A round-up of other world news in brief
Egyptian police beat protesters objecting to Mubarak succession
CAIRO – Police beat a handful of demonstrators with batons yesterday at a protest gathering of about 300 Egyptians standing against what they said were plans to hand power to the president's son.
President Hosni Mubarak (82), in power since 1981, has not said whether he will run in the 2011 election. But persistent rumours about his health have helped fuel talk he could hand power to his politician son, Gamal (46). Both deny this.
Though small, the protests have become more frequent ahead of a parliamentary election in November.
"No, no to succession. No to Mubarak, no to Gamal, no to Alaa," the protesters shouted, naming the president's two sons. Wafaa Hanafy Sehab, a lawyer and political activist, who was at the protest, said it was the first of a series of protests calling for Egyptians not to vote. "We are for boycotting elections because they are a sham," she said.
Analysts say the opposition has yet to show it can rally mass protests in the country of 78 million to force change on a government that has huge security forces. But the protests are drawing international attention, they said. – (Reuters)
Cleric suspected of abuse in Spain
MADRID – A Catholic diocese in Spain yesterday said one of its clergymen is suspected of abusing minors, the second such case to become public in Spain.
The office of the Archbishop of Valencia said in a statement the priest, who was not named, has been removed from pastoral duties and from his work at the San Vicente Martir Catholic University of Valencia.
“The archbishop is profoundly sorry over the acts reported to the police, which are a source of shame and humiliation,” the statement said. – (Reuters)
Russia gay rights protest broken up
MOSCOW – Police yesterday broke up a small protest and detained at least eight gay rights activists calling for the resignation of Moscow’s mayor, who is locked in a battle with the Kremlin over his job after 18 years in office.
The rally was timed to mark the 74th birthday of conservative mayor Yuri Luzhkov, a long-time foe of gay rights activists who have been beaten by police while trying to demonstrate in Russia’s capital in previous years.
This time, the stand-off came as the Kremlin is pressing Mr Luzhkov to resign as mayor in an increasingly public struggle that is testing President Dmitry Medvedev ahead of national elections in 2011 and 2012.
More than 100 police outnumbered a handful of gay rights activists who turned up on a square opposite the headquarters of Mr Luzhkov, who left at the weekend to celebrate his birthday in Austria.
Dozens of officers in bulletproof vests descended on four activists who had cuffed themselves to a metal barricade and led them to buses. Police were rougher with four others including Nikolai Alexeyev, Russia’s most prominent gay rights activist. – (Reuters)
280 crocodiles escape in Mexico
MEXICO CITY – At least 280 crocodiles have escaped from a Mexican refuge near the Gulf of Mexico after heavy flooding caused by Hurricane Karl, Mexican media said yesterday.
The endangered Morelet crocodiles were roaming in six coastal areas in the Mexican state of Veracruz and residents were told not to try to capture or kill them, El Economista reported.
The governor of Veracruz told reporters about 280 crocodiles were missing from the reserve in La Antigua. Some media put the number at closer to 400. – (Reuters)