News In Brief

Berlusconi faces expulsion vote
Afp, Rome

Italy's parliament yesterday prepared to expel Silvio Berlusconi over his tax fraud conviction in a momentous move that raises the risk of his arrest but is unlikely to end his tumultuous career.
Thousands of Berlusconi loyalists massed outside the three-time former prime minister's luxury home in Rome to support their leader, as lawmakers from his party took the floor of the Senate one by one to back him.
"We are at a crossroads in the history of our country. Whatever happens today [Wednesday], a 20-year era is over," said Pier Ferdinando Casini from the centrist UDC party.
If the ejection goes ahead as expected in a series of votes starting at 1600 GMT, the flamboyant billionaire tycoon will be forced out of parliament for the first time since he was first elected in 1994.

Attacks in Iraq kill 33
Ap, Baghdad

Attacks across Iraq including a suicide bombing at a Sunni funeral killed at least 33 yesterday, authorities said, while police found 13 bodies at two different locations with gunshot wounds to their heads.
Eight of the corpses were found dumped in a farmland in the Sunni-dominated Arab Jabour district, a police officer said. All of the dead, men believed to be between the ages of 25 to 35, suffered gunshot to their heads, he said.

Indian HC rejects Tejpal's plea
Pti, New Delhi

Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal's plea for four-week interim protection against his arrest in the woman journalist sexual assault case yesterday was rejected by the Delhi High Court which reserved its order on his anticipatory bail petition.
Justice Sunita Gupta will pronounce the order on November 29 on the anticipatory bail plea of Mr. Tejpal which was strongly opposed by the Goa police.

Libyan army fights Islamists in Benghazi
Reuters, Benghazi

Libya's army clashed with Islamist militants in the eastern city of Benghazi early yesterday and three soldiers were shot dead, security and medical officials said. Western powers, worried about stability in Libya, have promised more aid to the army to curb former fighters and militants who helped topple veteran ruler Muammar Gaddafi two years ago, but have since challenged the OPEC country's government.