes and eight seconds under water, prompting trainer Kirk Krack to send two divers into the tank to free him from shackles attached to his ankles. -(Reuters)
No more frills for Saudi salesmen
RIYADH- Saudi Arabia has confirmed women will replace male sales assistants in lingerie shops from next month, ending an awkward anomaly in the conservative Islamic state. The government wants more women to work as part of its efforts to diversify and reduce reliance on foreign labour. - (Reuters)