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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Ukraine military plane shot down

From Wire Reports

KIEV, Ukraine – A Ukrainian military transport plane was shot down Monday along the country’s eastern border with Russia but all eight people aboard managed to bail out safely, the defense ministry said.

Separatist rebels in conflict-wracked eastern Ukraine claimed responsibility for downing the Antonov-26, but Ukrainian officials swiftly ruled that out and blamed Russia instead.

There was no immediate comment from Russia on the plane.

In the last two weeks, the government has halved the territory in eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russia separatists, who have been forced back into the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Britain’s foreign minister leaving

LONDON – Britain’s high-profile foreign minister, William Hague, is leaving his job, the government said Monday – a surprise announcement that precedes a major shakeup of the Conservative-led administration.

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said Hague, who has been Britain’s most visible statesman on international crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, was moving to the post of leader of the House of Commons and will quit national politics next year.

Cameron said Hague would be “my de facto political deputy in the run-up to the election” in May 2015 and help lead the campaign for a Conservative majority in Parliament.

Cameron is due to announce a major Cabinet shuffle today.

U.N. withdrawing staff from Libya

CAIRO – The United Nations said on Monday it is withdrawing its staff from Libya temporarily because of deteriorating security after rival militias fought over Tripoli International Airport and a renegade general’s forces continued to battle Islamist militias in the eastern city of Benghazi.

In a statement posted on its official website, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya said the mission had already been reducing its staff in the country over the past week.