A round-up of today's world news in brief
Zelaya offered return to Honduras
MEXICO CITY – The armed forces of Honduras showed the first sign of compromise since its recent coup by issuing a statement indicating they would accept the return of ousted president Manuel Zelaya.
As Mr Zelaya remained camped on the Nicaraguan side of the border with Honduras, the army said it would accept negotiations “within the framework of the San José Accord”.
The accord would allow Mr Zelaya to be reinstated, with reduced powers, and was proposed by Oscar Arias, the president of Costa Rica. – (The Financial Times Limited 2009)
Grozny suicide attack kills five
GROZNY – At least five people were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd next to a concert hall in the Chechen capital, news agencies said.
“The suicide bomber triggered his explosive device when he was stopped by policemen outside the Grozny concert hall at a security checkpoint,” a senior city official said. – (Reuters)
32 Nigerians die in gun battle
BAUCHI – Security forces killed at least 32 Nigerians in northeast Bauchi state yesterday after an armed gang attacked a police station in retaliation for the arrests of their leaders.
Around 70 Nigerians armed with guns and hand grenades attacked a local police station in the city of Bauchi, the state’s capital, early yesterday, but retreated after a gun battle with security forces, the police said. Security forces then responded by raiding the group’s neighbourhoods and hideouts, arresting hundreds. – (Reuters)