Bird flu mutation hints of resistance

Britain

LONDON -- Mutations in the bird flu virus have been found in two infected people in Egypt, the World Health Organization said yesterday. The mutations in the H5N1 virus strain were not so drastic to make it infectious enough to spark a pandemic, officials said. Samples taken from two patients who died in December -- a 16-year-old girl and her 26-year-old uncle -- were not as responsive as regular H5N1 viruses to Tamiflu, officials said. (AP)

Belgium

BRUSSELS -- European Union officials in Belgium expect a UN mediator to recommend limited sovereignty for Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo that could lead to full independence for the region . Mediator Martti Ahtisaari's proposal, expected after elections Sunday, is likely to result in a diplomatic clash between Russia and the United States. (AP)

Nepal

KATMANDU -- UN monitors have begun collecting weapons from former Maoist rebels at two large camps in south Nepal and were expected to expand their efforts to all seven of the main camps by next week, officials said The rebels barred journalists from camps where weapons are collected, but officials showed

photographs of the process.

(AP)

Somalia

MOGADISHU -- The top UN envoy to Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall , in his first visit since a war last month, said after meeting interim President Abdullahi Yusuf: "This is the best opportunity for peace for 16 years in Somalia and we must not waste it." Fall urged government leaders to build an inclusive administration to avoid further conflict. (Reuters)