In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Bahraini firms  fire Shia workers

MANAMA – Bahraini firms have fired hundreds of mostly Shia Muslim workers who went on strike to support pro- democracy protesters, an opposition group said yesterday, in what appeared to be part of a government crackdown.Bahrain’s unions called a general strike on March 13th to support Shia protesters against the Sunni-led government who for weeks occupied a square in the capital until security forces moved in on March 16th.

Officials at Batelco, Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Services and APM Terminals Bahrain said they had laid off more than 200 workers due to absence during the strike. – (Reuters)

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Congolese aircraft struck by strong winds before fatal crash

KINSHASA – The sole survivor of a UN aircraft that crashed killing 32 people, while trying to land in Congo’s capital Kinshasa on Monday, said the plane was pummelled by strong winds in the moments before it went down.

Francis Mwamba, a Congolese journalist, told journalists from his hospital bed in Kinshasa yesterday, where he remains in intensive care, that the aircraft encountered bad weather as it approached the capitals airport.

“There was a lot of wind and the plane started to move violently,” he said of the moments before the crash, adding that the next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital.

A UN source said the aircraft had landed heavily, breaking into two and catching fire. – (Reuters)

Police discover woman's remains

LONDON – Detectives investigating the murder of Swindon woman Sian O’Callaghan (22) have identified the remains of a second woman not far from where Ms O’Callaghan’s body was found.

Wiltshire police said a DNA match identified remains, discovered in a field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, belonging to Becky Godden-Edwards (29) of Swindon.

Police said she was reported missing in 2007 after becoming disconnected from her family. Detectives said the two women did not know each other and that it was still not known how she met her death. – (Reuters)

Smash-and-grab thief shows some taste

PORTLAND – A masked, quick-moving thief smashed a liquor store window in suburban Portland and walked off with a bottle of cognac valued at more than $2,300 (€1,600).

“He has good taste,” said Lieut Mike Rouches a spokesman for the Hillsboro police. “He knew exactly what he was after.”

The thief took the $2,363.45 bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac, 11 fine bottles of cognac and 12 packs of menthol cigarettes yesterday, Lieut Rouches said. – (Reuters)