Sectarian clashes kill 3 and injure 30

June 23, 2008

TRIPOLI - At least three people were killed and 30 wounded yesterday in sectarian clashes here in Lebanon's second-largest city, security sources said. Explosions and machine-gun fire rocked the city as Sunni Muslim supporters of the government and Alawite gunmen close to the Hezbollah-led opposition battled on the outskirts of the mainly Sunni Muslim port. Dozens of families fled as Lebanese Army units tried to end the fighting and leaders held talks to contain the conflict. (Reuters)

TIJUANA - Mexican soldiers captured one of the top leaders of the notorious Tijuana cartel at a children's party in this northern border city, police said yesterday. Filiberto Parra Ramos, nicknamed "The Bitch," was arrested along with 58 other men Saturday by soldiers who raided the party in a neighborhood across the US border from San Diego. Parra Ramos allegedly helps run the Tijuana cartel, which is headed by the Arellano Felix family. (Reuters)

PARIS - A 17-year-old French Jew was wounded Saturday night in Paris, an assault condemned by President Nicolas Sarkozy and said by Jewish organizations to be an act of anti-Semitism. Police said five youths had been held for questioning. (Reuters)

AMMAN - Jordan yesterday turned over nearly 2,500 stolen Iraqi artifacts to Iraq's top antiquities official, in the latest effort to recover the war-torn nation's stolen heritage. In the chaos following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, looters snatched some 15,000 priceless artifacts and smuggled them out of the country. In the last few months, Jordanian authorities seized 2,466 items as they were being taken across the border. (AP)

VIENNA - UN nuclear sleuths looking into allegations that Syria is hiding secret atomic activities expressed hope yesterday that a fact-gathering trip to Damascus will be the start of a thorough investigation. The International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors face a daunting task. Syrian officials are expected to place strict limits on where they go and what they see during their three-day visit. (AP)

SAO PAULO - Soccer legend Pele was held at gunpoint by a band of youths who stole his gold necklace, cellphone, and a watch, Brazilian news media reported yesterday. The robbery - which took place June 13 but was not made public until now - occurred near the city of Santos in southern Sao Paulo state. Pele was riding in the passenger seat of a car when it was stopped near a slum by at least 10 young men armed with pistols and knives, the report said. Veja said Pele did not report the crime to police. (AP)