A round-up of today's other stories in brief
US agrees to talk to Tehran about Iraq
WASHINGTON - The US will talk to Iran about accusations that Tehran destabilises Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday - the first confirmation that the US will take its longtime foe up on an offer to meet.
In response to an overture by Washington last November, Iran said last week it was open to talks on Iraq with US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad.
However, until Ms Rice's comments, US officials had refused to say if the ambassador would hold the meeting. They also emphasised US scepticism about the Iranian decision by suggesting it was timed to distract from its nuclear programme standoff with the West. - (Reuters)
Rift led to freeing of hostages
AMMAN - British hostage Norman Kember and his two Canadian colleagues owe their freedom to a rift among the Iraqi kidnappers, a Western security source close to the rescue operation said yesterday. The source said their guards got cold feet when more senior and ruthless members of the group turned up at the house in Baghdad and took away a US hostage, Robert Fox, and shot him dead. Mr Kember (74), a Christian peace activist, is due to arrive home in Britain today. - (Guardian Service)
University blast in France kills one
PARIS - One person died and a second was seriously injured in a large explosion that destroyed a chemistry research building at a French university yesterday in the eastern city of Mulhouse, officials said.
Ten people had been taken to hospital with slight injuries, but fears of the death toll rising steeply receded as a number of missing people were accounted for. - (Reuters)
Bulgaria agrees to three US bases
SOFIA - Nato newcomer Bulgaria and Washington have agreed to establish three US military bases in the Black Sea state, officials from both countries said yesterday, despite polls showing widespread public opposition.
The deal, under which up to 3,000 US troops will be stationed in Bulgaria at a time, is key to Washington's shift from large Cold War-era installations to smaller bases closer to the Middle East and Africa. - (Reuters)
90 Somalis killed in heavy fighting
MOGADISHU - Heavy fighting between rival Somali militia linked to Islamic courts and a new "anti-terror" alliance has killed about 90 people in the last three days in the capital, residents and local radio said yesterday.
Hundreds of Somalis have fled the capital and businesses have closed during the latest flare-up between fighters loyal to the powerful courts and warlords linked to a recently formed political group called the Mogadishu Anti-Terrorism Coalition. - (Reuters)