Other news from around the world in brief
Bomb blast on bus kills six in Philippines
MANILA - A powerful blast ripped through a bus at a terminal in the troubled southern Philippines yesterday, killing six and injuring 27.
Cesario Darantinan, police chief in Davao del Sur province on Mindanao, said the bus was waiting for passengers at a terminal in the town of Digos when an explosive device went off inside the vehicle.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the second such incident since July. - (Reuters)
Basques to take case against Spain
BILBAO- The Basque country will complain to the European Court of Human Rights because the Spanish government is blocking a referendum-style vote on the region's ties with the rest of Spain.
The head of the Basque regional government, Juan José Ibarretxe, yesterday invited all Basque citizens to add their complaints to his government's own, which he said he would lodge with the court in Strasbourg on September 16th.
The region's moderate nationalist government wants to hold a vote on October 25th on whether to seek peace talks with separatist rebels Eta and on the "right to decide" of the Basque people - a coded reference to the issue of whether the Basque country should remain part of Spain. - (Reuters)
South African bush fires kill 13
CAPE TOWN- Runaway bush fires and wind in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province have killed 13 people, disaster officials said yesterday, at the same time as the Western and Eastern Cape were hit by rain, floods and gale force winds.
Liz Diedericks, a spokeswoman for KwaZulu Natal's provincial disaster management, said the fires were fanned by hot, dry and windy conditions. - (Reuters)
Investigation into honour killings
ISLAMABAD- Pakistan ordered an investigation yesterday into the killing of five women who were shot and buried alive because three of them wanted to marry men of their choice, according to rights groups.
The killings have produced shock and outrage even in a country inured to the murder of women in the name of family honour in rural areas.
The women were killed in Babakot village, 320km (200 miles) east of Quetta, capital of Baluchistan, last month. - (Reuters)
One killed, 34 injured in clashes
BANGKOK- At least one person was killed and 34 hurt, four critically, in clashes early today between pro- and anti-government demonstrators in Bangkok. Two people suffered gunshot wounds during the skirmishes near government house, occupied by protesters demanding that prime minister Samak Sundaravej resign. - (Reuters)
Man with 86 wives to marry again
ABUJA- A Nigerian Muslim preacher (84) with 86 wives intends to marry more women despite an order from local Islamic chiefs to divorce all but four of them, his spokesman said yesterday.
Nigerian newspapers said Mohammed Bello, who lives in central Nigeria with his wives and at least 170 children, was ordered by local elders to divorce 82 of his wives by Sunday or leave the area. - (Reuters)
Dalai Lama leaves hospital
MUMBAI- The Dalai Lama left hospital in Mumbai yesterday morning, smiling and waving to photographers, after being treated for abdominal pain.
"He is feeling good and he will be resting for the next few days," his aide Chhime Chhoekyapa said.
The Tibetan spiritual leader was admitted to hospital last week. - (Reuters)