Somalis free hijacked dhow with 13 crew

MOGADISHU – Somali gunmen acting as freelance coast guards freed a hijacked Indian dhow and its 13 crew members after a battle with pirates off the country’s northern coast, a Somali official said yesterday.

Iraq seeks changes to US security pact * BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Cabinet decided yesterday to ask the Americans for unspecified changes in the draft security pact that would allow US troops to remain here another three years, despite warnings that it would be hard to reopen negotiations on the agreement. China releases list of wanted terror leaders * BEIJING – Chinese police called yesterday for the arrest and extradition to China of the alleged leader of an Islamic terrorist group and seven core members accused of plotting attacks against the Beijing Olympics.Indonesia court rejects Bali bombers appeal * JAKARTA – An Indonesian court rejected yesterday an appeal by three Islamic militants on death row for the 2002 Bali bombings challenging the country’s method of executing convicts by firing squad.Sydney to grow 40 per cent by 2036 * SYDNEY – The population of Sydney, Australia’s biggest city, will expand dramatically over the next three decades, surging to almost six million people, figures released on Monday showed.China releases list of wanted terror leaders * BEIJING – Chinese police called yesterday for the arrest and extradition to China of the alleged leader of an Islamic terrorist group and seven core members accused of plotting attacks against the Beijing Olympics.Indonesia court rejects Bali bombers appeal * JAKARTA – An Indonesian court rejected yesterday an appeal by three Islamic militants on death row for the 2002 Bali bombings challenging the country’s method of executing convicts by firing squad.Sydney to grow 40 per cent by 2036 * SYDNEY – The population of Sydney, Australia’s biggest city, will expand dramatically over the next three decades, surging to almost six million people, figures released on Monday showed.