China rights activist jailed

BEIJING – A Chinese activist who had petitioned for land rights was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison and then shocked with electric batons when police scuffled with his family, his lawyer said.

AU troops leave for Comoros island * MUTSAMUDU, Comoros – Two ships with troops mandated by the African Union (AU) to help the government of the Comoros archipelago retake the rebel island of Anjouan left port overnight, port sources said yesterday. Fatah and Hamas prepare to talk * SANAA – Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a Yemeni-sponsored deal on Sunday promising to revive direct talks after months of hostilities, but differences remained over the future of the Gaza Strip and West Bank.Musharraf assures full support * ISLAMABAD – Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf assured his full support on Sunday for an incoming government that will be led by a prime minister he had jailed for over four years.Drunk causes emergency landing * WARSAW – A Lufthansa passenger jet made an emergency landing in the southern Polish city of Katowice yesterday after a drunk, unruly passenger began shouting that he was a terrorist, border guards said Bhutan votes for the first time * THIMPU – Immaculately turned out in traditional dress, the people of Bhutan formed long queues at polling stations yesterday to cast votes in the first parliamentary elections in the isolated Himalayan kingdom’s history.Tension in South America * BOGOTA – Already tense relations between Colombia and Ecuador looked set to worsen on Sunday after Colombia said it had killed a citizen of the neighbouring country in a March 1 attack on Ecuador’s side of the border.Japanese PM’s support slips * TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s support rate slid to 24,7 per cent in a poll by private broadcaster TV Asahi released yesterday, the latest sign of doubts about his leadership that are raising questions about his future.Fatah and Hamas prepare to talk * SANAA – Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a Yemeni-sponsored deal on Sunday promising to revive direct talks after months of hostilities, but differences remained over the future of the Gaza Strip and West Bank.Musharraf assures full support * ISLAMABAD – Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf assured his full support on Sunday for an incoming government that will be led by a prime minister he had jailed for over four years.Drunk causes emergency landing * WARSAW – A Lufthansa passenger jet made an emergency landing in the southern Polish city of Katowice yesterday after a drunk, unruly passenger began shouting that he was a terrorist, border guards said Bhutan votes for the first time * THIMPU – Immaculately turned out in traditional dress, the people of Bhutan formed long queues at polling stations yesterday to cast votes in the first parliamentary elections in the isolated Himalayan kingdom’s history.Tension in South America * BOGOTA – Already tense relations between Colombia and Ecuador looked set to worsen on Sunday after Colombia said it had killed a citizen of the neighbouring country in a March 1 attack on Ecuador’s side of the border.Japanese PM’s support slips * TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s support rate slid to 24,7 per cent in a poll by private broadcaster TV Asahi released yesterday, the latest sign of doubts about his leadership that are raising questions about his future.