short takes
French drug convict loses plea
AFP, JAKARTA: A French drug convict lost an appeal against his death sentence yesterday, but his lawyers vowed to fight on and prevent another foreigner from facing the firing squad in Indonesia after a series of executions that generated an international uproar.
Serge Atlaoui, 51, was due to be executed alongside seven other foreign drug offenders two months ago but won a temporary reprieve after Paris stepped up pressure, with authorities agreeing to let an outstanding appeal run its course.
Two killed in Pakistan� clash
AFP, PESHAWAR, Pakistan: At least two civilians were killed and 10 wounded after Pakistani soldiers fired on internal refugees displaced by a military operation against the Taliban, an official said yesterday.
The incident on Sunday evening comes a year after the army began a major offensive in North Waziristan tribal area to wipe out militant strongholds, which it has hailed as a resounding success.
2 die in Myanmar building mishap
AFP, YANGON: Two construction workers were killed and dozens injured when part of a luxury hotel being built in Myanmars second city of Mandalay collapsed, sparking a desperate 30 hour bid to free a man trapped in the rubble, police
yesterday.
Rescue teams worked round-the-clock to free the trapped 18-year-old worker after the incident on Saturday afternoon at the construction site, according to local police, finally pulling him from the rubble late Sunday.
Burundi grenade attacks kill 4
�AFP, BUJUMBURA, Burundi: Four people were killed and some 30 wounded in grenade attacks in Burundi a week ahead of key parliamentary elections, as government and opposition yesterday traded blame for the blasts.A
