In short

Other stories from around the world in brief

Other stories from around the world in brief

Iran car bomb kills 11 bus passengers

TEHRAN- A bus owned by the Revolutionary Guards was blown up by a booby-trapped car yesterday, killing at least 11 people, in a border city in southeastern Iran where security forces and drug smugglers often clash, state media reported.

Jundollah (God's soldiers), a shadowy Sunni Muslim group that Iran has linked to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility, an Iranian news agency and a Dubai-based TV channel said. The group has been blamed for past kidnappings and killings in the area. - (Reuters)

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Appeal to pope by soldiers' relatives

VATICAN CITY- Relatives of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hizbullah guerrillas last July took their appeal for the men's freedom to Pope Benedict yesterday.

The pope told the group he would do everything possible to win the soldiers' freedom, Israel's ambassador said.

Five members of the families of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev spoke to the pope on the sidelines of a weekly general audience.

"It was a very honourable meeting, with a lot of attention from the pope," Shlomo Goldwasser, Ehud's father, told Israel Radio. - (Reuters)

Israeli PM begins visit to Turkey

ANKARA- Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert began a visit to Turkey yesterday, seeking to strengthen ties with a key Muslim ally amid regional tensions.

"Turkey has a meaningful role to play in our region. It is a central Muslim state which can act as a bridge to Arab countries," Mr Olmert told reporters aboard his aircraft before arriving in Ankara.

Nato-member Turkey is one of the few nations in the region to enjoy cordial ties with both the Israelis and Palestinians, as well as with Israel's foes, Syria and Iran. - (Reuters)

Russian election candidate shot

MAKHACHKALA, Russia - A top candidate in a Russian regional election was shot and wounded yesterday as he was driving home after appearing on TV in a live campaign broadcast, police said.

Eduard Khidirov, campaigning for Russia's Patriots party in the southern region of Dagestan, was later taken to hospital. - (Reuters)

Death of UK's oldest woman (111)

UPTON- The oldest woman in the UK has died at the age of 111, Guinness World Records confirmed yesterday.

Ada Mason, from Upton, West Yorkshire, died in her sleep on Friday. Her granddaughter put her long life down to eating bread and dripping with salt, as well as "clean living". - (PA)