A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Pope to issue letter on financial crime
The Vatican will announce new rules to combat financial crime today as it continues to deal with a money-laundering inquiry that has seen €23million ($30.23million) sequestered from its bank.
The Vatican said the pope would issue an apostolic letter on financial crime. The Vatican’s bank has been under investigation for suspected violations of EU money-laundering rules, which it denies. – (Reuters)
Number of Iraqi civilians dead falling - study
BAGHDAD – The number of Iraqi civilians killed in violence in Iraq this year fell to its lowest level since the 2003 US-led invasion, but the decline is slowing as low-level conflict takes root, a study shows.
Human rights group Iraq Body Count put the 2010 civilian death toll in Iraq at 3,976 up to December 23rd, compared to 4,680 in 2009. IBC said the annual decline in the number of violent deaths had slowed to 15 per cent, compared to declines of 50 per cent and 63 per cent in the previous two years, suggesting “a persistent low-level conflict in Iraq that will continue to kill civilians at a similar rate...” – (Reuters)
EU to accept only Ouattara officials
BRUSSELS – European Union countries have agreed to recognise only ambassadors sent by Ivory Coast’s presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara, the French foreign ministry said yesterday.
The 27-nation bloc had agreed the position last week and the UN General Assembly also recognised the Ivory Coast’s new delegation, ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said. – (Reuters)
Death of notorious Colombia drug lord
BOGOTA – One of Colombia’s most notorious drug kingpins, known as “The Knife” for his use of the weapon to mutilate victims, has died after an air raid in the Andean nation, the government said yesterday.
“The king of killers has fallen,” President Juan Manuel Santos told journalists, attributing more than 3,000 deaths to Pedro Oliviero Guerrero, known as “Cuchillo” (Knife). – (Reuters)