Briefly World

In stepped-up US attacks on militant hideouts in Pakistan,a drone rammed missiles on a compound in a restive North Waziristan...

US drone attack kills 20 militants in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In stepped-up US attacks on militant hideouts in Pakistan,a drone rammed missiles on a compound in a restive North Waziristan on Sunday killing at least 20 terrorists,mostly foreign fighters. In the tenth such attack in the region this month,the US drone fired two missiles on a militant compound during the strike in Shaktoi region that straddles North and South Waziristan,officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels. At least 20 bodies were pulled out of the rubble of the compound,which was destroyed. Most of the dead were believed to be foreign fighters.

Afghan district chief,among 6 killed

KABUL: Police say six people,including a district chief,have been killed in a militant ambush in western Afghanistan. Regional police spokesman said gunmen opened fire at a convoy travelling near the Chishti Sharif district in Herat province. In another development,Afghanistans parliament rose on Sunday for its winter recess,forcing a further delay in finalising President Hamid Karzais cabinet until late next month,officials said. The parliament has approved 14 of Karzais nominees for 25 cabinet portfolios,in two sessions of secret balloting. A third list of nominees will be presented to parliamentarians after they return on February 20.

Security breach at JFK delays flights

NEW YORK: Hundreds of passengers from a terminal at the busy John F Kennedy International Airport here were evacuated following a security breach,the second such incident at a New York area aerodrome this month. The passengers were evacuated from Terminal 8 on Saturday afternoon after the security breach when a man of Haitian descent opened a door to a secure lounge area meant only for airport personnel,triggered off an alarm. Jules Paul Bouloute was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass.

Ex-Iraqi FM Tariq Aziz suffers stroke

AMMAN: The son of former Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz says his father was afflicted by a severe stroke over the weekend and has lost the power of speech. Tariq Aziz 73 was the international face of Saddam Husseins regime for several years. He was convicted and sentenced to prison for his involvement in the forced displacement of Kurds in northern Iraq.

Chemical Ali gets new death sentence

BAGHDAD: Saddam Husseins notorious cousin Chemical Ali was convicted on Sunday of crimes against humanity,receiving a death sentence for his involvement in a poison gas attack on Halabja. Families of victims in court cheered when the judge handed down the guilty verdict against Ali Hassan al-Majid in a trial for one of the worst poisonous gas attacks against civilians. He has already received three previous death sentences for atrocities committed during Saddams rule,particularly in the governments campaigns against the Shiites and Kurds.