In Brief

Pope attacked VATICAN CITY – Papal bodyguards had to overcome an apparently deranged German man, who jumped a barricade and tried to board Pope Benedict XVI’s open white jeep as it carried the pontiff through St Peter’s Square.

* More bombs in Iraq BAGHDAD – Two car bombs detonated at road intersections in a busy Shi’ite neighbourhood of Baghdad, killing at least seven people and wounding 27, defence and medical officials said. * Cyclone hits Oman MUSCAT – Cyclone Gonu lashed Oman with heavy rains and winds, as thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas in the Gulf state and neighbouring Iran for the strongest tropical storm to hit the region in 30 years.* ‘We do not want war’ JERUSALEM – Israel does not want a war with arch-foe Syria, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said after a meeting of the powerful security cabinet that focused on Damascus.* Rail accident under investigation KERANG, Australia: Investigations began into what caused Australia’s worst train disaster in decades as rescuers completed the gruesome task of recovering bodies from the mangled wreckage.Nampa-AFP* Cyclone hits Oman MUSCAT – Cyclone Gonu lashed Oman with heavy rains and winds, as thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas in the Gulf state and neighbouring Iran for the strongest tropical storm to hit the region in 30 years.* ‘We do not want war’ JERUSALEM – Israel does not want a war with arch-foe Syria, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said after a meeting of the powerful security cabinet that focused on Damascus.* Rail accident under investigation KERANG, Australia: Investigations began into what caused Australia’s worst train disaster in decades as rescuers completed the gruesome task of recovering bodies from the mangled wreckage.Nampa-AFP