A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Tamil vessels sunk by Sri Lankan navy
COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's navy has sunk 11 Tamil Tiger vessels and killed dozens of rebels in a fierce five-hour battle overnight, the military said yesterday, a fortnight after the foes agreed to resume peace talks to halt renewed civil war.
The navy believes a top Tiger naval commander was killed or injured during the clash at sea about 80 km (50 miles) north of the strategic northeastern harbour of Trincomalee. - (Reuters)
US ban on aircraft liquids eased
WASHINGTON - The US has partly lifted its ban on liquids in carry-on bags on airline flights, imposed last month after authorities in London said they foiled a plot to bomb US-bound flights.
Travellers may now carry drinks and other items bought in secure airport areas. They also may bring travel-size lip gloss, hand lotion and other toiletries of 90ml (3oz) or less that will be subject to screening and then placed in a small clear plastic bag. - (Reuters)
AU to send more troops to Darfur
ADDIS ABABA - The African Union will add 4,000 troops to its extended Darfur peacekeeping mission, bringing the number of police and soldiers in western Sudan to 11,000, according to a spokesman for the AU.
"The peace and security council of the AU . . . has endorsed the new concept of operation, extending the duration of stay . . . up to December 31st, 2006, and to boost the troop level by six battalions," said AU spokesman Assan Ba in Addis Ababa yesterday. - (Reuters)
24 die in Nepal WWF air crash
KATHMANDU - All 24 people on board a helicopter chartered by conservation group WWF in Nepal were killed after the aircraft crashed in bad weather two days ago.
The wreckage of the Russian-made helicopter was found earlier yesterday by a Nepali army team after rains and fog had hampered rescue efforts. - (Reuters)
Zimbabwe unions allege assaults
HARARE - Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe has said trade union leaders, who say they were severely assaulted by police after trying to stage a protest over wages, had defied authority and deserved the beating.
A Harare magistrate has ordered an inquiry into charges that a dozen leaders of the main Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions were tortured and "excessively and brutally" assaulted after police halted their demonstration on September 13th. - (Reuters)