Other world news in brief
Boat with 257 migrants sinks off Libya
CAIRO – A fishing boat packed with 257 migrants heading for Europe has sunk off the Libyan coast and at least 10 Egyptians are among the dead, according to the Egyptian state news agency.
Mena quoted an Egyptian official as saying at least six Egyptians had been rescued but gave no word on the fate of other nationalities. – (Reuters)
Pol Pot torturer takes stand
PHNOM PENH – Pol Pot’s chief torturer has taken the stand charged with crimes against humanity in the first trial of a senior Khmer Rouge cadre 30 years after the end of a regime blamed for 1.7 million deaths in Cambodia.
Duch, former chief of the notorious S-21 prison where more than 14,000 “enemies” of the ultra-Maoist revolution died, stood before a five- judge panel yesterday and answered questions about his background. – (Reuters)
Montenegro polls meet standards
PODGORICA – Sunday’s parliamentary election in Montenegro complied with international standards but its democracy needs improvement, international observers said yesterday after the prime minister claimed victory.
According to preliminary reports, prime minister Milo Djukanovic’s coalition was on target to win 49 of the 81 seats in parliament, enough to rule singlehandedly. – (Reuters)
Spanish unions resist wage cuts
MADRID – Spanish firms must accept lower profits and higher earners should pay more taxes but attempts to cut wages would trigger a general strike, Spain’s top union official has said.
Ignacio Fernandez Toxo, general secretary of the Comisiones Obreras union, said the race for profit got out of control during the Spanish economy’s boom years. – (Reuters)
Berlusconi Europe decision criticised
ROME – Italy’s centre-left opposition chief has criticised prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for planning to compete in European parliamentary elections in June instead of “working day and night” to resolve the recession.
Mr Berlusconi announced at his People of Freedom party congress that he would head its list for the European Parliament vote, then resign his seat immediately to continue being prime minister. – (Reuters)