Small leftist party ordered shut down

MOSCOW -- Russia's high court yesterday ordered the closure of a small leftist party for failing to meet new Kremlin-initiated legal requirements that critics say are further stifling political life, news agencies reported. The Russian Peace Party is the second political organization to be shut down this month for failing to meet the new regulations. Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the opposition Republican Party to be closed for similar reasons. (AP)

Pakistan

RAWALPINDI -- The nation's suspended chief justice received a hero's welcome from some 2,000 lawyers yesterday as he gave his first address since President Pervez Musharraf removed him from the bench nearly three weeks ago. The Supreme Court judge, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, was showered with rose petals and greeted with boisterous chants of "Go, Musharraf, go!" by supporters who have rallied to Chaudhry's side and want Pakistan's president to resign. The clash between Musharraf and Chaudhry has riveted the nation since the judge was suspended on March 9, and many here feel it represents the most serious domestic challenge to Musharraf since he came to power in a military coup eight years ago. (Washington Post)

Chile

SANTIAGO -- Pilots of a Chilean commercial jetliner spotted flaming objects falling past their plane as it headed for a landing in New Zealand, airline officials said yesterday. US specialists suggested the objects were likely meteors burning up in the earth's atmosphere and questioned Australian media reports they were probably pieces of a falling Russian spacecraft. LAN Chile airline said in a brief statement that the pilot, who was not identified, "made visual contact with incandescent fragments" several miles away on Monday. The Airbus 340 had just entered New Zealand airspace. (AP)