A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Nigerian government issues threat
ABUJA - The Nigerian government yesterday accused unnamed enemies of spreading false rumours to destabilise the country in what observers said was a warning to opponents in the build-up to elections in 2007.
Information minister Frank Nweke listed what he said were "heinous allegations" against the government and denied them, but analysts said his dramatically-worded statement was more likely to raise tensions than allay fears.
"The government wishes to state that. . . it will act decisively to prevent self-seeking individuals and groups from implementing their dastardly plans to cause ethnic disaffection and upheavals across the country," Mr Nweke told a news conference. - (Reuters)
Merkel critical of Schröder job
BERLIN - Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder's job with a Russian-led gas pipeline project may harm Berlin's relations with Poland and the Baltic states, Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted as saying yesterday.
Mr Schröder has come under attack from opposition lawmakers, European Union officials and members of his own Social Democrats (SPD) after it emerged he would head the pipeline project, which will bring Siberian gas under the Baltic sea to Germany. - (Reuters)
Eight killed as hotel collapses
ALGIERS - A four-storey hotel collapsed yesterday in central Algiers, killing eight people, including a baby, rescuers and survivors said.
Six other people were injured in the accident in the ancient Casbah area, which occurred early in the morning when most residents were asleep.
The immediate death toll was six, but two others died in hospital. - (Reuters)
Fleeing mugger killed by tigers
JOHANNESBURG - A South African mugger was mauled to death by tigers after he fled the scene of his crime and took refuge in what turned out to be a tiger enclosure at a nearby zoo, police said yesterday.
The incident took place on Sunday in Bloemfontein, about 400km (250 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.
"The guy who was found in the tiger enclosure had been trying to escape after he had robbed a couple with a knife early on Sunday morning," said police spokesman Sam Makhele. - (Reuters)
Doherty's tribute track to Hancock
Controversial rock star Pete Doherty has recorded a track in dedication to his comic idol Tony Hancock for a BBC2 documentary to be screened on St Stephen's Day.
The exclusive track, entitled Lady Don't Fall Backwards, does not appear on any of the rocker's albums. The track refers to the book Hancock was reading in an episode of Hancock's Half Hour called The Missing Page. - (PA)