In Brief

* UNREST – Two mortars landed in Baghdad’s Green Zone, without causing casualties or damage, just before the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein opened in the heavily fortified area, security sources said.

* BAN – Israel was considering the imposition of a permanent ban on Palestinians using major highways in the West Bank in a bid to improve security for settlers living in the occupied territory. * QUAKE – Pakistan and India wrestled with the details of a historic opening of the Kashmir frontier as a series of aftershocks traumatised survivors 11 days after a devastating quake.* WARNED – US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned China that it is sending “mixed signals” with a military buildup whose pace, scope and secretiveness have led other nations to question its intentions.* DEMANDED – Norway demanded that Russia release two of its fishing inspectors held captive aboard a Russian trawler that fled inspection in the Barents Sea at the weekend.* SHRINE – China said Japan’s foreign minister is not welcome in Beijing, after the nation’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid a controversial visit to a Tokyo war shrine.* PARLIAMENT – Germany’s new parliament sat for the first time, signalling the beginning of the end of Gerhard Schroeder’s seven-year spell as chancellor even as the incoming team worked to put together a policy programme.* DEPORTED – The British government said it was now free to deport suspected Libyan promoters of terrorism after Libya gave “assurances” about their safety.- Nampa-AFP* QUAKE – Pakistan and India wrestled with the details of a historic opening of the Kashmir frontier as a series of aftershocks traumatised survivors 11 days after a devastating quake.* WARNED – US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned China that it is sending “mixed signals” with a military buildup whose pace, scope and secretiveness have led other nations to question its intentions.* DEMANDED – Norway demanded that Russia release two of its fishing inspectors held captive aboard a Russian trawler that fled inspection in the Barents Sea at the weekend.* SHRINE – China said Japan’s foreign minister is not welcome in Beijing, after the nation’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid a controversial visit to a Tokyo war shrine.* PARLIAMENT – Germany’s new parliament sat for the first time, signalling the beginning of the end of Gerhard Schroeder’s seven-year spell as chancellor even as the incoming team worked to put together a policy programme.* DEPORTED – The British government said it was now free to deport suspected Libyan promoters of terrorism after Libya gave “assurances” about their safety.- Nampa-AFP