Yemeni says he belongs to al-Qaeda
Guantanamo Bay: A Yemeni poet accused of being a terrorist propagandist admitted yesterday that he belonged to al-Qaeda and sought leave to represent himself. Ali Hamza Ahmad Sulayman al-Bahlul, 36, told the five-man US military commission: “If the American system will not allow me to defend myself . . . then I will be a listener only.”
The commission, the first of its kind since the Second World War, charges al-Bahlul with conspiracy to commit war crimes. The penalty is life in jail. The defendant’s request to defend himself, rather than use a pro forma US brief, will be decided next month. (AP)
Protest strike
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Dhaka: Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Awami League, said it will call another general strike tomorrow to protest against a grenade attack at a rally on Saturday that killed 20. An Islamic group is said to have claimed responsibility. (AP)
Assam bombings
Guwahati: Five people were killed and 42 wounded when militants blew up buses in Assam, northeast India. Two soldiers and a girl, 6, died when their bus struck a landmine in Paikan, and two more died when a bus was bombed in Gossaigaon. (AFP)
French CNN rival
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Paris: French plans to create an international news television channel to rival CNN and the BBC look set to go ahead despite concerns over cost. Michel Barnier, the Foreign Minister, said that France’s global viewpoint should be represented. (AFP)
History rewritten
A history textbook criticised for omitting Japanese wartime atrocities was approved by officials for use from April in Tokyo’s first city-run six-year secondary school. The New History Textbook is used by 15 schools in Japan. (AP)