World in brief: Fighting, blasts lead to curfew

The interim Somali government’s hold on power appeared to slip Friday as fighting erupted in the port city of Kismayo between clan militias that had made up the government’s armed forces. Residents reported at least seven dead and six wounded.

Local authorities announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew starting Friday in Mogadishu, the capital, 300 miles north of Kismayo, amid continuing bomb blasts and door-to-door house searches by heavily armed Ethiopian forces backing the interim government.

It was the first such curfew in the Somali capital since the Council of Islamic Courts, an Islamist government that U.S. officials had accused of giving sanctuary to al-Qaida fugitives, was overthrown in December.

One roadside bomb struck a Somali police truck Friday, killing four officers as well as three civilians, among them a 10-year-old boy, authorities said.

Even after the curfew began, seven large explosions shook the capital. It was unclear whether insurgents or security forces had detonated them.

Brasilia, Brazil

Flight delays strand thousands

Flight delays stranded thousands of passengers across South America’s biggest country for a fourth straight day on Friday.

At least 115 flights were canceled and 461 were delayed at least an hour of the 1,422 flights scheduled before 6:00 p.m. Friday, according to Brazil’s airport authority.

The delays have snowballed since earlier in the week due to technical problems and a slowdown by air controllers alleging malfunctioning equipment and poor working conditions.

Television stations showed long lines of tired, annoyed passengers at check-in counters in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Some stretched out to sleep on the floor.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Liberal to lead Canadian church

A liberal-leaning bishop who has expressed support in the past for full acceptance of gays and lesbians was elected Friday to lead the Anglican Church of Canada.

Bishop Fred Hiltz, of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, was chosen on the fifth ballot by clergy and lay people at the church’s national meeting. Among the three other nominees for the post was Edmonton Bishop Victoria Matthews, who would have been the church’s first woman leader.

The vote came one day before the assembly, called the General Synod, is to decide whether to allow Anglican priests to bless same-sex couples – a step short of performing same-sex marriage, which is legal in Canada.

The vote comes at a time when divisions over the Bible and homosexuality are tearing at the world Anglican Communion, a 77 million-member fellowship of churches that trace their roots back hundreds of years to the Church of England.