World Briefs

At least 20 people were injured yesterday in the main city of Indian Kashmir when Muslim demonstrators clashed with troops in the latest anti-India protest to hit the region. Indian troops fired teargas shells and chased protesters shouting "Indian forces go back" with batons.

Hundreds of protesters, many with their faces covered, burned tyres and threw rocks at police in different parts of Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital.

MDC seeks control over Zimbabwe's economy

Zimbabwe's opposition MDC wants to head the home affairs, justice and finance ministries under a landmark power-sharing deal agreed with President Robert Mugabe, an opposition official said yesterday.

The three portfolios would give it control over the police and prisons, and responsibility for rescuing an economy reeling from the world's highest rate of hyper-inflation, more than 11 million per cent.

In return, the MDC is ready to agree to leave Mugabe's ZANU-PF in charge of other key power ministries.

"Mugabe can have the defence and state security ministries but the MDC should get the home affairs ministry, that is our position, along with the finance portfolio," the opposition official said.

Bolivia, opposition eye compromise

Bolivia's government and a main opposition leader voiced hope for reconciliation yesterday after overnight talks to end a wave of political violence that killed at least 17 people and prompted martial law.

Leftist President Evo Morales called the talks to defuse a bitter power struggle with governors who oppose his socialist reforms and want a bigger share of energy revenue.

The government of the poor South American country declared martial law late on Friday in the remote Amazon region of Pando, scene of the worst violence. Morales said yesterday he saw no reason to expand the martial law decree beyond Pando.

A sailor and a civilian were killed in fighting when the army took control of the airport in Pando's capital, Cobija, from protesters, Cabinet minister Ramon Quintana said yesterday.

Italian tourists die in Egypt road crash

Three Italians were killed and five other people injured when a tourist bus overturned in the Sinai peninsula, Egyptian security officials said. The officials identified the dead as 30-year-old Antonia La Canta, 28-year-old Forto Espaniola and Mario Mazini, 42.

The injured were three Italian tourists, and two Egyptians, the bus driver and a tour guide. Reckless driving, lax traffic rules and poor road conditions lead to a high accident toll in Egypt.

German police arrest Al-Qaeda supporter

German police have arrested a 30-year-old Turk suspected of having collected money and equipment for Al-Qaeda, prosecutors said yesterday. Germany's federal prosecutor's office said Oemer Oe., who was arrested, had also tried to recruit militants to Al-Qaeda training camps since 2006.

The 30-year-old had worked on the orders of Aleem N., a German of Pakistani origin, who was arrested in February.

Oil workers ordered to leave delta

Nigeria's most prominent militant group yesterday warned oil companies in the restive Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in the next 24 hours after a gun battle with security forces.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), responsible for attacks that have cut more than a fifth of the OPEC member's oil output, threatened to retaliate against oil workers after at least three people were killed in fighting between security forces and militants in Tombia in Rivers state.

Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, Eni and Chevron are among the numerous oil companies that operate in the Niger Delta, the main source of Nigeria's two million barrels per day output.