A roundup of today's other world news in brief
Pitt and Jolie to sue ‘News of the World’
LOS ANGELES – US actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are suing Britains News of the Worldtabloid over allegations it published about their relationship, their London lawyers have said.
In a story published on January 24th, the paper reported that the couple planned imminently to separate and had agreed on how they would divide their assets and custody of their children. Pitt (46) and Jolie (34) have six children and joint assets of $320 million. – (Reuters)
Junior party quits Cyprus cabinet
NICOSIA – A junior coalition partner in Cyprus’s left-wing government has quit, accusing President Demetris Christofias of making concessions to Turkish Cypriots in reunification talks.
“We cannot endorse damaging strategies . . . leaving this government is the politically responsible and morally right thing to do,” Socialist EDEK chairman Yiannakis Omirou said yesterday. – (Reuters)
Yemen al-Qaeda calls for holy war
SANAA/DUBAI – The Yemen-based wing of al-Qaeda has called for a regional Muslim holy war and a blockade of the Red Sea to cut off US shipments to Israel, a further sign of the group’s ambitions to mount new strikes outside its base.
Yemen is in the throes of a major crackdown on the group, which grabbed world attention when it claimed a failed bomb attack on US plane in December. – (Reuters)
Sri Lankan losing candidate arrested
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has arrested former army commander and last month’s losing presidential candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka (59), on charges he conspired against the president, at his office.
“He was dragged away in a very disgraceful manner in front of our own eyes, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem said.
One of Gen Fonseka’s security officers, IP Herath, confirmed the account of Gen Fonseka’s arrest by military police. – (Reuters)