Today's other stories in brief
Ahmadinejad says Israel's days numbered
TEHRAN - Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told delegates at an international conference questioning the Holocaust that Israel's days were numbered.
Mr Ahmadinejad, who has sparked international outcry by referring to the killing of six million Jews in the second World War as a "myth" and calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map", launched another verbal attack on the Jewish state.
"Thanks to people's wishes and God's will, the trend for the existence of the Zionist regime is downwards and this is what God has promised and what all nations want," he said.
"Just as the Soviet Union was wiped out and today does not exist, so will the Zionist regime soon be wiped out," he added.
- (Reuters)
Former Italian spy chief arrested
MILAN- A former Italian spy chief was arrested yesterday on suspicion of involvement in an illegal espionage ring that prosecutors believe spied on Italian prime minister Romano Prodi.
Marco Mancini, once the head of counter-espionage at Italy's SISMI military intelligence agency, already faces possible indictment on separate charges of helping the CIA kidnap a Muslim cleric in Milan. - (Reuters)
Indonesia hit by underwater quake
JAKARTA- A strong underwater earthquake shook northeastern Indonesia, but there was no tsunami warning because of its depth, an official at the country's meteorology agency said.
The quake, of magnitude 6.5, struck yesterday 252km (157 miles) northeast of the city of Manado at a depth of 237km (147 miles).
- (Reuters)
Turkish premier criticises EU
ANKARA- Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan yesterday condemned a decision by the European Union to partially suspend his country's accession talks but vowed to press on with reforms aimed at preparing Ankara for membership.
EU foreign ministers decided on Monday evening to suspend Turkey's accession talks in eight of the 35 chapters, or policy areas, into which the process is divided following Ankara's refusal to open its ports to traffic from Cyprus. - (Reuters)
Tenor threatens to sue opera house
ROME- Top tenor Roberto Alagna, who stormed off the stage at Milan's La Scala after he was booed in mid-performance, said yesterday he would sue the famed opera house if they did not let him return.
Mr Alagna, hailed by some critics as the "new Pavarotti", walked off Franco Zeffirelli's production of Verdi's Aida on Sunday night after a small section of the audience heckled him.
- (Reuters)
Pigeon lovers take campaign to court
LONDON- Pigeon lovers are set to take London mayor Ken Livingstone to court to force him to let them continue feeding the birds in Trafalgar Square.
The Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons action group has been battling against a campaign launched by Mr Livingstone six years ago to rid the central London square of its pigeons, which Mr Livingstone says are a nuisance and a health hazard. - (Reuters)