Globe Trotting 8212; Peruvian hostages released

Peruvian hostages releasedLIMA: A group of Peruvian workers of the French oil company Elf, believed to be held in the central jungle by the...

Peruvian hostages released

LIMA: A group of Peruvian workers of the French oil company Elf, believed to be held in the central jungle by the Maoist Shining Path movement, have all returned safely, an official at the workers8217; company said. An Interior Ministry spokesman in Lima, processing information from police in the zone, confirmed that the 29 oil workers had been released unharmed by the rebels.Contrasting with earlier information from police and military sources in the zone, the spokesman said the rebels had only held the men for four hours on Friday. They forced the men to listen to ideological talks, and stole food, medicine and communications equipment from their camp.

Egypt crackdown

CAIRO: Egyptian police killed 13 Islamic militants and rounded up around 100 others in the region of Miniya, the main town in the upper Nile region, in the biggest such operation for five years, according to the pro-government Al-Ahram .

Earlier this month, Egyptian authorities arrested 33 members of the banned Muslim brotherhood for planning a recruiting drive at the University in Alexandria. It followed the arrest of 14 fugitive Islamic militants, including one sentenced to death in abstentia for murder.

More than 1,200 people have been killed in a violent campaign by Islamists to overthrow Egypt8217;s secular government.

Ali Akbar Khan to get Heritage Fellowship award

WASHINGTON: Sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan will be presented the United States8217; prestigious Heritage Fellowship award at the White House, India8217;s ambassador to the US, Naresh Chandra, said.

Khan, who mesmerised a full house at the Kennedy Centre here yesterday in a two-hour-long performance, will be given the award at a ceremony to be held on September 23. He said amidst cheers it would be the award which will be honoured by Khan8217;s acceptance.

Sorry plight

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MOSCOW: More than 5,000 soldiers die every year as a result of bullying and brutality in the Russian armed forces, the mothers8217; rights organisation in Moscow has estimated. Spokeswoman Svetlana Volodinaya blamed the mistreatment of men by their superiors.

The armed forces operated on the principle of survival of the fittest, and officers were not energetic enough in countering this, she said. Mothers8217; rights was founded in 1991 to represent parents whose sons die during peacetime military service as a result of criminal acts, poor hygienic conditions or psychological pressure. Official statistics indicate 500 officers committed suicide last year.