Staff Reporter
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/ 14 March 2008

China plays down protests in Tibetan monasteries

China is struggling to prevent burgeoning protests in Tibet from overshadowing its Olympic preparations amid reports that monks have gone on hunger strike after the region’s biggest demonstrations in almost 20 years. Thousands of armed police have surrounded monasteries outside Lhasa, following marches against Chinese rule this week.

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/ 14 March 2008

Saru plays down Japan talk

The South African Rugby Union (Saru) has distanced itself from speculation that a Japanese team might be included in an expanded Super 14 competition. The idea was floated by Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill who was quoted as saying the idea of adding a Japanese team was on the agenda of Sanzar.

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/ 14 March 2008

Armed gang storms Durban bank

An armed gang stormed into a Durban bank on Friday, holding staff and customers at gunpoint, KwaZulu-Natal police said. ”Five armed suspects entered, took cash and a customer’s vehicle and fled,” said Superintendent Willie Olivier of Durban’s Organised Crime Unit

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/ 14 March 2008

Resources buoy JSE

The resources index kept the JSE in firmer territory by midday on Friday, enhancing the morning session’s gains. At noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 1%, driven by the 1,75% advance in the resources index. The gold mining index recovered 0,06% but the platinum mining index gave up 0,23%.

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/ 14 March 2008

Iraq archbishop kidnappers wanted $1-million

Kidnappers of a Chaldean Catholic archbishop found dead in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul had demanded a -million ransom, a senior police official said on Friday. Paulos Faraj Rahho, the archbishop of Mosul, 390km north of Baghdad, was abducted on February 29 after gunmen attacked his car and killed his driver and two guards.

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/ 14 March 2008

Reformists fight off irrelevance in Iran

For one spring evening in a blue-tiled mosque just south of Tehran, it sounds and feels as though the hour of the Iranian reformists has come again. The mosque is packed with men and boys chanting the name of Mohammad Khatami. They push and shove in the hope of catching a glimpse of the former president who tried to smooth some of the sharp edges of the Islamic republic.

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/ 14 March 2008

SA restrict Bangladesh to 143

Albie Morkel took four wickets and Johan Botha three to help South Africa bundle out Bangladesh for a paltry 143 runs on Friday in the third and final one-day international, moving them closer to a clean sweep of the series. Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful sent his side to bat after winning the toss, but they started losing wickets from the 10th over.