In Brief

* IRAQ VIOLENCE – A bomb killed five people at a bus station south of Baghdad, breaking a relative calm after Iraqi and US leaders appealed for an end to days of sectarian bloodshed that have pitched Iraq toward civil war.

* VOTER CHALLENGE – South Africa’s governing African National Congress faces a major electoral test this week, the target of unprecedented voter anger over shortfalls in providing housing and basic services. UK HEIST – Police hunting the gang who stole up to 50 million pounds from a security depot in Kent last week said the net was closing as they found arms, clothing and transport equipment they believe was used in the heist.The theft, early on Wednesday, is believed to have been the biggest in the country’s history and sparked a huge police manhunt and forensic operation.* PLANE CRASH – Fourteen people died when an Angolan air force helicopter crashed in the Atlantic north of the capital Luanda on Saturday and four others were missing, the air force said in a statement.* PRISON UNREST – About 1 300 prisoners at Afghanistan’s main jail seized control of a prison block after a riot that prompted wardens to open fire and wound at least four inmates, officials said.* ANTI-TERROR LAWS – Russia’s lower house of parliament approved sweeping new anti-terror laws defining terms under which the military may shoot down hijacked passenger planes, strike at suspected terrorist targets and curb civil liberties for security reasons.* ABBAS MAY QUIT – Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has hinted he may resign should Hamas limit his policies as Israel’s acting prime minister and a US envoy were set to discuss ways to extend aid that bypasses the Islamists.* AL QAEDA ATTACKS – Al Qaeda vowed to assault more Saudi oil facilities, according to an Internet statement posted after a thwarted attack on the desert kingdom’s largest oil installation..- Nampa-Reuters-AFPUK HEIST – Police hunting the gang who stole up to 50 million pounds from a security depot in Kent last week said the net was closing as they found arms, clothing and transport equipment they believe was used in the heist.The theft, early on Wednesday, is believed to have been the biggest in the country’s history and sparked a huge police manhunt and forensic operation.* PLANE CRASH – Fourteen people died when an Angolan air force helicopter crashed in the Atlantic north of the capital Luanda on Saturday and four others were missing, the air force said in a statement. * PRISON UNREST – About 1 300 prisoners at Afghanistan’s main jail seized control of a prison block after a riot that prompted wardens to open fire and wound at least four inmates, officials said.* ANTI-TERROR LAWS – Russia’s lower house of parliament approved sweeping new anti-terror laws defining terms under which the military may shoot down hijacked passenger planes, strike at suspected terrorist targets and curb civil liberties for security reasons.* ABBAS MAY QUIT – Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has hinted he may resign should Hamas limit his policies as Israel’s acting prime minister and a US envoy were set to discuss ways to extend aid that bypasses the Islamists.* AL QAEDA ATTACKS – Al Qaeda vowed to assault more Saudi oil facilities, according to an Internet statement posted after a thwarted attack on the desert kingdom’s largest oil installation..- Nampa-Reuters-AFP