In Brief

Japan launches ‘baby hatch’ TOKYO – Japan’s first ‘baby hatch’, where parents can drop off unwanted infants anonymously, was installed at a hospital in southern Japan yesterday, despite opposition from the conservative national government.

The baby hatch, modelled on the ‘Babyklappe’ in use in Germany, was built at Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto, about 900km southwest of TokyoCalled ‘the cradle of storks’, it was set up on the wall of the lobby at the Roman Catholic hospital like a post box. “I hope parents have the courage to consult us about their babies,” said Taiji Hasuda, the director of the hospital, describing the hatch as a ‘last resort’.The system, said to be common in medieval Europe, was revived in 1996 by a Christian group in Germany.* Taliban behead Afghan policeman KANDAHAR – Taliban militants yesterday beheaded an 18-year-old policeman in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, a governor said.Abdul Rahim was returning to duty from holiday when he was captured by the insurgents at Mushan village in Panjwayi district, local governor Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi said.”Terrorists beheaded Abdul Rahim, and his headless body was left in a school in the village,” Sarhadi said.Sarhadi blamed the attack on ‘enemies of Afghanistan’, a term often used by authorities to refer to Taliban militants.Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported Taliban spokesperson, claimed responsibility for the killing in a telephone call from an unknown location.”Abdul Rahim was executed in Mushan village today after he confessed he was spying for the government,” said Ahmadi.The Taliban, whose regime was ousted from power by a US-led military offensive in late 2001, have launched a bloody campaign against the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.Iraqi-style decapitations are now being copied by Taliban insurgents.* Mali president in election win BAMAKO – Mali’s President Amadou Toumani Toure has been re-elected with over 70 per cent of votes and no need for a second round ballot, his campaign team said yesterday.”The campaign team of Amadou Toumani Toure …confirms that he has more than 70 per cent of votes …which places ATT in the lead with an absolute majority in Bamako, the interior and diplomatic posts abroad,” a campaign spokesman, Mountaga Tall, told reporters.Toure is popularly known by his initials, ATT.The tally from Sunday’s election was based on information from Toure’s representatives in polling stations and returns signed by polling station monitors, Tall said.The final result was to be announced by the territorial administration ministry, which was still collating results yesterday, although another government minister said on Monday that given Toure’s lead in early results, there would be no need for a second round.Nampa-Reuters-AFP”I hope parents have the courage to consult us about their babies,” said Taiji Hasuda, the director of the hospital, describing the hatch as a ‘last resort’.The system, said to be common in medieval Europe, was revived in 1996 by a Christian group in Germany.* Taliban behead Afghan policeman KANDAHAR – Taliban militants yesterday beheaded an 18-year-old policeman in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, a governor said.Abdul Rahim was returning to duty from holiday when he was captured by the insurgents at Mushan village in Panjwayi district, local governor Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi said.”Terrorists beheaded Abdul Rahim, and his headless body was left in a school in the village,” Sarhadi said.Sarhadi blamed the attack on ‘enemies of Afghanistan’, a term often used by authorities to refer to Taliban militants.Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported Taliban spokesperson, claimed responsibility for the killing in a telephone call from an unknown location.”Abdul Rahim was executed in Mushan village today after he confessed he was spying for the government,” said Ahmadi.The Taliban, whose regime was ousted from power by a US-led military offensive in late 2001, have launched a bloody campaign against the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.Iraqi-style decapitations are now being copied by Taliban insurgents. * Mali president in election win BAMAKO – Mali’s President Amadou Toumani Toure has been re-elected with over 70 per cent of votes and no need for a second round ballot, his campaign team said yesterday.”The campaign team of Amadou Toumani Toure …confirms that he has more than 70 per cent of votes …which places ATT in the lead with an absolute majority in Bamako, the interior and diplomatic posts abroad,” a campaign spokesman, Mountaga Tall, told reporters.Toure is popularly known by his initials, ATT.The tally from Sunday’s election was based on information from Toure’s representatives in polling stations and returns signed by polling station monitors, Tall said.The final result was to be announced by the territorial administration ministry, which was still collating results yesterday, although another government minister said on Monday that given Toure’s lead in early results, there would be no need for a second round.Nampa-Reuters-AFP