A round-up of today's otehr world news in brief ...
Civilians flee rebel fire in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO – Thousands of civilians under rebel fire waded across a lagoon to escape Sri Lanka’s war zone, where government forces have surrounded Tamil Tiger separatists for the final battle of a 25-year conflict, the military and a UN official said.
The military said aerial surveillance footage confirmed an exodus of about 5,000 people from a tiny, sandy coastal strip, where the US and others say the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are holding thousands by force.
Sri Lanka and the LTTE brushed off demands from the UN Security Council and US president Barack Obama to take steps to protect the civilians at grave risk stuck between two foes determined to fight to the end of a war that began in 1983. – (Reuters)
Somali forces and Islamists clash
MOGADISHU – Islamist rebels and Somalia’s western-backed government and allies exchanged mortar and small-arms fire yesterday in the seventh day of clashes in the capital Mogadishu that have killed 139 civilians.
Years of conflict in Somalia have killed tens of thousands, displaced millions more, defied 15 attempts to establish central rule and created one of the world’s worst aid crises. – (Reuters)
Russia ‘to open Abkhazia bases’
MOSCOW – Russia will sign a deal to open military bases in the Moscow-backed rebel region of Abkhazia (territory disputed with Georgia) within the next two weeks, separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh was quoted as saying.
The agreement “is already ready. I think it will be signed in a couple of weeks, Abkhazia’s self-styled president said after meeting Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin in nearby Sochi. – (Reuters)
Spain wants end to abortion ban
MADRID – The Spanish government said it wants to end a legal ban on abortion, a move that will generate controversy in the mainly Catholic country despite the fact that loopholes make it relatively easy in practice to obtain a termination.
The Socialist government’s Bill, to be sent to Congress, where it will face resistance from the conservative opposition, will allow abortion in most cases up until the 14th week of gestation. – (Reuters)
Poland finds buyer for shipyard
WARSAW – Poland has found a buyer for its state- owned Gdynia shipyard, which faced being split up under EU rules against state aid. Gdynia has symbolic importance as a stronghold of the Solidarity trade union, which helped topple communism. – (Reuters)
Lawyer arrested in Zimbabwe
HARARE – Zimbabwean police have arrested a human rights lawyer yesterday, accusing him of “defeating the course of justice”. The accused lawyer, Alec Muchadehama, was part of a legal team representing political activists facing terrorism charges. – (Reuters)