A round-up of today's world news in brief
British island used to hold suspects - UN
GENEVA -The UN torture investigator says he has received "credible" allegations that Britain detained terror suspects on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia - a claim that directly contradicts statements by the British and US governments.
Britain admitted in an embarrassing reversal last month that the remote outpost had been used by the US as a refuelling stop for the secret transfer of two terrorism suspects. But it said Washington denied that the island was a detention centre.
Manfred Nowak, one of the UN's unpaid and independent human rights experts, said multiple sources had told him that terror suspects were sent to Diego Garcia and kept there between 2002 and 2003. - (AP)
Chavez warns Colombia
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has moved tanks to the Colombian border and mobilised fighter jets, warning Bogota that it could spark a war after its troops struck inside another of its neighbours, Ecuador.
Reacting to Colombia's killing on Saturday of a Colombian rebel inside Ecuador, a Venezuelan ally, Mr Chavez also ordered the withdrawal of all his diplomats from Bogota in the worst dispute between the neighbours since he came to office in 1999. - (Reuters)
Sarkozy hits new poll low
Confidence in French president Nicolas Sarkozy is at its lowest since his May 2007 election, with voters dissatisfied with his style and the effectiveness of some of his key economic policies, a poll showed yesterday.
A week before the first round of municipal elections, the Liberation newspaper poll showed 37 per cent expressed confidence in Mr Sarkozy.
That compares with 41 per cent in a survey a month ago and represents a steep decline from a high of 67 per cent in July 2007. Mr Sarkozy's ratings have slumped by 17 points since the start of the year. - (Reuters)
Accused priest resigns
Pietro Gelmini, well known in Italy for his work with drug addicts, has left the Roman Catholic priesthood following accusations he sexually abused young men at his drug rehabilitation centre.
Fr Gelmini, who denies the accusations, told reporters on his return from South America on Saturday night that Pope Benedict had approved his request to leave the priesthood.
Fr Gelmini (83), said no longer being a priest would allow him to better defend himself without involving the Church. - (Reuters)
Police hurt in city shooting
Four French police officers were hurt in a shooting in a Parisian suburb yesterday, according to the interior ministry.
The officers were called to Grigny, south of Paris, after two people vandalised a baker's shop.
On arrival they were confronted by about 30 people, of whom several were armed, the ministry said in a statement. - (Reuters)