Briefly World:11 killed in assault on police station in China says Govt

France assures Israel it will stand firm on Iran

Jerusalem: President Francois Hollande assured Israel on Sunday that France would continue to oppose an easing of economic sanctions against Iran until it was convinced Tehran had ended a pursuit of nuclear weapons.

reuters

Syrian army besieges town in mountains

BEIRUT: Syrian forces are besieging a key town in the Qalamoun mountains,activists said on Sunday,a region used by rebels to cross from Lebanon and which links the capital to government strongholds along the coast. The United Nations says that around one thousand families fled Qara for the Lebanese frontier on Saturday as the army closed in. reuters

French hostage in Nigeria escaped jailers: Hollande

PARIS: A French engineer who had been held hostage by Islamist militants in northern Nigeria for almost a year has escaped his jailers,President Francois Hollande said on Sunday. A Nigerian police official said Francis Collomp,who is over 60,had slipped out of his cell and managed to find a motorcycle taxi which took him to a police station. reuters

Berlusconi breaks away from Italian government

rome: Silvio Berlusconi,facing expulsion from parliament over a tax conviction and a revolt which split his centre-right party,said on Saturday he may no longer back Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta but would not be able to bring down the government. reuters

Curfew extended in Rawalpindi

Islamabad: Curfew was imposed for the second day in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi after sectarian clashes claimed at least 10 lives. PTI

6 contractors found beheaded in Afghanistan

KABUL: Afghan police say the decapitated bodies of six government contractors were found in a southern province,apparent victims of Taliban insurgents. Police said the men were involved in building police compounds and checkpoints.ap