A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Czech minister quits on graft claim
PRAGUE – Czech environment minister Pavel Drobil resigned yesterday following allegations that he tried to cover up corruption in his department.
Mr Drobil is the first casualty for the centre-right coalition which took power in July after winning an election on promises to narrow the budget deficit and fight corruption. – (Reuters)
Police officers knifed on street in London
LONDON – Two police officers were stabbed in a street attack in west London yesterday, leaving one with serious injuries.
“It looks like we have a PC and a PCSO suffering either stab or slash injuries” in Ealing Broadway, a police spokesman said. Media reports said the PC was slashed in the throat after routinely stopping a member of the public. – (Reuters)
23 sentenced in absentia in Italy
MILAN – An Italian appeals court sentenced 23 Americans in absentia to up to nine years in jail yesterday for the abduction of a Muslim cleric, Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, in a symbolic condemnation of the CIA “rendition” flights used by the previous US government.
The sentences are tougher than those initially handed down last year. – (Reuters)