A post template

No image available
/ 30 December 2003

Papal envoy shot dead in Burundi ambush

The Vatican’s ambassador to Burundi was shot dead on Monday when his car was raked with gunfire in an apparent ambush that government and rebel forces blamed on each other. Archbishop Michael Courtney, a 58-year-old Irishman and mediator in peace talks, was wounded in the head, shoulder and leg.

No image available
/ 30 December 2003

Iran quake: 28 000 bodies recovered

About 28 000 corpses have been pulled out of the rubble and buried after the devastating earthquake in and around Bam, in southeastern Iran, state radio reported on Tuesday quoting local government officials. A local governorate official has estimated that the final toll will top 30 000.

No image available
/ 30 December 2003

UK rescuers’ colleague among quake dead

A British traveller and former fireman who was killed in the Iran earthquake was given a solemn send-off in Bam on Monday by former colleagues who, in an extraordinary coincidence, were part of the international rescue team combing the devastated city.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29083">Iran quake: 28 000 bodies recovered</a>

No image available
/ 30 December 2003

Ntini tops world wicket-taking list

Makhaya Ntini became the first South African cricketer since Allan Donald in 1998 to be the world’s leading wicket-taker after edging out Stuart MacGill for the honour at Kingsmead on Monday. Ntini wrapped up the West Indies tail to claim an innings victory for South Africa inside four days.

No image available
/ 30 December 2003

SA crush defiant Windies

South Africa wore down a defiant West Indies rearguard action to win the second cricket Test at Kingsmead on Monday by an innings and 65 runs. Requiring 394 just to make the hosts bat again, the Windies were all out for 329 with six overs of the day’s play left.

No image available
/ 30 December 2003

Arsenal dominates Southampton

Arsenal moved within a point of first place on Monday, capitalising on Robert Pires’s 35th-minute goal for a 1-0 victory at Southampton. Arsenal dominated the first half and the entire match, but the difference was Pires’s goal off a perfect pass from fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry.

No image available
/ 30 December 2003

Soccer star Baggio calls it quits

Injury-plagued former Italy international Roberto Baggio says he will retire at the end of the current season. ”My career has been marred by injuries to my knee, which have affected my running and at my age this is difficult to overcome,” the 36-year-old Brescia striker told Teletutto radio station.