A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Court issues Tom DeLay arrest warrant
HOUSTON - An arrest warrant was issued yesterday and bail set at $10,000 for former US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay ahead of his scheduled court appearance this week in Austin, Texas, for money laundering and conspiracy charges.
The so-called "capias" was a "purely procedural event" but would require DeLay to turn himself into authorities to be fingerprinted and photographed, Travis County Grand Jury Clerk Linda Estrada said.
Court officials said DeLay was expected to go to Fort Bend County jail in his district near Houston for booking, but that had not been confirmed. Mr Delay has denied any wrongdoing, but is accused of laundering $190,000 in corporate campaign contributions through the Republican National Committee for distribution to Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature in 2002. - (Reuters)
Court removes Pinochet immunity
SANTIAGO - Chile's Supreme Court stripped former dictator Augusto Pinochet of his immunity from prosecution yesterday so he can face charges of tax fraud involving an estimated $27 million.
The decision was confirmed by several court officials and opens the way for the retired general to be indicted for tax crimes. - (Reuters)
Bono's luncheon date with Bush
WASHINGTON - Bono may not have had to sing for his meal, but the U2 rocker had the ear of President George Bush over lunch yesterday.
In town to perform a concert, Bono was invited to the White House to follow up on discussions he and the president had at the Group of Eight summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, in July, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. Might he be considered for an administration job? "I haven't heard that," Mr McClellan told reporters. "I think he's enjoying the career that he has right now." - (Reuters)
UN given access to refugee camp
ROME - Italy has agreed to give the UN access to a refugee camp on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, which is at the centre of abuse allegations, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said yesterday.
UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres hailed the decision as a breakthrough in commission relations with Italy, but said the UN presence would not resolve the main problem - the fact the centre was too small to handle the influx of immigrants. - (Reuters)
Helios Airways flight aborted
NICOSIA - A Helios Airways plane flying from Cyprus to Birmingham in Britain interrupted its flight and returned to Larnaca yesterday after indications of a technical fault flashed on its controls, the airline said. It was the privately-owned budget carrier's third aborted flight this month. In August, a Helios Airways Boeing 737-800 from Larnaca to Prague crashed north of Athens, killing all 121 people on board. - (Reuters)
Islamic militants kill 10 in Algeria
ALGIERS - Algerian Islamic militants have killed 10 people, including four soldiers, as violence rises during the holy month of Ramadan, newspapers said yesterday. Four soldiers and at least seven rebels died in clashes on Monday in the mountains of Bouira, some 110km east of the capital Algiers, national dailies Le Quotidien d'Oran and Liberté said. - (Reuters)
Theft leaves duck show in the soup
LONDON - A duck starring in a West End comedy has been stolen after a preview performance. Daphne, the star of Ducktastic, performs tricks and bows to the audience. - (Reuters)