In brief: Assad takes tour of captured village

BEIRUT – Syria’s embattled president marked Easter with a tour Sunday of an ancient Christian village recently recaptured by his forces, an important symbolic prize for his government ahead of coming presidential elections.

President Bashar Assad’s visit to Maaloula serves a propaganda victory for his government in its quest to be seen as protector of religious minorities as its civil war grinds on.

Meanwhile, questions continue to swirl about allegations of recent poison gas attacks in the country, with French officials saying Sunday there were indications that Assad’s forces were behind them.

Syria’s parliament will open registration today for presidential candidates in its upcoming election, scheduled to be held this summer.

Also Sunday, four French journalists kidnapped and held for 10 months in Syria returned home. Edouard Elias, Didier Francois, Nicolas Henin and Pierre Torres arrived on a special flight that brought them to Paris.

Malaysia Airlines jet makes emergency landing

PERTH, Australia – As the search continued off the coast of Australia for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, the airline announced another plane bound for India was forced to make an emergency landing early today after one of its tires burst on takeoff.

All 159 passengers and seven crew members arrived safely back in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, about 2 a.m., about four hours after the plane took off for Bangalore, India. The incident was more drama for an airline already under immense pressure for answers from the public and the families of those missing from Flight 370.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainuddin met with the passengers’ relatives in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to talk about where to go next. Financial assistance was discussed and family members were urged to submit a plan for consideration.