A round-up of other world news in brief...
EU leaders back Barroso for secod term
BRUSSELS – European Union leaders have agreed to nominate José Manuel Barroso officially for a second five-year term as European Commission president to put pressure on the European Parliament to approve him.
EU leaders fear any delay in confirming Mr Barroso could undermine him and the executive commission at a time when strong leadership is called for to steer Europe out of its worst economic crisis in decades. – (Reuters)
Protests broken up in Tehran
TEHRAN – Iranian police fired in the air to disperse pro-reform demonstrators in central Tehran yesterday, nearly four weeks after a disputed election triggered mass protests in the capital.
A witness said he saw police detaining several people among about 250 protesters who had gathered near Tehran University in defiance of a ban on gatherings for the anniversary of violent student demonstrations in 1999.
It appeared to be the worst outbreak of unrest in Tehran since security forces last month quelled days of opposition protests over the election on June 12th. – (Reuters)
Explosion at Kabul school kills 25
KABUL – An explosion outside a school south of the Afghan capital yesterday killed at least 25 people, including 15 students, officials said, while Taliban fighters overran a district near the Pakistan border after heavy fighting.
The blast in Logar province and the gun battles in eastern Nuristan were the latest incidents in an escalation of violence across Afghanistan since US marines launched a major new offensive in the Taliban bastion of Helmand a week ago. – (Reuters)
Teacher held after assault on boy (14)
LONDON – A teacher at a school in Nottinghamshire has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder a teenage pupil and assaulting two other children.
Jack Waterhouse (14) was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after an incident in a classroom at All Saints Catholic school in Mansfield on Wednesday morning.
Police said there were initial grave concerns about the boy’s condition but he is now said to be stable, although still serious. – (Reuters)
BNP says sink migrant boats
LONDON – British National Party leader Nick Griffin said boats carrying migrants from Africa to Europe should be sunk to stop Europe being “swamped by the Third World”.
Mr Griffin, one of two members of the far-right party elected to the European Parliament last month, said occupants of sunk boats could be given life rafts to get back to Africa. – (PA)
Diplomat resigns over sex video
MOSCOW – A British diplomat in Russia has resigned after a video allegedly showing him having sex with two prostitutes was posted on the internet.
James Hudson stood down as deputy consul general in Ekaterinburg in the Urals following the furore about the clip. – (PA)
Sweden to extradite Rwandan
STOCKHOLM – Sweden will extradite a Rwandan to face charges related to crimes carried out during the genocide in the African country more than a decade ago, the Swedish government said on Thursday.
Sylvere Ahorugeze (53) has been in Swedish custody since July last year. Rwandan authorities have demanded that he be extradited to face charges for his role in planning and carrying out the 1994 genocide. – (Reuters)