News in Brief

Army chopper crashes in Indonesia; 13 killed
Afp, Jakarta

Thirteen people died yesterday when an Indonesian army helicopter carrying construction workers to build a military outpost crashed in the jungles of Borneo and burst into flames, an official said.
Eight of those who died were civilian construction workers, while five others were crew members, who were military personnel, he added.

Pakistan names new US ambassador
Afp, Islamabad

Pakistan appointed a new ambassador to the United States on Friday, at a time of tense relations between the two countries over drone strikes in the country's tribal belt.
Senior diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani -- 58 and most recently foreign secretary -- has been named to the role, according to a statement by Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs, filling a position that has been vacant for several months.

BSP to contest polls alone: Mayawati
Tnn, Lucknow

BSP chief Mayawati yesterday ruled out any pre-poll or post-poll alliance with BJP or Congress or the Third Front taking shape on the initiative of the SP and the Left parties.
She said that the BSP is better positioned in comparison to rivals for the next Lok Sabha elections and expressed confidence that her party will win maximum seats in Uttar Pradesh and will be do better in other states in the country.

11 killed as blast hits top Somalia hotel
Afp, Mogadishu

Around 11 people were killed and dozens more injured Friday in a car bomb attack against a top hotel in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, police said. They blamed Shebab militants for the attack.
Police and security forces immediately sealed off the area around the Maka al Mukarama hotel, situated along a busy Mogadishu street and popular with politicians and the elite.

Cairo clashes kill 2
Afp, Cairo

A child and another person died Friday in clashes between supporters and opponents of Egypt's ousted president in Cairo, state news agency MENA said, as Mohamed Morsi's backers protested in several cities.
Protesters with firearms wounded three others there before police intervened to separate the two sides, arresting arrested several people, the interior ministry said.