Other world news in brief
Pakistan restricts internet access
ISLAMABAD - Some of the internet's most popular websites were blocked in Pakistan yesterday as officials sought to restrict access to provocative images depicting the prophet Muhammad that many Muslims consider blasphemous, amid fears of possible street violence.
The government blocked the video-sharing website YouTube, one day after it banned Facebook.
The censorship revolves around a Facebook competition that has attracted hundreds of images depicting the prophet Muhammad, including depictions of a bearded figure as a pig and wearing a bikini.
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, which controls internet access, said it had blocked YouTube because some users were using the site to repost the offending Facebook images. - (AP)
Indian Maoists set train ablaze in latest attack
NEW DELHI - Maoist rebels set fire to 15 cars of a freight train yesterday in India's eastern Bihar state, some 24 hours after they ambushed and killed five paramilitary personnel by exploding a bomb under their jeep, writes Rahul Bedi.
Officials said the rebels blew up the rail track near Motihari, 95km north of Bihar's capital, Patna, before setting alight the freight cars that were transporting gas and diesel. The Maoists left pamphlets claiming responsibility for the attack and warned of more violence unless the government called off its offensive against them.
On Wednesday the rebels killed five paramilitaries in Bengal province by detonating a mine under their vehicle. This attack followed the slaughter two days earlier of 31 police officers and civilians when their bus was blown up by the rebels in central Chattisgarh province.