A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Libyans to release four journalists
TRIPOLI – Four New York Times journalists, including one Irish passport holder, who were captured by loyalist Libyan forces on Tuesday are to be released today, according to Saif al-Islam Gadafy, the son of Muammar Gadafy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that reporter Stephen Farrell holds dual Irish and British citizenship, although no consular assistance has been sought in relation to Mr Farrell.
The other journalists are New York TimesBeirut bureau chief Anthony Shadid and photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario.
Aristide returns in triumph to Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE – Former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide made a triumphant homecoming to Haiti yesterday after seven years of exile, returning despite US objections two days before a crucial presidential vote.
Thousands of enthusiastic followers turned out to greet the former leader, who is still widely revered in impoverished Haiti as a champion of the poor, although viewed by the US as a divisive figure who could disrupt tomorrow’s election.
Supporters whooped and cheered at Port-au-Prince airport as a smiling Mr Aristide, who was accompanied by his family and US actor and black rights activist Danny Glover, emerged from the charter aircraft that brought him home from South Africa. – (Reuters)
Air vent a fat lot of good to burglar
NEW YORK – Police answering cries for help yesterday found a screaming burglar dangling from a ceiling air vent over a hot fat fryer at an upstate New York restaurant.
“He said he thought he was going to die,” said Lt Michael Brown, spokesman for the police in Rotterdam, New York.
A grease-covered Timothy Cipriani (46), of Schenectady, was pleading for help when he was discovered wedged into the ventilation duct at Paesan’s Pizza in the early hours of the morning.
He had climbed a tree to the roof, where he broke into an air duct to enter the restaurant after it closed, police said. – (Reuters)
Shadows bass player dies aged 71
LONDON – British musician Jet Harris, who played bass guitar in Cliff Richard’s band The Shadows, has died aged 71, British media reported yesterday.
Terence Harris, nicknamed “Jet” due to his running ability, was introduced to Richard in 1958, and his website credits him with coming up with the name The Shadows. “Jet was exactly what the Shadows and I needed – a backbone holding our sound together,” Richard said. – (Reuters)