In Brief * 20 killed, wounded in Afghanistan

KABUL – Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence says more than 20 militants have been killed and wounded during a battle with Nato-backed Afghan forces.

The ministry says the militants were travelling in two vehicles when they were attacked by Afghan troops aided by Nato on Friday in north-eastern Kunar province. 10 police die in Islamabad explosion * ISLAMABAD – A suicide attacker detonated explosives near a police station in Pakistan’s capital yesterday, killing more than 10 police officers, officials said.The blast occurred in a kiosk in front of the police station, said Naeem Iqbal, a police spokesman.Iraq blasts kill 15 * BAGHDAD – At least 15 people were killed across Iraq, including seven by a bomb targeting a local leader of President Jalal Talabani’s political party, officials said on Sunday.Kidnapped Germans phone home * BERLIN – Two Germans kidnapped from a yacht last month by pirates off Somalia’s northern Puntland region have been in contact with their families, the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel said in a report.Miliband meets Zim refugees * JOHANNESBURG – Following his meeting on Sunday with Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was “imperative” to find a solution to the worsening crisis in Zimbabwe Two ex-generals arrested in Turkey * ANKARA – Two retired generals were jailed yesterday in connection with an alleged plot to topple Turkey’s Islamic-rooted government, the highest-ranking ex-soldiers detained as part of the probe, a news report said.UAE cancels Iraqi debt * ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates cancelled all its Iraqi debt yesterday and moved to restore a full diplomatic mission in Baghdad by naming a new ambassador.No party for Dalai Lama * DHARMSALA – The Tibetan government-inexile cancelled all celebrations marking the Dalai Lama’s birthday on Sunday because of the ongoing suffering of the people of Tibet, an official said.The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader turned 73.10 police die in Islamabad explosion * ISLAMABAD – A suicide attacker detonated explosives near a police station in Pakistan’s capital yesterday, killing more than 10 police officers, officials said.The blast occurred in a kiosk in front of the police station, said Naeem Iqbal, a police spokesman.Iraq blasts kill 15 * BAGHDAD – At least 15 people were killed across Iraq, including seven by a bomb targeting a local leader of President Jalal Talabani’s political party, officials said on Sunday.Kidnapped Germans phone home * BERLIN – Two Germans kidnapped from a yacht last month by pirates off Somalia’s northern Puntland region have been in contact with their families, the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel said in a report.Miliband meets Zim refugees * JOHANNESBURG – Following his meeting on Sunday with Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was “imperative” to find a solution to the worsening crisis in Zimbabwe Two ex-generals arrested in Turkey * ANKARA – Two retired generals were jailed yesterday in connection with an alleged plot to topple Turkey’s Islamic-rooted government, the highest-ranking ex-soldiers detained as part of the probe, a news report said.UAE cancels Iraqi debt * ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates cancelled all its Iraqi debt yesterday and moved to restore a full diplomatic mission in Baghdad by naming a new ambassador.No party for Dalai Lama * DHARMSALA – The Tibetan government-inexile cancelled all celebrations marking the Dalai Lama’s birthday on Sunday because of the ongoing suffering of the people of Tibet, an official said.The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader turned 73.