Around the World

AFGHANISTA N

Insurgent Leader Seized

Afghan and coalition forces captured an insurgent leader in eastern Afghanistan, and in a separate operation 10 militants were killed in a firefight in the eastern province of Paktia, the U.S. military said Saturday.

U.S. forces said they grabbed a "key insurgent leader" in a raid with Afghan police Friday in a village in eastern Ghazni province. No shots were fired in the raid, the statement said.

The captured man is responsible for the deaths of Afghan troops, bomb attacks on coalition forces and the kidnapping of aid workers, according to the statement.

New Fighting Erupts in E. Congo

Fighting renewed between rebels and soldiers in eastern Congo, as a U.N. special envoy flew in for emergency talks and said that President Joseph Kabila was ready to meet his main rival, rebel leader Laurent Nkunda. Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo spoke in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, before flying to the eastern city of Goma.

Sudan Accused of Darfur Attack

Darfur rebels accused Sudan government forces of bombing their territory, just days after the president announced a cease-fire in the region. Sudan's armed forces denied the reports, saying that they were maintaining the cease-fire.

9 Activists Sentenced in Burma

A court in military-ruled Burma has sentenced an additional nine pro-democracy activists to 65-year prison terms. About 70 opposition activists, writers, musicians and Buddhist monks have been sentenced in the past week.

Somalis Whipped After Dancing

Islamist insurgents in Somalia whipped 32 people after arresting them for taking part in a traditional dance in rebel-held territory south of the capital, Mogadishu. Fighters enforcing a strict form of sharia law have been advancing on the city. Meanwhile, the radical Islamist group al-Shabab seized the Somali port town of Barawe, consolidating its control over a region that borders Mogadishu.

China Subway Tunnel Collapses

A subway tunnel under construction in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou collapsed, trapping workers and producing a huge crater into which more than 10 vehicles plunged. At least one person died, and 16 were missing.

Policeman Dies in Georgia Clash

A Georgian official says a policeman has been killed in a clash with separatists close to the breakaway province of Abkhazia. Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the police officer was shot dead by a group of armed Abkhazians who entered Georgian-controlled territory to plant land mines.

Greece Protests Oil Exploration

The Greek Foreign Ministry protested to Turkey over oil exploration activities close to Kastelorizo, Greece's easternmost island.

From News Services