Democrat official killed by gunman

Little Rock A gunman barged into the Arkansas Democratic headquarters and shot Bill Gwatney, 49, the state party chairman, before speeding off in his pickup truck. Mr Gwatney died four hours later in hospital.

Police later shot and killed the suspect after a 30-mile chase. They said that they did not have a motive for the 51-year-old man, whose name has not been released. (AP)

Curfew attempt to halt Kashmir clashes

Srinagar The Kashmir Valley was under its first region-wide curfew in 13 years yesterday after police shot dead 20 separatist protesters in two days of violence (Rhys Blakely writes).

Further demonstrations were held in Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, as crowds gathered for funerals of two protesters shot by police. Syed Ali Geelani, a pro-independence leader, said: “The rising protests will give impetus to the freedom struggle.”

The dominant Muslim population in Kashmir believes widely that hydroelectric projects in the state are only benefiting India. The Indian Government is to call emergency talks to calm the situation.

Missile attack

Peshawar A suspected US missile strike killed ten militants at a camp in a Pakistani tribal area, while twenty-five people died in clashes near the Afghan border. Four missiles hit the Islamist camp in the South Waziristan region, officials said. (AFP)

Riot arrests

Montreal Twelve teenagers were arrested after weekend clashes between Canadian police and youths in a Haitian district of the city. The unrest followed the death of Freddy Villanueva, 18, who was shot by police in the Montreal North district. (AFP)

Homes destroyed

Zagreb Vandals have destroyed more than 20 houses rebuilt in Croatia around the town of Benkovac for Serb war refugees. The homes were due to be occupied by minority Serbs who fled the Croatian war of 1991-95. (AFP)

Chained boy

Sofia A seven-year-old Bulgarian boy from the town of Gotse Delchev was put into care after his parents chained him to a sink to stop him misbehaving while they were at work. His only company was a dog, which could roam freely. (AFP)

Dogs ‘eat’ owner

Tacoma A 55-year-old American cancer victim was in critical condition after being mauled by his 27 dogs while his daughter was away. Some of Michael Warner’s dogs “used him as a food source”, police in Washington State said. (AP)

Highway patrol

Providence An unmarked car that American police had been driving for several years in Rhode Island was found to have ½ lb of cocaine hidden behind its radio. The Ford Taurus had originally been confiscated from a drug dealer. (AP)

Coining it in

Cincinnati A man who does not trust paper money delivered enough coins to cover half the price of a $16,000 (£8,000) truck. James Jones, 70, handed over 16 coffee cans full of coins for a new Chevrolet Silverado. The balance was paid by cheque. (AP)

Thaksin faces extradition bid

Thailand is to request the extradition from Britain of Thaksin Shinawatra, the country’s former Prime Minister and owner of Manchester City Football Club, who fled to London at the weekend to avoid a fraud trial.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Mr Thaksin and his wife Potjaman, and the Attorney-General intends to seize 76 billion baht (£1.2 billion) of family assets.

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Three die over ‘betting debts’

Berlin Two men were held in Germany after two men and a woman were killed in a shooting at an ice-cream parlour in Rüsselsheim, near Frankfurt, possibly in a dispute over betting debts, prosecutors said. (AFP)

Wife’s picture of revenge

Canberra An Australian woman took revenge on her cheating husband by putting for sale on eBay a photograph of his lover’s lacy knickers and a “size small” condom wrapper that she found in her bed. She said his motorcycle would be next. (Reuters)

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