Briefly World

UK PM to appear for Iraq War inquiry

LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed on Friday he would appear at a public inquiry into the Iraq War before this years election,a move which could damage the ruling Labour party at the ballot box. Brown wrote to John Chilcot,who leads the inquiry,earlier this week saying he was prepared to give evidence at any time. Brown faces criticism for decisions on defence spending which critics say have hampered British operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Indian forces protect banks in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS: Para-military CISF personnel have been guarding banks and other vital centres in Port-au-Prince to prevent looting besides providing security to Indians in the aftermath of the earthquake. There are presently 140 paramilitary personnel who are heavily armed,11 unarmed police officers and a military staff official stationed in the capital. Protecting banks is one of the several tasks that the Indian paramilitary forces have been engaged in for the past nine days.

Little Rock shooter claims terror ties

MEMPHIS: A Tennessee man accused of killing a soldier outside a Little Rock,Arkansas,military recruiting station last year has asked a judge to change his plea to guilty,claiming for the first time that he is affiliated with a Yemen-based affiliate of al-Qaeda. In a letter to the judge,Abdulhakim Muhammad,called himself a soldier in al-Qaeda and called the shooting a jehadi attack in retribution for the killing of Muslims by US troops.

Petraeus: Biblical citations disturbing

WASHINGTON: US General David Petraeus said on Thursday it was disturbing that a manufacturer had embossed biblical citations on rifle scopes sent to Afghanistan and Iraq,and the firm announced it would voluntarily halt the practice. This is a big concern to the Army and the Marine Corps,who have contracted for these particular sites, said Petraeus,the head of US Central Command,noting the religious sensitivities US forces face in the two Muslim countries.