Neglect kills 16 in DRC jail

KINSHASA – Hunger and lack of healthcare have killed 16 detainees, some never convicted of a crime, at a prison in central Democratic Republic of Congo since the start of the year, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

15 Civilians shot near Chad border * EL-GENEINA, Sudan – Darfur rebels said on Wednesday that 15 civilians had been killed in bombing by government planes near the Chad border, part of an offensive to rid the area of insurgents. United Nations chief urges cease-fire in Darfur * UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the Sudanese government and all rebel groups on Wednesday to agree to a cease-fire in Darfur, saying deteriorating security is undermining efforts to help thousands of civilians caught in an upsurge in fighting East Timor president conscious * SYDNEY – East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta has regained consciousness from a drug-induced coma since being shot 10 days ago in an assassination attempt and is talking to his family in an Australian hospital.Pakistan’s election winners meet * ISLAMABAD – The leaders of the two parties that came out on top in Pakistan’s election met yesterday to discuss forming a coalition government that could force President Pervez Musharraf out of power.Morocco dismantles terror network * PARIS – Morocco says it dismantled a terrorist network that raised funds by waging holdups and jewellery thefts in Europe and was plotting to assassinate Cabinet ministers, army officers and Jews in the North African kingdom.Two Kosovo border crossings open * PRISTINA – United Nations police backed by Nato peacekeepers reopened two Kosovan border crossings on Wednesday, a day after Serbs burnt them down in the first challenge to the authority of the newly independent republic.N Korea nuclear delay ‘technical’ * BEIJING – North Korea insists stalled progress in dismantling its nuclear programmes is due to “technical issues” and not a lack of political willingness, a South Korean envoy said.Foiled kidnapping attempt * ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia foiled a kidnapping attempt on a group of French and other tourists near the Eritrean border in northeastern Ethiopia, the government says.The attempt was unsuccessful, but state media say the would-be kidnappers shot at the tourists’ vehicles.We want to be like China * HAVANA – Cubans wonder whether a handover from Fidel to Raul will allow the Western Hemisphere’s only communist country to embrace capitalist reforms.”China is a communist country, but the people are free to earn a lot and buy cars, cell phones,” one cigar factory worker asks.”Why can’t Cuban communism be like that?” —-United Nations chief urges cease-fire in Darfur * UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the Sudanese government and all rebel groups on Wednesday to agree to a cease-fire in Darfur, saying deteriorating security is undermining efforts to help thousands of civilians caught in an upsurge in fighting East Timor president conscious * SYDNEY – East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta has regained consciousness from a drug-induced coma since being shot 10 days ago in an assassination attempt and is talking to his family in an Australian hospital.Pakistan’s election winners meet * ISLAMABAD – The leaders of the two parties that came out on top in Pakistan’s election met yesterday to discuss forming a coalition government that could force President Pervez Musharraf out of power.Morocco dismantles terror network * PARIS – Morocco says it dismantled a terrorist network that raised funds by waging holdups and jewellery thefts in Europe and was plotting to assassinate Cabinet ministers, army officers and Jews in the North African kingdom.Two Kosovo border crossings open * PRISTINA – United Nations police backed by Nato peacekeepers reopened two Kosovan border crossings on Wednesday, a day after Serbs burnt them down in the first challenge to the authority of the newly independent republic.N Korea nuclear delay ‘technical’ * BEIJING – North Korea insists stalled progress in dismantling its nuclear programmes is due to “technical issues” and not a lack of political willingness, a South Korean envoy said.Foiled kidnapping attempt * ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia foiled a kidnapping attempt on a group of French and other tourists near the Eritrean border in northeastern Ethiopia, the government says.The attempt was unsuccessful, but state media say the would-be kidnappers shot at the tourists’ vehicles.We want to be like China * HAVANA – Cubans wonder whether a handover from Fidel to Raul will allow the Western Hemisphere’s only communist country to embrace capitalist reforms.”China is a communist country, but the people are free to earn a lot and buy cars, cell phones,” one cigar factory worker asks.”Why can’t Cuban communism be like that?” —-