World in brief: Iran releases Finnish fishers
Three Finnish men seized by Iran while on a fishing trip last week have returned Saturday to the United Arab Emirates, where they live, the company that employs them said.
The men, who work for Nokia Siemens Networks in Dubai, were on a weekend jaunt near the disputed island of Abu Musa when they “apparently mistakenly navigated into Iranian waters” and were arrested, said company spokesman Barry French.
He said they were treated well in detention, and Iran was unlikely to bring charges.
“The men were released on Wednesday but were stuck on the island of Abu Musa because of a tropical storm,” French said. “They returned today, and are in good spirits.”
Abu Musa is claimed by both Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
BEIJING
Heavy rains cause deadly flooding
Flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains killed at least 14 people in southern China and forced 20,000 from their homes, a state news agency reported today.
Another four people were missing and 29 injured after the flooding in densely populated Guangdong province, which borders Hong Kong, the Xinhua News Agency said.
Rains knocked down 3,100 houses and damaged 65,000 acres of farmland, Xinhua said, citing local officials.
BUCHAREST, Romania
Violent protests at gay rights parade
Police used tear gas against protesters who hurled stones at the annual gay rights parade in the Romanian capital Saturday, officials said.
About 100 people were detained for throwing stones and fireworks at police and about 400 participants in the gay rights march, said Christian Ciocan, a police spokesman. Police responded with tear gas. Nobody was injured, he said.
“We regret that our opponents use violence … Police only did their job to protect an authorized march,” said Florin Buhuceanu, one of the organizers of the gay rights march. “It is our right to express our beliefs and we will not renounce in the face of violence.”
Romania decriminalized homosexuality in 2001.
On Tuesday, two men leaving a Bucharest cinema that hosts the annual “Gay Fest” festival were beaten by eight attackers. Police stopped the attack and arrested several people.
LONDON
Prince training at Alberta base
Britain’s Prince Harry is training at a British army base in Canada in preparation for possible deployment to Afghanistan, a newspaper reported today.
Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, has been sent to the Canadian province of Alberta to receive additional training on Scimitar armored reconnaissance vehicles, a month after army chiefs ruled out sending him to Iraq, The Sunday Times reported.
The Defense Ministry said it would not comment on where the 22-year-old prince was serving or where he was to be deployed.
Harry had been expected to deploy to southern Iraq but Army Chief of Staff Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt said that the situation there had become too dangerous.