A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Pentagon inquiry into Guantánamo
US: The Pentagon's inspector general ordered an investigation into alleged abuse at the US military prison at Guantánamo Bay that holds suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda members, a spokesman said yesterday.
The order followed a statement last week from a US marine saying Guantánamo guards described physically and mentally abusing detainees, including slamming one inmate's head into a cell door and denying others privileges just to anger them. The marine's sworn statement was released by lawyers for detainees last week. The inspector general's office, which serves as the Pentagon's internal watchdog agency, received the marine's affidavit and letter by e-mail on Tuesday. - (Reuters)
Dalai Lama defends Muslims
ROME: The Dalai Lama said after meeting Pope Benedict yesterday that "a few mischievous Muslims" should not be allowed to give the Islamic faith a bad name.
Muslims worldwide were offended by a speech by the Pope last month in which he quoted a Byzantine emperor who said Muhammad spread Islam by the sword.
The exiled spiritual leader of six million Tibetan Buddhists said: "Nowadays I often express that due to a few mischievous Muslims' acts we should not consider all Muslims as something bad. That is very unfair. A few mischievous people you can find among fellows from all religions - among Muslims and Christians and Jews and Buddhists. To generalise is not correct."
S Africa's Botha hospitalised
JOHANNESBURG: PW Botha, the iron-fisted former South African president accused of using torture and death squads to maintain white minority rule, was admitted to hospital yesterday.
Mr Botha (90) was taken to the George Medi-Clinic, near his home in George, the Western Cape resort town. The hospital would not give any details on Mr Botha's condition. - (Reuters)
Suicide attack kills 8 in Afghanistan
KANDAHAR: A suicide attacker targeting a Nato convoy in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar killed eight civilians and a foreign soldier yesterday.
The attack on the Kabul highway just outside the city is the latest in an increasing number of suicide bombings that have killed about 200 people this year, already the bloodiest year in Afghanistan since the Taliban government was toppled in 2001. - (Reuters)