News in Brief

Lieberman returns as Israel FM
Afp, Jerusalem

Rightwing firebrand Avigdor Lieberman took his oath of office in front of the Israeli parliament on Monday, returning as foreign minister after he quit to fight graft allegations.
The 120-member house confirmed his reappointment by a vote of 62 to 17, almost a year after he resigned to fight the charges which he was cleared of last week.

Mauritius PM to boycott C'Wealth meet
Afp, Port Louis

The prime minister of Mauritius yesterday announced he will stay away from this week's Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka because of the host's poor human rights record.
Mauritius joins India by refusing to send a premier to Sri Lanka, which is accused of widespread human rights abuses and the killing of tens of thousands of civilians during its 2009 defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels.

Maoists kill 3 in India
Afp, Sukma

Three people were killed yesterday when suspected Maoist rebels triggered a landmine in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said.
The blast, which killed two security officials and a third person, took place in Sukma district as the security men were on patrol, officials said.

Iran's minister assassinated in Tehran
Cnn Online

Iran's deputy trade minister was assassinated in his car in Tehran Sunday night.
Safdar Rahmatabadi was shot in the chest and head by an unidentified assailant in Sabalan Square, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Rahmatabadi was deputy minister of industries, mines and trade.

Tibetan monk sets himself on fire in China
Afp, Beijing

A Tibetan monk has set himself on fire in an act of protest in China, reports and campaign groups said yesterday.
Tsering Gyal, 20, set himself alight on Monday in Guolou, a Tibetan area of Qinghai province in northwestern China. Police extinguished the flames and took Gyal to hospital, they said, adding that his condition was unknown.