Today's other stories in brief
Poland to hold early elections this autumn
Polish voters will go to the polls two years early this autumn after MPs voted yesterday evening to dissolve the parliament after months of political turmoil, writes Derek Scally.
Voters face a choice of re-electing prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his national conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party or the liberal, pro-business opposition Civic Platform (PO).
Mr Kaczynski will appeal to voters for a mandate to continue his war on what he calls Poland's corrupt post-communist elite while the PO will promise more stable government, stronger economic policies and a determination to restore Poland's prestige abroad. Neck-and-neck in the polls, however, the two parties could decide to form a coalition.
A strong PO result could see it form a coalition with a left-wing alliance organised by former president Aleksander Kwasniewski.
Noriega extradition appeal rejected
MIAMI - A US federal judge yesterday rejected an appeal seeking to block the extradition of deposed Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega to France after his prison sentence in Florida ends on Sunday.
The ruling, though potentially open to appeal, moved Noriega closer to jail in Paris. - (Reuters)
Ex-hostage calls for al-Qaeda talks
LONDON - Former Middle East hostage Terry Waite has called for dialogue with al-Qaeda, saying terrorism cannot be beaten by war.
The Briton, held captive in Lebanon in the 1980s, said international experience showed that talking to opponents was the way forward. - (Reuters)
Moroccans vote in parliamentary poll
RABAT - Moroccans voted yesterday in parliamentary polls expected to show gains for moderate Islamists pushing an anti-corruption message to voters seeking more vigorous efforts to fight poverty. - ( Reuters)
Building to stop on cemetery site
VILNIUS - Lithuania's government said yesterday it would ask city authorities to suspend the building of an apartment block over an ancient Jewish cemetery site in Vilnius. - (Reuters)