In Brief

KIDNAP – Dozens of Iraqi Shi’ites were kidnapped by gunmen from a bus station in the restive town of Muqdadiyah, northeast of the capital, a leading MP announced in parliament.

* ANGER – Cuba reacted with indignation to a plan approved by US President George W. Bush to promote democratic change on the communist-ruled island.The new programme, called a “Compact with the People of Cuba,” adds US$80 million to the more than US$70 million already slated over 2007-2008 to “build support for transition to a legitimate, democratic government,” a White House statement said.* PLOT – The entourage of Nigerian Vice President Abubakar Atiku has alleged there is a plot to bar him from contesting next year’s presidential election by trying to implicate him in a corruption probe involving a prominent telecom businessman.* CAPTURED – Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz confirmed that two soldiers had been captured by the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militia and held Lebanon directly responsible for their fate.* MISSILE – A US envoy said that diplomacy could still resolve the standoff over North Korea’s missile tests as China and Russia stood firm against a push at the United Nations to impose sanctions.* CRACKDOWN – US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld landed in Iraq unannounced to review the deteriorating security in Baghdad where dozens have been killed on an almost daily basis despite a massive troop crackdown.* GUANTANAMO – The US administration announces that it will respect the rights of “war on terror” detainees, but urges the US Congress to pass legislation making it possible to prosecute al Qaeda operatives and other presumed terrorists at the US-run Guantanamo Bay detention centre.- Nampa-AFP-ReutersBush to promote democratic change on the communist-ruled island.The new programme, called a “Compact with the People of Cuba,” adds US$80 million to the more than US$70 million already slated over 2007-2008 to “build support for transition to a legitimate, democratic government,” a White House statement said.* PLOT – The entourage of Nigerian Vice President Abubakar Atiku has alleged there is a plot to bar him from contesting next year’s presidential election by trying to implicate him in a corruption probe involving a prominent telecom businessman.* CAPTURED – Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz confirmed that two soldiers had been captured by the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militia and held Lebanon directly responsible for their fate.* MISSILE – A US envoy said that diplomacy could still resolve the standoff over North Korea’s missile tests as China and Russia stood firm against a push at the United Nations to impose sanctions.* CRACKDOWN – US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld landed in Iraq unannounced to review the deteriorating security in Baghdad where dozens have been killed on an almost daily basis despite a massive troop crackdown.* GUANTANAMO – The US administration announces that it will respect the rights of “war on terror” detainees, but urges the US Congress to pass legislation making it possible to prosecute al Qaeda operatives and other presumed terrorists at the US-run Guantanamo Bay detention centre.- Nampa-AFP-Reuters