A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Al-Qaeda in vow to avenge alleged rape
DUBAI - The leader of al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq vowed militants would avenge a Sunni woman's alleged rape by members of Iraq's Shia-dominated police, according to an audio tape posted on the internet yesterday.
"More than 300 militants asked to go on martyrdom [ suicide] operations in the first 10 hours of hearing the news [ of the rape]," said the speaker on the tape identified as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri.
It was the first recording purported to be from al-Masri since some Iraqi officials said he had been wounded in a clash last week. - (Reuters)
Jailed for killing Zulu War historian
JOHANNESBURG - A judge in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal sentenced a man to 25 years in prison yesterday after he confessed to shooting renowned Zulu War historian David Rattray.
Thembinkosi Ndlovu (24) told the court yesterday he fired two shots at Mr Rattray during a botched robbery at the historian's Fugitives' Drift lodge in Nquthu on January 26th. - (Reuters)
Meacher to enter Labour race
LONDON - Left-leaning former minister Michael Meacher (67) said yesterday he would challenge the chancellor, Gordon Brown, for the Labour Party leadership when British prime minister Tony Blair steps down.
His announcement prompted speculation that a more heavyweight contender might yet emerge to challenge Mr Brown. - (Reuters)
Death of war crimes suspect
DAKAR - Sierra Leone's former defence minister Sam Hinga Norman, on trial for war crimes at a UN-backed tribunal in the west African country, died yesterday in Senegal weeks before a verdict was due.
Hinga Norman was co-ordinator of the pro-government Civil Defence Forces militia during the former British colony's 1991-2002 civil war. - (Reuters)