In brief: Britain reports first swine flu death

LONDON – A person with underlying health conditions died of swine flu in Scotland on Sunday – the first reported death from the illness outside the Americas, health officials said.

Britain has been harder hit by the virus than elsewhere in Europe. Earlier Sunday, Britain had reported another 61 cases, bringing the U.K. total to 1,226 cases.

Soldiers capture rifles, 25 gunmen

MEXICO CITY – The Mexican army has captured 25 gunmen in northern Mexico who witnesses say disguised themselves as soldiers.

The men were captured at a ranch in the state of Chihuahua, across from Texas, after the army received a complaint, the Defense Department said in a statement Sunday. Soldiers also seized 29 automatic rifles during the Thursday raid in Nicolas Bravo.

In Cancun, soldiers arrested the local leader of the Gulf drug cartel, the army said Sunday. It said Juan Manuel Jurado Zarzoza was arrested Friday and that he was in charge of drug sales, extortion and kidnappings in Cancun.

Contractors now in U.S. custody

BAGHDAD – Two American contractors were transferred Sunday from Iraqi to U.S. custody, the U.S. Embassy said, stressing that Iraqi authorities requested the move in line with a security pact that took effect this year.

The men have been held since June 3 when they were detained with three other Americans by U.S.-backed Iraqi forces as part of an investigation into the stabbing death of a fellow contractor.

The other three have been released on bond.

The five have been cleared of any link to James Kitterman’s killing but face an ongoing investigation into unrelated charges.