Today's other stories in brief
Zimbabwean police arrest 10 opposition MPs
HARARE – Zimbabwean police yesterday arrested 10 opposition parliamentarians from Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC, a party spokesman said, in a move that is likely to raise tensions in the new unity government.
Co-operation between the MDC and Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF is crucial as the six-month-old administration tries to win vital funding from donors who are demanding faster political and economic reforms.
"I have received a report to the effect that 10 of our MPs have been detained by the police," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said. "We are still unclear as to the circumstances and motive of the arrest. – (Reuters)
Ex-manager jailed over nightclub fire
BUENOS AIRES – The former manager of a Buenos Aires nightclub has been sentenced to 20 years in jail over a fire that killed 194 people and injured more than 700 five years ago in the deadliest blaze in Argentine history.
Relatives of the victims, who held a candlelit vigil in front of the court, wept and held up family photographs as the verdict was read out at the end a yearlong trial.
Scuffles erupted outside the courtroom.
The fire broke out when a concertgoer set off a flare in the packed Cromagnon club during a show by the popular rock band, Callejeros.
The band's manager was sentenced to 18 years in jail yesterday while seven band members were acquitted of manslaughter charges. – (Reuters)
Former minister quits ruling party
BRASILIA – Former Brazilian environment minister Marina Silva has said she is leaving the ruling Workers’ Party, a move that could pave the way for a presidential run in the October 2010 election.
Ms Silva, a senator and a famed defender of the Amazon rain forest, quit Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government last year. She has been considering an invitation to join the Green Party and run as its presidential candidate. – (Reuters)
Fire in homeless shelter kills four
BERLIN – Four people died and two were seriously injured when fire ripped through a homeless shelter in the southern German town of Calw, police said yesterday.
The blaze broke out on the third floor of the homeless shelter early in the morning, causing about €800,000 of damage to the building near the centre of the historic Black Forest town, local police said.
It was unclear how the fire began.
"Nothing is ruled out at this stage," police spokesman Winfried Koenig said when asked if there was any suspicion of foul play. – (Reuters)