A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
$10.8m voted by US for Ireland Fund
WASHINGTON - The appropriations committee of the US House of Representatives yesterday voted to recommend that $10.8 million be given to the International Fund for Ireland . "This is extremely good news," said fund chairman Denis Rooney. "This recommendation is a real vote of confidence in the young people and communities which benefit from the programmes of the International Fund for Ireland."
Explosion kills 39 people in Africa
COTONOU - A petrol tanker exploded after running off the road in Benin, west Africa, killing 39 people and injuring about 80 more who had rushed to collect fuel pouring from the damaged vehicle. A doctor said the death toll was sure to rise, with around a dozen people believed too badly injured to survive and hospital resources stretched to the limit. - (Reuters)
Kill 'only when justified' in Iraq
WASHINGTON - The top Marine Corps general flew to Iraq yesterday to tell his troops they should kill "only when justified", as the US military investigated whether marines killed civilians in two incidents.
The visit by Gen Michael Hagee to meet marines at bases in Iraq showed his personal concern over recent allegations about the actions of Marines in combat, the Marines said in a statement. - (Reuters)
Warning about talks with Eta
BILBAO - Possible peace talks between the Spanish government and Eta separatists will go on hold if members of a banned political party linked to the guerrillas are jailed next week, the party warned yesterday.
The High Court has summoned eight members of Batasuna's ruling council next Wednesday to determine whether they violated a ban on participating in politics at a meeting in March in Pamplona. - (Reuters)
$1.3bn in military aid for Egypt
WASHINGTON - A US House of Representatives committee yesterday rejected a bid to curb military aid to Cairo because of democratic setbacks, and defeated an amendment that would have withheld $200 million of the $1.3 billion in military aid targeted for the country. - (Reuters)