Today's others stories in brief
Bin Laden tells Europe to quit Afghanistan
DUBAI - Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden urged European countries to end their military co-operation with US forces in Afghanistan, in an audio tape aired by al-Jazeera television yesterday.
He said American power was waning and it would be wise for Europeans to end quickly their role in Afghanistan, where many European countries contribute to the 50,000-strong Nato and US-led coalition forces fighting his Taliban allies. - (Reuters)
Pope to meet Muslim scholars
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict has accepted an unprecedented call by Muslim scholars for dialogue between Christians and Islam, inviting them for meetings in Vatican City, the Vatican said yesterday.
Some 138 Muslim scholars wrote to the German-born Pontiff and other Christian leaders last month, saying "the very survival of the world itself" may depend on dialogue. - (Reuters)
Lebanon election postponed again
BEIRUT - Lebanese leaders will put off a presidential election set for today for a sixth time, to allow for talks expected to focus on the army chief's nomination for a post now vacant for a week, political sources said.
Gen Michel Suleiman has emerged as the latest nominee for the post at the heart of a power struggle between the western- backed governing coalition and the opposition backed by Syria and led by Hizbullah. - (Reuters)
New Ebola strain kills 16 in Uganda
WASHINGTON - A new strain of the Ebola virus has infected 51 people and killed 16 in an area near Uganda's border with Democratic Republic of Congo, US health experts said yesterday.
Analysis of samples taken from some victims shows it is a previously unknown type of Ebola, a team at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. - (Reuters)
Uruguay legalises all civil unions
MONTEVIDEO - Uruguay will legalise civil unions for homosexuals and heterosexuals next month, making it the first Latin American nation to treat gay and straight couples alike, a lawmaker said yesterday.
- (Reuters)
Powerful quake hits Martinique
PORT OF SPAIN - A powerful but deep earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck near the Caribbean island of Martinique yesterday, the United States Geological Survey said. - (Reuters)