A round-up of the other world news stories of the day in brief...
Betancourt sues over kidnapping
BOGOTA – Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who spent more than six years as a rebel hostage before being rescued by the army, has sued the state over her kidnapping, the defence ministry said yesterday.
The suit seeks $6.8 million (€5.4 million) in damages from Colombia for emotional stress and loss of earnings while held in secret jungle camps by Marxist guerrillas.
The ministry said Ms Betancourt has no reason to blame the state for her kidnapping. Ms Betancourt, who also has French citizenship, was snatched by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) while campaigning for the presidency in 2002. – (Reuters)
UN fails to blame sinking on N Korea
UNITED NATIONS – The UN Security Council yesterday condemned what it called an attack leading to the sinking of a South Korean ship in March, but in a concession to China it did not explicitly blame North Korea.
In a statement agreed to by all 15 members, the council expressed “deep concern” over findings by a South Korean-led panel of inquiry that North Korea had sunk the naval corvette Cheonan, but noted that Pyongyang had denied responsibility.
North Korea’s UN ambassador, who warned that any council action over the incident would bring a military response from his state, said the statement was a “great diplomatic victory” for North Korea. – (Reuters)
New deepwater oil drilling ban essential - US
HOUSTON/NEW ORLEANS – The Obama administration said yesterday it is essential that its ban on deepwater oil drilling be restored after a court struck it down, and promised a revised moratorium would be announced soon.
Interior secretary Ken Salazar told reporters in California he will make an announcement on a new ban on deepwater drilling in the “next several days”. His comments came a day after a federal court refused to reinstate the six-month ban on deepwater drilling below 500 feet (152.5 metres), imposed after BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. – (Reuters)
Heathrow warehouse burns
LONDON – A fire engulfed a warehouse at Heathrow Airport, London, yesterday, a fire brigade spokesman said, but flights from the busy British international air hub were not affected.
“A significant part of the building is alight,” he said, adding more than 100 firefighters were tackling the blaze. It was too soon to say what had caused it.
Flights in and out of the airport were unaffected, and there were no reports of any injuries, an airport spokeswoman said.
Boutrous Boutrous, head of media for Emirates in Dubai, said a gas cylinder blast was believed to have started the fire. – (Reuters)