Official says gunmen kill 3 in Baghdad

* BAGHDAD – Gunmen killed three guards from a United States-allied Sunni group yesterday in drive-by shootings in northern Baghdad, an official said.

Disaster as fire rages on island * ATHENS – Firefighters battled to contain a forest fire that has been burning out of control on the Greek island of Rhodes for the third straight day, forcing the evacuation of at least two villages, reports said yesterday. Palestinians allege settlers attacked village * NABLUS – More than 20 Jewish settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the West Bank yesterday, smashing cars and windows and cutting electricity wires, Palestinian police said.Executions rising in Iran, Saudi Arabia * ROME – Executions jumped by a third in Iran and quadrupled in Saudi Arabia last year, causing the total number of executions around the world to rise yet again in 2007, a human rights group reported yesterday.It said China remained far in front as the world’s top executioner.France steps back from 35-hour work week * PARIS – French lawmakers took a step toward ending the country’s decade-long experiment with a 35-hour work week, passing a bill that gives companies greater latitude to extend working hours.Iraq banned from Beijing Games * BAGHDADF – Iraq has been banned from taking part in the Beijing Olympics because of a government decision to disband the Iraqi Olympic Committee, an official at the committee said on yesterday.Palestinians allege settlers attacked village * NABLUS – More than 20 Jewish settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the West Bank yesterday, smashing cars and windows and cutting electricity wires, Palestinian police said.Executions rising in Iran, Saudi Arabia * ROME – Executions jumped by a third in Iran and quadrupled in Saudi Arabia last year, causing the total number of executions around the world to rise yet again in 2007, a human rights group reported yesterday.It said China remained far in front as the world’s top executioner.France steps back from 35-hour work week * PARIS – French lawmakers took a step toward ending the country’s decade-long experiment with a 35-hour work week, passing a bill that gives companies greater latitude to extend working hours.Iraq banned from Beijing Games * BAGHDADF – Iraq has been banned from taking part in the Beijing Olympics because of a government decision to disband the Iraqi Olympic Committee, an official at the committee said on yesterday.