World n brief: Israel will remove several roadblocks
Israel agreed Monday to remove some of the military roadblocks that have hindered Palestinian travel in the West Bank, one of several gestures aimed at boosting moderate President Mahmoud Abbas in his bitter struggle with the militant Islamic Hamas.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved streamlining checkpoints and removing roadblocks “to strengthen moderate (Palestinian) elements,” according to a statement from his office. Olmert has already offered $100 million in frozen tax income to Abbas and indicated he might release some Palestinian prisoners.
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said inspections would be eased at 16 checkpoints, and 27 unmanned roadblocks would be removed. Also, crossings for people and cargo between Gaza and Israel would be upgraded “in order to accelerate the economy in Gaza to lessen the poverty and despair.”
On Saturday, Olmert and Abbas met for the first summit meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in more than a year. Abbas brought up the issues of prisoners and roadblocks – among the highest priorities for his people.
MANILA, Philippines
Fireworks blamed for deadly fire
At least 24 people died in a fire that engulfed a one-story department store in the central Philippines on Christmas Day, police said Tuesday.
The charred remains of the 24 victims were found inside a bathroom, where they tried to escape from the blaze, said Chief Superintendent Eliseo dela Paz. At least five people were injured, two of them critically, police said.
He said the fire started from firecrackers and pyrotechnics that ignited near the entrance door of the Unitop Commercial store.
The fire swept through the store in Ormoc city, 340 miles southeast of Manila, acting provincial police director Senior Superintendent Manuel Cobillo said. Customers, vendors and store employees were among those killed.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan
Car bomb injures three at airport
A car bomb exploded today outside the main entrance of the airport in northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, injuring at least three people, police said.
The explosion went off at around 7:10 a.m. when the airport was crowded with hundreds of people for flights to and from the Middle East.
Iftikhar Khan, a senior police officer, said the bomb was planted in a Suzuki car parked near the airport’s main entrance and at least three people were injured. The blast shattered windows of several cars.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
BEIRUT, Lebanon
Leftover ordnance injures five people
Cluster bombs injured five people in southern Lebanon over the weekend, the latest casualties from ordnance left over from a summer war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas, officials said Monday.
In the southern port city of Tyre, three men were being treated for wounds from a cluster bomb explosion on Sunday, said Dr. Jawad Najem, the owner of Najem Hospital. He did not say what caused the bomb to detonate. Officials said two other people were injured in a village near Nabatiyeh when a cluster bomb exploded.
At least 28 people have died in cluster bomb and land mine explosions in Lebanon since Israel’s war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah guerrillas ended in a U.N.-brokered cease-fire on Aug. 14.
The rights group Amnesty International and U.N. human rights experts have accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilian areas and indiscriminate use of cluster bombs during the July-August war. The groups allege Israel laid mines and dropped as many as 4 million cluster bombs on Lebanon.