Other stories from around the world in brief
French terror trial thrown into turmoil
PARIS - A French terrorism trial was thrown into turmoil yesterday by a report that French agents had secretly interviewed the six accused during their detention at Guantánamo Bay. The Liberation daily published a French diplomatic telegram referring to intelligence agents conducting interviews at least twice while the men were held without charge in Cuba.
A top French court has already ruled that the detention of suspects in Guantánamo was illegal, and defence lawyers said the prosecution's case was based on information gleaned from the secret interviews. - (Reuters)
Immunity of US troops queried
BAGHDAD - Iraq's prime minister has called for an independent inquiry into the alleged rape and murder of a teenager and killing of her family by US soldiers and a review of immunity for foreign troops from Iraqi law.
Five months before the expiry of the US-led force's UN mandate, Nuri al-Maliki said he was not calling for the early departure of the troops, who he said would remain for as long as Iraq required assistance. - (Reuters)
Quiet elections in Macedonia
SKOPJE - A general election in Macedonia passed off peacefully yesterday after a sometimes violent campaign that drew warnings from the EU and Nato that the country had to prove its democratic maturity. When polls closed at 7pm, there were no reports of serious incidents. - (Reuters)
Five civilians killed in Sudan
JUBA - Unknown gunmen killed five civilians close to the town of Juba in south Sudan yesterday, a police source said, a week before peace talks between Ugandan officials and rebels are due to start.
Initial reports said all were Sudanese, except for a Kenyan driver of their vehicle. - (Reuters)
Row over Congo ballot papers
KINSHASA - More than half the presidential candidates in Congo's landmark elections this month have called for the suspension of campaigning in a row over the printing of millions of extra ballot papers.
Nineteen candidates said the printing and distribution of an extra five million ballot papers, which are meant to replace those that could be lost or destroyed, put the credibility of the historic July 30th poll in danger. - (Reuters)
Berlin footballs well offside
BERLIN - Police in Berlin say they have arrested two men on suspicion of placing cement-filled soccer balls around the city and inviting people to kick them.
At least two people injured themselves by kicking the balls, which were chained to lamp-posts and trees alongside the spray-painted message: "Can you kick it?"
Police said they had identified two men and had found a workshop in their apartment where they made the balls. - (Reuters)
Dutch elections in November
AMSTERDAM - A general election will be held in The Netherlands on November 22nd after the collapse of Jan Peter Balkenende's centre-right government, an adviser to Queen Beatrix said yesterday. - (Reuters)
Secularists query Erdogan's motive
ANKARA - Turkey's prime minister Tayyip Erdogan, a Muslim, says a strong religious belief should not bar anyone from becoming head of state and did not rule out seeking his country's presidency next year.
Secularists, who regard themselves as defenders of Turkey's republican foundations, have accused Mr Erdogan's party of seeking the presidency to implement an Islamist agenda. - (Reuters)