In Brief

* JO’BURG FIRE – A fire swept through a downtown building early yesterday, killing 12 people and injuring 33 others trapped inside by locked security gates and belongings piled in passageways.

Johannesburg Fire Department spokesman Malcom Midgely said the dead, who appeared to be illegal immigrants from Malawi, suffocated because they could not get out of the building. Hospital officials said nine people were in critical condition and 19 others were seriously hurt.* IMMIGRATION PROTEST – Thousands of high-school pupils across the United States boycotted classes for the third straight day, hoping to derail a proposed law that would criminalise millions of illegal immigrants.* AFGHAN ATTACKS – Insurgents in southern Afghanistan launched an attack on a military base, killing two foreign soldiers including an American, the US-led coalition said.* REBEL LEADER ARRESTED – Police in revolt-hit Indian Kashmir said they had captured a key member of the region’s most powerful rebel group in a raid on his hideout.- Nampa-AP-AFPHospital officials said nine people were in critical condition and 19 others were seriously hurt.* IMMIGRATION PROTEST – Thousands of high-school pupils across the United States boycotted classes for the third straight day, hoping to derail a proposed law that would criminalise millions of illegal immigrants.* AFGHAN ATTACKS – Insurgents in southern Afghanistan launched an attack on a military base, killing two foreign soldiers including an American, the US-led coalition said.* REBEL LEADER ARRESTED – Police in revolt-hit Indian Kashmir said they had captured a key member of the region’s most powerful rebel group in a raid on his hideout.- Nampa-AP-AFP