Zimbabwe’s main trade union said on Friday that police were guilty of attempted murder when they beat dozens of protestors earlier this week. About 150 members of the pro-democracy National Constitutional Assembly had to be hospitalised after police arrested and beat them on Wednesday, reports said on Friday.
Frenchman Sandy Casar won the 18th stage of the Tour de France, a 211km ride from Cahors on Friday. The Francaise des Jeux rider outsprinted Belgian Axel Merckx of the T-Mobile team at the end of a 196km breakaway. France’s Laurent Lefevre came home third for the Bouygues Telecom team.
The police believe they have struck a blow against ATM bombers following arrests in the North West and KwaZulu-Natal, police said on Friday. Police spokesperson Director Sally de Beer said that on Wednesday North West police arrested six men who were linked to four cases involving explosions at ATMs in the province during July.
Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi says there is not a ”shred of evidence” to support the contention he gave instructions to members of his party to commit ”murder and destruction” in KwaZulu-Natal during the late 1980s. Responding to a Sunday Times column, he said on Friday he could not ignore certain ”serious charges” made against him.
The Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa on Friday denied a looming ban on food imports into Zimbabwe, but said permits will be required to import bulk foodstuffs for resale. ”There are no new regulations coming into effect on August 1 pertaining to this subject as has been pronounced by various media. It’s business as usual,” said ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo.
Trade union Solidarity on Friday accepted a wage offer from employers in the chemical industry after the employer increased its offer from 7,5% to 8%. Solidarity spokesperson Marius Croucamp said his union, along with the South African Chemical Workers’ Union, accepted the 8% wage increase.
A suspected suicide bombing killed at least 11 people and wounded 43 others on Friday at a hotel near Islamabad’s Red Mosque, after religious students occupied the mosque and demanded the return of its pro-Taliban cleric. The blast occurred soon after police had fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters occupying the mosque.
A mummified infant discovered wrapped in a newspaper older than 80 years in the ceiling of a Toronto home was likely stillborn and displayed no obvious signs of foul play, authorities said. The mummified remains were wrapped in a copy of the long defunct Mail and Empire newspaper dated September 15 1925.
Massive forest fires continued to rage out of control across Greece on Friday, burning through forests and entire towns in dozens of areas across the country. Hundreds of firefighters, soldiers and volunteers were still tackling more than 100 fires, 15 of which were still burning out of control in various areas of the country.
French judges placed former prime minister Dominique de Villepin under formal investigation on Friday for his role in an alleged plot to smear Nicolas Sarkozy and damage his chances of winning the presidency. Villepin went to the offices of judges Jean-Marie d’Huy and Henri Pons on Friday morning to answer questions.