¤ Belgium yesterday put on trial suspected militants including a woman wanted in Turkey for the assassination of a prominent businessman in a case that has strained relations between the two countries. Fehriye Erdal and 10 other suspects face charges of illegal possession of firearms, false papers, stolen goods, and belonging to a criminal organisation.They are also charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation, a crime under Belgium's new anti-terrorist legislation.

¤ The popular director of the UN election unit was officially dismissed without pay yesterday on accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of authority, the United Nations said. Carina Perelli, 48, became a star at the world body for supervising polls in dangerous places like Afghanistan and Iraq, the Palestinian territories and East Timor. She has already consulted with lawyers and is expected to appeal the decision through UN judicial bodies.

¤ Detlev Mehlis will step down shortly as chief UN investigator into the killing of ex-Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri but will remain available should the inquiry require his services, his spokesman said yesterday.

¤ President Viktor Yushchenko, resolved to overcome popular disillusion since his dismissal of a popular Prime Minister, said yesterday he would stay out of Ukraine's parliamentary election to prevent a split in the vote.

¤ South Africa's former deputy president, Jacob Zuma, was yesterday charged with rape in a case that analysts say has practically dashed any hope of his becoming the country's next president.

¤ The Democratic Republic of Congo has arrested militia leader Justin Ngole Dalo, known as Koliba, accused of ordering the killing of over 100 civilians and nine UN peacekeepers earlier this year, UN and Congolese officials said yesterday.

¤ President George W. Bush criticised Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean yesterday for saying it is wrong to think the United States will win in Iraq, calling him a pessimist trying to score political points.