Issue 157

World news in brief: Issue 157

08th October 2007

News in brief from around the world. In this issue: A North Caroline man goes to court for his leg, and the leaders of north and south Korea meet.

Pakistan

General Pervez Musharraf has announced a successor as head of the army should he win the elections this autumn Lt Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiani former head of the Pakistani intelligence has been appointed deputy chief of army staff and will become head of the army if Musharrraf vacates the post.

America

A North Carolina man is locked in a custody battle over his amputated leg. John Wood lost his leg in a plane crash in 2004 and later stored it in a barbecue smoker, which was auctioned off after Mr Woods failed to keep storage payments.

Shannon Whisnant has refused to part with the barbecue smoker and the leg having made money by charging people to see it at his home, he contests that he has a recipt proving his purchase of the Smoker and its contents, "I told him I'd share custody of it..." said Mr Whisnant kindly.

In other american news the security firm blackwater is being investigated by the FBI follwing allegations of Blackwater Empolyees opening fire on a bus full of Iraqi cilvillians, in which 11 people were reported killed last month.

The US state department suspended the movements of its personnel in Baghdad, as a result, Blackwater founder Erik Prince told a congressional hearing that his empolyees had acted bravely and honestly in their Iraqi Assigments, the investigation continues.

Israel

The Isreali Government has addmitted that Isreali jets carried out an airstrike on a Syrian military installation on the 6th of September, no reasons have been given as to why the Isrealis lauched this simingly random attack, but speculation is rife as to why.

Spain

King Juan Carlos has defended the monarchies role in the contries democracy following protests against it in the North East of the country after Catatlan separatists appeared in court for burning pictures of the King, in a speech to the city of Oviedo he said the monarchy had been instumental in Spains "longest period of stability and prosperity in a democracy" it was an unsual step for the King who normally remains neutral in the country's often tangled political intigues.

Russia

President VladImir PuiIn has announed that he will be a candidate for the forthcoming parlimentary elections as a candidate for the United Russia Party. This is a shock announcement but is seen by many as a cynincal attempt to clinge to power as President Putin's term of office comes to an end.

Korea

The Leaders of North and South Korea Kim Jong-Il (North) and Roh Moo-hyun (south) have met in the north's capital Pyongyang for an historic summit. It is only the second such meeting to take place between the two countries.

Jac Smith