Today's other stories in brief
Chad rebels initial peace deal in Tripoli
N'DJAMENA - Four Chadian rebel groups initialled a peace agreement with the government yesterday at talks in Tripoli, a Chadian official said, but the leader of the main faction said there were still many points left to resolve.
- (Reuters)
Polish envoy hurt in Iraq attack
WARSAW - Poland will not withdraw its 1,000-strong troop contingent from Iraq after the Polish ambassador was wounded in an attack on his convoy in Baghdad yesterday, prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said.
The ambassador, Gen Edward Pietrzyk, was wounded and one of his bodyguards was killed in the attack. - (Reuters)
Romanian cabinet survives vote
BUCHAREST - Romania's minority government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament yesterday, prolonging political deadlock that has all but blocked reforms in the new EU nation.
The vote means prime minister Calin Tariceanu's cabinet remains dependent on the support of opposition parties to push laws through parliament where it commands 20 per cent of seats. - (Reuters)
Surge in attacks in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD - An alarming surge in suicide attacks has fuelled a 30 per cent rise in violence in Afghanistan this year, according to the UN.
This year has seen an average of 550 violent incidents a month, compared to 425 in 2006, a report said. - (Guardian service)
Bush blocks health cover for children
WASHINGTON - US president George Bush yesterday used his presidential veto for only the fourth time in seven years to block legislation that would have given health insurance to millions of poor American children.
His move isolates the White House on the most pressing domestic issue for many Americans, and puts Mr Bush in conflict with Congress, where there was widespread Republican support for the legislation.
- (Guardian service)
Australia closes door to Africans
CANBERRA - Australia has placed a freeze on the settlement of refugees from Africa, but prime minister John Howard denied yesterday that the decision was a pre-election pitch to immigration-wary voters.
Immigration minister Kevin Andrews said refugees from Africa, including many from Sudan and the conflict-torn Darfur region, were having problems integrating in Australian communities.
- (Reuters)
DNA surprise for Czech couple
PRAGUE - A Czech couple who took a DNA test to squash pub gossip and prove their 10-month-old baby was their own got a nasty surprise.
The couple, from the southeastern town of Trebic, had some doubts as their daughter's hair was blonde and they had dark hair. The test showed neither had the same DNA as the baby, Czech news agency CTK reported, suggesting a mix-up at the hospital. - (Reuters)