Briefly World

Afghan President Hamid Karzai,re-elected a week ago after a flawed vote,appealed on Monday for closer trade ties with fellow Muslim...

Karzai seeks closer trade ties with Muslim nations

ISTANBUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai,re-elected a week ago after a flawed vote,appealed on Monday for closer trade ties with fellow Muslim countries to help Afghanistan break its cycle of conflict. Karzai met representatives of eight governments,including Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,on the sidelines of an economic summit held by the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul. Afghanistans interest is primarily in having close brotherly relations with its neighbours,freedom of trade and transit,and an effective environment of cooperation, he said.

China executes nine over Xinjiang riots: Report

BEIJING: China has executed nine people convicted of violent crimes during ethnic rioting in the far western Xinjiang region in July,the first to be put to death over the unrest,the China News Service said Monday. The nine were executed after a judicial review by the countrys supreme court,the semi-official news agency said on its website. It did not give further details.

Iraq election set for Jan 21 after new law passed

BAGHDAD: Iraqis will vote in a general election on January 21 now that Parliament has passed a law needed for a vote to take place,the head of the countrys electoral commission said on Monday. The ballot was originally set for January 16,but electoral authorities said the delay in passing the law had made it impossible to organise by then. Parliament ended weeks of disagreement about the fate of the disputed city of Kirkuk and passed the electoral law on Sunday.

Somali pirates seize weapons ship,attack tanker

MOGADISHU: Somali pirates have seized a UAE-flagged cargo ship loaded with weapons bound for the Horn of Africa nation in contravention of a UN arms embargo,maritime experts said on Monday. They also launched their longest range hijack attempt yet opening fire on a giant Hong Kong-flagged crude oil tanker 1,000 nautical miles from Mogadishu.