In Brief

* KILLED – Fifty-six passengers were killed and six others were seriously injured near the Nigerian northern city of Kano as the bus in which they were travelling plunged into a river, road safety officials and witnesses said.

Federal Road Safety Commission official in Kano, Hammed Ibrahim, told journalists at the scene that only six passengers were rescued after the accident, and were hospitalised in government hospital in Kano with serious injuries. * BOMBINGS – The world’s Muslims were urged to unite against terror after the bombings in Egypt’s top tourist resort, roundly condemned in the Arab press as barbaric attacks that do nothing to serve their cause.* NUCLEAR – The United States’ chief negotiator in six-party talks arrived in Beijing, expressing hope that “some real progress” will be made towards ending the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.* CONSTITUTION – Sunni Arab leaders said they were considering ending their boycott of the debate on Iraq’s new constitution triggered by a double murder last week and might return to the talks within a day.* DISSIDENTS – Cuba has released nine political dissidents, including its most prominent female dissident Marta Beatriz Roque, but continued to hold another 17 activists, dissidents said.* CRISIS – A British Red Cross logistics team was set to depart for Niger to prepare for the arrival and distribution of food aid to millions of people who are facing starvation.- Nampa-AFP* BOMBINGS – The world’s Muslims were urged to unite against terror after the bombings in Egypt’s top tourist resort, roundly condemned in the Arab press as barbaric attacks that do nothing to serve their cause.* NUCLEAR – The United States’ chief negotiator in six-party talks arrived in Beijing, expressing hope that “some real progress” will be made towards ending the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.* CONSTITUTION – Sunni Arab leaders said they were considering ending their boycott of the debate on Iraq’s new constitution triggered by a double murder last week and might return to the talks within a day.* DISSIDENTS – Cuba has released nine political dissidents, including its most prominent female dissident Marta Beatriz Roque, but continued to hold another 17 activists, dissidents said.* CRISIS – A British Red Cross logistics team was set to depart for Niger to prepare for the arrival and distribution of food aid to millions of people who are facing starvation.- Nampa-AFP