A round-up of today's world news
US military apologises for blasting Koran
BAGHDAD- US military commanders have apologised to community leaders in Iraq after a US soldier used a copy of the Koran for shooting practice, fearing an outburst of anger among US-allied tribesmen.
Bloody protests have sometimes broken out across the Muslim world when the Islamic faith has been insulted. The swift apology by the US commanders appeared aimed at avoiding similar violence in Iraq.
The US military said yesterday the soldier, who was not identified, had been disciplined and ordered to leave Iraq after a copy of the Muslim holy book was found riddled with bullet holes at a shooting range near Baghdad on May 11th. - ( Reuters)
Police to talk to Olmert again
JERUSALEM- Israeli police plan to question prime minister Ehud Olmert for a second time, a spokesman said yesterday, as part of a bribery investigation that could force him from office.
"The official request has been handed over to the prime minister's lawyers and we are waiting for a response regarding the time and place for questioning," said a police spokesman. Mr Olmerts office had no immediate comment. - ( Reuters)
Islamist bomb targets bakery
ISLAMABAD- A bomb blast at a bakery shop in the northwestern Pakistani town of Mardan yesterday killed at least seven people and wounded 16, police said.
The shop was in the military cantonment area of the town, which has suffered several attacks by Islamist militants. - ( Reuters)
Nato disputes report on killings
KABUL- Nato yesterday rejected a report by a UN rapporteur about the number of civilian killings at the hands of the alliance-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, Philip Alston, said on Thursday some 200 Afghan civilians had been killed by foreign and Afghan troops and around 300 by Taliban insurgents since the beginning of 2008.
"In summary, we find much of the substance and the overall tone of his statement inaccurate and unsubstantiated," said a spokesman for Nato. - ( Reuters)
Saudis arrest rights activist
RIYADH- Saudi authorities have detained a leading Ismaili activist after he complained to the king over alleged rights abuses against the Shia minority, a fellow activist said yesterday.
Security police detained Ahmed Turki al-Saab in Riyadh on Tuesday, days after he and five other Ismaili Shias from the southern province of Najran handed to King Abdullah a 300-page report on alleged abuses by its governor. - ( Reuters)
Labourers killed by falling house
CHANDIGARH- A house collapse triggered by a storm in northern India killed 13 labourers and injured over a dozen yesterday, officials said. At least 13 labourers were buried under piles of rubble in Gurgaon, near India's capital, New Delhi, after portions of a house they were constructing collapsed on them. Police said the collapse was triggered by a storm. - ( Reuters)
Opposition vows to 'bury' Mugabe
BULAWAYO- Zimbabwes main opposition vowed yesterday to "bury" President Robert Mugabe at next months second-round election, and called for the process of checking the poll results to be open to the media.- ( Reuters)