A roundup of today's other stories world stories:
Six dead in Colombia rebel bombing
BOGOTA -Six people have been killed when Colombian rebels set off explosives near a police patrol in Buenaventura city in the third serious guerrilla attack in a week, police said.
Two police officers and four civilians died and at least 18 more people were wounded yesterday when the two explosives were detonated in the Pacific port city.
- (Reuters)
Sarkozy slightly ahead in poll
PARIS -French conservative presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy is slightly ahead of Socialist rival Segolene Royal, a TNS/ Sofres-Unilog poll said yesterday. The poll for Le Figaronewspaper and the RTL and LCI radio and TV stations gave Mr Sarkozy 52 per cent of the votes versus 48 per cent for Ms Royal.
- (Reuters)
Chavez broadside against US
CARACAS -Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has told the US government to "go to hell" after it questioned his plan to seek special powers to legislate by decree as part of his self- styled socialist revolution.
Mr Chavez, a Cuba ally re-elected by a landslide in December, this month launched a broad campaign to consolidate power by nationalising key industries, seeking expanded executive powers and pushing for unlimited presidential re-election.
- (Reuters)
Home Office could be split
LONDON -The British Home Office could soon be split in half in a radical bid by John Reid to put a halt to months of escalating problems, a senior minister said yesterday.
Lord chancellor Lord Falconer indicated that the "very, very serious proposal" could be completed quickly and said he felt its "time has come".
- (PA)
Solana calls for settlement freeze
AMMAN -EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged Israel to freeze settlements on occupied West Bank territory and stop constructing a security barrier, saying they could obstruct lasting Arab-Israeli peace.
Mr Solana said yesterday he was struck during a tour on Saturday of Arab towns on Jerusalem's eastern slopes that lie within West Bank land by the growth of settlements and a barrier cutting into land that Palestinians want for a state.
- (Reuters)
Rice warns of business with Iran
BERLIN -US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has said companies should beware of doing business with Iran and think about the possibility more sanctions will be imposed on it.
Dr Rice's comments, from an interview with Der Spiegelmagazine, were taken from an English transcript of the interview.
- (Reuters)
Police woman refused handshake
LONDON -A Muslim woman police officer refused to shake hands with her force's chief for religious reasons, it has been reported.
The Metropolitan Police officer, who has not been named, was granted the exemption at a passing-out ceremony where newly qualified recruits met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.
- (PA)