In brief: Venezuela’s Chavez flying to Cuba for cancer treatment

Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced plans to travel to Cuba for more medical treatment after spending much of the past 18 months fighting cancer.

In a written request to the legislature, Chavez said doctors have recommended he “begin special treatment consisting of various sessions of hyperbaric oxygenation” and physical therapy to continue “consolidating the process of strengthening health.”

Syrian government planes bomb olive oil factory

Beirut – Syrian warplanes bombed an olive oil factory packed with farmers Tuesday, killing at least 20 people in the latest regime strike to rip through a crowd of civilians, activists said.

It was not immediately clear whether the olive press was the intended target, or if the plane misfired. The government generally does not comment on rebel claims and there was no official reaction to the latest allegations.

Forensic experts take samples from Arafat’s exhumed body

Ramallah, West Bank – Forensic experts from Switzerland, France and Russia on Tuesday took 20 samples each from the remains of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat after his grave in the presidential headquarters here was opened.

The experts will take the samples to their respective countries to carry out tests to determine if Arafat, who died on Nov. 11, 2004, at a military hospital in France, was killed by polonium, a poisonous radioactive material.

The process Tuesday took only hours. After the grave was again closed, Palestinian officials held a short ceremony in which they laid wreaths.