A round-up of other world stories in brief...
Biker killed in gang brawl at Sydney airport
SYDNEY – Warring bikers brawled through Australia’s largest airport in Sydney yesterday, bludgeoning one suspected gang member to death and brandishing metal poles “like swords” as they rampaged through the main domestic terminal in front of terrified travellers.
It is reported that violence erupted when one biker gang coming off a flight was ambushed by a rival gang. – (AP)
Hamas chief hails Obama line
ROME – Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal has credited US president Barack Obama with using a “new language” for the Middle East. In an interview with an Italian newspaper he said an official overture towards Hamas is only a matter of time.
“A new language towards the region is coming from President Obama. The challenge for everybody is for this to be the prelude for a genuine change in US and European policies,” Mr Meshaal told La Repubblica. – (Reuters)
Afghan concern at civilian deaths
KUNDUZ – Afghanistan said yesterday it was deeply concerned about a US military operation which killed five Afghans that police officials said were civilians, but US forces insisted were militants.
Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who faces elections in August, has said civilian casualties are the biggest cause of tension between him and his western backers, who have about 70,000 troops in Afghanistan fighting a Taliban-led insurgency.
The US military said it killed five militants and detained four others, with the help of Afghan troops, in the northern province of Kunduz. – (Reuters)