Sudan’s only English-language newspaper, the Khartoum Monitor, has been ordered to cease publication while its licence is reviewed, the newspaper’s editor said on Sunday. William Ezekiel said the Supreme Court had decided to review a 2003 court case finding the newspaper guilty of crimes against the state.
A commercial helicopter was shot down by missile fire north of the Iraqi capital on Thursday, killing nine people, the Bulgarian defence ministry said. Also, the country’s most feared terror group, al-Qaeda in Iraq, claimed responsibility on Thursday for a suicide car bombing that targeted interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi’s convoy.
A delegation of Iraqis meant to help negotiate an end to the uprising in Najaf was forced on Tuesday to delay its mission to the holy city when it could not get a military escort for the dangerous journey. As the delegation waited, a mortar round hit a busy Baghdad street, killing seven people and injuring 47.
Baghdad tries new Najaf peace bid
Massive blast in central Baghdad
Insurgents loyal to radical Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr fought fierce battles on Thursday with United States and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf that quickly spread to other Shi’ite areas. The violence in Najaf killed at least four people. Al-Sadr’s men also fought with US troops in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City.