A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
Zambian president dies in France
NAIROBI- Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa (59) died in France yesterday nearly two months after suffering a stroke during an African Union conference.
Doctors at the Percy military hospital near Paris had performed emergency surgery on Mr Mwanawasa on Monday. Though the operation was initially described as successful, Zambian state television broke the news of the death yesterday morning.
- (Guardian service)
Morales rivals stage strike
SANTA CRUZ- Bolivian governors opposed to president Evo Morales's reforms staged a general strike yesterday in five of the country's nine provinces, demanding a bigger share of energy revenues.
The protest was organised just nine days after Mr Morales won more than 67 per cent of votes to survive a recall referendum. The vote also confirmed his main right-wing rivals in office, deepening a power struggle that has raged all year.
- (Reuters)
Israel opens Gaza supply route
GAZA- Israel has allowed food and supplies to enter the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip through a key commercial crossing that had been closed for months.
Israeli defence ministry official Peter Lerner said about 80 trucks would pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing in a trial run before it is officially reopened in accordance with an Egyptian-mediated truce between Israel and Hamas.
- (Reuters)
Corruption probe official arrested
MOSCOW- Russian police have arrested a former top prosecutor who led a politically charged investigation into corruption allegations against a deputy finance minister.
The allegations against Sergei Storchak, Russia's foreign debt negotiator, and the sacking of officials investigating him, is seen by observers as part of a battle between Kremlin clans.
- (Reuters)
Storm Fay hits south Florida
MIAMI- Tropical Storm Fay swept into southwest Florida from the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, dumping heavy rain but causing little damage after failing to strengthen into a hurricane.
At 8am local time, the storm was centred about 50km east-southeast of the resort area of Fort Myers.
- (Reuters)
UN authorises AU Somalia force
NEW YORK- The UN Security Council yesterday authorised an African Union force in Somalia for another six months, a day after Somalia's government signed a peace agreement with some opposition figures.
- (Reuters)
Jade Goody in cancer scare
MUMBAI- Big Brotherstar Jade Goody's stint on the Indian version of the reality TV show has been cut short after medical tests indicated she may have cancer.
Goody flew back to Britain after spending just two days on the Bigg Bossshow, which started in India on Sunday, and is being hosted by Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, Goody's TV adversary on last year's Celebrity Big Brother.
- (Reuters)
Karadzic accuses judge of bias
THE HAGUE- Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has applied to the UN war crimes tribunal to disqualify a Dutch judge from his genocide case.
Karadzic accused Judge Alphons Orie of bias and of having a personal stake in his case.
- (AP)