Battles leave 100s homeless

TRIPOLI – Hundreds of people were still homeless yesterday after the latest bout of deadly sectarian fighting in the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli.

“The army has barred residents from returning to some areas because there are unexploded grenades from the fighting and the troops are defusing them one by one,” a security official told AFP. * Raul Castro dashes expectations for reforms SANTIAGO DE CUBA – Cuban President Raul Castro dashed expectations he would announce new economic reforms on Saturday in a speech that instead warned Cubans not to get used to hearing good news.* Fire threatens 1000s of homes near Yosemite MIDPINES, California – A fast-spreading fire near an entrance to Yosemite National Park forced residents to evacuate 170 homes and caused officials to cut power to the park.The fire was threatening about 2 000 homes, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.* Floods devastate Ukraine and Romania KIEV – Floods described by a senior government official as the worst in a century have killed 13 people in western Ukraine and four in neighbouring Romania, officials said on yesterday.* Bosnian Serbs pray for Karadzic PALE, Bosnia – Hundreds of people gathered to pray for Radovan Karadzic across the Serb half of Bosnia on Saturday, holding vigils inside churches or marching in protest at his arrest on war crimes charges.* Don’t charge Bashir, says Mbeki JOHANNESBURG – President Thabo Mbeki said on Saturday that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir must not be prosecuted for war crimes, for fear of upsetting the peace process in Darfur.Mbeki said Bashir’s continued presence as head of state was also required to assist Sudan’s general post-civil war security.* Rice tells Fiji to hold elections on time APIA, Samoa – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed Fiji in a meeting of Pacific foreign ministers in Samoa on Saturday to ensure the country’s military rulers held elections as promised in March 2009.* Raul Castro dashes expectations for reforms SANTIAGO DE CUBA – Cuban President Raul Castro dashed expectations he would announce new economic reforms on Saturday in a speech that instead warned Cubans not to get used to hearing good news.* Fire threatens 1000s of homes near Yosemite MIDPINES, California – A fast-spreading fire near an entrance to Yosemite National Park forced residents to evacuate 170 homes and caused officials to cut power to the park.The fire was threatening about 2 000 homes, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.* Floods devastate Ukraine and Romania KIEV – Floods described by a senior government official as the worst in a century have killed 13 people in western Ukraine and four in neighbouring Romania, officials said on yesterday.* Bosnian Serbs pray for Karadzic PALE, Bosnia – Hundreds of people gathered to pray for Radovan Karadzic across the Serb half of Bosnia on Saturday, holding vigils inside churches or marching in protest at his arrest on war crimes charges.* Don’t charge Bashir, says Mbeki JOHANNESBURG – President Thabo Mbeki said on Saturday that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir must not be prosecuted for war crimes, for fear of upsetting the peace process in Darfur.Mbeki said Bashir’s continued presence as head of state was also required to assist Sudan’s general post-civil war security. * Rice tells Fiji to hold elections on time APIA, Samoa – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed Fiji in a meeting of Pacific foreign ministers in Samoa on Saturday to ensure the country’s military rulers held elections as promised in March 2009.