Briefly world

A Portuguese court found six men and one woman guilty on Friday of crimes relating to child sex abuse in a trial that lasted nearly six years.

Portugal sex abuse trial: 7 convicted

LISBON: A Portuguese court found six men and one woman guilty on Friday of crimes relating to child sex abuse in a trial that lasted nearly six years,a prosecution lawyer said. Chief prosecutor Miguel Matias said all seven defendants were found guilty of crimes including sexually abusing minors and adolescents,raping children and running a paedophile ring at the state-run childrens home Casa Pia in Lisbon during the 1990s. The trial,believed to be Portugals longest,included testimony from more than 800 witnesses and experts,including 32 alleged victims,and shocked the country.

Major fire in Hare Krishna temple in UK

London: The Hare Krishna temple in the east Midlands town of Leicester was partly gutted when gas bottles used for cooking in the temple exploded. Temple authorities said that all devotees and staff present in the temple were safe,and had been accounted for. However,some individuals sustained minor injuries to their arms and faces from the shrapnel. The police cordoned off the area inhabited mainly by the Asian community.

Indian sets herself on fire over failed marriage

London: A young Indian woman in the UK set herself on fire to escape the shame of her failing marriage in Leicester,a judicial inquiry was told. Twenty-four-year-old Harsimrat Kaur Bains moved from India to the UK in 2007 after her marriage to Dalvinder Bains,30. She had often alleged domestic abuse. Finally,Harsimrat poured petrol over herself and set herself alight in the couples bedroom in Leicester,160-km from London. In a two-page suicide note Harsimrat wrote: To save my mothers respect,I am committing suicide.

Prescott wants answers on tabloid scandal

LONDON: Britains former Deputy Prime Minister pressed on Friday for police to reveal more about what is alleged to have been a pattern of illegal eavesdropping at News of the World. John Prescott said he believes he was among those targeted by the best-selling tabloid. He urged police,who investigated phone hacking by the newspaper,to reveal whether the papers journalists tried to spy on his private conversations. The only way the truth can come out is really to have it properly investigated, Prescott told the BBC.