In Brief

PALESTINIAN REFERENDUM – Mahmud Abbas was chairing a meeting of Palestinian lawmakers to set a date for a referendum on a statehood plan that implicitly recognises Israel, after a deadline expired for sealing agreement with the governing Hamas faction.

* CANADA TERROR PLOT – Twelve men and five youths were scheduled to appear in court to face charges over an alleged al Qaeda-inspired plot to bomb high profile targets in Canada. * EAST TIMOR UNREST – Around 1 000 people in trucks and on motorcycles converged outside the offices of unpopular East Timorese Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to demand his resignation.* SRI LANKA EXPLOSIONS – Sri Lanka accused Tiger rebels of exploding bombs outside a naval base near the capital, two days ahead of a meeting between the two sides amid moves to salvage a collapsing ceasefire.* CHILE CLASHES – Chilean police clashed with school students who staged a second nationwide strike in less than a week to demand broad education reforms, shutting public schools across the country.- Nampa-AFP* EAST TIMOR UNREST – Around 1 000 people in trucks and on motorcycles converged outside the offices of unpopular East Timorese Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to demand his resignation.* SRI LANKA EXPLOSIONS – Sri Lanka accused Tiger rebels of exploding bombs outside a naval base near the capital, two days ahead of a meeting between the two sides amid moves to salvage a collapsing ceasefire.* CHILE CLASHES – Chilean police clashed with school students who staged a second nationwide strike in less than a week to demand broad education reforms, shutting public schools across the country.- Nampa-AFP