A roundup of today's other stories in brief.
Pope warns on violent video games
ROME -Children should be protected from violent video games and exposed instead to "fine arts and to uplifting music", Pope Benedict said yesterday.
In a message to mark the Catholic Church's 41st World Communications Day, the pope also sought to remind the media of its responsibilities.
He said the media needed to support parents and teachers by promoting "fundamental human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life, and the positive achievements and goals of humanity".
Looters removed from beach
BRANSCOMBE -Police and coastguards finally wrested back control of the beach at Branscombe, on the south coast of England, from looters yesterday after three frenzied days of scavenging for booty washed ashore from the beached cargo ship MSC Napoli.
Fences were placed at both ends of the beach to stop looters combing through the wreckage and police repeated warnings that all items removed had to be declared. - (Guardian service)
Sudanese airliner in armed hijack
N'DJAMENA -A man armed with a pistol hijacked a Sudanese airliner yesterday and tried to force it to fly to Britain, but it diverted to neighbouring Chad where he was arrested and the passengers released unharmed.
Chadian officials said the hijacker, a young Sudanese man, said he was trying to escape persecution in his own country.
14 die in Indonesia police raid
JAKARTA -Indonesia has sent 200 elite police officers to enforce security in the troubled Poso region of Sulawesi island after 14 people were killed during a raid on a suspected hideout of Muslim militants. Officials defended Monday's raids in downtown Poso after criticism from Islamic groups and some local media that innocent people had been killed in the gunfire that erupted between the suspected militants and police. - (Reuters)
Estrada aide admits graft role
MANILA -A close associate of deposed president Joseph Estrada admitted in court yesterday he helped the former Philippines leader divert 130 million pesos (€2.6 million) in tobacco taxes to his personal use.
Charlie "Atong" Ang pleaded guilty to corruption during his arraignment at the anti-graft court. - (Reuters)