Today's other stories in brief
African Union peacekeepers kill 3 in Darfur
DARFUR - African Union peacekeepers killed three Darfur rioters on Sunday when a crowd of angry refugees threatened to break into their base in the town of El Geneina.
Refugees were protesting at the base on Sunday, a day after 30 of their relatives were executed by pro-government Janjaweed fighters. They say the AU is failing to protect them. Peacekeepers opened fire when the protesters threatened the base, killing three, a UN official said. - (AP)
Belarus opposition hunger striker
MINSK - The wife of a jailed Belarussian opposition leader says prison authorities have barred her from visiting her husband until he ends a 52-day hunger strike.
Alexander Kozulin, one of two opposition figures who challenged President Alexander Lukashenko's re-election, is serving 5½ years for his role in protests after the election results in March. - (Reuters)
Falconio murder appeal begins
DARWIN - The man found guilty of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio (28) in July 2001 in the Australian outback today opens his appeal against his conviction and sentence. Bradley Murdoch (48) is serving life with a minimum 28-year non-parole period after a jury in Darwin found that he shot Mr Falconio in the head. - (PA)
Greek workers in nationwide strike
ATHENS - Greek workers stage a nationwide 24-hour strike tomorrow that could cripple transport and services in protest at the government's tight budget.
Greece's conservative government aims to cut deficits and has vowed to keep up reforms, such as privatisation of state firms, that have prompted strikes and street protests. - (Reuters)
Record paid for Churchill painting
LONDON - A painting by Sir Winston Churchill sold for £612,800 (€908,000) at auction yesterday, a new record for the part-time artist and about three times the pre-sale estimate. View of Tinherir was painted in 1951 in Marrakesh, Morocco. - ( Reuters)