In Briefs

* EMERGENCY – A French government bill extending until February a state of emergency will be presented to the national assembly after President Jacques Chirac said that widespread rioting in the country revealed a deep identity crisis.

* UNREST – Nine policemen were killed and nine wounded in rebel attacks in Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk, security officials said. * CORRUPTION – Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s son Omri pleaded guilty to charges of providing false testimony and falsifying documents at the opening of his trial before a Tel Aviv court.* HITLER – China’s foreign minister accused Japanese leaders of worshipping war criminals and urged Tokyo to learn from Germany’s rejection of Adolf Hitler.* TRIAL – A Libyan court adjourned until January 31 a hearing to rule whether five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor should be executed by firing squad for allegedly infecting more than 400 children with the AIDS virus.* CONTAINED – Four days of fierce gunbattles between Muslim militants and troops in the southern Philippines have been contained, the military said, releasing a revised casualty figure.* WITHDREW – Venezuela and Mexico decided to withdraw ambassadors from each other’s countries amid a deepening dispute between leftist President Hugo Chavez and his Mexican counterpart, Vicente Fox.* REJECTED – Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin rejected an opposition ultimatum to hold a February election or face a confidence vote in Parliament next week that would send voters to the polls at Christmas.* JIHAD – Islamic militants arrested last week on charges of plotting a major terrorist bombing were caught by police near Australia’s only nuclear reactor last year and underwent “jihad training” at outback camps west of Sydney, police alleged in new documents.* VERDICT – All 15 defendants accused of leading a revolt in eastern Uzbekistan last May were given heavy sentences, ranging from 14 to 20 years in prison, at the conclusion of a trial rejected by critics as a parody of justice.- Nampa-AFP* CORRUPTION – Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s son Omri pleaded guilty to charges of providing false testimony and falsifying documents at the opening of his trial before a Tel Aviv court.* HITLER – China’s foreign minister accused Japanese leaders of worshipping war criminals and urged Tokyo to learn from Germany’s rejection of Adolf Hitler.* TRIAL – A Libyan court adjourned until January 31 a hearing to rule whether five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor should be executed by firing squad for allegedly infecting more than 400 children with the AIDS virus.* CONTAINED – Four days of fierce gunbattles between Muslim militants and troops in the southern Philippines have been contained, the military said, releasing a revised casualty figure.* WITHDREW – Venezuela and Mexico decided to withdraw ambassadors from each other’s countries amid a deepening dispute between leftist President Hugo Chavez and his Mexican counterpart, Vicente Fox.* REJECTED – Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin rejected an opposition ultimatum to hold a February election or face a confidence vote in Parliament next week that would send voters to the polls at Christmas.* JIHAD – Islamic militants arrested last week on charges of plotting a major terrorist bombing were caught by police near Australia’s only nuclear reactor last year and underwent “jihad training” at outback camps west of Sydney, police alleged in new documents.* VERDICT – All 15 defendants accused of leading a revolt in eastern Uzbekistan last May were given heavy sentences, ranging from 14 to 20 years in prison, at the conclusion of a trial rejected by critics as a parody of justice. – Nampa-AFP