Briefly World

Waziristan: Nine militants killed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces on Sunday surrounded the important Taliban stronghold of Makeen and advanced along two other flanks in South Waziristan,battling militants for the control of the key town of Kaniguram,where nine militants and two soldiers were killed in fresh clashes. Troops moving from Razmak in North Waziristan had surrounded Makeen from three directions and cleared the strategic Litta Sar area,the military claimed.

Philippines refuses ransom for priest

MANILA: The Philippine government rejected a $2 million ransom demanded by kidnappers of an Irish priest in the country’s volatile south on Sunday and said efforts were on to secure his release safely. The kidnappers of the Rev. Michael Sinnott released a video on saturday in which the missionary (79) says his captors are demanding $2 million in exchange for his freedom.

Eleven killed in Russian plane crash

Moscow: 11 people on board a Russian interior ministry transport plane were killed on Sunday when it crashed in the far eastern Yakutia region. The plane bound for the city of Irkutsk crashed shortly after taking off from Mirny airport,Ria-Novosti said. The bodies of all the crew members have been found,a local official was quoted as saying by the news agency,adding that the plane was not carrying any cargo. A panel has been formed to probe the cause of the accident.