News In Brief

'Mangalayam' suffers glitch but 'no setback'
Afp, New Delhi

India's Mars spacecraft suffered a brief engine failure yesterday as scientists tried to move it into a higher orbit around Earth, but controllers denied any setback to the ambitious low-cost mission.
The Mars Orbiter Mission, which blasted off on November 5 for a 11-month trip to the Red Planet, is being launched on its way via an unusual "slingshot" method for interplanetary journeys.

British TV crew face Sri Lanka demo
Afp, Colombo

Pro-government activists demonstrated outside Sri Lanka's main international airport yesterday denouncing a visit by Britain's Channel 4 which produced an award-winning documentary on alleged war crimes during the island's ethnic war.
Activists shouted slogans against a crew from the network as they arrived to cover a meeting of Commonwealth countries in Colombo on Friday.
"Channel 4 divides Sri Lanka, supports terrorism," said a poster carried by a demonstrator at the Bandaranaike International Airport, where the authorities rarely allow any hostile receptions.

'DR Congo conflict far from over': Oxfam
Afp. Kampala

British charity Oxfam warned yesterday that the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was far from over and said it was vital to set up a political process to address deep-seated grievances in the troubled region.
The Kinshasa government and the M23 rebel group which was defeated in a UN-backed offensive this month were set to sign a peace deal yesterday in what diplomats hope will be a key step in efforts to end decades of war.