A round-up of other stories in brief
Hizbullah in show of force in Lebanon
BEIRUT -Lebanon's Hizbullah has conducted manoeuvres in south Lebanon in a rare show of force designed to deter Israel from invading the south as it did during their war in 2006, security and political sources said.
Two pro-Hizbullah newspapers reported yesterday that the Shia Muslim group, which fought a 34-day war with Israel last year, staged one of its biggest manoeuvres over the weekend under the direct supervision of its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. - (Reuters)
Serbian PM rejects Kosovan draft
VIENNA -A framework drafted by mediators for the future of Kosovo defines the province's independence from Serbia and is "completely unacceptable", Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica said yesterday.
"The 14 points as they stand now mean a relationship between two independent states," Mr Kostunica told a news conference after a fourth round of talks with leaders of the Kosovo Albanian majority in Vienna. - (Reuters)
31 elderly die in fire at home
MOSCOW -At least 31 people died in a fire in a Russian home for the elderly and officials blamed the toll on slow evacuation.
"Firefighters received a very late fire warning because the personnel waited for some reason for 30 minutes before calling," Russian emergency ministry spokesman Viktor Beltsov said. - (Reuters)
Four go on hunger strike in Georgia
TBILISI -Four opposition activists declared a hunger strike yesterday to try to force Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili to resign, as crowds chanting for him to be ousted formed a human chain around parliament.
Mr Saakashvili, a close US ally, faces a newly united protest movement that accuses him of authoritarianism and failing to tackle poverty and corruption. - (Reuters)
Prison fire 'set by inmates' kills 31
BUENOS AIRES -A fire set by inmates killed 31 people in a northern Argentine prison, officials said yesterday, in the latest deadly uprising at the country's overcrowded jails.
Most victims were inmates, and authorities were trying to determine whether a prison guard may also have died. - (Reuters)
Charges in Fiji over assassination plot
SUVA -Fiji police charged six men yesterday, among them former senior army and intelligence officers, with plotting to assassinate the South Pacific island nation's coup leader and prime minister. A total of 16 people have been arrested over the plot against prime minister Frank Bainimarama. - (Reuters)
Screenwriters in US begin strike
LOS ANGELES -Some 12,000 screenwriters went on strike against the US film and television industry yesterday after the collapse of last-ditch contract negotiations aimed at preserving nearly 20 years of Hollywood labour peace. - (Reuters)