Kuwait Times

Published Date: December 30, 2007

DUBAI: Ten Saudis returned home yesterday from detention in the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay where Al-Qaeda militants are held, the Saudi Interior Ministry said. Washington has returned dozens of Saudis over the past year in an effort to reduce the numbers detained at the controversial camp ahead of finally closing it but around 13 are still held at the facility. Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz told the official Saudi Press Agency that efforts were underway to bring home the rest, and tha
t US authorities were cooperating.

Tanzania envoy attacked

JOHANNESBURG: Armed men broke into a farewell dinner in Pretoria for Tanzania's high commissioner to South Africa, beating him unconscious, robbing his guests and making off with his Mercedes, police said yesterday. Emmanuel Mwambulukutu was in a serious but stable condition following Friday's attack, police spokesman Capt Paul Ramaloko said. Mwambulukutu's wife was stabbed in the head, and six other people sustained minor injuries, he said. One suspect was arrested after being shot and wounded by police,
and authorities were searching for his suspected accomplices, Ramaloko said.

Bldg collapse toll hits 33

ALEXANDRIA: The death toll in Egypt's worst building collapse in years rose to 33, officials said yesterday, in a case that has provoked anger at local officials for allegedly looking the other way on building violations. The apartment building, which was originally seven stories tall but had had five more added in recent years, collapsed earlier this week in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria Rescue workers pulled three more bodies from the rubble, bringing the toll to 33, the state news agency
MENA reported. Alexandria's governor, Gen Adel Labib, said at least 10 more bodies were still believed to be trapped inside.

Maliki heads to London

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki left Baghdad for London yesterday for a medical check-up. State television showed footage of Maliki at Baghdad airport as he prepared to board his plane. The prime minister's spokesman Yassin Majid told the channel that he would undergo a routine check-up. Asked by AFP, an official in Maliki's office told AFP he did not know how long the premier would remain abroad.